Message 446

Julian, Vanessa, and the kids to me to Heidi's Pies this morning for breakfast to celebrate my birthday. After wards I went with Julian and Beech to Best Buy where Julian bought a 40-inch LCD HD TV to replace one of his that has broken after only four years. It is cheaper to buy a new one that is better than the old one for about the money it would cost to fix the old one. I helped him mount it on the wall when we got home, so now I am back at my condo and can send out this message.

Last night I babysat with Ellie and Caroline while Jason and Susan went out to dinner with some friends. We watched Ghostbusters 2 together. I had not seen it before, although I did see the original Ghostbusters when it was first in the theaters years ago. I give this one three stars, which I think is how I would rate the original one too.

Message 444

Yesterday I met Helen and Jim at Starbucks. Helen had just returned from visiting her daughter and granddaughter in Seattle. I am leaving in a few minutes to meet them again this morning. They had misread their calendar, so it will be next weekend that we will miss our regular coffee.

Last night after the Friday PBS shows, I watched a DVD of the movie Elizabeth: The Golden Age. I had missed seeing the original, so now I will probably want to add it to my Netflix queue also. I give it three stars.

Message 443

Yesterday I took Beech to his Kung Fu class and to Round Table Pizza afterward. I also read about half of the new Science. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie Defiance. It is based on the true story of Jews in Belarus who survived by fleeing into the forest and fighting the Germans in World War 2. It was quite well-done and is a real epic story. I give it four stars.

Message 442

Joshua took me to The Dutch Goose for my birthday last night. We then tried to fix his computer, but finally decided that he needs to take it back to the place that replaced his motherboard nearly fours ago.

After dinner I watched a DVD of the movie A Love Song for Bobby Long. It is set in New Orleans before Katrina, and has a good performance by Scarlett Johansson. I give it three stars.

I had a nice call from Andrine this morning to wish me a happy birthday. She and Joe are fine.

Message 441

I am celebrating my birthday by watching Annie and doing laundry. Our heat wave has moderated so I took a shower this morning already. Annie is watching an Elmo DVD for now. After I hang out the laundry I may take her to the park.

I did not watch a DVD last night. Instead I watched Why We Fight and Braking the Bank on PBS. Why we fight was a review of the Bush disasters and Breaking the Bank was about Bank of America and Merrill Lynch.

Message 440

I just got back from having breakfast with Vanessa and Annie. Afterward I took Annie to the park in San Mateo and have just dropped Annie with Maureen to watch for a while during her nap.

Last nigh I watched a DVD of the movie Imaginary Heroes. It was a movie about teenage suicide, which I found very unattractive. It had a good cast and was well performed, but I think it was poorly written. I give it 2.4 stars.

Message 439

I just got back from Nealon Park.. Susan and Ellie came to visit me this morning while Caroline and her friend Amanda went for a horse back ride at Webb Ranch, so Susan and Ellie came to the park with Annie and me while Vanessa took Beech to his therapist. Maureen's friend Lynn is dying, so Vanessa dropped Beech off at the park with us and when to visit her and say goodbye. We are in the middle of a heat wave now, so I am going to have to shut my computer down after I send this message (and read the New York Times.

I had a prime rib dinner with Julian and Vanessa and the kids last night. Sunday dinner there is now going to be a regular thing. I did not watch a DVD last night. Instead I finished The Economist and Science.