Message 1407

Yesterday Josh brought over burgers and fries and watched the hockey game with me. Ryan Clowe scored a goal in the second minute of the game, and after that it was all defense. The Sharks beat Philadelphia 1-0. It was a very fast and fun game to watch. It was good to see the Sharks get back to playing at a high level. I feel good today.

Message 1406

Yesterday I finished reading The Economist and started reading Science. I had to move my car out of the parking garage last night because the lateral sewer lines have to be cleaned today. I finally found a semi-legal spot to park it outside, but several cars were still in the garage yet to be moved, so I don’t know what they will do. I feel good today.

Message 1405

Yesterday afternoon I went to the Oscar dinner party at the Ariagnos with the Morrills. I was glad that I saw The Artist the night before since it won most of the big prizes. I have learned that Alex’s hockey game was yesterday, so I am going to try to watch it online today as a replay. I feel good today.

Message 1404

Yesterday I tried to watch Alex’s hockey game, but when I went to the website Ethan sent I could not get the video to play. I must have been doing something wrong. Josh came over later and brought food from Boston Market. I had the roast chicken and we watched the Sharks lose to Nashville. The Sharks got behind by two goals in the first few minutes of the game and never were able to catch up, although they came close a couple of times. They ended up losing 3-6, including a couple of empty netters at the end. In the late evening Larry and Judy called and asked if I would like to go see The Artist with them. I had seen a lot of discussion about it on Charlie Rose, but I thought it was a little boring. I liked watching the dancing at the end though. I give it three stars. I feel good today.

Message 1403

Yesterday after the usual Friday PBS shows, I read some more on my Kindle. I am getting near the end now and it will soon be time to download another. I feel good today., but I am concerned that my doctor says I need to consult with a nephrologistas indicated in the message below.

Dear Mr. Basler,
Your Blood count shows that the anemia is stable.
Your Basic Metabolic Panel (electrolytes, kidney test, glucose) shows decreased renal function, but not as severe as when you were hospitalized previously. I think a consult with a nephrologist would be good to make sure we have optimized your care. Please call for an appointment:
Nephrology Department
650-853-6795
Level 2
If you have any questions, please email or call my office 650-853-2984.
Sincerely,
Sherry Huang, M.D.
Department of Family Medicine
Palo Alto Medical Clinic

Message 1401

I had breakfast at Heidi’s Pies with Reggie this morning. Yesterday I watched the Golden State Warriors beat Phoenix in Phoenix in NBA basketball. The Warriors were never behind until the last minute or so of the game, but they ended up winning because they made their last shot and the Suns missed theirs. I feel good today.

Message 1402

I forgot to mention in yesterday’s message that I went to PAMF to have my catheter changed. Yesterday Josh came over and watched the third period of the hockey game with me. The game was played in the eastern time zone, so he was not able to make it for the start of the game. The Sharks beat the Toronto Mapleleafs 2-1. After the game we went to the Dutch Goose for burgers and fries. The place was crowded as always, but the food was good. Afterward I read some more on my Kindle and turned in after the news. I will have to watch the Charlie Rose Brain Series at noon today. I feel good today.

Message 1400

Yesterday I watched the local NBA team, the Golden State Warriors, beat the LA Clippers in another exciting game. When the Warriors are on their game they can beat even good teams, but so far they are not going to make the playoffs. Yesterday I finished reading The Economist and started reading Science. I feel good today.

Message 1399

Yesterday morning I watched the Sharks game on NBC as part of their Hockey in America program. The Sharks lost to the Detroit Redwings 2-3. They tied the game at 2-2 in the third period, but could not stop the last Detroit goal and so lost the game. Josh and I then went out to lunch at El Cerrito after I replenished my supply of $20-bills at Wells Fargo. In the evening I watched the last episode of Downton Abbey. I suppose most of you do not have a holiday today. I was surprised when Josh told me he would be working, but he said he does not get any holidays between New Years Day and Memorial Day. I have forgotten what it is like to work. Jason came over in the late afternoon and did my 2011-taxes with Turbo Tax. It was awfully nice of him and a big relief to me to get them out of the way. My urine bag came disconnected during the night so I had to wash my sheets and mattress pad this morning. If it’s not one thing it’s another. I do feel good today though.

Message 1398

Yesterday Josh came over and brought food from Boston Market and watched the Warriors game with me. Unfortunately the Warriors missed their last shot and so lost the game. Today is hockey day in America, so I am watching the Sharks play the Detroit Redwings. The first period is over and the Sharks are behind 0-1. Josh should be over soon to watch the rest of the game with me. I feel good today.

Message 1397

Yesterday afternoon I watched the Sharks lose to the Carolina Hurricanes 2-3. The Sharks gave up two goals in the first period, then they tied it up in the third period, but they eventually gave up another goal. They are losing entirely too many games lately. I wonder if they will make it very far in the playoffs. I feel good today.

Message 1396

Yesterday I had two appointments at PAMF, one with my family doctor who sent me to the lab for blood tests for things like cholesterol, and one with my dermatologist who froze a few bumps on my head and hands. In the late afternoon Joshua brought in pizza and watched the third period of the hockey game with me. The Sharks lost to Tampa Bay in overtime 5-6, so at least they got one point out of it. I started reading a new book on my Kindle. It is called Empire of Light. I am not yet far enough into it to decide whether it is very good or not. I feel good today.

Message 1395

Yesterday there were no local sports teams on TV so I finished reading my Kindle book (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.) I thought it got kind of tedious after about the halfway point. I also watched the last disk on season one of Big Love. I feel good today.

Message 1303

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.