Message 550

Yesterday I had my usual coffee at Starbucks and did my Safeway shopping. In the evening I hosted dinner for five at Ten Fu. I had scheduled this dinner to take my turn for the monthly dinner group that I have not been able to host since Sally died. However, most of the usual people were not able to come because they had tickets to the Stanford game against Notre Dame or had kids and grandkids staying with them for the Thanksgiving weekend. In any event Helen and Jim and Carol and David Roland and I enjoyed a good meal. After dinner I started reading The Economist. This morning I have already done the laundry and hung it out to dry on the balcony. As I write this message I am watching the 49ers playing Jacksonville.

Message 549

Yesterday I started reading my new Wilbur Smith book. In the evening Joshua brought in burgers and watched the Sharks game with me. The beat Edmonton in an overtime shootout, but they had to come from behind to do it. Marleau got a hat trick, which was nice. Clowe scored the other goal in regulation play, and Pavelski scored the winning (and only) shootout goal. I did not watch a DVD last night.

Message 548

Yesterday watched two NFL games. I was disappointed that the Raiders did not make a better showing against Dallas. I had Thanksgiving dinner at Jamie and Chelsea's home. It was wonderful to see them and the kids. Joshua did not join us. He was still recovering from his football injury. In the evening I watched a DVD of the movie Chasing Amy. It was made by the same people as Clerks and it dealt with much the same subject, namely how difficult it is for people to maintain intimate relationships. I give it three stars.

Message 547

Yesterday I watched a DVD of the movie Spread. I have no idea why it has this title. It is about the singles scene in Los Angeles, and it is not a pretty picture. I give it three stars. In the evening Joshua brought in fish and chips and watched the Sharks game with me. The Sharks disgraced themselves totally and lost to the Chicago Blackhawks 2-7. In their first two power plays the Sharks gave up three short-handed goals. It was a fiasco. Joshua played flag football with a dozen or so friends at his work yesterday afternoon. He had a collision with a defender when he ran a crossing pattern, so he was limping around. He is supposed to come over and watch the football games with me today if he feels good enough to get out of bed.

Ginny and Mary called me this morning. Mary flew to Atlanta and drove with Ginny and Jim to Andrine and Joe's place in Florida for Thanksgiving . They are all doing well.

Message 546

Yesterday afternoon I picked Beech up after school and took him to his Kung Fu class and to Roundtable Pizza. In the evening I watched the PBS shows Nova and Frontline instead of a DVD.

Julian and his family are leaving today to go to Blue Lake Springs for Thanksgiving. Tonight I think Joshua will come over to watch the Sharks game with me. Tomorrow he will come to watch the NFL games with me.

Message 545

I just got back from having breakfast at Heidi's Pies with Vanessa. We are doing our usual Thursday routine on Tuesday this week because of Thanksgiving. Vanessa has a lot of back pain, so I have persuaded her to take 8-- mg of Ibuprophyn every four hours, and not to exercise until the pain is gone.

Last night I watched a DVD of the movie Clerks. I gather it is something of a cult classic, but I had never heard of it. It is cleverly written and is often funny. I give it three stars.

Message 544

Yesterday Julian and Beech came up to watch football with me. The 49er lost again, but the Raiders won a game! By replacing their number one draft pick quarterback with an unknown, they beat the Bengals, a pretty good team. In the evening I went to San Mateo for our regular Sunday family dinner. In the evening I watched the Sunday shows on PBS.