4000 Days of Writing: December 2021

Day - 736

Friday, December 31, 2021

Another quiet, low-key holiday eve. I read and watched YouTube videos. I listened to a David Blight podcast on the Civil War. We had udon noodle for dinner from Marugame Udon at Stonestown Mall. I tried to stay up for New Year's but fell asleep at 11:15. Chris and Elizabeth called at midnight their time (east coast) so I celebrated the new year with them at 9 my time. Curious to see what the new year brings. Will anything happen with the Jan 6 Committee and accountability of those who willingly tried to overturn the 2020 election? I hope so.

Day - 737

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Work was dead silent today. Off at 3. I called Richard and Lisa to wish them a happy new year. They both got Covid over Christmas and had mild fevers. They're feeling a lot better now. I missed not seeing them over the holidays.

I did go to the gym early this morning, playing a few games of racquetball with masks on. It's sad how tired I get after only a few games.

Reading The Underground Railroad and loving this book. So good.

Day - 738

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

I just sent out a few cards this year to international friends and people I hadn't connected with in a while. I was hoping to be more organized this year, but nope, didn't happen. I did manage to send out a few though and have enough motiviation to organize and remove several things from my garage. Two years of Covid will turn my place into a warehouse of piled stuff. That's what I'm living in now. I'm ready to recalibrate the living space to a living space again.

Day - 739

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

I got a text from Gwen the other day, wanting to talk. I may need a counseling tuneup in order to be at a place to converse with her without wanting to detail all the reasons why my judgment is so heavy toward her. I don't have much patience with the mentally ill, and even less with addicts. Once someone's out of my life, they tend to stay out, especially when I've lost all hope that creating any sliver of a sustainably healthy relationship is possible. Anyway, tuneup in the new year.

Day - 740

Monday, December 27, 2021

Pretty busy at work, considering it's the day after Christmas. Lasagna for dinner. It's cold outside. Sales upon sales in my email inbox. Last week of the year and then onto a new year that will either be different from 2021 or very much the same. Actually, I had a good year, perhaps because I went full-on friends & family travel mode after my second vaccine kicked in. It was depressing back in late-July when Delta creeped in, shutting things down, and now it's Omicron's turn. But fortunately, I was able to fly to Vegas twice, North Carolina once, Calgary once, Bellingham twice and Arizona once, often while working. Alice hasn't flown yet...maybe next year.

Day - 741

Sunday, December 26, 2021

My fantasy team simply destroyed Steve's team in the semis, so I'm heading to the finals this week. Love it, considering I had a dog team last year.

Day - 742

Saturday, December 25, 2021 - Merry Christmas!

A very quiet, but thoroughly satisfying Christmas day in which I baked butter tarts and Alice cooked a scrumptious roast beef. I whipped up some fab mashed potatoes and we cooked panko oysters in the air fryer. Along with greens and a choice bottle of red wine that Austin got in Napa a few months ago, this was a super sweet low key Christmas that I'll think back on with such warm memories.

Liz brought over an assortment of cookies for dessert. Not that I needed any, but along with the pumpkin pie and butter tarts, we were set after dinner.

Day - 743

Friday, December 24, 2021

We took our chances and went out for sushi on Christmas Eve, enjoying a wonderful meal at Nakama Sushi on Franklin St. Very good!

Wagyu beef on hot stone

Sashimi 10 piece...delicious!

Amy bought us Schubert bakery goods, which we had for dessert. Wonderful!

Day - 744

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Day - 745

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Day - 746

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Day - 747

Monday, December 20, 2021

Day - 748

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Spent the afternoon with Dorian and Mia in Rio Vista. Wonderful lunch. Great time was had by all!

Potato Pie...yum!

Day - 749

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Brunch with Jay and Cecilia at Delancy Street Cafe. So nice!

with Jay & Cecilia...such a sunny day

so good!

Day - 750

Friday, December 17, 2021

Dinner at Damn Fine Pizza on Judah. It was damn good all right!

New slippers from Jill & Tom. Sweet!

Day - 751

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Back to West Coast time. Getting ready for the holidays. Lots of great books purchased this year for the Youngs:

for Ari & Connor

for Lisa

for Miles & Maddie

for Richard

for Sophie

for Trey & Chellon

Day - 752

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Thinking about all the messaging that went into the U.S. Department of Slavery before that institution was dissolved and all that messaging shifted into the U.S. Department of Whiteness. 12 generations of messaging is a lot of messaging, and that's just the messaging up through the Civil War. Then there's another five generations of Jim Crow messaging. That's on my mind today.

Day - 753

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Still on East Coast time. Work picking up. Reading some Colson Whitehead. Great writer!

North Carolina Days

December 3 - 13, 2021

Boarded my American Airlines flight to Charlotte, NC early in the a.m., flying 1st class there and back for not much more that economy. At that age where it makes a big difference when flying coast-to-coast.

Met Jill in Charlotte and we headed to our hotel for the night, just across the street from dinner at Dogwood: A Southern Table.

Everything was so good. We had a wonderful meal and chatted all night until it was time for bed. What a treat hanging out with my dear sister.

Saturday morning we headed to Whispering Pines and for the rest of the week I stayed with Jill and Tom at their beautiful Christmas home.

Hanging out with Alex and Hayden was so much fun. What great kids. 16 and 13, it's weird to think how long ago those ages were for me. But I remember them. I don't miss them at all. Love being a fun uncle. I never tire of that role.

with Alex (16)

with Hayden (13)

Trusty Buster

Alex's Orchesta Concert

Dining Out my last night in NC

Such an amazing week. And the best part is I was able to work my regular hours, give or take an hour here and there. This is my working life from now on, visiting family from all parts of the country without taking many vacation days. Gotta love it!

Day - 754

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Packing. Tidying up.

Day - 755

Wednesday, December 2, 2021

Plowed through all of Get Back. Had to.

Day - 756

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Time to get going on Christmas cards. I haven't started yet, but really need to send out this year. I think I've missed the past two years.

Work was steady but by the end of the day I was all caught up. Did a load of wash in preparation for NC.

Watched the Knicks lose to the Nets and then the Warriors lose to the Suns. Curry was off and the entire team just didn't have it. Can't win 'em all.

Joined Disney+ and started Get Back...oh yeah!

Day - 757

Monday, November 29, 2021

Busy from the beginning, then quieting down in the afternoon. We haven't yet replaced the floor downstairs, so I'm still in the dining room with my laptop and screens. Lots of little projects this week. I have until Friday to get caught up. 5 p.m. admin meeting, our last of the year. 2022 will be full of activity and action. Chickens are looking good!

Day - 758

Sunday, November 28, 2021

A wonderful day in Sausolito visiting Michael and Patty Bell.

Lunch with Michael & Patty

Alice and her new hat!

4000 Days of Writing