Day 314 – Home

Today a handy friend came over and put this together for me:

I know it may not look like much, but what he was able to do in an hour, would have taken me three, so I’m a happy camper. I originally did not want to buy cheap furniture that needed to be assembled, but it turns out that actual real furniture– is HEAVY. I am a physically not-so-strong person who also happens to live on a second story unit. I like to avoid heavy lifting as much as possible.

There is a group on Facebook called “Life After California” and I like to read the posts about people who have relocated. Some loved moving out of state, while others regret leaving. I don’t think I could ever leave. Well, not permanently. I wouldn’t mind living somewhere else for a couple of years, as long as I knew I would be coming back. I am just too much of a weather wimp. I have west coast gills. For better or worse, this is home. Today it started finally cooling down after the freakish spring like weather we’ve been having all week. There is rain in the forecast and the clouds made an appearance tonight.

Thursday, January 21, 2021:

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Day 313 – Calm

I woke up to talk radio this morning and Biden was in the middle of giving his inaugural address (yes, I like to sleep in). I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. I think I’ve been traumatized by 45. As I walked down the hill to pick up my iced coffee, I continued to listen to the inauguration ceremony on my phone and heard a very young poet laureate speaking peaceful words.

With coffee in hand, I walked my usual route and noticed the winds had died down. Yesterday morning, and throughout most of the day, it was incredibly windy in the Bay Area and it was as if Trump was staging his one last temper tantrum before he exiting the presidency. But this morning? It was just calm – normalcy had been restored. I could finally exhale. I wasn’t feeling particularly emotional at first until I saw a picture on social media of Biden at the podium, looking all presidential with his thick coat on and then it hit me. This is real. I felt my eyes swell.

I thought that would be the end of my emotion, but then tonight Katy Perry sang “Firework” during the “Celebrate America” special on TV and darn you Katy Perry for making me feel things. You made me FEEL.

I tend to have delayed reactions to life changing events. I need time to process. Check back with me in two weeks. I will probably be a blubbering mess. But in a good way. Now if we can just get the world to open back up again, that would be everything.

But, for now, today was a good day.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021:

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Day 312 – Hold On

To the tune of Wilson Phillip's "Hold On"

I know your pain-
Because our president's really lame-
No one could change that man except for you-
And then you showed up and you voted blue-

You opened your heart and your eyes-
And I think its really fair to say, we've left him behind-

Someday somebody's gonna vote him out and say goodbye-
We did ba-by, and we didn't even cheat, or steal, or lie-
Don't you know, things can change, things can go our way-
If you hold on, for one more day-
If you hold on, for one more day-
Things can go our way-

Hold on for one more day.

Tuesday, January 19, 2021:

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Day 311 – The Coast

As I type this, it’s hella windy outside! I hope these winds don’t cause the power to go out or start a fire. It’s very dry right now- static electricity and everything.

It was so nice going to the coast this weekend, and it wasn’t perfect weather or anything, it was just so refreshing to be in different surroundings.

Today I had to check out of my hotel room at 11am, but I was determined to stick around long enough to get more ocean sunset pictures, but what was I gonna do with everything closed? Fortunately I have an old childhood friend who moved to the coast, so we met up for lunch and had our take-out on her front patio that has a view of the ocean (it pays to have friends in high places). We talked for awhile. It was good to catch up, we hadn’t seen each other in YEARS. We had so much ground to cover.

After hanging with her for a couple of hours, I walked over to the beach in her neighborhood, but it was actually a little too hot outside for me. It’s never hot in Half Moon Bay, California! It’s usually foggy and cold, but today was a freak show and it was super crowded with tourists.

I snapped a few pics and then escaped back to my air conditioned car. I wanted to stick around for the rest of the day, but in this hot weather?

So then I headed north to the coastal town of Pacifica, and jackpot — cooler weather, open public restrooms, AND crashing waves!

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I could stare at the ocean all day. And I did for awhile, but I still had to pass the time until sunset, so I grabbed a bite to eat and found a bench with a table where I could relax.

And then finally…..magic hour….

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I was worried today that it would be too crowded at the beach and that I wouldn’t find parking, or an open restroom, but Rockaway Beach in Pacifica did not disappoint. 🙂

Monday, January 18, 2021:

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Day 310 – Today

Knowing I couldn’t check into my hotel today until 3pm, I dilly dallied this morning and didn’t leave right away for the coast. You might think that’s crazy, but I didn’t know what the public bathroom situation would be at the beaches, if they would be open or not, and I didn’t want to pee in the ocean. I can’t just run into a Starbucks whenever nature calls like I used to. UGH. I can’t wait until life opens up again! But in the meantime….

BEACH!

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I took a ton of photos and I’m telling you, I earned the especially good ones because around 4:30pm, the wind kicked up and all of a sudden it was FREEZING. But I was determined to get some good footage. My fingers and feet had grown numb as I clicked away with my phone camera, but I didn’t care, I was in the zone.

Ocean is life. I would give anything to live on the coast. I would need community though or it would get lonely. But I feel such a strong gravitational pull towards the water. If I was a millionaire, I would make it happen. I would figure it out. All I need in life: A beach with crashing waves, a coffee shop, and a cute little grocery store.

I am only staying over one night, but tomorrow I am meeting up with an old friend who I grew up with, but now lives on the coast- lucky b*tch. It’ll be good to catch up.

And maybe I can use her bathroom.

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Day 309 – Tomorrow

So I bit the bullet and booked a room for tomorrow on the coast. This beautiful weather and extended weekend cannot go to waste. So, this time, tomorrow night, I will be posting pictures of the ocean. I would love to retire by the ocean, going to sleep every night to crashing waves….. heaven.

But hey, at least I can drive there when I need to get my fix, and I am grateful for that.

Today was pretty basic – did some laundry, went on two walks, then later had a zoom chat with some friends. Of course I am procrastinating getting more writing done on these two story ideas I have in my head. I keep meaning to sit down and write, but then I make excuses. I have to do laundry……I have to vacuum…..I have to play Candy Crush.

Tomorrow, I promise, I will work on the scripts.

I promise. 🙂

Saturday, January 16, 2021:

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Day 308 – Furlough

I had today off – one of two monthly furlough days us California State employees have to absorb because of the budget shortfall – a 10 percent pay cut. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I still have a job with benefits.

Today felt like the beginning of Spring. I wish I could wear my sandals on my long walks, but they end up giving me this weird toe pain that is not exactly a blister, but it still feels sore. Getting older sucks- don’t do it if you can. Avoid it at all costs!

I was slightly productive today, not much. I cleaned the bathroom and mopped the kitchen floor. Then I tried to not fall down the “Q-anon-conspiracy-theory-rabbit-hole” too much on social media, but it’s hard. It’s so deliciously entertaining. Today I read a post that said: “Joe Biden will be assassinated by his own party- he will be the sacrificial lamb because he’s already dying. Then Kamala will be sworn in and it’s the perfect plan because that will give the FBI the chance to round up all the pro-Trump people and put them in jail!”

Hey, I don’t make the rules, I just read the posts. 🙂

On my evening walk to go catch a sunset, I saw this:

Followed by this:

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Oh Oakland, don’t ever change.

Friday, January 15, 2020:

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Day 307 -Four Day Weekend

Today turned into my Friday. I realized I hadn’t taken my two furlough days this month yet (California State employee) so I will take one of them tomorrow. Oh and Monday- Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a holiday for us. Well, now look at that – a four day weekend!

I should probably use the free time to get some things done, but I know how I am- I will dilly dally and wait to the last minute so I might as well own up to my procrastinating ways now.

The weather is warming up- ooooooh, beach day anyone? As long as there’s an open restroom somewhere…

Okay, now all I can think about is the beach.

But I’ll settle for the bay for now…

Thursday, January 14, 2021

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Day 306 – Hope Springs Eternal

Today the weather climbed into the 60s. An early Spring perhaps? There is something about the shift in the weather which brings out a little bit of optimism in me. Hope does spring eternal.

Today was a slower day for me, work-wise, which is a good thing because tomorrow my schedule is packed. It’s nice to have breaks in the pace.

What did I do with my downtime? Perused social media of course, trying to get a feel for any upcoming riots for next week because that sort of thing just gives me warm fuzzies. Kidding of course- it’s the wannabe journalist in me, always looking for the scoop.

Well according to my amateurish sources, it sounds like some of the extreme right groups may be “standing down” and actually backing off next week during all the political events. I read that the Proud Boys posted not to show up at the Inauguration “because it is a trap“. And the Oath Keepers seemed to have gone underground because they keep getting kicked off social media, so that may keep their numbers down if they can’t widely broadcast their riots. And I haven’t seen much about the Boogaloo Boys either- for the same reason. They may still come out, but I would be surprised if they had enough numbers to do any real damage, but who knows. Banning them from social media is a band aid for now.

I missed the sunset tonight because I had a screenwriting workshop via Zoom. So, it’s back to my morning squirrels.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021:

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Day 305 – Jesus Saves

I had a training on Zoom this morning that was right when I normally take my walk. “No worries,” I thought, “I’ll just listen on the app on my phone.” I can walk and listen, right?

I can. But if you’re thinking you can take videos of squirrels attacking bird feeders while listening in on a Zoom meeting, you would be wrong.

Zoom disables the video feature on my phone! It’s like…. “they know you’re not really listening…” And the camera app? Get this- you CAN’T “zoom in” on your phone, while on Zoom! IRONY. Or is it? Maybe it’s no accident….maybe…

Oh, don’t mind me. I’ve been reading too many conspiracy theories about the January 6th riots on social media. You know what I think? As someone who has followed the protests here in Oakland (Occupy, BLM) here’s my two cents and I could be wrong:

No, I don’t think Antifa infiltrated the Capitol riots. Even if they had, honestly, they don’t have those numbers and they are not that organized. It’s more of an organic, “live in the moment” type of movement. Before Antifa, there was “The Black Bloc” who were some white male anarchists in black hoodies who used to try and blend in with legitimate protesters and were there to, as they say, “Fu** Sh** Up! Every movement has extremists and the conservatives have the “alt right” or “The Proud Boys”. Why is that so hard to believe? Whenever you have large groups of people, it’s going to attract the crazies. They know they can get away with stuff in large groups of people. But Antifa? Nah. I give this one to the Proud Boys and their descendants. There were plenty of fliers advertising their “Storm the Capitol” event in December.

I think people are attracted to conspiracy theories and cults because they are trying to make sense of it all. People want to feel like they are in control and they are looking to be part of a movement. They are looking for purpose and community. They want to feel like they are “in the know”. I get it.

Today on my way to the lake to take pictures, I saw this man on a corner:

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That’s right. Jesus Saves! Amen! That’s my “cult”. 🙂

But Trump? It’s over.

Tuesday, January 12, 2021:

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