I love bridges -- I love books about bridges

A Tale of Two Bridges: The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridges of 1936 and 2013 by Stephen D. Mikesell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I want to know more about my new state of California, and one way to learn is through its bridges. This book is about the Bay Bridge
I learned
• it is actually two spans -- one from San Francisco to Yerba Buena Island and another from the island to Oakland. Together they are the Bay Bridge.
•the Bay Bridge was completed in 1936.
•There was a reconstruction in 1963, when the rail line was removed.
•There are two levels on the bridge -- top deck westbound and bottom is eastbound.
•The bridge was damaged at Pier E-9 by the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.
•One person was killed on the bridge when she drove the wrong way after the earthquake. (The book suggests she did not follow directions of a Caltrans worker, but her family was awarded more than $1 million in 1991-- the LA Times said officers failed to properly control traffic. Mikesell does not cover this aspect.)
This book is about the differences in the initial Bay Bridge construction and the rebuilding of the Yerba Buena-Oakland span after the earthquake. It's rather dry, but I loved reading all that detail.


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Just showing up

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

Today I went to the gym and then to a — what do you call it? meeting? rally? demonstration? — those things that happened around the country to protest the treatment of people in detention at the southern border. It was at the U.S. Courthouse. I went just to be another person there. I didn’t shout or carry a sign or anything. I didn’t even really hear what the speakers said. I stood in the shade beside a fountain, which dulled the sound, and anyway the audio was terrible. But I didn’t care because if we’ve watched the news we all know what the speakers said. There was a bigger crowd than I expected; it filled the patio at the entrance to the courthouse, and there was also a crowd along I Street, holding signs so drivers passing by could see.* Lots of cars honked in agreement, and big trucks sounded their horns often too. 

Dignitaries talked. I was standing at the back edge, next to a man in a suit, wearing sunglasses. He carried his iPhone oddly — under his armpit, kind of like a pistol. When someone important — you could tell by the louder applause — began to speak I asked the man, “Who’s that?” he looked straight ahead and didn’t respond. So I guess he was security for that person, whoever it was. There was also a strategist from the governor’s office standing nearby. He did smile hello. 

Earlier this morning I went searching for fields of sunflowers. I don’t want to miss their big bloom this year, like I did last year. I found some in Yolo County, but they were on a busy road. I want to stop safely and draw them. I’m going to search for a more rural field later this week.

Love,

k

* Move on email this morning said "400 people showed up on their lunch hour today to say CLOSE. THE. CAMPS!" 

Zing! prefers poetry in the park

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

Zing! loves poetry. He listens when I read to him. But he doesn’t go to poetry events — until this evening. On summer Mondays the Poetry Center has poetry in the park, and that means dogs are welcome. After dinner today Zing! and I walked over to Fremont Park and sat on the grass. We heard spoken word — a loose term that tonight meant words as entertainment, storytelling and a bit of call and response with the audience. The poet was Jenny Lynn, who has a “Dare me to say it again” attitude. She was followed by Jeanette Sem, but Zing! said one poet was enough for tonight.

He did nod that we should go again.

Love,

k

Stupendous poppies

Dear Friends,

These flowers are stupendous. I encountered them a week ago when Zing! and I were walking through Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, and I just had to go back to see them again. Sunday, when I finally got to draw them, people gathered around — not to see my work, but to see the flowers.  Everybody started talking. I learned they are called Matilija poppy and are named after an Indian chief. They come from southern California. They shed their flowers and turn into sticks after summertime. And their nickname is the fried egg poppy.

… and when I checked the web, I learned Matilija poppy is native to chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats, primarily from Santa Barbara County, and that it was a candidate for state flower, but  was beat out by the California poppy. Below my drawing is a photo I took yesterday. 

Love,

k

Nothing-special Fridays are my favorite

Dear Friends,

A nothing-special Friday. I think this might be my favorite kind. I went to the gym, bought markers on sale at the art store made rice pudding, cleaned house. And walked Zing! 

Love,

k

Rhubarb and maybe strawberries

Written yesterday:

Dear Friends, 

I’m writing this around 4 p.m. because I just finished drawing (and cooking) the rhubarb. I remember Grandma Krumm cooked rhubarb, but I don’t think Mom did. It is from the farmers market. 

Later I’m going to meet Mary Kaye and Leigh to try out a new restaurant in East Sac. 

Now I’m going to paint … waiting until the last minute to take Zing! for a walk — maybe it will cool off a bit.

Love,

k

Two days to draw an artichoke

Written June 10

Dear Friends,
I would have drawn an artichoke for today, but I ate it.

Janie, Sandy and I just came back from Ella restaurant (I have been told people around here call it Ella, not Ella’s…) where we celebrated Sandy’s birthday and also her purchase of a condo here. She liked renting here so much that she bought a place. That’s when I ate the artichoke. 

Other than that, I did organizing, paperwork and budgeting. I would rather draw an artichoke.

Written June 11
And, yes, I did get some artichokes today. The recipe is from the New York Times. Dip the leaves in lemon juice, garlic and salt, whisked together with melted butter. Or maybe olive oil. 
Love,
k