What is that sound I don’t hear?
Wind.
It went on for hours and hours yesterday; I stopped counting the number of times I had to run out to the porch to retrieve something that had fallen or had blown across the porch. It’s rather cold this morning, but it’s sunny and I cannot wait to get out there and do a bit more potting.
Don is making something in the crockpot for dinner – we’re trying to get through the next two days with the little we have on hand so we don’t have to grocery shop until Monday. We avoid our local store on the weekends. Too crowded!
Our neighbors across the street are having an outdoor birthday party today and invited us, but we’re not really party people. They have a Grateful Dead cover band playing from 6:30 until 9:30. But, like good neighbors, they gave us a heads up and the band will finish at a sane time, so we plan to watch The Wizard of Oz on TCM instead of our current subtitled series (Baron Noir) because it will be too noisy to concentrate on the subtitles. And obviously, we know Oz pretty well by this point in our lives.
I gave up on The Paris Library. I tried, but it’s not my cup of tea. The prose is clunky (only my opinion, of course) and since The American Library’s activities during the Occupation of Paris are documented, I’d rather read the non-fiction version of this story. As you know, historical fiction is not my thing; I have definite opinions about that genre. So. It is now in my DNF (Did Not Finish) pile and I’ll donate it to our local library whenever they start taking donations again.
I started More Fool Me, the third volume of Stephen Fry’s memoirs, and I think I’ll read it and some fiction at the same time. Fiction title is yet to be determined.
A question: are you enjoying these little posts about my career? I woke up this morning thinking, “How boring this must be!” and started to question whether I should continue with them. Part of me says “You’re rattling on and on about your past and who cares?” but then again, this blog is all about me rattling on and on, isn’t it? Anyway, let me know. I’m perfectly fine with it either way.
Today marks 27 years since we lost our beloved student John Lentz to senseless gun violence. He was murdered walking out of Balboa Park after a closing night party. His girlfriend, Dhyana, was also shot, but survived. I miss him every day. He was kind, talented, bright, and could make me laugh like no one else. He was about to graduate with an MFA and had a bright future ahead of him. It was taken away in a second. I don’t think I’ve ever cried as much as I did that day and for the week that followed as we journeyed to Kansas for his funeral.
Rest in Peace, dearest John.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
I enjoy reading your posts on your career!! Keep them coming, please.
Sincerely
Marion
Shaw
Thank you, Marion!
Stay safe.
Lol…..I enjoy your “rattling on” about your past lives. It’s so different from mine in comparison. Truly interesting.
It’s very windy here…and cool. But around noon or so supposedly southern winds are going to arrive…with 40+ wind gusts. Not looking forward to that. We are supposed to go to a Brewers baseball game…fully masked and socially distanced, of course. Should be interesting…and fun, I hope.
Have fun potting today! ;)
Have fun at the baseball game, Donna! Yay!
Stay safe.
I love reading your posts about your career!!! I am finding it so interesting. Please don’t stop!
It has been windy here the last few days. It’s still a little windy today and this is yard mowing day for us. We have a very large yard and even with two tractors going, it’s still pretty much an all day job with the trimming and sweeping.
The Wizard of Oz sounds fun. For some reason, I have the urge to watch White Christmas. That is one of my favorite “feel good” movies but I usually don’t watch it this time of year. Oh well……no law says I can’t so guess that will be my movie for this evening (unless Ed has something he’d rather watch).
Take care and have a good day. The tractor is waiting for me.
Lorinda
I love White Christmas! Any time of the year.
Stay safe, Lorinda!
I love to read about your work life! I don’t have an interesting life and people would be bored to read about me. I would be bored! Your work lets us all sit in seats for a few hours and be mesmerized. Oh all those glorious moments of my life when I could be transplanted into another life! Thank you for making all that possible!
Tana, please don’t put yourself down
Everyone has an interesting life in their own way🌷
EVERYONE has an interesting life. It may not seem that way to you, but I promise you, it’s interesting!
Stay safe, Tana.
I bet some of us would love to read about your life…
Yes, I love reading about your career. It is educating me into the world of theater . You have led a remarkable and interesting life. I would add that it shows what a kind person you are, too
Take Care,
Kaye
Oh, thank you, Kaye!
Stay safe.
I skip the career sections.
And you are welcome to do that.
I enjoy hearing about your career. Please, rattle on!
Sounds like your neighbors are throwing quite a party. I would be hesitant to go at this point. I’m not ready to do much mingling yet.
I am debating whether to get our usual season tickets to our local Civic Theater. Of course there was no season last year. I think I will get the tickets to support them even if we don’t go to many. We are fully vaccinated but I still feel we should be cautious.
I brought a few plants inside last night as it was getting down close to freezing. I am anxious for some warmer weather. Your hostas are way ahead of mine. Just the tips are breaking through here.
Have a good weekend. Stay safe
Yes, I’m hesitant to go to parties, too.
I have worried about sitting in a theater as well and that’s what I do for a living!
Stay safe, Marilyn.
That’s why I read your blog. I love your lifestories no matter what it is, small or big. I read between the lines and enjoy the empathic person behind it. Thank you Claudia!
Helga
Thank you, dear Helga!
Stay safe, my friend.
I really enjoy reading about your work, it’s an insight into such an interesting career. I’ve just googled John Lentz. So shocking that a random act can take away someone’s life.
Happy Saturday
You never get over it. Never. I sat through the murder trial with John’s mother. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt such anger.
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
What happened to the 17 year old girl who was the actual shooter? Such a senseless murder.
She went to prison. The two young men with her got life with no parole under the three strikes law.
I’m pretty sure the girl got life in prison. I sat through much of the trial, but it’s been 27 years, so I’m not sure.
xo
I love hearing about your career so please don’t stop telling us your stories.
Hope you and Don have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, Cathy!
Stay safe.
Thanks for mentioning John Prine a while back. I looked him up and I am really enjoying his music. Love his voice!
Please continue to write about your career. I find it very interesting.
I’m like you when it comes to the wind. Yesterday we had 50-60 mph wind gusts for many hours. I’m so glad it’s calmer today! The last storm we had blew shingles off the roof. I had to hire a roofing contractor to replace them. I was quite concerned about the wind storm yesterday doing the same thing. Thankfully, I think the roof made it through without losing more shingles this time.
We lost shingles on our shed roof because of the wind, resulting in leaks! It now needs to be replaced.
Stay safe, Denise.
You’re welcome. Actually, thanks goes to Don who is a huge fan of John Prine.
Stay safe, Jan.
Claudia I love your posts about your life, your career and how you feel about things. You and Don are interesting people and I truly feel like we have become friends over the years. Gun violence is something I pray we can get control of. 2021 seems to be a rash of shootings and it’s only May 1st. Is it always this way? Or is it the result of a year of quarantine? So many questions, so few answers. Accessibility to weapons no one needs has to stop. Stepping off my soap box now. Hugs!
Thank you, Linda.
27 years ago and we’re still debating the accessibility of guns.
Stay safe.
I have enjoyed reading your career journey. I also grew up in Michigan and have enjoyed hearing how you eventually ended up in NY. Reading about the theater has been very interesting. Please continue your posts. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Janet.
Stay safe.
I enjoy your posts about your past. You had an exciting journey – so different from the life I led. Keep ’em coming! Thanks!
Thank you, Ellen!
Stay safe.
I enjoy reading about your past. It is very different than mine and your prose is NOT chunky. Did a lot of gardening with my husband this morning. It is so nice to be outside!
It is! Though it was still a bit too windy here, but I did get some potting done.
Stay safe, Jane!
I love reading the posts about your past life and career. So interesting! Thank you for sharing. Please continue.
Thank you, Cindy.
Stay safe.
I enjoy all your posts and pictures
Thank you, Barbara!
Stay safe.
Dear Claudia, Your story is the most interesting nonfiction for most of us who tune in to you daily. Reading the back story (the origins of your friendship with Rick, for example) makes it that much more real. It is really interesting . Thank you for sharing. (-:
Thank you so much, Leslie!
Stay safe.
i very much enjoy learning about your career and thank you for sharing about it!
glad the wind stopped. and nice of your neighbors to tell you they’re having a band and invite you to the party. i’d make the choice to stay home, too … i’m not a party person, either … plus, pandemic.
hope you like the new book better. i give a book about ten pages and if i’m not swept into it by then, i find something else. when i actually read (still a struggle with my fairly new and stupid short attention span).
grocery shopping and deliveries done. always the best part of my day is seeing/hearing/talking with my family, one way or another. and even though they are vaccinated, i am grateful to help keep them out of the stores (which were very crowded today).
sunny and windy here. rain in next week’s forecast … hope we get rain. we need it.
happy saturday! stay safe!
kathy in iowa
Well, the wind didn’t exactly stop. I was surprised how windy it was when I was potting plants! But it was definitely better than yesterday.
We have rain in our forecast, too.
Stay safe, Kathy.
I enjoy your stories. And as I have said before, you are an excellent writer. Wish you’d write a book . . . about what, I don’t know, but I bet it’d be great! BTW I saw Don on an old Law and Order! Thought to myself, I know him!!! LOL
Chris (your friend you’ve never met)
Oh good, that means a residual check! Don did so many Law and Orders and they are the gift that keeps on giving!
Stay safe, Chris.
When we recall our loved ones, it’s fresh hurt. I’m sorry for your loss.
That said, in terms of remembering/reminiscing in a diff way, I always enjoy hearing about your career.
And I’m so glad the wind stopped so that you can get outside amongst the spring green.
The American Library’s activities during the Occupation of Paris — I’m clueless; I have a history deficit. Are there any good books about it that I should read?
A follow-up comment about numbering your posts: Covid isn’t ‘done’. I have another cousin in another state who was diagnosed with Covid last week. He refused to get a vaccination. Not doing great because he has several underlying issues. My neighbor’s three adult ‘kids’ ranging from age 20 to 40 also won’t get one. Neither will another cousin who lives about 10 miles from me. She’s always been belligerent about the virus and precautions. Disappoints and worries me. All of this is not helping matters.
It was a bit windier than I thought – though not as bad as yesterday. I did what I had to do and came back inside!
I have no books to suggest to you. I’d google it.
I’m sorry to hear about your cousin. Refusing to get a vaccination is just foolish. Nevertheless, I don’t wish it on anyone. I hope he recovers, Vicki.
And look what’s happening in India, where my friend lives. It’s horrific.
Stay safe!
I watched a lengthy piece on CNN with onsite reporting in (I think) Delhi and it left me in tears.
Heartbreaking.
xo
Like many other commenters I am enjoying your career story – such a different world than mine, and you seem to have been so brave and confident in your actions and choices.
Please keep it up!
ceci
I don’t think of myself as brave, but I guess I was!
Thank you, Ceci.
Stay safe!
Love the journey
Thank you
Thank you, Brenda!
Stay safe!
I’ve never posted on your blog but look forward to reading everyday. It’s like checking in with a friend!
Loving your posts on your career. It seems like your life is fulfilling and normal! We’re retired and everyday is an adventure, though we’d probably bore most people to tears!
Thank you for your your daily posts.
D
I bet you wouldn’t bore anyone!
Thanks for posting, Deanna!
Stay safe.
I very much enjoy reading about your career! I did several things in my lifetime that I enjoyed but my favorite career is being a mom, second is being retired. I read a lot and I also very much enjoy learning about what you are reading. I found Louise Penny through you and I will forever be grateful to you. I was considering The Paris Library but will give it a pass now.
I’m so glad you like Louise Penny, Cristina.
Thanks so much.
Stay safe!
I enjoy reading about your career. Quite a fascinating adventure you have had.
I remember when your friend died. So unbelievably awful.
The worst thing imaginable.
Thanks, Kay.
Stay safe.
P.S. I wish other bloggers would write about their histories. Like reading autobiography…I have written a newspaper column since 1999…for state newspaper and paid…lol…later after a break, for a local little paper…free…in the town where I was born…I have lived all over…31 places…but I keep trying to do the little column…I receive texts, letters, emails…the appeal seems to be of the past…history of growing up…that is what makes it likeable…I am sure there are those who just don’t read it…but I don’t care…as long as they keep asking, I will TRY to write it…THE WAY WE WERE…THE WAY WE ARE…I used many of the columns for one of my Master’s Projects in 2007…so Claudia, you keep writing about your life…I love love love it…
xoxo
Catching up. I am so sorry to hear about your friend, Claudia. Gun violence is a horrible thing and I’m sorry you have had to have the experience of dealing with it indirectly.
Your stories — Yes, please keep on! One of the reasons I love blogs is because they are personal, they allow us to tell our stories and surprisingly, other people are interested, even though we may have heard or told them a thousand times! As for me personally — well, you know I was a theatre girl and still love it, so hearing some of the back stories — whether academic of professional (which implies academics aren’t professional so that’s probably a bad choice of words!) ticks all my boxes!
I have recently given up a book. I hate doing that but life is too short for the wrong book.
We can say so much more in a blog post, can’t we?
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
Late to the party, and lots to comment on, but I mostly want to say, keep writing about your career, your life and all the many folks you met along the way. I love it! I especially enjoy your thought process that went into your decisions.
Sad to read again about your friend’s death but love that you not only remember him but that you share his story with the world. Your honoring him causes me to remember and honor those I’ve lost and I feel better for having known them.
I, too, discovered Louise Penny thanks to you and am forever grateful. Have read every one of her books and delighted in the world of Three Pines and its inhabitants. I appreciate your take on it on books. Your reviews are not only interesting, but very helpful, too.
So, thanks for sharing your wonderful heart and inspiring writing.
Caroline
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so happy that I had some small part in turning people on to Louise Penny.
Say safe, Caroline!