Life of Wry

As I write this (well, in exactly 5 minutes), this is true:

How ’bout that!

In other news:

I am still flying high! Everyone I talk to — even my casual conversation with Sinesia at Mishka’s when ordering my au lait this morning — turns to the grand and cleansing exhale we all experienced at noon yesterday, the 9th cloud we are all walking on, [it is now 9:21, by the way!], the stuck-on smile on our face, the lightness in our step.

Like I said last night, the thrill today is about two things in equal measure: one is having won the trifecta — WH, House and Senate — and what that means for issues and values we care so much about. The other is the relief in being rid of the now former, and increasingly irrelevant, so-called president.

Speaking of winning the Senate, I forgot that I’d taken this great picture. It should be included in the wonderful images of yesterday’s event… the swearing in three new Senators, by former California-Senator-Now-Vice-President Kamala Harris: Rafael Warnock, Alex Padilla (who replaces Harris herself) and Jon Ossoff.

How ’bout that!

I was also blown away by what planners and artists did to the National Mall. Insofar as the general public could not attend the inauguration (covid precautions and terrorist concerns) (what a time we are living in), they created a Field of Flags and it was just gorgeous:

And finally, this funny meme thing happened yesterday. It made me laugh last night as I looked at dozens of implementations, and laugh again this morning as I looked at dozens more. The photo is of Bernie Sanders sitting alone, evidently cold, at the Inauguration, sporting a new pair handmade mittens. It didn’t take long before it turned into a viral meme. Here are some of my favorites:

One more meme-y thing that I thought was wonderful:

See? Sun is shining. People are laughing. Lightness and smiles are everywhere. Sure is better than the alternative!

Since about Nov 7, when Biden’s victory was finally assured, I thought I had adjusted to the idea that we will have a new president and that the other guy was finally headed for the dustbin of history. 

But it wasn’t until today that it felt real. Today was official; there were bibles and oaths. The blowhard is really and truly out; he actually got on a plane bound for golf-land and left us, mercifully, alone to revel in our new, drama-free, inspiring world.  

Today was definitely Biden’s day, democrats’ day, a day for all of America and Americans of all stripes. I’m filled to the brim with optimism and hope. Today was glorious and proud-full.  

But in and amongst all the joy and tears (there were lots of both), there was also this flood of immeasurable relief. I’m not sure which feels better: Biden’s vision of unity and the promise of a beautiful, just, diverse future (tear-worthy!), or a world free of the toxic, steaming turd that has dominated every single day for FIVE years (also tear-worthy!). I mean, this has been a truly awful, mind-numbing presidency. Five years of daily shock, worry, despair. I’ve just ran out of words to describe how dispiriting and disturbing it’s been… his profound, creepy pathologies that revealed a developmentally stunted man… un-evolved, entitled and lazy. Impossible to deal with the shock that he was actually the president of us. Harder still to fathom: the crazy number of people who worship him (still). He was, of course, stunningly unfit for the job, a job he couldn’t be bothered to learn or grow in. So we were all just battered daily by his revolting, mean, relentless drivel. And when he lost the election, it got worse, and truly scary. His lies about fraud and a stolen election incited his thuggish animals into full blown terrorism. 

So today was just this great, lung-clearing exhale. Not only is he finally out of the White House (shudder.. and oh, by the way, it cost like half a million dollars to clean the place of his germs and stench), nothing horrible happened today — no murderous insurgents, no confederate flags, no long wispy-bearded guys with guns frothing nonsense about stolen elections. 

And today he flew away and nobody paid attention outside his small gaggle of sycophants at Joint Base Andrews (his idea of a huge military send-off did not come to pass and great gobs of invitees opted out of attending in favor of showing up at Biden’s Inauguration). No media coverage. Nobody talked about him. Nobody cares. He’s instantly irrelevant. He can’t even rant on Twitter, since he’s been banned for life. Maybe FOX is still watching his every move and talking about him (and crying in their beer, I imagine)… I don’t know. 

And here I am.. talking about him!!  On a day when he’s become a has-been. Okay, but here’s what I realized: I never have to write about him again! He’s done and out of our daily lives. He can’t hurt us anymore. 

~~

Here are some photos on the day:

The Inauguration Ceremony was quite good… and Biden’s comments were encouraging:

But this… this is really good for so many reasons:

By far, though, Amanda Gorman’s poem, and her delivery, inspired me the most:

Because of the pandemic, no Inaugural balls. But far more egalitarian — a celebration we could all join — the Inauguration Celebration Concert thingie.. a little hit and miss, but a worthy production! And the whole event concluded with a firework display that I just could barely believe.. it was so huge and stunning and seemed to take place all over Washington, DC. Absolutely breathtaking.

Right?

Our new people:

A new love! I’m thrilled with the result.

You take 3 cups of seeds… in this case: sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and flax:

And 2 cups of nuts… here I used pecans, pistachios and almonds (which I then ran through a food processor just to reduce the chunkiness a bit):

Add those to 5 eggs, 1 1/2 tsp of salt, and 1/3 c olive oil:

Mix it all up….

And press it into a couple of loaf pans lined with parchment paper…

And bake at 325 for an hour. I checked it a couple times and pulled it out at 55 mins since I’d divided it into two pans…

And then cut and eat! And it’s fabulous!

We received a loaf of this from former neighbor Denise over the holidays. Jim’s not in love, but I sure am. She sent me the recipe and this is my first effort.. yay!

While we’re having temps in the mid-70s, this is the view out Peter’s window in Ann Arbor:

This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius…. which begins officially on January 20 — 3 days from now. Coincidentally, Inauguration Day.

Coincidentally, the sun shone in like crazy today, and it was the second day in a row of temps in the 70s. These must all be signs of a new day, the dawning of a new age. Right?

Threw open the windows.. it was glorious.

Not really patting myself on the back for this, but worked in the garden today. Which is to say, I weeded for 30 minutes, and boy am I rusty. I usta have a whole routine with my tools, tasks and techniques. Oy…

Anyway, on this 75-degree mid-January day in Northern California, I donned my shorts and crocs, eager to pretend it was spring and I was a gardener.

Look at ALL THOSE WEEDS! (Not to mention those pale, winter legs.)

So, as I said, rusty. It took me thirty whole minutes to weed this small patch (about six feet by one foot) . I’d better up my game here.. it’s a big yard!

Some weeks ago, I planted about 30 bulbs… I see only one sprouting up:

(At least I hope that’s one of mine.) The narcissus are coming up in a few places. I did not plant these .. they are leftovers from the last version of our backyard and survived a year and a half of total neglect, no irrigation, abuse and rototilling!

Whatever bulbs Ruben and his crew found during the leveling of the back yard in prep for the new landscaping, they put in this bucket (no water). And they are growing like gangbusters!

Bulbs are crazy.

~~

And speaking of handiworks, no sooner did I finish that, than I took on Jim’s hair. In ten months, this might be the fourth or fifth haircut I’ve given him. The electric clippers gave up the ghost last time, so today was a full-on scissor cut, and I think it’s the best one yet… check it out:

I need to tidy up that bottom edge… otherwise, pretty good!

The biggest news of the day may have been the spit test Jim and I took. Results to follow. First spit test. Past covid tests have included 1 swab and 4-5 antibody tests (per blood donation protocols). We mix very little with other people, so more frequent tests is not really warranted. But it’s easy enough to do, esp as it’s across the street at the Senior Center and you can actually reserve a time.

Still. Don’t expect to do too many more of these between now and vaccination time. Hurry up, vaccinations!

~~

Anyway… no pictures today, so I’m going back to a January 15th long ago — 2006. Here are a couple of cute ones of Peter (of course) at 7 1/2:

I think the quarters had something to with this….

Thanks, Tooth Fairy!

I’m reminded that one of the cute things Matty used to say when he was a little kid — like mazagine instead of magazine — was to call meatballs meatbulbs. I’m sure his two older brothers and his big sister (me) showed no mercy.

I made tonight the most fabulous ever — my opinion — meatballs. Ooh, I love them. Jim only gave them a 3* review, but I made him increase that rating to a 4* so I can justify making them again. (My rule.)

Here’s how it goes:

First you combine olive oil, garlic, shallots (which I didn’t have so substituted green onions), cumin, cinnamon and oregano.. and then warm it in the microwave to get the flavors to meld. Set that aside.

Then you make a sauce that contains lime juice, yogurt, tahini and cayenne.

Then you goo together some pita bread and yogurt, chop some fresh mint, add the oil/herb mixture, and mix it all together with some ground beef.

You roll them into balls, chill them a little bit….

….then fry the heck out of them so they form a crispy exterior.

Serve inside warmed pita pockets with thinly sliced red onion, parsley (and if you have it–which we didn’t–tomato, cucumber)…

So, so good.. crispy, packed with flavor:

As I write this, I’m listening to John Garamendi in an online town hall. Over 1000 people in attendance. He’s answering questions about today’s impeachment. Can’t say I’m learning anything new — having listened most of the day to the hearing and the endless analysis that followed — but I appreciate hearing from our congressman tonight..so fresh off this most historic vote by the House.

(I didn’t write about this last week, but it bears mentioning that on the very evening of the very day the Capitol was stormed by Trump-incited insurgents — exactly one week ago — Congressman G attended our monthly Sister District meeting as our special guest. He had to excuse himself from the Senate floor where the certification of the Electoral College results was taking place in a joint session of Congress (after, of course, being interrupted for hours while congress members and their staffs were spirited to safety in undisclosed locations). He was in the middle of a world-record-historic deliberation & vote and still made time to talk to us! Seventy three of us Davis activists were on that call and he spent about 15 minutes with us. Incredible. I’ll add a photo below of that, too.) (Speaks volumes of his regard and respect for us, which is impressive and flattering.)

This is what the House was considering today .. a vote on a simple 3-page resolution, summed up thusly:

And.. the outcome of today’s historic vote — the first time in history that a US president has been impeached twice during his tenure (a limited tenure at that, as he’s a one-term loser of a president). Also, the most bi-partisan vote to charge a president with a crime ever. Look at all those republicans. Of course, it should have been unanimous as his guilt is unquestioned.

~~

And.. here is a pic from one week ago… the day of the insurrection.. and Cong. Garamendi attending our little ol’ meeting! Garmendi’s the one with the mask on (because he’s sitting outside in a hallway where other folks are likely walking around).

I applied for my medicare card a few months ago — like ya do three months before your 65th birthday — but today was the day I finally signed up for Kaiser’s medicare program. I hadn’t yet opened the packet of materials I’d gotten a couple months ago from the medicare folks, but I had to today because I needed to enter my medicare number on the Kaiser form. It was a bit startling to see the actual card.

A card carrying senior person, I am!