3551

Cool day today! Almost too cool but I'll take what it was (is) and loving it compared to heat and hotness. Went to resistance training after lazing away the morning. Good class--felt good! Met with HMcA for dinner. Good to see her again and catch up on things. First time I've had a dinner date in quite some time. Felt good! Bumped in to BlaB as we went in to eat. Haven't seen her in a while. Her dad's doing well. That's good! We had a delicious dinner (asparagus and salmon)! We talked about illness, travel, India, social networking, medicine, doctors, interventions, mutual friends, dancing and more. It was good to get out and about and break up the patterns.

Got an email from LL re moving and finding places to live. Sent her an update on my quest for a new abode and hints regarding places in her area. Blue moon tonight! Blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining!

I'm ready to conk out. Nothing planned for tomorrow--perhaps can begin the grand clean out. Can use the holiday weekend to get started on the purge. Let it be! So be it!

3552

Movement class today! Always relaxing, fun, and feels good! Weather got warm in the afternoon and took energy down a bit. Supposed to be cooler tomorrow though. Resistance training tomorrow and then the holiday weekend starts officially. Fewer classes next week because of the holiday.

Had a multi-part dream last night. In the first part, I was with a woman and we were meeting with RB. He was setting up a rope contraption. We had to climb a really tall tree in order to reach the platform where the zip line device was set up. The woman was fearful--she had never climbed to such a height. She made it though and let herself be strapped into the harness. RB then set her in motion down the zip line. I went next and RB followed me down. It was an exhilarating adventure.

The next part of the dream moved into a workshop or studio where we were evaluating toys. We were examining older, discontinued toys, looking for any that might be refreshed and brought up to date. It was fun pulling out some of the older toys, seeing how they worked, and coming up with refreshment concepts. I think there was a third dream segment but I don't recall the details.

Watched an odd film this afternoon--Masked and Anonymous. It was a fanciful piece built around a legendary singer (Jack Fate) played by Bob Dylan. There were several segments of Dylan jamming with a quartet of musicians (called Twisted Fate) that were great. The rest of the elements involved a never ending parade of well known actors doing cameos that did and did not further the action. All in all it was a dumb movie with lots of good music. Supposedly, many of the actors worked for free (or very little) in order to be in a film with Bob Dylan. The plot sort of matched such an assembly of talents.

3553

Gait and balance class was tough today. Instructor is pushing us to be more intensive with our exercises. Tough is good--except that I feel a bit achy from it all. Movement class tomorrow should smooth this out. Class was big today--filled the room!

Read some more of the Tarot book with GH. Weather was a bit warm today. Maybe cooler tomorrow. Can tell that a full moon is near--people are already driving like fools.

Watched a French film tonight--Illegal. It was a story of two "illegals" who make their way to France. They are a mother and her son from Belarus. They speak French and blend in with everyone until they are stopped and asked for their papers. The action then follows the woman as she is interred by the system. She refuses to give any information that would identify her and endanger her son. Most of the rest of the film deals with the machinations of the system and what she does to get free of the people who are trying to have her deported. Not an easy film to watch--not a lot of indications that such actions will ever be stopped.

Hurricane is a'blowin' strong! People in NOLA riding out another storm! May they be safe!

3554

PD dance and resistance training, plus taking LW to/from class, and ending with an acupressure session--busy day in every way! Also did some shopping and picked up mail, in addition to several other small tasks. No time to follow the GOP convention--thank goodness! Starting to get regular Blocked ID calls from, no doubt, Democratic fund seekers. No ID no talkie! That's my mantra!

Dreams last few nights were tangled tales dealing with being with groups of people, living in rural areas, camping out, and sleeping a lot. Dreams were all slightly erotic, especially in those parts where I was sleeping. Often had several people sharing a sleeping space. In one dream, there were people observing some of us as we slept and encountered each other in sleep scenes. I felt like we were being recorded with videos.

Gait and balance class tomorrow! I was fracked at the end of today's activities. But the acupressure session evened everything out. I felt really good in dance class today, especially when we did some partner improvisations where we took turns directing each others movements.

3555

Core and More today! Tough but starting to feel results. Number of people in class varies a lot but new people keep appearing. I felt wrung out after today's session. Tomorrow is a full day--dance class (including giving LW a ride to/from), resistance training, acupressure, and shopping etc. Good to be having a full week this round since next week will be chopped apart by holiday.

I know that I dreamed last night but don't recall any details now. They slipped back into the mists. More will come! There are no limits on the number of dreams we might experience.

Watched a rework of an older English film--The Italian Job. The original starred Michael Caine as the master criminal who pulls off a huge heist. The newer version follows much the same story line except is is brought up to date (computers, technologies, and such) and the stars are three Mini Coopers (automobiles) that allow for some incredible chase scenes and stunts (like racing through the canals in Venice--in boats before the cars are introduced). The newer version produces a lot more adrenaline boosts but the older version was well plotted and clever--relying less on twists and turns instead of slaloms and drifts.

The newest film spent about $60MM to pull off the stunt-filled project--it recovered about $100MM at the box office.

3556

Laundry done! Not much fun! Not much sun! A tasty bun! No one won! Have to run! Yesterday's memorial for ES stayed with me today. Kept thinking about what was said and the crowd of people that participated. Slept for several hours today--just conked out!

Don't recall last night's dreams. I know that I dreamed but have lost the details. Core and More class tomorrow. Weekend went faster and without too much down time with yesterday's memorial. Doing is better than stewing! Have a full week coming up. Let the good times roll!


Watched a tedious film tonight--3 Needles. It followed three story lines about how AIDS was spread in each of the three small communities. One was set in China, one in Montreal, and one in Africa. The stories were all three a bit difficult to follow and to know what was motivating the people involved.  In China, a woman came up with a scheme of collecting blood and reselling the plasma. Things worked out fine until she sold some contaminated plasma. In Montreal, a porn actor infects his partners but tries to hide the problem. For some strange reason, his mother tries to protect him by contracting the disease herself. Huh? In Africa, three nuns work with a small community, providing assistance, support and comfort. One of the villagers contracts AIDS and spreads it to others. One of the nuns makes a deal with a farm executive to have the man stopped. The overall effect (and maybe that was intentional on the parts of the film makers) was a sense of not wanting to watch the unraveling--just wanted to get it over. It was like experiencing someone scratching on a chalk board with their finger nails.

3557

Went to the memorial for ES today. It was a moving set of statements and readings by his family, friends and people whose lives had been touched by him. It was a large gathering! Over 150 people! The PD dance group did an improvisation in his honor that was well received. He had been dealing with the illness for 20 years. It sounded like the last three years had been the most trying as he became less mobile, had cognitive problems and lost his voice. A lesson in his story for me--keep on working on those things that restrict or limit me in any way. Turn it around! I was both moved and prodded by today's event.

Tomorrow I do my laundry! ES's event preempted my normal laundry day.

His wife, MS, shared a story that involved a transformative dream she had about herself and her relationship. Dreams are wonderful vehicles. I don't recall last night's dreaming but it will happen again and will be lucid.

Watched another wacky movie this afternoon--Rare Exports. It was a Finnish film about a crazy Christmas story. Finns have a strange sense of humor! The film was really campy and odd, but was also funny and totally strange. It was a complementary film next to Hesher. It would be an ideal film to screen in the holiday season.

Quiet here tonight! Quiet and still! I'm beginning to toss out unwanted items--preparing for a possible move. Stuff needs to be purged anyway! So away it goes!

3558

Sailing through the days, sailing through the haze! Had a resistance training class today and felt a bit stronger than I've been feeling. Used the 10lb weights; haven't made it back to the 12lb ones yet. I was hungry today. Ate regular breakfast (fruit and kefir), had lunch (grilled cheese sandwich and salad), scarfed a dinner (fish, potatoes and veggies), and ended with some snacks. I feel better having eaten a lot--I ate lightly yesterday.

Dreamed last night a sort of continuation of previous night's dream. I was associated with a group of covert operatives. I was carrying some sort of contraband (weapons, goods, money, whatever) and was helping move the stuff to a place where it was going to be purchased. There were all manner of double dealing possibilities--in most of which I wouldn't survive. I awoke early! The dreams were tense.

Watched a fluff film tonight--The Dead. A John Huston film designed to give his daughter something to do. The story is based on a James Joyce short fiction piece by the same name. It involves a family holiday dinner where nothing much happens until near the end of everything. The woman (Huston's real life daughter) hears a piece of music and recalls a youthful love. That's it! Nothing much happens after that except the credits.

Tomorrow I will attend the memorial for ES who drowned earlier this month. He was swimming in a MN lake while on vacation. He slipped under and by the time he was pulled out, he did enough damage to his lungs so that he didn't recover. ES and his wife MS were regulars at the PD dance classes. Some members of the class (including me) will do a short dance improvisation in his honor using music and a Mary Oliver poem "The Swan."

3559

Movement and massage! Wonderful combination! Had a relaxing movement class today followed by a light lunch and then an invigorating acupressure session. What could be better?

Dreamed last night a complex dream. I was somehow involved with a group of people who were planning some kind of event. There was a lot of misdirection and subterfuge. I didn't feel comfortable with the group. I clandestinely watched them load up a suitcase with a bunch of items that looked like weapon parts. Many of the items were things I had brought with me on my plane flight to meet with them. I was highly mistrustful of what they were really planning to pull off. I felt that they had only told me a fake story about what I was doing and the role of the objects I had carried for them. The dream ended with me following them when they left the motel where we had stayed.

Watched a wacky/funny/strange film this evening--Hesher. It was about a bunch of misfits that fate brought together and how they coped with the turmoil that ensued. There was a man and his son who had just lost their wife/mother. They lived with a dotty mother/grandmother who was getting older and less functional. The boy encounters a wild man/vagabond who ends up moving into the man's/boy's house as a kind of manic squatter. The boy also encounters a young woman who is more like an older sister/teenager. The woman befriends him. Eventually they all meet during a car accident. The manic man gets more manic. The boy learns a lot about life (some kind of life). The manic man and woman get it on much to the disappointment for the boy (he has as crush on her). There are numerous other interactions and interplays--some funny, some scary, some mean. The weakest part is the young woman--she's almost peripheral to much of the plot/story. The action is mostly with the manic man and the boy.

Resistance training tomorrow!

3560

Gait and balance class was a workout today. The instructor kept us moving and going for the full 1.5 hours of the session. I ended up napping for a while when I got back home this afternoon. I just dozed off in my chair. Feeling good though! My body enjoys the exercise and the movement. And, that's what I have tomorrow--movement class.

Watched a Chinese film this evening--2046. It's a wild movie that is more like a dreamscape than a story. The film is part love story (or stories), part Sci-Fi, part psychological awakening, and lots of CGI (that is used to create the future world--2046). It's not clear, until the film is over, just how all of the initial actions and scenarios fit together. The film is both intriguing and also maddeningly oddly paced. There are two episodes where the screen is frozen and a series of intertitles appear with the following information--1 hour, 10 hours, 100 hours, 1000 hours. Huh!? Forward to the future, slowly!

Also scheduled for an acupressure session tomorrow! Will be wonderful!

3561

PD dance, resistance training and ride for LW today! Busy day! Also a tiring day! The classes and movement ended in a nap sitting up in my chair. I felt a bit weak today. I didn't have as much energy as I felt I needed. Rest of the week is packed right on through the weekend. One day at a time!

Tomorrow is gait and balance and reading aloud to GH in the afternoon. I'm starting to plan some for the possible change of rental places. I have to sort through everything and toss a lot of extra stuff that I don't need. No point in carrying around a lot of detritus. Toss it away!

Watched a thriller/mystery film this evening--The Lincoln Lawyer. It was a cleverly crafted lawyer/mystery film that kept me guessing even when a lot of the mystery had been determined. I mentioned to LW as we drove to dance class that I'd viewed over 1,000 films in the past five years. More like 1,500! Amazing! Almost a movie a day!

Don't recall any dreams over the past few nights. I think I dreamed last night about being in the new rental place, but I'm not sure that's what I did. Dreams, dreams, and more dreams! Let the lucid images flow! All will be unraveled eventually! Even the secrets of the mists!

3562

Turned in my pre-application forms to the senior facility this morning. Found out that there are only about 40 people on the waiting list. Of those, about half have already been given two chances at getting a unit. Third time and they are out (moved to the bottom of the list or expunged--not sure which). But the good news is that the list is relatively small compared to some of the affordable housing facilities.

Core and More was a workout today. Some of the plank exercises are really tough. I slept like a log later in the afternoon when I came back from the H's. New PT person helped with the class. She seems to be knowledgeable. Hope they are planning to keep J though. She's got us started on going for more.

Watched an older French film this evening--Jules and Jim. The author of the novel upon which the film is based was written my Roche (his first book) when he was 73. That's my age! Late bloomers! Good story of a relationship triangle between one man (Jules), his wife, and a close friend (Jim). It's an exploration of the many possible things that can happen once a set of unspoken rules are banished.

PD dance and resistance training tomorrow! Will also be taking LW to/from the dance class. Busy day in every way! Tra-la, tra-la!

3563

Filled out the pre-application forms for the local senior housing facility. Too bad that there's not a way to only deal with this requested data just once. Has to be done on the pre-app and then done again of the final application--and both repeated for every place where I wish to apply. No single data repository that only required one keying session. Oh, well! That's bureaucracy for you!

Will submit the pre-app tomorrow which will put me on the waiting list. Filling out the form sort of zonked me. Gave me some idea of how much I can concentrate. Better than when all this PD stuff started, but still noticeable (at least to me). Core and More tomorrow--that'll help restore the energies.

Watched a good German/Turkish film--The Edge of Heaven. It was done by a Turkish director, Faith Akin. He's done a couple of well received films--Head On and Across the Bridge. The Heaven film is a clever interweaving of three women's lives (and associated friends and families). Their individual actions overlap and touch upon each other often without anyone knowing that there has been these encounters. The film is divided into three subplots that play out in Turkey and Germany. There are lots of cross cultural implications and revelations. An excellent film with lots of very good camera work.

Somewhat cooler today! Still got warm late in the afternoon today!

3564

Got an email from my younger sister! I had sent her a BD greeting but wasn't sure if she still had the same email address. She was out of town celebrating her 70th! It was good to hear from her and that she's busy and well.

Today, for me, was a lazy day in every way. Slept in late! Went out for a late lunch. Came back and tried to nap but couldn't--it was a bit warm. Also kept thinking about the senior living place I visited yesterday. I want to be there now!

Watched a Bosnian film--Cirkus Columbia. It was set in Bosnia and told a story about a man who left 20 years before but had now returned as the country was slipping into war. It was a quirky, interesting film whose primary action was the unraveling of all the various relationships surrounding the man, his ex-family, his ex-friends, his current girl friend (whom he brought back with him). It was a sometimes funny but thoughtful exploration of people whose lives have been turned upside down or soon will be so.

Missed doing a class today! When I move to the new place, I will have options for additional exercise on weekends (workout equipment, biking routes, walking through the park, gardening, and more). That will be good!

3565

Did the tour of the senior living complex this morning. Rooms are small but the rent is also small. I don't need or use all of the space I pay for now. I could make one of their studio apartments work. Each one has a kitchenette, shower, some closet/storage space, a dedicated parking spot (for $15/month), and a garden plot. There are dinner meals five days each week (for $150/month), a small exercise area, washer/dryers, a lending library, computers, WiFi, cable, paid utilities, and more. The place is well located and is walking distance to a shopping center, public library, a big park, and such.

I took an application form and will fill it out and turn it in. That will put me on a waiting list. Not clear how long it will take for me to work up the list, but I can get started and see what happens. The location puts me a bit closer to the PD clinic which is convenient. It's also quiet there compared to my current place and they have a bunch of optional activities for the people who live there. I'm definitely interested. I've discovered that there are tons of similar places--low cost, affordable living places for seniors like me.

I dreamed a multi-part dream last night about working with the toy team again. We were working with older, rejected concepts; reviewing them and changing them into new products. It was a busy dream--I was working with several different teams. It was lots of fun!

Watched a 1970s SciFi film--Colossus:The Forbin Project. It was a take on a rogue computer taking over the world--which it did. It was campy and rigid. The computer presaged the Hal computer character on 2001:Space Odyssey. There was a similarity in the way Colossus talked and reasoned that lived again in 2001.

Resistance class today! The person at the senior place, YS, who gave me the tour was an oddball, funny person. She kept cracking jokes that had us both laughing as we toured.

3566

Set up a tour of a local senior rental complex for tomorrow morning. It's mostly a fact finding expedition to see what's available, how much it costs, etc. Units are much smaller than my current abode but I could survive in a smaller place. Movement class today left me feeling a little antsy but relaxed as well.

Dreamed a complex dream last night. In one part I was driving near a coastal area looking for a cafe. I got tangled up and couldn't find the place. I stopped and got directions and finally made my way to the place. When I got there, I discovered that the place had stopped serving. The waitress didn't say anything directly. She just started closing the place. In a later part, I was in a club where there was music playing. I had taken a seat in a corner away from the rest of the crowd. But eventually there was a crowd of people that reached all the way into where I was sitting. To accommodate all of the people coming in I moved to and end seat. Several people rushed and took over the spot I had vacated. The various dream segments seemed to flow into one another--all parts of a larger dream!

Watched a film tonight--Conviction. It's an Erin Brochovich story about a woman whose brother was convicted for murder. She went to school, got a degree, became a lawyer and took on her brother's case. Through many episodes of hardship and struggle, she managed to get him freed. It was a Rocky film about perseverance and winning. Although in the end, her brother died 6 months after he was released and absolved in a vehicle accident! Fate and circumstance!

3567

Gait and balance, gait and balance! They go together like a horse and valance! Huh? I'm a bit stiff and sore from today's class but it also feels good. The class was almost to capacity. Lots of people making their way to the classes now. The new instructor is a lot more rigorous than the previous person--she pushes us more to our limits. Had a good time today reading aloud to GH--we're reading a small book about the Tarot--what it is and how it works. Interesting!

Watched a movie this afternoon--Missing. It's about a wife and her father-in-law trying to find out what happened to her husband (his son) who disappeared in the midst of a coup in South America. It's a strong statement about U.S. political/military intervention in such events. I'd seen the film before--perhaps when it was first released. I recalled how it unfolded and how it resolved when I picked it off the shelf. It was still interesting and compelling in it's own angry little way. Based on actual events, it comes across as somewhat dated now--given the much more secretive and hidden actions going on now.

Dreamed last night that I was helping build a complex device. The device took in images and arranged the digital elements into chains of logical associations. I was responsible for the software that performed the tasks of sorting through the images, flagging them into associative blocks, and reassembling the chains that could be processed by the rest of the system. I was having trouble getting my algorithms to work properly. We were in a review session where I was presenting the problematic issues and gathering suggestions on how to proceed.

Movement class tomorrow! Weather was a bit cooler today! Will call the Stevenson House tomorrow to set up a tour!

3568

Had a resistance training session today. I was still a bit tight and sore from yesterday's Core and More class. But, I powered through and I feel better for having done so. RG, the fellow I mentioned as having disappeared, appeared today. He had been having car trouble and couldn't make it to the classes for the past few weeks. I'm glad he's back. Gait and Balance class tomorrow. Ready for it! Set to go!

Watched the movie Black Swan this evening. Excellent film--one of the best ever. It was done on a shoestring budget but grossed over $100MM. Despite all of the chaos and turmoil in the story, the film is a thing of beauty. The tension between these two elements is exquisite. Moving and inspiring even with its darkness! Natalie Portman is superb--she deserved getting an Oscar for her performance. The movie was filmed in about 40 days--mostly for budgetary reasons--but it is a masterpiece.

Weather a bit cooler but still muggy and warm. Not as bad as other places, but hot enough for me.

Waiting for the rains! Waiting for the rains!

3569

Went to Core and More class today--a little late. I lay down for a blink and I fell asleep and almost slept through the class. The class was tough, as usual, but was shortened since there was a setup needed for a seminar in the afternoon. The seminar was informative--about medications and interactions. Had a full house--there were quite a few people attending. The MD was the head one at the clinic. She's had over 20 years experience and knows her stuff. She popped a few black humor jokes that were really funny--about death and dying and PD.

I had several conversations with people who remarked on how well I'm doing and how good I look. Their comments are an affirmation on how well my classes and mental frame seems to be moderating my symptoms. Even, in some cases, seemingly acting to reverse expected symptoms. The MD didn't offer any thoughts on this disease being remissed but she did point out that it was possible to push back against the expected outcomes.

Came home feeling good. Grabbed a latte and didn't seem to need to sleep (although if the weather were cooler that would have been nice) any. Watched a Turkish film--Mommo: The Bogeyman. It was sweet little film about an abandoned brother and sister who have to fend for themselves in a village. They live with their grandfather, who is frail and leaves them mostly to their own devices. I found the film to be very pretty but drawn out and somewhat tedious. The ending is wrenching when the children are separated--the end--without any further resolution.

Resistance training tomorrow but no PD dance class. I dreamed some dreams last night but let them slip away as the day unrolled. It was about being in a strange city. I was with a woman and we had rented an apartment near the center of this oddball town. There were episodes of us riding an elevator to get to the street and to get back to our room. When we were walking around the town it became clear that we were possibly in danger. There were street people and beggars everywhere. It was a relief to make out way back to our apartment (even with needed assistance of the elevator operator).

3570

Was a bit cooler today but still warm enough. More of the same is promised for the coming week. Core and More class tomorrow followed by a seminar on PD medications and side effects. Will probably be a big crowd--something everyone has to deal with as part of this illness. I ended up eating a late breakfast and then a mid afternoon lunch (more like a snack). I noticed how drowsy I was before eating the snack and how awake I felt after doing so. I think I've noticed this reaction many times in the past. Perhaps I need to eat smaller portions more times each day instead of larger repasts. Have to experiment and see what happens. Have to keep a journal in order to highlight any trends or patterns. I definitely felt more awake and more relaxed after eating the light snack. And, I still feel much that way even though it's almost medication time.

I believe I had several strange dreams last night--after watching the strange film Apartment 0. I don't recall the details but I believe I tossed and turned a lot last night.

Been wondering what's happened to R.G., a man who was coming to the PD classes. He has disappeared from the classes and I just wonder how he's doing. Hope he is well! He was a strange little man! The illness was taking its toll on him--he was fairly weak and fragile, but he was still driving. I'll check with the front desk and the dance people. I tried sending him an email but got a bounce. Lots of people have passed through the classes in the 4+ years I've been attending. The march goes on!

3571

Laundry day is now away! It was a very warm day. Temperatures were hot and muggy. Seems to be more humidity in the air versus what it used to be. Either that or my internal humidifier is out of sync.

Saw in the rental advertisements that the apartment up for rent is now offered for $1495! They must have raised it so they could deal on the price. It was originally set at $1395.

Dreamed last night that I was camping with three others. We lay in a clump on the ground and battled each other all night for blankets and covers. We were cold and couldn't get comfortable. The second dream was somehow related but I don't recall the details. I seem to remember a part of a dream (from perhaps several nights past) about being in a room of boxes that had to be sorted and shipped.

Watched a very strange film this evening--Apartment 0. It was set in Argentina. It was so badly written and so poorly acted that for all of its mystery and gore I found myself laughing every now and then. The plot loosely dealt with two sociopaths who live in the same apartment building along with other tenants that are not too functional themselves. The dialog couldn't figure out if people were speaking English or not. There were several vocal outbursts that had no subtitles. As I said, the film was strange but probably has a cult following.

3572

Hot, hot, hot! And more tomorrow! It's laundry day. Will watch the twirling and the tumbling of the clothes--round and round they go and where they stop nobody knows! Had a resistance training session today. There were a lot of people in the class. A few new faces but mostly repeats and devotees! Round and round we go and where we stop everybody knows!

Been thinking about (and researching) what's available in the area for senior affordable housing. I'm finding more places than I thought. Will set up an appointment for a tour next week and see where it leads. I've been seeing clear scenarios of me moving into such facilities--especially locally.

Dreamed last night a second half of a dream I'd had on some previous night. It involved men from the men's team. We were doing some kind of task. We had split up into small units in order to finish a task. Details have drifted away for now. I can always visit the dream again. So be it!

Watched a movie this evening--Michael Clayton. It was a complex mystery/thriller. It starred George Clooney and he did a surprisingly good job of being the "fixer" who was being threatened with bodily harm. It was a star-studded cast and it was well done--suspense was relentless. Tilda Swinton played a hard-arsed corporate clone who drifted across the thin line between doing business and doing something criminal. The story line was rich and complex.

3573

Movement class today and it was hot, hot, hot! Sweltering weather with more of the same promised for the next few days! Global warming is getting to be a bit too much.

Feeling fairly good but am achy and sore from workouts earlier in the week. The heat isn't helping either. But I am getting stronger--noticed increase in arm strength even with the sore muscles.

Watching more of the Midsomer Murder episodes. Solid entertainment without having to puzzle out the logic of the stories. Each episode is completely formulaic so my brain doesn't have to work too hard. Makes for a nice respite from the more complex films.

Resistance training session in the morrow! Can't beat the heat so just have to join it!

3574

Gait and balance class today was a tough go. The instructor worked us hard. It was difficult for me to keep up so it must have been a challenge for others. I could feel how much stronger I am because of all the other classes that I'm doing. I'm feeling great! I nodded off this afternoon--had to rest and sleep some--but had a green tea latte which raised my energy levels.

Been dreaming but don't recall any at this time. Lots of stuff going on but dreams will return, as always.

Watched a German film this afternoon--Yella. It's a metaphysical thriller (perhaps) about a woman who's trying to break off her ties to an abusive husband. She finds a job in another town and is planning on moving there. Her husband offers to take her the train station. She reluctantly agrees and finds herself being driven off a bridge by her irate spouse. From there, the film gets surreal. She manages to escape the sinking car, makes her way to the train station, and begins her new life--or does she? Without giving away the ending, she finds herself as a business companion to a venture capitalist. Her accounting skills (which she was trained to do) helped her work with the VC and contribute to his negotiations. Meanwhile, her ex-spouse is stalking her. And the show goes on--back and forth, up and down, riding on the merry-go-round! The film uses sharp and realistic camera work--with an overall content and style similar to German films by Michael Haneke. Enough film reviewing! Time for dreams!

3575

Did PD dance class, resistance training and picked up/took back LW to the dance class. I was a little stiff/sore from yesterday's Core and More class. That class is a workout! But I'm feeling better/doing better in various ways. Let the good times roll! I'm feeling like I need to increase my exercise/movement regimens beyond what I'm doing now--that stability is in that direction. Have to see--limited running feels like where I should start. Or perhaps hitting the spa and using the striders and such. Will look into it all!

Have gait and balance class tomorrow, and read aloud session with GH. Learning more about Tarot! Sent notes to people who sent me BD greetings. Itemized what I have been doing--

I am maintaining--staying steady... I take six classes (movement, resistance training [2 sessions], dance, gait and balance, and a Pilate-like exercise) each week plus read aloud to someone for a couple of hours each week, and get a couple of acupressure sessions each month... 

All of these things seem to help moderate the PD symptoms... I'm totally addicted to doing them now... My digestion has come around... I can eat most everything except dense red meat (beef)... I was diagnosed as having iron deficiency anemia but have restored my blood iron levels with iron supplements... I still don't do that well with hot weather... Not a fan of global warming!

Report from the distant battles! World keeps going around and around!

3576

Core and More day, and it felt that way! Tough class--working on the core muscles. It's a push for me to get through the 1.5 hour session. But I am getting stronger--I can feel the changes.

Was up late last night watching the stream from NASA and the touch down of Curiosity. Quite a moment! Makes me want to volunteer for a trip to Mars.

Got a BD greeting from several people (BH, oldest son and LA). Had a quiet day--nothing too celebratory. Started reading an all about Tarot book with GH. Should be interesting!

PD dance tomorrow and resistance training class. Will also pick up/bring back someone from the class. LW lives in PA and it feels like something I can do without a lot of trouble. Otherwise, he lost his ride when ES passed away. I can do it! Should be fun and good for both of us.

Continuing to commence looking at other rental options. With the rent increase I need to seriously find a less expensive way to go. Have to save the dough! Sew and so! Ho, ho, ho!

3577

Curiosity has landed! Amazing technological feat! Thrilling last seven minutes as a Rube Goldberg collection of gadgets were used to create a soft landing for an object the size of a small car.

End of story for tonight! Let my dreams be filled with remnants of this event!

3578

First weekend in a while where I've done something. A milestone (or is it a millstone?)! I went to a Rosen Method open house from 1pm to 5pm in a local center. I got to experience a bodywork session. I also sat through a discussion about the method and what it is and what it's not. I also watched a segment of a DVD about the method and its founder, Marion Rosen. We then did a short version of a movement class. The bodywork session was interesting. I felt all kinds of associations with the work being done by the group in Santa Cruz. The use of touch in the Rosen Method is like the yin tuina techniques and FSR (Forceless Spontaneous Release) that I've had in various sessions.

In today's work, I definitely noticed shifts in my muscle tensions as I was attended to. I had an odd sensation of nausea when my hips were moved sideways. I don't think I've ever had such a sensation before as I received bodywork. Live and learn! Or is it the opposite--learn and live!

Watched a somewhat interesting film tonight--Mammoth. It was a very modern story and script about the intertwined lives of several people all somewhat dislocated in various ways. It was interesting to follow the shifts and flips caused by switching between the various very different lives. It also got a little tiresome after the switching was done a few times and I didn't feel that the ending was complete enough for me--too many loose ends still--but maybe life is that way.

Felt good today! Looking forward to tomorrow--to what I'm not sure about--but looking anyway!

3579

Resistance training today and it felt good. I felt good! It was another day of feeling like I'm clear and whole. Magical days and magical ways! Weather was moderate--not too warm although it did heat up in the afternoon. I spent several hours looking at web sites for senior housing places in the nearby area. Have to get more organized so I don't just spin my wheels gathering random data. There seems to be quite a few places around the area. Have to isolate the ones that handle the affordable units. There seem to be such places in every major metropolitan region. We shall see!

Going to the Rosen Method open house tomorrow. Will get some experience with their bodywork techniques. Also will be interested in the place where the event is being held--the Shambhala center.

Tried to look up my new PCP but she's not yet listed on the clinic's web site. Her last name is Nguyen which is Vietnamese. Looked up how it is pronounced. Not easily vocalized by English speakers. There is also a Northern and Southern Vietnam distinction that really makes it difficult to pronounce. I'm sure she'll be good to work with even if I can't say her name correctly.

3580

Feeling good today! Feeling clear and vigorous for a change. Not sure if there is anything in particular that triggered this condition. But, I'll take it! Yes! I'll take it! Did a movement class today which only added to the good feelings. Had a delicious snack at a new place on CA avenue--Spice Kit. It serves what it terms street food--the kind of foods you find at the street vendors in Asia. There is a mix of wraps, sandwiches, salads and rice bowls. Each item contains a mixture of vegetables and fruits. Each can be topped off with a selections of succulent meats (chicken, pork, beef, tofu and such). I had a rice bowl with braised pork--Delicious!

Watched a movie this evening--Reservation Road. A story about people doing wrong and keeping it a secret until the pressure of hiding it comes back to haunt the soul. It also portrayed the turmoil created in others by crazy, incidental events. I discovered (as I watched) that Joaquin Phoenix has a pronounced lisp (or palate obstruction). He had several high volume scenes in which the lisp was clearly noticeable. (an IBU--Interesting but Useless--piece of data)

Resistance training tomorrow! Looking forward to it! Got some news I didn't particularly like--My PCP is changing again! She's moving on to bigger and better things at a SF medical facility. But it means I'll be seeing a new PCP. Changes--always changes! Getting late! Time to dream!

3581

Gait and balance class was a bit strenuous but felt good. Finished Human Smoke reading with GH. It was a very informative book. It was just short excerpts from various sources that were connected to the way England and America got into WWII. Many lies were told to everyone! Many lies and many lives!

Dreamed last night about being a consultant to an important person. I was hired to give him advice about procedures to be used to run his organization. It was a delicate job but one that I was good at. There were all manner of political and personal activities on every one's part. However, that fact also made the work exciting and demanding. I did well in the role I played.

Got back the final two blood work results. I'm now high in terms of iron levels (went from deficiency to surplus). Vitamin D levels were up a bit but still low on the scale of what would be normal for me. I suppose these results mean that I should continue with Vitamin D supplements and perhaps cut back on iron--say drop to one tablet a day. We'll see! Awaiting the doctor's orders!