Birthday Weekend Round Up

Life really feels like it has gotten back to normal lately. Very few masks being worn around town – however, I still put one on in crowded spaces because I have learned that I didn’t have a cold for two years during Covid and I liked it. So from now on during cold and flu season- Theresa comes with a mask!

Like Joey Comes with a Bag!

*Always make a FRIENDS reference whenever possible*

In other news, I turned 52 years old yesterday and it feels really weird typing that out. It looks like such an “old” number, but I don’t feel old. Well, I don’t feel 18 anymore either, but I’m doing alright.

On Friday I went over to my parent’s place in Martinez and we hung out for awhile, I opened presents and then we went out for dinner:

I’ve always been a meat and potatoes girl. Then we had dessert back at the house and watched 3/4 of “Love Actually”. We don’t always finish movies, but they are comforting to have on in the background.

Saturday was my actual birthday and after cleaning up my apartment all day I went over to a friend’s place for more meat and potatoes – or more specifically – “Three Alarm Chicken and garlic mashed potatoes.” What is three-alarm you ask? It’s just enough spice for this supertaster to handle, for five-alarm would be too much. And then dessert of course:

I was so full. I participated in gluttony for sure. But this morning I woke up, went to church and repented. I can’t eat like this too many days in a row because it really catches up to me.

That’s right – I went to church. I have decided to start visiting neighborhood churches. Last week was the Baptist Church down the block from my apartment, and this morning I attended a Community Church in the neighboring town over of Piedmont. Both of these churches sing hymns and have rituals- and I haven’t been of part of that sort of tradition since attending Mass in the 7th grade. I confess singing hymns make me a little sleepy, but the sermons were pretty good and the people are incredibly welcoming, which is huge.

This afternoon I went for a walk (and let’s face it- geocache) on the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail and can I just say I love this trail? The weather was perfect. You see, I can’t go for walks on that side of the Caldecott Tunnel during the warmer months because I will pass out from heat exhaustion, but cool November days are just right.

And I found eight geocaches. A very productive day.

52……..hmmmm…..you’re alright. I think we can be friends.

Birthday Weekend 2022:

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Last Week Tonight w/ Theresa Donahoe

Last Sunday, October 30th, I had the pleasure of performing my solo show, “Born Again in Berkeley” at Crosswalk Community Church in Napa. Now, I’m not really a morning person, so I am trying to discipline myself to go to bed sooner. It seems the doors God has opened for me lately have been mostly church gigs. I feel like I am entering a new season of my life.

I think the show went well, and then afterwards we had a Q&A, or what some call, in certain circles, “a talk back”, which apparently has become all the rage. Every time I perform and get questions afterwards, I learn so much. I have performed for a variety of audiences. From liberal Berkeley folk to Trump supporters as well, and I never know what feedback I am going to get, so it’s a bit of a highwire act. I just want us to see each other’s humanity because, at the end of the day, if we don’t, we will kill each other. That’s how people justify war, by not seeing the “other” as human.

Then on Monday I went to my friend’s dad’s memorial service. It was a beautiful tribute for a beautiful person on a beautiful day at Tilden Park:

On Tuesday, after work, I took my final writing class at Piedmont Adult School. I hope I learned something. Time will tell if it affects my writing in a good way.

On Wednesday I went over to my friend’s place and she cooked for me. The neighbor’s cat came wandering into the kitchen and wanted to join us:

On Thursday as I was leaving work, I caught the sunset from our 14th floor windows:

On Friday, I saw my new favorite cover band, The Neon Playboys.

I have to say, I don’t normally go out of my way to see a cover band, but these guys are that good. I stumbled upon them back in September when they were playing for the Oakland Summer Series at City Center during my lunch break at work. I was just walking through when I heard this incredibly tight band cranking out Michael Jackson and to my surprise, it turned out to be four funky white guys. I actually stopped to listen. Then they won my heart over when they went from Michael Jackson to Earth, Wind & Fire, effortlessly. I would have stayed and danced through my entire lunch break but I had to get back to work. I vowed to seek them out the next time they were back in the Bay Area (they’re from Sacramento).

I had so much fun Friday night dancing to their music. I was super exhausted the next day, but it was so worth it. I felt like I was finally living again. I needed this. I needed to dance.

On Saturday I went to a solo performer friend’s show at the Marsh Theatre in Berkeley – The Mark of the Minotaur. I highly recommend it.

Today I chilled. On the seventh day, she rested.

This Past Week:

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