Message 573

Yesterday I had a quiet day at home. In the late afternoon Joshua brought in pizza and watched the Sharks game with me. They beat Dallas 4-1 to avenge the shootout loss to them when they played at the Shark tank the last time. After the game I watched a DVD of the movie Feast of Love. It was a modest movie set in Portland Oregon, with a cast unknown to me, but they did a nice job. I give it 3.4 stars.

Message 572

Yesterday I watched a DVD of the movie Miller's Crossing at Helen and Jim's with Joan and David. It is my favorite of the Coen brothers movies, and one of the best movies of all times. I give it five stars. In the afternoon I watched the 49ers lose to Philadelphia. The game had been rescheduled until the afternoon because of the snow storm. As a result I did not watch the Raiders beat Denver, which was a great game according to what I saw on the news later. In the evening I watched a PBS Masterpiece Theater production of Under the Greenwood Tree. Vanessa and the kids are going up to Blue Lake for a couple of days, so we are not doing our usual Monday routine at Nealon Park this week.

Message 571

I am meeting Helen and Jim and Joan and David for coffee this morning. Last night I went to the couples club dinner at Wilsons' house. I took my usual cheery pie and ice cream. When I got back I read some more of The Economist before I went to bed.

Message 570

Yesterday afternoon I picked up my prescription at PMAF. In the evening I went with Larry and Judi to a Christmas party at Ariagnos. It was a caroling party as well as a dinner. I did not go out with the carolers, but stayed behind to guard the house. It was fun to see everybody. When I got back home, I read the new Economist until it was time for Charlie Rose.

Message 569

I just got back from PAMF, but they have to call the doctor to get more refills, which annoys me no end. I will have to go back this afternoon to pick it up.

Yesterday afternoon I took Beech to Kung Fu followed by pizza. He brought his piggy bank and used all the quarters in it (I would guess four or five dollars worth) to pick two stuffed animals out of the crane machine. In spite of my suggestions, he would not stop until the quarters were all gone. At least he did not beg me for money, so maybe he is learning. In the evening I watched the Sharks beat the Ducks 4-1. In spite of a slow start, the Sharks finally got their act together and won a game after losing five in a row. They no longer have the best record in the NHL.

Message 568

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi's Pies with Vanessa. Yesterday I had another quiet day at home working on my memoirs. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie Caligula. It was made in 1979 and had an amazing cast. It went all out on the depiction of orgies, bloody murders, and insanity. In spite of all the expense and production, I do not think it was as well done as the PBS series titled "I, Claudius", which tells the same story. I give it three stars. In the evening I also watched some of the opera Tosca on PBS. I had never seen it before. It takes a while to get into an opera.

Message 567

Yesterday I finished reading Assegai by Wilbur Smith. The dust cover says that he has written 30 books, and I think I have read them all. He is the best for historical novels and for action adventure. Last night I watched a DVD of the movie Miranda which is another Tinto Brass movie, but this one is dubbed into English,so you do not have to read subtitles or understand Italian. I do not think this one is as good as Cheeky, but I give it 3.2 stars. I also worked a little on my memoirs.