Message 285

Yesterday Vanessa had her laparoscopic surgery to remove her gall bladder, and other things. She had to get to the hospital at 5 AM. I helped Maureen pick her up at the hospital about 11 AM. We took her to Maureen's house and put her to bed. I then picked up Beech at school and Annie at her babysitter's. Annie was ready for a nap so I took her to Maureen, and I took Beech to the barbershop so he and I could get haircuts. After that I took Beech to Los Gatos so he could play with the girls for a bit while I visited with Susan. When we left at about 4:20 PM, Beech bragged that he was the best driver in the video game he was playing with Melanie and Caroline. I suspect Melanie let him win, but I do not know about Caroline. I got Beech back to Maureen's in time for Julian to pick him and Annie up to take them home for dinner and then to a party at Annie's school. I then got home in time to watch all my news shows and the Friday night lineup on PBS. Finally I watched the last episode of Generation Kill. It was a busy but successful day.

Message 284

Last night Josh brought in dinners from Boston Market, he had the chicken and I had the meatloaf. We watched the Sharks beat Ottawa 2-1. The Sharks did not play well, but at least they won.

After Josh left I watched a couple of more episodes of Generation Kill on disk 2 of the series. I also watch the commentary on each episode, so it takes two hours to watch one episode. This is a really good series. I am even tempted to read the book, because I am sure it must be even better and have more detail. This work gives the most realistic depiction of combat and of the Iraq war that I have ever seen. It is really good.

Message 283

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi's Pies as usual for Thursday. Afterward I took Annie to the library for story time.

Yesterday Josh brought in pizza and we watched the Sharks lose to Detroit. After he went home I watched a couple of more episodes of Generation Kill , and re-watched them with commentary.

Message 282

Yesterday I picked Beech up from school for our usual Burger King lunch and his Gymnastics class.

Yesterday I also got the money from my new mortgage. I borrowed more than I owed on the old one, so $24,296.84 was deposited to my checking account. I will now be able to continue living the lavish life that I have become accustomed to. The interest rate on my new mortgage is 4 7/8 percent, so my monthly payments will be lower than before in spite of the higher principal.

Last night I watched Obama's speech, then I watched the first two episodes of Generation Kill, which is a miniseries on HBO from a non-fiction book of the same name by Evan Wright. He is a journalist from Rolling Stone who was embedded with the marines in the lead unit in the 2003 Iraq invasion. I saw him interviewed on Charlie Rose a few months ago and was impressed. The miniseries was made by the same guys who made The Wire, so the quality is excellent. If this were a movie, I would give it five stars, but I will not include it in the movie list on my blog because I have not included any other miniseries there.

Message 281

Yesterday I went to dinner with Larry and Judi. I was watching the hockey game when Judi called, but I said yes because they were going to the Japanese restaurant I like. The Sharks were playing Dallas and there was no score in the middle of the second period when I left. The Sharks should have won easily, not only because they have the best record in the NHL, but also because most of their best players were out with injuries. The game was over by the time I got home, but I later saw on the news that the Sharks won 1-0 when their good second-year player scored near the end of the third period.

Joshua came over at 9 PM to watch 24 with me. I had already eaten, so he brought in Taco Bell for himself. That reminds me. I heard a funny bit of music on PBS the other day. An a capella choral group, I think maybe in San Francisco, sang about eating Taco Bell food the tune of the Pacilbel Canon, it went through the entire score and did not miss a note. It was called the Taco Bell Canon.

Message 280

Yesterday in the morning I had coffee with Helen and Jim, which was unusual for a Sunday. During the day I finished reading The Economist, and in the evening I watched a Nature program about wolves in Yellowstone, and then part two of Oliver Twist on PBS. Later in the evening I read this month's Physics Today.

This morning I went to PAMF to get two new bottles of antibiotic solution. When I finish this message and read the NY Times online I am going to take a shower and do another load of laundry. Thus my routines continue.

Message 279

Yesterday I read most of this week's Economist. In the late afternoon I joined Vanessa and her two kids and Maureen and her other two grandkids for dinner at Una Mas. I missed the Sharks game at noon because I made a mistake and read the schedule wrong and thought the game was on Sunday instead of Saturday.

In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie Silk. I give it 4 stars. It was beautifully photographed and the acting was very understated. It had Keira Knightly in it but the rest of the cast was unknown to me. Is Michael Pitt Brad Pitt's brother? Some of the dialog was in Japanese, but there were no subtitles, so you had to guess at the meaning from the context, which was OK because the movie seemed to be about the difficulty of human communications and having to imagine what is going on in other people's heads. Even though it was very metaphorical and implied that what went on in people's minds was more important in relationships that what actually happened, it dealt with serious subjects like life and death, so I give it four stars.

Message 278

Last night I went to dinner with the Morrills and the Arignos and went to see the movie The International. It is a thriller with bankers cast as the villains, which is what fits in with peoples current beliefs. Although its action sequences are good, the plot is too convoluted to follow easily, so I give it only three stars.

I met Helen for coffee this morning. Jim is playing in a golf tournament at Stanford. I have finished my weekly shopping at Safeway, and am now ready to settle down to read this week's Economist.

Message 277

Last night I watched the hockey game to see the Sharks beat the LA Kings 4-2. When the game ended it was too late to watch a movie before Charlie Rose started, so I watched news until midnight. Charlie Rose was really great. He interviewed Mark Andreessen for the hour.

I just got a call from Vanessa. She had to spend the night in the hospital with food poisoning that she got from eating sushi. She is home now, but is too weak to take Beech to his doctor's appointment, so I will pick him up from school and take him.

Message 276

I just got back from my regular Thursday routine at Heidi's Pies and the San Mateo library. Last night I watched the Warriors play the Lakers for three quarters, but in the fourth quarter when the Lakers took over the game, I watched a DVD. It was a documentary about Jethro Tull playing a at the Isle of Wight festival in 1970, before they became famous with Aqualung. This festival was equivalent to Woodstock in America. It was interesting to see all the interviews with Ian Anderson in 2005 discussing his career and the festival experience

Message 275

Yesterday I picked Beech up at school and took him to Burger King for lunch and then to his new gymnastics class. Now that he is five years old he has been moved up to an all boys class where he gets a lot of individual instruction. He is one of four boys in the class. A couple of the other buys look like they may be six years old, but Beech fits in well.

Last night Joshua brought in fish and chips and watched the hockey game with me. The Sharks beat Edmonton 5-2. Josh is going to concerts that will cause him to miss the games on Thursday and Saturday, so I will see him next on Monday for 24.

At noon today I go to Redwood Shores to sign the papers for my new loan.

Message 274

Last night I went out to dinner with Larry and Judi. We went to their regular Japanese Restaurant, and I had the pork cutler which is what I always order there. It is the first time I have been there in a couple of months because they usually go on Sundays, so when I go with them on Mondays we go somewhere else.

Last night Joshua came over to watch 24 with me. It is about the same as always. I think we are about half way through the season now. After it was over Josh ate one of my cans of chili. None of my frozen dinners appealed to him.

Message 273

Yesterday Vanessa and I took Beech and Annie down to Los Gatos and went with Jason and Susan and their kids to Round Table Pizza for lunch. It was a rainy day so every other family with kids had the same idea, but we managed OK. After eating we went back to their house and the kids played. Ellie took Annie into her room and showed her all of her girly things, of which she has a great abundance. Anyway, Annie was in heaven. Beech was thrilled to compete with Caroline in a video game.

Melanie and Amelia stayed overnight with me last night. First though we had a BBQ rib dinner at Vanessa and Julian's house. Julian did a lot of the cooking since he had the day off from the kids. After dinner the twins and I came home and watched a couple of episodes of Buffy, and then watched Part i of Oliver Twist on PBS.

This morning we met Helen and Jim at Starbucks. As I write this they are watching another episode of Buffy, and I will join them when I sign off.

Message 272

Yesterday I went to Starbucks as usual on Saturdays and did my weekly grocery shopping. In the afternoon I read part of the new Economist. In the evening I watched the basketball game between the Stanford and Cal women's teams. Cal won the last time, but Stanford won this time, so they are tied for first place in the Pac 10.

After the game I watched a DVD of the movie The Bicycle Thief. It is a classic di Sika movie made in 1949. I give it 5 stars. It is something of a downer but it is so beautifully done I do not hold that against it.

Message 271

Last night Maureen and I went to dinner and a movie with the Morrills and the Ariagnos. We ate at a Vietnamese place on Middlefield road on the way to the movie in Redwood City. The food was excellent, and the place was not crowded. I had the BBQ pork. The movie was Taken, a thriller with Liam Nielsen or however you spell his name. I give it 5 stars because it was done so well and was so much fun to watch.

I watched the first period of the Sharks game before I left for the movie. The Sharks were behind Buffalo 3-1 at the end of the first period. I saw on the news later that they lose 6-5 in an overtime shootout. That same thing happened to them in their previous game too.

I have finished reading The Afghan Campaign by Steven Pressfield. It is a novel about a soldier in Alexander the great's army. It was very interesting in giving a picture of those times. Afghanistan seems to be not much different today than it was then.

Message 270

Last night I watched a DVD of a movie called Trick. I was reasonably well made, and I give it three stars even though it was not a very pleasant subject.

After the movie I read this week's Science and read some more in my book. I am almost finished with the book now. Tonight I am scheduled to go out to dinner and a movie with the Morrills and Ariagnos.

Message 269

I just got back from having breakfast with Annie and Vanessa at Heidi's Pies and taking Annie to the library for storytime.

Yesterday Josh brought over Mexican food to watch the hockey game with me. The Sharks lost to Pittsburgh 2-1 in an overtime shootout. After the game, which was over by 7 PM because it was away, I watched the movie Network. Although I saw the movie when it came out in the 70s, I had forgotten much of it. I give it 5 stars because it is still timely after all these years, and is very well written.

Message 268

Yesterday afternoon Josh came over and watched the Sharks beat Boston with me. The Sharks came from behind and scored four goals in the third period to win 5-2, so it was a fun game to watch. After the hockey game Josh brought in pizza and we watched the Warriors beat the Knicks 144-126. I hardly ever watch the basketball games, but the warriors are getting good now that their best player is back from being injured. I think it is probably too late for them to make the playoffs though.

My sister Mary just called. She has returned from New York where she was babysitting while Anthony was out of town at a meting. Sara of course only gets to come home on weekends, so Mary had to be there to cover things at night. Mary is doing OK. She plays tennis and bridge with her friends almost every day. Andrew and Amy are about to move to Richmond where Andrew is going to start as a hospital administrator and Amy will continue to be an ER doctor.

Message 267

Yesterday I had coffee at Starbucks with the usual group including Helen's daughter Jody who is visiting from Seattle> She is expecting a baby girl in June and was here for a shower with her local friends.

I watched Obama's news conference yesterday. In the evening Joshua came over to watch 24 with me. This afternoon at 4 PM the Sharks play Boston for the big game of the year, because we hope it will be a preview of the Stanly cup finals because Boston has the best record in the East and the Sharks have the best record in the West. Joshua will leave work early to get here by at least the second period to watch with me. Afterward we will go out to dinner.

Message 266

Yesterday I went out to lunch with Vanessa and the kids. Julian is in Las Vegas for a couple of days for meetings. After lunch Vanessa took Beech to the San Mateo High School production of Peter Pan. Even though it is high school kids, it was a professional quality show. Beech loved it. I baby sat Annie and had a wonderful time. She is quite a girl.

Last night I watched part 2 of Sense and Sensibility on PBS. It was quite good and well worth watching a second time. Even though it has only been a couple of months since I saw it before, I enjoyed it.

Message 265

Today is my Boniva day, and I have to wait an hour and remain sitting or standing upright before I can eat or drink anything. I can write this while I wait because I always do it sitting upright anyway.

Yesterday Joshua came over at 4 PM to watch to Sharks lose to Columbus in overtime 3-2. After the game we went to Celia's, the Mexican restaurant where Fontana's used to be. I then came home and started watching Rain Man on PBS at 8 PM. About 9 PM Judi called and asked if I wanted to go see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with Larry and her, so I did. They picked me up at 9:50 PM and drove to Redwood City for the movie. It was ! AM when we got out. I give the movie 3 stars. The make up work was extraordinary, and it was a nice movie, but the concept was too limited to be much more than a nice curiosity.

Message 264

Last night after my regular Friday night lineup of shows on PBS I watched a DVD of the movie Live Free or Die Hard. This movie was the third (I think) in the Bruce Willis series of action movies. I saw the first one in a theater, and maybe the second one too, but I had never seen this one. I give it three stars. The plot was absurd, but it was fun to watch, so for the sake of entertainment I am willing to ignore the continuing string of impossible events.

I also got started reading this week's Economist, and have made a lot of progress in my book, The Afghan Campaign.

Message 263

Last night I watched the Sharks lose to Carolina 4-3 in an overtime shootout. They blew a two goal lead twice. Even the best teams have off nights I guess. Joshua and Jason went to the game, but I did not see them on TV. Joshua bought tickets on e-bay or somewhere online and invited Jason to go with him.

Today is our second rainy day in a row, but the rain is so light it is not helping with our drought problem. Maybe it will be more of a regular rainy season pattern now though. I hope so. You can tell I don't have anything important going on when I have to write about the weather.

Message 262

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi's Pies with Vanessa and Annie. Afterward I took Annie to the San Mateo Library for story time, all of which is my usual Thursday routine.

Last night I watched a DVD of the movie The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer. It was another old (1948) black and white movie with Shirley Temple and Cary Grant. This movie won an Oscar for best screen play, but it is hard for me to grasp how little merit it had by contemporary standards. I give it three stars, but unless you are interested in studying old fashioned movie making, I don't really recommend it.

Yesterday I also started reading The Afghan Campaign, a novel about Alexander the Great's war. It is fun to read. I will let you know what I think when I finish it.

Message 261

Last night I watched a DVD of an old black and white movie called The Major and the Minor. It was made in 1942 and was set in the time just before the US got into World War 2. It stared Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland and was directed by Billy Wilder, his first time as a director. I give it three stars. It was a comedy, and a harmless piece of fluff, but movies were different back then.

Today I pick Beech up at his school and take him to Burger King and then to his gymnastics class.

Message 260

Yesterday I went out to dinner with Larry and Judi. It is the first times I have seen them since Christmas. They spend a lot of their time like I do, babysitting my grandchildren. Of course, they both still work full time too, so they are really busy. Anyway, it was nice to see them.

Last night Joshua came over to watch 24. It is as good as it always was, but after seven seasons it is not quite as compelling as it used to be.

In a few minutes the guy should be here to do the appraisal for my new loan. After that, I need to go to PAMF to refill my antibiotic solution.

Message 259

Yesterday Julian brought over tacos and watched the Super Bowl with me. It was a hell of a game. I thought Arizona got a lot of bad calls, but they almost won.

In the evening I watched Part 1 of Sense and Sensibility on PBS. Although I saw it only a few months ago, I enjoyed seeing it again.

Message 258

Last night I watched the Sharks lose to Chicago 4-2. It's the first time the have lost to the Blackhawks in 14 games. Oh well, even the best teams lose sometimes.

This morning I am going to Chucky Cheese for Beech's birthday party. I finished The Economist yesterday, so today I will watch the Super Bowl.