notes to self

Rachel Maddow

2009-10-30T09:27:00.001-07:00

Recently some friends on facebook reminded me of a photo I took long ago (sometime in the 1990s)

Rome, 9/24 - 9/28

2009-10-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

When we got to Rome, we were both pretty well exhausted, and there was a lot to do and see.

Mixed in with contemporary culture there is so much fabulous art and history everywhere I could not possibly absorb it all.

Of course while we were there we had to visit the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica.

Michelangelo's Pieta is there. Breathtaking!

We were walking along in a cute smallish foreign neighborhood, and suddenly came upon the Roman Forum, built over 2000 years ago. They are still excavating parts of it.

This beautifully carved pillar tells the stories of many conquests. I didn't take the time to examine it carefully.

Another beautiful pillar I wish I could examine carefully, experience closely, live with.

I wonder if the Oakland Coliseum shares anything besides the name?

This is one famous Roman fountain designed and built by Bernini. I was able to look closely at it, and it is incredibly beautiful. The figures are larger than life, and so graceful, carved of stone.

We stayed near Santa Maria Trastevere piazza. Every evening all the people would come hang out and stroll around. It was quite charming and far better than television.

This was our host in Rome, David, our neighbor's cousin. He let us stay in his apartment in the Trastevere neighborhood. A wonderful man, he is very enthusiastic about his chosen home, and knows a lot of details about the history and culture. Unfortunately, though, he could only be there with us the last night we were there. If I ever return to Rome, I would love to spend a few days with him, to see the city through his eyes.

One thing David hates about his city is the graffiti everywhere. I liked this little pig with wings across from his front door. It was a comfort to know I was not still really lost (as I often felt while I was there).

Florence

2009-10-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

We visited Florence from September 20th to 24th.

Brian had rented an apartment.

On September 21st I posted to my blog, "In an apartment in Florence, Brian's making espressos, the washer is spinning outside the door, and we're playing a song game. We're all singing songs featuring one word. It's so casual and comfortable. Vacation has kicked in, about a week ago.

Great!"

We toasted his mother, Gail's, 70th birthday, and I emailed her this photo from my iPhone.

Florence overwhelmed me at first. I had never experienced anything that compares with the convergence of history, art and architecture, and contemporary culture, not even in Paris.

The Duomo from the top of the Campanile.

The Pieta on a wall.

Ancient Gold Doors

Piccolo Gay Bar

One night we came upon a rock concert/Mafia protest.

I was awed by this Midici Ceiling.

It was almost too much.
By the time we left for Rome, Erin and I were exhausted!

The Cinque Terre

2009-10-18T16:30:00.000-07:00

We stayed in Montoroso al Mare on the Cinque Terre September 16th to the 20th. The above photo shows the view from our balcony of Hotel Porto Roca.

The Cinque Terre is a lovely area on the dramatic west coast of Italy, comprised of 5 small charming villages.

Brian and Jack joined us there.

We hiked between several of the villages.

And we enjoyed swimming in the salty sea.

Santa Margherita Ligure

2009-10-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

From September 12 - 16 we were in Santa Margherita Ligure on the Italian Riviera.
It was very relaxing.

Venice, Italy

2009-10-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

From September 8 - 12 Erin and I visited fantastic Venice Italy. We took the water taxi from the airport to the hotel, and the only word for that experience: EXHILIRATING!

Venice is indeed fantastic, as if created for a fairy tale a long time ago, made into a movie set, and then here we are, in it! Absolutely beautiful.

Our friend hooked us up with her friends, Cathie and Diego, who is a gondolier.

Between May and September

2009-10-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

Between May at the Oakland Y and September in Italy, many things happened.

In April I visited Linda Sue and Teryl in San Miguel Allende, Mexico. It was fabulous, but with my arthritic hip it was painful for me to get around on all those cobblestone streets.

Towards the end of May, Erin and I visited Monica and Kathleen in Seattle. Again, arthritis was aching. But Seattle is beautiful, and it was sunny and warmer than in Oakland.

June 3, I had my arthritic right hip replaced at Kaiser Hospital, Oakland. Despite dire warnings to the contrary, the Kaiser care was excellent, beyond my wildest imagination. I did a lot of exercise beforehand, and physical therapy afterward, but what a relief to get rid of that old thing.

In July, Michael and Kirsten came by for an overnight visit with their four adorable kids. I set up the tent in the backyard, and a few of them camped out there. FUN!

My long-ago Quincy friend, Arnold Mitchum, contacted me through facebook. In August he came to San Francisco with his band. They were great! And it was nice to see him again.

2009-09-21T01:09:00.000-07:00

In an apartment in Florence, Brian's making espressos, the washer is spinning outside the door, and we're playing a song game. We're all singing songs featuring one word. It's so casual and comfortable. Vacation has kicked in, about a week ago.

Great!

Santa Margheurita Legure

2009-09-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

W've been in Venice. We've been on the Legurian Sea. Tomorrow we go to Cinque Terre. When we get home I'll post photos. All's I want right now is espresso.

My gym, Part 2

2009-05-06T14:16:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I spoke too soon. Three days ago when Erin and I were at the gym together, a woman fell in the showers, and her blood scared another woman who alarmed us all. It was chaos, and scary, but I think she just had a bloody nose. Then two days ago as I left, some woman was laying in the entry way with all these people around her, putting a cloth to her face. And today, in the pool, this woman, who doesn't swim very well, dislocated her shoulder. And she doesn't speak English very well. After my shower, as I got to my locker, naked, 3 emergency workers came in to our locker room, men, to attend to her, and took her away in their ambulance.

I hope my mother was right when she frequently insisted that these things always happen in threes, because then I can go back to just enjoying my gym time. In all of these occurrences, the Y staff has been very professional. It's not that; it's just the feeling of emergency, the fragility of a body. The idea that something can happen any time. That whole thing about threes, I always thought it was just unfounded in scientific proof, like witchcraft, but I do hope it's true in this case.

My gym

2009-05-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

I love my gym, downtown Oakland YMCA. Thing I love is the community there. The people are interesting and friendly. There's the locker room people: Phyllis, Mz West, that Latino woman with all the pharmaceutical drugs spilling out of her bag, the older woman from my neighborhood, the tall skinny black woman who has the locker across from mine. And there's the pool people: Faz, from Iran - he hurt his back, and there's no cure, so he swims every day; Chris - he's a poet and plays keyboard, knows some old songs I grew up with, Laura Nyro and Association; Mary, a sprightly 70-something woman with a friendly perky energy who used to be a runner and has had both her hips replaced. There's also the really fat, beautiful young black woman who talks the whole time she walks with other black water-walkers. They kind of bug me because they take up so much room and walk real slow, but I just go around them and we've gotten accustomed to smiling a greeting. The woman about my age who lost one leg from the knee down swims every day, and has a nice smile. I don't know how she keeps her attitude 'up.' I dislike the water aerobics classes. I just like to do my thing in the pool. That's why I don't much like the lifeguards. There is some rule a person cannot walk and swim in the same lane. And that makes the lifeguards evil in my book, enforcers. So I walk in the pool, because I can't play around and learn how to swim. But water-walking is a great stretch for my back and legs. I always feel better afterwards, though I frequently get really cold later in the day. Guess it lowers my body temp. The Y staff is also interesting, though I don't interact with them much, just to swipe my membership card, and say, "Good morning." The classes are generally fun. I used to love love love the yoga class, but downward facing dog and child's pose were killing me as my arthritic hip continued to degenerate. I had to stop. Too bad because I loved the teacher Carrie, and the other attendees were also interesting. Especially the group from Creative Growth, the center up the block for people with learning disabilities. The leader of the group in yoga class, Gina I think her name is, she even competes in Special Olympics and is pretty cool, very friendly and outspoken.

I tried to publish this yesterday, but blogger just wasn't functional then.

Thoughts on Arizona

2009-03-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the month, we went to visit Erin's dad, Pete, and his wife, Ann, where they've been spending their winters in a gated community in Mesa, Arizona.

It's a little circular trailer park called 'Venture Out'.

They live in a postage-stamp size double-wide, with an "Arizona Room" addition, ie an enclosed porch. All the nearly identical trailers are neatly arranged fanning out in a circle, their fronts are decorated with all kinds of plaster animals, gnomes, plastic flowers, and various cacti. I decided if we lived in that eco-system, I would choose the palo verde tree, the Ocotillo cactus, and the delicious orange trees. Also jojoba, the female of which makes the oily berry so good for our skin.

We stayed in Mesa two nights, and I didn't sleep well either one tho I took Melatonin. The dreams! On the last night I dreamed I died (probably from hip surgery). Nite mares!

Laying in bed, I thought or dreamed long and hard about choosing to live surrounded by people like yourself, rather than mix it up with a widely diverse mindset. About how this is somewhat closed-minded and prevents some kinds of movement. But there is a sort of comfort in it, a reinforcement in feeling like I am, or one is, OK. Later, my friend talked with me about this idea and pointed out it's not just ideals that bring similar thinking people together, it's also similar income levels, similar education, similar resources, similar needs. In retrospect, in some ways, that gated trailer park retirement community in Mesa, Arizona seems somewhat idyllic. Everybody is of a certain income level, age group, rides around in golf carts, gets together for social activities, understands aging concerns and health issues.

I just liked the look of this hotel we passed walking down the road one day. (abandoned hotel)

Caged birds

2009-03-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

The woman at the pet food store said: Pets have the best lives. Well, maybe cats and dogs, but certainly not fish or birds. Fish have to swim in their own excrement. Caged birds cannot fly.

What a difference a year makes

2009-02-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

Oh what a difference a year makes!

I feel so much joy this year, especially compared to my raw anxiety during our remodel.

Believe it or not, we moved back in last February 28th.

What a relief! I am surrounded by so much beauty, my heart rests. I am grateful just to be alive right here right now.

2009-02-10T12:54:00.000-08:00

Tilden Park looks particularly beautiful in the rain.

This Thanksgiving, dinner was quiet, beautiful. We have decided we do not like turkey. Makes us both sick to our stomachs.

Castro theatre is a fabulous place to see a great movie, anytime of the year.

Erin's family came for a visit. Those kids are so adorable!

We went to Mendocino County to visit our dear friends, Paula and Mike.

The winter garden is actually full of flowers, spectacular in the dormant landscape.

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-01-20T19:23:00.000-08:00

To think that 143 years ago, Americans still kept human slaves, and 50 years ago, President Obama's father would not be served in a restaurant in Washington DC, this is a momentous day, indeed.

I Have a Dream

2009-01-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was a very great man. Even today, I enjoy celebrating Martin Luther King every year, with a cd of his speeches and a documentary film of his life. It's such profound timing, the first black President of the United States, a day after the celebration of the greatest civil rights leader, another black man. I remember when MLK lived, and when he was assassinated. The world still reels under the influence of divisive influences, but I am very optimistic the Obama election represents a wave moving in a healing direction, for all the future generations.

32-20 Blues

2008-12-31T15:45:00.000-08:00

Note to Will Scarborough, Pacific Northwest

2008-12-04T13:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Will,
No sorry I don't remember you, but I'd be most happy to make contact. Please email me chloe at sbc global . net with your contact info, and let's catch up. Are you buying property up there in Quincy?

ps: You mean that guy's name was not 'Dumboz?'
Thanks,
Chloe

Chloe Atkins

2008-12-04T10:27:00.001-08:00

Several people invite me to join their social network on the internet, for instance friendster was an early one, and most recently facebook. And I get a lot of junk email indicating a Chloe Atkins presence on facebook. So today I checked it out, and all these people are identified as Chloe Atkins on facebook.

Who woulda' thunk? When I was a little girl in the 1950s and '60s, nobody had ever even heard of the name Chloe, much less pronounce it or spell it correctly. Now it's confusing who is the real Chloe Atkins. I mean, if my name were Jane or Mary . . .

caveware

2008-11-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

Given the passage of Prop 8, I have to admit it’s been challenging this year to focus on being thankful. The days since the passage of Prop 8 have been difficult and painful. It was a loss for all who cherish fairness and equality.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has faced the unprecedented experience of having fundamental rights eliminated by a majority of voters in California. There is a very good reason why, as a nation, we have not put the rights of a minority up for popular vote — this is an outcome which mars the dignity not only of our lives, but also of the democratic process.

But as challenging as the last several weeks have been, I have found many things to be thankful for.

The support from so many of our allies who have joined with us to overturn Prop 8 has been inspiring. Prop 8 defeats the very purpose of our constitution, which is to protect minorities and to make sure the law treats everyone equally. The California Supreme Court has accepted our case challenging Prop 8 and we continue to believe that the Supreme Court will do the right thing and overturn this unconstitutional Proposition.

Aside from marriage inequality and the feelings I have around homophobia in general, I am very happy. I have a loving wonderful wife who shares my commitment to a long and cherished life together. Chances are, we will be able to remain 'married' at least in the state of California, no matter what the Supreme Court decides on Proposition 8. We enjoy good health. We have a beautiful, comfortable, and safe home. Our yard and neighborhood are comfortable and comforting. We eat well, and are fortunate to have many interesting friends.

Happy Thanksgiving

Another Random Act of Kindness

2008-11-26T16:39:00.000-08:00

Our neighbor, Marsha Balian, gave us one of her cool sculptures for a wedding present.

Big Daddy

2008-11-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

Thinking of you today Adam

November 28, 1947 - November 25, 2005

Santa Barbara getaway

2008-11-19T11:26:00.000-08:00

Erin took me on a quick getaway last week to Santa Barbara. As we were driving in, the enormous full moon filled the twilight.

We stayed at the 4 Seasons, a big hotel on the beach with a beautiful tropical botanical garden right outside our room.

One night, as we were driving to dinner, we saw a fire start up the road from the restaurant. It burned for 3 or 4 days, destroying hundreds of homes and acres of landscaping. Later we learned that Santa Barbara County has no water rationing in spite of the drought.

Still, we enjoyed our little vacation.