Up for the Hoidays --- Day 14/339

Walk: Hood

Distance: 3.5 miles

Completely not gorgeous, apparently kaput, end of February-November end, 2025

Nothing looked more lifeless or got less attention than Ciwt's 'dead' amaryllis bulb as it sat in her dark storeroom for eight months after its spectacular holiday bloom.  

Just beginning its gorgeous full bloom, January 10, 2025

But, as Ciwt had read, and every Amaryllis-ite knows, its 'dead' bulbs can return to life.  So, Ciwt thought "Why not give it a try?, plunked her bulb downstairs, ignored it completely as she got rid of everything else in the storeroom (almost) except it.  Then, last week, she thought "Okay, let's see what happens" and brought it back into its old place.  And look!!

Back Again Today, November 2025

Another Theater Worthy Movie! --- Days 14/337 & 338

Walks: Presidio, AMC Kabuki

Distances: 3.6

So a movie buff friend recommended Rental Family and movie buff Ciwt was only too happy to go to one of her local theaters to take it in.  Here's what she found:  Fantastic cinematography! Mildly engaging rest of the movie.  BUT the audience around her were audibly fully engaged and Rental Family has a 99% Rotten Tomatoes audience rating.  So, Ciwt thinks go yourselves and see what you think.  At the very least, if you too are a movie buff, you'll enjoy being back in a theater watching a worthy cinema production.

Lighting Up --- Days 14/335 & 336

Walks: Hood

Distances: 4 miles

JOLLY LIGHTS Truck

Seeing this holiday lights truck today has Ciwt feeling hopeful about her Annual Neighborhood Christmas Decorating Contest

Chair Mom --- Days 14/333 & 334

Walks: Magic Flute, Nordstrom Marin

Distances: 4.5, 1 mile

Tawny (top) and Puff

 For the reason you see above, Ciwt rarely finds an opening for herself on her sheepskin chair. Maybe they consider it another mom (besides Ciwt who isn't so furry but feeds them...)

Naw... --- Days 14/331 & 332

Walks: Hood

Distances: 4 miles

"Rats on that for a game of marbles.'  Ciwt just became acquainted with this (very) old timey phrase coined by an Englishwoman who lived to a ripe old age.  Apparently she used it when she had had enough of some obligation or project.  "Screw it" might be a modern version.  However it is said, Ciwt is well acquainted with the spirit of the phrase in the longish, darkish, drearyish last few months of the year.  Never seems like a time to begin anything of consequence - even holiday preparations if you aren't particularly into holidays. And all fitness equipment and diet foods seem like enemies.  Comfort food, mystery books, ipad binges or just plain bed with cats (or dogs) call more strongly,  All very anti the Puritan ethic of carrying on and producing with energetic cheer at all costs.  But, often at this time of year, Ciwt just thinks "Rats on that..."

A Movie! In a Theater! --- Day 14/330

Walk: AMC Kabuki (Sentimental Value)

Distance: 2.5 miles

Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning in Sentimental Value

At last!   A real (according to Ciwt) movie.  Adult script, superb acting, deep attunement to the authentc visitudes of human life and emotions . And, speaking of dreariness - as CIWT was a day or two ago - here is that bone deep, DNA deep Norwegian version captured so well by Munch's "Scream" 😱, and now writer-director Joachim Trier.  If you have a Nordic (or something) sense of humor, Sentimental Value is categorized as a comedy (????) so perhaps you'll enjoy laughing if you go.  Or maybe you'll be like Ciwt and sit unsmiling and nearly spellbound by the overall precision, quality and emotional texture of the movie.

Stellan Skarsgard and Renate Reinsve the principal co-stars of Sentimental Vlaue

Thanksgiving Decorating Non-Contest --- Day 14/329

Walk: Hood

Distance: 4.5 miles

So, much as Ciwt would love to have a Thanksgiving Nieghborhood Home Decorating Contest, she has been searching in vain for entries.  Lots of little pumkin arrangements here and there.  Many behind new front gates installed during the unsafe times of Covid.  

But if she did have a contest, here would be her favorites, each with its own merits.

Most Distinguished

Stand back, Patience and Fortitude*, here are a couple of your counterparts out in San Francisco.  Ciwt loves the restful way they balance the two quietly matching doors and wreaths.  Unmatchable tastefulness.

Very Best Pumpkin Arrangement

The super healthy Thanksgiving red orange and  yellow gold colored Chrysanthemums and artful arrangement bring this festive display to life.  And also mean that this is no passive arrangement.  The owners clearly put it together with an artistic eye and will need to give daily care to the live flowers.

(Some readers may have recognized this as the very skeleton covered house that has been the Halloween BEST WHOLE HOUSE winner for several years.  So, if Ciwt had an actual Thanksgiving Neighborhood Home Decorating Contest, this beauty would be back-to-back CIWT contest winners).

* New York readers and Main Library visitors know Patience and Fortitude very well.

The New York Public Library's 42nd Street building on opening day in 1911

Spoiler Alert: Dreariness --- Days14/327 & 328

Walks: Hood & None (Storm)

Distances: 4 miles, 0 ☔☔

So in her usual exhuberance over the beauty of Fall, Ciwt tends to forget it is also the time of rains, blustery winds and light so low it almost feels like evening all day long.  (Not very energizing ...)

Childe Hassam (1859-1935), Rain Storm Union Square, 1890, o/o