Shots from the Lip

 I purchased both the 'larger' Amazon Fire and the keyboard for it early in 2025 but I never really realized its capabilities and what I can use it for until now......and damn, I am beginning to love it! The screen - it looks like - is 9"x5"  big enough for a split screen (2 pages at a time) viewing of The New Yorker that I can now read for free from the Santa Monica Public Library because I am a member (as well as an author in their catalog).........and hey, while that screen is far too small to read, just a two-finger enlargement makes my having AMD and not being able to read the actual magazine anymore, the solution to continuing to love reading that truly wonderful magazine!!! And the Fire works as an e-book reader alternative to both Kindle and Kobo, thus, all my reading is now available on one tablet (and a tablet/computer -  this trustworthy, albeit ancient Surface Pro, which will be deskbound, here at home). On Monday I go to the Geek Squad at Best Buy to get ...

 I ate something?  Or I succumbed to the heat?  Whatever.......I was in St John's Emergency Room all Tuesday afternoon, a day when there was only one other patient than me waiting......and with Medicare Supplement insurance, the hospital was assured of payment of all they did....and they had a field day!!  I got faster test results than I got from the blood takers at UCLA Health the week before.  Why can't the two systems communicate and efficiently eliminate a needless repetition of tasks?  Will there be Medicare for all in the future (in my lifetime) to eliminate so much of what is wrong with our current, very inequitable system?  What'll it take to change if this is going to be the eventuality? Enough questions! We are getting our act together vis a vis next week's Court appearance. And I have a very, very workable schedule between now and then.........onwards.......

 Last week, in preparation for an August meeting with the 4th UCLA Health GP in 3 years, I gave blood - enough to fill 9 (or 10?) test tubes.  Yesterday at St Johns Emergency where there were few patients and as a Medicare Supplement insurance holder, I was completely guaranteed for government payment of everything, they had a field day and there were 11 test tubes of blood as well as a cat scan........ Why isn't there 'sharing' between health services?????? While I cannot truly say that whatever I had knocked the shit out of me (because I am currently constipated) I am 'weakened' and it'll take some days to get back to where I want to be feeling like....... And while all of that takes place, it is a very comfortable 26C outside......a really nice day to be indoors and resting, too.......

 Is there a hole in my pocket that I am unaware of?  Did I NOT put the sunglasses holder in my pocket, thinking that I did?   Regardless, it ain't there and I need to re-adapt myself to what I have now, without that case (and one flip glasses inside - one flip glasses outside and still here!). Today was the last day of drawing class.  I appreciate the coverage of three types of media (graphite, charcoal, colored pencils) for the class but I don't want detailed drawing - I do want to be able to do much faster sketches - and perhaps line drawing in ink.......that'll take practice to get better but it is what I want........contour drawing - outside outlines of what I want to draw, first........ And today I seriously start preparation for our 'trial'.........

There was a street festival planned for late morning through early evening along Ocean Avenue today.  The entire street was blocked from traffic and I anticipated that this would likely screw up any bicycle riding this morning ..... and since I've already had some really nice weather rides the previous two days, I opted for a photoshoot and walk around down town....aided and abetted, of course, with my student tap card and nice weather......... I lost count of the number of taco trucks that were setting up as I walked Ocean Avenue where I gave up with the photoshoot idea after pressing the wrong button and locking the camera......regardless, it was a nice walk! Spain Argentina begins in 50 minutes.......do I go to watch at the start or do I wait for Katherine.....? I'll have my portion of the deli sandwich we got from Fromin's, yesterday, and then go....... After?  Erewhon??? A smoothie?? 

 Before going out on my Friday morning bike ride, I walked with our new suitcase to Trader Joe's for a watermelon and a bag of Japanese sweet potatoes. No long sleeves today - now, at noon, my watch shows 27C - only it sure as hell doesn't feel like it with virtually a non-stop daylight breeze that makes it comfortably cooler when the iWatch shows 27C. Bike riding was nice, doing it after shopping at Trader Joe's - others on the bike path were fewer and definitely not obstructions to be careful about.   Today is gonna be one of those rare days when, if I had them, I'd wear shorts out......but for only a few days a year, do I really want to buy a pair of short pants?