4000 Days of Writing: October 2019

Day - 1520

Monday, October 28, 2019

It felt good playing racquetball this morning, but wow was I slow and out of condition.

Work was not too bad. Most of the jobs coming in from last week were already taken care of. Now I have to plan out a few training sessions for next week. Busy times this week.

Day - 1521 - Disembarkation

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Well that was a wonderful cruise! I love the NCL Bliss, but alas, all good things must come to an end. We had an early breakfast, then left the ship at 8 a.m. We lucked out, getting a good Uber driver who does personal trips to and from San Pedro. I have his number, so the next time we're catching a ship from San Pedro, I can give him a call. Our Southwest flight was on time and uneventful. Very enjoyable.

We arrived home before 2. I began catching up on the journal while Alice did laundry. We had a very simple dinner, watched 60 Minutes, then I headed home to prepare for a Michael Bell's visit next week, work, and Halloween on Thursday. Very busy week ahead.

Day - 1522 - Day 7 - Sea Day

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Happy birthday sweet Wu!

Our last sea day was very enjoyable and a fitting conclusion to a wonderful cruise. After breakfast, we went to Starbuck's on Deck 6, had lattes and morning pastries from the Garden Cafe, and played a game or two of cribbage.

For lunch we tried out Food Republic, a specialty sushi restaurant on Deck 7.

It was good. We shared a spicy tuna roll, then wandered around the ship looking for more things to try. We went to the Bakery but didn't get anything. Our dinner reservations at Ocean Blue were at 5:30.

Ocean Blue is considered the best of the specialty restaurants on board. We were one of the first tables to be seated, but an hour later the entire restaurant was packed.

We had bread, a wonderful beet salad, and split the surf and turf and seafood pasta.

Our meals were delicious. I loved the pasta and big chucks of seafood. The filet was cooked to perfection, as was the lobster. Very good.

For dessert, we had two: key lime pie and NY cheesecake in a jar. Wonderful! This was our favorite meal on the cruise.

After dinner, we walked about the ship, hung out at our favorite corner of the Observation Deck, and wandered around the ship. We ran into one of the Frankie's from Jersey Boys and were able to say how much we enjoyed the show.

This was a wonderful conclusion to a wonderful cruise aboard the NCL Bliss!

Day - 1523 - Day 6 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Friday, October 25, 2019

Cabo is fun. I can see coming here for a week and just unwinding. We tendered in around 10:30 or so and arrived at the Cabo marina.

We walked around the marina, finding internet and catching up with our emails, etc. Cabo was very hot but pleasant in the shade. The marina is full of life and activity. There's a big resort at the marina that looks like a lot of fun. I wouldn't mind hanging out here for a few days each year. As I build my nest egg and think about retirement in 15 years, I can see spending time in places like this throughout the year, reading, relaxing, thinking, writing, playing cards and enjoying life!

We were ashore until 2 or so, then headed back to the ship for lunch. At 7 we caught the Beatles tribute band at the Cavern. They played Abbey Road songs and a few other late-Beatle tunes. They were just fantastic. They also sang Here Comes the Sun, one of our favorites!

Alice with John!

We also saw another performance of Jersey Boys. This show had a different Frankie. He sang so well but didn't look like the original Frankie Valli as much as the performer we saw last night. Still, wow, what a show!

Day - 1524 - Day 5 - Mazatlan, Mexico

Thursday, October 24, 2019

We only spent an hour or so in Mazatlan. Alice's back was really sore from so much walking the other day, so after walking around, we headed back to the ship and enjoyed the sun on the top deck. I went down the water slides and they were a blast! Really fun!

Day - 1525 - Day 4 - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Our first port was Puerto Vallarta, a beautiful beach town nestled beneath the Sierra Madre Mountains. Picture postcard perfect. Our ship was across the street from a big mall. We logged into wifi in the mall before heading to the old town. Alice wanted coconut water, so we found a place to sit down inside the old town and had a refreshing drink.

Day - 1526 - Day 3 - Sea Day

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

More relaxing, exploring, eating, and playing cards in our favorite spot on Deck 15.

We watched a great show tonight called Six, about the six wives of Henry VIII. Really good, catchy songs, and a super cast. So much fun! I'm really enjoying this ship and so is Alice. NCL does things a little differently from Princess. Some better, some not as good. The desserts aren't as good. The service is fine, but a bit colder, less friendly.

I took a nice long afternoon nap around 3. I love taking naps.

Day - 1527 - Day 2 - Sea Day

Monday, October 21, 2019

Our first full day at sea was spent exploring the ship and hanging out at Deck 15, the Observation Deck. The designers did a wonderful job creating a wonderful space to view the sea and front areas. There were so many couches, chairs and spaces for families, but for some reason the air conditioning on Deck 15 was a few degrees colder than it needed to be.

Alice found her favorite spot on the sunny side of Deck 15!

We watched a Beatles Tribute band play a show in the theater...it was great. They played all the Beatles' early hits.

Day - 1528 - Day 1 - Embarkation

Sunday, October 20, 2019
We left for our Mexican cruise at 7 a.m. We took Uber to SFO, arrived in LA around 9:40, then took Uber to the San Pedro World Cruise Terminal.

Our ship for the week, the NCL Bliss, is huge! We waited in line for about 45 minutes before checking in and boarding.

Once on board, we dropped our bags in our mini suite (big bathroom but a fairly narrow room...not as big as princess mini suites). We grabbed lunch at the Deck 16 buffet called Garden Cafe. It was so-so and packed with people. We found the Observation Deck 15 to be very comfortable and relaxing. By 5 p.m. we we on our way south to Mexico!

Day - 1529

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Quiet day at home in preparation for our trip south on the NCL Bliss for a week. Looking forward to a week away from the news.

Day - 1530

Friday, October 18, 2019

Went to the SF Symphony with Alice after work, featuring a world premiere percussion concerto and Pictures at an Exhibition. The percussion concerto was lively, eventful, loud, and fun, but I would have enjoyed more percussion mastery. It seemed the soloist didn't have as much to do as he should have.

Day - 1531

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Quiet at work, allowing me time to catch up on a few things. Tried not to spend too much time on the news, but each day brings so many new revelations and shocking admissions. This time it's the White House Chief of Staff, basically admitting to everything. Mick Mulvaney's press conference this afternoon is one for the ages. I watched the entire thing and it's as earth shattering and stunning as anything I've seen this month:

Mulvaney Confirms Quid Pro Quo

These rats aren't the smartest mammals in the room. But their survival instincts are certainly on alert. Do they save Con in Chief or themselves? Themselves, I'm guessing. Tic toc, tic toc for Guiliani. Only a matter of time. Maybe next week.

Cruise in 3 days. Nice!

Day - 1532

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Racquetball, good games this morning, followed by working from home. I love working from home. I was able to get a load of laundry done and make cauliflower soup. Yum. Watched a little news but not too much. Ran out of energy by mid-afternoon, so turned off the computer at five and laid low the rest of the evening.

This photo has become iconic:

Day - 1533

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Gearing up for our Mexico cruise next week. Also watching the news, new testimony only confirming what we already know, and yet the White House still stays above water for the time being. The degree of corruption and evil doing is stunning. Wow, have we ever lost our mojo.

Who would have thought that being honest, telling the truth, and doing the right thing was such a challenge for adults. The examples we've been given in the past month of enabling, lying, hedging, not answering basic questions, and refusing to acknowledge wrongdoing are unlike anything I've seen. The second Bush administration seems quaint compared to this. I'm afraid it will go on and on and on, even with an impeachment that will only present the obvious. I watch Morning Joe each morning and listen to very smart career professionals who express their horror at all the craziness going on. What is happening to the Kurds is perhaps the most real example of the consequences that have come to this guy making decisions and leading the country. Now more than ever, the disaster of the 2016 election feels explosive and consequential. I'll never understand why so many people protect him, even now, when it's so clear he's unstable, unhinged, weak, and totally corrupt. Our cruise next week is coming at the perfect time. I need a break from this Sopranos horror show.

Day - 1534

Monday, October 14, 2019

Racquetball this morning, then a busy day at work cleaning up documents and clearing the decks. Watched news after work and it's more of the same, more experts from the State Department expressing their dismay at the State Department becoming politicized in a way we haven't see before. My way or the highway, that's what working for Con in Chief looks like. All the good people are leaving government. The vulnerabilities of the country are on display for the world to see. This would be a good time for China and Russia to implement whatever strategies they felt necessary to promote their agency and self-interest. We're in no position to stop anyone or anything. We can't even stop the madness inside the chicken coop.

I read Moscow Mitch is very unpopular in Kentucky. If that's the case, why has he been re-elected so many times. Wow, I'd love to see him lose in 2020. Now there's an evil presence if there ever was one.

Kevin and Mike fly back home today. We had such a good time hanging out over the weekend.

Day - 1535

Sunday, October 13, 2019

I slept in, then helped Alice clean up her Airbnb. Kevin and Mike went into SF for the day & night. Mike went to the modern art museum while Kevin went to City Lights Books. I met up with him on Columbus and we found a cafe to play cribbage for the rest of the afternoon. My cards were hot and Kevin was brutalized, a clean sweep including a skunk. Ouch! We headed back to his hotel before dinner, then said our goodbyes. I headed back to the Sunset where Alice was watching 60 Minutes. A very enjoyable weekend with one of my greatest and oldest friends!

Day - 1536

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Wonderful morning on Lakeshore with Kevin, Mike, Kristi, Richard & Lisa. The day began with a walk around the lake, then sweet sallies and tea at Arizmendi. I picked up Alice at BART, then met everyone at the Farmer's Market. We then headed back to Arizmendi for pizza. Richard & Lisa met us there and Margaret briefly. We hung out at the Young house for an hour or so, then went to dinner at Mijori with Elaine, who drove over from Los Altos. Mijori did not disappoint. We were going to meet up with R&L across the street and the flower shop, but we finished too early and instead headed over to Colonial Donuts on Lakeshore, then my place for tea. Everyone was tired by 8:30, so we called it a night. Alice and I drove back to SF. An easy drive home.

Day - 1537

Friday, October 11, 2019

Living the dream at 56! I worked from home today and cleaned up spots around the apartment in preparation for Kevin and Mike's arrival around 6 p.m. I didn't watch too much news today, even though it was another explosive day of revelations with the former Ukrainian ambassador testifying before congress about Trump's scheme to railroad her out of office in order to manipulate Ukrainian diplomacy to his whim. She testified for 9.5 hours. Later tonight, a few excerpts appeared calling the administration out on their rotten, corrupt ways.

Marie L. Yovanovitch's "opening remarks amounted to a scathing indictment to Congress of how the Trump administration’s foreign policy intersected with business and political considerations," (NY Times).

“Although I understand that I served at the pleasure of the president, I was nevertheless incredulous that the U.S. government chose to remove an ambassador based, as best as I can tell, on unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives." The State Department as a whole as “attacked and hollowed out from within...Bad actors” in Ukraine and elsewhere will “see how easy it is to use fiction and innuendo to manipulate our system. The only interests that will be served are those of our strategic adversaries, like Russia.”

Games of Thrones and the Sopranos. That's what US Foreign Policy has become.

And Trump is the new political Jim Jones. Cancerous. Kool-Aid creator in chief. He has his cult followers and he has his roadshow shtick. He sells hatred, insults, and disinformation. He's growing more cornered by the day. I hope the senators are forced to convict him. They will if Moscow Mitch develops an appropriate exit strategy.

After a day of work and cleaning, I picked up Kevin and Mike at the Oakland airport and we went out for Star Pizza and drinks. Very enjoyable evening.

When we came back, Kevin and I binge-watched MSNBC while playing cribbage. Fun fun fun!

Day - 1538

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Caught up with everything at work, then came home and tidied up in preparation for Kevin and Mike's arrival tomorrow. Watched a little news and two associates of Giuliani have been arrested for campaign finance violations. They were arrested at the airport. The story gets more involved and more complicated.

Day - 1539

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Worked from home. Racquetball in the morning. Still a bit slow and little energy. Worked and cleaned today.

Day - 1540

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Up at 4, worked at 7 a.m., clearing the decks at home, then came in to the office later in the morning. A fairly quiet day, which gave me time to tweak and balance my 401k portfolio.

It's a challenge keeping up with all the Washington Post articles regarding Con in Chief's impeachment. The Ukraine story keeps growing. Now Rick Perry is the focus. The corruption continues. It's human nature for opportunists to slide into positions of power to enrich themselves and their friends. I didn't get that gene, thankfully. Gotta hand it to Commander Bernie Madoff going after corrupt Joe Biden when he's about the most amoral, corrupt, empty office holder on the planet. Meanwhile, the enabling rat party continues sticking like mildew to this rotten tree trunk of a specimen. The con continues.

Day - 1541

Monday, October 7, 2019

Racquetball this morning, then work, and of course following the news.

Former ambassador to Ukraine Masha Yovanovitch testified before the impeachment committee today. That didn't stop Con in Chief from launching the biggest blunder of his presidency, the withdrawal of 2,000 troops who have been protecting the Kurds from Turkish forces and aggression. This is not going to go well. We've betrayed the folks who took out ISIS. Not good. I'm beginning to get news fatigue again.

Day - 1542

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Frank Bruni's Opinion Piece in the NY Times captures it perfectly:

How To Sell Your Soul To Donald Trump

Alice came over to Oakland in the a.m. and we went out for breakfast at Oakland Kitchen on Grand Ave. This is a very good, and very popular breakfast place. I had a smoked salmon bagel and Alice had the savory French Toast. After breakfast, we went to IKEA to get a few items, including pillows for Alice, then went to Berkeley Bowl for produce. We then went to Alameda and visited Alice's former co-worker Erin for 30 minutes. By then it was time for me to get ready for our latest orchestra concert. Alice had to go back to the city to be a home while her bedroom carpet was being replaced. The job took two days to complete.

The concert was good and well attended. Lisa and Margaret were there. Everything went well and I was able to hear much better than yesterday. I really enjoyed playing the Brahms and Schumann. They're such great pieces.

After the concert, Lisa, Margaret and I went for a drink at Shakewell. We ordered a few appetizers and each had a cocktail. I had the Cherry Bomb, which was delicious.

After Shakewell, I went home and watched 60 Minutes and all the morning news shows I'd taped. The Republican guests on Face the Nation, Meet the Press, and This Week with George Stephanopolis were unbelievably pathetic. None were able to answer the simple question: is it wrong to ask a foreign leader for help acquiring dirt on a political opponent. The sooner Bernie Madoff in Chief goes, the better.

Day - 1543

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Rehearsal this morning. I woke up early and went through my music, playing quietly on my silent violin. The rehearsal went well. Marty's playing the Schumann a little slower, thankfully. I can actually play most of the notes.

After rehearsal and began the long process of cleaning. I have so much deep cleaning to take care of. It's hard to know where to start.

Day - 1544

Friday, October 4, 2019

Another crazy day in Trumpland. Trump asked China to investigate the Bidens. I don't think he's joking. As the impeachment hearings gain speed, Con in Chief becomes more and more unhinged. It's east to tell he's sweating hard over this.

Went to the SF Symphony to hear a young Brazilian violinist play Mendelssohn. Very good. Also heard Mozart's Jupiter Symphony No. 41. Fantastic!

4000 Days of Writing