TV or not TV

OK -- this is it. Swearing off TV. My converter box gave out. The little red light will not turn green, no matter how many times I unplug everthing, then plug it all back in again. I went on line to get help or advice and my brand, Apex (the only one sold at Best Buy apparently) had many many many very poor customer reviews, all saying the thing gave out after a few months. And very poor customer service for repairs.

So this leads me to the question, why do I need TV? I refuse to get cable. Too addictive. Why do I need TV? I can live without House. I can listen to the News Hour on the radio. I can catch Bill Moyers and Washington Week on my computer.

What if I just played music, read books, and just watched DVDs? Wouldn't that be an improvement?

But I'll go get some triple A batteries for the remote, and try one more time to make the green light go on.....

Julie and Julia Great Movie!

What a happy wonderful movie! And the greatest thing about it was the inspiring notion of a woman so totally free to be exactly who she was, no holds barred! Loved it!

Go ahead, make my day!

It started a few days ago. I got on a bus in Berkeley, put in my 85 cents ( the senior fare,) and the bus driver--a young woman--asked, "Are you 65?" She actually didn't think I looked my age. It made my day!

Then, yesterday, I bought a snack for my grandchildren at a vendor's cart, stuffed it in my huge purse and walked on. A young man came running after me, "Hey lady, don't you want your wallet?" Turns out I left it resting on the display of candy bars, and he, a person who happened to be standing nearby, was kind enough to race after me to return it. It made my day.

Same thing happened on the subway later the same day. My precious new fancy phone, so fancy that I barely know how to operate it, slipped out of my jacket pocket, and a kind woman was alert enough to see it and return it to me. Once again, the kindess of strangers -- not that I rely on it, but when it happens, guess what?

And just now, my beloved Ann (sister of my late first husband) called to say that Mark Morris is performing something "great and beautiful" at Zellerbach, his "L'Allegro" and we have to go see it this very afternoon! When you can walk down the street and see Mark Morris's dancers perform one of his all time masterpieces, well, truly, how can your resist? It makes your day!

Intrusive weeds or welcome guests?

These colorful flowers are considered weeds here in the bay area. Back east, where I'm from, one buys nasturtium seeds in packets and carefully plants them in one's well-tended garden. The neglected patch of ground in my backyard is overrun with them now, and I couldn't be happier. They sprout and climb and maneuver their way wherever there's some soil and some sun. When I moved to the bay area, almost 6 years ago, I noticed the wild looking gardens in Berkeley. Many plantings in various front yards don't looked very controlled, but have been allowed to "express themselves," it seems to me. The Berkeley campus may be quiet these days, but plant life is enjoying its own free speech movement.