Message 613

Yesterday afternoon I went with Julian and the kids to Nealon Park. Julian and Beech played soccer in the field and Annie and I mostly stuck to swings and to exploring the playground behind the co-op nursery school. I tried to explain to her that her mom and dad had played there when they were little like she is, but she expressed no interest in this information. In the evening Joshua met me at El Cerrito for dinner which we finished just in time to watch the start of the Sharks game with the Minnesota Wild. It was a fun game with the Sharks winning 5-2. After the game and the local news shows I read some more of The Economist. Because I ate such a big dinner at El Cerrito I had indigestion and had trouble sleeping, which is unusual for me. I am going to have to stick more rigorously to my usual practice of eating big meals only in the middle of the day.

Message 612

I just got back from having coffee at Starbucks with Helen and Jim and Joan. David did not come this morning because he is now bedridden because of his chemo. I walked to Starbucks today because I did not need to carry groceries home. I did my usual weekly shopping on Wednesday after I was able to get out of bed earlier this week. Last night I watched Bill Moyer and Now on PBS after the usual Friday shows were over and started reading The Economist. I also watched a DVD of the movie I Love You, I Love You Not. It was made in the 90s with a good cast. It was about the angst of a teen-age girl and her grandmother who survived the holocaust. It was pretty much another chick-flick, but I give it three stars.

Message 611

Yesterday Vanessa took me and the kids to a nice birthday dinner for Beech at Ten Fu. Maureen bailed out at the last minute. After that I watched the Sharks lose to Chicago in overtime 3-4. The Sharks gave up three goals in the first few minutes of the game and then woke up and tied it in the third period, so it was a fun game to watch. Joshua was not feeling well so he did not join me. Yesterday I also finished The Economist and Science.

Message 610

Yesterday I got a haircut and did my grocery shopping. In the evening I watched Obama's State of the Union Address. I hope he can get the country back on track. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie P.S., I Love You. It was a chick flick about a young woman whose husband dies unexpectedly. It was based on a book by a young Irish girl, but I found it maudlin and silly, even though it is of course a serious subject. I give it 2.5 stars.

This morning I had breakfast at Heidi's Pies with Reggie, one of the regulars we have gotten to know there. Vanessa had to cancel out at the last minute because she had things come up that she had to do at Beech's school. Today is Beech's sixth birthday. Vanessa, Maureen, the kids, and I are meeting at Ten Fu for dinner at 5:30 PM. It had been planned that his party would be on Saturday, but this has now been cancelled, and we are having a small celebration at Ten Fu tonight instead. The plan now is for Julian to take him and his buddies bowling in a couple of weeks as his party. I should be back from Ten Fu in time for Josh to join me at 7:30 PM tonight to watch the Sharks game.

Message 609

Yesterday I picked Beech up at his school at noon and took him to McDonalds for lunch. His is now keen on collecting their Ice Age toys. He has decided to quit going to the after-school program called Annex. He insisted on talking personally to his doctor who had told Vanessa he should stay in the program because he needed the socialization experience. He was determined to argue his own case and the doctor told him he was free to make his own decision. Beech told me this while I was helping him with his homework after lunch. We then had a little discussion about freedom and that he was always free to think whatever he wanted, but that he was only free to act if what he did was not hurtful to someone else, except in cases of self defense. I pointed out that this was also part of the Kung Fu pledge that everyone had to recite before every class. He then told me he was quitting Kung Fu too, but his dad had told him he would have to pay him $100 if he quit because he had already signed and paid for him up to continue. I suspect that Julian and Vanessa may persuade him not to quit Kung Fu, but we shall see.

I did not watch a movie yesterday. Instead I watched Nova about archeology and the bible, and a rerun of the Frontline show on credit cards on PBS. I also read some more of The Economist. Today I have already done my exercises, for the second day in a row.

Message 608

Last night Joshua came over and watched 24 with me. He said he might go skiing today. If so I hope the roads are not too congested because of the snow. This morning I have done my exercises for the first time in several days. I think this is an indication that I am pretty much back to normal. I have discovered that somehow I neglected to put Message 604 on my blog, so I am adding a copy of it today.

Message 604

Yesterday I dropped Annie off at her day care and joined Vanessa for breakfast at Heidi's Pies. In the afternoon I picked Beech up at his after-school annex and took him to Kung Fu and pizza. He has returned to his afterschool program after discussing it with his mom. I did not eat any of the pizza since I was feeling a little sick at my stomach. In the evening I took the third of my new Sulfa-drug pills that are to be taken twice a day. Joshua came over and watched the Sharks beat the Ducks 3-1. He ate a can of chili that I had on hand because I had told him not to bring food for me. Between the second and third period of the hockey game I threw up. I have realized that I must be allergic to the Sulfa-drug because I vomited twice last night and a third time this morning, although nothing much came out the third time because I have not eaten or drunk anything since I took the pill before the Sharks game started. Also, I have a trace of the rash appearing on my chest like I get when I take Cipro. Anyway this long explanation of why I am so late in sending out today's message is to let you know that I am OK. I think I will continue to lie in bed for a while more even though I am feeling somewhat better.

Message 607

Yesterday I watched the Saints beat the Vikings. I like Bret Favre, but it was a close game of evenly matched teams, and the Saints won the toss in overtime which allowed them to put an end to the game. After football, I watched Part 1 of Emma on PBS, which is a four-part dramatization of the Jane Austin novel. It was very good. I look forward to the rest of the parts on successive Sundays.

Today I left the house for the first time since Thursday. I had a normal breakfast, showered, shaved, and picked up new antibiotics for bladder irrigation at PAMF. I also washed and dried my sheets, so my clean body will touch clean bedding. In short I am getting back to normal. I was told by my urologist that I can stop the antibiotics for the lump on my testicle instead of trying to find one that I am not allergic to. I am also following his suggestion to stop the medication that I have been taking twice a day to suppress bladder spasms, but I am continuing to take Flomax once a day. The upshot is that I am back to normal and hope Josh will be able to join me tonight to watch the continuation of the new 24.

Message 606

Except for sleeping an hour or two longer than usual, this has been a normal day. I had my usual breakfast. I read the NY Times. I watched the Colts beat the Jets. I had a normal lunch, and I have just finished watching the Vikings play to a halftime tie. I have also started reading The Economist. By tomorrow I think I will be ready to shave and shower. It is good to be back.

Message 605

In spite of my protests that it was not necessary, Vanessa brought me a couple of quarts of chicken noodle soup, a box of Saltines, and a bottle of Gatorade early this afternoon and supervised administering them to me over the next couple of hours. After a couple of days of vomiting and dry heaves, I have stayed in bed napping and watching TV since Joshua left Thursday night, I am now feeling better. I took a nap for an hour or so after Vanessa left, and I thought I might take a shower when I woke up, but I still feel a little shaky and light headed. Thus I have decided to stay in bed and watch the Sharks game from there tonight. I have not thrown up any more since last night, and I have not taken anymore of the Sulfa-drug since about 6 PM on Thursday, so I think I am well past the worst now.

I will keep you all posted.

Messge 604

Yesterday I dropped Annie off at her day care and joined Vanessa for breakfast at Heidi's Pies. In the afternoon I picked Beech up at his after-school annex and took him to Kung Fu and pizza. He has returned to his afterschool program after discussing it with his mom. I did not eat any of the pizza since I was feeling a little sick at my stomach. In the evening I took the third of my new Sulfa-drug pills that are to be taken twice a day. Joshua came over and watched the Sharks beat the Ducks 3-1. He ate a can of chili that I had on hand because I had told him not to bring food for me. Between the second and third period of the hockey game I threw up. I have realized that I must be allergic to the Sulfa-drug because I vomited twice last night and a third time this morning, although nothing much came out the third time because I have not eaten or drunk anything since I took the pill before the Sharks game started. Also, I have a trace of the rash appearing on my chest like I get when I take Cipro. Anyway this long explanation of why I am so late in sending out today's message is to let you know that I am OK. I think I will continue to lie in bed for a while more even though I am feeling somewhat better.

Message 603

Yesterday I had a quiet day at home and worked a little on my memoirs. I also picked up my prescription that my urologist sent in, and I deposited a check that came in the mail as a Medicare refund for part of the cost of my catheters, etc. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie Tess, which is based on the novel by Thomas Hardy. I had never read this novel, but a few years ago I watched a BBC production also based on this book, but it was not as impressive as this version. This movie production came out in 1980 after about three years of preparation, shooting and editing. It was directed by Roman Polanski after he skipped out of the US on his rape trial, so the story bears some relation to his personal experience. The movie was nominated for six Academy Awards, but only won three (for things like costumes and photography). I once tried to read another book by Hardy called Return of the Native, but after about a hundred pages nothing was happening and I judged it unreadable. The strength of this movie, and I suppose of Hardy's books, is his realistic description of the social system and the farming technology of the time when the industrial revolution was beginning to transform Great Britain, and eventually the world. Natasha(SP?) Kinsky was an unknown 15-year-old German actress when she was chosen to play Tess, although she had turned 18 by the time it was released. She does a very good job. The film is three hours long and is somewhat depressing. I give it only four stars because it is not much fun to watch such a tragedy even though it is completely realistic and true to the society and environment of the time and place, and it is an outstanding example of the cinematic art. The special features are interviews with all the main contributors to the movie, and these are very interesting

Message 602

I saw my urologist yesterday. He said the lump on my testicle is just an inflamed epididimus, or whatever it is called. He gave me a prescription and said it should be no problem. This news is a big relief for me. Yesterday I picked Beech up at school and took him to Burger King for lunch and then dropped him off at Maureen's place. He has had some trouble with some kid at his after-school program who bullies him, so he wants to stop going, After I talked to his teacher, I think this problem will be fixed so he will return eventually. Last night Joshua brought in burgers from Jack-in-the-Box and watched the Sharks game with me. They beat Los Angeles 5-1, so we were happy with the results.

Message 601

The power went out while I was asleep last night, and it has just now come back on. Yesterday I watched the Sharks beat Calgary 9-1 and I watched hours 3 and 4 of 24. Joshua had to go to a dinner for his work, so he was not able to join me. After 24 I watched a DVD of the movie (500) Days of Summer, the girls name was summer. I give it only 2.3 stars. It reminded me a lot of Paper Heart, which I saw only a few days ago, and which I did not care much for either.

Message 600

Yesterday I watched the two NFL playoff games. Julian and Beech came over and watched the Jets beat San Diego with me. In the evening Joshua brought in Mexican food from Baja Fresh and watched the first two episodes of the new 24 with me. I also finished reading this week's The Economist.

Message 598

Yesterday I walked up to Starbucks and joined Vanessa and Maureen for coffee. Annie was in her pre-school, which she now attends three half-days a week. It is the same one Beech attended for years. In the afternoon I went to PAMF for my ultrasound. I'll tell you more about that after I meet with my urologist next Tuesday.

After the Friday PBS shows were over in the evening, I watched a DVD of the movie Paper Heart. It was a harmless piece of fluff but not really worth watching, so I give it only 2.3 stars. You can't win them all.

Message 599

Yesterday I joined Helen and Jim and Joan and David at Starbucks as usual on Saturday. In the afternoon I watched the Sharks beat Edmonton 4-1. In the evening Maureen and I joined the Ariagnos and Willetts and about a dozen other people at the Morrell's house for a surprise 70th birthday party for Larry.

I am now watching Dallas play Minnesota in the NFL playoffs. Maybe Julian and Beech will join me.

Message 597

Yesterday afternoon I picked Beech up at school and took him to Kung Fu and pizza. He pulled three stuffed animals from the crane-machine again. Vanessa was dismayed, but Beech was very proud of himself. In the evening I watched the Sharks game. Josh and Jason went to the game, or at least that was the plan before Josh went skiing. The Sharks lost to Boston 1-2 in an overtime shootout.

Message 596

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi's Pies. We took Annie with us today, but she would not cooperate, so Vanessa took her to day care and came back to finish her breakfast in peace. Last night I watched a DVD of the movie Open Hearts. It was another Danish movie, and again it dealt with heavy subjects in a very realistic way. I admire the willingness of the Danes to face reality in a forthright manner, but they do not seem to enjoy their lives very much. I give it 3.5 stars.

Message 595

Yesterday morning I walked up to Starbuck and met Vanessa and Annie and Maureen for coffee. The rain had stopped for a while, and the storm had brought in some warmer air, so it was very pleasant.

Yesterday afternoon I reserved the big house at Northstar for our reunion this summer. I have also reserved a 4-bedroom, 2-bath condo, so we will have plenty of room. Have any of you reserved any thing? I do not think we will need any more space, but let me know if you have so we can plan on how to spread people around. Ginny decided to rent a condo instead of the house she said originally that she wanted, so I took the one at 1503 Logging Trail for us. It will be the band house too.

Last night Joshua brought in pizza and watched the Sharks game with me. They beat Phoenix 3-1, so we were happy with the outcome. Joshua is driving to the mountains tonight so he can ski on Thursday. I did not watch a DVD last night.

Message 594

Last night Joshua brought in meals from Boston Market and watched the hockey game with me. The Sharks beat the LA Kings 2-1. After the game I finished reading the book that Ethan and Julie and Alex gave me titled The Shadow Factory and subtitled The Ultra-Secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America by James Bamford. It is a very good and disturbing history of NSA and is a worthy follow-on to his previous book Body of Secrets.

Message 593

Yesterday I watched the two NFL playoff games. The Arizona game against Green Bay was very good. I was glad to see Arizona win because I like to see Kurt Warner do well. After the game was over, in overtime, I went to San Mateo for the Sunday family dinner. Vanessa had made Shepard's Pie with a honey cake for dessert. It was all very good. In the evening I watched Part 1 of Return to Cranford on PBS.

Message 591

I had a quiet day at home yesterday,and I walked up to Starbucks in the late morning to enjoy a coffee with Vanessa and Annie. I also enjoyed the hot tub at sundown. After the regular Friday PBS shows ended, I watched a DVD of the movie The Bucket List. It barely deserves the three stars I have decided to give it.

Message 592

Yesterday I met Helen and Jim and Joan and Dave at Starbucks to resume our regular Saturday routine. At noon I took Beech with me to Los Gatos where we gave Susan her birthday envelop and flowers (from Vanessa via Beech). Jason and Walt were working on enlarging the bedroom closet. Susan and I brought in burgers and fries for lunch. Beech and the girls played computer games, and Ellie gave me a book about snowmen that she had made at school. I took Beech home about 4 PM, then I picked up Larry and Judi and Ron and Marci for dinner and a movie. We ate at Trader Vic's in Mountain View and saw the movie The Young Victoria at Palo Alto Square. The food was delicious and the movie was sumptuous in its production. It tells about the romance of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. I give it three stars.

Messgae 591

I had a quiet day at home yesterday,and I walked up to Starbucks in the late morning to enjoy a coffee with Vanessa and Annie. I also enjoyed the hot tub at sundown. After the regular Friday PBS shows ended, I watched a DVD of the movie The Bucket List. It barely deserves the three stars I have decided to give it.

Message 590

If any of you did not receive and would like to have a copy of the disk that Chris recently sent out with the pictures of the Basler reunions from Fenwick 2003 through Sandbridge 2009, please let me know and I will get a copy to you.

Yesterday afternoon I picked Beech up at school and took him to Kung Fu and then pizza. This time he pulled three stuffed animals from the crane machine spending only four dollars. He is getting quite skilled at it now. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie The Double Life of Veronique. It is another Kieslowski film, written and directed by the same Polish guy who did The French color trilogy (Blue, White, and Red). He is also the guy who wrote the script for the German movie Heaven, shot in Italy, that I praised a few months ago. It is an extremely ambiguous, enigmatic, and thought provoking film, with a terrific use of music, color, lighting, framing, sex, spirituality, and symbolism to convey its impact. I give it five stars.

Message 589

I just got back from Heidi's Pies. Vanessa and I had a good breakfast and had a chance to reconnect with a lot of the people that we see there regularly. We may start taking Annie with us again if we can get her to agree to stay ay the table. Last night Josh brought in pizza and watched the Sharks game with me. They beat St. Louis 2-1 in overtime, but because the Blues were missing two of their best players it was not a very good showing by the Sharks. After the game, I watched a DVD of the movie The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. It was based on a book by a good writer, but it was not a very appealing story, so I give it only 2.8 stars.

Message 588

I just got back from PAMF where I had to have blood drawn for tests related to my upcoming doctor's appointment. I went there yesterday morning too thinking I that I would get two birds with one stone, but I had forgotten that I had to be fasting for 12 hours, so I only refilled my antibiotic prescription. Last night I watched a DVD of the Danish movie After The Wedding. It was a nuisance to have to read the subtitles, but I thought it was very well done. The cast were all unknown to me, but they were beautiful people and played their parts well. It was partly shot in India, but mostly it was in Denmark. It deals with relationships and death and generally big subjects. I give it five stars.

Message 587

Last night Josh was stuck at work , so I watched the Sharks game by myself. It is just as well that he missed seeing it. LA beat them 2-6. It was just one of those games where nothing goes right. After the game I watched a DVD of the movie Lilya 4-Ever. It is a Swedish movie about children in Russia and their grim lives. It is about as dark as you can get with no hopeful elements. I give it 2.9 stars.

Message 586

Yesterday I watched three NFL games. Beech came over and watched the end of the 49ers game and most of the Denver Kansas City game with me. The 49ers won, which gives some hope for next year. In the evening I took Beech home and joined in the regular Sunday family dinner. While there I watched the Jets beat the Bengals. Julian has a great HD TV which is perfect for football games. After dinner I came home and watched a Masterpiece Theater production about a British family on a Greek island before World War 2. It was either a remake or a re-run of an old show, because I had seen parts of it before, but it was pleasant viewing anyway.

I read some of The Economist before turning in. Vanessa called this morning and had to cancel our picnic with Annie in the park today because Annie has the flu an is vomiting. I hope I don't get it.

Message 585

It did not rain yesterday, so I was able to enjoy a nice soak in the hot tub.In the evening Joshua brought over burgers and fries from The Dutch Goose and watched the hockey game with me. The Sharks beat Edmonton 4-1, as they should have considering that Edmonton is having a bad year and their two best players are out injured. After the game I watched a DVD of the French movie Nathalie. French people are beautiful and stylish, but they have strange ideas and attitudes sometimes. There is not much action, and there are a lot of subtitles to read, but I give the movie three stars.

Message 584

I discovered that yesterday's message was miss-numbered as 582 instead of 583 after I corrected the blog posting but I could not correct the email that had already gone. Oh well. It is just another small trivial matter of the type that fills these messages every day. Also I forgot to mention in yesterday's message that I watched Stanford blow their half-time lead and lose to Oklahoma in their bowl game. Without their star quarterback who was out with a broken finger, they are not good enough to beat a team ranked number 7.

I did not go to Starbucks this morning because Helen is down with a cold. Jim said maybe tomorrow if she improves enough. Once I heard this news, I went back to bed and had an early nap. Maybe now I will not need a late nap which I often enjoy while I am watching TV. Last night I watched a DVD of the movie sherrybaby, which is Maggie Gyllenhaal's other starring role. She gives a brilliant performance, but it is a pretty gritty story and it makes no attempt to sugar coat the realism of drug addicts out on parole. I give the movie four stars.

Message 583

Happy New Year! I have retired last years calendars, and I now must remember to write the date as 2010 when I write checks. Yesterday I read this week's Science, and in the late afternoon I watched the Sharks beat Phoenix 3-2 in another shootout. Three out of the four games they have played have now ended in shootouts, two of which the sharks have won. They are a good team this year. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie Away We Go. Again, I watched this movie because Maggie Gyllenhaal had a supporting role. The movie itself was nothing special, but I give it three stars. Last night Gore Vidal was one of the guests on Charlie Rose. I saw him give a lecture at The Library of Congress over forty years ago, and I was shocked at how much he has deteriorated. He is 84 years old now, so old age eventually has its way with everyone.