21-22 November: reading, meeting, eating, reading

Monday, 21 November 2016

I began a new book.

I do love a good agony aunt.  (Miss Manners is a particular favourite.) Ms. Havrilesky had many gems of advice to offer.  While many letters to her are by people in their late 20s and 30s, some address the mysteries of aging as well.

I did not know this when I was 25-32, and I wish I had (but hardly anyone does):

This would have helped me just two years ago:

This would have helped me even more two years ago:

My reading was interrupted to go to an evening meeting of local liberals.  The agenda:

1. What the F*** just happened?

2. What’s next?

3. How can we get involved in the local political system and encourage others to as well

4. What are the looming challenges facing our local community under a Trump administration and how do we prepare?

5. Individual thoughts and ideas moving forward

Adrift Hotel (Allan’s photo)

Adrift Hotel in Long Beach was the meeting location.

Over 50 people attended, a thrilling turn out for a dark windy rainy night in a small beach town.  The organizers had expected a much smaller number of people.  They had a most clever idea: We brainstormed in small groups and wrote down on sticky notes ideas on different set topics, and the notes were then organized onto boards and will be made into a document later.

such a clever plan for note taking

You may see a lot of older folk in the photo, yet we were all encouraged that a goodly array of younger folk attended, as well.  Some excellent ideas are about to flower from this and I will share more as they blossom.

We repaired upstairs to the [pickled fish] restaurant for dinner (one of the few places in town that is open till 10 PM).

Allan’s photo

the [pickled fish]

cranberry margarita

Allan’s photo

The pizzas are superb.

art in the ladies’ room

Tuesday, 22 November 2016

back to this

Finally, I thought I might have time to read, in its entirety, the latest Seaside Knitters book.  I’d been saving it for a stretch of uninterrupted time.

Unfortunately, there is no book that can keep my attention off of compulsively reading the news on my iPhone.  I even try putting it in the other room—and then end up going to get it.  So I didn’t finish the delightful book after all before it was time for dinner and some telly.  My big plan was to finish the book on Wednesday. Even though some bulbs were due to arrive, bad weather was predicted.

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1995 (age 71):

Nov 21:  Raked leaves from Tam area, east ditch, and upper driveway.

Nov 22:  Raked leaves.  If I had the nerve and the energy, I would ask Wilsons for the leaves in front of their lot.

1997 (age 73):

Nov 21:  Either I didn’t do anything these past 3 days or I just didn’t write it down. ?

1998 (age 74):

Nov 21:  I had enough tomatoes ripe but as undecided how to fix them (no space in freezer) so I canned them (in mayo jars) 5 pints.  I took all the canned apples to the shop.  I brought pint jars from the garage.  I brought enough wood in for tomorrow and picked up another two pails of apples.  Luckily the rain stopped long enough to do these chores.