Thursday

I took Mom to the de Young Museum and made her buy lunch.
She took me to see An Inconvenient Truth and made me buy popcorn.










e-mail from Sal: how was al gore's movie?
Pal, I didn't really want to go see it. But my mom really did.
It was FANTASTIC.
It bugged me that I hadn't read one negative thing about it--that fact just made me want to not like it, being the twisted person I am. But it was incredibly good in every way. Al Gore was very likable, and funny. Not at all preachy.
I really really liked it. (Do you get the idea I liked it?)
I had lots of popcorn though.

Crissy Field

A clear day. A walk at Crissy Field. A cup of tea.
A madeleine. A bottle of wine. A bowl of peanuts. A dish of ice cream.
A stomach ache.

Best of Mail Award

There was a pile of mail for me when I got back. This package won the best of mail award hands down, and made me very happy.

Loocheeta, who you might know as Platitudinal, sent it! She wrote an illustrated story (cover shown below) about trying out my advice: "Never cook more than one dish at a time."

Small problem: her husband loves meat, her son is a vegan who doesn't appreciate spicy food, and she is a lover of spicy chili.











Thank you, 'Tude, for the wonderful box.

FAQ About my Mom

We made it to San Francisco late last night. Many people here see her and wonder: "What is this mysterious woman really like?"
• Is she a good traveler?
Yes. She didn't cry or throw food from her snack pack. On the way off the plane, she told the pilot that he had done a good job–that he had flown very smoothly.
• Is she proud of you?
Yes. After I crashed her wheelchair into the elevator door, she announced to everyone in the elevator that I was an artist.
• What's her favorite sport?
Table tennis. She won 3 gold medals in the Senior Olympics (over-80 age group). Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.
• What does she like to eat?
Watermelon, mint chocolate chip ice cream
• Political affiliation?
Former Republican, Strong Democrat
• Last book read?
Dave Barry Is from Mars and Venus

Travel

My flight from Charlotte to Chattanooga was cancelled. So by the time I finally made it to my old junior high pal Gwen's house, it was pretty late. Since she had to get up at 5:00 the next morning, she simply shoved a Dos Equis in my hand and pointed to my room. That's a good kind of friend to have.

This is the first trip I've taken in years without my laptop. I wasn't sure how that would feel. The first night at Gwen's, I dreamed about seeing it lying open on a table in her house. I went over to it, and in my dream I thought: "That's funny that I was so worried about being without it, because it must have been here with me all along." The dream made me feel good–like somehow all the heart and soul I had put into the computer was (in some form) still intact inside me, even 3,000 miles away from it.

Bye

©Linda Davick
I'm flying to Chattanooga early tomorrow morning to fetch my mom and fly back here with her. Plenty of adventures ahead, I'm sure.

Sick of Cooking But Not of Looking

Today I was riding the bus down Fillmore. I was wondering what to get Larry for his birthday. I saw a store window full of colorful things. (Most stores now are full of earth tones, aren't they?) I jumped off the bus at the next stop and ran back up the street to this store–Zinc Details. I found these plates. They're melamine.

Aren't they enough to make you want to get divorced and remarried–or married if you're not married–just so you can register for them?

I bought them for Larry's birthday, because he's already married and has a wife like me. Wait a minute. That doesn't sound right. I bought them for Larry because he likes food so much. He eats very slowly and needs something nice to look at underneath it all.

He doesn't sit down at the computer very often, so I think my secret is safe until his birthday.

But I was so exhilarated about the melamine plates that the sales guy could see my spirit expanding. He asked: "Are you visiting from out of town?"
I had to admit that I actually live here–that I was just acting this way because I rarely get out. And see new things. (I still have fear of leaving the house, but it's getting better.)

Phone Call

Guess who's coming to visit us next week!

"Hello, Tom? I'm just trying to get my brain together for this trip."
"Just get your body on the plane, and your brain will follow."
"Should I bring my social security card?"
"No–all you'll need is your photo i.d."
"And cash. What about cash? How much cash do you think I should bring?"
"Oh, maybe $100."
"That's what I was thinking. Well, I'll have to figure out how to get to the bank."
"Just wait for Linda to get there."
"Maybe I can get Mr. Ed to take me to the bank."
"That's too much trouble. Just wait for Linda to get there. She can take you on Monday."
"But Monday is a holiday!"
"Then I'll have Linda get some cash and bring it to you. Then you can write her a check."
"Are you sure that's OK?"
"Yes."
"But does Linda have any money?"
"Don't worry. She can get it from me. I would let you speak with her, but she's out walking."
"Why aren't you out walking with her?"
"I have a deadline tomorrow."
"Well I do hope she gets home soon."
"I'm sure she will. It's daylight here for another hour and a half."
"OoooooooooohKaaaaaaaaaaaay."

Shoes and Photos

This just in from my pal, Lee:
Two of my favorite things.
California Home+Design

A Sweet Encounter

I was jogging on the beach this evening. This kid flagged me down. She had an array of sand dollars laid out on her boogie board.
"Want one?" she asked. "They're free."
"Really?"
She nodded, but made it clear that I could choose only one.
I decided on the small white sand dollar. Then I remembered I had my camera, and asked her if I could take her picture holding it.

Another Mysterious Reject

© Linda Davick

I'm too tired to write, so I thought I would post another reject. Don't ask me why this sketch would be rejected for a "stained glass" coloring book! I thought "Breakdown" would make a smashing stained glass window. Picture it in the Notre Dame Cathedral with the sunlight filtering through.

Multiple Choice

© Linda Davick
If you could spend the rest of your life either:
A. Cooking
or
B. Drawing Bugs
...which would you choose?

I would choose B. But I'm starting to enjoy A once in a while.
p.s. A is what I cooked last night, when I ended up kicking the cabinet.