Appall Bunion
May 15, 2025
I am a woman of a certain age. Every day, another indignity.
I went to my primary today (actually a sub for my primary) with four items of .. concern. Little things, but things I felt should probably be addressed. One wants to nip things in the bud, right? And wouldn’t ya know, they’re all age related.
I’m not going to even write about two of them. You just go ahead and guess whatever you like. The two that are shareable: a shoulder that seems to have lost some of its range of motion (may I get a PT referral, please?); and one of them bunion things (may I get a podiatrist referral, please?)
The shoulder I can live with, but I do NOT want my toes going every whichway. I have lots of hiking left in me, and I do NOT want to add to the list of things already making hiking more difficult than it used to be!
I got a PT referral for my shoulder without hesitation. Thanks substitute doc!
The bunion.. no. He said one only gets to see a podiatrist if surgery is the last remaining option. So he sent me home with a handout of home remedies and a big good luck. Basically, sensible shoes, maybe some cushy pads to protect from rubbing, and a few other things that could stop its progression. It’s not even arthritis. And it’s only on one foot, because, he said, we are asymmetrical like that. Here it is:
Somewhat subtle under sandal straps, but def on its way to stage right.
Not a Book Club
May 14, 2025
After the inauguration of the greatest threat to democracy in our history, we realized that we needed to gather with other like-minded friends (and strangers) and TALK. I suppose we felt lost (how could this resurrection-fomenting, document-stealing, women-abusing, blathering fool of a felon possibly get elected?). I suppose we felt powerless (how can we ever protect the things we love and need with a MAGA governmental trifecta?). Maybe we could gather our friends (and strangers) to talk about the latest book we’d read, but who’s got time to read books (when we’re busy trying to save democracy)?!
We (Sister District Yolo) came up with an idea: A Not-a-Book-Club. Instead of big, time-consuming books, we’d talk about timely articles that got us thinking, or sparked new ideas, or offered some inspiration in the midst of the most depressing firehose of news ever. Instead of feeling nauseous and defeated and overwhelmed and angry, we could find some common cause with our neighbors, some community, some solidarity.
We set up four groups, each meeting at a different time and place. I co-host the mid-week evening gathering with Don
This evening, we gathered for our third one (they’re monthy). We talked about JB Pritzger’s barn burning speech in New Hampshire a week or two ago. We contrasted his approach “everything, everywhere, all at once,” (including massive protests, mobilization and resistance) with a dem strategist’s approach (Doug Sosnick) that includes a sequential 4-part plan. It was a great discussion. Everyone came prepared (the readings took less than an hour .. easy peasy).
And there were snacks.
Here’s this month’s group (I cut off Chris’s upper body):
I’ll close with this:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
— Margaret Mead
Jim’s Latest
May 13, 2025
A small, flat package arrived a couple days ago for Jim. I didn’t give it much thought.. it was probably something for the garage, which means it was probably destined for some project or another.
I was right!
He’d ordered a couple-three dozen large key rings, which he turned into this:
Were this a video (it actually is a screen shot of a video I shot yesterday), you’d see that when you isolate a ring at the top of the string, and then drop it, it passes down the length of the string and comes to a stop at the bottom. However, it doesn’t do that at all. In fact, it just looks like it does that, when actually it simply flips over, which causes the ring below it to flip over, which causes the ring below that to flip over.. etc. It’s an optical illusion designed to look like something it’s not.
The video is far better at conveying this than a still photo! Go to my Facebook for the action video. LOL.
Jim saw this illusion on a video on Youtube .. a place he spends a fair amount of time. That funny guy.
Speaking of that funny guy… his rocks came out of the tumbler today, after a week of spinning and grinding. However, they are going right back in, where they’ll tumble for another week (with added grit). Then they’ll get more grit and tumble for another week. Total: 6 weeks of tumbling with increasing grades of grit to achieve maximum polish. It’s a long process.
Here’s where the process stands today…. the BEFORE and AFTER.
In a week, he went from 5 pounds of rock to 3.5 pounds. Smoothness ensued. But more to come!
(If you zoom in on a rock in the middle of the BEFORE pic, you’ll see a rock in the disgusting image of His Orangeness. Orange face, square hairdo. Thankfully, all that tumbling rubbed him out. What our country needs right now is a human size tumbler.)
Orchid Comeback!
May 12, 2025
Jim gave me an orchid plant for our 29th anniversary last year. Its flowers were gorgeous for months, until, finally, they all died and fell off. I was sure I killed my beautiful orchid. But I kept watering it… 1-2 ice cubes every Saturday (a suggestion I got from Mai, my favorite pedicurist).
Well, a couple weeks ago, I noticed the teeny little nubs that had remained on the bare branches were starting to grow into misshapen (elongated) balls. And today we noticed a blossom!!!
This is an awkward photo; it’s taken from the front porch, through the window. I was just too nervous to move the orchid to get a better shot, feeling like they are so delicate and fussy I might hurt it.
Here’s another shot of some upcoming — I hope — blossoms.
The one on the left looks like another future flower that shriveled up, died and fell off its branch a week ago. Fingers crossed we get a few more flowers out of this plant.
Who Knew?
May 11, 2025
So many things fit into that category.
Here’s the latest…. as seen in the window of the new Chemistry building on campus:
I was on campus yesterday, wandering through the Whole Earth Festival with Karen Adams who was down taking care of some family business (nice to see her!). We were making our way to the Arb on what turned out to be a very hot — 90+ degrees! — kind of day. Woo boy.. wasn’t quite ready for that.
Peace Be With All Of You
May 10, 2025
Those were the first words from the new pope. I like where this is going.
Robert Prevost of Chicago, my age, is now Pope Leo the XIV. I don’t have a lot of personal investment in all of this papal business, but in general terms I’m pleased the cardinals chose someone who shares outgoing Pope Frances’ core beliefs: the dignity of the poor, migrants, refugees, and the elderly; love, joy, kindness and compassion; protecting the environment; and, even if he isn’t all in on your lifestyle choices or beliefs, he accepts and loves you. We’ll see where the new pope lands. While not necessarily an icon of the progressive left, he is in general alignment with Pope Frances, which sends a good message to the world. It’s a message that is in stark contrast to our country’s current leadership, so I’m really happy about that! I hear his social media posts have been critical of the administration’s immigration policies and specifically took on Vance in his attempts to find a theological justification for the US’s inhumane treatment of migrants.
And he enjoys Wordle, plays a really good game of tennis, and is a Chicago White Sox fan. I’m good with all that, too. Here he is with his mom and two brothers .. he’s the one on the far left. Adorbs.
Good Ol’ Mom
May 9, 2025
How’s about my annual May 9th (born in 1929) tribute to my mom! How is it that I miss her so much? I do understand that thing.. where, in their absence, they become hyper-glorified… we seem only to remember the good things and nothing about the, uh, challenges that came right along with those good things. I know that is happening to some degree. But I miss the small moments. I regret most the lost opportunity to check in with her about things. Undoubtedly, I’d question her input, but maybe not as much as I did in the moment. I can say, honestly, I’d like to hear her take. I’m really ready to listen now.
I love and adore you, mom. I am smiling now and tearing up at the same time. I wish you were here.
Out Here
May 8, 2025
I joined Maria at a screening tonight for Out Here, a documentary short about the unhoused community in Sacramento. The film presents homelessness in Sac through the eyes of Mark, a social worker who, according to the film, has emerged from his own troubled past to work on the front lines of what they describe is an escalating social crisis. Mark — who was sitting right behind us in the theater — is still, today, working to house and improve the lives of Sacramento’s chronically homeless, navigating incredible institutional challenges and roadblocks.. including, often, substantial resistance from the very folks he’s trying to help.
The film was so poignant. The connections he sometimes made (not always) with folks was hopeful, but also frustrating. It was clear that every single case is unique.. people’s needs are entirely unique to them. It’s clear the solution to homelessness is not a one-size-fits-all.
I was glad to see Vet’s Memorial Theater was packed. It was an event put on by supervisor Sheila Allen, who was sick and couldn’t be there. Her staff thanked and acknowledged lots of folks. In the acknowledgment category, she included Maria, mentioning that she was David’s sister. It was moving to see a film about homelessness in our region, especially as the stabbing trial began this week and two of the victims were unhoused.
The program opened with a piano player (and his dog). This gentleman was featured in the doc:
They also invited another subject in the documentary to read a poem. His sister was on hand, as part of a panel discussion following the film:
In addition to the poet’s sister, the film maker, and two other formerly unhoused women (who now work for agencies providing services to the homeless community) made brief comments and answered questions.
Virtual Court
May 7, 2025
The meat of the trial for David and Karim’s murderer and Kimberlee’s assailant — Carlos — began two days ago. Last week was jury selection and motions. This week the prosecution’s case began with testimony and evidence and will continue for at least two solid weeks before the defense weighs in. And that’s just the guilt phase of this two-part trial. The second phase will be about determining whether these heinous acts were committed by a person in the throes of schizophrenia.
I am planning to be in the courthouse as often as I can manage. I might miss a morning or an afternoon here and there, or even a full day (we only have a few weeks before we take off for Europe and there is a lot that needs to get done in prep for the trip and in prep for being gone.) But I won’t miss any of the proceedings because they offer virtual court! One just goes to the Yolo County Superior Court website, clicks on “View Live Courtroom,” selects a courtroom (Dept 14 in this case), enters their name and they’re in right away. It’s incredibly easy. I’ve watched from home on my laptop and on my phone. I’ve listened to it in the car. I’ve even watched when I’m at the courthouse: when the evidence includes images that are particularly brutal, I have stepped out of the courtroom and into the hall and logged on to the website (where they stream the proceedings without the graphic images).
Here is a screenshot of the coverage from this morning. They offer multiple camera angles.. one of the witness stand (that’s Kimberlee), one of the judge (Sam), one of the attorney’s tables and podium (that’s prosecutor De Moura asking questions and to the right the defense attorney and defendant). You can also see a bit of the gallery.. mostly filled with media folks. When there is an image to share, that is also webcast, unless it’s graphic, in which case it’s blacked out.
When I’ve logged on, I’ve noticed there are around 100 others who are also online. It’s a great public service.
Rock Tumbler
May 6, 2025
Jim. I’m tellin’ ya. The man makes stuff.
Exhibit A:
This is a rock tumbler. I don’t know impetus for this, but apparently having a rock tumbler was high on Jim’s wish list. Or maybe it was just about finding a use for the motor he stripped out of an old lawn mower. Neato either way, right?
I must say, this is really clever. He’d do a better job of explaining how he came up with this implementation, but for my part, I’m just impressed with the ingenuity. I would have not the first clue about how to convert a lawn mower motor to something that powers a rock tumbler, never mind how to construct a spinning vessel strong enough to run continuously for 7 days and endure tumbling *rocks*.
Check out these belts and other gizmos:
Here’s the set up in the storage unit off the garage, right next to Jim’s Stairmaster (he says it’s so loud it drowns out NPR… the station he listens to while working out and working in his garage). You see bottles of grit, spare cylinders of various sizes, the motor and rack upon which the tumbler spins, maneuvered by those belts. I think. What you can’t see is the heat/fire sensor which is mounted nearby and which sends a signal to Jim in the house somewhere if all that energy gets coverted to fire! He’s an industrial designer who thinks of everything. 🙂
The rocks are supposed to be “ready” on May 13. Jim’ll do an unveiling and I’ll post a picture, no matter how they turn out. Stay tuned.
Life of Wry 