Simple Thoughts

Message 1303

2012-02-14T11:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I watched the Sharks beat to Washington Capitols 5-3 in an NHL game. Josh was up skiing, so he was not able to join me. Later I watched the NBA game between the Warriors and the Phoenix Suns. It was a close game, but the Warriors were able to pull out the victory. They are on a roll now. If they can keep this up, they might even make the playoffs. I feel good today.

Message 1302

2012-02-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I finished reading The Economist and also this week’s Science. In the afternoon Josh brought in food from Boston Market and watched the hockey game with me. Unfortunately the Sharks lost to the St. Louis Blues 0-3. The Blues are playing so well now that even when the Sharks had a power play they generally could not even get a shot on goal. The Sharks never had a five on three power plays, but the Blues had three of them and were able to score on two and finally scored an empty netter at the end of the game to give them the 0-3 win. After hockey we watched NBA basketball with the Warriors playing Houston. Even though Houston is a very good team, the Warriors are playing at such a high level, especially with 3-point shooting, that they were able to win a hard-fought game. Later in the evening I watched a two-hour episode of Downton Abbey on PBS. I thought it was going to be the last of the series because just like the end of the original Upstairs Downstairs series the Spanish flu after World War One killed off one of the women characters and resolved some of the plot questions, but it turned out that the series will continue next week. I feel good today.

Message 1301

2012-02-12T09:47:00.001-08:00

Yesterday Safeway delivered my first grocery order. Jason helped me figure out how to place the order when he was here Friday evening. The delivery man called and I buzzed him in and he brought the stuff into my condo, so I did not have to go outside at all. It will be a big relief for me not to have to go to the grocery stare every week. Yesterday I also watched disk 3 of Big Love. I also read over half of The Economist which came on Friday. I turned in at midnight and had a good sleep. I feel good today.

Message 1300

2012-02-11T12:04:00.000-08:00

Jason, Susan, and Ellie came over last night and brought in Chinese food to join Josh and me in watching the hockey game. The Sharks beat Chicago 5-3. Ellie says she likes to watch sports. She went to the previous Sharks game against Calgary with Jason and Josh. The Sharks scored the first two goal, but the Blackhawks caught up. It was a close game, but the Sharks were able to hold on for the eventual victory. I watched Charlie Rose before I turned in. I feel good today.

Message 1299

2012-02-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, in addition to my usual PBS shows, I read more on my Kindle. It has been a while since I measured my blood pressure , so it is now 129/75 with a heart rate of 70. These numbers are good, so I guess it is OK that I rarely measure it. Yesterday I also watched disk 2 of Big Love. I feel good today.

Message 1298

2012-02-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi’s Pies with Reggie and Henry. This is Henry’s last week before he has to head back to the east coast. Last night I watched the Sharks lose to Calgary 3-4. The Sharks went down two goals early and spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. They tied the score twice,but fell short in the end. They have now lost two games in a row. but they still lead their division. Josh was at the game, so I am sure he was disappointed. I fee good today.

Message 1297

2012-02-08T11:10:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I watched disk 1 of “Big Love,” an HBO series about a Mormon polygamist family with three wives. It has a good cast and is well done, but is not very sexy. Aside from the polygamy, it reminds me of life at Fenwick Island with a large group of people with lots of kids living together, with all the normal uproar and personality clashes. Last night I watched the NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City. It was a very close game with numerous lead changes, but like most NBA games, the team that made the last basket won. In this case the Warriors lost by three points, but it was a fun game to watch. Josh called me and reminded me of the game before it started, but he was not able to join me. I also read some more on my Kindle and am now about 25% of the way through my new book. I feel good today.

Message 1296

2012-02-07T10:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I downloaded a couple of new books to read on my Kindle. I started reading the one called “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” It is about a nine-year old boy whose father dies at the World Trade Center on 9/11. I am about 16% of the way through it. It is very well written. I turned in after Charlie Rose and had a good sleep. I feel good today.

Message 1295

2012-02-06T10:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I finished reading The Economist and watched the last disk of Season one of Swingtown. I also finished the Steve Jobs book on my Kindle. It was very good. In the afternoon I watched the Super Bowl and was slightly sorry to see the Giants win since Tom Brady grew up in Los Gatos where Jason and his family live. In the evening I watched the next episode of Downton Abbey on PBS. I also read the new Science. I feel good today.

Message 1294

2012-02-05T11:11:00.001-08:00

Yesterday The Economist came in the mail and I started reading it. I called Josh and told him I was going to dinner and a movie with the Ariagnos and Morrills, so would not be able to watch the Sharks game with him. I later saw on the news that the Sharks lost to Phoenix 3-5, including an empty netter by Phoenix at the end. It was my turn to pick the movie so I picked The Artist (the famous new silent movie.) We had a good dinner, but when we went to the movie we learned it was sold out, so we drove to Sunnyvale and went to see The Grey, in which Liam Neeson plays a professional hunter who protects oil workers from wolves. A plane filled with Neeson and some oil workers crashes on the way to Anchorage, but seven of them survive the crash and the blizzard and are picked off one by one by a pack of wolves. It is a bizarre story about survival in a kill or be killed harsh environment. I cringed at all the impossible things that I knew from experience were not reasonable, but at least it kept me awake. I feel good today.

Message 1293

2012-02-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday after the regular PBS shows I read some more on my Kindle and watched the local news and then watched Charlie Rose. I slept in late this morning. I feel good today.

Message 1292

2012-02-03T10:41:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I watched the Sharks beat Dallas in hockey 5-2. Josh was at the game with Kevin, but I did not see him in the stands. I also read some more on my Kindle and watched another disk of Swingtown. I feel good today.

Message 1291

2012-02-02T11:35:00.001-08:00

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi’s Pies with Reggie and Henry. On my way home I stopped at Safeway to do my weekly grocery shopping. Last night I watched disk 2 of Swingtown. I watched Charlie Rose at 8 PM so I could turn in early. I also read some more on my Kindle. I feel good today.

Message 1290

2012-02-01T10:10:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I watched the Sharks beat Columbus 6-0 in an NHL game. Josh was at the game, so he was not able to join me. It was good to see the Sharks play well, but Columbus started a lot of fights, especially near the end of the game, so I guess they resented being made to look so bad. Between periods in the hockey game I switched channels to watch the Warriors play Sacramento in basketball. It was a close game with the warriors trailing slightly for the first three quarters, but in the fourth quarter the Warriors tightened up their defense and ended up winning by three points. So it was overall a good night for our local teams. I went to bed early, so I will have to watch Charlie Rose at noon today. I feel good today.

Message 1289

2012-01-31T10:05:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I watched my usual PBS shows, including Charlie Rose at 8 PM, instead of waiting until midnight. Afterwards I watched disk one of a new series (for me) called Swingtown. It is not very good. If it were a movie I would rate it only 1.6 stars. I read quite a bit more on my Kindle too. This biography of Steve Jobs is a big book. I am now about three quarters of the way through it and he is in the last couple of years of his life. I feel good today.

Message 1288

2012-01-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to lunch at The Dutch Goose with Julian, Beech, and Annie. The kids had a ball playing the machines, and I enjoyed the burger and fries. The Goose was not as crowded this time because the kids soccer season is over. After lunch, Julian took Annie to a birthday party and Beech spent the afternoon with me. He did some vacuuming for me and then we watched the movie Shane on DVD. I had shown it to him a couple of years ago, but He followed it a lot better this time. In the evening I watched the next episode of Downton Abbey on PBS and then read some more on my Kindle. I feel good today.

Message 1287

2012-01-29T09:50:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I finished reading The Economist, and in the evening I watched the last disk of season 1 of Dirt. Later I read some more of the Steve Jobs book on my Kindle. Overall it was a nice quiet Saturday. I feel good today.

Message 1285

2012-01-28T10:20:00.001-08:00

I am feeling better today after a good sleep. I am well on the way to recovering from getting the new catheter. Yesterday I watched the third disk of Dirt. I watched Charlie Rose on Channel 190 at 8 PM last night, so I was able to turn in early. I feel good today.

Message 1286

2012-01-28T10:18:00.002-08:00

Yesterday I burned a couple of audio CDs for Annie and Vanessa. The Economist came yesterday and I read over half of it after the Friday night PBS shows were over. I watched the Charlie Rose show in bed so I would not have to wait until Monday to see it. I feel good today.

Message 1286

2012-01-28T10:18:00.001-08:00

Message 1284

2012-01-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

I had breakfast with Reggie and Henry at Heidi’s Pies this morning, but I was not able to finish all of my food. I just did not have much appetite. I went to PAMF yesterday and had a new catheter put in, which always gives me trouble recovering. I stopped at Vanessa’s house on the way home and picked up a music disk she wants me to copy for Annie. I will now have to remember how to rip and burn. I feel good today.

Message 1283

2012-01-25T10:01:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I watched Obama’s State of the Union speech. Needless to say, I thought it was very good. After the speech I switched to the hockey game. I realized immediately that I had made a mistake in yesterday’s message when I said the Sharks opponent was the Calgary Flames when it was actually the Edmonton Oilers who beat them in the overtime shootout. It was last night’s game that was against Calgary and the Sharks won it 1-0. The score was 0-0 into the third period when the sharks finally scored. and then held on until the end. Josh went skiing yesterday, so he did not watch hockey with me.

I notice that my dreams every night are so realistic that when I wake up it takes me a while to realize where I am. It is a strange feeling. I feel good today.

Message 1282

2012-01-24T11:18:00.001-08:00

I just got back from getting a haircut which was long overdue. Yesterday evening Josh came over and brought Subway sandwiches and watched the hockey game with me. The Sharks lost 1-2 in an overtime shootout to the Calgary Flames. There is another hockey game tonight, but I will miss the start of it because I want to watch Obama’s State of the Union speech. I feel good today.

Message 1281

2012-01-23T10:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I watched the AFC and NFC football playoffs. I watched the 49ers game in San Mateo with Julian and his family. Both games were close, and of course I was disappointed that the 49ers lost in overtime because of two mistakes by their backup punt returner. Oh well, now I will have more time to return to more important things like resuming work on my memoirs. I feel good today.

Message 1280

2012-01-22T10:19:00.001-08:00

Yesterday afternoon Joshua came over and watched the hockey game with me. The Sharks gave up the first goal to Vancouver and then spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. In the end the Sharks lost 3-4. I read a lot more of The Economist, but I did not finish it because Larry and Judi called and asked me to go the a movie with them. We saw “A Dangerous Method” which was about Freud and Jung when they invented the talking cure. It also featured Kierra Knightly as the first talking cure patient. She was good in a demanding role. It was interesting because these were all actual historical characters who communicated a lot by letter, so their lives were well documented. The movie dealt with sex and death and God and all of the important subjects, and so was very interesting. I give it 4 stars. After the movie it was still early enough that I was able to watch disk 1 of the series called Dirt. It was about the editor of a tabloid who makes a point of only publishing true things about the movie stars she sets up for scandalous pictures. If it were a movie, I would give it 2.5 stars. I feel good today.

Message 1279

2012-01-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday after the usual Friday PBS shows, I watched the last disk of season 1 of The Riches. I also read the new Science and started reading this week’s issue of The Economist. Josh just called and said he has decided not to go skiing today, because of rain in the mountains, so he is coming over to watch hockey and the AFC football playoffs with me this afternoon. I feel good today.

Message 1278actual

2012-01-20T09:50:00.001-08:00

I just got back from having breakfast at the Ariagnos with the Morrills and the Willetts. George and Laurene are in town for a memorial service for George’s brother, and this was the only time we could get together in their tight schedule. It was nice to see them. Last night Josh came over and brought Chinese food and watched the hockey game with me. The Sharks scored the first goal, but then the Ottawa Senators scored the next four goals, so the Sharks lost 1-4. The Ottawa team is really good. I turned in early so I could get up early for the breakfast. I feel good today. I am forwarding all of you the pictures that Marilyn sent me because I thought they were nice.

Message 1277

2012-01-19T10:49:00.001-08:00

I just got back from Heidi’s Pies and have started a load of laundry. I had breakfast with Henry. Reggie is in Mexico celebrating an anniversary with his wife. Yesterday I took a shower and read some more on my Kindle. I was glad to hear on the radio on the way home that Perry has dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination and has endorsed Newt. I still think Obama will win in the fall. I feel good today.

Message 1276

2012-01-18T10:07:00.000-08:00

Last night Josh came over and brought fish and chips watched the Sharks game with me. They beat Calgary 2-1 in an overtime shootout. They had actually won before the shootout, but the goal was disallowed on a bad call by the ref. I also read quite a bit more on my Kindle. I feel good today.

Message 1275

2012-01-17T10:41:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I read quite a bit more on my Kindle. The Steve Jobs book is really good. In the evening I watched another disk of The Riches. I was tired, so I turned in early, so I will have to watch Charlie Rose at noon today. I feel good today.

Message 1274

2012-01-16T10:32:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Annie came over so we could watch The Nutcracker together. She was able to keep her focus on it for the first act, then she began to collect things to take home to her mom as presents. Josh then came over and brought Subway sandwiches and watched the Giants beat Green Bay in the NFL playoffs with me. We were glad to see Green Bay lose. We have beaten the Giants already this year and were afraid we could not beat the Packers, so now we get to have another playoff game at Candlestick Park, where we had such a good game against the Saints a couple of days ago. After the game, Josh and I went to a Mexican place for dinner. I got home in time to watch the next episode of Downton Abbey on PBS. I feel good today. I have a load of laundry in the dryer now.

Message 1273

2012-01-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a great day for our local sports teams, especially the 49ers who beat the Saints to move on to the NFC championship game next week. It was a very exciting game. Even though the Saints were favored to win, and their quarterback Drew Breese is truly exceptional, the 49ers went out to a 17-0 lead. The 49ers kept their lead until well into the fourth quarter when the Saints finally went ahead. Then in the last few minutes everything exploded and both teams started scoring touchdowns. Finally the 49ers could have kicked a field goal and sent the game into overtime but they passed for a touchdown instead. Josh had brought in burgers and fries, and he and I went crazy like everyone in the stands at the game. I hope they can win next week too, but Green Bay is going to be tough to beat. After the 49ers won, we switched to watch the Sharks beat Columbus 2-1 in hockey, so both home teams won for the Bay Area. I feel good today.

Message 1272

2012-01-14T11:46:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I downloaded and started reading the Steve Jobs biography on my Kindle. I also started reading this week’s Economist. I just got back from doing my week’s shopping at Safeway. I tried to order from Safeway online, but I could not figure out how to find the stuff I wanted. I’ll keep working on it though. I feel good today.

Message 1271

2012-01-13T10:24:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I finished reading the book “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” subtitled “The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon” by Crystal Zevon. I also watched the Sharks beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-0. Josh was not able to join me for this game. After the game I watched some more episodes of “The Riches.” I feel good today.

Message 1270

2012-01-12T11:07:00.001-08:00

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi’s Pies with Reggie and Henry. Vanessa had surgery on her sinuses on Tuesday , so she is still at home recovering. Last night I watched disk 1 from Netflix for a new series called the Riches. It is about a family of Irish Travelers in America. It is a combination of funny and serious. So far I would give it about three stars if it were a movie. I have almost finished my book about Warren Zevon. I feel good today.

Message 1269

2012-01-11T10:14:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I watched the Sharks play Minnesota. The Sharks were away, son the game started at 4:30 in the afternoon PST. Josh came over and brought food from Boston Market and watched the third period with me. The Sharks came back from two goals down twice, but they then lost in a overtime shootout. We then switched to watch the Warriors play the Miami Heat. Two of the warriors best players were out so we figured it was a hopeless mismatch, since the Heat with LeBron James is the best team in the NBA. However, to our delight and amazement the Warriors won in overtime. It was the first complete NBA game I have watched in years. It reminded me of the old days when Don Nelson was the coach. I feel good today.

Message 1268

2012-01-10T09:42:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I watched the last disk of Pillars of the Earth. It was well done, but I must confess I was more impressed by the book than the miniseries. That is always the case though, so it is not a criticism. In the evening I read some more of my Warren Zevon book. I feel good today.

Message 1267

2012-01-09T09:50:00.001-08:00

It occurred to me this morning that It has been a long time since I measured my blood pressure. It is now 134/70 with a heart rate of 68, which are good numbers. Yesterday I watched more NFL playoffs. None of the games impacted the 49ers, but I was surprised that Denver was able to beat Pittsburgh. In the evening I watched the start of season 2 of Downton Abbey. It is nice to see the story continued. I also read some more of my Warren Zevon book.

Message 1266

2012-01-08T10:51:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I went to Starbucks with Vanessa and Annie. Then I took Annie to McDonalds in Redwood City where the have a kids play area. After that I brought her to my house where we played and tried to listen to The nutcracker, but all we had was the music, so I switched to Coppelia so we could see the dancing. She was interested, but I have now ordered The Nutcracker from Amazon so we can see the dancing and music together next time. After Vanessa picked Annie up I watched the Saints beat the Lions in the NFL playoffs. In the evening Josh came over and brought burgers and fries and watched the Sharks beat Washington 5-2. We also watched Texas beat Cincinnati in the NFL playoffs. I feel good today.

Message 1265

2012-01-07T09:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I read more of my Warren Zevon book. I am about one third of the way finished with it. After the usual Friday PBS shows I watched disk two of Pillars of the Earth. This morning Vanessa and Annie are coming to pick me up to go to Starbucks. Afterward Annie will come back with me to watch The Nutcracker. She has taken quite an interest in the music so I will watch with her and discuss it. It happens to be the first classical music I myself tuned into when I was in seventh grade. I feel good today.

Message 1264

2012-01-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

Last night Josh brought in pizza and burgers and watched the hockey game with me. The Sharks beat Columbus 2-1, Columbus scored the first goal, but the Sharks fought back and were able to preserve their lead in a hard fought game. I have started reading the paperback book the Susan gave me for Xmas titled “ I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.” The subtitle is “The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon.” It was written by his ex-wife Crystal Zevon. I had never heard of Warren Zevon, but he was apparently a talented singer songwriter. It is an interesting book. I am about a quarter of the way through it. I feel good today.

Message 1263

2012-01-05T11:09:00.001-08:00

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi’s Pies with Henry and Reggie. Vanessa could mot make it today. Last night Josh came over and brought in Chinese food and watched the hockey game with me. Anaheim scored the first goal, but the Sharks caught fire and scored two goals in the second period and ended up winning the game 3-1. This was a big relief because Anaheim is one of the worst teams in the NHL and they had beaten the Sharks in their three previous games. I feel good today.

Message 1262

2012-01-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I watched my usual shows on PBS and read some more on my Kindle. The story is fun to read, so I am getting near the end. I forgot to mention that Beech came over to visit on Sunday. We ate breakfast at El Cerrito and he helped me do my shopping at Safeway. He is such a good kid. It is a pleasure to be with him. My sister Andrine called this morning and wished me a Happy New Year. She says she is routing for the 49ers in the playoffs. I feel good today.

Message 1261

2012-01-03T11:13:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I read more of my new book on my Kindle. It is titled “Legend” by Marie Lu. I saw her interviewed on Tavis Smiley. She is a Chinese American girl in her twenties who said she was influenced by Enders Game and decided to write her book in the evenings while she worked for a video game company. Now that it has been published she has quit her job and is writing full time on the sequel. Yesterday in the late afternoon Jason and Josh came over to watch the Sharks beat Vancouver in an overtime shoot out. We also watched Stanford lose to Oklahoma State in their bowl game. Stanford was never behind, but their freshman kicker missed a field goal which sent the game into overtime in which Stanford missed another field goal but Oklahoma made theirs and won. Jason brought beer and Josh brought Mexican food which we shared. I was glad to see on the news that Oregon won the Rose Bowl. I feel good today.

Message 1260

2012-01-03T11:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I read the new Science and watched three NFL games. I was delighted to see the 49ers beat the Rams and clinch a bye for next week. Josh came over and brought sandwiches from Boston Market and watched the Raiders lose to San Diego with me. That cost them a spot in the playoffs. In the evening I watched Dallas lose to the Giants. I was happy to see Dallas lose because they had an undeserved victory against the 49ers earlier in the season. After the games, I started reading my new book on my Kindle. It is quite good. I will tell you more about it later. I feel good today.

Message 1259

2012-01-01T09:41:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I read The Economist. This issue did not have many pages, so I was able to finish it in one day. In the evening I watched a Netflix DVD of the the first two hours of Pillars of the Earth. I read and loved the book years ago, so I was interested to see how it was adapted to the screen. I found I had forgotten a lot of the details, so I had trouble figuring out what was going on a lot of the time. I am looking forward to watching the next six hours too. I feel good today.

Message 1258

2011-12-31T10:24:00.001-08:00

After the usual Friday PBS shows I stayed tuned to PBS and watched the Cirque du Soleil show. I was good, but not nearly a good as watching the shows live. I was interested to see them include a tribute to Beatles music. I finished the second Bean book on my Kindle. I found it not as good as the first one, but I am glad I rad it. I feel good today.

Message 1257

2011-12-30T10:13:00.000-08:00

Last night I watched a Netflix DVD of the movie Never Let Me Go. When it started I realized I had seen it before but I watched it again anyway. When I watched it before I gave it three stars, and I still think that is about right. It is kind of a downer as a movie, but I admire Kerry Mulligan so I let the three star rating stand. That was all I did yesterday other than watch my usual news shows. I was tired so I turned in early. I feel good today.

Message 1256

2011-12-29T16:10:00.001-08:00

I am late getting this message off again today, but maybe tomorrow I will manage to do it in the morning. Last night Josh brought in fish and chips and watched the Sharks game with me. They lost in overtime to Vancouver 2-3, but at least they got one point for making it to overtime. In truth they were lucky to do as well as they did. Vancouver scored the first two goals, and the Sharks played catch up for the rest of the game. They did not look like they were ready for the big time. I feel good today, better than yesterday when I was in pain from my catheter change.

Message 1255

2011-12-28T16:35:00.000-08:00

I am finally getting around to sending out today’s message. This morning I went to PAMF to have my catheter changed. While I was there I picked up a refill of my antibiotic (Keflex).. On the way home I stopped by Safeway and picked up some groceries. The Sharks play Vancouver tonight. I feel good today.

Message 1254

2011-12-27T08:49:00.001-08:00

Yesterday Joshua came over and brought pizza and a Subway sandwich and watched the Sharks game with me. They lost to the Anaheim Ducks 2-3. They let Anaheim score first and then spent the rest of the game catching up. It is strange that Anaheim is one of the worst teams in the NHL and San Jose is one of the best. Anaheim has only won ten games all year, and three of them have been against the Sharks. After the game I read some more on my Kindle and watched the news. I was tired and turned in early. I feel good today.

Message 1253

2011-12-26T09:04:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I had a nice Xmas dinner in Los Altos with Jason and Susan and the girls. Linda and Walt were also there. We had a good roast beef and potatoes with green beans and Brussels sprouts on the side for dinner. In the evening I watched a nature show on PBS (Christmas in Yellowstone) and a Jane Austin production (Persuasion). I started watching a second Jane Austin show (Mansfield Park) but I got tired and turned in early before it was over. I feel good today.

Message 1252

2011-12-25T09:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a good day for the Bay Area’s NFL teams. The Raiders beat Kansas City 16-13 and the 49ers beat Seattle 19-17 in a hard-fought come-from-behind fashion 19-17. So I got my wish and both of our local teams won. Josh brought in burgers and fries and watched the 49ers with me. In the evening I watched Disk 2 of The Unusuals. I think this was the end of the series. Apparently it only lasted for one season. I thought it was pretty good though. It was both entertaining and funny. Merry Xmas to all. I feel good today.

Message 1251

2011-12-24T09:17:00.001-08:00

Yesterday morning I watched Disk 1 of the TV series The Unusuals. It is a cop show that has a mix of seriousness and humor. It is unusual, and it is fun to watch. If it were a movie I would give it three stars. In the evening Josh came over and brought Chinese food and watched the Sharks beat LA in hockey. It was a hard fought game. The Sharks scored first, but the had to go to an overtime shootout to win 2-1. Ryan Clowe scored to only shootout goal. I feel good today. I am watching the NFL pregame show as I type this message. I hope that both the Raiders and 49ers both win today.

Message 1250

2011-12-23T08:52:00.001-08:00

My internet connection went out yesterday, and I did not feel up to going through the rigmarole of fixing it until this morning. As a result yesterday’s message is late getting to you, but this one follows close behind. Yesterday I turned in early and had a good sleep. Today I feel better. In fact, I feel good today.

Message 1249

2011-12-23T08:51:00.000-08:00

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi’s Pies with Reggie and Henry. On the way home I stopped at Safeway for my weekly shopping, and I picked up a couple of new prescriptions at CVS. Last night I watched the Sharks beat Tampa Bay. They went ahead 5-0 in the first period and then won the game 7-2. Joshua was not able to join me because he went to his office Xmas party. I hope he is feeling OK today. I feel good today.

Message 1248

2011-12-21T09:44:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I watched Disk 4 of Season 1 of Intelligence. That was the end of the first season. I am not sure when season 2 will become available on Netflix. Scheming and double crossing continued to the end, which left lots to be resolved in Season 2. I feel good today.

Message 1247

2011-12-20T09:23:00.001-08:00

Late yesterday afternoon both Jason and Joshua came over to watch Monday night football with me. Josh brought Mexican food for all of us. We were all delighted to see the 49ers beat Pittsburgh 20-3. If any of you saw it you know it was an unusual game with a power failure a few minutes before the kickoff that lasted for about half an hour. The lights then went out again in the second quarter and stayed out for about 20 minutes while the players stood around on the field. Charlie Rose had Mitt Romney on for the hour last night, and I could not stand listening to him, so I turned in early and had a good sleep. I feel good today.

Message 1246

2011-12-19T10:29:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I watched three NFL games again as usual on Sunday these days. I was sorry to see the Rams lose and very sorry to see the Raiders lose in the last minute after leading most of the game. Joshua brought in Subway sandwiches and watched the Raiders game with me. This morning I changed my sheets and did a couple of loads of laundry. I was glad to see the the San Diego Chargers win. Josh is coming this afternoon to watch the 49ers take on the Steelers. I feel good today

Message 1245

2011-12-18T09:08:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I went to lunch with Julian, Beech, and Annie. We had Mexican food at the place by Safeway at Middle and El Camino. They are all leaving today for Disney Land with Vanessa. In the early evening Josh came over and brought pizza and watched the Sharks beat Edmonton 3-2 with me. It was a good game. The Oilers have a good young team and they will be a contender in a couple of more years. After the game I went to a movie with Larry and Judi. We saw “A Shame” about sex addicts. It featured Carrey Mulligan, the girl in “An Education” in the female lead, and she was very good. The movie overall was kind of a downer, but I give it 3 stars. I feel good today.

Message 1244

2011-12-17T10:34:00.000-08:00

I just got back from meeting Helen and Jim at Starbucks. The are getting ready to move to Roseville on January 13th. Last night I went to dinner and a movie with the Morrills and Ariagnos. We ate at a Vietnamese place near the theater in Redwood City, and we saw the movie Young Adult with Charlise Theron. It was about a woman who ghost writes books for so-called young adults, but her life is a mess. She can’t get past fantasizing about her life in high school, so she decides to go back to her home town which she hates, and learns the hard way what Thomas Wolfe wrote, namely “You can’t go home again.” The movie was not much fun to watch, and it did not have a very charitable view of the human condition, so I give it only one star. I feel good today.

Message 1243

2011-12-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

I just got back from picking up my Prosac prescription refill from CVS. Last night I watched the Sharks beat Colorado 5-4. I was getting pretty discouraged because although the Sharks scored first they trailed Colorado 2-4 in the third period. Then they caught fire and scored three goals to win the game. Josh had tickets, so he did not watch with me. He surely enjoyed the game. I feel good today.

Message 1242`

2011-12-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi’s Pies with Reggie and Henry, who is back fro the east coast for the next few weeks. Vanessa did not make it today. Last night I watched disk 3 of season 1 of Intelligence. Yesterday I also took a shower and went to the bank to get cash for my Xmas envelopes and pick up a few groceries at Safeway. I feel good today.

Message 1241

2011-12-14T09:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I watched the Sharks lose to Colorado in an overtime shoot out. They went ahead 2-0 in the first period then they blew the lead and were behind 2-3 with just a few seconds left in the third period when they tied the score. They eventually went four deep in the shootout before they lost. Josh was scheduled to join me, but he is caught in a crunch at work, so he could not make it. After the game I read more on my Kindle. I feel good today.

Message 1240

2011-12-13T11:15:00.001-08:00

Last night I watched Seattle beat St. Louis on Monday night football. I was hoping St. Louis would win, and they came close, but Seattle prevailed. I also read some more on my Kindle. I feel good today.

Message 1239

2011-12-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a bad day for our local teams. The Raiders were hopeless against Green Bay, and the 49ers blew a game against the Cardinals that the should have won after leading for most of the game. Finally the Sharks were ahead of Chicago 2-1 for most of the game and then with a minute to go they let them tie it up, and then in overtime they let Chicago score again. At least the Sharks got one point out of it, but they did not perform up to expectations. I enjoyed seeing the Giants beat Dallas in the Sunday night game, which was very close. The 49ers beat the Giants earlier in the season, but they lost to Dallas in a very close game in September. I finished The Economist yesterday and started my new Enders shadow book on my Kindle. I feel good today.

Message 1238

2011-12-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon I watched the Sharks lose 0-1 to St. Louis in their hockey game. The Blues scored near to end of the first period when they had a two-man advantage. The rest of the game was scoreless. The Blues are a better team this year than in the past. After the game I watched disk two of the series Intelligence set in Vancouver. Today the 49ers and Raiders both play afternoon games, so I will have to switch back and forth a lot. The Raiders play Green Bay, so they probably do not have much of a chance. The 49ers play Arizona, so they should win. I feel good today.

Message 1237

2011-12-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

I just got back from having lunch at El Cerrito with Jason and Melanie. Afterward we went to Safeway and picked up some groceries. Melanie is practicing her driving so she can pass her test in a few days. Amelia is taking her test a few days after Melanie. The Economist did not come yesterday, so I have been able to catch up with the previous issues. Liz, please tell Bill not to renew my subscription for next year if it is not too late. I can’t seem to keep up with the reading anymore. I feel good today.

Message 1236

2011-12-09T12:36:00.001-08:00

I just got back from CVS Pharmacy, but the refill for my Prozac prescription was not ready, even though I called it in two days ago. My so called family doctor does not work every day, so I suppose she has not been notified of the request for a refill. It is a good thing I can go a few days without Prozac. Yesterday at Heidi’s Pies I mentioned that I have concluded that I am eventually going to have to move in to an assisted living facility because it is getting to be too much for me to cope with things like grocery shopping. Julian and Vanessa had looked at a big bed and breakfast place in San Mateo, but it is in the wrong school district, so it will not work out for them to sell their house and buy it. I am going to look in to using the Safeway home delivery, but I am not sure how they can get past all the locks to bring my order in . I basically feel good today, but some days I do not feel like doing anything but lie in bed. Maybe in a few weeks we can have a conference call and have a family discussion of what, if anything I should do to cope with my eventual incapacitation.

Message 1235

2011-12-08T14:19:00.001-08:00

I had breakfast at Heidi’s Pies this morning with Reggie and Vanessa. I then came home and took a nap. Last night I watched disk one of a new Netflix TV serial called Intelligence. It is a cop show set in Vancouver and has to do with recruiting snitches to get better intelligence about what the bad guys are doing. The cops are as bad as the criminals with everyone lying and cheating to try to improve their career chances. I feel good now that I have napped.

Message 1234

2011-12-07T11:34:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I read Science and continued reading The Economist. I also watched disk 3 of Season 1 (with the last episode of Breaking Bad. I also watched the Sharks lose to Minnesota. The Sharks scored the first goal, but by the end of the first period they were behind 1-2. Neither team scored for the rest of the game, so that was also the final score. Joshua went to the game, so I watched by myself and was able to read during the period breaks. I feel good today.

Message 1233

2011-12-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I read Science and The Economist for this week. In the evening I watched Monday Night Football and saw San Diego beat Jacksonville. I also switched back and forth to watch the Buddy Holly tribute on PBS, which was mostly interesting because it included his widow. Finally I watched Charlie Rose, which was the next installment of his brain series. I feel good today.

Message 1232

2011-12-05T11:05:00.001-08:00

It was good to see the 49ers win yesterday even if it had to be at the expense of the Rams. It helped ease the embarrassment of the Raiders loss to Miami. In the evening I watched the Saints beat the Lions, and I was surprised that the Giants came so close to beating the Packers. It was fundraising season again on PBS, so football was all I had for entertainment. Josh came over and brought in sandwiches to watch the the 49ers with me. I am feeling better today. I had a good sleep last night. I aslo finished reading The Economist from the previous Friday (25 November).

Message 1231

2011-12-04T12:34:00.001-08:00

The raiders are so hopelessly out of it in the second half of their game against Miami that I am taking time out fror football to send this message. Yesterday I watched the Sharks loose to the Florida Panthers. The Sharks went ahead by two goals in the first period, then they gave the game away by defensive mistakes. Florida is a good team, but the bad plays by the defensemen made it possible for them to win. I feel pretty good today. I even shaved this morning for the first time i n more than a week. Also I ate a normal breakfast for the first time in weeks. I hope the 49ers win their game today.

Message 1230

2011-12-03T15:25:00.000-08:00

This morning I drove to Safeway and did a week’s shopping. Now I have cranberry juice to mix with club soda and plenty of TV dinners. I did not feel up to sending out a message yesterday, but I am much better today. Yesterday I concluded that I am not going to be able to continue making it on my own. I did not get out of bed all day, but fortunately I improved enough that I was able to tend to my needs for food and drink this morning. I am going to have to check out Safeway’s online ordering and home delivery.

Message 1228

2011-12-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

I did not send a message out yesterday because it was too much struggle to get out of bed. I am feeling much better today, and Jason urged me to send one off for the sake of those who are worried about me. I am drinking plenty of fluids and I am eating a little. I have caught up on a lot of my chores, like laundry, but I still spend a lot of time in bed. Josh is coming over tonight to watch hockey with me. I am getting better every day.

Messaghe 1227

2011-11-28T12:58:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I ate a TV dinner. I have been drinking a lot of club soda mixed with cranberry juice cocktail. I watched the Raiders beat the bears. I watched while lying in bed. I am glad I am not throwing up.

Message 1226

2011-11-27T12:11:00.001-08:00

I am feeling better today. I am drinking and taking my pills, but I still am not eating. I was able to sleep last night for about an hour at a time. I spent the day in bed. I watched Stanford beat Notre Dame and the Sharks lose to Vancouver 2-3. Jason helped Josh put in a new water heater. I told Josh not to come over to watch the Sharks game with me yesterday since I was so out of it. He may come over today to watch the Raiders game though. I am not throwing up, so all things considered I am not in too bad a shape.

Message 1225

2011-11-26T13:08:00.001-08:00

I just got back from PAMF where I had to pick up a prescription for Keflex. I was scheduled to have an appointment to have my catheter changed on Friday but I got a call that the were not going to be open that day, so I had to reschedule it for Wednesday 30 November. Anyway I got a recurrence of a bladder infection, so I went over today to refill my Keflex. I have been in so much pain for the last couple of days that I have not been able to sleep much. Sorry to burden you with these gory details, but it has been to focus of my existence for the last day or so. At least I am not throwing up.

Message 1224

2011-11-25T11:59:00.001-08:00

I had a nice Thanksgiving dinner yesterday with Jason’s family except that the 49ers lost to the Ravens. Josh was late arriving because he woke up to discover that his water heater had sprung a leak and he had water all over his floor. He came over to my place after dinner to use my shower. He will have to buy a new heater, but I think Jason is going to stop by today to give him a hand. Liz and Ethan called me at during dinner yesterday, but it was so noisy where I was that it was not feasible to have much of a conversation. I feel good today.

Message 1223

2011-11-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I read some more on my Kindle. I have almost finished the last Neal Stephenson book, the third in the Baroque Trilogy. Soon it will be time to download some more books. Last night I watched the Sharks beat Chicago 1-0. As the score indicates it was a hard fought game. Josh did not join me because he bought tickets and went to the game with Jason. Josh and I will both have Thanksgiving dinner this afternoon in Los Altos with Jason and his family, including Susan’s parents and Jamie and Chelsea and their kids.

Message 1222

2011-11-23T10:20:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I watched the Netflix disk 2 of Season one of Breaking Bad. I turned in early, so I will have to watch Charlie Rose at noon today. Last night I had a crick in my neck so bad I had to get up at 5 AM and take 600 mg of Ibuprpphin, which helped a lot. My blood pressure today is 110/61 with a heart rate of 68. I feel good today.

Message 1221

2011-11-22T09:44:00.001-08:00

Last night I watched Monday Night Football to see New England dominate Kansas City. I did not really care who won, but Tom Brady is a local boy who grew up in Los Altos where Jason and his family live. After the game I read quite a bit more on my Kindle. After the news I turned in early, so I will have to watch Charlie Rose at noon today. I feel good today.

Message 1220

2011-11-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a good day for the home teams here. The Raiders, 49ers, and Sharks all won their games. Joshua brought in pizza and watched the 49ers and Sharks with me. We were both happy with the outcomes. The Economist came on Saturday, and I finished it yesterday. Also, Liz called me and we had a nice chat. My blood pressure today is 131/66 with a heart rate of 65. I feel good today.

Message 1219

2011-11-20T09:03:00.001-08:00

The Economist came yesterday and I have read about half of it. I went to lunch at Jeffrey’s burgers with Julian and Vanessa and the kids. Afterward Beech came to my place and we played another game of Labyrinth. Later Joshua came over and brought In and Out burgers and watched the Sharks game with me. They beat Dallas 5-2, but Dallas started a lot of fights to make up for their being out played. Josh left after the game to go to a concert in Santa Cruz. In the evening I watched Stanford beat Cal in the “Big Game.” Cal made the game closer than I had expected, and the rain made it sloppier than usual, but Stanford prevailed. I feel good today.

Message 1218

2011-11-19T10:16:00.001-08:00

Yesterday after the Friday PBS shows were over I watched disk 1 of Breaking Bad, which is a series Liz recommended to me. It is about a high school chemistry teacher who is told by his doctor that he has terminal lung cancer and only has two years to live at most. He decides to apply his chemistry skills to cooking meth to make money for his family. There is a lot of humor and excitement as things go wrong. I look forward to disk 2.. I feel good today.

Message 1217

2011-11-18T10:29:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention in yesterday’s message that on Wednesday night I watched a show on PBS that was very good. It was called “My Life as a Turkey.” It was about a guy in Florida who hatched a bunch of wild turkey eggs in an incubator and they imprinted of him as their mother. He then spent about a year and a half with them until they returned to the wild. Yesterday Joshua brought in Mexican food and watched the Sharks game with me. They beat the Redwings 5-2. After letting Detroit score the first goal, they scored a short handed goal at the end of the first period. They went on from there with Vlasick scoring a goal and three assists to get four points. I was tired, so I turned in early. I will watch Charlie Rose at noon today.

Message 1216

2011-11-17T14:09:00.001-08:00

I had breakfast at Heidi’s Pies this morning. Vanessa joined us briefly for a cup of coffee. On the way home I stopped at CVS and got a flu shot. It was free with Medicare, but it was a nuisance to fill out the forms. When I got home I washed my sheets and remade my bed. I just finished watching Tavis Smiley, so I am writing this while I watch NNK World, the Japanese news show which is part of my daily routine. Last night I watched a Netflix DVD of the movie The Last September. It was about the Irish revolution after the first world war. It had a stellar cast and was well done. I give it three stars. I give it three stars. I feel good today.

Message 1215

2011-11-16T09:15:00.001-08:00

I finished reading The Economist yesterday. Also, I read this week’s edition of Science. In the evening I read some more on my Kindle and watched a Netflix DVD of the movie Yellow. It was an independent film about a women from Puerto Rico who goes to New York to try to be a ballet dancer. I give it three stars. My blood pressure today is 136/61 with a heart rate of 63. I feel good today.

Message 1214

2011-11-15T10:38:00.001-08:00

The Economist came yesterday, only three days late, and I started reading it. In the evening Joshua brought in Chinese food and watched Monday night football with me. Green Bay is such a dominant team that Minnesota could not compete with them. I think this should be good news for the Raiders who play the Vikings on Sunday, but in the NFL you never know. I feel good today.

Message 1213

2011-11-14T12:47:00.000-08:00

I just got back from having my Sienna serviced at the Toyota dealer. I was overdue for my 105 K-miles servicing. I asked them to also check my electric window on the driver side because it rolls down normally, but it has to be raised by a tedious manual process that is a lot of trouble. They said it would cost $700 to fix the window, so I decided to continue struggling with it. Because I had skipped breakfast, I stopped by Wendy’s on the way home for a bacon cheese burger with fries and a soda.

Yesterday I watched three NFL games, but the only important one was the 49ers’ beating the Giants, which Josh watched with me. He brought in fish and chips for us to share. Andrine called to say she watched the same game and also was glad the 49ers won. Marilyn said I may have been sad that Stanford lost to Oregon, but all of the Medford relatives were happy with the outcome of the game. I feel good today.

Message 1212

2011-11-13T10:08:00.001-08:00

I somehow lost my internet connection yesterday and I did not get it restored until today, which accounts for why yesterday’s message did not go out until today. Yesterday was a bad day for my local teams. Stanford was humiliated by Oregon and the Sharks were shut out by Phoenix. That was yesterday, and I hope the 49ers will have a better outcome this afternoon. I am now watching the Falcons and Saints for the morning game. Josh is scheduled to join me to watch the 49ers this afternoon. I feel good today.

Message 1211

2011-11-13T09:54:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I had lunch at a pizza place in Belmont with Vanessa and eight kids and another of the mothers. It was fun to see everyone. In the evening I rode with Larry and Judi to a dinner party at Ariagnos. George and Laureen were in town from their place in France for the birth of their daughter’s second baby. Marci’s sister was also there for a visit from her place near Sacramento. It was nearly midnight when I got home and Charlie Rose had a repeat of his interview with the Facebook people, but I watched it again anyway. My blood pressure today is 146/82 with a heart rate of 62. I feel good today.

Message 1210

2011-11-11T09:44:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I read some more on my Kindle and watched the Raiders beat San Diego in a very good game on Thursday night Football. I also watched the Sharks beat Minnesota 3-1 in another very good game. Joshua was at the Sharks game again, so he did not watch with me. He will join me again to watch the 49ers Sunday afternoon. My blood pressure today is 143/78 with a heart rate of 58. I feel good today.

Message 1209

2011-11-10T11:25:00.001-08:00

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi’s Pies with Reggie. Vanessa and Annie stopped by for a brief visit, but they did not eat anything. On the way home I stopped by Safeway for my weekly shopping. Last night I watched a Netflix DVD of the movie Sweet Land. It was about a mail-order bride coming to Minnesota in 1920. It was about American customs. prejudices, and manners of the period. It was like a Jane Austin story set in rural America. It was very slow moving, but I give it 3 stars. I feel good today.

Message 1208

2011-11-09T10:27:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I had a quiet day working on my memoirs. In the evening I watched a Netflix DVD of the movie The Adjustment Bureau. It was based on a book by Phillip K. Dick, of whom I am a great fan, but this adaptation was not especially good in spite of the good cast. When you come right down to it, the only good movie based on Phillip K. Dick was Bladerunner. I give this one two stars. I feel good today.

Message 1207

2011-11-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

I watched the Eagles lose to the Bears yesterday on Monday Night Football. I then switched to the hockey game and watched the Sharks beat the LA Kings 4-2. Joshua had tickets to the game, but I did not see him in the crowd. I switched back and forth between hockey and football because they were both pretty good games. After the games were over I read some more on my Kindle. Charlie Rose had an interesting interview with Mark Zuckerberg and the woman from Google who is his COO, Sheryl Sandberg. I feel good today.

Message 1206

2011-11-07T10:23:00.001-08:00

As usual on Sundays, yesterday I watched three NFL games. In the morning I watched the 49ers beat the Redskins. In the afternoon Joshua came over and brought sandwiches watched the Raiders blow their game against Denver. In the evening I watched Baltimore come from behind to beat Pittsburgh in Sunday Night Football. After the game I watched a good spy story called P”age 8” on Masterpiece on PBS. My blood pressure today is 100/67 with a heart rate of 69, so I am in good shape. I feel good today.

Message 1205

2011-11-06T08:58:00.001-08:00

I finished reading The Economist yesterday. At noon Jason brought Ellie and Caroline up for lunch at the Dutch Goose. I gave Ellie her envelope for her eighth birthday on Tuesday. In the evening Joshua brought in pizza and watched the hockey game with me. The Sharks lost to Nashville 3-4 in overtime.He has tickets, so he will be going to the next game on Monday. Josh will be coming over this morning to watch the 49ers play the early game and stay to watch the Raiders game in the afternoon. I feel good today. I have now re-set all my clocks for the time change.

Message 1204

2011-11-05T10:05:00.001-07:00

Last night I watched the Friday PBS shows. Afterward I watched a Netflix DVD of the movie “Enchanted April.” It was another portrayal of English manners set it the 1920s and filmed in Italy at Porto Fino. It was mostly tedious, so I give it 2 stars. The Economist came yesterday, so I started reading it. I am glad it is back on schedule. I feel good today.