Message 231

Last night after watching Washington Week on PBS, I started to watch a DVD called UFC 84: Ill Will. I don't know how I picked this from Netflix. I must have clicked the wrong button by accident. Anyway it turned out to be a collection of extreme fighting bouts. I watched the first two out of curiosity, then gave up and wrote some more of my life in Arkansas.

Yesterday I phoned in two prescriptions under my new Medicare drug plan. I will pick them up at Longs today.

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

Message 230

My trip to Asilomar yesterday was very pleasant. I drove to Bill and Marilyn Bauriedel's house in Palo at 7 AM. Bill then drove us to Pacific Grove in his Camry. We were able to chat and catch up on what has been happening for the nearly five years since we last saw each other. We go to Asilomar in plenty of time before the first discussion session (on the book The Omnivores Dilemma) at 10 AM. Out of about 40 people who attended this year I only knew eight from previous years when sally and I used to go together. Somehow the discussions did not seem to be at as high an intellectual level as I remember them in the past. We left right after dinner (roast pork), so I was back in my condo by 10 PM, so I was able to catch up on the day's news and watch Charlie Rose before I went to bed. I skipped my usual

Message 229

Yesterday I had lunch at Ikea with Vanessa and the kids. Julian was at work.

Last night I watched a DVD of the movie All About EVE. It is strange that I had never seen that old black and white classic from 1950, but I was still in high school. Anyway I give it 5 stars.

I am leaving soon to drive to the Bauriedel's in Palo Alto. I will ride to Pacific Grove with Bill and Marilyn, or they will ride with me. Whatever is OK with me. We will be back this evening.

Message 228

Yesterday I met with a mortgage broker, the same one Julian is using, to get a new loan. After the information is loaded into the computer we should have the approval in a week or so. Not much work gets done this time of year, or it would be sooner. After the approval, we will wait until the rates go down to at least 4.8 percent, then we will lock in the rate and get the appraisal, which has to be paid for. In other words, if I don't get the rate, I don't have to pay. Within a month or so, I should have the money. This guy seems pretty good, so Joshua and Jason may want to use him too.

Last night I watched a DVD of the Movie Lawn Dogs. It had a cast of actors that were completely unknown to me, and the story was not very appealing. The characters were mostly unpleasant and in spite of a somewhat hopeful ending I give it only three stars.

I am not going to stay up late to celebrate the new year tonight. I am going to bed early so I can get up at 5:30 tomorrow morning and join some friends in Palo Alto to go down to Asilomar for the day. Sally and I used to join this group every year for a few days around New Year's eve. The friends I had dinner with at Sundance a few days ago persuaded me to come down for a one day visit.

Message 227

Yesterday I took Beech to lunch. We tried to go to his gymnastics class after lunch, but it was closed for the holiday season.

Last night Joshua, whose work is also closed down for the holiday season, brought Mexican food and we watched the Sharks beat Dallas, and then we watched the Golden State Warriors beat the Toronto Raptors. What an unusual couple of days. All four of our local professional sports teams won their games.

Message 226

Yesterday I watched four football games. It was an unusual weekend. The Raiders and the 49ers both won. Julian came over and brought tacos to eat while we watched the 49er game. We also switched back and forth to the Jet Miami game too.In the evening I watched the San Diego Denver game.

After the football was over I watched PBS and saw a Nature show on the Snow Leopard and then Great Expectations, an old black and white classic directed by David Lean and with John Mills and Alec Guinness as young men. It was quite good. I give it five stars.

Message 225

Last night after I watched the Sharks lose to St. Louis in an overtime shootout, I watched a DVD of the movie Prozac Nation. It was very well done, but I only give it three stars because it is not much fun for me to watch dysfunctional family dynamics and depressed people being their own worst enemies. I appreciate that it is a true story, but having lived through many of the same types of experiences myself, I do not have much sympathy with people who stubbornly refuse to try to help themselves.

Anyway the sun is shining here, and Julian is going to come over today and watch football with me. Maybe Joshua will come too.