Day - 1493

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Woke up early after a restful night's sleep.  We had a quick breakfast, then headed to Diamond Heights for the jacuzzi and sauna.  We then went to the Stonestown Farmer's Market for Thanksgiving vegetables.  I'm in charge of carrots and Brussels sprouts.  Bought three bags of sweet carrots.  Alice got beets and greens.

Back home, we cleaned the Airbnb, then I fixed our bicycle tires that had been flat the past two months.  It was another ideal San Francisco weekend and perfect weather to ride around the neighborhood.  We rode around the neighborhood, stopping at The Pizza Place on Noriega, then Devil's Teeth for coffee and a donut muffin.  So good!

Back home, I updated Alice's Guest Book with new pages that included the new Mexican place and sushi place on Judah. 

I spent the rest of the day researching ideas for Europe. I think we'll visit Munich, Budapest and Prague next spring.  I love Munich and haven't been to Budapest and Prague.  That will be a lovely vacation!

Simple dinner, then 60 Minutes, then a few pages of the Fredrick Douglas bio I'm reading, followed by bed at 9:45.

Day - 1494

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Great day for a day trip up Mount Tamalpais, the highest point in the Bay Area.  The road getting is really windy.  It takes about 45 minutes from Sunset.  We left around 8:30 and arrived at the top by 10.  We took our time and stopped at a couple of lookout points. 

For lunch we went to Larkspur at Emporio Rulli, a very nice European-style cafe.  We split a panini sandwich and pear tart that was delicious.  Their lattes are so good. 

On our way back, we stopped at Baker Beach for these pics with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.  I'd never been to this beach before.  It's so nice.  Today was simply lovely!

For dinner, we with to Harbor Village for Uncle Bill and Vicki's annual family dinner.  The food was fantastic as always.  We must have had nine or ten courses.  I was stuffed afterward.

We came home around 9:45 or so and stayed up for a couple of SNL skits.  Will Ferrell hosted and he was great as always.  The Democratic Debate sketch was hilarious!

Day - 1495

Friday, November 22, 2019

No racquetball this morning, and thankfully no more testimony to obsess over.  Instead, it's been a day of reflection over a week of shocking revelations and depressingly corrupt diplomatic underhandedness on Madoff' in Chief's part.  Devin Nunes is so creepy and dangerous.  Men like him should not be in positions of power.  He represents the worst of us.

Reading new short stories by Ted Chiang.

Day - 1496

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Busy at work.  As my AT&T cable subscription winds up, I'm looking forward to canceling and reading more.  I don't need 100 channels of television.  I only seem to watch MSNBC anyway.  

Day - 1497

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Ah, the testimony everyone's been waiting for.  Would Sondland plead the fifth or sing like a canary? Would he be candid with the truth or navigate the truth with half-truths and lies?  No one knew for sure until he testified. 

Well, apparently, he has no desire to risk going to jail for perjury, so he sang like a sweet song bird, implicating everyone from Bernie Madoff in Chief to Mulvaney to Pompeo to Pence.  Everyone knew and everyone was in on the rogue plan to strong arm Ukraine into investigating the Bidens.  Sondland's testimony was extraordinary.  Simply extraordinary.  But what I found so chilling and nauseating was the GOP take on everything, their unwillingness to seek out the truth but instead deflect, deny, whine, bemoan, and push false narratives without batting an eye.  It was appalling and embarrassing, and yet their strategy doesn't seem to carry heavy consequences.  They should all be voted out of office for failing to uphold the oath they made to defending the constitution and the country, but that won't happen.  It's as if half the country is brainwashed into believing the most bogus, pathetic counter-storyline imaginable in order to justify Bernie Madoff's criminal actions.  How do you counter absolute denial of the truth and refusal to acknowledge illegal, self-serving activity? 

Sondland sounded so glib and almost proud of the deal he and the other amigos had crafted.  There was no humility whatsoever, no regret, but instead a faithful accounting of doing what he was told to do. 

How can the favorable impeachment numbers be less than 70-80%?  How can they only be in the high 40s?  What is wrong with half the country?

Nixon lived in the wrong generation.

Meanwhile, Russia and China must love the spectacle we're in.  Bernie Madoff won't be convicted in the Senate, but he must lose next November.  The American public will have to convict him (remove him).  It's the only way to steer the ship back on course.

Racquetball this morning, a full day of work at home, then orchestra rehearsal in the evening.  I wasn't as prepared as I should have been.  The Amy Beach symphony is dense and long, full of wonderful ideas and difficult passages.  I have two months to get the piece in my fingers.

Day - 1498

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Day - 1499

Monday, November 18, 2019

Day - 1500

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Day - 1501

Saturday, November 16, 2019

In SF by 9 a.m.  Helped Alice clean up her Airbnb, then back to Oakland for dinner tonight with Howard and Leslie at Shakewell.  Before dinner, we met Lisa, Richard and Margaret for coffee at Starbuck's and talked about Thanksgiving. 

Dinner was fun.  Josh joined us.  Shakewell can get loud and it's sometimes hard to hear, but the food is always delicious.  

Day - 1502

Friday, November 15, 2019

Watched all of Marie Yovanovich's testimony today.  It's really something to hear from a dedicated, competent career state department official who was railroad by a couple of corrupt thugs.  Giuliani will go down over this.  His reputation is the equivalent of a massive dumpster fire.  And it's only going to get worse for Trump and his minions next week.  At some point, enough is enough.  Most Americans find this level of corruption distasteful.  I know I do. 

Poker tonight at Mark's.  Dorian joined me until 1 a.m..  I was down down down all night, but eventually came on the up swing during the final round of play.  I was dealt QQ back-to-back, winning both and doubling up twice.  I needed it for a -$40 loss for the evening.  In bed by 1:15 a.m.

Day - 1503

Thursday, November 14, 2019

All packed up for the move to 25.  Work was consistent but not too bad today.  Looking forward to settling into the new work space next week.

Watched news all night long after work.  Still processing the impeachment testimony yesterday.  Tomorrow's testimony with former Ukrainian ambassador Yovanovich should be just as compelling.

Day - 1504

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Day 1 of the impeachment hearings.  I watched most of the public testimony Bill Taylor and George Kent, two solid state department officials speaking truth to power.  They were compelling.  The proceedings overall were revealing.  Rep Nunes, Jim Jordan and Texas GOP Rep John Ratcliffe continue to protect the president by deflecting, distracting, minimizing, creating drama, chaos, noise.  How do they do it, how do they continue to behave that way in the face of facts and truth?  I'll never understand how anyone can stand before the country and continue to make the case on behalf of a liar and fraud.   This is only going to get worse for Bernie Madoff in Chief, but the power of denial and resistance to reason from the GOP is breathtaking.  I hope to God these clowns are voted out of office next November.  Jim Jordan, what a bunch of loudness.  Best to stay clear of such personality types.

Day - 1505

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Most packed for the move to 25 this Friday.  Low energy today.  Reading Douglas bio.  Very good so far.

Day - 1506

Monday, November 11, 2019

Racquetball this morning, a quiet day at work (preparing for move next week to 25), and an evening of practicing after work.

Amy Beach's Gaelic Symphony is wonderful and technically challenging.  The 2nd movement is fast!  I have a new bow  that hopefully will give me a fighting chance to play the movement properly. 

Princess ship in SF port today.

Day - 1507

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Went to the library this afternoon and picked up these two books that have been on my mind since watching Harriet last week.  I know bits and pieces about Frederick Douglass, but not the whole story.  I've read one of his three memoirs.  Now is as good a time as any to read all three memoirs as well as the biography that won the Pulitzer Prize last year. 

In so many ways, the Trump presidency is an extension of the failure of Reconstruction after the U.S. Civil War of the 19th Century.  He represents the schism of the United States that falls upon racial attitudes, tribalism, us vs. them politics, and an increasing victimized paranoia that has infected the Republican party since Trump has become president.  It's gotten to the point where the GOP sees Dems as the actual enemy instead of countries such as Russia or China.  There's no arguing with such irrational characters.  It's comforting to read about true American heroes like Frederick Douglas.  It's one way to direct so much negative energy toward the positive endeavor of learning about an amazing historic figure who lived the kind of life that seems unimaginable.  

Day - 1508

Saturday, November 9, 2019

We stayed in Oakland today.  I woke up early, bought ingredients for guacamole, cleaned up, practiced for two hours, then picked up Alice at West Oakland before noon.  We went to Mijori for lunch and ordered a Y2K roll and sushi over rice.  So Good!

We then hung out at Peet's for an hour or so, then went home.  Alice watch HGTV while I made guac for tonight's going away party for Jared. 

The party tonight at David and Lily Ly's house was really great.  Lots of folks in attendance and wow the food was fantastic!

Day - 1509

Friday, November 8, 2019

A bit slow this morning and lost most of our racquetball games.  Getting ready for next week's move.  The day flew by.  At home, I just watched news.  Alice will come over tomorrow morning.  Busy social weekend for us.

Day - 1510

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Busy day at work.  Came home and cleaned up, then created a practice schedule for the next two months.  Need to review finances and rebalance my accounts.

Day - 1511

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Racquetball in the early a.m. with a good crowd (Steve, Kirk, Glenn, Tiger, Tyrone, Ari, me), then working from home.  Very slow today, which was perfect because I Michael's flight was at 1:50, giving us the morning to play a little cribbage at Peet's. His cards were on fire while mine were hit and miss.  He won two games to my one.  I'll take it given the cold deck.

I dropped Michael off at the West Oakland Bart Station at 10:30, then came home and cleaned the place up.  I met our new landlord Daniel, a young commercial real estate broker who owns two buildings in Oakland, on in Adams Point and ours.  He seems very nice and pleasant, with two handy men who take care of his properties.  I think we're all in good hands.

The rest of the day I caught up with work, sent some emails, and opened up a few poker books in preparation for time spent on my side gig.  I'd like to get to a point where I'm playing at the 25/50 limit tables.  That would be fun and exciting.  I think I could develop my skills enough to justify those stakes.

The impending Trump impeachment dominates the news.  It wears me down but how can anyone turn away from all the drama. I'm sure I'll listen to Bill Taylor's public testimony next week.  I hope he's as strong and forceful as his testimony appears to be.

Later this evening I got a text from Uncle Steve, who's getting married to Nancy on December 15.  Wow, that's some fast moving.  I think they've only known each other 8-10 months.  Whatever makes Uncle Steve happy works for me.  He doesn't have a whole lot of time with the progression of his prostate cancer.  I think it's spread throughout his body.  He looks really good and healthy, so this will perhaps give him a few more months (and maybe years) of extra life.  I hope so.  Uncle Steve is the best!

Aunties Karen and Heather are also going, so we'll stay at the Oxford Suites, our favorite Bellingham hotel, for the weekend.  I was originally thinking about flying into Everett instead of Seattle, but renting a car is twice as much in Everett than Seattle, so I'm flying into SeaTac after all.  I'll fly in Saturday morning and out Monday morning.

I was planning to play a few hours at the Oaks, but with Steve's news, I needed to make plans and contact people.  His wedding is only five weeks away.

Back to practicing:  I have two pieces to learn: Amy Beach Gallic Symphony and Vaughn William's The Lark Ascending.  I already know Brittan's Simple Symphony.  I'm looking forward to playing with my new bow!

Day - 1512

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Busy work day, followed by a great dinner with Michael at the Indian restaurant on Lakeshore.

After dinner, we went to Harriet at the Grand Lake Theater 1.  Pretty impressive movie, beautifully shot, and the story is mindblowing.  It's hard to fathom how brave Harriett Tubman was, saving her family and other slaves from the tyranny of the country's unfortunate ways.  It's good to see these stories played out.  We need to reinforce our history, or heritage, and recognize how far we've come but also how far we need to go. 

Home at 9:45 and off to bed.

Day - 1513

Monday, November 4, 2019

Okay, too much eating!  Michael, Rossana and I went to Lin Jia for dinner tonight.  Delicious as always, but I feel my waistline expanding exponentially.  We had a good talk about one of Rossana's coworkers who is a bit of a bully.  Rossana is too nice to properly deal with such a personality, so we have her a few strategies to end the unpleasantness.  Hope it works.

After dinner, Michael and I played a few games of cribbage, then called it a night.  He's here until Wednesday morning, then it's back to my regular routine.

Day - 1514

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Michael had two meetings today, a hike with a friend of his and lunch with an old friend, so I went over to San Francisco to get my hair cut and spend a few hours with my sweetheart Alice Wu.  Her Airbnb guests were leaving, so I was able to help her change the bed and dust.  I drove back to the East Bay in the afternoon and took care of a few things while Michael wrapped up his lunch meeting with an old friend.  We met up for dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant just off Grand Avenue.  It was very good.  I'll have to go there again.

During dinner, the game was on between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens.  Michael's a big Pats fan, but they weren't playing well and the Ravens were.  It was a painful game for Michael to watch.  They ended up losing soundly!

We came home after dinner, played a few games of crib, then called it a night.

Day - 1515

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Walked around Lake Merritt with Michael this morning, with coffee and Arizmendi pastry in hand. For lunch, we met up with Rossana, Richard & Lisa and Trey at Belcanto in Jack London Square.  Lunch was good.  JLS was full of activity, lots of craft stalls and people walking around.  The weather was perfect.  Richard, Lisa and I used to go to the Farmers Market at Jack London Square every Sunday many years ago.  Now that we have our own Farmers Market in the neighborhood, I tend not to visit JLS.  This was the first time in years that I was in the area on a weekend. 

After lunch, Rossana took me and Michael on a boat ride across the Bay.  Rossana has been living on her boat for two years now.  It's a good size boat and runs very well.  Captain Dave came out with us (along with his two doggies) and we were treated to a six-hour ride around the Bay.  We docked at the Golden Gate Yacht club and walked around during the sunset.  For dinner, Dave made his signature crab salad...so good!  We didn't get home until 10.  I was so exhausted by the end of the day, but certainly enjoyed our epic adventure on the water.  This was also a highlight for Michael.  The water was so calm and clear.  It was a perfect day for boating.

At Jack London Square after lunch

Rossana's Sailboat

Inside Rossana's boat

Alcatraz

On the Bay

Docking

Sunset

On the Bay at Night

Day - 1516

Friday, November 1, 2019

I was dragging today.  So tired.  After work, Michael and I went out for sushi at Mijori.  Mijori never disappoints.  We ordered a few of our favorite things.

Day - 1517

Thursday, October 31, 2019

This year's theme was Freaky Circus Tricks.  The story involved the crazy ringmaster (Richard) who presents Crappy the Clown (contorting arms, legs, head), the invisible lion tamer, Discor the Dancer (me), the skeleton juggler (Miranda), the Vampire princess (Lily), and the scariest monster (Sydney).  A little on the long side this year, but Miranda and Sophie's special effects were fantastic, and Sydney big scare at the end was a great conclusion to the skit.  Big thumbs up again.

 

The after party was great.  I didn't get home until 11:30.  Late!

Day - 1518

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Working from home today, tidying up for Michael Bell's week-long visit.  Then there's Halloween tomorrow night.  Lots going on.

I picked up Michael from the West Oakland Bart station at 5 p.m.  We had dinner at my place (chicken stew, salad, bread), then watched game 7 of the World Series.  The Nationals came back and managed to win the game and the series in epic, come-from-behind fashion. 

I was so tired after the game that I had to let Richard know I wasn't able to swing by to see the set and try on the costume for tomorrow's show.  Went to bed around 9:30.  Tomorrow is a big long day, our last Halloween performance.  25 years is a good long run.

Day - 1519

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Preparing for Michael Bell's week-long visit.  He arrives tomorrow.  I have my place to clean up and all sorts of little details to finish before tomorrow.  So much to read, but no time until next week or so.  Plus I have Halloween festivities to help with.  Lots going on right now.