Thursday, October 29, 2020
First full day in AZ. Spent the early a.m. as a Twitter Social Media monitor, looking for potential disinformation in the Arizona area. Didn't find any, but enjoyed the Tweetdeck tool that helps find search-related info. Also enjoyed using Slack. I can see what people like it.
Made banana bread and of course my morning espresso latte. They are mighty good!
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Up at 4 for my 6:40 flight into Phoenix. The Oakland airport was busier than I was anticipating, especially so early in the morning. It was the first time I was around that many strangers since March. Everyone wore masks and I felt safe, but still, it was a bit uncomfortable. I needed more elbow room.
The flight itself was fine, though again more crowded than I was expecting. I shared a row with one other person. All middle seats were vacant. I fell asleep, so the flight itself didn't last too long.
Sunny in Arizona! I took an Uber to mom's and arrived around 11. The place looks great! We headed to Fry's (the local grocery store) for a full week of food, then came home and started cooking. I made panko chicken and rice for dinner. Before bed, I jumped in the hottub and looked up at the stars, one of my favorite things to do here. It's like staying in a five-star resort. I love this place and hanging out with mom!
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Made a loaf of bread this morning, cleaned up the apt., then left for SF before 8. We prepped all morning for our first Covid social distancing lunch with Soren and Patrick. On the menu were are favorite summer dishes, poke sushi, chicken wings from the air fryer with Alice's special sauce (so good), cowboy cookies, and sourdough bread with brie cheese and quince paste.
We set up the back yard so that it was nice and comforable.
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Picked up dessert at B Patisserie and had lunch at Soren and Patrick's. Soren cut Patrick's hair and it looked so good, so I asked if she could cut mine and she did. It looks great! First haircut since March. Yikes!
Caught up on Facebook, Patreon, almost caught up on emails. Today was a day of catching up. And reading the news, though I'm so fatigued by this election that I just want it to be over. I want my landslide now!
Saturday, October 17, 2020
A bit subdued all day from yesterday's shingles shot. Surprisingly. We hung out in the back yard most of the day. Cooked hamburgers for dinner and had tomatoes from the vine in the garden. Delish. Relaxed in the evening.
Enjoyed reading this in the NY Times:
Friday, October 16, 2020
I took care of a few health appointments today: shingles shot (first round), flu shot, updating physical therapy for foot, and setting up an appointment for my second shingles shot in January. I was told I'd feel a little fever and possibly a sore arm a few hours after my shingles shot. Yup, by the evening I didn't feel well at all.
Made crackers from scratch with the excess sourdough starter. They were pretty good. Also sweetened the excess quince juice from our paste preparation from a few weeks ago.
Watched a few minutes of Bill Maher. His new rule about supreme court pick Amy Coney Barrett is spot on. Went to bed early. Looking forward to a relaxing, low-key weekend.
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Took care of all the items I didn't take care of yesterday. Busy at work.
We had a nice gathering in our building after 7. 825 Erie has turned into a wonderful collective of artists, business professionals, etc. Everyone in the building is really wonderful. We're talking about a cocktail party two weekends from today.
Watched a few clips of tonight's two Town Halls. I feel this election is so ready to end and yet there will be all kinds of corrupt, dispicable cheating to undermine the legitimacy of the election. Turnout is good and the early voting numbers are encouraging. Still, Trump really has positioned the narrative to include illegitimacy if he loses. It's so bogus and outrageous and yet he's able to get away with it. Hmm.
Trump is like Elizabeth Holmes's Thernos when talking about his health care plan. He says these things: "My plan is better than Obamacare. Obamacare is terrible. My plan will be cheaper and better." But he has no plan. He doesn't care about healthcare. He simply talks in general, nonsensical terms. The one detail he loves to include in his "healthcare plan" is that it doesn't include the individual mandate. Trump's healthcare plan is as farcical as Thernos was. Why isn't he getting reamed for such lies?
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Went to the dentist this morning for a new crown, then came home and slept most of the day. Good thing I took the day off.
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Catching up on Connor's Patreon page. He has nearly 25 projects online. I've enjoyed all of them. He's such a talented musician!
Monday, October 12, 2020
Took care of a couple of crisis documents today. Had a nice, enjoyable lunch outside with Alice. Studied bridge in the evening, in particular the one suit openings and responses/weakness & strong signals. So much to remember and learn in bridge. Good for my brain, that's for sure.
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Got my free birthday mocha at Starbuck's!
We drove along the Marina.
Then went out for a great bicycles ride.
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Set up my SF home office. It works like a charm! Love the raised desk feature.
Friday, October 9, 2020
Another crazy Friday at work, but capped it off with a great episode of The Breakdown on the Lincoln Project website. I love The Lincoln Project!
Thursday, October 9, 2020
A little bridge with Kevin after work. Hard to focus on anything right now, aside from current events.
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
So I watched the VP debate and I have to say, Pence is very good at delivering lies with a calm voice and straight face. He looked particularly creepy tonight, like a vampire with no blood in his system. The fly on his head was a nice touch. Kamala delivered. She did what she needed to do. There were moments when she could have been stronger and more aggressive, but all-in-all, well done. She was poised and had some great facial expressions. More could have been said about the White House now being the hot zone for Covid in the U.S. Just hit that detail hard from now until Nov. 3.
Thursday, October 1, 2020
I received the text from Rob Holland while watching The Comey Rule. He texted "I think you just got your wish." I went onto the NY Times website and there it was:
My initial thought was what took so long? I've been anticipating this headline since the Tulsa rally. Truly one of the most irresponsible personalities in modern history. A clown, a disgrace, a fraud, a joke. And the egg's on us.
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
I enjoyed reading the fallout from Trump's disastrous debate last night. I only hope it ensures his loss in November. Meanwhile, more reading, work, etc.
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Wow, were we lucky. I feel as though we dodged a bullet. Minutes into tonight's debate, I was nervous. Trump seemed confident, strong, like a shark ready to feast, while Biden, in delivering his first answer about RBG and her replacement, seemed tentative, unsteady, meandering, unfocused, not yet in his rhythm. Thank God Trump saved the day with his profound mental illness and colossal personality disorder. Thank. God! He helped Biden find his footing, and by the second half of the debate, this contest was all but over. Trump was an historic embarrassment tonight, a shameful, bellicose, bullying display of disgust and distaste. What kind of person goes after a man's son twice? Trump destroyed himself tonight and deservedly so. Biden had a few good moments and came away unscathed, remarkably. It could have been a far different outcome had Trump shown even a hint of discipline. But he has none. None. He is simply a prisoner of his own enormous failures. He is a fraud and a criminal, and I believe he will lose this election soundly in November. Maybe it will be closer than I imagine, but actually, I don't think so. Trump is too much of a disaster, and the last few months have been the worst display of campaigning ever. It's all him, and he is all toast.
Listening to the reactions of the pundits after the debate was something:
