Message 429

Yesterday afternoon I took Beech to his Kung Fu class. He has been going for the last few weeks with Vanessa, but it was the first time I had been there. It was also the first time I had seen how Kung Fu is taught. It was very interesting to see a dozen or so five and six year old kids, mostly boys, going through this military-type training. I hope they can stick with it. I think it can do them a lot of good. When the class was over we walked to the Round Table Pizza place a couple of storefronts up from the Kung Fu place to have some pizza and take the remainder home for Julian, Vanessa, and Annie's dinner. Beech also played a couple of dollars worth of video games.

Joshua was not able to make it to my place for dinner, so in the evening I watched a DVD of the movie Along Came Polly. I do not care very much for Ben Stiller comedies, and in spite of the supporting work of Jennifer Aniston and Philip Seymour Hoffman, I can give it only 2 stars. The story was just too uncharitable and unbelievable.

Message 328

Yesterday I watched Beech and Annie at their house. I was planning to take them to the park, but Beech insisted that we go to his house. He had something he wanted to show me. It turned out that he has a new kid-sized drum kit. Apparently Pippenfinch inspired them so much, Vanessa has retained a teacher to come to their house every Sunday to give Beech, Vanessa, and Julian music lessons in the way that Clifton has been teaching the Craigens for years.

Yesterday I had dinner with Larry and Judi at Gombei. It had been several weeks since I last saw them, so we had a lot to catch up on. I also gave Larry the book, Legacy of Ashes, A History of the CIA. I do not keep my books anymore, and I know he loves that kind of book about history and politics.

Last night I watched a DVD of the movie Goodnight, Mister Tom. It is a Masterpiece Theater production that somehow I never saw on PBS. It was about a kid who is relocated from London to the country for safety during World War 2. I give it 3.5 stars.

Message 427

Last night I watched a DVD of the movie A Face in the Crowd. It was an old black and white movie made in 1957. It was written by Budd Schulberg and directed by Elia Kazan. It starred Andy Griffiths and Patricia Neal. It is a movie of mostly historical interest, especially because it foreshadowed how things eventually went in the elections of Reagan and Bush 43. I give it 3.6 stars.

Message 426

I had breakfast at Heidi's Pies this morning and helped Vanessa take the kids to PAMF for Beech's appointment with his cardiologist. This was caused by Beech saying he could not breathe last night and then passing out for about a minute. The doctor thinks he may just have been holding his breath, but he should be monitored because he definitely has trouble with his heart.

Last night I watched a DVD of the movie Little Voice. It was a somewhat strange and bizarre British movie with a good cast, but I only give it three stars because it was too silly and boring at times.

Message 425

Yesterday Julian and Vanessa left the kids with a sitter and stopped by to copy some of my computer files for the DVD she is making about caring for cleft babies. In addition to doing laundry and catching up with chores around the condo, I read all of The Economist from the Friday I left for Sandbridge and most of the one that arrived on the day I got home. I still have two issues of Science to catch up on.

Last night I watched PBS. I think I had seen the Miss Marple episode before, but I am not sure. I can never quite understand them completely.

Message 424

We had a long trip home. A rainstorm delayed our takeoff from Dulles for about half an hour while we sat on the runway, but the flight went well after that. Just before we landed Beech said his butt was sore, and I said that was what happened when you took long trips. It was about 12:30 AM PDT (3:30 AM EDT) when I finally got in bed. There is nothing as comfortable as your own bed, and I was delighted to get a good night's seep. It was another successful reunion, and I want to thank all of you for all the things you did to make it so wonderful.

I found an Email message from Netflix asking for my review of the Americanization of Emily. As near as I can tell I neglected to mention that I had watched this movie. It is an old black and white World War 2 movie starring James Garner and Julie Andrews. It is pleasant and different from the usual, so I give it three stars.

Message 423

This will be me last message until I get back from Sandbridge where I will see all of you anyway. I did not watch a movie last night. Joshua and I went out to dinner at El Cerrito, and when I got back I got hooked on watching a couple of PBS shows.

I got calls this morning that Vanessa is sick and throwing up. I hope she is recovered enough to be able to travel with the rest of us tomorrow as planned. If not I do not know what we will all do. It will all work out somehow though, I am sure.