Saturday, May 31, 2008

Birthday Pie

From: Katy
Subject:
music and pie
Date: May 30, 2008 6:05:50 PM PDT

To:
Linda

... Other than that everthang's fine. I've eaten too many lunches at the Old Stage Restaurant; the pie the pie the pie...that man, Mike, can bake. I watched a woman in the next booth eating her pie. She was with 2 friends. The waitress came by to ask how things were, and she asked specifically about the pie. The woman with her mouth full of pie couldn't answer, but one of her friends explained She's purring like a kitten. She wasn't the only one. So, I'm sending mental/dream pie to you for your birthday. I hope you have a good time, whatever you do. I hear Blinky in the garbage, I'd better go investigate.

p.s. Katy sent me an amazingly wonderful CD by Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris called All The Roadrunning. Usually I have to listen to a CD several times before I know whether or not I like it. This one only took one listen.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Big Happiness

When we were returning our key at the lodge Thursday I saw this in the shop. Have you seen these? They're called Taxi wallets, and I've wanted one for years. And I discovered one in sick green, my favorite color.

But then I found out they were $50, so I jumped into the giant mini-van and we headed for home. Every few miles though, I would wonder: Have we gone too far to turn around and go back for the wallet?

When we got home, I had a birthday check for $50 in the mail from Tom's dad and Norma. Immediately I called the lodge and asked them to mail me the wallet. Since the lodge is right beside the post office, the wallet came the very next day.

It's a little thing that brings me big happiness. When I was a kid and got a new pair of shoes I would be so thrilled that I'd place the shoes right beside my bed at night so I could lie in bed and stare at them. To be honest, I still do that when I get a new pair of shoes.

I feel the same way about my new wallet. I put it by the bed last night so I could examine it before I went to sleep, and see it first thing this morning. Do you ever act this way?

Saturday, May 24, 2008

New Release

My client, Heidi, and Jorge Anaya wrote every song on this CD. I like all of them except for Hora de Limpiar.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

On The Path

Sea Ranch is a ten-mile stretch of land. A trail above the ocean runs the full ten miles. As well as flowers, you'll see all kinds of things on the path: deer, skunks, turkeys. Lots of birds live around here; and yesterday afternoon we looked down and counted 51 seals in one area.

No wi-fi on our path, though. I'm still racing into town for 15-minute bursts at the coffee shop.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Live And Learn

(phone call)

Me: Mom, Barbara and Larry are here with us.

Mom:
I remember Barbara and Larry. Didn't we eat a nice meal together once at a national park? And we had to wait and wait on our food.

Me:
Yes. I bet that was at Fall Creek Falls.


Mom:
Well! They've been together for many years now, haven't they?

Me:
I think ten or twelve years. (Barbara informed me later it had been nineteen.)

But Mom! You wouldn't believe how many years Tom and I have been together.

Mom:
How many?

Me:
Thirty-five.


Mom:
OH. That sounds like a terribly long time!

We've learned so much from being around Larry and Barbara these past few days. Things we never would have learned on our own–things we would never have picked up after years of counseling. One of the most exciting things they've taught us about is shown below:

Monday, May 19, 2008

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Barbara's New Phone

Barbara and I have been trudging all over Gualala this afternoon, searching in vain for wi-fi. We walked from Trinks coffee shop (closed at 4:00) to Cafe Lala (closed at 4:00) to the Copymart above Surf Grocery (closed on Sundays). We were getting in a very bad mood. The boys–it was if they could not have cared less whether we had wi-fi or not.

The wi-fi situation is not great at Sea Ranch on Sundays.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

The Mood Is Set

I'm writing a story for kids. I had never tried it out on anybody. We were having siesta after lunch and I was relaxed and I felt brave.

Me: Should I read you my story now? But you have to pretend you're a kid.

Tom: OK.
...Who am I again?


Me: You're a little kid.

Tom: What am I doing?

Me: You're getting ready to go to sleep.

Tom: Am I sick?

Thursday, May 15, 2008

For One Week






















Sea Ranch is our favorite place to vacation, because when we go on vacation what we're after is il bel far niente. Look who walked right by us this evening! This guy and seven of his friends.

Almost There

When we get to the Boat House (above) for fish tacos, we know we're on vacation. It's at the north end of Bodega Bay right next to Candy & Kites.

Did I tell you that the Nebulous died in the middle of downtown yesterday? So at the last minute we rented a mini-van for our trip, the only thing available at our neighborhood car rental. It doesn't look or feel "mini" to me. It's a monster, a Dodge Ram. And when I drive it, it has a very unwholesome effect on me. It makes me want to do bad things.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Lynda Barry

an image from Lynda Barry's new workbook What It Is

My favorite parts from the Sunday New York Times article by Carol Kino:

“I can go three weeks without leaving, or driving my car,” she said in a recent interview.

“I think of images as an immune system and a transit system,” she said; not only does working with them keep her emotions running smoothly, but it has also taken her to unexpected places. (As she told the class: “I am here in Pittsburgh because I drew a picture. And all of you are in this room because you saw this picture.”)

Perhaps she has memorialized childhood because she didn’t have much of one herself. By 16 Ms. Barry was virtually independent, supporting herself by working nights and weekends as a hospital janitor. “I lived at home,” she said, “but that was it.” The experience gave her great exposure to people’s stories. “I don’t think it was good for me, necessarily, but I saw stuff, and I grew up really, really fast. And I wrote all this really sad janitorial poetry.”

... Ms. Barry made it to college, where she struck up a long friendship with a fellow student, Matt Groening, the creator of “The Simpsons.” In those days Mr. Groening was editor of the school newspaper, and she was a reporter. As a self-described hippie, “I used to love to torment him because he looked really straight,” she said.










photo by Fred Milton


Lynda's voice, and more images from her new book

Sunday, May 11, 2008

New Trail

We started from Lincoln Blvd. near Baker Beach and walked almost to the bridge. We took a detour from the path (below).

If you continue on under the bridge and around, you'll come to the Warming Hut, my favorite spot. You can get coffee and a peanut butter & jelly sandwich and see the best views in the city.

Friday, May 09, 2008

In Treatment



Turn on your sound to hear my last therapy session word for word.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Carpet Sample

It's exasperating when the Nebulous is in use and I actually have to walk in order to get to my walking place. I stuff the earbuds in my ears and stomp down the street. But this color combination stopped me in my tracks.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Friday, May 02, 2008

Fun With Google




Have you noticed the new link at the top right of your iGoogle page? It's called Get artist themes. For a new lease on life, try it! It's almost as good as buying a new pair of tennis shoes. Make that several pairs of tennis shoes–because the themes change throughout the day. My favorite is Mark Frauenfelder's (shown above).

I just this minute realized that you can create your own iGoogle themes by going here! If you want, you can submit them to Google–there is no pay–but it's a place others might see your work, if you fall for things like that. (I do.)

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Just In from Hope Town


Tom van Dalen e-mailed us a batch of incredible photographs from Hope Town this morning. I need to figure out how I can post larger images–these tiny images don't do justice to his photos. Tom, are you still there? What did you have for dinner last night?