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D.O.P.-T.

A beautiful fall day. I had laundry on the line till something like 4:30. When I rounded the corner with the laundry basket and bag of pegs in my arms, Monty and Prudence were sitting in the back porch doorway waiting for me. I'm afraid I was startled, and I had to go through that door ... Monty scarpered past me into teh garden while Prudence whisked into the porch room. I brought them out food, but Monty sat looking on warily while Prudence noshed.

Friday, right? Time is an illusion Lunchtime doubly so.

This week I worked at my job three days in a row. I woke up uncertain of the day or the date. Sorted it out with my iPhone pretty fast.

I have a project for the weekend. I am making a pumpkin puppet for a contest at work. I have a clever idea now let us see if I can execute it the way I want to. I think I have all the pieces I need. Crossing fingers I have enough cloth.

Tomorrow is “No Kings” day. There is a local protest that I am going to join.

Sunday will be spent with friends.

Monday I must go meet with the funeral director for the family memorial.

Then back to work I go.

I have a life of sorts. Things that need to be done and things I want to do.

It is a big adjustment from the last eleven years or possibly longer.

I was Peter’s caretaker/stage manager/agent for a long time. He could play good cop all day long and I was willing to be the bad cop and get him what he was owed.

Now I am a bit adrift. For the first time in a long time, I get to think about me and what I want and need. And I honestly don’t have much a clue. I have sublimated my wants for others. There are a couple of things, but I really don’t have the money at the moment to do them.

I am still waiting for the will to go through probate. There is not a lot in the estate, but it will help.

I am also trying to find a job that pays a living wage just like a lot of other people. I’ve been out of that job market for 22 years now. I am over 60. Not the first person who one would pick for a job. I am wondering if I should go back to school to get some other skills that pay better.

I have lots of skills that could be useful in the right job. I am organized and good at solving problems along with getting information quickly to the right people. And all the other skills I learned as a stage manager. I have office skills having started as an assistant at Del Rey and worked my way to Associate Editor. Honestly, I would be happy to have the job I had at Del Rey when I first started for the rest of my career.

Time is a funny thing. I remember things I did and then figure out that was over twenty years ago or thirty years ago or forty years ago. Forty years ago, I was stage managing my way around Atlanta and applying to go to the Yale School of Drama. It seems so long ago but also such a short time.

Having things happen on certain days gives me a sense of time but on those days. When I am on my own time, I can get confused. Thus, the use of a wall calendar and my handy electronics.

I am grateful for times past and present.

D.O.P.-T.

We went to the San Jose main library (also the library for San Jose State U.). The elevators were out, but there was no sign. So after the crowd swelled to a dozen, I started up the stairs. Six floors, the first double-height. I wish I could say it didn't knacker me. But I managed it, and when I hit the button for a down elevator, up ones started arriving and disgorging crowds of people, then a down one came. So at least I didn't have to take the stairs down.

The first two upper floors (the public library part) are also fed by an escalator. That was where the housemate was headed before the same floor as me, but she said the second escalator was also out, so she did the same upstairs hike.

D.O.P.-T.

A cyclist was waiting at a red light. An older man with weatherbeaten skin and a bald head. He had an old-style bike basket full of soft cloth, and on top of the padding was a small brown dog. I wished them both a good morning.

D.O.P.-T.

Apparently it did rain a lot: one and a half inches recorded in San Jose, almost a record for October. (On the other hand it was recorded by the National Weather Service, so the numbers may not be unassailable.)

The day dawned clear and chilly here, and it was beautiful until evening, when the clouds got very threatening. We shopped. And turned on the heating. The next-door neighbour fired up his power trimmer and decapitated his little ornamental trees again.

D.O.P.-T.

The rain held off long enough that I was able to do a quick and dirty de-leafing in front. Increasingly heavy showers, then it settled in to rain seriously. The dog was not impressed with the puddles in the driveway and tried to come back in via the front porch, but I didn't have my key. Monty and Prudence had both come by at breakfast time; I trust they are dry and warm somewhere.

Entry tags:

I Made Cards!

I made Halloween Cards this afternoon. I'm rather pleased with them.

D.O.P.-T.

The Chronicle weather guy is trying to foment panic about tomorrow's weather. Major storm! An inch of rain in San Jose! Thunder and lightning! Deep snow in the Sierra! etc. etc. Hopefully it will water my plants. I swept the driveway; I should have run a rake over the front grass, but didn't get to it.

D.O.P.-T.

And so today, Walgreen's for the prescription refills. While they wrestled with a balky computer so the housemate could get a shot, we made the acquaintance of 2 other women also waiting for the chance to get a shot, one of whom was toting what looked like a Pekinese mix. The dog was well behaved, only occasionally making small noises at the pharmacist. I suppose if you are going to carry a dog around a store, a dog that was bred to be carried around is a wise choice.

Entry tags:

Dear Author

Dear Shortcuts Author,

Hi! How's things?( Read more... )

SURVEY QUESTION: "What is your biggest concern about Meta?"

Its monopolistic presence. Better sites for social interaction - or at least, for certain *VERY IMPORTANT KINDS OF* social interaction - than Facebook *DO* exist; but they struggle to get any significant number of (for example) my friends/family/colleagues on-board, simply because "everyone else is on Facebook". (Yeah, they are. But many of them are on other sites too, and are only "on Facebook" for the same reason you are: Because "everyone else is on Facebook". =:o1 )

I miss the days of "News Groups"/Usenet, when social groups and conversations formed (and sometimes later dispersed) very naturally, around shared common interests that were both clearly signalled, *and* clearly sub-categorised... and then had the option to engage in other ways, or with wider groupings if they felt so inclined, but always with complete transparency of what each group was all about.

Of course, that was in the days before everything on the Net had to be "monetised" in order to survive... Maybe what we really need is a return to the genuine (naive?) philanthropy of those first few decades, rather than the current sea of monopolistic tech-bros all trying to game the human psyche to maximise their own wealth... =:o\

Harvey Awards 2025

In which Peter joins the greats in the hall of fame.

Last night was the 2025 Harvey Awards.

During the ceremony, Peter was inducted into their hall of fame.

It was a nice awards ceremony with killer appetizers and an open bar. Which is a good way to get the comic industry to show up.

Paul Levitz gave the introduction for Peter. He talked about Peter’s love for the industry and how he was a friend you could count on. It was a lovely speech.

Then it was my turn to speak for Peter. I could feel the melancholy in the room. I decided to lighten the mood. I opened with, “Peter David is officially a ghost writer.” The room howled with laughter and applause. The mood changed and I talked about how Peter loved the industry and the people in it. I think I did well. I did get compliments afterwards and met a lot of people who had their own Peter David story to share. I learned from several how important his work is in their countries. It was comforting to know how beloved Peter was by his colleges.

Today I am taking a break from the convention. My right knee is acting up and I want a day to get it back in shape before hitting the floor one last time on Sunday as I still have some people to visit at the convention.

I am grateful that Peter is in the Harvey Hall of Fame

D.O.P.-T.

We made a trip to Costco. The housemate's phone led us through miles of Mountain View apartment complexes, then suddenly there was the highway exit we usually take to get there.

I bought a new package of socks for winter. The housemate bought vast quantities of frozen food.

World Mental Health Day 2025

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/world-mental-health-day
This is the article I read before writing this.

This year’s theme is, according to the website, 'access to services - mental health in catastrophes and emergencies'. The theme highlights the importance of people being able to protect their mental healthin times of global instability.

This is very important. Right now, it is a scary time in the world. I personally am concern for my country, the middle east, and tariffs that are costing me money when I buy something among other things. Have you looked at coffee prices and bag sizes? Shrinkage indeed.

My concerns are nothing compared to the people starving in the world or are worried about being arrested without cause or must wonder if their housing is going to survive the night. Globally the world is a mess. Small messes and large messes are in the news every day.

We have a Nor ‘eastern heading our direction. I am to walk the property and make sure everything is secured. Then it’s a hope for the best especially with the wind which brings destruction in its path. I am more worried for the folks in the Carolinas where it will hit first.

And all this is affecting people’s mental health. Especially the aftermath of destruction. They need to figure how to go on in light of what has happened in their lives. Not an easy thing to do.

I know the feeling of helplessness as I watched my husband’s health deteriorate. I got help which was the smart thing to do. I have no idea how big a mess I would be if I didn’t have mental health help. I feel a mess now, but I am a manageable mess. My emotions are day to day. Today I feel pretty even.

Asking for help is not a weakness. It is, in fact, a strength. Asking for assistance can be hard to do but it can be done.

I’m really great of ignoring my body when it is ill. I have learned to see the signs when my mental health starts to slip and now do something about it. I have learned coping mechanism, so I don’t go over the cliff. If that doesn’t work, I have medication to help me through the very rough patches. Taking this help took me quite a while and with Peter’s help to see I need it.

So, on World Mental Health Day, do me a solid and check in on yourself. I want you to stay around. I know there is a lot of bad out there and it may be affecting you more than you know. Take a little time today to see how you are feeling about yourself and the world about you.

I am grateful for my mental health team.

D.O.P.-T.

Picked up my desktop conker for this year today. On the pavement/sidewalk under somebody's red chestnut tree.

It was cool enough to walk the dog at 3:30, and she led me to the park again.

D.O.P.-T.

And down went the temp again. No rain though.

The first trees are starting to catch on. And there's already a good crop of ghoulish lawn displays, more than I remember from last year. I suspect it's because so many tech employers are requiring people to return to the office; I think some of these houses were rented out the past couple of years, or have been quietly sold.

Fall Shows Its Face

Temperature is in the 60s. We had some rain but not enough.

Fall is the season I love the most. The temperature is very comfortable. I love watching the leaves change. And there is Halloween which is my favorite holiday. I still have to get my decorations ups.

That will happen after this weekend which is New York Comic Con. We are accepting Peter’s entrance into the hall of fame. Next weekend is Peter’s family memorial and then I am done with memorial services.

And then….

Well, I don’t know. I still have IRS, Medicaid and the Will to deal with.

For over 10 years, starting with Peter’s first stroke, I was Peter’s caretaker. I made sure he went to his physical therapy and doctor’s appointments. I made sure there was food on the table, and he had what he needed to work. At conventions, I was his stage manager making sure he got to his panels, and he ate among other things.

Now I have myself to take care of. Living by myself I have been doing for about three years. Now I must find a job that pays a decent salary. I have been trying to get a job before Peter passed. I have been out of the job market for 23 years since I was let go by Del Rey. I do have my job at Micheal’s Craft Store but only very part time at a little over the minimum wage. I do enjoy my time there. I have a great manager and a good crew to work with, but it will not pay for my utilities and other expenses.

I must learn how to take care of myself. I am so used to taking care of others, I tended to ignore me. Now it is just me and that feels weird. I honestly didn’t expect to find myself in this position for at least another 20 years or so.

I have lived on my own before I met Peter. I know I have the skill seall be it a little rusty.

The hardest thing for me to do is put me first. I haven’t really done much of that in my life. I have others I could put first. Caroline still needs me however; she has her own life and adventures to live. She knows she can call, text, or visit any time she wants to.

I am at a crossroads as to what I want to do with my life. I want to write more and continue to make puppets for fun and profit. But can I make a living on that? Right now, the answer is no but I can work to making it a yes. It will take time and effort on my part.

I am in a cocoon right now getting ready to hatch and spread my wings. I don’t know how this is all going to end up, but I think I have a good beginning.

I am grateful for me.

D.O.P.-T.

Since the weather has turned cooler, I'm now walking the dog before dinner, so we don't run into the increasingly early dusk. Today she unexpectedly led me on a real walk, to the park and through a bit of it. We were slow, but nobody ran us over on a crossing or knocked us down with a bike. The dog is now plotzed in the hallway, but that's normal.

D.O.P.-T.

The temp bounced up by early afternoon to hay-drying weather, so I mowed the back meadow. I'd searched for the dog's latest offering but failed to find one; my heel found it, I'm still not sure where. So at least it's now disposed of.

I then watered, and Monty appeared in the back porch room and stared me down, so I fed him.

D.O.P.-T.

Definitely fall temps and a fall sky. But I looked around and while a few of the maples along the rail line have gone orange, the only sweetgum tree I saw that's started changing colour has a maybe 18" patch of maroon near its top, otherwise it's fully green. The weather is ahead of the vegetation this year.

Saw Monty and Prudence separately again today; she was sitting prettily in the driveway so I gave her some food, while he was snoozing on a neighbour's roof in late afternoon. Tabby's back; saw him or her last night.