Message 728

Vanessa, Maureen, and I had breakfast at Heidi's Pies with Reggie and Henry yesterday morning. Afterward I worked some more on my memoirs. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie August Rush. I liked it so much when I saw it before that I bought a copy from Amazon. Previously when I watched it, I gave it only four stars, but after watching it a second time, I am upgrading it to five stars. I love movies that are based on music, and in spite of a preposterous plot and tear jerking romanticism, this one is good enough for multiple viewings.

Message 727

I worked some more on my memoirs yesterday. Vanessa called and told me her usual arrangement for Beech to go home with a classmate on Wednesday had fallen through, so I picked him up at school at noon. It was pajama day at his school, so he did not want to go to McDonalds in his pajamas, so we just went home and he had some snacks there. We then watched TV until Vanessa and Annie came home. In the evening I watched PBS and read some more of Sleeping Where I Fall. Charlie Rose had another episode of his brain series, which as usual was quite good.

Message 726

I picked Beech up at school at noon and went to McDonalds as is our usual Tuesday routine. After lunch he concentrated on doing his homework with me and did some very good work. He is making great progress. He did about four pages and saved the math page because he said his dad wanted to be the one who worked with him on math. I went out to dinner with Larry and Judi, and in the evening I watched PBS, including Nova about a mega-volcano eruption and Frontline about Flying Cheap. I think I will make a point of never again flying on a small regional airline. Charlie Rose was then good as usual.

Message 725

I took Annie to Nealon Park yesterday afternoon while Vanessa had a doctor's appointment. In the evening Joshua came over and watched the 2-hour series finale of 24 with me. I figured Jack would have to die at the end, but he managed to survive and to limp off to go into hiding to escape prosecution for all the bad things he had done. Afterward I read Science and watched Charlie Rose.

Message 724

Joshua came over at noon yesterday and brought food which was lunch for me and breakfast for him. We watched the Sharks blow a 2-0 lead and lose to Chicago in the third period 0-4. The last goal was an empty netter, so it was another close game that could have gone either. Even though Chicago swept the series, the Sharks played very well, but Chicago played better. After the game I went to San Mateo for the usual Sunday family dinner. Julian made spaghetti, which was excellent as always, but I have learned not to stuff myself, or else I have trouble sleeping, so I held back. In the evening I watched another episode of Miss Marple on PBS. I turned in early, at midnight, because there is no Charlie Rose on Sunday, so I had eight hours of sleep for a change before I got up at 8 AM.

Message 723

I had coffee with Helen and Jim at Starbucks yesterday morning. In the afternoon I read about half of The Economist, and in the evening I hosted a dinner for thirteen at Ten Fu. I was amazed that everyone ordered a different dish and shared but we were able to eat it all so nothing was left over. When I got home I watched the movie Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal. I always like movies that are based on music, and I thought this one was very well done. I give it four stars.

Message 722

Yesterday I worked some more on my memoirs. At 5 PM Josh came over and watched the Sharks game with me. They lost to Chicago 2-3 in overtime this time, but it was another downer for us. They are playing very well, but Chicago is playing a little better, and they are getting more breaks. The next game is at noon on Sunday, and if the Sharks lose that one too, I will start having a lot more time to do other things like watch DVDs.

After the game, I watched a DVD of the movie Hanna Takes the Stairs. It is an independent film written by the actors and is mostly a boring improvisation. I watched it mostly to check out Greta Gerwig, who has been getting so much coverage in the NY Times for the last month or so. If it weren't for the nude scenes, I would give it a one, but instead I give it a two, not really worth watching.