New Panhandle Bike Lane

On July 25 of 2020 I wrote that the day before I got the cargo bike ready before heading out to the ferry. I tried to find stuff at the supermarket there but they were closed.

I hadn’t been enjoying the ferry trip up to then during the pandemic but I had gotten used to it. At Main Street the meeting with my friend was brief.

The boat trip was marked by a lack of food and generally nothing to do out of concern for contagion. I noted that I wanted someday to get off in Oakland instead and possibly ride to Treasure Island.

I stopped at roadside and rode to the apartment. I did a quick turnaround to switched some wheels and equipment before meeting some acquaintances at Duboce Park. I was surprised to see so many people there - including an old college classmate. We had beer and crackers and watched the scooters before riding back to the apartment.

I tried to order from Goat Hill but had to RUN to Little Star instead. Dinner and a movie were pretty quiet and I was quick to wind down. Later I had to do some stuff for myself so went to bed late – I heard gunshots.

In the morning of the day that I was pissed I finally got out of bed at nine and poured out cereal. When I got all the clothes on I called dad and texted my younger sister. I noted that I was going to go to Four Barrel and then to Golden Gate Park.

I got the bike out but noise upstairs made it difficult. Then, loading the bike was really hard so I had to take too long. Some of the neighbors saw me and I felt like a spectacle.

When eventually I was able to get out, I rode slowly up Page Street to the Wiggle and onto the new Panhandle bike lane which was parking protected. From there I entered the park and the ride was easy. My acquaintances from the biking events were there. I got the wheels out and enjoyed the people until the protected bikeways thing ended. I met a new person at Blue Playground.

After that I made a stop at the waterfall before heading to dads house. My sister was there and I helped Dad make dinner. We went for a bike ride around the block.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

The Burns Statue

On June 20, 2020 I wrote that the night before I went to bed at midnight almost perfectly. I woke up twice but got out of bed at around 830. I want to noise but in the crows nest.

I tried to make food quickly since an acquaintance was coming by to pick his cargo bike up. I quietly checked to see if it was OK and brought my cargo down and got his cargo out.

I went back up and begin to prepare to leave. I quietly started closing out the house and eventually walked all my equipment to the street. I quietly walked all together across Duboce and rode to Mercury. I stopped at the mini park and after that went all the way up page to Stanyan.

I noticed that I saw a coworker on Page Street and told him I sent him a message.

In Golden Gate Park I found the open streets activists. I found some close acquaintances there too after going through the secret forest. I saw another coworker too. There was some loud play and we explored.

I left at 2:30 and rode again through the Secret Forest and onto Page where I packed up the wheels and headed to the apartment.

I had a quiet two hours working – there was noise actually. An acquaintance came by and gave me his cargo bike. I made a small meal and he drank my beer. I quietly walked to Waller and said bye to him.

Back at the apartment at 7:45 there was a lot of TV and some ice cream before winding down. I read an angry email from my friend who had just received my hand delivered letter. I texted with my sister before sending a friendly email to her.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

Mom Sat with Us

On June 6 of 2020 I wrote that I was watching Doctor Who until nearly midnight the night before and work at 1:30 and two to my body feeling funny. I got up and had some water and was worried for a half hour.

I woke at 6:30 but didn’t get up until nearly 8. I got a meal down and decided to get coffee later. I rode my bike to the periodontist. I know that Union Square had become off-limits because of the curfew.

I later learned that the curfew would be lifted the coming day. There were barriers and cops but the office was open for my appointment. The dentist had me fill out a form and told me I had deep pockets in my gums and some bone loss. We made an appointment and I went to Mercury. I worked for a few hours before going back for another coffee. I was alone at the apartment for a while. I noted I was planning on going to mom’s after I was done writing to see my older sister.

I made a sandwich and had a smoothie. Packing was hard and took too long. I rode the Wiggle past well heeled marchers and crowds. There were a lot of cars on Fell Street. Some little kids started talking to me while I tweeted at the waterfall. I saw an acquaintance on Overlook Drive. My sisters were on a walk when I arrived. Dad was with mom who was sleeping.

When my older sister returned she asked me to make a salad and then we ate. After we opened some wine, mom sat with us and we had a moment together. It was good.

Mom had to get up and go lay down around them. My older sister helped her. We had a discussion of police brutality then. My older sister started the dishes but had a call with her son which I had to finish because mom got up again. My sister ended up reading mom a story which was really great. Dad was complaining that the neighbors were standing on the roof. My older sister and I discussed law and marriage until late.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

Happy Birthday to Me

On May 12 of 2020, my birthday, I noticed that the previous night I dictated until late and watched Doctor Who. I went to bed at around one in the morning.

In the morning of the day that I wrote this I got up at 8:30. I brushed my teeth, which was painful because I was battling an infection. Luckily the dentist had called me back despite pandemic hours.

At 10 I made coffee and ate. My friend called to ask for help I couldn’t give. Her impatience with me was tough since she hung up and I had to call her back. On that call I started crying and she hung up. Later I did a quiet FaceTime and she sent me a message apologizing.

I had a call with my older sister. She said happy birthday and I told her about my day. She said my nephew might make a cake. Many people had sent me text messages and tweets about that. I had a FaceTime with mom. I texted my niece.

I went to the cafe and had a coffee.

My younger sister called to say mom had improved. She also told me that my uncle had called her but his anxiety had made mom upset. My younger sister was headed to the store. I told her I would be in on Wednesday and walk back to the apartment from the coffee shop.

My old college classmate and his wife both said happy birthday to me.

Around two I took some time to myself and I saw tweet messages and that was nice.

One of my acquaintances from Geobeers called me. We sat talking for about a half an hour.

At 4:15 I made dinner. My younger sister texted and I listened to a podcast. I took a short nap because dinner was too big. I returned to working on my procedure.

I lay down again and read about relationships. My friend texted me in the middle. I thought it was ironic. She had texted happy birthday and I said thanks.

I finished my template leaving the analysis section open. After that I noted that I wanted to work on the internal document.

I did dishes and prepared to go on a walk. However I brushed my teeth and decided to email my doctor. Then I went to Alamo Square and had some beer and walked back to the apartment to watch Doctor Who.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

Mom was Playing Piano

On May 9, 2020 I wrote that Dad made coffee while I traveled to see him and when I got there we quietly hung out with my sister and her husband until mom got up. A short while later we moved her bed into the garage to prepare for the hospital bed’s arrival on Monday.

I quietly served chips and sandwiches. My nibblings arrived as mom was playing piano. Then a bit later it was quiet time and we quietly played bocce ball in the backyard. After that we puttered around the house with mom in the living room.

There was a bunch of candy. By four my sister and her husband agreed to have dinner at my apartment so we said goodbye to mom and quietly drove mom’s car to the apartment. We ordered Burmese from around the corner and set up the kitchen. The meal was delicious and I offered kefir for everyone’s quiet enjoyment.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

Beers Overlooking the Palace

On April 18 of 2020 I wrote that by 5 o’clock I had stopped working and ate a bit before walking to the Western Addition. I had beers overlooking the Palace of Fine Arts. I then watched Doctor Who and went to bed after I returned.

I slept all right. After breakfast I tidied and worked until lunch. My ailing mother told me that I needed to come visit. I wrote up a list of things to get from the parents house and went to the cafe. My sister called me because she had to go to the overwhelmingly packed store in a pandemic and was discouraged. I noted that I should’ve helped her but I would have had to carry multiple bags on my bike so just gave up.

I rode up Page Street and dealt with bad drivers - the experience can be hard. I stopped at the bank and texted family once I got to the parents’ house. I helped mom with her zoom meeting and set up my computer in the living room where my father and I organized bikes as a gift to my children.

Mom sat in the living room when finished her nap and Dad and I made dinner. After eating mom returned to her room. Dad told me about the family and texted my older brother. I did some work then but did a lot to help my mother. We did the dishes.

I texted with my old classmate about being at home for the day with my parents and he included me with one of our acquaintances on a thread with songs by John Prine who had recently passed away.

I watched some Doctor Who.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

She and I Spoke

On the 12th of April 2020 I wrote that my friend let me know she would come get me. I hung out with my mom and as she was working in her checkbook. I set up my computer in the living room. I made mom hot cocoa.

She was trying to make the best of Easter Sunday with just dad by making Easter eggs for herself. It was an emotional experience for me and I was a mess. I shared that I had had made many choices in my life because I knew her health was failing.

Mom‘s vision had also been failing and she needed to figure out her checkbook. Dad was helping her. I noted that he was very brusque and that bothered me.

I walked on the Great Highway and happened upon an acquaintance. He and I had a short conversation.

Back home I had dinner with mom and dad and the plan for my friend to pick me up on Easter morning came out.

After she had gone to lay down, I chatted with mom. I mentioned the time when I was seven or eight when I asked her what would happen when she dies. The question I had asked at that time was mostly what I would do when she died, not where she goes. The conversation I had with her really helped alleviate my distress over her state. Later I settled in for a movie in the living room. Mom sat through a little bit of it.

In the morning of the day that I wrote this I woke at 6:30 and Mom made waffles. I checked in on my parents and went downstairs with a cup of coffee.

Later I returned to see mom. We discussed how ineffective change can be. She told me that the effect of change did not negate its necessity. I didn’t feel like I had made much of a point but eventually mom understood I would still have to work with adversity to get stuff done.

Before I left I also spoke to my father. Then I got the bags on my bike and rode to the apartment through Golden Gate Park. My friend was there and I made her coffee. She piled up a giant amount of stuff and we got it in the car and we drove to the house in Alameda. Inside I quietly gave hugs and was quietly relieved.

There was coffee and I sat on the floor and quietly enjoyed myself. Eventually there were “eggs“ as a treasure hunt. Paper cut out eggs contained clues to find new eggs which would have clues in them. While that was happening I hid eggs in the backyard. The egg hunt happened twice.

Later I went on two quiet bike rides. When I returned there were more egg games but my friend took me home. She and I spoke in the car and I listed out things to do, like studying, where to live and a bunch of other stuff. The conversation spread out over our arrival at the apartment. We sat in the kitchen. She didn’t seem to know how long she would be at her sister’s house.

When we were done talking I walked around looking at stuff. At one point we sat in the front room.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.