Life of Wry

Had a date with my guys tonight. Happy me.

There were big doings in the region: the Palms Playhouse in Winters reopened tonight under new ownership and we got tickets for the kick-off show.

We started the evening at the Buckhorn..

(I actually took this picture as we were leaving town… a bit before midnight, the rains had just started (*))

And, oh, the Buckhorn…  hot sourdough bread with butter the instant you’re seated, followed by cold, crisp, fresh salad (or clam chowder for Peter), red wine (a Seghesio Zin, and root beer and iced tea for the boys), a filet mignon with gorgonzola butter (Peter had rib eye and Jim had a steak sandwich), the special cheesy scalloped potatoes (Peter had mashed), buttery green beans, coffee and french vanilla ice cream atop a chocolatey brownie. Ye gads, fabulous.

Then, on to the Palms, for re-opening night! When the two new, young owners–both Winters natives–took the stage, the crowd erupted in a long, sustained ovation–so happy is everyone that the Palms is going to remain a going concern.

They made a few comments, issued a few thank yous and without much ado introduced the band: I See Hawks in LA. Weird name, I know.

I’d heard they were great from my music hippie kindergarten-alum friend Jeff, a true music connoisseur who told me to go if I could, though it doesn’t take much for me to want to go to the Palms. It was a great night of music and we’re always going to see lots of friends there, and we’re always going to hear music we might not hear otherwise.

Plus, tonight: celebration cake!

I See Hawks is mostly country, blended with lots of rock, and a bit of folk. I’d say. Here they are:

Jeff suggested I seek out a band member or two at the break and pass along a few hellos (he actually suggested I plant some wet ones, but I opted for hellos).  This one, Paul the southpaw lead guitarist, suggested we pose for a selfie and send it to Jeff.. which I also did. Nice guy:

T’was fun fun fun. And heaven to be with Jim and Peter.

Jeff also informed me the lead singer, Robert Waller, is a professor of creative writing at USC. That was kind of a fun fact.

A parting shot because Winters was looking very fine in its wintry shimmery glow:

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(*) Tonight we are to get slammed with something called at Atmospheric River, or the Pineapple Express… a weather event considered to be mighty impressive in its power and volume. We’ve had a ton of rain already this week, and tonight, after a couple day’s respite, the rains are supposed to intensify and give us an epic soaking, followed by inevitable flooding due to its relative warmth. We shall see. My weather app shows only rain for the next nine days. Should make for exciting driving on Sunday.

The findings came in yesterday and they are conclusive: The Russian government used hacking and leaks to try and influence the presidential election.

This was the forcefully reaffirmed conclusion of top US intelligence officials and senators from both parties.

Hours before he was to be briefed this morning, Trump calls the NYT and gives them an eight minute interview (no idea why he does this). They run the story. Trump is quoted as claiming the whole issue of Russian hacking arises out of democratic party embarrassment at having lost the election so badly. He cries, “it’s a witch hunt!”

(It’s a witch hunt?! What, evidence and a report and a hearing, delivered by our respected intelligence community about Russian election hacking?  A unanimous response from a bipartisan congress? A witch hunt because it doesn’t support his narrative?)

He said all this before his briefing.

Not only is he alone in his opinion, he got his side of the story from Russia herself, or from Julian Assange, take your pick. And the weird and disturbing point is, he appears to value the opinion and judgment of the Russians and/or Assange over US intelligence professionals.

Not an exaggeration. This happened.

Routinely, he blames, and lashes out, and stubbornly stands his ground against not only everybody, but against all odds.

I am just so done with this guy. Even if I wanted to give him a chance–which frankly I don’t–he just hasn’t earned it, he’s done nothing, NOTHING, to persuade me that he’s deserving of respect. He behaves like a child.

I’m just disgusted. Is this really the way it’s going to work on every little thing going forward?  It’s gonna be the world according to Trump?  Unilateral opinion-making? What on earth does he know about ANYTHING?  This is an immature, unevolved man-child with an insatiable need to have his ego fed. He’s now sitting at the head of an entire nation. OUR nation. He’s incapable of listening, processing, reasoning and acting accordingly. He’s incapable of admitting he might be wrong. He’s incapable of admitting he might not know the answer. He’s incapable of apology. He’s incapable of being vulnerable. He cannot bear criticism or opposition. If you’re not there to prop him up, he disposes of you. He possesses not a shred of humility. He remains defiant and, yes, victimized. Everyone’s against him.

He’s a lasher, a caged animal. WITCH HUNT!

I’ve never seen anything like this.

Not the skill set for a person in government, where the process is ALL about give and take, ALL about compromise. And it’s certainly not the qualities of a thoughtful leader, much less our president. Most of us saw that. It came out in every debate, it’s been stated in op-eds and on political talk shows. AND people still voted for him. He’s  not magically changing because he’s president. He is exactly who he’s been since day one.

And the tweeting.

This is not normal. Impulsive and petulant tweeting (for godssake) should not replace direct and thoughtful communication with the American people. It used to be (always) that communication from the executive branch was thoughtfully considered and released in a careful way because words matter–people, countries, markets, industries.. everything rides on what presidents say and how they say it.

Everything everyone’s saying is scarily true: his tweets are creating chaos, he’s sending people, countries, markets and industries into tailspins trying to figure out what he means. It’s only a matter of time before he says something someone is going to completely take the wrong way and there will be dangerous or deadly consequences.

He is absolutely reckless, seemingly completely unaware of the impacts he’s having. Or very aware, who knows.

WHY IS HE EVEN TWEETING? How is it that this is even allowed?

And then there’s the stupid shit he says on Twitter. And I mean shit.

Today the child-in-chief tweeted all about how his ratings as host on that stupid reality show were higher than Arnold’s. Na na na na na. He went on to taunt Schwarzenegger by saying it’s no wonder his ratings are low, he supported Kasich and Hillary.

This is the [soon to be] President of the United States.

His supporters must be so proud.

Never mind the stability- and security-threatening tweets he reels off on a whim. It’s the above garbage that really kills me. Who IS this guy? And why is he OUR president??

To quote Joe Biden: Grow UP!

Someone PLEASE take his Twitter account away from him.

Winter break is almost over and our darling boy must soon return to college. Boo. And, I guess yay. Way it’s supposed to be.

I have so enjoyed having him around.. and we get him for about 3 more days before we make the long drive back down to La Jolla.

He’s messy, still quite destructive, keeps crazy hours, leaves empty milk cartons in the refrigerator (sometimes even empty glasses), shoots rubber bands all over the place (still!), leaves cabinets and drawers open and counters crumby… but I tell ya… I love it when he’s home.

Cuz he also plays a lot of guitar and piano, makes me laugh, is sillily affectionate, makes us watch Seinfeld with him every single night no matter the time, surprises me with occasional helpfulness, asks about Grandma, and cried about Grandpa.

I can tell he just loves us to death and loves being home. I see it, I feel it. It’s just great and makes me sigh deeply and happily.

Here’s a typical scene. Peter and I are having a conversation earlier this evening about something, I can’t remember… he’s standing on the arm of the couch and letting the ceiling fan bonk him in the head–just barely, but whap whap whap while I’m trying to focus on whatever we’re talking about.

Goofy, but that’s the stuff I’m going to miss when he’s gone.

The 115th Congress opened today. Ugly.

The fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act has begun, as predicted. Unpredicted, however, was an appalling move by house republicans–in secret the night before, no less–to gut an independent congressional ethics office. Right, let’s ditch the independent group and place oversight duties under an existing house committee… a fox in charge of the hen house scenario, if ever there was one. Today. Day One. First action.

That did not go well.

Within a couple hours, pandemonium ensued, the house reversed its course and tabled the whole thing (it’ll come back.. they’ll just wait for a moment distracted by other bigger issues). Trump tweeted something about bad timing (ya think??) and other priorities, and with that, the freak show officially began between a “republican” president and his supposed allies in congress.

Meanwhile, Trump’s out there taking credit already for bringing jobs back to the US, quoting dubious right-wing tabloids (NY Post) and blasting overstated, oversimplified self-congratulations via Twitter. Credible news sources are not running any such story because the claim is a fanciful manipulation of facts… but we can expect a LOT  more of this kind of selective twisting of details from Trump via social media. Gird yourself.

I suspect we’ll also see very little in the way of press conferences because the man is incapable of delivering cogent arguments or coherent information on any serious subject–he can barely form a sentence and can’t risk being quoted.

And our confused and overmatched mainstream media, in its quest for viewers (and sponsors) will need to find a way to provide “acceptable” coverage of Trump, lest Trump get upset, call them names and undermine their credibility (so bad for their bottom line). They’ll soften their tone, normalize him, let some of the worst stuff go (it’s all bad), lower the bar.

(That’s been happening all along, and it happened again today when the mainstream press gave him all kinds of kudos for being reasonable and focused as he denounced the first-day, self-serving antics of the clown car congress. Who WOULDN’T think that was hysterically deplorable?)

Oh, just ugh.

Like Chris, I’d like to just turn it off and tune it out. But someone’s gotta challenge this stuff. The swift outpouring of criticism and calls and posts to social media worked well today.. just four more years to go!

Here’s my new favorite poster:

That’s what we’ll fight for. A part of what we’ll fight for, anyway… apparently there will be many fights we didn’t expect to have. (Like who ditches an independent congressional ethics  watchdog?)

New Year’s day fell on a Sunday, so Monday (today) became a holiday as well. Today, in fact, was Rose Parade day, and I presume all the bowl games. So New Year’s was sort of a three day affair.

It was a quiet and often solemn weekend for us because of Jim’s dad’s passing. Not too much celebrating. Like so many, we were happy enough to say GOOD RIDDANCE to 2016, a horrible year with breathtaking losses (I made a list below). And then Jim’s dad.

The worst part of 2016, aside from family losses (Jim Sr, Annita), was the disgusting election campaign, followed by such an appalling and demoralizing defeat. The dread over what’s to come also hangs over us as we transition to a new year–usually such an optimistic time.

Beyond all that, it was a GREAT year for our family, with many milestones: Peter graduating from high school, getting a bunch of good acceptances, choosing UCSD; celebrating my 60th with lots of friends and family; celebrating Jim’s and my 20th anniversary. All highlights, even in an icky year.

Anyway… here are a few shots from the holiday weekend…

Will ya look at those low temperatures! And look at Wednesday… they predict SNOW (that prediction’s since been changed to rain).

We decided to forgo the Mumbo Gumbo New Year’s Eve party at the Odd Fellows, in favor of just being together and raising our glasses to grandpa Jim… dinner was pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes, kale and some sparkling cider (pear, and accidentally alcohol:

A closer look at the dessert Peter picked out–French macaroons:

Peter and I had champagne..

Nobody would pose with me, so an awkward selfie it is:

Finally, here’s a shot from the Rose Bowl parade. Matthew and Dean marched with the Arcadia High School band!

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Some of those who died in 2016:

David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Glenn Fry, Natalie Cole, Antonin Scalia, Harper Lee, Nancy Reagan, Patty Duke, George Martin, Keith Emerson, Joe Garagiola, Prince, Merle Haggard, Morley Safer, Mohammed Ali, Eli Wiesel, Gene Wilder, Arnold Palmer, Tom Hayden, Janet Reno, Leonard Cohen, Leon Russell, Florence Henderson, Fidel Castro, John Glenn, Zsa Zsa Gabor, George Michael, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds.

Quite a list, huh?

You know what makes me happy?

To wake up in a new year to a house full of two guys I love the most in the world. To go to brunch together, then hang out for most of a rainy day (although the rain stopped).. not necessarily together hanging out, but overlapping here and there.

Like for example, I’m sitting in the chair in the living room–drinking tea, writing, ordering stuff online (ooh boy, a new body pillow, and some flowers for Elisa), catching up on email, reading NYT articles (do you have any idea how much trouble we’re in with this petulant, vindictive, impulsive toddler in the White House?)… and Peter wanders in, sits on the couch, plays a bit on his guitar (actually he was playing Jim’s guitar at that moment), smiles at me, and eventually moves on.

It’s the new year. There is all kinds of promise for good stuff ahead… Peter continuing to learn how to be in the world on his own; Jim and I continuing to grow in a post-child-rearing life; traveling together with Peter in Europe and hiking in Yosemite this summer; getting a new hip and reacquainting myself with the active person who’s been dormant for two years. Cherishing family and taking care of the people we love. Cooking and gardening and hanging out with friends. Appreciating life every day.

The year is starting out with such a heavy loss. I look forward to connecting with Jim as he processes the loss of his dad, and with his family as we come together to celebrate Jim Sr.’s life.

I have a huge and sickening sense of foreboding over the state of our country, our world and the planet. I do welcome, however, the call to fight for the things I care about most, those things that feel most vulnerable and threatened right now. I know that will occupy a huge part of 2017.

It makes me all the more grateful for the things I love and hold dear… like this:

Eager for a year of love and compassion.