4283

PD dance class today--a short one. Instructor had to leave early so class was truncated. Still felt good to move and dance. We did some individual movements that were "passed" around the circle. Some of the interactions were quite moving. I did a contraction and expansion that opened my heart and flooded me with joy. Receiving and giving--dance into the stars!

Watched a quirky movie tonight--The Bothersome Man. It was a surreal piece about a man who is dropped into a place where everyone is nice. No one is upset about anything. He doesn't quite fit in with how that place functions. He finds a man who has discovered a connection into another place. But he is captured and sent away before he can fully explore the other place. The film was Scandinavian and relied on a cool, sharp look. Lots of Scandinavian furniture.

Dreamed last night that I was with some people on a troop carrier. Most of the people on the truck were real looking while others were ghostly and pale. We were trying to get everyone seated so the carrier could take us away from a battle area. There were countless delays as we tried to sort through everyone's paperwork. The pale people caused the most problems because their papers were not in order.

Tried a Thai place today that I had noticed but had never gone to. The food was flavorful and tasty. I think it will replace the Filipino cafe that closed. Changes, changes! PD exercise class tomorrow!

4284

Dreamed last night a bunch of scenes from my life. They were memories of things I had done, people I had known, and events that I had experienced. It was vignettes from many times in my life, replayed like a bunch of video clips. In between the memories from my life there were dream segments that were not replays of actual events, but interactions with people and places I hadn't known about. The remembered events were crystal clear as they were replayed. It was an amazing set of dream images.

Watched a Romanian movie The Way I Spent the End of the World. The movie was about as clear as the title of the film--not very clear. It was set at the time of the collapse of the military government. The story revolved around a young boy and his older sister. The film had a few moments, but overall it was meandering and somewhat confusing.

PD dance class tomorrow! Looking forward to the class. Let there be dance!

4285

Sun ray Sunday! But still a coolness in the air. Slept a lot today. Feels so good to sleep. Sleep the day away!

Dreamed night before last that I was watching a race. The racers were on bicycles or motorcycles. The track was a set of roads that surrounded a large house. I was in the house and could look down on the raceway and follow the action. At one point, two of the racers were in a sprint against each other. There was a bus (blue) that was slightly ahead of the racers. The bus was filled with spectators who wanted a seat in the middle of the action. The bus and the racers came to a tight curve. The bus went out of control and crashed through a barrier and went over drop. The bus smashed into the bottom of the drop area, rolled several times, and landed upside down. People were running toward the crashed vehicle to try and help the passengers.

Last night, I dreamed that I was responsible for creating a build of a new piece of software. The new build had to be ready for a presentation the next morning. I had plenty of time to create the build and verify that it was working. However, something happened to the build files and I created several versions that did not work correctly. As time went by, I started to become anxious. I wasn't sure I could make the build in time. I awoke from that dream feeling anxious.

Watched a movie tonight--Five People You Meet in Heaven. It was an odd film about a guy who dies and meets up with five people in heaven that he connected with when living. The film was a fantasy and a morality story about what we do in life and how that affects others, and ultimately ourselves. It was a fairly good story and was well done in many ways. But, the morality parts were a bit awkward and stilted. It had a couple of big name actors who did good jobs given what they had to do.

August winds to an end. No dance class tomorrow. Another day of rest!

4286

Cool day! Did my laundry in the late morning. Missed the afternoon crowds that wake late and do their laundry even later.

Watched a film called Kormornik--a Polish film about a debt collector. It was a good film that followed the activities of an official who was focused on doing his duty no matter the cost to the people involved. That is, until he tried to collect from a person that he knew. His metamorphosis ensued and he faced down the bureaucrats and his superiors. It was a quirky film with dismal shots of a Polish city as background.

I went downtown today and found myself in the middle of the art festival. Streets were crowded and there was traffic everywhere. I scooted out of the chaos and came back to CA Ave. Had a chicken sandwich--I felt the need to have some protein. I came back and slept for a few hours. Sleep was good!

4287

Had a PD weight training session today. I'm noticing how much I'm toning up even though I'm only using weights once a week. Also getting some exercise with other classes as well. Feels good! Will start to do more weight work at home with the weights I already have. Everything helps! It all adds up.

Watched Slumdog Millionaire this afternoon. Quite a good movie! Surprisingly so! Solid script and good story. Film was well done especially given that it was shot on location. That had to be a challenge. Will have to check to see if the H's have seen it. Be interested in their comments about the film.

Dreamed last night that I was in a huge complex of buildings and rooms. People were queued up all over the place. We were waiting in lines to get access to seats or spaces for some events. It was a convoluted process. We each had some sets of tickets that determined where we could go. We could use our tickets to gain entry to several different places. We had to choose a place we wanted to go and get in that line. We could abandon a line and get into another one, but there was no guarantee that the other lines would move and faster. Also, certain lines would frequently announce that their venue was full. People left in those lines had to move to other lines. There was a lot of movement and jockeying about.

Laundry tomorrow! Oh, joy!

4288

Movement class today! And it was a lot cooler. The heat of the past few days was oppressive. Temperatures were in the 100s everywhere.

Watched an Italian movie tonight, Days and Clouds. It was a good film. It portrayed a modern Italian couple who get mired in the problems that arise when they loose their sources of income. They attempt to hide their condition from friends and acquaintances, but all is eventually disclosed. The film folds back on itself in a believable way. The actors were quite good. It was worth watching.

PD weight training tomorrow. Lift them weights! High ho, high ho!

4289

PD exercise class on this hot, hot day. It's supposed to be cooler, but it was still sweltering everywhere. There were quite a few people at the class.

Had trouble sleeping last night because of the heat. I had the fan running all night.

Heading over to the H's for a movie night. Hopefully, their place will be cooler than my place here.

Feeling heavy from the heat and not being able to take a nap in the afternoon. Waiting for the cool to come!

4290

PD dance class today was invigorating. We're preparing a performance piece for sometime in December. Today, we began some of the blocking and movements. It will be quite moving based on some of the glimpses shown today.

I watched a long, drawn out Chinese film called In Love We Trust. It was about a dilemma involving a sick child and her separated parents. The story was moving but it was spread out over a host of repetitious scenes, killing its impact. It would have been better as a short-short. The actors were good but weighted down with long silent scenes.

I dreamed last night that I had been given a sheet of paper with blank boxes. I was supposed to fill in the blanks with mathematics problems. I was not following directions and my paper was empty when time was called. There was a second, similar dream that involved some actions that I was supposed to accomplish. I don't think I was successful in that dream either.

It was incredibly hot today. Had to be over 100 degrees F. More of the same tomorrow. Can't beat the heat!

4291

Hot, hot, hot! Summer weather finally came through. Tomorrow is said to be more of the same with a fallback on Wednesday. Not soon enough for me!

No CW dance class today so I slept in after getting up later than usual. Used the relative coolness of the morning to maximize my sleep time. Ended up getting up and out in the early afternoon. I bumped into HMcA when I stopped to grab a bite to eat. We talked for a while. Saw a few other people that I know as well. Kind of a social day, at least in the morning.

Dreamed I was with the guys from the men's team. We were meeting to go over some project that we were going to do together. MD was there as well as all of the others. As I left to attend the meeting with everyone, I watched some punks throw beer cans out of their car onto my driveway. I was annoyed with them, but elected not to confront them, but head for the meeting.

Watched a tedious movie tonight--Devarim. An Israeli film that was boring to the extreme. It was the director's first entertainment film (he had done lots of documentaries). It was awful! I had my finger on the FF button often.

PD dance class tomorrow along with more heat. Global warming strikes again!

4292

Went with GH to a Midsummer Night's Dream event today. We were there for about four hours. His part went well and was brilliant. The rest of the time was boring and exhausting. I was happy to get out of there. They were supposed to have a brunch. They had a bunch of snack foods. I was starving by the time the event was over, we got back to our cars, and I headed home. I made a stop at Whole Foods for something to eat. I can't skip meals like I did today. Makes me shake!

Watched a movie tonight from France (Belgium) called Sabine. It's a documentary about a woman's sister who is autistic. For me, it was a difficult film to watch and absorb. The care taking that the woman required was real but exhausting to watch. I was somewhat tired from the afternoon events and yesterday's seminar, so watching Sabine struggle iced it for me. I'll be glad to hit the bed tonight. No CW dance class in the morrow so can rest some. Adieu!

4293

Went to the Stanford PD seminar on Maintaining Hope. Had to get up early in order to be there by 8:30. I walked to the conference and back. It was held at a hotel that's about 0.5 miles from my apartment. I was probably the only person out of the 200+ attendees that walked. It felt good to have made the mini-trek.

The conference was inspiring. The keynote speaker was David Phinney, a professional cyclist. He told a story about never quitting. There were panels of people with PD and caretakers. There was also an interesting talk by a neurologist on the topic of wisdom and cognitive dissonance with PD. Overall, I'm really glad that I went. I gained some perspective on how I've been holding the fact that I have the illness. I've been doing a lot of wait and see instead of being more proactive. The event took up the entire morning. I came home tired and I ended up sleeping quite a bit in the afternoon. Starting to feel more back on schedule tonight.

Watched the movie Straw Dogs. An intensely violent film that seemed to me to be too pat, too contrived. It was a powerful film, but somewhat flat and drawn out in ways that would not really happen. The violent scenes near the end of the movie reminded me of Clockwork Orange with CO being the better version.

4294

PD weight training session today. Felt good! Didn't nap today after class since I slept in some this morning. Stanford PD seminar in the morning. Have to get up and out really early. Will be a change of pace.

Watched Enemy of the State tonight. I'd seen the movie before. It's a seat of the pants thriller. The technology portrayed in the film is now fully realized so it's not so surprising. The film holds together well though.

Well, it's early to bed tonight since I have to get up so early. Heading for the dream pillow!

4295

Movement class, a small version, took place today. There were only three of us and that included the instructor. Things come and go. Everything changes!

Will be a busy set of days coming up. Tomorrow have a PD weight training class and I'll sign up for CW dance class and movement class on Tuesdays. Saturday is the PD seminar. Sunday GH invited me to attend an afternoon MP theater event. Busy times!

One of the kids in the complex had a birthday celebration today. They had pinatas and lots of kids. It was thunderously noisy.

I watched a movie, White Countess. It is a Merchant-Ivory production with a boatload (literally) of famous actors. It was a good movie, but not anything monumental. I'd not watch it again. It showcased three members of the Redgrave clan.

4296

PD exercise class today. We did a bunch of different activities. I continue to discover that I have some problems with balance. Standing with feet in tandem requires me to use a touch point to maintain. Otherwise, I tend to fall over.

Heading over to the H's for a movie tonight. People in apartment directly below me have acquired a drum set (or percussion pad). The kids keep using it without stop. I know that eventually they will grow tired of it and move on to something else. But, I may have to say something before that happens. The reverberation in my apartment is annoying.

Dreamed last night that I was making an object for others to use. I had to assemble the items, paint them in some areas, apply decals to the units, and test that they worked. It was a pleasant dream, filled with a purpose, and a sense of accomplishment.

I stopped at a car repair place today to see if they could top up my coolant reservoir. They did so as a courtesy--no charge! That was a surprise!

4297

Took GH to Home Depot today. We found most of the things he was looking for. That place is so immense. I came back and fell asleep for a spell. Got up and went for a haircut. Got a really short cut. I'm getting more and more bald. Soon, I should be able to just shave my head.

Dreamed last night that I was in a huge house. It was owned by a family that was well to do. They let people stay there for various reasons. The place was a bit creepy, but I was there on vacation. I was with a woman and a child. When we got into our set of rooms, I noticed that people in other parts of the building could look into our rooms. I closed the curtains. At some point, the child who was with us (he was a young boy and we his parents) disappeared. He had wandered out a door and was exploring other parts of the house. The dream elements were jumbled and chaotic. Things were not linear, but episodic and difficult to piece together.

Watched the movie Troy tonight. It was a reasonably interesting film. The special effects were everywhere but not all that obvious. Huge cast! The only actor that was really bad was Peter O'Toole.

No PD dance class today. Missed not having one. PD exercise tomorrow. Also a movie night at the H's in the evening.

4298

CW dance class is over for the summer. Classes begin again in Sunnyvale in September. Get a short break. My feet were heavy this morning. I slept well in the afternoon.

The small food place in MV with delicious Filipino dishes has gone out of business. Too bad! I was getting meals there several times a week. The price was low and the quality of the food was high.

Watched a movie called Storm. It was about a woman who was prosecuting a war crimes case at the Hague. It was a legal thriller that was very well done. The actors were really good. The script was tight and engaging. The movie was one of the Film Movement pieces.

No PD dance class tomorrow. I'll be heading over to the H's to drive GH to Home Depot. No word from BH regarding a session with the Bowen Technique person.

4299

Watched a movie--Dead Ringers--about a set of twins who were doctors. They had a practice for women and used their likenesses to get close to the same woman. The whole film was sleazy--in both concept and story line. Technically, it was an interesting challenge to use the same actor for both parts. But, the content was dreary and outrageous. The deceptions the twins pulled off were not all that believable--which made the sordid actions and crazy behaviour ring untrue.

I slept in a bit late this morning. Went out and did my laundry. Grabbed some food and ran some errands, and came back and slept some more. Sleep feels so good! Can't get enough of that wonderful stuff.

Dreamed about war and seeing children shot. I think the dream was triggered by some scenes from the Final Cut episode that I viewed on DVD. There was a scene where children tried to block a road and got caught in the crossfire.

Last RC CW dance class tomorrow. Will sign up for the Sunnyvale class that begins right after Labor Day. Also will be registering for the Tuesday evening movement class. Hope enough people sign up to make it happen. BH called and wanted to give the Bowen Technique person a try. Will be interesting to see what he can do with me.

4301-4300

Missed making a post yesterday. Went to hear a band play that the H's told me about. They were playing across the street from where I live. I went to hear them. They had an interesting sound, but it was very LOUD. It made my body shake. I couldn't get quiet. I left after the first set. The place was almost packed. I walked to the place and back.

I watched a BBC set of episodes called The Final Cut. It was interesting. It was like a glimpse inside Britain's political system with some fabricated plot lines. Also watched a movie called Time to Leave. A melancholy story about a young gay man who has cancer and is dying. It wasn't that well done and ended dramatically but with little satisfaction.

Also watched a drawn out Chinese film called Treeless Mountain. It relied on two young girls who were quite good in their roles and photographed really well. But the story line was muddled and very slow in the way it unfolded. I had my finger on the FF button quite a bit.

Dreamed a series of dreams over the past two nights. Dreams about a camera, printers and other odds and ends. They were quite vivid and detailed.

Yesterday was Friday the 13th. Nothing of great portent happened.

4302

Movement class today brought back some CW dance memories. We started moving in a two-step pattern that was triggered by some country music. It was fun!

Heading to the H's for a continuation of movie night. They had picked up a DVD of historic movie scenes. It starts with the silent era and covers up to recent times. Makes for a lot of watching, hence the extended movie night.

Dreamed last night but don't recall the details. I believe the dreams involved kids and toys, but I'm not sure now.

PD weight training tomorrow. Went to a PD seminar yesterday afternoon. The speaker covered the range of PD symptoms and their relationship to the illness. I learned a lot. Have another seminar coming up later this month.

4303

PD exercise class today. Instructor focused on some latest research results that involves verbalizing along with moving. For most PD'ers multitasking is not easy. Today's exercises were difficult as she did things in multimode.

Heading over to the H's for a movie. I've not had a nap today. I went to a PD presentation by a PAMF doctor regarding PD symptoms. The talk was informative. I picked up a set of notes that will help me sort through the flood of data.

I dreamed last night a cool, noir dream. Now, I can only recall the mood of the dream--not the details. The mood was cool and contained, noir and directed.

Got a call today from RS up in Santa Rosa. He sounds great. He and B are doing well.

4304

PD dance today! An interesting series of improvisational moves that created striking tableaus.

I really wanted to stay in bed this morning. I finally pulled myself into the morning and headed for class. Felt good once I was at the class.

PD exercise tomorrow and an information session at the senior center. Movie night with GH tomorrow night. He still is dealing with the unwanted tenant.

Sleep Talkin' Man web site returned online. It mysteriously went silent for a few days. Now, it is back. It has become a daily link for me. It is always surprising and fun.

4305

Learned a new line dance today--Amore de Hielo. It's a salsa style dance done to Latin music. It's a lot of fun. And, I even found the difficult dance we've been practicing was danceable (Celvis--Celine Dion and Elvis singing together).

I took GH to his eye appointment. It took two hours! I read a Reader's Digest story (true) about a man's son who disappeared and the subsequent mystery. It was absorbing.

GH has put up notice of eviction for his unwanted tenant. They have to wait 30 days before they can take action. Too bad! The woman is holed up in the rental unit and only appears to take showers, do laundry, and go to the toilet. The H's are taking it fairly well given the circumstances--they are dealing with it.

Watched a funny movie tonight--Find Me Guilty. It's based on a true story about a gangster who opted to be his own attorney and ultimately derailed a major federal case that was brought on by the government. It was funny and charming. Vin Diesel was the star and, surprisingly, did a great job as the gangster/attorney.

Dreamed something about puzzles last night. I seem to recall doing something with many different puzzles that unlocked some kind of mystery. Oh, well! All is swell! Got a note from my sister regarding the birthday e-card I sent her way.

4306

Cool day! It was really nice at the park. Cool breezes and a crystal blue sky!

Awoke at my regular time but went back to sleep after breakfast. Felt good! Got up in the early afternoon and had a late lunch. Came back and napped for a short spell. Got a call from GH. He needs a ride to the eye doctor tomorrow. I'll take him there after my CW dance class and a bite to eat.

Dreams are misty. Can't recall the details but I'm sure I dreamed.

Watched a French mystery movie--Le Cercle Rouge--The Red Circle. It was a bit drawn out but had an interesting twisty plot. It had several well known French actors in key roles. It was written and directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, a pioneer filmmaker who is claimed as an influence by many modern directors. He founded his own studio.

4307

71 and one day! The clock hands (or digits) keep turning (or spinning). Time marches on! As it was noted in the movie Before the Rains, time never ends--the circle is not round.

I ended up sleeping this morning and part of the afternoon until I could sleep no more. Finally got up and out, ran some errands, grabbed some food, and returned. Watched a movie Ben X. It was about an autistic (high functioning) guy who was being harassed by his schoolmates. He came up with a scheme to get even with them that exposed them for what they were--sadistic bullies and tormentors. The movie relied on video game graphics that were used to show the boy's inner life. It was a intense film, but a bit tiring to watch. Although it did show what the boy had to endure to make it through each day.

The DVD for the film has a short-short about a young girl who's mother has Alzheimer's. It gets across the frustration and helpless/hopeless situation of a young person in this circumstance. So much for happy movies! It was my youngest sister's B-day today--sent her and e-card!

4308

Today was a beautiful day. It was cool and crisp most of the time. The sky was a brilliant blue once the overcast burnt away. A fitting day for my 71st year to be noted.

Had a delicious lunch with PH. She drove over from the east bay to host for lunch and wish me a happy celebration.

I went to the PD weight training class in the afternoon. It was a bit difficult to muster energy to make it to the session, but I did and it felt good. I managed to not get in a nap even though I woke up a bit earlier than normal.

Watched a sappy, silly movie The Girl of Your Dreams. Could have skipped it and would not be the worse for doing so. The only highlight in the film was that it starred Penelope Cruz. She did a striking dance number and also performed as a singer. Striking!

Dreamed the night before about making small, brightly-colored objects. It was probably triggered by the Peruvian movie we watched at the H's--Madeinusa. Also dreamed last night but don't recall any details now.

Day comes to an end! Tomorrow is nearly upon me. Time to dream!

4309

Dental session and movement class today. Dental was not as much fun as the movement class. My gums are in poor shape. I had a lot of tartar build up even though I had a cleaning three months ago. Have to brush more aggressively.

My kitchen has been inundated with an infestation of fruit flies. They have taken over. I have to watch how I toss banana peels. They serve as the breeding source for the flies. I've started double bagging the peels to try and limit their incubation source. Aggravating!

Watched a movie called Deathtrap. A thriller/mystery flick about a convoluted plot by several people to pull off a crime and turn it into a play. It was a clever film but not all that absorbing. It did have several twists and turns, reversals that took the plot off in several directions. Ended in a kind of obvious last turn.

Quiet tonight! A stillness in the air! PD weight training tomorrow. Also having lunch with PH. Will be good to see her!

4310

PD exercise class was challenging today. The instructor is pushing us to do more. We did an exercise that involved stepping in a pattern while keeping a beat that was keyed by music. Doing multiple things at the same time takes some concentration. I slept well this afternoon.

Heading over to the H's tonight for a movie session. Will get an update on their unwanted tenant situation.

Have a dental session in the morning and a movement class afterward. Feeling a bit anxious today for some reason. Onward to the movies I go!

4311

PD dance class was inspirational today. It was a large class and everyone was interacting. When people are moving from a place of play (joy, love, spirit) something clicks. It was a wonderful class. It was even more so since a donor made a contribution that guarantees free classes for a few months.

I still came home and slept for a few hours. It was good that the crew felling a dead tree had finished up. They woke me up this morning with the snarl and screech of chainsaws and a giant chipper. It was awful!

Watched a couple of movies this afternoon/evening. Watched one called Detour that was a ho-hum mystery/thriller. The story was narrated as if the audience was listening to the protagonist's thoughts. Made for a dull film. Also watched a classic--The Defiant Ones. It featured Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. The film has a brilliant script. The protagonists are chained together--a white man and a black man. The story takes the audience on a wide-ranging tour of racism and much more. I've seen the film more than once, but it holds up well.

LA got a job offer. She was out of work for about four months, but has secured an offer that she's likely taking. Good for her! She was a bit worried about getting a job. She felt her age was not in her favor. However, she has much needed skill and experience in the bio-tech arena. So she landed an offer!

PD exercise class in the morrow. Picked up my class card to pay for sessions at the PD Institute. Will use it for the first time tomorrow.

4312

CW dance class today. We learned a new, easy dance. We reviewed the difficult dance we were taught last week. All in all, it was a good class. I came away feeling like I had done some work. I slept a couple of hours in the afternoon, before it got too warm.

The H's began a unique response to their unwanted renter. GH donned a costume that consisted of a sheet that was doused in red paint with a sign that says, "Help! I've been bitten by a vampire!" He went to the local newspaper and got them to take his photograph in costume. He also related the story of his unwanted renter, including what history he knows about the woman. She has a history of finding ways to get into a housing situation where she has no intention to pay rent. GH encouraged the paper to consider a story of his plight. They are looking into it. Meanwhile, the H's continue to pursue eviction. His costume ploy is really gutsy of him--he had to do something to relieve the pressure he's experiencing. Very creative way to release!

An odd coincidence--I picked up a movie this past weekend called La Ceremonie--a French film about a family who hires a maid who is really strange and dangerous. It's not a film that would make the H's comfortable while they are gazing at their touchy situation. Eerie world!

Dreamed last night about working with a group of people who were using an educational product. We were using the product to develop scenarios of how different subjects would be taught in the classroom. We were getting good results in our testing and trials.

PD dance tomorrow! Looking forward to the class!

4313

Sun day! It was overcast in the morning, but the haze has burned off. It's still not too hot compared to other times.

Dreamed last night that I was on a road trip with some other people. We were riding motorcycles. We were traveling through some spectacular vistas, riding fast and hard. The roads were more like trails through the regions we were riding. Since we were moving fast, we had to keep watch for hazards. It was exciting!

I'll be heading over to the H's tonight. GH has a show and BH will be alone while he's performing. They felt it would be good to have someone there with BH while GH was out. Just in case the unwanted renter does anything odd. Must be a bummer to have to guard your own house from someone who is living there. But, it is what it is, and has to be done.

CW dance tomorrow. I ate breakfast today and then went back to sleep. Got up and went out for lunch and then came back and slept some more. The sleeping feels good, but unfulfilled. Sleeping my life away! And so it goes! And so it goes!