Restart

Working from home again. I realize that I am completely burned out and that my morale is broken at work. My immediate supervisors have established a review of our digital team, with an eye to making changes.

This is not necessarily a reflection on me or my performance but it sure feels like it. Meanwhile, with no hires over the past three years, our traffic has grown steadily at 45 percent year over year. And we have won a ton of awards.

I know that we are doing a great job with a very small staff inside a giant radio operation that has hired tons of people. Most of whom cannot write or edit a decent text article -- which is what we have to deal with.

Just as well when I feel like this that I work from home.

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Big Cookie Box

Luca was holding this behind his back the other night when the Comollis came by. I have never seen a bigger box of cookies.

This cold rainy morning my car wouldn't start again. I eventually had to have it towed to the mechanic's. Honestly, that car is now more trouble than it is worth. I almost never drive anywhere anyway.

I also decided to work from home today. Besides the car trouble, I have cold symptoms and am feeling tired. It is easier to work here than to walk to there.

Due to the rain, everything is green around here. Beautiful.

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Blogging

I'm suddenly feeling like writing more again and sharing my life with anyone who wants to share it with me.

Last night, on my actual birthday, Peter and Claire came by. We watched the Giants game and ordered Thai food. They are expecting their first child, a girl, in October.

Afterward, I searched my apartment and found a bunch of little girl clothes -- Julia's, of course. I will bundle them up for them.

When I moved in here, Julia was not yet five. The clothes I found include pajamas, shirts and dresses from those early years. I know she will be happy to see them on her new niece a few years from now.

Family is everything to me. Work matters too. I've been having a rough time at work lately but it also can be satisfying because I have so many relationships there. KQED is a good place for me. Lots of good and interesting people.

I've been growing my hair for almost two years now. It is long and white and down to my shoulders. I know it looks weird but I don't care. I think I am reverting to my hippie days in the 70s. Plus, at 71, I really don't care what anyone thinks of me any longer.

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Another Birthday Weekend

Laila, Loic, Luca, Sophia and Daisy came over last night to help celebrate my birthday, which is today. They brought presents -- the biggest box of cookies I have ever seen and a set of outdoor darts -- what we used to call Jarts when I was young.

we played in the backyard, had pizza from Mr. Pizza Man, and again watched Steve Martin's hilarious reprise of The Pink Panther.

Little Daisy noticed by laundry room and told her Mom, "Grandpa has the smallest garage I have ever seen."

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Saturday Night? Birthday Night

Dylan is 22! We had a family birthday party last night for him. What a wonderful young man he is!

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Friday Night? Pizza Night...

...at Dad's (AKA Grandpa's) house. Luca and Sophia were excited after spending the entire rainy day as subjects in a scientific experiment at UCSF. They came with Laila around 5 and we soon ordered pizza.

Peter and Claire soon joined us. I introduced the hilarious Pink Panther remake with Steve Martin to the young ones and we all laughed heartily.

Laila took the above photo.

So far, the rain is holding off today. We plan a big (14 person) birthday party at Peter and Claire's tonight. Tomorrow is Dylan's 22nd birthday.

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Most Corrupt Presidency Ever?

It's hard to keep up with all the scandals coming out of the Trump administration as they are more numerous that I can ever recall from any other one. The Truitt swamp at the EPA is particularly vile-smelling, given the damage he is doing to our collective future.

As someone who devoted so much of my reporting career trying to warn the public how much danger we are in, I admit to being distraught by all of this. I have six children and six grandchildren, with a 7th on the way.

What kind of world will they inherit?

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