A Miracle Happened Today

This was supposed to be the post where I announced Bear's winter hibernation until April. I felt like nothing was happening worthy of discussion.  And then, shit happened.

I took a nice 45 mile bike ride today with Nadav. We did the Paradise Loop from SF over the Golden Gate Bridge around the Tiburon Peninsula and back, with a stop for coffee in Tiburon. 

Saw some folks fishing from a pier in Tiburon. Catching mostly perch. This guy had the longest pole I have ever seen. It worked. I saw him catch a perch. Amusingly, it was hard for him to put the fish down on the pier because the pole was so long.

I need to get a "Real ID", whatever that is. I think it is just the Trump administration's attempt to limit the rights of undocumented immigrants [who live, contribute and participate in American society]. I can't find my social security card, which I need to get my "right to travel" card. Those without a social security number will be barred from flying after 1/1/2020. We might see an uptick in bus travel. I hope Greyhound stays in business.

I needed to go to the social security office. They are making it very hard. You cannot get a replacement SS card on line. I have seen the long lines at the SS office. I decided to make an appointment. NO! you cannot make an appointment on line; you have to call them. I found the phone number and everything was going great. I got thru their phone tree. I would get the next available operator! [In one hour and 14 minutes.] I don't think so.

It was about 3 P.M. How long can the wait be? I'll walk to the SS office on Kearny Street, near Chinatown. Worst case scenario - I'll sit there until 5 p.m.

Here's the miracle: I get to the SS Office. It looks closed. A COMPLETELY EMPTY waiting room. Nope, they are open. They make me get a number. The very second I have the number, a clerk waves me to her window. Five minutes later, request approved - they'll mail me a new SS card. What are the odds of going to the SS office and NOT waiting a second? A miracle.

On the walk home, I remembered that Beth asked me to find the SF Examiner because Meyer had the cover story today. Hard to find a newspaper these days. 

I finally find a bank of newspaper boxes that has something in it. As I try to find the Examiner, a houseless dude grabs every single issue of the Examiner. He neatly removed the insert from each one and packed them up to travel. Examiner hoarding! I could only speculate why he wanted them. Most likely, he stuffed them in his clothes to stay warm.

I found some.

So proud of Meyer. He is doing an internship at the Examiner. Here are his articles from the paper today: Yuet Lee; Miss Chinatown.

Winter hibernation is just around the corner for this sleepy bear.