Halloween Welcome --- Day 7/235

Walk: Hood with big bag of papers to be shredded, mail in ballot, spca cat food donation
Distance: 1 mile, Pedal, yoga

Maybe there are new owners with children on and near Ciwt's block.  She doesn't remember so many Halloween decorations, and she was enjoying deciding trying to which she likes best.

Colorful?

Black and White?

Happy?

                               

Then she got to her Wells Fargo and saw this sign: 

                                                             

Do You feel welcome?  At first she thought, "How cute of Wells Fargo to get into the Halloween spirit."  Then she realized they were 'dead' serious. 

"Give us all the money in your drawer."

Fifties Bye, Bye --- Day 7/234

Walk:  AMC Kabuki (Wildlife) and errands
Distance: 4 miles, Pedal, wee yoga

Wildlife: The Mother, The Father, The Watching Son

So how did Ciwt take advantage of this perfect weather day?  By going to an indie of course.  And is she guilty or sorry?  Absolutely not!

Wildlife is all an indie should be - and more. Excellent screenplay from an excellent novel, beautifully shot and directed.  And then there is the outstanding acting. Carey Mulligan as the wife/mother may get an Academy Award nod, but all the actors and the characters they play are on her level.  Those would be Jake Gyllenhaal as the father/husband, Ed Oxenboule as the son and Bill Camp as the rich car dealership owner.  

Any director that can make Gyllenhall ordinary, unnoticable in a crowd must be a good one.  That would be the seasoned actor Paul Dano directing his first film (and co-adapting the screenplay from a Richard Ford book).  

If you like indies with uniformly glowing reviews (and an unfortunate trailer), go. And be very, very glad the 50's are a thing of the past.

Dog Days of Fall --- 7/233

Walk: Monday Hood Errands (So easy in SF Fall weather weather)
Distance: 2 miles, Pedal, Yoga

             

Dogs agree with Ciwt that this is the most glorious time of year to be in San Francisco.

Norway Across the Bridge --- Day 232

Walk: No, Another Marin Driving Day 
Distance: 0, Yoga

So today Ciwt drives her becoming beloved A4 back to Marin for a play.  It is long - 2.5 hours - but friends say it is good, so we'll see.  Stay tuned...

*Back now:  Ciwt says very good But...hard to hear sometimes, probably too long.

Happish Again - Days 230, 231

Walks: Hood, Lots of trips to Marin in Loaner Car
Distance:  Miles and Miles and some Yoga.  No Golf.

So, another good piece of car news that no one cares about except Ciwt.  Oh well, it is her CIWT.

You may remember (if she told you) last January her beloved 18 year old Audi A4 finally reached the point of being 'completely unhighway worthy."  So, since she couldn't drive from dealership to dealership to scout out new models, she picked out one on line, drove to the dealership and did the deed.

Her new car, being simply the newer version of her wonderful A4, would of course be nearly identical except newer.  That was her reasoning until she got home, drove into her garage and nearly totalled her 1/2 hour old car.  It was Much! bigger.  Longer and Wider, which she later learned Audi and all the reviewers considered a selling point.

Ciwt is omitting all the new news about the car being completely computerized and an utter mystery to her for months and, for many things, still.  (Along with many Audi mechanics she might add).  

Anyway, she learned that in the intervening 18 years, an Audi A3 had come into production.  Almost the same cost and most of the same features but smaller and zippier like her 💗👄💘old car.  So she actually considered just losing money and trading for it.  Until her mechanic and other mechanics she asked said No Way!!  Don't be stupid, (old lady).

Still Ciwt was secretly planning to make that move.  Until, luckily, mercifully, etc., etc.  she was given an A3 as a loaner while her Big new car was in the shop the other day.  Well, it is tinnier, tinier, (cramped actually), brittle, uncomfortable and not half as luxurious, smooth riding, comfortable and who knows what else as her new A4.  So, let the love begin....Sorry to doubt you, mechanics and nice new car.

Dangerous Too (?!) --- Day 7/229

Walk: No, Marin Driving Day
Distance: 0ish, Long Yoga, Pedal

So, Ciwt is seriously reconsidering her comeback to terrible golf playing.  Did she tell you she got hit by a golf ball the other day?  That's like being struck by lightening, and she may use it as her omen that it is okay to finally let go of that sport which is so fraught for her.  

Ciwt, Technician --- Day 7/228

Walk: Marin Audi, PGCC (putting, lunch, bridge)
Distance: 1/2 mile maybe

Ciwt had to take her newish car into a warranty dealer today.  Here were the problems she was encountering: tripmeter randomly reset itself back to zero, back up screen randomly refused to turn on, car wouldn't let her shift gears at random times, and a few more.  Not one about ye olde mechanical problems.

Her tech specialist was polite but clearly thought Ciwt was a crazyish lady of a certain age since nobody at the dealership had ever heard of such issues.

Well, .. at the end of the day he called to report that All of Ciwt's car issues were in fact known to the manufacturer, and fixes had been created by their technicians.  Her specialist now had a tone of respect in his voice and said he would like to keep her car longer 'to really make sure.'  Ie, maybe his client was a more reliable source of information than his manual.

Bird Obscured by Museum Goers --- Day 7/227

Walk: SFMOMA, PGCC
Distance: 4.5 miles, small yoga

 Detail: Morris Graves (American 1910-2001), Bird Maddened by the Sound of Machinery in the Air, 
1944, watercolor on rice paper

Here is why dark art can be difficult to display.  (Ie, reflection).  The full work (below) was even more difficult to capture.


Too bad because Ciwt is very drawn to Morris's art as is Wayne Thiebaud who chose this painting to be in the thoughtful, educational and intimate show of his personal selections from the SFMOMA collection now up until next spring.*

*(Wayne Thiebaud: Artist’s Choice: September 29, 2018–March 10, 2019)

You Watch, Still it is Unreal --- Day 7/226

Walk: AMC Van Ness (Free Solo)
Distance: 4 miles, small yoga

A doc that has the Tension and Focus yesterday's doc lacked.  In Spades!  Even the camera people are intensely anxious (one has his camera on a tripod and running but can't watch) as they film Free Solo.  You know the climber Alex Honnold is going to make his free solo (ie, without any ropes) climb up the face of El Capitan; not just by reading newspapers but because he is filmed alive at follow up interviews, presentations and book signings.  But, even knowing for sure, the camerawork is so skillfully intimate and exacting Ciwt was sweating each breath, each step, each handhold.  You will be too! 

Tired Feet, Tired Brain --- Day 7/225

Walk: Cinema Club (The World Before Your Feet), Japantown
Distance: 2.2 miles, Yoga

Walker and New York lover Ciwt really, really wanted to love The World Before Your Feet, her Cinema Club's selection this morning. It is a charming documentary about Matt Green, a man who has spent the last 6 years walking all the streets of all five boroughs of New York City. (He estimates he has another year or two to go before accomplishing his goal). 

And she did love it for maybe 45 minutes.  Probably longer than viewers who don't appreciate lengthy walks and certainly longer than those who are not interested in the Apple. But after that stretch even Ciwt got a little restless and needed to work to stay attentive.  The little recognized, non-Manhattan neighborhoods kind of went on and on, and Matt's little personal foci like store names that ended with 'z' (eg, Hair Kutz) and scattered  9/11 memorials were too long. The visuals weren't held together with tension or drama so Ciwt started to feel like she was watching someone's personal Instagram page.  One of her friends commented "This would make a great 10 minute movie," and, grudgingly, Ciwt wouldn't entirely disagree. 

That said, if you love walking, love New York City and love just sort of passing time visually as you go along, definitely see The World Before Your Feet  if it comes your way - and by all means walk to your theater if you can.   

Is Sunday on Saturday? --- Day 7/224

Walk: Sunday errands around home, PGCC
Distance: Up and down her stairs, small yoga, hit large bucket of balls

 All this golf playing and club going has Ciwt a little lost in time and space.  

Can You Find at Least Two Differences? --- Day 7/223

Walk: GG Golf Course, Legion of Honor, Hood (Yuri's Lighting)
Distance: 5.5 miles, small yoga

.

(Hint: They have to do with the lamp...)

Living at the Club --- Days 7/221 and 222

Walk: PGCC (Book Group, Book Group, Bridge, Hitting Balls, Womens Self Defense Class, Lunch, Socializing)
Distance: 4 Miles, Buckets of Balls

If you're looking for Ciwt these days, try calling her golf club.

Harmless (and sort of pointless) --- Day 7/ 220

Walk: PGCC Book Club (The Forgiven), SF Playhouse (You Mean to Do Me Harm)
Distance:  A Few Blocks.  Arty day

You Mean to Do Me Harm: Well acted, great set, going nowhere script 😑.  Too bad.

Mama Said There'd Be.... --- Day 72/19

Walk: Pier 22 1/2  Fireboat House
Distance: 1.6 miles


        San Francisco Fireboat Phoenix

                                                                    Our Captain

Most beautiful of all is San Francisco from a fireboat in perfect weather.  This after 50 years of living in this delicately gorgeous Bay Area. Panoramic perfection everywhere she looked; Ciwt gave up trying to capture in on her iphone and just marveled. A very special, stunning actually, adventure Ciwt was lucky enough to be invited on.

Nada and Nice --- Day 7/218

Walk: No
Distance: 0, Yoga

Ciwt had all sorts of movie and practice tee plans, but abandoned them for reading* with cats on her deck in our Indian summer.  Splendid decision.

* The Forgiven.  Quite good.

Man on the Moon --- Day 7/217

Walk: Vogue Theater (First Man)
Distance: 1.4 miles

Ciwt fought and respected the realism of First Man.  The movie was about an American heroic mission and an American hero, and both were presented in down to earth dailiness.  No dramatic music, no larger than life swaggerer, no technical breakthrough moments or suspenseful nailbiters.  In other words none of the usual fanfare that Ciwt had come to expect on the silver screen, and therein lies its strength.  It shows us what actual heroism is: real accomplishments done by real people living real lives.  

Until First Man gets to the moon.  Then it soars as movie making and should be seen if only for those Intimate minutes on the absolutely silent moon*.

*(Here the viewer must continue to ignore the melodramatic human interest story the director decided to attach to Armstrong.  Ciwt found it unnecessary and unbelievable, along with his portrayal of Aldrin).

Time Out --- Day 7/216

Walk: Golden Gate Golf
Distance: 4 miles, Yoga

After a week of working at club games Ciwt is now officially tired. 

Heeeer Ball, Ball --- Day 7/215

Walk: Marin (car) Driving and PGCC (golf ball) Driving Day
Distance: A few blocks, bucket of balls, yoga

Lost Balls: Another reason golf gets expensive (and frustrating, ooops, challenging).

Takes Time Sometimes --- Day 7/214

Walk: PGCC x2 (Golf Clinic, Bridge), Hood
Distance: 1 mile, bucket of drives, small yoga

Ciwt is sort of holding her breath. She may actually be joining the club she joined two years ago.  Stay tuned. 

Having a Ball --- Day 7/213

Walk: PGCC
Distance: 9 Holes Golf (@4.5 miles), wee yoga

Call Ciwt Diva, but her two favorite things about her (provisional) return to golf are 1. the great optic

golf balls and 2. her self-permission to pick up her ball any time the hole has stopped being fun for her.

(Even with the optics she lost two balls today).

The Shape of Things --- Day 7/212

Walk: Yuri's Lighting (down and up with lamps x 4), Union Square (Theory sale)
Distance: 5 miles, wee yoga

So, Ciwt has always been a round shade gal

But today, for some unknown reason and prodding from a local lamp/lighting expert, she added a couple of curvy shades to her lampshades.  Cute? A little Matissey?  Hope she comes to like the switch.

Guilt-free Gripper --- Day 7/211

Walk: Cinema Club (The Guilty), PGCC
Distance: 3 miles, bucket of balls, small yoga

Attention Mystery/Thriller Buffs: Just a couple more weeks and it will be at your theater!

This morning Ciwt's Cinema Club screened The Guilty, a Danish movie guaranteed to wake up even the sleepiest attendee. From the moment it begins you realize you need to listen to every word, every sound, every expression of the superb actor who is on the screen in close up from beginning to end.  Gripping without being scary, intelligent, deep and totally comprehensible with nice, clear, easy to read subtitles.  When did you last see a truly masterful cinematic thriller?  It is coming!!

Another Star is Born --- Day 7/210

Walk: AMC Kabuki (A Star is Born)
Distance: 2 miles, Yoga

You'll all see it, Ciwt thinks, and you'll enjoy the new A Star is Born. Two hard-working. likable, watchable stars move their already immense talents into yet other fields. It's almost too much to ask that they have chemistry together, but they do.

You could say it is Lady Gaga's movie.  It is her acting debut; she is excellent at that new thing and of course outstanding at belting out song after song often dancing or accompanying herself on the piano.  Oh, and she wrote most of those songs.

But, Ciwt has to give A Star is Born to Bradley Cooper.  As always it is worth going to the theater just to see those blue eyes, his sexy/charming ways and hear that slightly gravelly speaking voice. And it was great to see them here in gently intimate cinematography. There has been well-deserved excited press about Cooper's directorial debut. But who knew he could sing and play the guitar?  Well, he can quite well.  And write songs?  Turns out he does that. He also co-wrote the script for this newest and more up to date version of A Star is Born, produced it and starred.

Many critics give the movie an A or 4/4 rating; personally, Ciwt would rate it B+. The songs seemed pitched to a young audience and the sound was mixed in a way that kept reminding her 'you're watching a movie.' Since this is the fourth version of A Star is Born, the story arc was necessarily predictable, but Ciwt wished it had been better balanced, deeper, more complex, less country western maudlin in the telling with many fewer 'f' words.  Finally, let's face it, any movie that is about the decline and demise of the handsome,charming, blue-eyed Cooper is just not going to win its way entirely into Ciwt's heart. No Lady GaGa song is going to take away that loss.

Blue Distractions (and Loud) --- Day 7/209

Walk: SFMOMA, Union Square, PGCC
Distance: 4 miles

 Blue Angles overhead

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in GG Park down below

Ciwt was in need of distractions today, and, boy did San Francisco come through. It was the first day of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, a three day festival of name artists performing from dawn to dark on four stages in Golden Gate Park. And elsewhere on the ground, over the water and in the air is Fleet Week.  Both huge events are completely free, loud as hell, Jammed; usually Ciwt winces during this weekend but this year it is probably just what we all need.  

Back to Basics --- Day 7/208

Walk: Marin Driving Day
Distance: Blocks, Yoga

Any time, any place, any country, any mood, Yoga is always a good friend.

So Many Words, Not Even Close --- Day 7/206

Walk: To and from car
Distance: A few blocks, Large bucket of balls, Yoga

Ciwt finds herself trying to encapsulate her New York trip - which means in some way trying to describe New York City itself.  She gets on her case about not coming up with anything adequate, but then she remembers many authors for centuries - from O. Henry, to Henry James, to Edith Wharton to F. Scott Fitzgerald  right up Amor Towle, Jennifer Egan and all the New Yorker 'Talk of the Town' writers for a very few present ones.  They all write about New York - but in bits and pieces.

Realistically that is all that can be done; no matter what your talent, you can't capture it all.  Some online site asked people to come up with 10 words to describe New York. The responses are numerous, 10 adjectives each without a single duplication.  Here are a few of Ciwt's favorites from the lists:

- We think nothing of going for ice cream after midnight in the winter.
-Noisy, filthy*, expensive, exciting. Easily the best city on earth.  *(Ciwt - Not any more.  SF is worse now)
-It’s a city of dichotomies, exhausting and exhilarating, humbling and inspiring. It’s one of the hardest cities you’ll ever live in but if you survive you’ll never be able to live anywhere else.
-Rats, Cockroaches, Rude, Hectic, Artsy, Renovation, Walk, Picnic, Subway, And my favorite City.

-Diverse, Cultural, Sophisticated, Energetic, Magical, Gritty, Hard, Fast, Walkable, HOME.

-Rich, Poor, Cutting edge, Stuck in the past, The Best.

Actually there are duplicatons - in spirit.  Everyone cites contradictions galore but to a person say in in their different words New York is purely, simply and uniquely The Big Apple

Ashes to As.... --- Day 7/206

Walk: Union Square (Theory), AMC Kabuki (Blaze), Hood errands
Distance: 4+ miles, back to yoga tomorrow

 Ciwt has a movie chat friend who wrote to tell her Blaze is a 'near perfect' movie and she should see it.  It's an account of a songwriter, Blaze Foley, as told by his friend and fellow Texas blues musician, the lateTownes Van Zandt. Ciwt's friend wrote: I can't say enough good things about this movie.  The music is moving and gorgeous, the narrative is complex, the central character honest, broken, lovable and doomed.  It's indie filmmaking at its best.

Rotten Tomatoes top critics loved it too, so how could she not go?  Impossible, so go she did and as she watched she was impressed with the overall filmmaking.  In this 'year of Ethan Hawke' he has done a superlative job directing Blaze.  The movie is all Ciwt's friend says, but Ciwt found it downbeat, a downer and downright depressing.  

As she watched, she remembered her friend is a Creative Consultant to artists, many of whom are musicians so of course he would find all the scenes of the long movie engaging, true and necessary. 

He's also a poet who often recites his work accompanying himself with blues piano.  He knows the scene.

That isn't Ciwt.  Individual guitar players just kind of hanging out, picking at their guitars and drawling about life's sadnesses pretty much put Ciwt's feet to sleep.  So Blaze's - the man and the movie - great music was mostly lost on her.  That left watching 'doomed' talents go to the places - tragedy and death - of their songs.  Even perfectly acted, shot, directed and told, that was sad fare for Ciwt.

First Things --- Day 7/205

Walk: Hood for fooood
Distance: 2.3 miles and around and around home

Then there is putting Ciwt's home back together again.  

And reintroducing herself to her cats . 

All the while her terrific NYC trip sinks in...