Diario de Tepintzin

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:26:48 GMT

I called my parents yesterday and got their machine. I left a stressed sounding message. Later that night I had a returned call back from Dad huffily assuring me that the VA is not going to be cut (it's on the chopping block) and all these veterans have told him it won't, etc.

I said I was more concerned with Elon Musk's Nazi salute after.

Dad said he didn't know about that. I think he believed I had read it on some freakish liberal part of the internet.

I asked my brother about it, and he said he hadn't heard about it either. He's disconnected from news and social media.

I don't feel like that's at all a smart option for me. Musk threw Nazi salutes. Trumpists caught the salute, knew exactly what it meant. And I'm a Jew.

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Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:33:24 GMT

I am very not okay.

Sigyn can't get a passport anymore with this anti-trans executive order. Elongated Moscow threw Nazi salutes and "conservatives" are making excuses for him. My first instinct was "I guess I gotta move to Israel" but I'm not going to support genocide.

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Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:09:08 GMT

So, how y'all feeling today?

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January 2025

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 19:20:56 GMT

On the upside, I'm done with my presentation for Witchcon and just need to organize the photos into a slideshow and do a dry run on the platform.

I have some confidence in my harp playing! I cannot perform in front of people to save my life, but I enjoy playing and am keeping it up.

Zuko and Henry will sleep on the couch together, but Chug decided that Zuko was perfect for bullying and he charges at him at random, making Zuko hiss and smack at Chug.

Chug is my heart cat, and I sleep with him tucked under my arm every night, so I wish he wouldn't be such a little asshole. He did the same thing with Dandy Sam when we lived on 55th Street in San Diego, and kept walking away with cuts on his nose. Feliway did nothing. So Zuko ends up having his own room (the music room) where he sleeps every night in a little bed I made up for him early last year, so I don't wake up to the screeching and the howling.

Sigyn is a respected government attorney. She spends about three nights a week at my place. I've never slept in the master bedroom, so she has set the enormous walk in closet into an office and the main body of the room is where she sleeps. She goes back to Marana over the weekends to see Ivan, who is 14 now, and take care of the house. Her housemates look after Ivan when Sig's not home.

My part time job is taking care of little kids, who I will call K and E. Dad is a rabbi with two jobs and Mom is going for her master's of education, so I pick up the kids from their daycare, bring them home, and sit with them till one or both of their parents return.

I'll probably have more to say when I have people interacting with the blog. FaceBook has become unusable since it's five rage-bait "groups" and weird ads in between entries from people I actually know.

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Sun, 27 Aug 2023 03:51:25 GMT

Boy howdy do I miss this long-form format.

Still in AZ and very happy. I wish my social life were a bit more happening. I know I'm 58 now but I really do like going out for cocktails with people.

Chug and Henry have been joined by Zuko. Zuko has a Siamese pattern, but it's clear he's not a purebred. Not that I care. I got a wild hair to look at older cats who had lost their homes. I saw him, a nine-year-old one-eyed kitty who had been surrendered to the Whiskers and Wishes sanctuary because his family "moved". He's been with us a month and while guys aren't his besties yet, but he's much happier than he was, given his appetite and that his coat is smoothing out.

Writing shorter-form fanfic and submitted a metaphysical book to a metaphysical press so we'll see what happens there.

And I'm a great-aunt. My nephew and his wife, who live in Wisconsin because they're in a Traditional Catholic community there (none of the family are comfortable with their religion),have spawned their first, a boy. I wasn't invited to the christening, so I wanted to find out when it was and attend like the Bad Fairy in Sleeping Beauty. But being Traditionalist Catholics, the tyke was baptized before I was even told about it.

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Welcome FaceBook refugees

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 22:47:16 GMT

I don't know if any of you are going to show up. I hope you do. I know a lot of people on FaceBook from LiveJournal. FaceBook seems to have FacePlanted, but we'll see if that lasts. I really like the longer form posts you can make on here.

Since helenkacan died, I haven't been updating. Depending on if anyone comes on here, I still might not.

And FB is up again. Foo.

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And so that was Christmas

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 23:04:01 GMT

Obviously, I don't "do" Xmas anymore, but there were certain formalities to be observed. I called my folks, who were having my aunt and uncle over for socially-distanced dinner. Not super exciting.

More important, I made sure to perform the mitzvah (commandment) of the Chinese Food. Sky Dragon was open, and I like them, so I got Kung Pau chicken and lo meln takeout. I followed up by watching Xmas-themed horror movies on Shudder. Shudder has been my constant companion during the pandemic, and the best $56 bucks I've spent in a while.

My folks sent me the Corsori gooseneck electric kettle I wanted, and I cannot recommend it enough. It has settings for white, green, and black teas, coffee, and just boiling water. The gooseneck makes it easy to control the gentle flow into your pour-over filters for coffee.

It also rained without being in the forecast, so that was an Xmas miracle.

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My Saturday

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 02:49:06 GMT

I woke up nine-ish, and "went" to Ohr Shalom because Koba was chanting one of the Torah readings. I'd forgotten how looooooong their services were. It's a trade-off of traditional prayers and looooong services. We'll see what I'll pick when I am finally able to go synagogue shopping after the pandemic.

I'm figuring that will be June, minimum. The first doses are being given out here to hospital staff of course, and I should be in the second or third group, depending on whether they lump people with pre-existing conditions in with the assisted living people.

I did take a two mile walk because I feel I have to get some outdoor exercise. My bones and brain both need sunlight. I used to say I didn't care for audiobooks, but they are just the thing when taking walks that don't have a particular destination in mind.

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You know.....

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 02:40:50 GMT

It'd be really nice if this site could seduce people away from FaceBook.

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I'm becoming a couch

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 04:30:37 GMT

Covid-19 cases are soaring in AZ to the point that Tucson City Council has imposed a curfew to be lifted only when cases drop. Knowing that infection is up. I'm staying in even more strictly than I was previously. Thing is, this leads to me be scared to take any sort of walking outside. I'm afraid to go out, getting stir-crazy within.

The results of my bone density test came back, and not unexpectedly, I'm in osteopenia, which is pre-osteoporosis. My doc at the VA will be sending me additionally supplements to take. I know that the lockdown and associated lack of exercise isn't helping.

I did go out on Monday to take out recycling and check out a nearby Asian market. it stocked many of the ingredients I use a lot. LeeLee is better stocked, but GrantStone is much closer. I bought a bunch of fresh noodles, so I'll be having fun with those.

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The Bose are worth it

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:25:41 GMT

The Bose headphones I bought were on deep sale, $172 after tax when normally $229 before tax. They are worth it for the comfort alone; I forget they are on my ears. The sound is crisp and I can pick up every audio detail. I've tried them on both music and audiobooks.

Covid-19 cases are spiking worldwide. I'm going to Costco tomorrow and then back into lockdown.

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Does anyone read my entries?

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:22:06 GMT

I know Garpu does, but does anyone else?

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The agony continues.

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 06:13:23 GMT

It's like being in an airplane that's stuck on the tarmac as they do some repairs. It's for safety, but it's agonizing nonetheless. Yes, they're still counting ballots. I appreciate the care they are taking, informed by the election of 2000, but ouch.

Sigyn came over to pick up some Torani syrups she had ordered from World Market up Oracle Road from me, and which I had collected on her behalf. She was hungry, and had asked if I could order noodles. I served the last of the sesame noodles I mentioned before, with the remaining Kung Pao chicken and she proclaimed it the best thing I'd ever cooked. I have to agree; it's pretty darned delicious.

The Cowin E7 headphones I got from Amazon sound muddy as heck, so I'm sending them back. My cat ear headphones sound just as good. I'm biting the bullet and spending the $172 to get Bose headphones. I do not want to be in the neighborhood of fucking around when it comes to music.

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In which I have no idea what's f'n going on.

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 01:34:22 GMT

Biden needs six more electoral seats to win the election. Nevada is poised to go blue--and the Registrar of Voters has decided that they are going to stop counting until tomorrow. Not sure what the other three swing states are doing, but none have produced numbers yet. I want to be put out of my election misery, and I know you do too.

As I've commented perhaps here, I got a good flat-bottomed wok a couple of months ago and have been using it. I made the NYT "Takeout Sesame Noodles" recipe which I can't recommend enough. I need to save it digitally, because I had printed out a copy and then dumped a whole bunch of jarred minced garlic on it. A couple days later I made kung pao chicken which I need to tweak, but which was still really, really good. Inspired by these successes, I've bought "The Breath of the Wok" by Grace Young to master wok cooking. So much for kitchen minimalism!

I took a melatonin last night at 11 and didn't wake up till 11:20. I had a video conference with my new doctor at the VA. Turns out she's an MD who worked on the original Burn Pit Registry when it was established, so she is the ideal doc for me.

tl;dr, my labs all look fine, my prescriptions are renewed, with some bonus over-the-counters (Benedryl, cortisone cream) as a no-cost bonus.

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Election Night

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 02:10:12 GMT

Watching ABC, ordered in a pizza, and I have plenty of wine. I did a Tarot reading today that looked positive for what I want to see happen. We will see.

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Mercy toward LJ

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 23:52:12 GMT

I thought about nuking my LJ, but decided against it. There are too many friends' blogs that haven't migrated here, and I'd be sad if I didn't have access to them.

helenkacan, the Tucson Symphony is doing online concerts and lectures for free if you're interested. They are at http://www.tucsonsymphony.org. I held a subscription at the San Diego Symphony and was looking forward to being a regular here. Obviously it wasn't to be, at least this season.

No symphony, no Tuscon Comic Con, no Day of the Dead procession. Covid-19 sucks and we need to flush the turd on November 3 if there is to be any hope.

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So Noted

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 19:50:52 GMT

Koba came in from San Diego 10 days ago so I wouldn't have to do the High Holy Days alone. Rosh Hashanah is now behind us, and it was a good one. Yom Kippur starts tomorrow night. VERY glad I don't have to do that one in isolation--alone with a full cupboard on a 25 hour fast? Not a great situation.

However, I've come to the conclusion that I really do have to live alone. Feeling another human presence here 24 hours a day is kind of like a disturbing subsonic noise. I'll miss K after I drop them off at PHX, but looking forward to it just being me and the cats.

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Pretending to have a normal life

Sat, 12 Sep 2020 02:06:35 GMT

Since the zoo is open, although with reservations and masks necessary, I've been twice. It's getting cooler, so I've walked across the street to Target to buy...scrubbies for dishes. I'm hoping for some hiking (although I've heard that trails are crowded with maskless people) and perhaps I'll buy a bicycle in the near future.

I'm gaining weight, as I feared. I have to be more diligent about either walking or using my step machine. Because one of the creative things I am doing is cooking. The Instant Pot is fun to use. I made black bean soup and a spicy farfalle dish in it yesterday. Today I baked a Pillsbury brownie mix using a cup of water and a rinsed can of black beans instead of egg and oil--which I recommend!

The High Holy Days start Thursday. Koba will be out so neither of us have to celebrate them alone, but they are still a lot of work and very intense. Glad I'll be able to hear a shofar blown in person cause Koba is bringing one. The neighbors are gonna LOVE Koba blowing the shofar on my patio as I call out the blessings and the blasts.

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Feeling like I'm lazy but I'm not

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 03:42:51 GMT

Anybody else having this Covid-19 feeling? My apartment is clean, I'm being somewhat creative. I bought a carbon-steel wok in order to make Chinese food since takeout is not necessarily satisfactory. I'm doing a little art, which I never did before. I'm studying Zohar (the Kabbalah). And yet I feel that I am doing "nothing".

How is the creativity at your end?

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Never thought this would constitute adventure.

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 02:12:15 GMT

I went to Costco and Fry's and spent a lot of money on food and spices. This morning I toasted up the spices for garam masala and ground them in the coffee grinder I'd purchased just for this reason.

So I have chicken and spices and the usual amount of frozen awesomeness you buy at Costco, particularly chicken wontons.

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Some good days, some bad days

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 01:18:34 GMT

What makes a bad day a bad day is a strong awareness of being isolated and without any means of running around doing things outside. Okay, I can technically go to stores and things as long as I'm masked, but I know the responsible thing, and the thing that's best for me as someone with a respiratory condition, is to stay inside.

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Happy Birthday to Meh

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 03:38:00 GMT

Seriously, what could I really do for it? My parents sent me a $50 Target card, which I used to buy a new, larger coffee maker.

High point of the day was Sigyn coming over after she was done with her trial. (She won.). She changed into a pair of my shorts from Woman Within, and I ordered dinner from Guadalajara Grill. The sauce from my enchilada-style burrito slopped all over the place so things were messy but they still tasted good. Dessert was a pint of Rebel keto ice cream, Cookie Dough flavour. A friend had recommended the brand, and Sig is doing keto, so I thought it'd be fun to try. Tasted like--ice cream!

The previous senior rabbi from Temple Emanu-El, Rabbi Samuel Cohon, now heads a synagogue called Beit Simcha. Since my Hebrew name is Simcha Devorah, I thought it was very nice for them to name a synagogue after me. He's an actual Kabbalist, and his class on The Zohar resumed on August 11. I paid for the six-class session and got started. I do have a hardcover 5-volume Zohar, although it's not the premiere version they are using. They generously supply a scan of the pages they're going over.

Between that and Daf Yomi (reading the entire Talmud a page a day) I am living up to my wish to become a full time mystic and Torah scholar.

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Only five miles away.....

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 04:04:55 GMT

The heart of Tucson is the Hotel Congress, built in 1918. Normally it is the home of KXCI community radio (I'm listening to a latin music block right now) and hosts bands. It's near the happening part of town and 4th Avenue.

It's 4.7 miles from me, with a bus running down Oracle right there. But due to Covid, everything is closed and KXCI is broadcasting from its respective hosts' homes.

I'm blaming the Cheeto in Chief because yes, this virus originated in China, but he's authorized jack shit to do the actions that need to be done in order to bring the rate of infection down.

I am very grateful to have moved to Tucson, to this great flat and convenient neighborhood, but dammit, I'd like to be able to do more than go to the grocery store with a mask on.

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Well, I seem to be writing

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 04:50:56 GMT

I received my Neo2, and in a week I've gotten 2000 words down. I'm in love. For some reason, the feel of the keyboard just encourages me to keep writing, and the lack of distractions is really key.

I also bought a basic Kindle 10th gen and that is helping me read, since there's no pesky messages from Gmail, FaceBook, etc sliding down onto my screen as I read.

Low-tech is very cool, but hand-writing is too slow for creativity.

Arizona is one of the hot spots for Covid-19 in the U.S. This week I have no reasons to go out, so the goals are writing, cooking, and reading. I can get exercise in here.

Oh! I've been lusting after couches by Joybird for ages. I realized a solution might be to get a stretch-velvet cover for my current $40 used sofa. So now my couch is light blue velvet and it makes me super happy to look at every day.

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Things in motion

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 00:01:06 GMT

Monday I got up, sent duplicate books I had to a friend, went to Total Wine for, you know, supplies, and closed myself in for the week. I brought out the grey notebook in which I'd been writing all my sermons preached at the synagogue in Chula Vista, and started typing it up with an eye toward turning this into my own Torah commentary. I've gotten 5000 words plus in my laptop!

I've ordered an Alphasmart Neo2 which is a straight-up word processor with no internet connection. I think it'll help me concentrate when I write. I'll be sticking to my laptop for my commentary, but I intend to put my novel and book on magic into the Alphasmart in order to just keep moving forward, forward, forward in my writing.

July 4 was beyond blah. I knew it would be boring because I couldn't go out, and also because it was Shabbat so I couldn't do much anyway. I watched "Hamilton", which is entertaining, but I'm not going to ever like it as much as 1776.

Bad news....My nephew TJ has decided to become a priest in the Institute of Christ the King, which while submissive to Rome and part of the mainstream Church is pre-Vatican II in practice. I got this news from my dad today, and my dad is Not Happy. I'm not either. Don't know what my mom thinks; she was asleep when I called.

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