Linda’s stomach was a bit stressed from Aroma’s chutneys so we elected to skip the Mill Valley Christmas party but still tried Baxter’s with Bryan, as spendy as Bella Siena but without the food factory atmosphere and unlike BS very good, then hung out a bit after to indulge

in chocolates from SF and talk about his imminent trip to Bastogne and beyond.

There was the usual overcast walk the next morning

followed by a massive grocery run, belated lunch

and small freezing foray beneath low skies before dinner in with L’s ex-nephew Scott and his longtime girlfriend whom we seldom see though it’s always a treat to talk about dogs,

life, art, touring…and dogs with Bonnie. A good time was had by all but the long evening led to long sleeping, a condensed Monday wherein L. went to Kaiser for those shots only to find their shooting gallery closed for lunch so came home for ours, somewhat rushed as I’d agreed to let the Benicia Community Foundation bring half dozen people involved in making a movie about the barge fight for a look at the murals at 1:30 but, classic incrementalism, the guy wanted to come “7 – 10 minutes early” though when L and I went out to look at the Mini at 1:10 he was there already with the news that the half dozen people were now eight or ten…I tried to figure out the nonfunctional latch before the crowd, more like a dozen including the mayor and some seemingly random high school student, trickled in for a tour I hadn’t anticipated giving but, oh well; I talked about what I knew and with the 6’4″ trans screenwriter while the rest of them took to seemingly endlessly shmoozing* in the Jack Room. They’d made a good little film on Captain Jack and the Modoc War which boded well if they ever got the Barge Fight afloat [though David had indicated it was all underway with a huge soundstage lined up in Marin in fact so far all that existed was the script]. Once things cleared out I looked up the the Mini latch,

ordered it and headed for the water. Tuesday there was – almost! – a little sun peeking out

and a quick run to Pedrotti’s after, after which the radiator on the ’45 blew…to be addressed next year, probably, as time ticks away. After noon, inspired by Lloyd Kahn’s counsel to

“keep moving”, I was again on the bike, encountering the above badness lurking just outside

while down there all was glare, but lived to tell the Wednesday tale; wetness in the morning and ants, delugional in anticipation of rain, numerously creeping up through the baseboards.

There were, however, some moments of sun and an overdressed

[didn’t, for the first time in weeks, need that hoodie and down vest under my jacket]

ride downtown…

Solstice on the way…

*Once they were, at my urging, out the door, it turned out to have only been a little over half an hour, but with the room packed like that claustrophobia made it seem much longer.