Message 316

Today is Jason's birthday. Thirty-seven years ago he was born in Prince Georges Hospital in Cheverly, Maryland, which was walking distance from our house at 3000 Crest Avenue, but the walk was uphill, so considering Sally's condition I drove her that morning in the pre-dawn hours.

Yesterday after my lunch in the park with Vanessa and the kids I went to PAMF to have my eyes checked. I took my prescription to a store in Town and Country shopping center. They will call me in about a week when they are ready to be picked up.

Last night I watched 24. I think this will be the last season because it looks like they are setting Jack up to die at the end of this one. Joshua went to a concert last night, so I hope he set his machine to record it for later viewing.

Message 315

Yesterday I finished The Economist and Science. In the evening I watched the Nature show on Kilauea and the first episode of Little Dorrit on PBS. After the news I turned in early.

I am feeling much better now. Yesterday I did not have to take and of the 4-hour Mucinex, so the previous night's 12-hour pill carried me through until I took another one about 9 PM last night. Today maybe I will not need even the 12-hour pill.

Julian is in London this week, so Vanessa and I and the kids are going to the park this morning.

Message 314

Yesterday I read about half of The Economist and in the evening I went to the couples club dinner. (Sally and I used to call it couples club to distinguish it from the dinner group we had with Arriagnos, Morrills, and Willetts, so I still use that term. So many of the people in it have died now that the term is no longer strictly accurate. After a spouse dies, most members come to a few dinners and then drop out. There are two of us now who still come as singles at least occasionally. Sally and I were among the founding members, and there are only four other couples left from the original group, and one of them only come about three or four times a year.)

Anyway, after that long digression, there were only eight of us there last night, and after we finished eating about 9:30 PM, people started leaving. Helen and Jim were the hosts, and they have recently remodeled their living room and added a new 52 inch HDTV, so Dave Roland and I, who are Sharks fans got Jim to tune in the game with Phoenix, which was in the early part of the third period. The Sharks were ahead 3-2, and they held on and won by that score, but it was really impressive to see the game on a big screen in high definition.

I bought some 12-hour Mucinex pills yesterday to help me keep breathing through the night, so I took one when I got home about 10:30 PM, and it is still working about 12 hours later. Now I plan to use the 4-hour pills as needed through the day. I hope I will not need them as frequently as every 4 hours, since I am feeling so much better, but I will see how it goes. Today is the fifth day since it started (while I was out with Josh buying his car), so I hope that within another few days I will be over the cold and not need the Mucinex any more (until the next one gets me).

Message 313

I had coffee with Helen and Jim and Joan and Dave today at Starbucks as usual on Saturdays. I then did my weekly shopping at Safeway, and picked up a couple of prescription refills at Longs Drugs, where I also bought a pack of 12-hour Mucinex over the counter. It is a nuisance to have to take the other Mucinex every 4 house.

Last night after watching the usual Friday night shows on PBS, I watched a DVD of the movie The Machinist. I give it three 2.5 stars because it had Jennifer Jason Lee in it, and the rest of the people involved did a good job, but it was too Kafkaesque and strange to make it worth watching.

Message 312

Today is Melanie and Amelia's birthday! They are now 14 years old. I was in Australia when they were born. I remember it like yesterday.

I am feeling much better today. I started taking a mucus relief, over-the-counter medicine (400 mg Guaifenesin) that my doctor recommended, and it works great. It allows me to breathe through my nose, and so far as I can tell, it has no side effects. What a relief! I do not think I will need any Zithromax.

Last night after watching the Sharks blow a 2-0 lead and losing to Nashville 2-3 (because Nashville scored three goals in 2.5 minutes in the second period, I watched a DVD of the movie Hard Candy. It is a disturbing movie, but I give it three stars. I especially liked seeing Ellen Page again (after Juno). She is great. The plot is in the vein of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but more grim.

Message 311

Yesterday evening I drove Joshua to Stevens Creek Subaru, where he bought an Outback. It seems kike a very nice mini-SUV with all wheel drive, so it will be perfect for him. I even persuaded him to buy the prepaid maintenance package, so he will be sure to have it serviced properly.

On the way to buy his car, we listened to the first period of the Sharks game. They were behind 1-3 at the end of the period. By the time I got home, it was nearly 11 PM, and I heard on the news that the Sharks ended up losing to Chicago 5-6 in an overtime shootout.

I had to cancel my regular Thursday schedule at Heidi's Pies and the library this morning because My cold has come back, or I have caught a new one. I wonder if I should refill my Zithromax prescription, or wait and see how this develops. I started coughing yesterday afternoon, and last night I had to breathe through my mouth all night, so I feel lousy.

Message 310

This morning I have done my exercises and walked around the condo loop. I have a load of laundry in the machine, and I am enjoying the nice day with sunshine. Last night I watched a Nova program on PBS called Extreme Ice. I was tried and did not feel like taking on anything as big as a movie, so I read The Economist. I am almost finished, so by tomorrow I will be able to move on to Science.

Charlie Rose had a good discussion of Obama's press conference last night.

Message 309

I am really late getting this message off today. I went to San Mateo early to help Vanessa with Annie at her babysitting co-op. After that I picked up Beech for McDonalds and gymnastics. He has switched away from Burger King because he wants the Spiderman toys at McDonalds.

Last night Josh came over to watch 24 with me.

Message 308

Jason, Susan, Beech, Ellie, and I had pizza for lunch yesterday in Los Gatos, or maybe it was San Jose. Afterward I took Beech home. Annie was asleep, Julian was out shopping, and Vanessa was in the kitchen cooking. When I got home I took a nap for an hour and then got started on the clean up from what Beech and Ellie joyfully called their monkey business while I was writing yesterday's message.

Josh brought in Mexican food from Baja Fresh at 5 PM, so we ate while we watched the Sharks beat Colorado 5-2. After josh went home I watched a two-hour Miss Marple on PBS. Last night I had a good long sleep, so I feel great this morning.

Message 307

Yesterday I had coffee at Starbucks with Joan and Dave. Helen and Jim were out of town. In the afternoon I continued to read The Economist and watched the Sharks beat Dallas 5-2.

Julian came by with Beech and Annie after the game and we all went to Los Gatos to visit with Jason and Susan and the kids. We had dinner at the Live Oak Kitchen, after which Ellie came back to Menlo Park with us so Beech and Ellie could have a sleep over with me. We watched Spirit and the kids went to sleep. This morning they woke me up at 6:30 AM and we went to McDonalds for pancakes. When we discovered that they don't give toys with the breakfast meal I promised them we could stop by Target after we ate. As I am typing this Ellie just said to tell everyone that they have sure been having fun.

Message 306

Yesterday I had breakfast at Heidi's Pies with Vanessa and Beech. We took Annie to the babysitter. In the afternoon I kept my dentist appointment for a routine cleaning.

I the evening after the Friday PBS shows, I watched a DVD of the movie The Brave One, a revenge, vigilante movie with Jodie Foster. I give it three stars.

Message 305

Yesterday I took Larry and Judi to the airport for their trip to Guatemala, so I had to miss my usual Thursday at Heidi's Pies and the library. Instead I am going there this morning with Vanessa and Beech. Annie will be at the babysitter's house. Vanessa does not want to cope with two kids while we eat.

Yesterday afternoon I had a good appointment with my doctor. She gave me referrals to a dermatologist and an eye doctor for new glasses, and she wrote me a prescription for Zithromax that I can fill and keep on hand for emergency use. She also cleaned the hardened wax out of my right ear.

In the evening Josh brought in pizza to eat while we watched the Sharks game. It was a good game this time. The Sharks and Nashville were tied 2-2 at the end of the first period, and they won 3-2 in an overtime shootout when Cheechoo again scored the winning goal.

Message 304

Yesterday I did laundry and read The Economist. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie Spartan, a David Mamet movie staring Val Kilmer. Like all David Mamet movies it is complex and strange but fun to watch. I give it four stars. Joshua called yesterday to say that the process is started to refinance his house. His APR will be 4.99 percent. It will probably take about a month before he actually gets the money.

Message 303

Yesterday I had my regular outing with Beech to Burger King and his gymnastics class. Otherwise I continued reading The Economist until time for the Sharks game. Josh came over to watch with me, but we discovered that it was on TV on a channel that I do not get. We tuned it in on the radio, but Josh went home to listen to it. The Sharks gave up three goals in the first period, so it was pretty disgusting. Joe Thornton then scored in the second period, and then again in the third. Patrick Marlow also scored in the third period to tie the game. Unfortunately, Phoenix scored with a few seconds to go, so the Sharks lost 3-4.

After the game I watched a DVD of the movie Traitor. It is a thriller in which Don Cheatel play an American Muslin who infiltrates a Middle Eastern terrorist organization. I give it four stars.

Message 303

Yesterday I had my regular outing with Beech to Burger King and his gymnastics class. Otherwise I continued reading The Economist until time for the Sharks game. Josh came over to watch with me, but we discovered that it was on TV on a channel that I do not get. We tuned it in on the radio, but Josh went home to listen to it. The Sharks gave up three goals in the first period, so it was pretty disgusting. Joe Thornton then scored in the second period, and then again in the third. Patrick Marlow also scored in the third period to tie the game. Unfortunately, Phoenix scored with a few seconds to go, so the Sharks lost 3-4.

After the game I watched a DVD of the movie Traitor. It is a thriller in which Don Cheatel play an American Muslin who infiltrates a Middle Eastern terrorist organization. I give it four stars.

Messages 300 and 301

Last night the skiers all got back from Tahoe about 9 PM. The Sharks were in the third period of their game against Los Angeles, so Jason and Joshua stayed to watch the end of the game. It went into overtime, but the Sharks eventually won 2-1 when Cheechoo scored in the eleventh round of the shootout.

This morning I took Liz, Bill, and Ethan to breakfast at the Stanford golf course and then took them to SFO to catch their plane to Houston. On the way home I stopped by to visit with Vanessa and decided to go buy a new jacket because the grey one she was going to mend for me was in such bad shape it was not worth fixing. The result is that I now have a nice new black micro-suede jacket from Macy's. Unfortunately I think I lost my cell phone while I was there.

I have now picked up the Zithromax prescription Liz called in for me and have taken my first days dose of two pills, so my cold should soon cease to bother me.

Today I read some of this week's Economist. I also retrieved my cell phone after I got a call from someone at Macy's that she had found it. At 5 PM I watched the Sharks beat Anaheim 1-0. When the game ended I watched the end of the game where the Warriors were blown out by Phoenix. After that I watched a DVD of the movie Martian Child. Although it had John Cusack and his sister, I only give it 2.3 stars. I rarely watch anything I have to rate lower than three stars, and although this one was bad, I did not think it so bad that it should get only two stars. However it was not good enough to rate three stars, so I decided to add a decimal point to expand the distinction between digits. It was just too simple minded for my taste.
ing I took Liz, Bill, and Ethan to breakfast at the Stanford golf course and then took them to SFO to catch their plane to Houston. On the way home I stopped by to visit with Vanessa and decided to go buy a new jacket because the grey one she was going to mend for me was in such bad shape it was not worth fixing. The result is that I now have a nice new black micro-suede jacket from Macy's. Unfortunately I think I lost my cell phone while I was there.

I have now picked up the Zithromax prescription Liz called in for me and have taken my first days dose of two pills, so my cold should soon cease to bother me.

Message302

Yesterday I read more of The Economist and did a load of laundry. I also called Wells Fargo and arranged for my mortgage to be deducted automatically from my account. In the evening Joshua came over and watched 24 with me. Jack is still hanging in there.

Message 299

Yesterday I almost finished reading last week's Economist. Vanessa brought me two quarts of chicken corn soup for my cold. I have eaten one and a half of them so far.

Last night I went to a late movie with Larry and Judi. We saw Two Lovers, with Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Isabelle Rossellini. Even though it dealt with a realistic and troubling subject, and made me uncomfortable to watch it, I give it five stars.

Message 298

After my usual Thursday routine yesterday with Vanessa and Annie at Heidi's Pies and the library, I stayed in San Mateo while Vanessa and Jin (her helper) took Annie for her Pottery Barn photo shoot. At 2 PM I picked beech up at school. I originally planned to take him to the park and then to his Hip Hop dance class, but he refused to go to those and said he wanted to drop out of the class. We played several of his games and had a good time until Vanessa got back home about 5 PM. I had some pizza that Vanessa ordered delivered and then went home.

In the evening I finished watching the special features of Black Book, which is a Dutch film released in 2006. I give it four stars. It is a long and complex file about resistance to the Nazi occupation and their killing of Jews near the end on World War 2. It is done very well by a cast that was unknown to me but quite good. However, it requires watching the commentary to understand what is going on. It is based on true events, and I am so impressed by it that I am tempted to give it five stars, but decided it was too hard to understand for that.

I have a cold that is causing me to cough and have a sore throat. I hope I can get over it without needing Zithromax.

Message 297

Yesterday morning Liz and I had breakfast at El Cerrito. Vanessa joined us after we finished, so we went to Starbucks where Vanessa had a coffee. Jason eventually joined us and had a coffee too. Liz and Jason then left to pick up Josh and go on to pick up Ethan and Bill at SFO.

I am headed up for Heidi's pies now. I will fill in more tomorrow about the DVD I watched most of last night.

Message 296

Yesterday I had my usual Tuesday routine with Beech at Burger King and his gymnastics class. When I took him home I met the girl who is helping Vanessa while Julian is in New York. She seems very nice and competent.

Liz has finished with her dermatology meetings in San Francisco. I picked her up at the Palo Alto train station at 5 PM, and we ate dinner at the Sundance Mining Company. This morning we are having breakfast at El Cerrito, and Vanessa is joining us at 9 AM. Jason will pick up Liz there at 10 AM, then they will pick up Josh at his house. The will meet Bill and Ethan at SFO at 11:10 Am and head for Northstar.

Last night Liz and I watched the Sharks beat Minnesota 5-4 in overtime. The game unfolded just like last week's game with them in San Jose, but with the opposite ending. After the hockey game we watched a Netflix DVD of the movie Body of Lies. It was a spy thriller in the Middle East with Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio, and directed by Ridley Scott. It was good, but I only give it three stars. The plot was too convoluted and it was hard to tell who the people were and whether they were good or bad, which I suppose was partly the point.

Message 295

I took Liz to the train Station again this morning. This is her last day attending the meetings. Last night we ate at Sultana, where Pot au Feu used to be. It was very good. Later that evening Josh came over and watched 24 with us. He is working hard to get enough done to be able to go skiing with his siblings tomorrow.

I have already run the dishwasher. I think maybe I will do another load of laundry today too.

Message 294

I just took Liz and Andrea to the Menlo Park train station to go to their meeting in San Francisco. Andrea is flying home to Spokane this afternoon, and Liz will catch the train back here this evening. Yesterday Liz took all the females (Andrea, Susan, Vanessa, Chelsea, Melanie, Amelia, and Caroline) to tea. Ellie decided she would rather stay home with me and Jason, and Jamie and the twins instead of going to the tea party. Julian came down with Beech and Annie, and we all stayed through dinner. Beech, Ellie, Caroline, Liz, Jason, and I all went in the hot tub after dinner. Beech was the only one to jump in the cold pool (several times). It was wonderful to have everyone get together over the last two days.

Message 293

Liz and Andrea have gone out for a three-mile run. When they get back we will go to the Golf Course Grill to meet Helen and Jim and Joan and David for breakfast. We had a great dinner and Texas Hold Em game at Jason and Susan's last night. Julian was there with the kids, and Jamie and Chelsea came without kids. It was only their second night out using a babysitter.

Message 292

Liz stayed in San Francisco last night with her doctor friend Andrea from Seattle, so last night after the Friday night PBS shows were over I watched the second disk of Kingdom of Heaven, Director's Cut. Even though it had a cast with a lot of stars, and was directed by Ridley Scott (who directed Gladiator), I give it only three stars. This film was originally released as The Crusades in a version that had cut out a lot of the story and left mostly the battle scenes, so this version restores it to its original version that is over three hours long. Even though it is a very ambitious concept, it remains a complex and convoluted story with characters with motives that are hard to understand and relationships that are unclear. After watching several hours of commentary in addition to the film, I decided to only give it three stars because we should not have to work that hard to appreciate a movie.

I am waiting for a call from Helen and Jim for a call to meet them at Starbucks.

Message 291

I am up early so I can take Liz to the train station so she can get to San Francisco for her meeting. I picked her up at the San Jose airport yesterday afternoon as planned, except that I missed her calls to my cell phone. I thought my cell phone was set to ring when it received a call, but it did not ring even though it was turned on, so I will have to read the book and re-set it. Anyway, we connected just fine and stopped by Mountain View for a nice visit with Chelsea, Audrey, and Jack. Jamie got there too just before we left at 4:30 PM. We all had a wonderful dinner at Ten Fu at 6 PM with the Daidsons, Jason and Susan and their girls, Vanessa and her kids. and Joshua. Julian could not get away from work that early, so he missed out. (He is working long hours these days to save the global economy.) There were sixteen of us in the back room at Ten Fu, including three in high chairs. Everybody had a wonderful time, especially Beech and Ellie who sat next to each other and laughed and giggled the whole time while they ate and then chased each other around the room still laughing and giggling. After we ate, Joshua came back to my condo and watched the hockey game with Liz and me. The Sharks took a three goal lead over Minnesota and then blew it to lose 3-4 in overtime.

Message 290

I am writing this before I leave for my usual Thursday routine with Vanessa and Annie at Heidi's Pies and the library because I will not be back home until this evening. I will be picking up Liz at the San Jose airport about 1:30 PM, and then visiting with Chelsea and the twins and then dinner at Ten Fu.

Yesterday afternoon Orlindo's cleaning crew came over, so my condo is now ready for guests.

Message 289

Yesterday I picked up Beech at his school for our usual Burger King lunch and his gymnastics class. He was one of three boys in the class, whereas last week there were five. Maybe two were sick, or maybe they moved them to a class for bigger boys, because the two who were missing were the two bigger boys. Anyway Beech seems to love the class, and the boys look so cute learning from the teacher.

Last night Joshua brought over fish and chips and watched the hockey game with me. For some reason the Sharks had an off night and lost to Dallas 1-4. The Sharks had beat them the four previous meetings this season, but no team can win them all. Between periods I finished reading The Economist.

Mesage 288

Yesterday I helped Vanessa with some errands. She is not able to drive yet, so I chauffeured her and Annie around San Mateo to the school district office and to the bank.

Last night I watched the double episode broadcast of 24. It continues to be exciting. Joshua was caught up in some urgent lab work, so he was not able to make it as has been his custom in the past. He said he would have his friend Kevin record it for him.

I still have not finished The Economist, but should manage that later today I hope.

Mesage 288

Yesterday I helped Vanessa with some errands. She is not able to drive yet, so I chauffeured her and Annie around San Mateo to the school district office and to the bank.

Last night I watched the double episode broadcast of 24. It continues to be exciting. Joshua was caught up in some urgent lab work, so he was not able to make it as has been his custom in the past. He said he would have his friend Kevin record it for him.

I still have not finished The Economist, but should manage that later today I hope.

Message 287

Yesterday I helped Maureen take Vanessa home to continue her recovery from her surgery. She is a lot better, she but still needs to take it easy.

I also read a good bit of this Week's Economist. In the evening I watched the first part of Kingdom of Heaven. After I watch the second part I will give it a rating.

Message 286

Yesterday afternoon Joshua came over to watch the Sharks game with me. They gave up three goals to Montreal in the first period, score two of their own in the second period, then ended up losing 2-3. Although they lost they played well and made it a fun game to watch. Their next game is at home Tuesday night.

Last night I went to the couple's club pot-luck dinner. There were only ten people there this time, so it was a smaller group than is usually the case. I took cheese and crackers for one of the appetizers. I took three kinds of cheese, and they were mostly eaten up. The salad was exceptionally good with four different kinds of fresh tropical fruit with greens and dressing, and the main course was lamb. Desert was cake because it was Bob Wilson's birthday.