4314

Lazy, hazy day! Managed to get my laundry done though. Laundromat was busier than usual. It's the weekend so people are doing their chores. It was not as quiet as it is in the middle of the week, but I got it done. In addition, I ran some errands and took a nap after I had grabbed a bite to eat. Picked up some DVDs and some books of stories.

Dreamed last night that I was in a theater. I was evaluating the layout of the place. I was involved in designing a new and larger place that had multiple screens and other innovations. I was studying how people were interacting with the existing systems. The data were going to be used to come up with the new design.

Got a call from LL this morning. She's still thinking about moving back from HI. Why, I don't know! It sounds like she's in paradise. But she wants to return and will probably do so by the end of this year. No new news regarding the H's and their renter situation. GH said something about a possible meeting with an arbitration panel, but not sure when that will happen. Probably never if the tenant can manage it.

4315

Had an acupressure session today. First in a while. It was wonderful! My body really missed the weekly bodywork session that I've been getting for some time. Need to look into how to get a weekly body session back on my agenda.

Also had a good workout with the PD weight training session. We had a trained body worker do today's session. He pushed us a bit more than we've done so far. It felt good and seemed to leave me refreshed.

Dreamed last night about driving. I was on some rural curvy roads. It was an energetic dream.

4316

Today's class was movement. It quieted me down. Each day a different intervention that leads to quieter times.

I had a big lunch (hot and spicy chicken with vegetables and rice). I came home and slept for a short time. Got an update from the H's regarding their unwanted tenant.The whole thing has turned into a real mess. They can't just evict her. They are going to have to resolve it through mediation or the courts. Meanwhile, they have this unwanted person living in their home. It appears that the woman has pulled off this scam before and knows exactly what she's doing to maximize her stay. I feel for the H's and what they are going to have to do to reclaim their space.

Dreamed last night that someone pulled up several carts that were filled with stuff that I owned. In each cart, there was metal case. Each case contained objects that once were mine, but that I had put aside long ago. Their were books, clothes, chess board, shoes, miscellaneous gear, and much more. I spent some time looking through the cases, but in the end just left things where they were.

Acupressure session tomorrow! Practitioner is back in town for a short time. Can use some manipulation. Looking forward to it! Also got a call that PD weight training class is on tomorrow afternoon. Lift them weights!

4317

PD exercise class today. We did some walking with trekking sticks. Felt good! I could get into the rhythm of the poles and my gait.

The H's drama with their delinquent renter continues. They are still planning an intervention on Saturday. Hope all goes well. The renter is not making any efforts to get out.

Heading over to the H's tonight for a movie night. Will hear the latest news from them regarding Saturday's events.

4318

PD dance class took place today. It was a fun time even though I was feeling somewhat logy. There were quite a few people there.

I came home from class and zonked out for several hours. If the heat hadn't awakened me, I'd still be asleep. I've become quite attached to my afternoon naps.

Dreamed last night that I was in a place where all manner of creatures were housed. I was responsible for feeding the caged animals. Each creature had a unique door panel where food was put into the cage. Also, each one had a unique mix of food items. I used a long pole and placed the food items in the door slots. I had to be careful to not get bitten or hurt when the animals leaped for their food.

Watched a movie from Macedonia called Before the Rain. It was a complex film that played in three parts. The parts were overlapped in the storyline. It was an intriguing and visceral film. "Time never ends. The circle is not round." It made a statement about the futility of war, any war, and a war's effects on people's lives.

PD exercise class tomorrow. Moving on! The H's may have found a solution to their delinquent renter problem. Hope so! Otherwise, it could have been a mess.

4319

CW dance class today. Learned a new intermediate dance called Celvis. It's danced to a piece of music where Celine Dion sings along with Elvis. The dance is really difficult. It has an odd rhythm. Perhaps I'll like it better as we do it more. For now, it's a maybe.

The H's are having problems with the person who supposedly rented their rental unit. Apparently, she hasn't paid any rent. The H's are planning on moving her out this coming weekend. The whole thing sounds messy. Not something they need to be dealing with at this time. GH is still recovering from his kidney stone surgery.

Dreamed last night a two-part dream. The first part had me figuring out some kind of scenarios. I was mapping out the possibilities regarding routes a person could take to move around a complex. I had created dozens of alternative routes and was walking someone through the options.

The second dream had something to do with feelings and emotions. The first dream dealt with logic and analytics. The second was more about intuitions and hunches. I don't remember the details of the second dream.

I watched the Gatlif movie Tengo. It was a strange film. Nearly every scene was designed to show off flamenco music and dance. The story line was really secondary. The ending was a total mystery--shots of engines running with overlays of a man dying. It had a couple of spectacular shots, but was somewhat boring--especially when the flamenco scenes went on and on.

Also watched a film called The Red Tent. A story about an Italian expedition that got stranded trying to reach the North Pole. The film used a gimmick to set up the action--a ghostly gathering of spirits of people from the expedition that appeared in a man's dream. The whole thing would have been better if there had not been a gimmick, but a natural telling of the actual story. The movie had some good actors (Peter Finch, Sean Connery and Claudia Cardinale). They helped make it bearable, but not enough to save it.

4320

Dreamed last night that I was in an office. It was like a waiting room. There were several people there. There was music playing. I was dancing and singing. The lyrics of the music were something like "I'm getting better! I'm getting well!" There was a really positive atmosphere in the place. I felt relieved and released. It was an interesting dream.

It's been a long weekend or so it seems. I went back to bed this morning after eating some breakfast. I slept for another three hours! I finally got up and out for a while.

CW dance class tomorrow. And another attempt to get a DVD from the furtive library system. Dancing and books! As the world keeps turning!

4321

Welcome to the full moon! People were driving today as if they were being propelled by the forces of the lunar fullness.

I went on a library hunt today. I thought that a DVD I wanted was at the EPA library branch. When I got there and looked for the DVD, I discovered that it was at a RC branch. I went to the RC main library and discovered that it was at the RC-Fair Oaks branch. I went to the RC-Fair Oaks branch and discovered that it was closed on the weekends. So, I'll make the trip there again on Monday. Oh well, I got a tour of the library system.

LA called and we met for a pastry. She's still looking for work. She's sent resumes and had interviews, but nothing has materialized, yet. She learned that one place was checking her references--that's good news!

We bumped into HMcA at the pastry shop. She was busy working so we didn't visit with her.

4322

Up in the Air--that was the movie I watched tonight. It was a piece of fluff that was whimsical and entertaining. Not a great movie, but a bit of fun. It stars George Clooney, who does a credible job as the protagonist in the film. Movie is bittersweet given the condition of the economy and the scenes of people being fired.

PD weight training today! It was a bit of a scramble but it felt good to do the exercises. The scrambled mood was triggered by the instructor who was improvising what to do. The session could have used a bit more structure, but it's good to have the class.

I took GH to the medical offices this afternoon. He was concerned about the status of his kidney stone operation he had earlier in the week. He needed a ride to the clinic to get things checked. Turned out he was fine. He just has to heal some from the effects of the surgery.

It was BH's birthday today. She went to HMB with her son for a birthday dinner.

4323

Watched the Crazy Stranger last night at the H's. It was the third in a trio of films about gypsies. The second chronicled how the gypsies migrated from India to the rest of the world. Crazy Stranger was more of a story about a young guy who tries to find a gypsy singer. I enjoyed both of them for different reasons.

Also watched Gypsy Caravan about a troupe of gypsy musicians who do a tour across America. It contained lots of singing, dancing and performances. The troupe represented four different cultures (Indian, Romanian, Spanish and Macedonian). The film shows how they discover their commonalities as they perform together. The world is filled with interesting diversity!

Went to movement class today. It felt good, as usual. Have a PD weight training session tomorrow.

4324

PD exercise class today! It went by quickly. It was a very full class with more people than usual. Didn't get a nap in the afternoon. It too went by quickly.

Off to the H's tonight for a movie. GH had some kidney surgery (stone removal) and is back home. He is well! So tonight he'll roll a film called Crazy Stranger--the third film in the trilogy about gypsies. The director is Tony Bratlif (Michel Dahmani). He is an instructor in a film school in France and an expert on gypsies.

Dreamed last night but right now I don't remember any details. Dream my life away!

4325

PD dance instructor got held up in traffic so we didn't have a regular dance class. We ad libbed and conducted our own class. It was a lot of fun. Missed having the teacher.

Watched a documentary, Balseros, about the Cuban boat people. The film followed several individuals and their families as they left Cuba on makeshift rafts, ended up in Guantanamo, and finally made it to the US. Not all happy endings as you might expect. Unfortunately, it was a depressing story--true but depressing.

Got a call today from TD. She sounded low. She is struggling with some medical issues and some depression. It was good to hear from her. I wish her well.

Had a chaotic, convoluted dream last night. It involved a woman, a child, and myself. There were some ominous overtones to the dream. Everything seemed dark and tense.

PD exercise class tomorrow. Perhaps a movie night with the H's.

4326

CW dance class resumed today. I was a bit creaky this morning and felt like I would have difficulty dancing. But when I got to class I seemed to loosen up. I danced well and was only slightly tight afterward. It was good to dance. The music really helped me move. PD dance class tomorrow. Keep on dancing!

Watched a German movie about a scheme by the SS (based on a true story) to flood the British and American economies with counterfeit money. The film is called Counterfeiters. The SS used prisoners (who were Jews) to make the fake bills. It was a super secret project that succeeded in creating over 130 million pounds and the capability to produce US dollars. The prisoners still underwent a lot of hardships, but they fared better because their skills were needed. The film was well done and is very informative on this little known incident.

Dreamed last night that I was working with a modeling system that HP had created. I was using the modeling system to create difficult to replicate images. I didn't have any of the documentation that explained how to use the system. I was figuring out how the system worked by using it to create a set of images. It was challenging work and very satisfying.

The little Kusina eating place is struggling. I noticed this past weekend that they were not open on Saturday. Today they had posted that they are only open for lunch during the week. Too bad! Their food is really tasty. Hope they stay in business.

4327

I watched a movie tonight that I knew would be tough to see. It was Awakenings--the film about the real life story of a doctor who experimented with a set of patients who were severely "frozen." They were people who had post-encephalitic neurological disorders. The doctor gave them L-Dopa which brought them out of their frozen states, but not permanently. They awakened for a short period of time, but eventually sank back into their original states. I had seen this movie at some time in the past, but it was very absorbing now given my current issues. I can't say I enjoyed the film, but it was informative.

CW dance class tomorrow. We've been off for a couple of weeks so it will be a challenge. But moving is the way to go. Didn't nap today. It was still warm. Heat and sweet!

4328

Watched the Hurt Locker film tonight. It somehow wasn't as visceral as I imagined it to be. It was intense but not all that spectacular. I haven't seen Avatar but I suspect I will find it to be the better of the two despite the Academy Awards.

Dreamed a lot last night. Most of the dreams were replays of actual events--people, places, and activities--from my life. The dreams (memories) spanned a wide slice of time from early childhood up until a few years ago. It felt strange dreaming about memories. I was aware in the dreams that I was remembering things. It was a bit like watching snippets of film based on my life.

I slept in late this morning. I got up so late that I didn't have breakfast. I ended up eating a brunch. It was a bit cooler today but still uncomfortable. The heat goes on!

4329

Did a PD weight training class today and my laundry. Not at the same time! Did laundry early since the weight training class is held in the afternoon. Both went well! The weight training was more of a challenge than other classes/activities. I realize how weak my muscles have become. I was working with 3-pound dumbbells, but I could tell I was being pushed. Class is still small but I expect people will start showing up.

Watched a Polanski film tonight--The Pianist. It's about the struggle of a man who was caught up in the German invasion of Poland--how he persevered and survived what for most was a sure death. He was helped by several different people including a German officer. His was a miraculous escape and survival under the horrors of those times.

It was really hot last night. It took me a while to get to sleep. It's a bit cooler tonight but still muggy. Nothing in particular planned for the morrow. It's been a busy week. Waiting to see what the next week brings!

4330

Hot, hot, hot! It never really cooled down from yesterday. Just one continuous swelter-fest with muggy, humid heat. I was sweating in today's movement class. I don't think I've ever done that before. It's late now and still humid. Some coolness when I sit in front of the fan.

Watched a movie tonight--The Dying Gaul. It was a movie about the movies and the lives of people who are enmeshed in movie-making. It was a more sinister, sad, and not as funny Laurel Canyon. The focus was more on the sexual (gay, hetero, bi) activities of the protagonists and what that produces in their lives. The story line involved the use of the Internet, chat rooms, and spoofing that seemed added to give the film a sense of currency. The whole plot could have been done in other ways that weren't so digital. There were slight technical inconsistencies that made the digital theme weaker. For example, everyone used bulky cordless telephones even though they had wireless Internet connections.

Dreamed last night about three women who were singing. The dream was no doubt influenced by the movie I watched at the H's--Latcho Drom. The movie was a vivid documentary about gypsies and their migration across Asia and Europe. It was quite a film.

PD weight training session tomorrow--come shine or come shine! Perhaps also some laundry!

4331

PD exercise class today was well attended. Things were somewhat truncated because the room was scheduled for an event in the afternoon. One of the regulars, asked me if I was interested in being a patient greeter. I said that I was interested. He is looking into who I have to talk with about such an activity. It will be good for me to have such a role.

Heading to the H's tonight to watch a movie. Will be good to get out. It is really hot and the apartment is a sauna. Will also be good to see and visit with the H's.

Got an article that talked about slow movement and its effect on the body's pain-related issues.

Dream well!

4332

PD dance class today was great! There was an exercise we did that left me joyous. I was blown away by how good I felt as I did the exercise. It was pure joy!

Dreamed last night that I was in a row house (a long set of rooms). I was there with two other people. We were each in one of the rooms. The rooms were filled with debris left by previous tenants. We were sorting through the piles of stuff and sorting everything into two piles. One pile was stuff that was going to be thrown away. The other pile was for things we thought we might be useful. It was a tedious process and the amount of junk in each room was astounding.

In a second dream, there was a big brawny guy in a baseball outfit sitting across from a small puny guy who also wore a baseball outfit. The big guy was introducing activities that were variations of accepted baseball activities. The smaller guy was making motions that the big guy blocked and parried. It was clear that the big guy was going to prevail. He was a lot bigger than everyone else and didn't care what he had to do to get his way.

PD exercise class tomorrow. Looking forward to the activity.

4333

Passed my written and vision tests at the DMV today! Huzzah! Lets me drive legally for a few more years. I ended up going to the RC station. It was crowded, but the process only took about an hour. They've created a new waiting protocol since I was there last. It's much more efficient and moves people through quickly. It's like a deli counter--you get a number and then they direct you to an agent. The agent I worked with said I had 20-20 vision. On a clear day, I can see!

Tonight's movie was Atonement. A period piece set in days of the second world war, it had a strong cast. It garnered seven Oscar nominations and deserved getting such attention. It was a story about a young girl who out of spite and confusion tells a lie. The lie affects her family's future in many ways. She finally achieves some measure of atonement, hence the title. Good movie!

Dreamed a crazy dream last night. There were contradictions in the flow of the dream, which I was aware of as I dreamed. I was in a car and was making my way along the coast. I was searching for a way to get down into a valley that paralleled the coastal ridge. I came up to a house and I pulled into the driveway. There was a side building that had a open door. I went through the door and realized that the way through was narrow. There were lots of steel traps on the floor that had been placed there to stop bears from entering the hallways. The traps were not armed, but might have been at some time. I managed to get through the house and out into the back yard. There was a boy sitting there. I asked him if the path down to the valley was through the woods. He said it was but that he could show me a way via the road if I gave him a ride. I agreed (since I realized I was about to leave my car). The boy had a skateboard. He was going to a skateboard derby in the valley. It was fortunate that we had met.

It felt good to deal with the DMV and get the tests done successfully. I was somewhat anxious about the whole thing. I had some trouble getting to sleep last night. My new license photograph looks like it came out well. A bit less hair than my old image, but still some light in the eyes!

4334

World cup is over until it starts again. Spain wins! So does the octopus! It picked Spain. I think it predicted all of the final winners. It's reward? Perhaps it escapes the sushi bar!

I decided to take the DMV plunge in the morrow. Heading there in the morning to see if I can pass the written and visual tests. Here's to good fortune!

This week looks like a busy one. DMV, PD dance, PD exercise, movement class, Wednesday evening at the H's, PD weight training class, plus many errands and such. Onward and onward! Just need to win the lottery to top things off. May the good numbers roll!

4335

I was a little sore and tight today from the weight training session on Friday. Felt good but just a bit slow and creaky today.

Heard today that it was the 50th anniversary of To Kill a Mockingbird. I coincidentally watched the movie last night.

I'm planning on heading in to the DMV on Monday and take the written and vision exams. I need to review the rules of the road tomorrow to prep for that adventure. I can practice the exam questions online.

It's been quiet today in the neighborhood! All is well!

4336

The PD exercise class felt good today. It was a bit more strenuous than other classes I do, but felt good. Today's class used light weights so it went beyond just stretching. The muscles had to work more. I can feel the results but it's a good sensation. Will be interesting to see how I feel tomorrow.

Watched To Kill a Mockingbird tonight. Good film! I had seen it before and a lot of it was familiar. However, it has been a while since I saw it so it was also fresh. Gregory Peck played Atticus Finch in an understated way that made the whole film work.

Dreamed last night a two-part dream. In one part, I was in a house that was being abandoned by the people who had lived there. I was looking at the place as somewhere I might like to live. The inside was empty except for a few odds and ends. There was a lot of repair work that needed to be done but it was mostly superficial stuff. Walls needed fresh paint, carpet needed replacement, and fixtures needed repair.

The second part of the dream was on a bus. There was a group of us. We were some kind of team. I noticed that nearly all of us wore clothes of nearly the same color--blue. A couple of us wore some other colors. We were headed to some kind of event where we were scheduled to perform. The mood was light and jocular. We were singing and telling a lot of jokes..

4337

Movement class today! Felt good even though the normal instructor was not there. It was cooler today which helped keep things on an even keel.

Had a good dinner with the H's last night. They also invited a friend of their theirs, E. He's quite a funny person. Many good laughs!

Dreamed last night that I was in a town that was built up the side of a mountain. The houses and stores were nestled vertically up a steep cliff face. I was trying to get to an airport that was at the top of the cliff. I had decided to go to the very bottom of the cliff and walk along the streets and byways that tunneled along the base of the cliff. There was a river that flowed along the base. I walked through all manner of shops as I made my way. I could look up and see where the airport was located. I walked along until I was below the airport. I then made my way up the cliff roads to the airport. There was a second part of the dream that had something to do with visiting places along the ridge of the cliff after I had made it to the airport.

Watched a movie, The Double Life. It is an older b/w film starring Ronald Coleman, Shelly Winters and others. It was a drama about an actor who took on the personalities of the roles he played. He mixed up what he was doing offstage with the characters he played onstage. While playing Othello, he became a real life murderer. It was a well done film and came off nicely. The film garnered several Oscars and Academy nominations.

Wrestling with the idea of going to the PD weight training class tomorrow. Will decide as the day unfurls!

4338

PD exercise class was today. It was a bit more drill and practice than smooth and flowing. Regular instructor was not there today and we had the lady who does more "exercise" related sessions. She's starting a weight training session on Friday.

Dreamed that I was with a large family. I was not related to the the family; I was a friend of someone who was related. The family was very open and generous. During the time I was with them, they sponsored many meals and celebrations. As the dream continued, they put together a massive celebration that allowed hundreds of people to join the festivities. They were milling around the family's property, eating, drinking, and talking with each other. There were huge car lots filled with vehicles that people used to get to the celebration. At one point, I was driving around and around looking for a parking space.

Having dinner with the H's tonight. Look forward to the visit.

4339

Tuesday without incidents except for dental work. No classes! Still experiencing memory dissonances. I failed to take my medication this afternoon. I would have sworn that I took it, but my schedule got off (dentist, late meal, etc.) and I didn't take a dose in the afternoon. Interesting thing is that I didn't feel any difference. I just now noticed that my pill box still held the afternoon dosage. Hmmm!

Dental work went smoothly. The dentist is good. Found out that the health insurance notices that I've been getting can be ignored. The dentist office has it under control. Nice to know!

Watched a movie called The Strange One. It starred Ben Gazzara and George Peppard in their first film roles. A number of the actors were in the play and were transplanted into the film. The plot revolved around a sadistic sociopath who was doing things that were affecting the careers of his schoolmates. I can see that the story played well on the stage. There were a lot of tense, close scenes that would stir up an audience. The film was tense but not as much as I think as in the play.

Checked with the DMV today and tried to get an appointment in RC. No openings until mid-August. Amazing! May have to go to SM for the tests. Have a PD exercise class tomorrow. Also have a dinner with the H's tomorrow evening. Looking forward!

4340

Day after the big boom! Managed to sleep in this morning. Apartment complex was relatively quiet. People still on vacation.

I watched a movie, Synecdoche NY. I was astounded! It was like I'd never seen the movie previously, which I have. 90% of the film was like brand new! Where has my mind gone?

When I saw the movie the first time, it made an impression, but apparently not much of one. Freaky! Am I losing my memories so completely? Time and events have mushed together both over the long term and recently. But I'm amazed at remembering so little of this film. I stopped it half way through and tried to recall how it would end. Zippo! I remembered nothing. Where have all the moments gone? Gone away! Gone away!

Dental session tomorrow! Get the cap for tooth #2. I remember that I'm scheduled to be there. At least I remember somethings!

4341

July 4th! The fireworks are over. For a moment, I couldn't figure out what all the racket was about. Then I recalled that it was the big 4 of July.

I managed to get up and out for a short time today. I also fell back asleep after eating breakfast. It was sweltering this morning and I conked out in my chair. Felt good to sleep.

Dreamed last night that I was with a team of people. We were configuring a software package for various levels of activity. There were four levels: basic, intermediate, testing and live command. I had been working at the basic level, but got the word that I needed to configure for live command. I was confident that I could do the configuration, but the timing was really tight. I hunkered down and put the configuration together.

I started looking for a new bodywork person. I found a listing for someone who does Bowen Therapy who has reasonable rates. I'll give him a try and see what happens. I got out for a short walk today and some time in the park. I noticed how good I felt just driving around with the AC on. It was better than cooking in the heat.

4342

July, July, July! It'll be the big 4th tomorrow. Fireworks and celebrations! I'll most likely sleep except for the heat. It was slightly cooler today, but not sure about tomorrow. Probably going to be warm.

Watched a mystery movie called Where the Truth Lies. The clever pun in the title reflects the thrust of the entire film. The butler did it! How else could it have turned out? The film was alright, but not great. Lots of sex scenes, but nothing great again.

Dreamed a lot last night, but don't recall any of the details. They slipped back into the pool and disappeared into the cloudy dream waters. So it goes!

Have to start studying for my driver's license renewal. The DMV and me!

4343

Symmetry! The confluence of duplication! Laundry day! Sudden shifts and changes! The miracle of repetition! What am I doing? What is it all about? Where am I going? Nowhere, fast!

Watched an Indonesian film Eliana tonight. It is a gritty look into the backstreets of Jakarta. A mother comes looking for her daughter. The daughter rebelliously looks for her roommate who has disappeared. The mother, daughter and a taxi driver spend the night wandering around the city. It was an OK film but nothing spectacular. The credits indicate that it has been influential on the development of films in that part of the world. That may be so but the film doesn't seem to have that sort of breakthrough cache. Might be so!

Dreamed last night that I was authoring a set of puzzles for a class of students. I was creating various kinds of puzzles and trying to hone down their set up and descriptions. Someone was reviewing my work and giving me suggestions on how to make them clear and challenging. I was scheduled to give the puzzles to the class soon and I was working to get them ready.

Google has changed its news page again. They have implemented a hideous new interface that makes it difficult to just view the news highlights. The feedback has been hugely unfavorable. They had a perfectly workable interface already. The new one sucks!

4344

Movement class today was helpful. It relaxed my system and helped even out my being. I grabbed something to eat afterward and managed to get a short nap despite the heat. I took some of the online DMV test mock ups. I have to prep for getting my license renewed. Have to do the renewal in the coming month. Can't be without wheels!

Watched the movie Seabiscuit tonight. Rocky for Jockeys! A lengthy but good film. I had seen it before, but like so many things in my past it was like seeing it for the first time. Memory! What has happened to my memory? Seventy years in a blur! Fogsville! Oh, yeah!

The good news is that I have no history or very little that I can remember. The bad news is I have no history. It's just an endless day. One long blurred and extended moment without detail, without continuity. The only piece of continuity is fractionated thoughts, bubbles of sensation with tags of ancient dates. I grow old. I grow cold. Shall I wear a cloak of bold? Goonight!