Shots from the Lip

 It was 15C at 8am when I rode this Saturday morning.  It is 27C at 11:58am.  I walked to Ralphs after breakfast and had to shed both the black thermal long sleeved shirt and the Dodgers short sleeved Hawaiian style shirt (which is too large for me, anyway). Lunch soon......and after, a nap and a walk, ending by 3:30pm, in anticipation of my monthly weed delivery.  The cost savings this way is phenomenal......and the system is reliable - it works quite conveniently.   Only additional needs:  some gummies for Friday's Disney LA Phil........ I am re-reading Fahrenheit 451.  Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 in 1953.  I read it 66 years ago and am re-reading it for my literature class.  It is far,far,far,far more than science fiction.....and so fucking allegorical.......If you've never read it or have previously read it over a decade ago, I recommend it if you have time........ Have a great day!

 I was out this morning (Thursday - no school) with the temperature at 13C.  It is projected to reach 25C today.....and there is no rain in sight....summer seems to have arrived! It is 11:18am on an amazing Friday morning:  it is already 28 C outside and it'll likely hit 30 today! The sections of the bike paths along the beach that I ride have been (more or less) cleared of the debris and sand that, because of the strong rain, screwed up the paths completely last week.  Riding, late for me today, was an absolute delight as there were a few runners and a few bike riders but no more than a few and it was truly a relaxing ride today. I closed out credit cards set to Apple Pay this morning - There are small billings I cannot trace and the sad fact is that this company does not even really want to speak with their customer base - one there's a bill, it will be there in perpetuity - or until one closes the account (impossible without any clue from Apple how to do so..........

 43 pages for a simple, Federal return - that is the death knell of the IRS - a simple return ain't simple.  Given a 'similar' set of circumstance in any other major western country, the return - in that country's language - will be fewer pages and the individual would likely be able to complete it all his or herself - I guarantee it! Class today at (as Katherine calls it, The Diaper Brigade) SMC  65 online, 10 of us in class:  9 women and me.  What will attendance be like for the two classes tomorrow? I had so much I anticipated writing on the blog today......no motivation.....such is life.....that's all for today, anyone out there reading this.....

The bike paths are an unmitigated disaster after a week of intense rain.  It was impossible to go my full route as beach sand make the path impenetrable in several places.  I will go biking again tomorrow morning but will go north instead of south in hope of better cycling. I was planning to complete our tax work today but was simply too tired to do so.  I was out yesterday  from 9 - 6:30.  The day before that I was knee deep into our own tax return preparation and I had intended to complete it today....... I took the day off - I needed this!!

 But for myself I won't do any more returns - I hate them - I have absolutely no idea how I lasted all those decades doing nothing but tax work - how awful!!!!! Regardless, I have one two page form for which there is data on one page....but most of the 24 pages of instructions apply to the currently empty second page where the remedy to my questions seem to be.   Thus, on Saturday - because I cannot fucking see straight after a full day of tax work - I will hopefully complete both Federal and State returns and be ready to file next week. And tonight?   begged out of Sweet Dreams at the hospital - hey, I am ready for sweet dreams of my own tonight!

 Katherine mentioned, yesterday, that she does searches on You Tube rather than Google and that I was on You Tube.  I never knew....last night I looked.......Yes indeed, I am there!!! Happiness was knowing that today's shitty weather does not prevent me from my class - I took it at home on Zoom rather than go to school.  Don't get me wrong - I would rather be in class because there is  something gained by attending that lecture, live.....but hey, I'm old enough to choose to stay home and fret about yesterday's rain - at least the intense portion where there was a slow drip for about 20 minutes during the most intense rain I've seen here in good old Santa Monica.......and after class  was at the piano, slowly trying to get my two hands to work in unison........  I know: practice, practice and more practice until I am fucking blue in the face is the only way to learn....and that is what I will - I'll get out a creditable Jingle Bells before the next step, pla...

It is supposed to rain - to pour, actually, if the forecast is to hold true.  I got dressed and was ready to go out around 8:15am.  I did get dressed and did go out  - to the front porch where I saw the rain coming down sufficiently to warrant my going back inside. I will go out - even with rain - later on....I have to go to UCLA Health where I screwed up my username/password to the extent that I can no longer access anything........hopefully, going to 2020 Santa Monica Blvd, they will direct me to someone who can re-start my account....... I feel good about writing another essay - this one about my and horse racing.....this, after a day at Santa Anita where I bet on a horse that Irv had an ownership share.......Good odds, never expected to win but 14 - 1 odds paid $280 on my $20 bet......nice way to end the day!! And a day after - rain now and projected rain for most of the week......such is life..... 

I've neve been to Santa Anita.  I'm going today - Irv has a 1/4 interest in a horse that is running today.  The last time I was at the races in the States was at Hollywood Park when I had a 1/5 interest in a standardbred syndicate.  The last time I was at the races was in Bangkok - a third world experience at the track I'd never had before.  Two of us were there and we discovered two important things as a prelude to betting:  1)  The horses ran and were running true to form and 2)  The bettors that day were not betting by 'form'.   We made out like bandits!  Best day at the track I ever had!!! Prior to Bangkok, the last overseas track I went to was in Mumbai - another third world experience!! I miss the Hong Kong Jockey Club.  I don't think anyone ever had it easier to join - hey, I was the only gweilo applicant for the multicultural club that year......and I did have the husband of Hong Kong's  NPC delegate as my sponsor..... ...

 So what happens when one stays in bed, gets up late, dresses late to go out and former neighbor John is at the door?   My fault - he SMS'd me an hour earlier but, as usual, without message notifications, I had no idea......regardless, it was a nice chat prior to going out for my morning walk. Tonight, prior to doing Sweet Dreams at the hospital, Jade Rabbit, across the street, will have a jazz combo from 6-8pm.  I'll do dinner there prior to going to the hospital...... My music books come today and I am serious about starting anew with a routine of music fun that I anticipate will be a permanent part of my life......music......photography and watercolor....a little bit each day in a blog......and an occasional essay. Will this be the beginning or just hoping in the dark for a reboot of routines of my life??

First and foremost:  I spilled most of my Starbucks coffee in class today - caught it all on a handkerchief that while still moist, reeks of coffee....... We have a banking problem:  so much information available that it is too difficult to find something specific - we found what the bank did not pick up where they should have picked up....and based upon that initial bank data, there'll be some corrections made......such is life...... I've now got the books I want to read on my Kobo reader as well as my iPhone.   want to get the app on my Leitz Phone 2 and get the photos to transfer elsewhere because the Leitz camera is simply too good and I should find a use for it! 

 Rain tomorrow night along with temperature drop.  More rain on Wednesday and then cold and wet for a week or more......unless there are changes????? I never saw it:  My GP, Jeff Fujimoto, scheduled an MRI of my stomach - I knew I had stomach weaknesses.......it is 'routine' scheduled for 16 March........ Today we will try Domino's Pizza - since I have sweaters to be dry cleaned....... Not much to write about - I am comfortable in the new routines and times I am 'allocating'.....this is a never ending battle to prevent brain rot!

It was still cold this morning but there were far less runners out today and it was wonderfully sunny along the bike paths today....still a 6 shirt (in total) day....... Temperature due to go up to 26C today with sun out all day but it gets bad in a couple of days with temperature forecast to a high of 17 on Wednesday with rain both Tuesday and Wednesday. So this means, get out and do photoshoots both today and tomorrow while the going is good! This is the final week of classes for the winter session.  But the week after, on the 17th, the Spring semester which runs through mid-June, begins.  In addition to my 'usual' two classes for which we'll be 'continuing' where we leave off this week, I am also taking a 'live' current events/public affairs class on Wednesdays, same room, right after the comedy class. AND.......today I begin the piano course I have chosen to commit myself to - if I stick with it - 4 days a week - half-hour sessions - I believe that I wil...

The black thermal long sleeved undershirt......a cashmere sweater.....the long sleeved, colorful bike shirt......the Jerry long-sleeved......the Rapha long sleeved plain.....and my customized Larry short sleeved, multi-colored bicycle shirt.......and I was still cold. Still, better to be out than not!!! The temperature on my phone says 20C.  It does not feel like it.  Supposedly, it'll go up to 23 and as much as I have been avoiding it (fear has much to do with it) I will attempt to get started again with my film 35mm camera. Shopping at the markets this morning?  Doesn't look like it....... Time to read half of what I printed out from the newspapers to read....and then to follow my calendar for the day........it is now 10:36am and let's see how the day goes.....

I put in just about two hours yesterday night at St John's Hospital Orthopedics floor.  Surprisingly, I actually completed the rounds through all 48 patient rooms on the hospital's third floor.  As the weeks pass, I am 'defining' what I want to do there on Thursday nights.  Firstly, I am 'comfortable', now, with not necessarily completing visits to all the rooms.  Putting in 90-110 minutes, at most, without any break because the cafeteria is closed and I cannot get my free, large Starbucks coffee (they must owe me 3 gallons worth accumulation because of closed cafeterias!)...and most importantly, as I go into rooms that 'really' want to talk, I'm now staying and talking more as this, to me, really seems beneficial for those patients wanting to talk.......and assuming (as last night) where there were 4 or 5 rooms where I stayed longer time, as I put in the time but feel that I've done enough for the night, I'll finish, regardless of the time.....

 I simply never got around to writing yesterday - no big deal - nothing vital to say yesterday, anyway. What I probably would have written is that I finally have my Kobo e-book reader working the way I want it to (but for the Google additions that will have to wait for TianTian to get here).  Anyhow, I am currently doing all my reading on the Kobo, having discovered that while Kobo Plus is a waste of time, simply getting a book from Kobo is as easy as from Kindle.....and at the same exact price as Kindle!  Thus, a better e-book reader gets my use.... What I am reading:  1929  - Sorkin gets the reader involved with his writing - and parallels between then and now are abundant for warning...... The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - I read it when first published....but knowing that there's an opera now, I want to re-read before seeing how it goes as an opera....... Farrenheit 451 - yes, I read it once but now that this will be the first book covered in the...

 A dark, thermal shirt was not enough.....the Dodger jacket made it comfortable and I took a morning walk to Trader Joe's for hummus and a melon (chosen by their produce people as the pineapples were still too fresh). It'll be in the low 70s today, with a clear sky.  The past two days it was in the low 80s - and afternoon walks were sublime!  Yesterday I took my Leica Grip in my back pocket and it remained there throughout the entirety of my approximately 90 minute walk.  I feel confident with the Leica software on my iPhone and have basically set it to two different lens settings that I can either comfortably switch between with the grip or try something else.  Prior to taking out the grip, I charge it, not knowing for sure the degree of consumption because I have no idea how to turn the grip off after having turned it on and using it.........hey, whatever works and this seems to satisfactorily work!  This week it is time to get back to my Rollei 35AF!

 Just a couple of weeks ago we were freezing our collective asses off in the not so wee small hours of the morning as the sun rose in the east and settled for the day upon coastal California and Santa Monica. And then, yesterday and today:  It was 14 degrees C at 8:30am and while it will not be as warm today as it was yesterday, that 26 degree afternoon, yesterday, was wonderful for a walk - a long walk in the sun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday morning, the runners, riders, walkers and skaters were all out and until I got past Venice on the bike paths, it was really a bother.......today everyone was sleeping and the solitude in sun was great! I've been 'productive' this morning......we'll do some reading this afternoon and do one additional photoshoot with the Leica Grip today....then it'll be time to start with the Rollei 35AF again.....and hopefully.........??!!?