Message 493

Yesterday was a another quiet day at home. I started reading The Economist and watched the usual news shows on PBS. This National Park series is still messing up the schedule. They did not even show Washington Week. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie The Lucky Ones. It was a road movie about three soldiers home on leave. The only cast member I recognized was Tim Robbins, but they were all good. I give it four stars.

Message 492

Yesterday afternoon I took Beech to his Kung Fu class. Afterward I went with Vanessa and the kids to eat dinner at Round Table Pizza. In the evening I watched the Sharks lose to Colorado in the first game of the new NHL season. The Sharks looked pathetic. I also watched a DVD of the movie Martian Child. I did not realize I had seen it before until I was part way into it. It was not good. John Cusack is usually better than this. I give it 2.3 stars. Andrine called this morning to say she is reserving her house and a condo at Tahoe for next summer.

Message 491

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi's Pies. I took Annie to day care so Vanessa and I could relax and enjoy our meal. Last night I watched a DVD of the movie Goodbye Solo. It is an unusual independent film with unknown cast and writer/director. It was very well done though, and in spite of the unattractive portrayal of old age, it was an upbeat story. I give it 3.8 stars.

Message 490

Yesterday was another quiet day. I read this weeks Science. The Charlie Rose show was on at noon and was about Iran. I do not understand why it was not on the previous midnight.

In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie Rushmore. Aside from a couple of strange and funny bits, I thought it was stupid and boring. Bill Murray usually does better than this. I give it 2.4 stars.

Message 489

Yesterday I had a quiet day. I finished reading The Economist. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie Eastern Promises. It was a British movie about Russian gangsters and human trafficking. It was very well done. I give it four stars. Last night for some reason there was no Charlie Rose. These National Park shows are disrupting the usual schedule I suppose. Maybe it will be on today at noon.

Message 488

Yesterday I watched football with Josh, Julian, and Beech. We were all disappointed that the 49ers lost on the last play of the game, but we were heartened by the fact that they played so well against a better team. I participated again in the regular Sunday family dinner in San Mateo. Julian had cooked two different kinds of chili. We all had fun. In the evening PBS started showing the new Ken Burns work on the national parks, so I read some more of The Economist while it played in the background. I again turned in early (at midnight) and had a good night's sleep.

Message 487

Today is my new Boniva day, the third Sunday in the month from now on. Yesterday I met Helen and Jim at Starbucks, as usual. I had the unexpected pleasure of joining Vanessa and Annie for lunch at Una Mas too. Last night I went to the Berkeley's for the pot luck dinner group. There were 14 people there, and all of Ginny Wilson's apple pie and my cherry pie and half gallon of ice-cream were eaten. When I got home I read some of The Economist and turned in early before midnight.