Message 223

I had dinner yesterday at Maureen's. Her whole family were there. Josh was invited too, but he has a bad cold and felt like he had better stay home and rest up.

Last night I watched the commentary on the movie Ray. It was quite interesting. I was very impressed by the movie.

I may try to get a haircut today. I don't know if the barbershop will be open though.

Message 222

Merry Christmas! I am writing this before I go up to have breakfast with Julian and his family. The place we went for breakfast yesterday was not very good, but the movie Australia yesterday was nice. I give it three stars. I was an old-fashioned movie, three hours long, and a grand spectacle. The good people were good and the villains were bad. The scenery was grand. The aboriginal people were all heroic and noble.

Last night I watched a DVD of the movie Ray. It was excellent. I give it five stars. I never heard of Ray Charles until 1963, and I never owned one of his records, but I was familiar with most of his music that was featured in the film. As a musical biopic, it was very well done.

Message 221

I am going to breakfast and the movie Australia today with Helen and Jim and Joan and Dave Abrams, the people I have coffee with on Saturdays. I will let you know tomorrow what I think of the movie.

Last night Joshua came over and brought in burgers from Dutch Goose to eat while we watched the Sharks game. The beat Vancouver 5-0. They scored five goals within 2 minutes of the start of the second period, and then coasted for the rest of the game.

Message 220

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi's Pies with Vanessa and both kids. Beech does not have his regular school because of the holidays, so he got to come with us for a change. We usually go on Thursday, but not this week because of Xmas.

Last night I watched a DVD of the movie Donnie Darko. I give it 4 stars, because it was so innovative, and dealt with serious subjects. However it was a little too gloomy for my taste.

Tonight Joshua is coming over to watch the Sharks game. His car is not drivable anymore, so he is borrowing a car from his boss to tide him

Message 219

My cold is not getting much better. Yesterday I called and begged off of attending the Xmas party at the Rohans because I did not want to infect the other people there. I figure I have another week or ten days before it runs its course. I am debating whether to take Zithromax, but it does not seem that bad yet. In other words, I do not have a fever, so I do not think a secondary infection has set in yet.

Yesterday I watched three football games. The 49ers and Raiders both won for a change. The Raiders were blacked out because the game was not sold out, so I watched Seattle beat the Jets. In the evening I watched the Giants barely beat Carolina.

Later in the evening I watched the San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker on PBS.

Message 218

Last night I was watching the Sharks play the NY Rangers when Judi called and asked if I would like to go to a movie with them. I said sure, so they picked me up at 9 PM. The sharks were ahead 3-2 in the middle of the second period, and I still do not know won. Maybe later I will log on to their web site to find out.

The movie we saw was Seven Pounds with Will Smith. He is a good actor, but I thought the premise of the movie was so absurd that I only give it 2 stars.

I am supposed to go to a party at Dennis and Therese Rohan's this afternoon, but I have come down with a cold so I may decide not to go so I don't spread my germs. The party starts at 4 PM, so I will call about 3 PM with my regrets if I decide not to go.

Vanessa said she was going to bring me chicken soup. I don't really feel like eating, but I suppose chicken would be good for me, so maybe today I will watch football and read the Economist and dose in my easy chair.

Message 217

Last night I went to the dinner group at Morrills. The eight of us who went to Ireland a couple of years ago were able to get together because the Willetts were visiting from their new home in France. They come back twice a year to visit their daughter and her husband and son. He is their only grandchild, and is now eight months old. After we finished eating the men did the dishes while the women sat around and talked in the living room, which is the tradition. I started this tradition several years ago because before whoever was the host couple had to do it all after everyone went home, and it was more fun to do the dishes as a group. Also, the women did all the cooking for the potluck dinner, and I thought it would be better for the men to share some of the responsibility. This dinner has been going continuously since 1975, so it has lasted 33 years now.

I am waiting for Helen and Jim to call to meet at Starbucks, which is another routine that has been going on for at least twenty five years now also.