Rain

Since March 1st it's rained 36 days in San Francisco, breaking a 102-year-old record. All I'm doing is working anyway. But I'm going to go outside soon to see what washed up on the beach today.

Money from a Teenager's Perspective

I mean, when I grow up, I'm certainly not going to hesitate to spend my money in ways I want. I don't believe in "saving" money just to "save" it. What is money? If I get sick, they'll take care of me. And if they don't, I'll die. We have to live in the present. Don't save anything for a rainy day.

from my journal when I was 16. My only question now is, who the heck is "they"?

More Cats

Money and My Mom

When my mom moved into the assisted living apartment, we needed to sell her car. I emailed Susan, another pal from jr. high, to ask her if she knew anyone who might be interested in buying it. She said her daughter Marie might be interested. I drove over with all the paperwork, and Our Franklin, Marie's dad, went over the car with a fine-toothed comb. Marie drove it and decided that she was interested in buying it. I asked her to think about it, and to make me an offer. She thought about it for a day or two, and called me back.

"How does $900 sound?" she asked. "That sounds fine," I said. Then I remembered that I should probably check with my mom, since it was her car after all. I told mom that Marie had offered $900 for the car. My mom said, "Oh. I never expected to get THAT much for it." "What would you like me to sell it for?" "$700 would be fine." So I had to call Marie back and ask if she would still be interested at the new price.

Money and Hair

Flying back to San Francisco, I saw at least 20 newpapers in people's laps with Donald Trump's photo in view. He had been paid $1.5 million the night before to give a one-hour speech.

If you could choose, would you rather have the hair you have now (or the hair you don't have now), along with the amount of money you have now–or would you rather have the amount of money he has, the only stipulation being that for as long as you had the money, you would have to wear your hair exactly like his?

Tennessee Radio

Chattanooga has a great radio station: WUTC 88.1. Every time I'm there driving my rental car, I discover a fantastic song. Have you heard "Postcard from Mexico" by Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch & Fats Kaplin? Download it right away and you'll have lots of fun for 99 cents.

Money Spent! Happiness!

I made it to a Target and bought a camera. When I learn how to focus it, I'll be in business.

This is my mom. She's 85. When she was a kid, she had a dog named Ling. She's holding a ceramic picture she made of him.

She made these bracelets and necklaces in crafts class.



p.s. I had a great time seeing Gwen, my pal from jr. high, last night. But she refused to see Basic Instinct 2 with me. I know she's just paying me back for last year when we were trying to decide what movie to see, and I graciously let her decide. When she suggested Phantom of the Opera, I insisted, "Anything OTHER than Phantom of the Opera."

Ordering Chinese Food

Last night I went by our favorite Chinese restaurant in Chattanooga, which is owned by Germans. I ordered the Peking shrimp for my mom, and chicken with snow peas for my sister. I was craving black bean sauce. It wasn't on the menu, but I asked if there was any way they could make tofu with black bean sauce. They said they were sorry, but that dish wasn't available.

I said, "Oh, OK. Just thought I'd ask."

I really wanted a big bowl of tofu with black bean sauce. After looking over the menu for another minute or two, I was a pest. I said, "Oh God. Are you sure you can't put together a black bean tofu dish for me?"

"No. We can't do that. Not unless we make the chicken with black bean sauce and leave out the chicken. And SUBSTITUTE tofu."

"That would be great."

Is the Dalai Lama Fat?

My mom lives in an assisted living complex, and every Friday a guy comes to teach a Tai Chi class to all the people who live there. If I happen to be here, I go with her to the class. Yesterday the teacher brought in a CD of the Dalai Lama chanting, and the last ten minutes of class were spent doing movements to his chants. He started out with something like "OMMMMMMMMM"...

The class stays seated, but still, it was amazing to see this circle of elderly people moving so gracefully to the chanting.

After it was over, one suspicious woman demanded: "Was that REALLY the Dalai Lama? Where did you GET that."

Another woman: "But what was he trying to SAY?"

Then the woman sitting across from me asked: "Is the Dalai Lama fat?"

Vending Machine Jewelry

I'm in Chattanooga, Tennessee, visiting my mom. Sunday I'll get to see my best friend from junior high, Gwen. I might get to see Susan, too.

from Gwen:
O.K. let me know what time you want to come over. do you watch TOP CHEF?
you know its set in S.F.

to Gwen:
Oh! I don't know what that is. Is it good? Would you rather go out to dinner and see Basic Instinct 2? It's set in S.F. too. I know that Tom would never go with me; and you know how interested I am in psychiatrists.

I took my mom to her psychiatrist, Dr Kim, today and actually went in the room with her and sat through her app't with her so I could observe him. Later at Bi-Lo, I ran into Dr. Kim as he was coming out. I jumped up and down and waved and shouted, "HI DOCTOR KIM!" He whispered "eh." It might have been "ugh."

I raced into TJ Maxx just now and found some great bargains. Lipstick that makes your lips puff way up (we can wear it Sunday). A red beaded book for you. Did I tell you that recently I'm making an effort to buy girls' clothes AND shoes other than tennis shoes--but never can quite get it right. I bought a pair of patent leather loafers for $20. (A $90 value). When I got back to my room and put them on, then put my foot up on the dresser so I could see them in the mirror, they looked like pimp shoes.

Which reminds me–I saw a vending machine in the entrance to Bi-Lo after I accosted Dr. Kim, that for 2 quarters would dispense a plastic egg with jewelry inside. The best ones were gold necklaces with huge dollar signs dangling from them, encrusted with rhinestones. Suddenly I wanted one so bad! I shoved 2 quarters in the slot, but the egg that popped out was a disappointment. It held a thin chain with an almost tastefully embossed dollar sign on a tiny golden disk. I didn't have any more quarters or I would have tried for a bigger gaudier one that looked like a hood ornament. My sister and I have an app't with my mom's financial advisor tomorrow at 10:00. Maybe we can stop at Bi-Lo on the way and try again. It would be great to be able to wear it to the meeting. Then later I can wear it to the symphony.

A Little Color

This weblog needs a little color. I haven't had a camera for a week and a half. First Tom was out of town, and took his camera with him. Now I'm out of town, and Tom kept his camera with him. He thinks he's the boss of everything, including his own camera. As soon as I can make it to a Target, I'm going to buy a little camera.

Money Trying Hard to Buy Happiness

On the plane from San Francisco to Chicago, there were 3 boys back from our war, wearing small purple hearts on their warrior jackets. One boy had one leg; two had no legs. Two had head injuries. The one sitting in front of me had half a skull, though short dark hair covered the indention. His mom sat across the aisle from him and helped him with his metal leg. He covered his head with a blanket to sleep. His body shook.

His mom gave him money for headphones for the movie. He gave money to the flight attendant; the flight attendant took it, then thought better of it, and handed it back. Another flight attendant came by selling boxes of snacks and foisted one on him and one on his mom. Right after he finished the snack box, another flight attendant rushed up to him and cheerfully asked: "Do you want some pancakes from the front of the plane?" The boys looked too young to be offered drinks.