Message 246

I am watching Obama's inauguration as I write this. The musical quartet is playing now. It will be quite a while before I hear the inaugural address I suppose. What a gratifying, inspiring, and humbling occasion.

Last night Josh came over and watched 24 with me. Before the show started we went to The Dutch Goose for Cheeseburgers. We have been watching 24 together for several years now.

Yesterday I went to the park with Julian and his kids, then we all had fish and chips for lunch at Cook's Seafood. So yesterday I ate like a king.

Obama is now speaking, so I will sign off.

Message 245

Yesterday I watched the two NFL conference championship games. I was glad to see Arizona win for the sake of all of Sally's family in Arizona. I also liked seeing Kurt Warner show that is still is something special who knows how to get the job done when it is on the line. I didn't really care who won the other game. I figured it would probably be Baltimore, but Pittsburg rose to the occasion.

Last night I watched Part i of Wurthering heights on PBS. I also saw the Nature program on Arctic bears on PBS. I had seen it before but enjoyed seeing it again.

Today being MLK's birthday holiday, Julian has the kids, so he will bring them down here. We will take them to the park for an hour or so and then take them out to lunch.

Message 244

Last night Joshua brought in food from Chili's, and watched the Sharks beat the Detroit Red Wings 6-5. It was an exceptionally good game against last year's champions. It was hard fought and fast paced throughout and could have gone either way. I am sure we will meet them again in the playoffs.

Yesterday I had coffee at Starbucks in my usual Saturday routine. I also read half of The Economist. Today I will read the other half and watch the NFL playoff games. Joshua may join me.

Message 243

Last night I went to dinner and a movie with the Morrills and the Ariagnos. We saw Frost Nixon. I give it three stars. I remember the actual TV shows as pretty boring and not at all satisfying, but putting it in a movie form with lots of background made a more dramatic.

Julian is bringing Beech down while he gets a haircut, and I will take Beech with me to Starbucks with Helen and Jim.

Vanessa called this morning and passed on the news that Joan Von Gehr died a few days ago. She and Sally were good friends and both got breast cancer about the same time. I last talked to Joan on the phone about a month or six weeks ago. I knew she was getting near the end, but it has been bad for so long that I had no idea it was this close.

Message 242

I just got back from PAMF where I had to pick up my new antibiotic saline solution. I was surprised to learn that my new Medicare drug plan will not cover it. They only cover oral medications, not injectable ones. Oh well, it only will amount to about $1200 per year. So far, it seems they will cover my other medications, so I will still come out ahead.

Last night Joshua brought in Mexican food, and we watched the Sharks lose to Calgary 3-2. It was a good game, and their first home loss in regulation time. I am sure they will meet in the playoffs.

Message 241

I just got home from having breakfast at Heidi's Pies with Vanessa and Annie. Annie was all dressed up in a new outfit and matching shoes and hair bow that made her look real cute, so everyone in there made a lot of her. All of the people who work there know us, and many of the customers also know us. Vanessa goes around and says hello to all our friends , kisses them, and talks to them, so it is quite an occasion each week. Afterward I took Annie to the library for our weekly story time for kids, which she enjoyed today as usual.

Last night I watched a DVD of V for Vendetta, which is another Wachowski brothers movie, the same who made the Matrix trilogy. I debated about giving it 4 stars, or maybe dropping to 3 and a half stars, but I finally settled on 4 stars. My debate was because a lot of things were obscure or ambiguous, but I realized finally that those qualities were intentional, so the audience could decide for themselves. It was a movie set in the future when the United Kingdom is a totalitarian state. It was kind of Orwellian and dealt with questions of truth and freedom, etc.

Message 240

Last night Joshua brought over pizza and we watched the Sharks beat Tampa Bay 7-1. It is nice to see the Sharks get a good start on the second half of their season.

After the game I finished reading The Polish Officer by Alan Furst. It was a good novel about espionage in World War 2. It is the only book of his that I have read, but he has written several others in the same genre. The style was quite good and the flavor was authentic.