3460

Deluge of rain last night and early this morning! Damp and dreary, windy and wet! Then it cleared away and the sun came down in the afternoon and evening--like nothing took place before that! Mercurial machinations!

Went to resistance training class. Some new faces and some old faces! The ever changing collection of people who come seeking respite in the arms of exercise (or is the exercise of arms ?). In any case, it felt good to do that activity even though I was tired afterward. First full week of classes since the Turkey Day break!

Watched a French film this evening--Humanite. It was a somewhat drawn out story of a police  investigation of a murder/rape of a young girl in a small village. There were several shocking scenes of heavy duty fornication, a graphic photo image of the victim, and various mercurial twists and turns especially of the detective who was integral to the investigation. His character was played as if the guy was shell shocked or cognitively impaired. He still lived with his mother, lusted after a woman who lived down the street from him, hung out with her and her boyfriend even though it made him a complete third wheel. There were many scenes of him looking off into the distance perhaps remembering something or possibly coming to some conclusions, none of which are ever revealed. It is a strange and strangely disturbing film with many internal sidetracks leading nowhere. Dialog is short and blunt for the most part even though the director is trained as a philosopher (which could make for a pedantic script but does not in this case).

Laundry day! Tomorrow I watch the wheels (bins, things) go around! Winding my way from yesterday!

3461

Hey, hey, hey! It was a rainy day! But there is more at play! What can I say? Had a movement class. It felt good to relax and let go some. Weather was wet and blustery at first but gave way to clouds and sun later in the day.

I stopped by the senior housing place and the good news is -- There are only 6 or 7 people above me in the list! I was 44th when I made my application. They have gone through over 30 people since I applied. That means that I could get a call early next year! I need to begin to prepare for that call! The time has come...!! It will be good to move there and have people around me. I've been in this monk's cell of an apartment for nearly 7 years. I don't know my neighbors and we never interact--except when there is some kind of problem. We do so and then scurry back to our individual places until the next issue arises. I have some dread over moving and doing the paperwork to get the new place--but I'll be better off there and can get on with my daily regimens.

Watched a good movie this evening--Leaves of Grass. It's a black comedy where two twin brothers (both played by Edward Norton and played really well) reunite after years of separation. One brother (the good one) has gone on to become a professor and a respected academic. He did so by shedding his less than notable beginnings. The other brother (the "bad" one) has established a thriving pot farm set up with the latest technologies and botanical science. The good brother is lured back home by the bad brother so he can pull off a scam that involves them trading identities for a few days. The scam is doomed but the film plays it out and brings it to quiet end. Norton's dual role is done well and convincingly. He is quite an actor!

Resistance training tomorrow! And then onwards to laundry weekend and starting up the moving machine!

3462

G&B session today! It was a big class and it was a workout. I don't know about everyone else but some of the exercises take me to the limit of my endurance.  Movement class tomorrow! And the beat goes on! Deluge of rain this morning with lots of wind. Cleared up in the afternoon and the sun filled the skies. Forecast is for more of the same on its way.

Dreamed last night something again about a job, work and a project being done. There was a lot of trial and error activity. I don't recall the details but just remember the general ambiance of the dreaming--struggle, puzzling activities, trying to figure out something, and so on.

I went by the pharmacy and picked up my medication that was not filled yesterday. The copay was really small. I've gone through the donut hole and am now in the catastrophic stage of what I have to pay for medications. My total out of pocket annual costs are still not all that much. Medicare picks up most of the total costs. Thank goodness for that!

It'll be early to bed tonight! I didn't nap this afternoon--had a green tea latte which kept me rolling through. But time now for some reading and getting horizontal.

3463

I think I dreamed another work/project/job dream last night. I don't remember anything specific, but I seem to recall the general context of the dreaming. I was on a project team and we had a complex task underway. We were having difficulty with finding solutions and were having to back up and redo some of our earlier work. At least, I think that's what went through my dream scheme!

PD dance and resistance training today--and it was great! It was joyful to see everyone (some who had not been there in a while), do some moving and dancing, and hit the weights. I remember feeling very happy as we did some dancing. I haven't had a nap today--been up and going since early morning. Looking forward to the G&B class tomorrow! Keep on moving!

Watched a French film this evening--The Unfaithful Wife. It was a classic tale of a man who discovers his wife of many years is being unfaithful. He finds out who she is spending her time with and goes to confront the man. In a fit of rage, he kills the man. He then cleans up the crime scene, hauls the body away, and dumps the corpse in a pond. Eventually, the police come knocking on the door looking for the missing man. The film ends like many French films--hanging in the air. Yes, the cops come back to confront the man, and, yes, there is the long shot of everyone frozen in place, and, yes, everything is left unresolved. The director has done many films over the past 40 years and clearly has his own style and signature. I'll look for more of his work--it will be interesting to see how he evolved as a film maker.

Rain is coming! Also storms and wind! Shake the earth and crack nature's molds! So will it be!

3464

Today's C&M session was tough but felt good. Body liked being moved and stretched, pushed and prodded. Awaken! Awaken! Cells were tumbled into wakefulness! It was a fairly big class. It was good to see everyone. Everybody had been to a previous class--there were no newbies.

Left class and went to the H's for a read-aloud book session. On the freeway some dumbo was driving really slow--about 25 mph! He turned off (finally) at the off ramp where I was headed. He stopped to get his bearings. Vehicles began to stack up behind us. People were on their horns but the guy just took his sweet time and crawled off the ramp onto the street. Not everyone should have a driving permit.

I checked my headlamp while I was waiting for H to drop off some books and things. I discovered that my broken lamp had healed itself. I assume it's just loose and not burned out. Still no easy access to that area of the truck. Will just monitor it and see if it stays healed.

Dreamed last night a frustrating and aggravating dream about working on a project that was not going well. The part that I was responsible for was not working properly. I was getting all kinds of flak about deadlines and such. I finally, in the dream, acknowledged that I was just dreaming and could flush the whole thing. I did so, turned over, and went to sleep.

Dance and resistance classes tomorrow! Looking forward to both of them! Go body go!

3465

The long week(s) are over! Have a C&M class tomorrow! Back to the regimen and moving around! The past two weeks are a blur. I'm ready for more activity.

Watched the second part of the Mysteries of Lisbon film. It didn't get better in the second half. If anything, it got more confusing. The way the story skipped around to different times (the action takes place over a 30-year period, I think) made it difficult to sort out who was who and who was when. It would require a second (or more) viewing and I'm not ready to make that commitment. There are other things I can do with an extra 4+ hours. Goodbye Lisbon, hello entertainment!

My truck's driver's side headlamp has gone out. I looked in the User Manual and went through the description of what it takes to change the bulb. It's not simple! It requires a disassembly and assembly process that is better left to a mechanic. I remember replacing a tail light and that was challenging. The head lamp seems to be even more intricate. I'll go back through the instructions one more time but I think Firestone is going to get the honor of making the fix (even though I'll have to pay their labor costs). The world is too complex!

3466

One more weekend day and then classes restart! Looking forward to the restart. I've done a bit of exercise during this shut down period, but not enough. I'm rested but restless. I want to be moving and in motion. I'm not a candidate for stillness.

Dreamed last night a dream, part of which, I've had before. It involves a woman who is standing by an ATM. She is mumbling something about South Korea. She is not Asian. She is saying some disjointed phrases about someone in South Korea who is in trouble and needs help. In actuality, she is running some kind of scam. I know this from my previous dream with her in it. She is trying to find someone who will be gullible enough to try and help her. In the process, that person will get conned out of a stack of cash. In last night's dream, I partially went along with her process. I wanted to see just how she was going to set up the con. I was going to find out what she wanted me to do and then help the police set up a sting. The dream didn't get that far.

Watched a Portuguese film this evening--Mysteries of Lisbon. It's a turgid drama that's over 4 hours long. I watched the first part and found it to be confusing and rather slow-moving. I'll power through the second part tomorrow. It's a convoluted tale of a boy who is born out of wedlock to two aristocrats. His maternal grandfather arranges for the child to be murdered at birth, but the contracted killer sells the babe to a gypsy. The story revolves around everyone who tries to unravel the truth of what happened to the boy, his mother, his father and all others involved. Several of the players take on multiple roles in the mysterious machinations. Not everyone is whom he/she seems to be! Thus ends the revelations in Part I. More to come in Part 2!

3467

Flippant Friday! Shoppers in the stores and on the web! Seeking out those bargains before they disappear! I arose leisurely and made it out to the CG for a honey-baked turkey sandwich. I then came back and slept some more. I just felt like zoning out so I did!

Had a myriad of dreams that I don't recall. They slipped back into the dream mists as the day unfolded.

Watched a film tonight--Little Ashes. It was about the period when Garcia Lorca, Dali, and Bunel were classmates in Spain. The film focused on the little known association of the three and their relationships. There is passing references to Lorca's poetry, Dali's art, and Bunel's films, but the focus is really on their mutual passions and encounters. It was a somewhat depressing film. They key actors seemed always to be "in character"--noticeably playing their roles versus becoming the characters. The film got fairly low review scores and perhaps didn't do well at the box office.

Two more days of weekending! Trying to stay alert but not having all that much luck!! The daze drags on!

3468

Wild Turkey Day is over and done. Except perhaps for any Black Friday Ninjas who are storming the bastions of business! May they spend themselves into oblivion. Credit scores will plummet as the mania continues! Day was not so wild for me. I sheltered in place most of the day including sleeping in this morning. I ventured out in the early afternoon when, I thought, traffic might be moderate. It was somewhat busy but not as gnarled up as the highway in TX where 150 cars, SUVs, and semis played a lethal game of bumper tag.

Dreamed last night that I had been summoned to a planning meeting for a company I once worked with. They had flown me and a team of my people into TX (odd coincidence that location in dream was also place where the highway crash occurred). They had housed us in a ramshackle motel. I had some trepidation about the place. Several of the other units seemed to house a group of transients and motorcycle groups. I finally convinced myself (in the dream) that we would be safe as long as we locked our doors. At one point in the dream, I was retrieving large pieces of parchment that had been picked up by the wind and was caught in the trees. I had a long-handled tool, like a branch trimmer, and I was using it to snag the errant papers. At one point, I realized that I only needed on piece of the stuff. We could make copies on the copier back in the office.

Watched a political graphic novel--V for Vengeance. It was done by the same people who did the Matrix. It was a slightly futuristic episode of a politicized super hero who helps bring down a corrupt British government. It was Guy Fawkes reincarnated and bulked up with lots of CGI and SFX. It was bloody, unbelievable, but engaging. It got good reviews. It's $50MM budget was easily recouped with a $150MM box office.

3469

Day before the great turkey day! Peaceful time! I went to the H's to read the next chapter in the Baker book--The Anthologist. He is no doubt quite erudite and generally wacky; his stuff is hugely funny--at least the funny ones that we've read. His Human Smoke was not funny but very serious and ultimately shocking. Crowds were out and about today gathering the goods for the feast day tomorrow. I did a quick in and out at TJ's to grab a few essentials to make it through tomorrow. I was thinking about going to the Ananda dinner, but decided to just hang out instead. Will hike over to SB's for a latte tomorrow and otherwise shelter in place. I bumped into one of the PD classmates at TJ's. She was doing her shopping using one of those electric carts they make available.

Watched a Scottish film this evening--Rebus. It's a set of detective stories set in Scotland and driven by a DI John Rebus. The DVD I picked up was the 3rd on a set of three discs--the 4th story in the collection. It was a complex story about murders, gun running, white supremacy factions, and much more all wrapped into one story. As the name of the series implies, Rebus is a puzzle that has to be masterfully unraveled. Even so, I still got somewhat confused as the denouement took place. Who was who and who did what to whom? I am puzzled! I could watch it again but I probably will not. Just let the Rebus remain a rebus!

Today H performed his Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock when we finished the Baker chapter. What a gift!! His interpretation of what that poem is about is pure genius! It was a true privilege to be the sole audience for what he produced. I came away floating like the clouds. His other performance pieces are equally as brilliant. May he go ahead and record them and publish them to the Internet!

3470

Did a resistance training class today and it felt so good! Now, we have a break of about a week before we restart the classes. I'll probably get my ration of sleep over this period. It was good to see people at the class today.

I know I dreamed last night but I don't recall any details. I think it had something to do with a project of some kind, but I'm not certain about that.

Watched an intriguing movie this evening--12 and Holding. It was about three teenage kids who were about 12. The film followed the three of them after one of their friends/brother got killed. How their 12th year unfolded as they dealt with the impact of the death. In following them, you also got a glimpse into their family situations (very dysfunctional) and their reactions to their awakenings.

There was some turmoil at one of the apartments today. There was a bunch of kids in the unit and something happened that brought on some shouting and loud talk. Right now, there is someone from that same unit talking on the phone outside on the balcony. I guess the holidaze season has about started.

3471

Monday, Monday! New Moon time! Went to the H's and we began a new Baker book--The Anthologist. It's a book about a writer who is writing a book about poetry. However, Baker takes us on his many and merry sidetracks along the way while still saying a lot about various poets and poetry. His tongue in some orifice dry humor and intentional murmurings make for a joyous journey. Chapter 1 evoked a lot of laughs from us today. May the remaining chapters do so as well.

Resistance training in the morrow! Thank goodness! I'm achy, stiff and bound up from the lack of classes last week and the coming one. I dreamed last night a complex dream about working on an electronic gadget that merged a collection of digital images into a collage-like image that was mesmerising to anyone who viewed the result. The dream involved building up layers of electronic circuitry that could parse and amend the raw data to make the final image.

Watched a film this evening--Welcome to the Rileys. The somewhat unbelievable story is about a man and wife who try to help a runaway who reminds them of their dead daughter. The husband and wife are estranged over that death and somehow manage to refind each other as they confront the runaway's street life. The film didn't do well at the box office, got so-so reviews on the whole, and probably should have been a TV movie. There are moments, but not many! The $10MM budget could have gone toward something better--like helping the people in NOLA who are still battling the aftermath of Katrina. But what do I know?

3472

Sunday, Sunday! Almost! There was also a bit of rain. I got my laundry done but little else. I came back from the laundromat and went to sleep. Slept for a few hours and then began the afternoon/evening rituals (or so they have become). Everything I do seems to be part of a never ending dance that keeps being performed over and over. A daily set of choreographed steps that I perform unfailingly, it not that well. Oh, boy! Oh, joy!

Dreamed a set of diverse scenes last night and this afternoon. Nothing that I seem to remember--a set of mists and a droning of some distant music.

Watched a film--The Last Station. It was about the last years of Tolstoy's life. It had a strong cast of actors. It was a pleasant film but came off as being somewhat remote despite the energy and passion of the actors. It was like a snapshot instead of an album--not a lot of engaging detail or context for all that was  being portrayed. The film got good reviews and several Oscar nominations. I don't think it did all that well at the box office.

I'm really feeling the effects of no classes. More of that tomorrow--no C&M. One resistance class on Tuesday and then nada for a while. Hazy crazy minutes ticking and clicking!

3473

Rainy daze! Watch the waves crash along the shores. See the surge of water as the waves subside. What am I saying? What am I doing? Transient and trivial! All is--or it's not! Sleep! Ah, yes! I slept in today. I listened to the rain drops pounding on the roof and decided that I needed to sleep. Now, the rains continue and I'm ready to head back to bed. Didn't do my laundry today. A postponed task for tomorrow's agenda--a handful of ashes and spice. Aurelius still ringing in my head.

Dreamed last night that I was riding a bicycle with a group of people. We each had a custom set of wheels. Our bikes were tricked out and modified in various ways. We were riding on a bluff above the beach. We could look out over the ocean. There were some dark undercurrents wafting around us but overall the mood was bright and fun.

Watched a documentary (more like propaganda) tonight--Mr. Death. It's about a strange little man who became an accidental designer of execution equipment (gallows, electric chairs, gas chambers, chemical devices and such). He then got a request to help defend a history revisionist by going into the Nazi death camps, illegally taking samples, and getting tests made that would prove there was no poison gas used in the facilities. He believed that his samples and subsequent tests proved that the Holocaust was a lie. He being somewhat wacky and naive got wrapped up into the groups of people who bought into his results. The film traced his journey from being the son of a prison official, through his time as a purveyor of execution devices, to his trip to the camps, and his loss of stature (outside the revisionist camps) and believability. Strange film--strange person--strange is life!

3474

Made it to a resistance training session today! Strength felt good! I felt like I was moving the 10lb weights easily. Class was small--only about a half dozen people. Holidays (holidaze) will take its toll.

Slept erratically last night. I awoke and had some trouble getting back to sleep. Feeling sort of lost and drowsy--miss the regimen of having classes each day. I don't seem to find a way to exercise on my own to help bridge this period of non-classes. Have lots of items on my mental to-do list but the list just grows longer. I don't seem to be able to complete anything and check off the list. Like I said it's holidaze time!

Watched a holiday film this evening--The Preacher's Wife. It's a fanciful tale of an angel coming down to a help a preacher who shepherds a congregation in a black community. It's a warm and cosy tale with two high octane actors--D. Washington and W. Huston. There is plenty of loud gospel/choir singing and several Huston solos. Like most Xmas tales, the preacher and his wife renew their relationships, the preacher finds his way back into the heart of the community, the angel goes back to wherever angels live, and church is not bulldozed and replaced by a huge land development. All's right with the world when the story ends!

No classes until next Tuesday! Tomorrow is laundry day! It's rained some today and more is probably predicted. NY and NJ are getting back together from hurricane Sandy. Israel and the Palestinians are trying to start WWIII! The fiscal cliff looms! All's not right in the real world!

3475

Movement class today was a lot of fun! We got enthralled with moving to waltz music! It is such a flowing kind of dance/music. Lifts the spirit!

Dreamed last night that I was in a house that I've been in before--in other dreams. The house is long and stretched out--narrow with many rooms one after the other from front to back. There are people living in a similar house next door. We can see each other from the windows that line the length of each house. It is almost like having roommates but not quite. As I came into the house, I noticed a bicycle chained to a tree at the edge of the yard. I had seen the bike there before. It made me think of a house burglar who parked his bike there while he was casing out the neighborhood. It's not unlike the way an elderly Asian man does the same thing as he comes into my actual neighborhood to rummage through the recycle trash bins. He pilfers the recyclables to supplement his income. It's against the law but nobody seems to hassle him. He has to really hustle to make anything at 5 cents an item. I've actually seen him all over town--he has his regular routes!

Resistance training tomorrow (tomorrow a handful of ashes and spice--the Aurelius quote from yesterday kept coming back to me today)! Will be helpful to move and work some. I'm really sort of tight and achy since I didn't do as much exercise this week. Next week is even less scheduled! Then, things get somewhat back to normal! Can't wait!

3476

Long day! Went to the H's to complete the reading of Mezzanine (by baker)! We completed the novel with a few final chuckles and a quote from Marcus Aurelius--

How transient and trivial is this mortal life; yesterday a drop of semen, tomorrow a handful of ashes and spice...

I looked up more sayings by Aurelius. I would have liked to have encountered his work earlier in my mortal life. Perhaps I did but don't recall the encounter now. No classes today so day felt long. Movement class tomorrow! Will be good to move and unkink my muscles. I felt achy and tight today (from yesterday's resistance training session). I turned on the heater in the late afternoon and that helped loosen things a bit.

Had a good meal this evening at the CG. I felt that I needed some comfort food and their menu is full of tasty choices. I had fish tacos--delicious red snapper lightly sauteed and stuffed in warm tortillas--with salsa and a spicy tartar dip. Oh, so good! But "transient and trivial" in this mortal life!

3477

Resistance training today and it felt so good! It felt great to move and lift some since I haven't really done much physically since last Friday. More sans classes this week and next. Then, back to the regular regimen for a few weeks until Santa steals the limelight. Oh, well! What can be done except to go with the flow(s). It's warmed up some--I didn't use the heater last night and probably will not do so tonight as well. Viva la warmer clime!

Dreamed a series of dreamscapes last night. In one, I was in a mall and I had a large package with me. It was a sleeping bag or some type of camping gear. I was going to use it in an upcoming camping trip. As I was walking through the mall with my package, I bumped into LA. She was out shopping and didn't have much time to talk. I said hello/goodbye to her and went into a movie complex. I ended up sitting in a back row so I could stash my package under the seat. The movie was a Disney-like film geared mostly for kids. There were several kids sitting around me and they seemed to be enjoying the film. LA's son, JA, came in and took a seat next to me. I acknowledged his presence and we continued to watch the film. When the film ended, we walked out of the place into the parking lot. JA asked if I needed a ride and I said yes--that it would handy since I had the package. We got into his car (a sleek roadster) and zoomed out of the parking area. We sped down a curvy road. We both were working to fasten our seat belts but were having trouble. He took his eyes off the road to fasten his belt. The road curved sharply and he lost control. We powered over an embankment and plummeted down a steep drop to the bottom of a canyon. I recalled feeling very calm as we fell. It was like everything got still and quiet as we watched the ground rush upward towards us. There was a short dream after that where I met a friend HMA. The place we met was dark and poorly lit. We made plans to get together soon. Whew! What a set of dream scenes!

Watched a British film this evening--Shallow Grave. It's a British-style black comedy (directed by Danny Boyle) about three slackers who accidentally end up with a suitcase full of money. The guy who had the money ended up dying in their flat. They attempt to hide his body by doing some egregious mutilations and burying his desecrated body in a shallow grave. Some thugs come looking for the money and are killed by the trio and also buried. The trio eventually become suspects to the police and they end up turning on one another. The film is mostly done tongue in cheek but it's still a bit gory. Also each of the trio undergoes basic changes as they deal with the stresses of all the situations they encounter. Not something I'll go out of my way to see again, but it is entertaining on a first pass through.

No G&B class tomorrow! But, more moderate weather! Oh, yeah!

3478

Holiday weekend is coming to an end! Missed having a C&M class today. Made it to the H's for a bite to eat and to read from Mezzanine. We've almost finished reading the short, funny novel. I came back and crashed in my chair for a short while. I then went to Whole Foods for a bite and came back, turned on the heater, and burrowed in for the evening.

I dreamed an elaborate dream last night. The first part had me consulting to a group of young Turks who were developing an innovative new software product. I couldn't quite get a complete understanding of what it was they were building. This kept up for quite some time until I decided that I was going to develop a structural outline of what they said they were developing. There was a presentation that was scheduled within a few days for the venture capital people. I started putting together a set of slides that walked a viewer through the product. In order to do this, I had to grab some screen shots of the developing product. The head of the software group was a brash young guy who never seemed to be able to give me a straight answer to my inquiries. He, however, seemed to always be pressuring me to produce something--what he never was able to communicate. At one point, after several all-nighters, I walked outside for a breath of fresh air.

When I started to go back in, I found myself on a decrepit freight elevator. It was a barely serviceable contraption that didn't have a door. just an open platform and three walls. I needed to go to the 15th floor and there was someone there with me going to the 8th floor. When he exited at the 8th floor, I started feeling dizzy and concerned about going higher. I ended up lying down on the platform as it went to the upper floors. Finally, it reached the 15th floor and I stepped off. I went through a set of doors that I thought led back to the work area with the software group. I was astonished when I stepped through the doors into a huge space with stacks of Xmas shopping items piled on sales tables. There were dozens (perhaps hundreds) of shoppers milling around the tables, grabbing sales items, and acting wildly merry. I was confused and went out a set of other doors thinking that I had just inadvertently turned the wrong way when I stepped off the elevator. However, I soon learned that I was somehow lost and could not find the original working space. Whew!! I woke up! I told myself that it was alright to not go back and try to find the place.

Watched a Spanish film this evening--Matador. It was a gruesome film about death and people who are turned on by death and dying. A bunch of people are killed and the likely killer(s) create a mysterious uncertainty around who could have and would have done the deeds. The film was directed by Almovodar who has done several other interesting films. This one was one of his early pieces and starred Antonio Banderas in one of his first roles on screen. He never looked to young!

Resistance training class tomorrow! Will feel good to move, stretch and lift some!

3479

Sunday, Sunday! And there was some even though the air stayed chilly! I slept in (as usual) and got  up late morning. My little heater churned away all night and into the coolness of the day. I eventually got moving and went to the CG for a breakfast feast. I returned and slept some in my chair until NPR Says You program arrived. My Sunday afternoon event--that program--even though it's somewhat lame. There are usually a few good laughs along the way!

Dreamed last night that I was in a dental office. There were a couple with two kids also in the waiting area. One of the kids, about two or so, crawled down the bench we were sitting on and climbed into my lap. I snuggled with him for a while. His sister, who was a bit younger, just watched us. At one point, he burped and did some throw up on my shoulder. I assured his mother it was alright. He eventually fell asleep and I gave him back to the mother. The dream went on and dealt some with the dental procedures I had come for and some with the young kids and their family. I know I saw a bill for my dental work--it was only an estimate but it was for quite a lot--more than $6,000!

Watched a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie this evening--Pack of Lies. It was like an Agatha Christy drama set in the 60s, in England. It was about British Intelligence setting up a surveillance operation in the house of one family to spy on a neighbor's home. The two families had become good friends which caused the family where the surveillance team set up great stress and strain. The British thought that the neighbors were Communist agents who were acting as go-betweens for KGB operations. All in all, it was a somewhat banal story seasoned with lots of angst and moderate subterfuge. Wasn't all that exciting!

No C&M class tomorrow! Will do some exercise on my own to keep somewhat in shape.

3480

Cold day here in the bay! I slept in until late morning. Finally got up and went out for a bite to eat. Came back and fell asleep in my chair for several hours. Had to fire up my space heater--it was cold as the sun went down. First time I've had to use the heater in months--perhaps back in March. Guess I won't be #1 on the utility ecocharts like I've been for the past 5 or 6 months. I'll still score fairly high but just not #1!

Watched a thriller/spy/terrorist film this evening--Vantage Point. It was a non-stop action piece about a supposed terrorist plot to capture/kill the U.S. president. The trick plot involved looking at the event from several different POVs. This led to some repetition of opening scenes shot from different perspectives. As each viewer's perspective was explored slightly more of the plot was revealed. It all led up to a terrifying chase scene with many crashed vehicles and precipitous stunts. There were, of course, several subplots and surprises that got revealed along the way. The film's budget was around $40MM. It grossed around $150MM at the box office.

Veteran's Day(s) this weekend. Thanx to everyone who's served in the military!

3481

Definitely cooler today and tonight! Winter is a'comin in! It's reaching through the walls and penetrating the rooms. I have to adjust my routines and regimens to account for the change in seasons.

Did a resistance training session today. That felt good. I felt like the 10lb weights were lighter than normal. Arm strength is up! Have a bit of a tweak going on in my right hip area--sciatica. The cold weather doesn't help! Resistance class had a host of new people today--many of the regulars not there. Hope all is well with some of the regulars who have not been there the last few times.

I was dreaming last night that I was on a camping trip. In reality, it started to rain quite heavily as I was sleeping and dreaming. In the dream, one of the camp mates was showering everyone with a hose. We were on the ground in our sleeping bags and he was sprinkling us. I started rolling to avoid getting wet and I rolled off of the bed (in reality). I had launched myself off of the bed, onto the floor, and half way across the space between the bed and the closet. It took me a moment to realize what I had done. I didn't hurt anything thank goodness. I crawled back into the bed and under the blankets.

Watched a somewhat tedious French film this evening--Life and Nothing But. It was about a cadre of soldiers who were assigned to retrieve and identify war dead in a French region where many bodies had been hurriedly buried. This was at the end of WWI. I found the whole thing not that interesting. The storyline was moderately intriguing (two women trying to find the body of a loved one not knowing that they were looking for the same man). Enough said, I think! It got good reviews. I just couldn't get into it all that well.

Weekend arrives! Dearth of classes for the next few weeks. Have to come up with some alternate activities that will maintain my physical status. We shall see!

3482

Rain and coolness here! Not anything like what's being experienced on the East coast. But the coolness is kicking up my symptoms especially as the night gets colder. Movement class helped stave off some of the effects. Looking forward to resistance training tomorrow. Then begins several weeks WC--without classes or most of them. Have to do some on my own to help keep things at least constant--no sliding back hopefully.

Elections have come and gone--almost as if nothing happened! Lots of analysis of what people think might have triggered the results. Once all the analysis is done then it's back to basics. Congress and the Executive branch are going to have to figure out some way of getting things done or else the fiscal cliff they keep mentioning will become a fiscal debacle.

Despite the symptom triggering with the colder weather, I'm feeling more energized in various ways. I'm not out jogging yet, but I feel like I might be soon. It's a good feeling--like awakening from a long sleep (which is actually the case). Things are clearer and sharper! The world is spinning more smoothly, more in balance! Let it be so!

3483

Still getting used to shift in time from PDT to PST. If I don't nap (or drink a latte) in the afternoons, I start to get drowsy around what used to be closer to my bedtime. I know it will all even out eventually, but I seem to be affected by changes of any sorts. Went to the last G&B class for the next few weeks. Today's session was strenuous. I'll miss not having C&M, G&B, and PD dance sessions over the next few weeks. Am going to see if I can maintain some of the regimen so I don't completely regress.

Election results produced a surprise for everyone. I think a lot of people were thinking the worst and it all turned around for a change. O has four more years to help point things in a better direction. I'm not sure what R would have brought into being should he have won. If we are in parallel universes I think we are in the better one given the rhetoric that was spun to weave and deceive. There are still going to be challenges, but the feeling tone seems that we are heading in a good direction.

Still have movement classes on Thursday and resistance training sessions on Tues and Fri--so all is not disrupted. People in the North East are still having to battle weather and the residue of the hurricane. Saw a blurb today that said gasoline was going for $8 a gallon in NY (on Craigslist). I just paid $4.25 here! What goes up may always go up! Down is not the most likely option!

3484

O gets another 4! He does so in a definitive manner!  Go O! The best that could be for the nation right now! Despite all of the polls showing it to be a close race, the results demonstrated a wider margin. So much for polls and statistics!

Did a resistance training session this afternoon that left me somewhat tired. Had an acupressure session afterward and that bumped my energy level back up. Now, listening to some of the returns (mostly blather by the media teams), I've begun to fade some. Think I'll hit the bed early and dream about a new order, a new beginning, and a new phase.

G&B class tomorrow! Ready for the beddy!

3485

Made it to and through the C&M class today. The movement and stretching did unloosen the rest of me. I was a bit tired but also energized by the session. Look forward to resistance training and acupressure sessions tomorrow. Still having some collisions with my internal clock and the external time tellers. The late afternoon went into slo-mo for a while. I watched a movie and that helped kick the clocks forward. I'm feeling somewhat in sync now.

The movie was a history/thriller--The Debt. It was about an attempt by Mossad to capture a war criminal in the 60s and the truth of what they did coming forth in the late 90s. Because of the time split, two separate groups of actors played the key roles in each time period. The cast was strong and the story was action packed and intense. In the end, the truth prevailed although the audience didn't get to see the granular effects--just the final scenes truth was set free.

No PD dance class tomorrow (and for several more weeks). G&B on Wednesday and then a break for it of several weeks. Election day, at last! The media is spinning all kids of middle of the road stories about where things are. Who's ahead (or not) as the case may be! No doubt there will be lawsuits and challenges from all directions! Meanwhile, NY and NJ get hit with another storm!

3486

I've fallen back and I won't return! My body/being knows that a time shift has happened and it/they is/are still trying to adjust. Right now my body/spirit knows that it's really still 10pm despite what the clocks say. I'm ready for the bed. The afternoon slogged by at an infuriating pace even though I did take a short nap. C&M class tomorrow will help reset the biological clock. Can't wait, but I will!

Started watching a movie this afternoon (to help move the clock along)--Tideland. I'm not sure exactly what the film was all about (or was going to be about). Since I hit the eject button, I guess I'll never know but I couldn't watch anymore than I did. It was like someone scratching on a metal sheet with their fingernails. Too screechy for me!

Watched a French film--Declaration of War. It's not about armies and such. It's about a husband and wife and their young child who they find out has a brain tumor. It's about their battle to do what they have to do to get him treatment and support. It's based on the couple's own experience with their child. It's a well done piece with the exception of some long scenes of the couple's repeated escapes (parties, exercise, denials, hanging out, and racist/homophobic comments--brief only but stand out noticeably).

Starting to get sleepy even though the clock tells me otherwise! Off the reset the systems! Adieu to you!

3487

Did the laundry dance today! Watch those dryers spin! Around and around they go and when they stop it means I've run out of quarters. I got to the laundry late. Slept in until the neighbors' activities got me going.

Dreamed a host of dreams last night. In one segment, I was assisting in the creation and testing of a new board game. I had worked on this game before in other dreams. Last night, we (the game team) had the game up and running and we were having a ball playing it over and over. The game involved drawing from one of two stacks of cards. The cards directed what you could do to play a card onto the board. There were actions such as displacing an existing card, causing an existing card to move to another location, playing a card onto an empty space, and other moves and strategies. The play action was fast and energetic with lots of side activities to keep the tension and play levels high.

In a second dream, I was interacting with a man who was a con artist. He was pressuring me to loan him $100 dollars or at least half that amount. My partner kept telling me to stop interacting with the guy. She knew that he was trying to get enough of our personal information so he could do some credit thefts against our accounts. Based on her promptings, I became so worried about what he might do that I wanted to get up, go on line, and lock down my accounts. The dream/thoughts became so real that I awoke.

There was at least one other dream segment that was also a redo of an earlier dream I had had. I don't recall the details--just that I recognized that it too was a repeat dream. I think there were other dream elements as well.

Watched a cowboy movie this evening (as I await for PDT to end--fall back)--3:10 to Yuma. It's a remake of the film that was done 50 years ago! The newer version is more psychological in nature with everyone (good guys and bad guys) being somewhat psychopathic. Despite its genre, it received good reviews and did well at the box office. The closing scene is a bit unbelievable (good guy takes on a whole town).

Early to bed tonight (according to the set ahead clocks). Will see how I weather the time shift when I arise.

3488

Slept in this morning! It was cool and staying covered seemed like the thing to do. Got up in plenty of time to grab some food and head for today's class--resistance training. I felt good as I made my way to class. I felt strong in the class--stronger than I've felt since I demoted to 10lb weights. I might be on the verge of being able to graduate back to 12lb weights (or a mix of the two for awhile).

I had a mix of dreams last night. I was watching a TV in one part of the dream--some kind of sporting event. There was other scenes and pieces but I started feeling cold and that woke me up--sending the dreamscapes back into the mists.

Laundry day tomorrow! Long live the clean clothes! Better to have a working laundromat versus what people in NY are having to deal with--no electricity, no shelter, no gas, no transportation, no food, no water, and so much more. We too will have our day--when the big earthquake happens--and it will. Weather wise we'll be better off than what the people in NY have to deal with but we'll have our own difficulties, no doubt.

Haven't watched a movie in a couple of days. Took some what of a movie break. Been doing crossword puzzles on the Internet. I'm pretty good at the basic puzzles--better at them than the sudoku ones although I still do those every now and then--just to keep in shape. I have solved some of the easy ones in around 5 minutes--but that is rare. Most of the time I take 7 minutes or more for the easy ones. Harder ones are always disappointing.

Clocks go back tomorrow! Falling back! And I won't be back! Fall into the crack! Clickety clack!

3489

Did a movement class today and had an acupressure session afterward. Now, I'm logy and tired. Most of today I was energetic and felt well. Now, I'm ready for bed. It's a bit early but I think I'll go horizontal and read some.

Have a resistance class tomorrow and then the weekend unfolds. Or folds since I'll be doing my laundry sometime during the lull. PST returns on Saturday and me and the clocks will fall back. PDT ends for a few months.

I know I dreamed last night but nothing rises from the mists right now. I awoke a few hours after going to sleep last night and had a little delay in getting back to nod-nod land.

When I completed the acupressure session this afternoon, I experienced a feeling of not being able to make my thoughts come together. Everything was fuzzy and strange. Near the end of the session, I had the distinct sensation of rocking from one side to the other--like I was being tossed by a wave. It felt like an earthquake but the practitioner made no remark about it. Strange and strange!