4191

PD dance class rehearsal went well today. Will be nice to get back to non-rehearsal mode after the showcase.

It's been really cold today and this evening. My symptoms are more present when everything is colder. I slept some this afternoon when I returned from class. It felt good to cover up and go quiet.

Watched a Russian film tonight--12. It's a take off of 12 Angry Men, set in modern-day Russia. The men are jurors in a murder case. Their deliberation reveal personal things about each man which causes the other jurors to switch their votes about the prisoner. The movie is a bit long but is well done.

Dreamed last night something to do with a job. There were documents involved that were critical to the work being done. I was tapped to help decode the documents and ferret out the procedures that the documents provided.

4192

Read a chapter of the Unconsoled with the H's today. We had a warming lunch of clam chowder and quesadillas. GH made the quesadillas with the ingredients he picked up at the Mexican grocery.

Watched Kill Bill 2 tonight. It has been a while since I saw KB 1, but today's film recapped enough to lay out the whole story line. Not sure I'd like to see these two films again. Tarantino is obviously talented. His subject matter is tough to swallow even though it's comic book-like.

PD dance class resumes tomorrow. Yeah! I ended up sleeping quite a lot over the last two weeks with classes on hold. Will be good to start moving more once again.

Dreamed last night that I was in a large auditorium. There was some kind of event scheduled that could be appreciated by families. There were lots of kids. One child spread a blanket on the floor and curled up and went to sleep. There was some issue with proper tickets, but it got resolved.

I'm feeling out of sorts in some way. Keep feeling like I'm out of control and can't get myself organized. Just feel like sleeping. Sleep to knit up the raveled sleeve of care... Ah, yes! Perchance to dream!

4193

Another cool one! Last night and tonight! I slept a lot today and did nothing much as well. The daze go by! In about an hour today, I reviewed my life to date. In my mind I went back to events and places, and managed to dredge up some details. I was amazed to discover I had traversed the many years in just an hour. A little over a year a minute! What a trip!

Watched a classic western movie--Seven Men from Now. I just picked it randomly from the return bins at the library. It was done by a well known director/writer (Boetticher) who gained fame doing straight ahead stories and plots.

Dreamed last night that I was running in a cross country race. I had run the route before but last night I seemed to go off track and end up on the wrong course. I was running with some friends and it was embarrassing to have them follow me down the wrong routes. It felt good to be running though. In one part, I charged up a steep hill without breaking stride.

Tomorrow the daily activities/classes restart. Looking forward to having places to go and moving about once again. Holiday periods suck!

4194

Awoke to more rain. It's not quite as cool as it has been, but I still had a heater on most of the night. I slept a lot today. It felt right to wrap up and stay warm, sleep and relax. I finally got up in the early afternoon and went out for a warm meal.

Dreamed last night about being in line for a job. We were being given documents that looked like identity badges or passports. I noticed that if the covers were duplicated that personal information would be transmitted. I pointed this out to the man who was distributing the documents but he didn't seem to care. The job was some type of hi-tech position dealing with the fabrication of a huge electronic device.

Watched a fluff of a movie tonight--A Good Woman. It's a film based on an Oscar Wilde story. The plot was clever. It dealt with two women, one of whom was the mother of the other younger woman. But, the daughter didn't know that the older woman was her mother. So a lot of innuendo and misdirection got created as the truth unraveled. It was a pleasant film with good actors.

During this break in classes, I'm finding myself at loose ends. The day seems to last forever; the hours drag by as if the world clock is winding down. And I'm having to battle the cold. The weather people said that there might be hail tonight. Early, deep snows have blanketed the mountain ski resort areas. Crowds of people are sluicing down the slopes. Meanwhile, I'm sloping down the sluice or some variation of that condition.

4195

Cool day! Getting even cooler now. A cold Thanksgiving day!

Went to the H's for a T-day feast of crab, brussel sprout salad, and baked sweet potato crisps. Also a fruit dessert with sorbet and chocolate treats. Sparkling blood-orange juice as well. We watched the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes film. It was quite good--we didn't fall asleep after eating.

When I got home, one of the neighbors brought me a delicious turkey sandwich with a side of fruit in kefir. It was a treat. I wasn't going to eat it right away but it smelled so good that I made it gone.

SoCal son and family are dropping by tomorrow. It's been a while since we've seen each other. Be good to see them.

4196

Cold and moderately wet today! Tonight's forecast is for nearly freezing weather.

Turkey Day minus one! The big day hits tomorrow. Lots of traffic and people out shopping today. I took GH to pick up some items for tomorrow's feast. I was a bit foggy when I returned home but didn't nap like usual. Will be heading to his house tonight for a movie night.

I slept with the heater on last night. Will do the same tonight. Staying warm! You betcha!

World seems to be in its normal state of chaos. Financial problems, threats of conflict, countries making decisions that cause people harm or distress--a never ending set of actions and inactions that create chaos and uncertainty. Will a day of thanksgiving change things? Let's hope so!

4197

Another coldish day! Some rain as well but the temperature was low. Napped in the late afternoon as the day grew more chilly. Feels like winter!

Picked up some movies from the library. Realized I picked up The Ice Storm, an Ang Lee film that I had seen before. I watched a bit of it and decided it wasn't worth a second screening. Watched a film called Cellular instead. A thriller/suspense movie where the cell phone was the principal player. It was an unabashed product placement with a lot of car crashes. The story was loosely based on the Rampart C.R.A.S.H. police scandal in the LA police department. The film's story line was tense and tight but very improbable in many ways.

Dreamed last night but don't recall the details. Found some sparkling blood orange drinks to contribute to the Thanksgiving celebrations. My SoCal son and family will be in the area this weekend. Will be great to see them. Time to crank up the heater and pile on the blankets.

4198

Spacey day-o! Ate, slept and muddled about. Had lunch with GH. We ran some errands and read another chapter of The Unconsoled. I didn't nap in the afternoon. Didn't feel like I wanted to take a nap but now I'm feeling a bit wonky.

Watched a movie about part of the Tudor legend--The Other Boleyn Girl. It was focused on Mary Boleyn, the sister of Anne. She had a son with Henry VIII who was never acknowledged because he was born out of wedlock. She narrowly escaped her sister's fate. It was a well done film boiled down to the essentials regarding Mary's role in the upheaval that took place at those times.

Dreamed last night that I was riding in a bicycle rally. For some reason I was late for the start of the event. I arrived at the starting point and was riding alone for quite some time. Finally I saw two young riders returning to the starting area. I waved to them and kept on pedaling along the route. At one point, I could look down and see the finish line. There were lots of cyclists crowded around the finish line. I kept on going and finally completed the route. I was a bit vexed that I had got there late and missed riding with everyone else in a group.

My wireless modem is acting up. When I turn it on, it doesn't boot up immediately. I have to flick it off and on several times before it starts working. I don't like having it on when I'm not online. I assume it will eventually not turn on at all. Until then, I have to play flip the switch to get it to start. Technology!

4199

Rainy, sunny, windy day! With a dollop of coolness on top! For some reason, the day seemed to go by in a fog. I'm having trouble remembering how each day passes. The near-exact repetition (eat, sleep, eliminate and miscellaneous variations of errands) makes one day seem like the other. Yo ho ho, and it's off I go! To where? It all seems the same somehow.

Watched another French film with a dangling ending tonight--Summer Hours. It was a contemporary movie about a modern family who have to deal with their mother's estate after she passes away. The story centers around a family home filled with artifacts of several persons' previous lives. The children have to confront the issues of keeping things as they are or selling off everything and going on with their busy lives. It was a well done film but still ended up with no ending or conclusion even though everyone agreed to sell off everything.

Dreamed last night that I was in a remote house (not unlike the place in the film--precognitive dream image). I wanted to go from the house to the nearest town. I asked someone for directions and was pointed to a path that followed the highway and ended up leading to the town center. Once I was in the town, I encountered a man and his caregiver who were out walking. The man had a cane and had difficulty walking. However, he still maintained a brisk pace. I noted that he had PD. He seemed not phased by his affliction and could walk quite quickly.

I also met a second man and his caregiver. He too manifested some difficulty walking but kept up a brisk pace. He also had PD and didn't seem limited by the illness. The dream was bright and clear. I talked to both men and we had conversations as we walked together.

4200

Rains have come! There was the sound of raindrops throughout most of the day. Made doing laundry a bit more fun. Ran the heater last night and today. It was wet but it was cool. Winter is a'comin' in!

Watched a French movie tonight--Lorna's Silence. As with a lot of French films, it had an ending that left everything hanging. Story was intricately convoluted with a whole scam involving fake marriages that drove the action. In the end, it didn't resolve enough to make me feel complete.

Dreamed last night but lost the thread of the dreams when I awoke to the sound of rain. Days seem to be long for some reason. I spend a minor amount of time doing a few things and the hours seem to drag by. I napped this afternoon. But am feeling tired now and ready for the beddy! Bonsoir!

4201

Had a wonderful acupressure session (with tuina) today. Came away from the session (and on throughout the day) feeling really good. I even had a dental hygiene session in the afternoon that did not leave me shaking. I was able to relax during the dental work. I had a lot of buildup on my teeth. Can't seem to brush enough and properly to keep my teeth and gums healthy. The hygienist used a new form of irrigation where she was spraying a antibacterial all the time she was cleaning. Cost me $100 extra but will see if it has any effect. Always something new that they can do.

It's raining and it's cooling down quite a lot. I was really hungry by the time the dental work was complete. I had a chicken breast sandwich and a rich chicken/corn/mushroom soup.

Made a library run and picked up a stack of stories and a few DVDs.

Dreams were fuzzy when I awoke this morning. I know that I was dreaming but they melted back into the twilight memories. Will do the laundry tomorrow. Onward and onward! People will be out in droves shopping for Thanksgiving.

4204

Movement class helped smooth out symptoms today. Still a puzzle how doing so little seems to help so much. Will be getting an acupressure session tomorrow morning. Looking forward to it!

Watched a movie The Louisiana Sky. It was a feel-good film that got a lot better in its last half. The first part of the movie was a setup for the ending and conclusions. The last half of the movie was emotionally engaging with the help of a death and a hurricane.

I think I dreamed a lot last night but don't recall any details. I'm still adjusting to DST and the new clock settings. I slept a lot today but what's new about that. Time for some more!

4205

Got a haircut today and picked up a green shirt for the PD dance showcase (dark trousers and green shirts). Watched a Kaurismaki (Finnish) movie with G and E tonight. It was Lights in the Dusk--the third in a trilogy that includes Man Without a Past. It is not a particularly strong movie but it has K's style throughout (colors, episodic scenes, holding on a shot after the characters have left the frame, and so on).

Have a movement class tomorrow. Temperature has dropped tonight. I'm feeling like I want to eat some food--something hot, crunchy, and spicy. Too late to go out for anything tonight. I'll survive without munching on something.

I started thinking about moving again today. I jumped outside the box and started toying with ideas about moving to another country--someplace where I can survive on my limited funds and can afford the kind of care I may ultimately need. The Internet lets my synapses do the walking! There are places such as India, Ecuador, and others. I think I should get moving while I'm still relatively mobile. Thoughts and dreams!

4206

Got truck serviced today. Nothing surprising! No big problems that required attention.

Watched a film about Cuba tonight--Bitter Sugar. Good movie! Done in B/W and had some great closeup shots with wonderful contrasts. Film was a condemnation of Cuba's policies, told from the viewpoint of a young man who was brought up in the revolution. The film had several surprising twists and turns.

I'm spaced somewhat tonight. I'm tired despite taking a good nap in the afternoon. No PD class tomorrow. I can sleep in if I choose to do so. Will see when I awake in the early hours.

4207

Last dance class today. It was a fiasco! The teacher's IPod was on the blink--or rather both of her IPods were trashed. So we didn't get to dance all of the dances we have learned. Technology!

Watched De Sica's Umberto D movie. It was well done. When it was first shown it was not well received. But over time, it was given better reviews. He used two complete novices for the leads. Both were absorbing and very natural. Overall, the movie was a little slow, but it told a good story and held my attention.

Took GH around today on some errands and read him a chapter of The Unconsoled. I have trouble focusing for the time it takes to read a chapter. In part, it is my glasses--I need to get them replaced. No PD dance class tomorrow. Will get my truck serviced. It's time for some new oil!

4208

Turned warmer today. Weather was clear and balmy. Drove GH around doing some errands. Felt good to get out. I was feeling somewhat anxious early in the day. Napped and slept some in the afternoon. Feeling a bit better tonight. Didn't generate any momentum regarding cleaning up this place. I start to think about it and then just want to lie down and sleep.

Watched a gritty film, Tsotsi, about an African gang leader who accidentally kidnaps a baby. The event changes his life. The film was based on a story by Athol Fugard. It is a bit gory but worth seeing. It paints a limited picture of street life in today's Africa.

Last CW dance class tomorrow. Classes will resume in January--long break.

Lots of email traffic regarding the possibility of slipping in a dance rehearsal for the PD dance class showcase. I think the Thanksgiving holiday will trump pulling together a quorum.

It's quiet right now. A stillness falling around everything. It's going to be a jumbled few weeks. Classes on hold and various events happening. Would that I had more energy! Let there be life!

4209

Dreamed a wild dream last night. I was in a youth corp and was being reviewed by a Hitler-like dictator. The dictator was watching us as we marched past his review stand. He was waving at us and smiling. I was both attracted by his attention and was feeling uneasy by it. I seemed to know that his seemingly pleasant persona hid a dark and dangerous being. I was concerned that his intentions for us were not genuine or for the good of the people. I wanted to break ranks and yell out my suppositions. But, I did not! Instead, I continued marching.

I spent the day in a torpor. I couldn't do anything to motivate movement or activity. Finally made it out to run some errands and grab some food. The Whole Foods store was packed with shoppers. They were doling out sampler plates with Thanksgiving food. Very tasty! A hint of the holidays. I took a short nap when I returned, falling asleep sitting in my chair. Watched a bunch of the TV shows that aired this past week. I'm growing tired of watching several of them, especially the ones with scenes that are in dark settings. It's like they are only showing a blank screen. Wonder if they are as dark when broadcast instead of being streamed on the computer.

4210

Weight training went well today. Didn't have new heavier weights, but still got a workout. Perhaps the lifting moderated my symptoms since I've had less dyskinesia today. Still had some but it was lighter and less frequent. Good news!

I've been keeping warm and that also ameliorates symptoms. Didn't nap this afternoon but am tired now.

There was an effort to pull together a PD dance showcase rehearsal. Don't see it happening. It's too close to Thanksgiving and people's calendars are filling up.

Had some intricate dreams last few nights but don't recall any details. Weekend arrives! Will probably sleep some although next week is going to be less busy--classes are on hold for a few weeks. Need to get some work done on the truck--oil changes and such.

4211

Movement class felt good today. I was experiencing more of what I think is dyskinesia from the medication. Everything quieted down with the movement class. The shaking returned in the afternoon about the time I was taking my second dose. I slept some and awoke shaking. I got up and watched some TV shows. Everything stayed somewhat quiet during that time. Will see how things go as I head for the bed tonight.

Have a PD weight training session tomorrow. Lift those weights!

4212

One last PD exercise class today as we head into the holiday season. No classes for the next two weeks. Back at it in early December for a few weeks and then it will be the Xmas break. The same break in schedules also happen with other classes. Will have to set up a plan that spans the breaks.

Watched a documentary on Daniel Ellsberg centered around the release of the Pentagon Papers. Makes for a gripping tale that plays out with Watergate and the impeachment of Nixon. Where was I when all of that happened? I must have been in a dream state.

Went to a lecture on PD treatment options today. It was quite informative. The physician who gave the talk knew a lot. I came away though with a sense of dread about the illness. The disease is so idiosyncratic and presents so many faces with each person. I've been having what I think are dyskinesia expressions possibly from the use of the medication. Have to investigate.

Movement class in the morrow. That will be fine!

4213

PD dance class today was fun. We practiced our December showcase. Everyone is getting into doing the performance.

I came home feeling tired. Slept in the late afternoon.

Watched a movie, Winter Solstice, in the evening. Kind of an unfinished story--everything was left open at the end--unresolved. I could make up scenarios for what was likely to happen, but the movie just stopped short with all of those dangling possibles.

PD exercise class tomorrow. Looking forward to it. May go to a PD presentation in the early afternoon. Will see how I feel when the time comes around.

4214

CW dance class went well today. Lots of people not attending so plenty of room on the floor. Only one more class next week and then a long break--classes resume next year!

Had to turn on the heat--it's been chilly! PD dance class tomorrow. Have to go early so we can rehearse some before doing a run through.

Watched a couple of movies tonight--Dark Water and Under the Biltmore Clock. Dark Water is a Japanese thriller (not quite a horror) about a lost girl and a woman who keeps getting glimpses of the child's ghost. It's a somewhat scary movie but gets dragged out so much that the terror never really builds. Under the Biltmore Clock is an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald story. It was well done, had a few good chuckle-points, and was well acted in the lead role. It was brief and tightly made.

My internal clock is still adjusting to the DST reset this past weekend. I'm starting to get back into phase with things, but it's thrown off my eating, sleeping, and medicating times. Hopefully, I'll be back on track in a few days/nights.

4215

New neighbors moving in this morning. Lots of noise and such. Rains falling. Showers on and off throughout the day. Damp and cool! Not my favorite conditions.

Had several active and strenuous (at least in the dream state) episodes. One involved me running along a hiking trail. I was jogging swiftly, really running for all I was worth. There were times when I ran by other people, but no one was keeping pace with me. At one point, I watched an approaching hiker slip and take a bad fall on a steep incline. When I reached him, he assured me he was alright. He was holding a baby but had not dropped the child as he fell and flopped about.

Another dream involved being a roommate with several people in a boarding house. The landlady was like Mrs. R, the elderly lady who rented rooms where I once stayed. Me and my roommates were quibbling over some incidental issues that had to do with our use of the bathroom, kitchen, and living areas. It was nothing of importance, but we were talking about everything with a lot of passion.

Watched a movie tonight (this afternoon--DST has distorted my time sense) Desert Bloom. It was about a young girl growing up near the A-bomb tests in the 50s close to Las Vegas. The story was a bit too contrived and ended with some totally unbelievable scenes. I found myself waiting for it to conclude--not out of curiosity as to what would happen but just it would be over.

I started cleaning this place today. Will continue to do a little each day. It won't take that long. I feel good physically after today's session (which hasn't been true up until now) and can handle the tasks. It's been a while since the place has been cleaned, but it's not in really bad shape. I'm living light or so it seems.

CW dance tomorrow and reading with GH. Turning on the heat tonight for a while. Will take the edge off of the night coolness before I hit the bed.

4216

Daylight Saving clock changes tonight--and we fall back! We can sleep an extra hour.

Did my laundry today. Not many people at the Laundromat. Had a huge sandwich in the afternoon (grilled chicken with avocado, lettuce, tomato on dutch crunch with potato salad). Ended up taking a nap after downing all that food. Woman came into the cafe with her mangy dog. She's a regular. I'd never seen her dog up close. It looked awful. The creature had lost most of its fur. It was like a giant rat.

Dreamed last night that I was traveling around in various cars. I was driving down roads that were somewhat familiar but that I kept discovering that I seemed to be lost. I'm not sure where I was going. I just kept ending up on the wrong road.

So it's early to bed tonight--sort of. Time marches on! Or marches in some direction!

4217

Lift those weights! Went to the PD weight training session feeling heavy and tired. Came back feeling light and strong. The session felt like it was easier than last week. Guess that the effort is showing results. Trainer said he would be bringing in heavier weights next week. That will up the ante some.

Had a late lunch that tasted really good. Didn't nap after eating. So, I'm feeling it now. Soon to the bed I will be going!

Dreamed last night that I was in a technology company. The boss was going to have to lay some people off. He was procrastinating which was causing everyone to feel uncomfortable. There was something like a set of data files that everyone was given. In the files, there was encoded data concerning the layoffs. I had decoded my files and knew that I was being let go. I didn't bother me all that much but I was still nosing around for a way out of being let go. The company was like the last tech company I worked for where we were putting computers in classrooms.

Laundry day tomorrow! And have to do something about cleaning up this place. It's been a long time since it's really been cleaned.

4218

Movement class got bigger today. Another student joined the fray. It's better with more people. I didn't nap this afternoon so am feeling tired now. Early to bed tonight.

PD weight training class tomorrow. Right now I don't think I could lift anything. A good night's rest will help restore my strength.

Need a green shirt/top for the Xmas PD dance showcase. Can't believe I don't have a green shirt. I discovered I almost don't have anything that's green. Blues, blacks and grays! Reds as well! But no greens!

Don't remember my dreams from last night. Don't even recall dreaming. Needed some deep sleep, I guess. Dream away the night tonight! Let there be dreamings.

4219

PD exercise class today. I found today's exercises to be challenging--more so than usual. I came back from class (after getting something to eat) and collapsed for a couple of hours. I'm not feeling as good as I did last week--I'm back to being in a fugue with the symptoms. No rhyme or reason!

Watched Pather Panchali tonight with the H's for movie night. An amazing film! An extraordinary work. It can survive multiple viewings. The DVD version has been masterfully restored. The film was a little difficult to watch on VCR--the DVD remedied any problems.

The H's asked me to Thanksgiving dinner. Will be fun!

Movement class tomorrow! All's well that moves well!

4220

And the House (of representatives) comes tumbling down. GOP pulls off an upset! The Senate looks like it will stay in the Democratic hands, whatever that means. Our new (old) governor looks like he out bid Meg-a-Millions. Thank goodness there is still some sanity in the world. Proposition 19 went down though. No taxes from weed!

We did a rehearsal in PD dance class today. The December showcase is coming together. The instructor is a dynamo--she's an inspiration! Me and a partner get to do a lead dance solo in one of the sections. It will be a joy! It already is!

Watched a quirky movie tonight called Adoration. Still not sure how the title fits the film. It's a story about a boy who is encouraged to write a fictive story about his dead parents. The story leads him and others in his life down paths of discovery that would otherwise be left in shadow. It's a good film, but a bit unresolved in its final stages. It's a very modern film that utilizes today's technologies as a backdrop for the boy's actions.

Dreamed last night that I and several other people were going to fly some small planes to an agreed upon destination. We were all supposed to meet at this remote airfield. It took us a while to all arrive there. I got lost when I took a wrong turn and ended up on a dead end road. But, we all arrived finally and began our flights. The dream ended while we were en route.

4221

Slept in this morning and was late for CW dance class. Missed the opening dance. I felt like sleeping the day away, but managed to get up finally.

Giants have won the World Series--in a blowout! Aside from the 3rd game they steamrolled the Rangers. Joy in SFO tonight and tomorrow. Not much joy in Texas.

Elections tomorrow! Probably going to be bad news for the Democrats. The world is upside down.

Watched a grueling movie tonight--The Machinist. It was a convoluted story about a man who does a hit and run and then goes off the deep end with guilt. The lead actor lost an incredible amount of weight for the part. He got down to 127 pounds. He looked like a dead man. What some people will do for art.

I felt pretty good today. Had some regression with the symptoms, but am still feeling somewhat better. I napped in the afternoon. PD dance class tomorrow. Have to go in early for some rehearsal. Heading for the bedding now!