November 2022

Department of Health and Safety

Safety: THB has been noticing anecdotally that driving during Covid has become a competitive sport. And here is statistical proof: Deaths are up 5% while driving miles have declined. 

In 2021, nearly 43,000 people died on American roads, the government estimates. And the recent rise in fatalities has been particularly pronounced among those the government classifies as most vulnerable — cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians.

The other day at a red light, THB was coming to a stop behind a line of cars  when  one pulled over to the right turn lane, paused, edged forward and then sped through the light. Saved maybe 10 seconds off a rough day.

Crime is up in tourist areas: THB continues to hear stories of theft (mostly of money and jewelry) taking place in hotels and airports outside the US. Use those room safes, don't carry much more than a copy of your passport, a credit card and a wee bit of cash, if at all possible travel with small luggage and keep it with you at all times. Even these precautions aren't enough. People are breaking into locked hotel rooms. 

Health: the kids are back in school, unmasked, and everyone around these disease magnets is getting sick. And Covid hasn't gone away either. For both reasons, the family Thanksgiving for THB and DB was cancelled this year .  

Remember when Covid was a thing? Hey, it still is. Mask up!

THB's monthly report: November

THB and DB babysit the twins while the parental units take a weekend off to celebrate their 10th anniversary

Twins and dogs watching TV

Sandy standing guard while twin sneaks a peak at Grandma's phone

Twins attend a birthday party and one of the favorites handed out was a mask, can be worn while dining

There's always something new: honey, they shrunk my Walkgirl and it even tucks into my underwear

Department of Education:

Twins participating in a school fundraiser: jogging laps around a portion of the school playground

School provides tees and at the end of each "lap" volunteers check it off 

Clever way to keep track

J (the kids in the far background started at the same time as J and she is nearly 1/2 lap ahead about half way through)

C on left

J and C near the front near the end of lap one

THB and DB visit twins' schools on Special Guest Day

J and Grandma strategizing

C chewing on her mood phone

J loses a tooth a bit early due to an abscess 

Department of Community Services, Monterey County

At the beach, THB watched these 4 pickleball players for about a minute (the same amount of time it took the twins to run half of a large lap). The two  women nearest to THB (moved, not running) a combined 15 feet. That's pickleball!

Wait, was that a road service tow truck towing a road service truck?

After THB's non-Thanksgiving, the weather was stunning at the beach and the big dogs came out to play

Department of Art:

THB take a short trip to LA and visit DB's sis and hubby, and take in two museums.

Lunch at Milo and Olive, much frequented when our parents were still alive:

A sister restaurant, Huckleberry's, stocks M&O with pastries and breads. Lunch plus items below: $125

The Broad, featuring a retrospective of William Kentridge - extraordinary!

There are a number of videos and stills, all exceptional

Lots of great videos

More from the collection amassed by Eli Broad

Jenny Savile

Cecily Brown

Susan Rothenberg

George Condo

Second museum of the LA trip: AMOCA, and a show of California women ceramicists, broken into 3 "generations" 

THB didn't take pics of the trailblazers' work

Nancy Selvin

Phyllis Green (ceramic piece is "hiden")

Judy Chicago: from the  Shattered Plate series

Sandy Simon

Karen Koblitz

Viola Frey

Bari Ziperstein

Brittany Mojo

Kristen Morgin: all work is hand-painted on non-fired clay

Ashwini Bhat - THB and DB saw a lot of her work at NCECA

THB and DB and Sandy took a walk in Pacific Grove on a spectacularly beautiful day

A giant Great Blue Heron,  only about 10 feet from us 

abandoned jacket, not needed today

sunset at the beach house that night

Fall comes to E-ville

One of the new E-ville murals has been completed, definitely a snake

More E-Ville Public Art

Ice Cream Cake at Whale Park

off-kilter furniture

Jenny Sharaf: indoor art that matches the garage coverings

Tiles on stairs 

Art inside a gas station mini-mart

Photos on metal

Four murals inside at 5990 Hollis,  part of the E-ville Transit Center (maybe)

on the side of a building near the Mini-Mart art pieces, 3D

Even the AC transit Hydrogen Fueling Station has public art: A slap of concrete, front and back

back

A few more pics:

Parking  at the Broad: a guy greets you at the entrance and explains how to get a validation. Then you are greeted with this sign: automated? 

Parking tix scanner/validation machine

Further automation: an attendant at the exit helps you process your validated ticket

Broad Museum: Men's urinal floor cloths in various designs. VERY UNUSUAL!