5018-5015

Obama is the candidate! He gave a memorable acceptance speech. He is inspiring!

The GOP machine comes out swinging--McCain names his VP. Someone almost no one knows, but who can help the GOP to appear as if they are for change--even though they won't be eventually.

It's been hot! Scorching weather! Had a tasty lunch at BH's today. GH and I watched another silent film--The Last Laugh. Filmed with almost no text messages that describe the action. Talkies would appear just a few years after these last silent films, but the directors seemed to be anticipating the coming technology--they relied totally on actions to communicate the story--and it worked!

Will be cooler over the next few days. That will be welcome! Had and acupressure session today--feel much better than I've been feeling. Also went to PD exercise session on Wednesday. Felt good! Have to do more exercise! Feels right!

5023-5019

The 2008 Olympics are completed. Gold runs in the streets of Beijing. The final ceremony was almost as spectacular as the opening one. Incredible images!

The end of last week and the weekend passed in a haze. I stayed up late several nights watching the final efforts of the athletes. It was inspiring--the payoffs for hard work and dedication.

August winds down. This final week will see the launch of the political Olympics, and the deluge of political droning from the media. This too shall pass, but painfully no doubt!

Off to BH's/GH's today for a luscious lunch and movie. Clear blue skies! RB's in town! Will meet him for dinner some night this week. PD exercise class this week and an acupressure session since LM's back in town. Finishing up my reading--time to pick up some more books. The beat goes on!

5024

Went to a PD exercise session today. Good to be exercising again--missed not doing last week's class. We did a time trial exercise today. The instructor had marked off a 200 foot square in the exercise room. We were asked to walk continuously for 5 minutes and see how far we could travel in that time span. I made seven loops or 1,400 feet! The walk was done to some music that encouraged a quick pace--about 125 beats per minute.

I think I was the fastest in the room--not that we were racing! the instructor recorded our distances and we'll do it again each class to see how we progress. It's a good adjunct to my regular walks. A couple of the "racers" took a spill--they fell over trying to get unstuck from finding themselves in a frozen posture. I did experience feeling somewhat buzzy and a bit tired after the exercise. I felt somewhat "light" from not having lunch (I don't eat lunch until after we finish the class). My system is really on edge!

We also did a set of exercises that involved rolling balls with our feet. We used a set of balls--a tennis ball and a set of three smaller balls. Felt good on the feet and brought some energy into the feet and lower legs. It seems that I could spend the whole day doing exercises if I want to try and forestall symptoms.

The beat goes on!

5026-5025

Last few days have gone better. I've given up and slept more, ate more carefully, did some walking, tried to focus on positive thoughts, read, and watched some of the Olympics.

Had a good lunch at BH's/GH's yesterday. GH and I watched Gold Rush with Charlie Chaplin. It was an updated version of the original movie that included a dubbed sound track with CC doing the voice over. The stunts and acrobatics were brilliant. This movie may have been his best. It cost nearly a million dollars in production costs. That was incredible amount of money at that point in time.

Have a PD exercise class tomorrow--missed not having one last week. We were asked to bring in an example that represents something we would still like to accomplish. I've written out a poem that I wrote some years ago--it represents something I would still like to do--write and publish some creative works. It's amazing that I recall that piece of verse. I couldn't find a copy of it, but I managed to recreate it. The mind is a marvelous thing!

BMX competitions at the Olympics tonight. Don't think I'll stay up that late. Feeling better when I get more sleep--even though the total amount of sleep is huge! Go with the flow! And the flow shall set you free!

5033-5027

Where did the week go? Into the time-gone-by can! Had a somewhat busy week in some respects. Lunches and movies with BH/GH, no exercise session at PD institute so had to try and do some work on my own, no acupressure session, laundry, lunch with friend P, son from SoCal and his family on town for a visit, Olympics phenomena, and miscellaneous meanderings.

Experiencing ups and downs with my well being. Got out of sync/pattern last week--staying up really late, sleeping in on the mornings, feeling heavy and dull. I keep feeling like I want to be doing things--but not clear what or how. I continue to feel tired and lacking in stamina. Keep expecting a surge, a splash, a burst of energies. End up zoning out instead. Can't uncover the spark that will ignite my actions.

Full moon time! May the lunar energies expand!

5036-5034

Olympics! The opening night ceremony was stunning. It was one of the most spectacular performances that I've ever seen. It was an elegant mix of high technology and people power. It was a Cirque du Soleil on steroids (not actually--after all it is the Olympics).

The rebroadcasts run late into the night and many events are not shown. It would be nice to see some of the omitted events, but there's only so many hours in a day.

I got to sleep really late last night (this morning). Day was half over by the time I got up. I was quite foggy most of the day. Will have lunch with BH tomorrow. Time to watch more of the big O!

5038-5037

What was 13x13=69 all about in my last post? 69 is 3x23. 13x13 is 169. Oh, well! The mind goes where the mind does go--all else is background.

Had another "sleep leaping" dream last night. I was battling someone and I dreamed that I jumped out to grab his arms. I threw myself off of the bed and hit the floor head first. I got a rug burn on my temple when my head hit the rug. Of course, I awoke as I smacked the floor. I climbed back in bed and fell back to sleep.

Saw the Stroheim film Greed with GH today. Watched the edited version that was a bit over 2 hours in length. The original director's cut was over four times as long. It was another film that was made in the late 20's just before the talkies started being shown. Wasn't as innovative as Eisenstein's work.

It's 8/8/08. An auspicious date! The Olympics is underway! Spectacle upon spectacle!

Got an email from my sister wishing me a happy birthday. Sent her a mirrored wish for hers. Good to hear from her.

5040-5039

Finished the Murakami book, After Dark. It was too short--wanted to read more, hear more about the characters. They were all left hanging--they came together by coincidence and after an overnight set of interactions went their ways. In the context of the situation, it makes sense that they all disperse and the stories end. I would just have liked to read more. I'll pick up his latest work, a memoir, and see what he does with that.

13x13--I'm 69! Heading for the big 70! Where have all the days gone? As I mentioned to my friend, P, together we have a 150 years of experiences!

Went to PD exercise session today! We did a brisk walking exercise that felt really good--it was done to music. I felt great doing it! She also had us do a manifestation exercise where we visualized some creative act that we would like to be doing. Everyone was asked to bring an example of what was visualized at our next session (which is in two weeks).

Dreamed last night a two part dream. One part involved traveling through some forest trails. In the dream, I could slide down the trails as if I was skiing. I sailed along and felt really alive. A second part of the dream involved camping out with a large group of people--somewhat like a commune. Everyone in the camping area knew each other. Tasks and resources were shared. It was a very detailed set of dreams--very physical and tactile.

5044-5041

Took truck into tire shop this morning--had a nail in a back rear tire. Went to Firestone's and they fixed it with ease.

Had a delicious lunch with BH. After lunch, GH and I watched two Eisenstein films--Battleship Potemkin and Strike. Amazing technique given the time the films were made (1920s) and the scope of each production (huge number of actors, action sequences).

Picked up several books from library. Got a copy of Murakami's latest novel--After Dark. He is such a good writer. His plots are simple and rely on a host of random elements that conspire to create complexity and intrigue. He has a memoir that was just published--look forward to reading it.

Dreamed last night that I was at a train station. I was trying to figure out the schedules and was having difficulty finding a train I was supposed to catch. At one point, I was walking on a sidewalk across from the station. A couple of police vehicles were parked near an intersection. I was walking toward them and the policeman were looking at me as if they were going to stop me. Suddenly, they had some messages broadcast to them and they jumped in their vehicles and sped away. I continued walking toward the train station.

Heard some taiko drumming this weekend--at PA Obon festival. The drumming looks like something that would be great fun.