Kathy's Blog
Photo by Patrick Boucher on Unsplash
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Time confusion this morning. Clocks do not reflect the sun rise.
I am still reading about the Beatles. Really the book is about the times, 50’s, 60’s and today. My times.
More Jim Gaffigan and Mike Birbiglia stand up comedy from netflix. At my house we are in the mood for raucous laughter. Life is just too difficult to be serious.
I am riding my exercise bike for twenty minutes a day. Yesterday I listened to Yo Yo Ma during the exercise time. The day before I listened to Joy to the Polls. I love spotify.
Sunday, July 12, 2020
I am tired of being the adult in the room. Trying to sleep last night fantasies of letting someone else lock up the house, take out the garbage, decide what is safe to do, arose over and over again. I am tired of stay in place orders.
At Trader Joes early Saturday morning I saw two people I knew, inspite of their masks. We jumped for joy and gave each other air hugs. Refugees of this virus.
Finished the two books, and now to decide which of my many books I am going to read now.
Two mourning doves call to each other at dawn before the regular birds arrive.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Driving in heavy traffic from Castroville in the early evening I was followed by a ghost car, a car with no lights on. I could see the outline of the car from the other cars’ lights.
The woman cutting my hair yesterday suggested that I would look better with lipstick. I haven’t worn lipstick for decades.
The impeachment hearings continue. I can only watch for short periods of time. Of course, my mind is already made up.
I gave a bunch of New York Times book reviews to a friend who is looking for something good to read.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Saw a documentary film about a temple priest in Japan who works with people who are suicidal. THE DEPARTURE, Amazon Prime. In Japanese with sub titles. No easy answers. We all struggle with how to live. Quite a moving film.
At Safeway Saturday morning I have a cart full of heavy groceries. I ask the clerk for help in loading the car. No one comes. Finally a young man waiting in line says he will help me. He leaves his girlfriend behind to pay for their groceries. He takes my bags and loads them into the car. Such kindness.
Paid the last of my bills for 2019. New bills will come. I stick to checks and envelops and stamps.
I move through my emails this morning and delete most before I read them.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
If I knew the names of the birds I could talk about their visit to the bottle bush tree outside my window this morning.
I have nothing planned for today, nothing. I can do whatever I want.
I am reading a second book by Anthony Horowitz called THE SENTENCE IS DEATH. He wrote the TV series Foyles War.
Friends came by last night and we caught up with the stories of our lives. The conversation became heated when we came to politics. Although we mostly agree I don’t think we can predict what will happen next. Life turns on a dime and we haven’t found that dime yet.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Myra Goodman gave a wonderful talk at Brown Bag Zen on Friday. I listened with wonder about her book on her father healing from his experience in the Holocaust. And I feel this way about all the weekly talks.
My children scared me when they were young adults as they found ways to live their lives. Now it is my turn to scare them as I live my life as an old person.
I turned off the news last night. Enough talk. I watched an episode of THE CROWN from Netflix.
My car is dirty again. It just doesn’t stay clean and uncluttered. Sort of like my house.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
It is not quite 5 in the dark afternoon. I close my curtains and turn on the lights. I am beginning to think what I will eat for dinner.
I read in my room in the evening. A fog horn sounds in the distance. An airplane flies low over the house. It feels late. The clock says 8:30. Too early for bedtime.
When I go to bed at 11 my eyes are wide open. I just finished a disturbing mystery by Michael Connelly. The story keeps playing in my mind as I shift my body to get comfortable.
The sun is out at my house this Sunday morning and the fog horn keeps blowing. Am I missing something?
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Listened to a leaf blower during morning meditation at McGowan house. droned on and on. Sigh.
Met a friend for writing but I couldn’t write because I was distracted by family issues. I can’t just turn on the writing voice whenever I want.
I have three books going now and I am beginning to mix up their stories. Characters are migrating from one book to another.
I am going to load up my car this morning to take a bunch of stuff to last chance mercantile tomorrow.
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In the late fall, twenty five years ago, I fell in love with an ordinary tree in the dining room patio at Tassajara. This tree suddenly, without my noticing, turned its green leaves into bright yellow leaves, a yellow I had never seen in leaves before. We took turns bathing in this luminous tree. Then, the leaves fell to the ground and slowly turned brown. I still love this tree.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
There is an orange tint in the light Saturday afternoon as the sun struggles through the smoke.
Sat in silence at the McGowan house zendo this morning for a Jukai zen ceremony. A time of stillness with friends.
Before going to sleep I plan an evacuation bag. What would I need? I am not in danger at this time but danger could come quickly. I hear sirens from the fire station most of the night. No wind here.
Hard to settle down and read when I just want to check the news on facebook and the well one more time. Sunday morning, a burnt orange sunrise. Cold. Turned on heater.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Heater is on, sun is just coming up from the eastern hills. Last evening was warm enough for doors and windows to stay open.
The wild flock of birds is gone, now we have the gleaners picking through the leftover berries.
Before my friend arrives yesterday afternoon, I make the popcorn with butter and salt. We sit outside on the deck before watching two episodes of MODERN ROMANCE on Amazon Prime. Very satisfying.
The weekly email from Lit Hub comes on Saturdays. I scan through the articles and order new books from the library or on line. I don’t want to miss anything important. Hungry ghost land.