I told you guys I was trying to learn to how to post links on my blog. Here's my first one, to the Osher events calendar. osher.csusb.edu/events
Monday, January 29, 2018
Sunday, January 28, 2018
The Bridge Boys Come to Palm Springs
It has become an annual tradition. Tom, Dennis and John (collectively affectionately referred to as The Bridge Boys) and I play kitchen bridge every two weeks or so in Vancouver. And once a year, they come to Palm Springs for three days of non-stop bridge.
Well, that is not exactly accurate. We do stop to eat. A lot. Tom loves to cook, and I've got a great kitchen for it. And every year, I try to introduce them to my new favourite local restaurant. This year, it was Sammy G's...
For those of you who don't remember, this is Tom (we first connected in law school, and have been playing bridge - and going to the theater - ever since) ...
....John (we can't remember whether we started playing in the 80's or the 90's). Anyway, it was a long time ago), now a neighbor as well as a friend and sometimes bridge partner...
....and finally, Dennis, who is determined to make a good bridge player of me yet. And if anyone can do it, he can...
The meal at Sammy G's was wonderful, as always (the calamari appetizer is to die for, and I am very fond of the veal picatta (sp?). We had different meals, but by all accounts they were all terrific, as was the service.
The boys left on Wednesday, and I decompressed by sitting on the patio with a drink and my friend....
Note the brilliant sunshine (eat your heart out, Vancouver)....
Further note the meally worms on the ground. If I don't get them out quickly enough, I get one of his croaks, saying "come on, now...."
This was actually Ricky. Parents Ozzie and Harriet were by earlier, by I didn't get the camera out quickly enough.
Thursday, I went to my first class of the winter semester (because of the company, I missed the first session of two others, but will catch up next week). This one is called "The Austrian Woman, taught by neighbor Vinnie, previously described.
Here he is...
He has written a book by the same name, which (I am sure you clever folks have already figured it out) is about Marie Antoinette. He is incredible knowledgeable, not to mention personable and engaging. It is going to be tremendously enjoyable. (I, of course, got an autographed copy of the book.)
I will fill you in on the other classes next week.
Decided to get started on my "must see" list of movies as well - lots to catch up to before the Oscars in March - and started with Call Me By Your Name. the gay coming-of-age movie that has received a bunch of nominations and has generated lots of good buzz. Once again, I am an outlier. Oh, the movie was pretty, all right - what is not to like about seeing the Italian countryside in summer in slow motion - but (pace Hank, who loved them) coming of age stories to me - gay or otherwise - are only of interest to the people coming of age. To me, it was entirely sweet, entirely predictable, and completely boring. Thoughts, anyone?
Friday, I was back to my regular bridge schedule, a private (relatively - there are seven of us) lesson in the morning and playing with friend Robin in the afternoon. Most of you have read about her previously, but I know at least some of you - I am talking to you, Rick - like to see her pretty face, so....
Not fair, is it? She was drop-dead gorgeous in law school (where she did not get an opening hand for our entire first year), she is still drop-dead gorgeous, and, to make matters worse, she is smart and nice as well. I am lucky to have her for a friend - and a bridge partner.
Saturday is my regular game with Alex - and we came in first in our section, giving us both bragging rights an a few master points. Yay, team! Not so lucky in the afternoon, though, losing one Scrabble game to Marvin and tying the next. We enjoy our game afternoons, though, and it is wonderful to have added Geoff and Marvin to my growing list of friends in Palm Springs.
And just to end the day, Gerry (also known as The Juke Box Man) came to my place for dinner. To recap, I met him originally at mutual friend Julie's wedding in - 2006? We reconnected through a dating web site, not that we really ever dated, and have since become fast, if infrequently seen, friends. Our lives cross both in Vancouver, and here in the desert.
Not a bad little dinner, either, if I do say so myself. I have been cooking a lot more these days, and find that I am enjoying it immensely. Let's see if I can keep it up in my much-smaller kitchen in Vancouver. In any event, it had been way too long, and it was great to catch up.
Finally, today was the annual meeting of our bridge organization; in addition to business, lunch was served and, of course, bridge was played. A played with a new partner for the first time. The results were, predictably, awful, but it was quite festive, and a good time was had by all.
What else can I tell you? I finally finished the book on the Romanov's The Afterward was probably the most interesting part of the book, the basic these of which was that the Romanovs may be gone, but the autocratic rule is still here. As for the Romanovs, they were as sexually active and morally deficient group as ever ruled an empire.
Next up, The Austrian Woman. I have read more than one book on Marie Antoinette, but I am taking the class, after all; I owe it to Vinnie to read it.
Word of the day? Churlish. I use it a lot, as in "my life is so benign, it would be churlish of me to complain". I don't know, I just like the sound of it
I am amazingly content. Whatever else is going on in the world, my life IS pretty benign., It would, indeed, be churlish of me to complain, and I feel no need to do so.
Well, that is not exactly accurate. We do stop to eat. A lot. Tom loves to cook, and I've got a great kitchen for it. And every year, I try to introduce them to my new favourite local restaurant. This year, it was Sammy G's...
For those of you who don't remember, this is Tom (we first connected in law school, and have been playing bridge - and going to the theater - ever since) ...
....John (we can't remember whether we started playing in the 80's or the 90's). Anyway, it was a long time ago), now a neighbor as well as a friend and sometimes bridge partner...
....and finally, Dennis, who is determined to make a good bridge player of me yet. And if anyone can do it, he can...
The meal at Sammy G's was wonderful, as always (the calamari appetizer is to die for, and I am very fond of the veal picatta (sp?). We had different meals, but by all accounts they were all terrific, as was the service.
The boys left on Wednesday, and I decompressed by sitting on the patio with a drink and my friend....
Note the brilliant sunshine (eat your heart out, Vancouver)....
Further note the meally worms on the ground. If I don't get them out quickly enough, I get one of his croaks, saying "come on, now...."
This was actually Ricky. Parents Ozzie and Harriet were by earlier, by I didn't get the camera out quickly enough.
Thursday, I went to my first class of the winter semester (because of the company, I missed the first session of two others, but will catch up next week). This one is called "The Austrian Woman, taught by neighbor Vinnie, previously described.
Here he is...
He has written a book by the same name, which (I am sure you clever folks have already figured it out) is about Marie Antoinette. He is incredible knowledgeable, not to mention personable and engaging. It is going to be tremendously enjoyable. (I, of course, got an autographed copy of the book.)
I will fill you in on the other classes next week.
Decided to get started on my "must see" list of movies as well - lots to catch up to before the Oscars in March - and started with Call Me By Your Name. the gay coming-of-age movie that has received a bunch of nominations and has generated lots of good buzz. Once again, I am an outlier. Oh, the movie was pretty, all right - what is not to like about seeing the Italian countryside in summer in slow motion - but (pace Hank, who loved them) coming of age stories to me - gay or otherwise - are only of interest to the people coming of age. To me, it was entirely sweet, entirely predictable, and completely boring. Thoughts, anyone?
Friday, I was back to my regular bridge schedule, a private (relatively - there are seven of us) lesson in the morning and playing with friend Robin in the afternoon. Most of you have read about her previously, but I know at least some of you - I am talking to you, Rick - like to see her pretty face, so....
Not fair, is it? She was drop-dead gorgeous in law school (where she did not get an opening hand for our entire first year), she is still drop-dead gorgeous, and, to make matters worse, she is smart and nice as well. I am lucky to have her for a friend - and a bridge partner.
Saturday is my regular game with Alex - and we came in first in our section, giving us both bragging rights an a few master points. Yay, team! Not so lucky in the afternoon, though, losing one Scrabble game to Marvin and tying the next. We enjoy our game afternoons, though, and it is wonderful to have added Geoff and Marvin to my growing list of friends in Palm Springs.
And just to end the day, Gerry (also known as The Juke Box Man) came to my place for dinner. To recap, I met him originally at mutual friend Julie's wedding in - 2006? We reconnected through a dating web site, not that we really ever dated, and have since become fast, if infrequently seen, friends. Our lives cross both in Vancouver, and here in the desert.
Not a bad little dinner, either, if I do say so myself. I have been cooking a lot more these days, and find that I am enjoying it immensely. Let's see if I can keep it up in my much-smaller kitchen in Vancouver. In any event, it had been way too long, and it was great to catch up.
Finally, today was the annual meeting of our bridge organization; in addition to business, lunch was served and, of course, bridge was played. A played with a new partner for the first time. The results were, predictably, awful, but it was quite festive, and a good time was had by all.
What else can I tell you? I finally finished the book on the Romanov's The Afterward was probably the most interesting part of the book, the basic these of which was that the Romanovs may be gone, but the autocratic rule is still here. As for the Romanovs, they were as sexually active and morally deficient group as ever ruled an empire.
Next up, The Austrian Woman. I have read more than one book on Marie Antoinette, but I am taking the class, after all; I owe it to Vinnie to read it.
Word of the day? Churlish. I use it a lot, as in "my life is so benign, it would be churlish of me to complain". I don't know, I just like the sound of it
I am amazingly content. Whatever else is going on in the world, my life IS pretty benign., It would, indeed, be churlish of me to complain, and I feel no need to do so.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
P.S.
Forgot to mention Margaret Atwood's recent op-ed piece on the #MeToo movement. I'm not usually a fan, certainly not of her writing, but this I think is almost spot on. (and yes, one day I will learn to include a link in my blog. But not tonight.
Tell us what you really think.....
Right. Part of the reason for starting this enterprise up again was to nail down what I feel as well as what I do. Time to start. I know I may lose some of you in the process. So be it.
Trump? I loath the man, and what he represents. He is stupid. He is dangerous. And he is an embarrassment. However. However. America has survived stupid presidents before, and will, no doubt, do so again. More important, I think that the checks and balances are, and will, work as they should. If that makes me a cockeyed optimist, again, so be it (although, lord knows, no one has ever called me that before). And, while we are being honest with ourselves, we brought it on ourselves in many ways. The Democratic party has been playing identity politics for decades, and, liberal intellectuals that we are, did not have time for our base, which, ultimately, is, at least partially, the same as Trump's base. We ignored their legitimate fears (and I am not talking racism and hatred here) of the working class. The world is changing, and they don't have the tools (so to speak) to deal with it.
And now we pay. And no, I don't have the answer for the jobs that are never going to come back. But at least we should be thinking about it.
Being Jewish? I have given up my Jewish card. Israel has created a Judaism which I can't be a part of. Liberal American Jews for decades have been able to "work around" the fact that women are and always have been second class Jews. (The prayer said every morning by men in shul is "Thank god for not making me a woman.) There is still a bride price. Only a man can grant a divorce. If her husband refuses to do so, the woman is out of luck. Now, in Israel, the whole country has been co-opted by the orthodox Jews. So, not only does all of the above apply, but there is no gay marriage. We wouldn't put up with that in America; why should Israel get a pass? And we haven't even talked about the Arabs.
Yes, I know, the world is a dangerous place for Jews. No one knows that better than I - I lost most of my family in the Holocaust. But if we are no longer righteous (let's skip for the moment the problem of whether we ever were), then what are we saving ourselves for. No, I am convinced that Judaism and nationalism are not compatible (read Stephan Zweig's writings to confirm, and he was friends with some of the early Zionists). I quit.
#MeToo. I am having trouble with this. We are denigrating the meaning of "victim", in my opinion: if everyone who received an unwanted feel, or, for that matter, agreed to unwanted sex because it was easier than saying no, is a victim, what do we call those who were raped, or those who didn't have the ability to say "no" when the boss wanted a blow job because they were single mothers and needed their jobs. Don't get me wrong, the men's behaviour being described is reprehensible. But what has happened to the women's movement I knew, that was teaching women not to be victims, to be empowered, to say no, or, as often was the case, to say yes, regret it, and to take responsibility for our own actions. Bah, humbug.
Okay, now that we have gotten that off our respective chests, here is the News of the Week in Review.
Bridge on Monday, as always...
Yes, I am happy, we came in third...
....And it was a big crowd, too.... (Back to the camera in the red shirt is my partner, Alex.)
Wednesday, I took part in a guided art walk on El Paseo. Those of you familiar with this part of the world know that El Paseo is known for its fashionable clothing boutiques and art galleries. However, Palm Desert, where El Paseo is located, also has a great public art program. Since 1986, every building erected, be it public or private, has to set aside a certain amount (depending on the value of the building) for public art. The art is chosen either by the developer (subject to approval) or by the committee. Each piece is up for two years, then taken down by the artist to be replaced by a new piece.
When I told someone about the program, he said "sounds like socialism to me". I never thought about it in that way; I just thought it sounded like a great way to fund public art - sculpture, murals, fountains, all of it. Hence, the tour, and the following....
Here was our docent, an employee of Palm Desert, an artist herself, and very knowledgeable...
...and our meeting place, The Daily Grill, a well known eatery on the strip....
(...even the sky in the desert is a work of art...)
......these are a but too whimsical for me, but hey...
.....I love these horses (and I don't particularly even like horses)...
.....Not to mention these guys....
.....One of the many water features (and yes, they recycle the water - there is a certain amount of evaporation of course, but....)
...the art work here is the representation of the smoke tree (those red triangles lower left). To my mind, though, the whole damn thing looks like a movie set....
And, to end the tour with a philosophical question, are we protecting nature, or caging it in (see above)? Anyway, it was a great tour (about 24 of us participated), and I will search out more of the public art on my own (map provided).
That afternoon, I was meant to meet friend Chaya at The Josyln Center in Palm Desert, to play bridge in a different venue.
...unfortunately, there was no bridge there that day. Oops. Well, we did some "broken field running" (as my friend Hank, fond of sports metaphors, would say), and decided to have a leisurely lunch at Thai Smile around the corner...
.....and call it a day (or, rather, go home for a nap)...
Thursday is zumba day......
...I wish I could capture the instructor's infectious smile, not to mention the music. Suffice it to say, we all have a great time. (And yes, there are some men in attendance, although the ratio is about 4:1 female to male. Average age is probably 75...)
Thursday night, it was back to culture. The National Theater Live performance was a play called the Young Marx. I was hesitant to go; somehow I got the idea that it was a farce - a cross between Karl and Groucho, I thought - and I loath farce. However, in the effort to broaden my horizons, I did go, and am very glad. It was a comedy all right, but not a farce, a comedy of words, lots of words. It was a wonderful play, well acted and well staged, and it gets two thumbs up from me. (Jack, have you seen this one? What did you think?)
No bridge at the club this Friday - partner Robin had company and couldn't play. However, Friday evening I was invited for dinner and bridge at friends Jim and John's place. They just got married this week, which thrilled me no end for several reasons. First, they are a great couple who truly care about each other. Secondly, it finally gave me the opportunity to use the gay marriage card I bought ages ago. On the front of the card is a pair of giraffes who are saying "congratulations on your gay marriage". Inside, they continue:"....let's hope the Mormons are wrong and you won't burn in hell for this..." And yes, they thought it was funny. It was a lovely evening.
Which brings us to today, when I went to a matinee at the theater, the Coachella Valley Rep, called Romance, Romance. It was actually two separate chamber musicals, the first based on a short story by Arthur Schnitzler, and taking place in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century, and the second based on a play by Jules Renard, taking place this year in the Hamptons. They were both light pieces of fluff with a common theme: it is never too late for love. Both were well staged and well sung, and, well, musicals are my guilty pleasure. So, I am glad I went, but I must say, I was left feeling a bit melancholy. It does feel too late for me, and, well, a bit of unconditional love would be nice.....
What else can I tell you? I am sad to see the gradual deterioration of some of the people around me. A lot of my neighbors are couples in their 80s. Up to now, they have all been vigorous, going for walks and swims and frequent golf games. This year, one part or the other of three couples is in visible decline. They are all suffering with good grace, but nonetheless, it is hard to watch.
What else? Okay, how's this? A new feature: word of the day. Today's word: jackanapes. It came out my current book (or one of them) - The Romanovs. Isn't it wonderful? (Oh, look it up yourself - I had to....)
And, finally, how did he know? Says Bismark, before the turn of the 20th century: The next world war will start over some damn foolish thing in the Balkans..... (True story.)
That's all for now, folks.
Trump? I loath the man, and what he represents. He is stupid. He is dangerous. And he is an embarrassment. However. However. America has survived stupid presidents before, and will, no doubt, do so again. More important, I think that the checks and balances are, and will, work as they should. If that makes me a cockeyed optimist, again, so be it (although, lord knows, no one has ever called me that before). And, while we are being honest with ourselves, we brought it on ourselves in many ways. The Democratic party has been playing identity politics for decades, and, liberal intellectuals that we are, did not have time for our base, which, ultimately, is, at least partially, the same as Trump's base. We ignored their legitimate fears (and I am not talking racism and hatred here) of the working class. The world is changing, and they don't have the tools (so to speak) to deal with it.
And now we pay. And no, I don't have the answer for the jobs that are never going to come back. But at least we should be thinking about it.
Being Jewish? I have given up my Jewish card. Israel has created a Judaism which I can't be a part of. Liberal American Jews for decades have been able to "work around" the fact that women are and always have been second class Jews. (The prayer said every morning by men in shul is "Thank god for not making me a woman.) There is still a bride price. Only a man can grant a divorce. If her husband refuses to do so, the woman is out of luck. Now, in Israel, the whole country has been co-opted by the orthodox Jews. So, not only does all of the above apply, but there is no gay marriage. We wouldn't put up with that in America; why should Israel get a pass? And we haven't even talked about the Arabs.
Yes, I know, the world is a dangerous place for Jews. No one knows that better than I - I lost most of my family in the Holocaust. But if we are no longer righteous (let's skip for the moment the problem of whether we ever were), then what are we saving ourselves for. No, I am convinced that Judaism and nationalism are not compatible (read Stephan Zweig's writings to confirm, and he was friends with some of the early Zionists). I quit.
#MeToo. I am having trouble with this. We are denigrating the meaning of "victim", in my opinion: if everyone who received an unwanted feel, or, for that matter, agreed to unwanted sex because it was easier than saying no, is a victim, what do we call those who were raped, or those who didn't have the ability to say "no" when the boss wanted a blow job because they were single mothers and needed their jobs. Don't get me wrong, the men's behaviour being described is reprehensible. But what has happened to the women's movement I knew, that was teaching women not to be victims, to be empowered, to say no, or, as often was the case, to say yes, regret it, and to take responsibility for our own actions. Bah, humbug.
Okay, now that we have gotten that off our respective chests, here is the News of the Week in Review.
Bridge on Monday, as always...
Yes, I am happy, we came in third...
....And it was a big crowd, too.... (Back to the camera in the red shirt is my partner, Alex.)
Wednesday, I took part in a guided art walk on El Paseo. Those of you familiar with this part of the world know that El Paseo is known for its fashionable clothing boutiques and art galleries. However, Palm Desert, where El Paseo is located, also has a great public art program. Since 1986, every building erected, be it public or private, has to set aside a certain amount (depending on the value of the building) for public art. The art is chosen either by the developer (subject to approval) or by the committee. Each piece is up for two years, then taken down by the artist to be replaced by a new piece.
When I told someone about the program, he said "sounds like socialism to me". I never thought about it in that way; I just thought it sounded like a great way to fund public art - sculpture, murals, fountains, all of it. Hence, the tour, and the following....
Here was our docent, an employee of Palm Desert, an artist herself, and very knowledgeable...
...and our meeting place, The Daily Grill, a well known eatery on the strip....
(...even the sky in the desert is a work of art...)
......these are a but too whimsical for me, but hey...
.....I love these horses (and I don't particularly even like horses)...
.....Not to mention these guys....
.....One of the many water features (and yes, they recycle the water - there is a certain amount of evaporation of course, but....)
...the art work here is the representation of the smoke tree (those red triangles lower left). To my mind, though, the whole damn thing looks like a movie set....
And, to end the tour with a philosophical question, are we protecting nature, or caging it in (see above)? Anyway, it was a great tour (about 24 of us participated), and I will search out more of the public art on my own (map provided).
That afternoon, I was meant to meet friend Chaya at The Josyln Center in Palm Desert, to play bridge in a different venue.
...unfortunately, there was no bridge there that day. Oops. Well, we did some "broken field running" (as my friend Hank, fond of sports metaphors, would say), and decided to have a leisurely lunch at Thai Smile around the corner...
.....and call it a day (or, rather, go home for a nap)...
Thursday is zumba day......
...I wish I could capture the instructor's infectious smile, not to mention the music. Suffice it to say, we all have a great time. (And yes, there are some men in attendance, although the ratio is about 4:1 female to male. Average age is probably 75...)
Thursday night, it was back to culture. The National Theater Live performance was a play called the Young Marx. I was hesitant to go; somehow I got the idea that it was a farce - a cross between Karl and Groucho, I thought - and I loath farce. However, in the effort to broaden my horizons, I did go, and am very glad. It was a comedy all right, but not a farce, a comedy of words, lots of words. It was a wonderful play, well acted and well staged, and it gets two thumbs up from me. (Jack, have you seen this one? What did you think?)
No bridge at the club this Friday - partner Robin had company and couldn't play. However, Friday evening I was invited for dinner and bridge at friends Jim and John's place. They just got married this week, which thrilled me no end for several reasons. First, they are a great couple who truly care about each other. Secondly, it finally gave me the opportunity to use the gay marriage card I bought ages ago. On the front of the card is a pair of giraffes who are saying "congratulations on your gay marriage". Inside, they continue:"....let's hope the Mormons are wrong and you won't burn in hell for this..." And yes, they thought it was funny. It was a lovely evening.
Which brings us to today, when I went to a matinee at the theater, the Coachella Valley Rep, called Romance, Romance. It was actually two separate chamber musicals, the first based on a short story by Arthur Schnitzler, and taking place in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century, and the second based on a play by Jules Renard, taking place this year in the Hamptons. They were both light pieces of fluff with a common theme: it is never too late for love. Both were well staged and well sung, and, well, musicals are my guilty pleasure. So, I am glad I went, but I must say, I was left feeling a bit melancholy. It does feel too late for me, and, well, a bit of unconditional love would be nice.....
What else can I tell you? I am sad to see the gradual deterioration of some of the people around me. A lot of my neighbors are couples in their 80s. Up to now, they have all been vigorous, going for walks and swims and frequent golf games. This year, one part or the other of three couples is in visible decline. They are all suffering with good grace, but nonetheless, it is hard to watch.
What else? Okay, how's this? A new feature: word of the day. Today's word: jackanapes. It came out my current book (or one of them) - The Romanovs. Isn't it wonderful? (Oh, look it up yourself - I had to....)
And, finally, how did he know? Says Bismark, before the turn of the 20th century: The next world war will start over some damn foolish thing in the Balkans..... (True story.)
That's all for now, folks.
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Pictures, at last....
When I said I was going to remind myself how to post pictures, I forgot to add that I had to get a camera too. I had one, but it got ruined on our one day of rain in Antarctica last winter. So buying a camera had to be done too. Well, let's see if I can do this. Bear with me here. Some of you have already seen my place in Palm Springs. For those who haven't.........
.....and that, my friends, is the view from my patio. It also comes with golfers - off screen, right - as well as roadrunners, rabbits and coyotes (pictures to follow).
This is the deck....
...including what some people have called the best barbeque they have ever used....
Here's my garden, cool even on the hottest days....
......and my desert car...
.......living room....
....including what I like to call my "crumb" chair, i.e., where I have my toast in the morning and my wine and cheese in the afternoon, and generally read whatever's on hand.
Dining room.......
....and kitchen (I remodeled a few years ago, and am quite proud of the result...
.......family room....
...and, my pride and joy, the Juke Box. Somehow, it is just right for down here. It is a Wurlizer - a real one - which has been reconfigured for CD's. Not only does it produce great sound, it just makes me smile. So, before you give away those CD's, bring them to me, particularly if you have any jazz, or Rat Pack items. (They can be your house gift when you come down....)
....my bedroom....
And this is the bedroom with your name on it, should you decide to visit...
Okay, so much for the housekeeping. Now, for the week in review.
Winter classes started this week. They always start with some free, one-off classes, which are always interesting. This week was no exception. The first class was called Jungle Red, for reasons beyond my understanding, but was fascinating nonetheless. It was about women in Abstract Expressionism, taught, as it turns out, by someone who lives down the street from me. Who knew he was so knowledgeable? It came complete with slides and quotations, and lots of fodder for my next visit to the Metropolitan Museum. Class number two was entitled The Final Gift, and was particularly appropriate. It was taught by an instructor who taught the photography class I took last year. This time, she was talking about preparing for death, i.e., not leaving a mess behind. I am particularly sensitive to this, of course, given the mess that friend Hank left behind. Also, I have no family, and don't want to leave a mess for my friends to take care of. I don't consider my life all that complicated, really, but I do have two houses and two cars, and multiple bills that are automatically deducted from my accounts each month, and charities that get paid on line - well, you get the picture. I actually thought my affairs were in order by having a will and a medical power of attorney in place. Boy, was I wrong. All right, all right, I'm working on it.
Final class was a lecture on the Salton Sea. I am not usually much for science and/or technology, but this was really fascinating. I don't know how many of you know about the Salton Sea, but it is the largest lake in California, it is saline, it is below sea level, and it is in a heap of trouble for a variety of reasons. California residents, take note. There is a bond issue on the ballot in June, 2018 which provides money - a fair bit - for remedial measures for the Salton Sea. Vote for it!
Speaking of voting, I have studiously avoided politics thus far, and will now. Maybe next time.....
The six week courses start in about two weeks. I will keep you posted.
My sometimes bridge partner Alex (I play with him twice a week, with friend Chaya once a week and old friend and law school classmate Robin, who earlier readers of my blog will remember, once a week) has arranged bridge lessons at his place for 8 of us. They are being taught by Angela Taylor, a well-respected teacher. The first, day before yesterday, was a bit basic, but lord knows, I need all the help I can get.
Yesterday, I had a movie date with neighbor and friend Michael. Those who know me will laugh - we went to see the newest Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi. I know, I know, in theory I don't like mass market entertainment. But Star Wars? Who doesn't like Star Wars? Besides, in this day and age, who doesn't like to see good triumph over evil. Or, if you want to dress it up, you can call it the ultimate myth - Wotan getting his spear (or in this case, light saber) broken by his son.......the long and the short of it is, I had a fabulous time - great popcorn, great music, one last goodbye to Carrie Fisher - and I promise I will do something more serious next.
That would be today. I think I mentioned I have found a few small theater companies I like to support here in the desert. One is called Desert Rose Playhouse, and it is the only LGBTQ theater company in the desert. I heard about it last year because another of my neighbors had a part in one their productions - a play called Southern Baptist Sissies - and invited me to come. Today, I went to see their production of Fifth of July, by Lanford Wilson. I don't know whether you are familiar with the play - it was produced as a movie in, I think, the 80's. The premise is a group of old friends - sexual and social revolutionaries at Berkeley in the 1960's - meet for the July 4th weekend in 1973 - and past and present are all revealed. Not a great play, but a good effort, worth putting on, and worth supporting. They have a teenie tiny playhouse - it probably seats 50 people - but they do a reasonable job, and, as I say, if one wants to see plays performed, one has an obligation to support the people who do it.
So, with the addition of gym, zumba, bridge, and dinner and Scrabble again with Marvin and Geoff, that was my week. How was yours?
.....and that, my friends, is the view from my patio. It also comes with golfers - off screen, right - as well as roadrunners, rabbits and coyotes (pictures to follow).
This is the deck....
...including what some people have called the best barbeque they have ever used....
Here's my garden, cool even on the hottest days....
......and my desert car...
.......living room....
....including what I like to call my "crumb" chair, i.e., where I have my toast in the morning and my wine and cheese in the afternoon, and generally read whatever's on hand.
Dining room.......
....and kitchen (I remodeled a few years ago, and am quite proud of the result...
.......family room....
...and, my pride and joy, the Juke Box. Somehow, it is just right for down here. It is a Wurlizer - a real one - which has been reconfigured for CD's. Not only does it produce great sound, it just makes me smile. So, before you give away those CD's, bring them to me, particularly if you have any jazz, or Rat Pack items. (They can be your house gift when you come down....)
....my bedroom....
And this is the bedroom with your name on it, should you decide to visit...
And, finally, me, just in case you've forgotten. Admittedly, this is a few years old, but it is not too out of date. (Hey, you've probably gotten older too, and I haven't gotten any fatter at least.....). I will try to get someone to take a picture of me this week - no promises, though; I have the right to reject the ones that make me look too fat or too old...
Okay, so much for the housekeeping. Now, for the week in review.
Winter classes started this week. They always start with some free, one-off classes, which are always interesting. This week was no exception. The first class was called Jungle Red, for reasons beyond my understanding, but was fascinating nonetheless. It was about women in Abstract Expressionism, taught, as it turns out, by someone who lives down the street from me. Who knew he was so knowledgeable? It came complete with slides and quotations, and lots of fodder for my next visit to the Metropolitan Museum. Class number two was entitled The Final Gift, and was particularly appropriate. It was taught by an instructor who taught the photography class I took last year. This time, she was talking about preparing for death, i.e., not leaving a mess behind. I am particularly sensitive to this, of course, given the mess that friend Hank left behind. Also, I have no family, and don't want to leave a mess for my friends to take care of. I don't consider my life all that complicated, really, but I do have two houses and two cars, and multiple bills that are automatically deducted from my accounts each month, and charities that get paid on line - well, you get the picture. I actually thought my affairs were in order by having a will and a medical power of attorney in place. Boy, was I wrong. All right, all right, I'm working on it.
Final class was a lecture on the Salton Sea. I am not usually much for science and/or technology, but this was really fascinating. I don't know how many of you know about the Salton Sea, but it is the largest lake in California, it is saline, it is below sea level, and it is in a heap of trouble for a variety of reasons. California residents, take note. There is a bond issue on the ballot in June, 2018 which provides money - a fair bit - for remedial measures for the Salton Sea. Vote for it!
Speaking of voting, I have studiously avoided politics thus far, and will now. Maybe next time.....
The six week courses start in about two weeks. I will keep you posted.
My sometimes bridge partner Alex (I play with him twice a week, with friend Chaya once a week and old friend and law school classmate Robin, who earlier readers of my blog will remember, once a week) has arranged bridge lessons at his place for 8 of us. They are being taught by Angela Taylor, a well-respected teacher. The first, day before yesterday, was a bit basic, but lord knows, I need all the help I can get.
Yesterday, I had a movie date with neighbor and friend Michael. Those who know me will laugh - we went to see the newest Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi. I know, I know, in theory I don't like mass market entertainment. But Star Wars? Who doesn't like Star Wars? Besides, in this day and age, who doesn't like to see good triumph over evil. Or, if you want to dress it up, you can call it the ultimate myth - Wotan getting his spear (or in this case, light saber) broken by his son.......the long and the short of it is, I had a fabulous time - great popcorn, great music, one last goodbye to Carrie Fisher - and I promise I will do something more serious next.
That would be today. I think I mentioned I have found a few small theater companies I like to support here in the desert. One is called Desert Rose Playhouse, and it is the only LGBTQ theater company in the desert. I heard about it last year because another of my neighbors had a part in one their productions - a play called Southern Baptist Sissies - and invited me to come. Today, I went to see their production of Fifth of July, by Lanford Wilson. I don't know whether you are familiar with the play - it was produced as a movie in, I think, the 80's. The premise is a group of old friends - sexual and social revolutionaries at Berkeley in the 1960's - meet for the July 4th weekend in 1973 - and past and present are all revealed. Not a great play, but a good effort, worth putting on, and worth supporting. They have a teenie tiny playhouse - it probably seats 50 people - but they do a reasonable job, and, as I say, if one wants to see plays performed, one has an obligation to support the people who do it.
So, with the addition of gym, zumba, bridge, and dinner and Scrabble again with Marvin and Geoff, that was my week. How was yours?
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