Fog City

Cass and Lauren holding my most special granddaughter Ashby. Look at her eyes, I like to think she has my observation qualities.

The lovely Elise trying her best not to act silly, and I think with the camera in such close proximity, it worked. Thanks Elise!

Christine and myself sharing the glow from our progeny and beyond.

Ah the happy couple basking in joyful knowledge, we made it this far!

Fog City

It's Monday. I walked to the coffee shop, ordered a cup, sat down to ruminate, and thought, I must look like the rest of the senior citizens staring out the window. Frankly there was something comforting about such a scenario. I watched the young select their beverage, and rush out tucking folders under their arms, peering into their iphones for help, with an urgency I surely didn't envy. I got up and left after my back began to ache, and meandered home.

Yesterday was another great Mother's Day, even though I'm not a mother. Christine organized a day at the races. The extended family, grandparents to infants, gathered for a Sunday brunch in the Turf Club at Golden Gate Fields. Everyone enjoyed a variety of food, over and over, and collectively got quite giddy about their whimsical betting. Whimsical it was, for no one won any money of note, but everyone wore an ecstatic smile! All our lovely ladies had their photo taken with the winning jockey after the 6th race, and a beautiful photo it is! Until next year...

Fog City

I'm steaming! I just wrote a paragraph, which I quite liked and clicked to add photo and the whole operation disappeared. And Christine wonders why I'm on the computer so long, well I have to do everything about 3 times, not only that, then try to remember what I was commenting about. Arrgghh! It is Monday morning and we are in the throes of our brief summer. The temperature is in the mid 70s and the sun is working it's magic. It's tank top time! The weekend was exceptionally beautiful enhancing our two day lawn bowling tournament. You wouldn't think such an aesthetically pleasing spectacle could be so physically taxing, but I'm here to testify, it is! The club members are an extremely nice bunch, and a perfect antidote for the usual procession of murder stories on the news. I'm pooped this morning honing my computer skills. Really? Anyway I was pinning a food item on Pinterest and came across this refreshing website, and naturally wanted to share it. Check it out and enjoy. http://iowagirleats.com/

Fog City

I have a list of things I want to do, but to my chagrin I take on the characteristics of a snail, with no direction. I have a magazine and a much desired book dead in front of me on the table. I will complete both soon, but I find a sort of reverse satisfaction in creating layers of procrastination. It's a mild application of Murphy's Law; don't do today, what you can put off until tomorrow, and on and on. I have other more serious projects which haven't passed the embryonic stage, like writing a memoir, or seriously and physically losing unwanted blubber, or getting real about my urban documentary film. So you see fraction and abstraction continue to be a distraction. Later!

Fog City

Well you guessed it, the rain has returned. I'm sure I should feel guilty for once again staying indoors. But after a life time of responsible labor, I believe I've earned the ability to lounge, in my robe, on the couch, watching movies, pausing only to scrounge around the refrigerator for another snack. Oops, Christine just returned from judging scholarship candidates at USF, and brought, to my surprise and delight, a steaming hot pizza. She's dope! Time to wallow in caloric decadence, mmm mmm good. Later...

Fog City

I bought a new painting, oil on canvas, by Matias Salas. I'll try and do it justice by taking it's picture and posting it. It has a culinary theme, obviously, and I first laid eyes on it, at the Studio Gallery, one of my favorite places, to bask in comfortable art.
I've been rolling along without a care in the world, well maybe a few, none so grave as to interfere with my leisure pursuits. I have a minor film project in its embryonic stage and a memoir idea in chaotic jig saw puzzle form. As long as the weather remains forbidding, I can watch movies and eat popcorn. Cheers!

Fog City

I'm trying to upload a short video I made. Eventually it should take the form of a documentary, but that's wishful thinking. The gist is urban behavior, specifically the scavengers who rummage through garbage bins, collecting recyclables. I watch two ladies in the neighborhood who have refined their system and maximized their efforts.

City Scavengers from Tom Raher on Vimeo.

This is my experimental short, which I plan to make into a short documentary in the future. It deals with urban behavior in tough times. I'm waiting for a real camera provided by my ever attentive son, so it may be awhile!