Category Archives: doing it wrong

Generated with AI ∙ October 9, 2023 at 7:41 AM

At some point this summer I turned a corner when it comes to comfortable shoes.

I loved a stiletto heel back in the day (the 80s) and don’t remember complaining about heels in general.

But for many years now I have prioritized comfort over fashion so I don’t have uncomfortable shoes anymore.

One day, I realized my “athletic” shoes were ancient and needed replacing. I put athletic in quotes because I don’t do anything athletic in them. Walking around the neighborhood and including a hill is my big workout.

I went to a shoe store with the word “comfort” as part of their logo. There, they have people who know what they’re doing to help you find something good. The shoes they recommended are brilliant. They are New Balance and I think maybe subtitled something like: Comfort Foam. I did not understand how comfortable shoes could be until I bought these.

Shortly after that I had a gift card that needed to be used and I got another pair of amazing slip-on shoes No laces. Super comfy (Ecco).

Now my shoes must be at the highest level of comfort. I want my feet encased in super soft but also supportive pillows. They can look dowdy. Don’t care.

Throughout the year I keep a file on my phone where I jot down any ideas (I think “capture” is the word the kids use these days. I capture any ideas…) that I get for a post. It’s more like files, really. On my phone, on my laptop, on the desktop of my home computer. In a text file on the office computer. On an actual scrap of paper or little notebook I keep by the bed.

I even bought a note taking app so I could use hashtags and sync my notes over all my devices except the app maker stopped support for everything but the latest operating systems and a few years ago I gave up updating my operating system every year. It seemed like a giant project that didn’t measurably improve my life. Dumped that app and use Apple notes.

My laptop uses an ancient operating system because I have some old programs that won’t run on new ones.

Back to my blog post notes. I keep them but rarely use them. Until November.

Then, when I’m committed to 30 in 30, I search the notes and inevitably the note will say something like: clock tower, funny bird, 2 cars.

I won’t remember what that means.

I love this so much.

We took over doing Dad’s laundry so we fold his shirts now. I don’t bleach them every time but I try to keep them as sparkling white as he likes them. We also don’t fold them quite this good.

I guess we should borrow the board or fold them when we get there so they are perfect.

One of the get togethers with the wedding couple took place at the Getty. (I just typo’d that “the Garry” and was tempted to leave it.)

This is this a beautiful setting in LA. I don’t know what you would call the area — Getty hill.

You park in a structure and then take a little tram up the hill.

Look at this view. You can see all around from the ocean and if you could move around to the left: Century City, downtown. Probably other landmarks that I don’t recognize or no longer know the name of.

The museum seems fantastic, too, but we were so busy visiting with everyone that we never managed to get in there. I do have regrets about this but now we have an excuse for another visit.

I wish I had some good wedding photos but ours were weak and my pleading with friends to share has so far not produced too many. Trust me, it was a good party.

Here are Bob and I up at City Walk with King Kong.

Our hotel in LA was right next to the LA River.

Don’t you love it? I remember LA got a lot of heavy rains sometime this year and I was curious what it was like out there.

We did another thing I never thought I’d do: take an underground in LA.

I don’t know how long it’s been running but all the cars look like they were shipped in from Used and Beat Up Metro Cars, Inc. As soon as you get on the announcement says not to take out any money or valuables and to call the police if anything happens. Then they give the number.

There was a police presence around the metro station as well and I did not feel unsafe.

We exited at Hollywood and Highland which is where my workplace was way back in the late 80s. Hollywood is not any more glamorous than it was back then but some of the seedier tableaus aren’t that far off from what I’ve seen in downtown Portland lately which is super sad to say. We walked around the old office building which is behind razor wire and the front door and loading dock were all bricked up.

We hopped on a bus and went to the Academy Museum where we saw a terrific exhibit about John Waters and Sophia Coppola doing a signing for her book.

These are heirloom lavender poppies. My sister-in-law gave me the seeds and I love these flowers. They re-seed but I’ve been helping them in the hopes of getting more blooms.

I loathe the NextDoor app except that there is often information that is relevant to the neighborhood that I like to have access to. And also sometimes I want to sell or give something away and I don’t do any other apps so for the time being I use this app.

But if I spend more than 5 minutes a day on it, all I do is mute people and think ungenerous thoughts about my neighbors.

I’m always fascinated by the people who show up on the app and then after one day, they have some super terrible tragedy and link to a GimmeMoney app. It’s a good grift because there are always people who want to give them money. They’re grown-ups. It’s their money. But seems like better ways to help people out.

I just read a book called The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer which I recommend if you like character driven books and stories about long friendships.

This story begins with the friends meeting at a summer camp in the 70s. The time frame was also perfect for me.

I went to summer camp 2 times in the 70s.

Once was a girl scout camp called Camp Lakota. The other was Camp Hollywoodland. I can still sing the theme song. Call me if you want to hear it.

In the book, the camp was for creative kids and they did plays and made music and pottery. Neither of my camps had a theme. There was swimming and making lanyards and tromping around and lots of singing.

Here’s the thing: I don’t remember making a friend at either camp. I don’t remember liking camp very much. I think Camp Lakota was sketchy because it seemed like there was barely enough food. They would pass it around family style and the first to it would pick the biggest pieces so someone like me would get the tiny chicken wing for dinner. Hollywoodland had its regulars and had some pre-made cliques which I had as much luck with as in regular school.

Still liked the book and other stories where kids have fun at camp.

For someone who bakes bread as much as I do, I still make a surprising number of fail loafs.

I use a scale. I’m familiar with my kitchen. Sometimes, it just doesn’t work.

Lately, I’ve had good luck. I switched to Instant Dry yeast. I used to err on the side of hurrying up if I was in a pinch. I have been putting the dough in the refrigerator and then not worrying about it until I have time to bake.

I use a no knead recipe with sourdough.

This was the latest pretty loaf.