3398

Movement class today! It was a bit more active than usual--more people. Have a resistance training class tomorrow. Yikes! It's already a weekend again! Where did this week go? It's gone by so quickly with so little happening or so it seems. And, it's February already! Another month has slipped on by leaving but little trace in the sands of time.

Next door neighbor was having some plumbing work done on her bathroom sink. They had to replace it as they did mine last month. It was noisy but not all that intrusive. I was in and out a lot today (as I am every day). I got caught in the road work chaos they're doing around the neighborhood. The detours can lead one in a giant circle and there are backups at traffic lights. It's a mess and frustrating to get from point A to point B.

After class today I went to MV and had a tasty General's Chicken lunch special. The spicy flavor of the dish helped me to wake up a bit and brought up my energy levels. I keep being surprised that I can eat somewhat spicy dishes without any major digestion problems. Glad that's what is happening! It's a treat to eat a dish that generates some internal heat!

I've done my nightly round of crossword puzzles! Time to read and dream! I'm always puzzled as to how I know some esoteric things when I fill out a crossword puzzle. Is a puzzlement!

3399

No G&B class today. I slept in this morning. It was a Spring-like day--clear, sunny and bright. I read a chapter of Paris Babylon with GH. It was a long chapter with a lot of French words and phrases. I had some trouble reading smoothly. Went to the library to exchange DVDs. I was hungry and so I had a sandwich (huge club sandwich) and came back and nodded off for a bit. Awoke because it cooled off and put a chill in the air.

Movement class tomorrow! Seems like I just went to that class--time flew by this past week.

Am heading to bed early tonight. I'm sort of groggy and tired. Will read myself into the netherworld--dream the dreams of beauty and touch the distant stars. Goodly night and all is bright!

3400

PD dance was a hoot today! For some (cosmic?) reason everyone was in a wacky mood. There was an improvisation piece that we did that left everyone in stitches. Unfortunately, there will only be a single class in February. Won't be back in full operation until March when the instructor returns from a tour. Resistance training class was not as jovial but felt good. The extra 15 minutes of aerobic walking put me to the edge of my abilities, but was easier than the other times we've done this activity.

I dreamed last night some form of reprise of the movie I had watched--400 Blows. In my dream, I was going to a class of young students to speak about technology. I became lost as I was driving to the class and overshot the turnoff to the campus. I had to backtrack and find my way to the campus coming from the opposite direction. I made it but was late getting there. I think there was a lot more in the dream but I don't remember what it was about.

Watched another Truffaut film this evening--Day for Night. The film is a tongue-in-cheek behind the scenes look at the movie-making process and its often ad hoc procedures. There was a story within a story plot whereby the film was about making a film even to the point of starring the director as a character in the internal film. There were several well known actors. The whole thing was fast paced and farcical. The film gets good reviews and review scores. I don't quite see why there's such appreciation for the work (it gets 100% on the rotten tomatoes site).

No G&B class tomorrow (could sleep in but will try to not do so). Weather is somewhat warmer and getting more so. But hope we get more moisture before the summer heats return.

3401

Missed having a C&M class today. I feel myself losing ground when we don't have a class. Hopefully, when it's less cold and damp, I can resume running some again. My new running shoes feel springy and ready to roll. I'm curious to try them out and see what happens.

It got fairly cool last night and I got up early when my phone went off in the early hours. It was some kind of prank call. However I was already up and about by the time I discovered this fact. So the morning hobbled by as I ate something, tried to keep warm, filled out some forms I needed to mail, getting off to Kinko's and the post office, getting myself mired in a traffic jam, and being late to the H's to continue reading from our newest book--Paris Babylon.

Watched a Truffaut film--400 Blows. I see why it's said to be a masterpiece. It's done so elegantly and seamlessly with an almost unknown child actor in the lead role. The story is told from the child's perspective. It conjures up childhood memories--mine not the boy's! It's an evocative study of a childhood that helps bring the mirror of memory alive and up close. I've seen other Truffaut films, but none have impressed me as this one does. I'm curious as to what I will dream this night.

PD dance and resistance training in the morrow. It will feel good to get back to some of the regimen of the classes.

3402

Got the printer and laptop talking once again. Brings back the fact that I need to refresh my tech toys (computer, iPad, telephone, TV et al). My stuff is so out of date as to be pathetic. I had to fiddle with the printer's utilities to get a clean print out of some forms I needed. Didn't take that long but it was tedious and somewhat stressful. New tech toys are no longer friends of mine.

I went to the farmer's market and bumped into RS (the designer). Turns out we may soon be neighbors--he lives across the street from the Stevenson House, the place where I'm on the waiting list. It will be nice to have him (and there are others) as neighbors.

Watched a romantic/comedy film this evening--Larry Crowne. It was a funny and enjoyable tale about a middle-aged man who loses his job and goes back to college while working a few part time gigs. Of course, he meets a teacher at the college that leads to other things. He also falls into the gentle hands of some younger students who show him the ropes around campus and beyond. It was written, produced, directed and starred in by Tom Hanks. Julia Roberts plays the teacher and his ultimate partner. They did well together! The film did alright at the box office both here and abroad. It was a fun distraction!

No C&M tomorrow! Instructor is away and will also not have a Wed class. Will keep on with the document prep I have to do for taxes and a move to SH. The time will be absorbed! The days will pass!

3403

Laundry day is done today! Laundromat was nearly empty. There were a flood of cars though since Papa Johns was giving away small pizzas--something about customer appreciation month. I appreciated the pizza even though I've never been a customer. The pizza was tasty--I might try them again some day (or night).

Reading about a PD Voice Initiative that is recording people's breathing patterns over the phone and extrapolating the recorded data into predictions of whether or not the subject has PD. After they validate the procedure, they could offer a dial-up status report as to a person's progress with the illness. What an elegant and clever breakthrough! And what a low cost intervention! Just the price of a phone call!

Watched a film this evening--Anonymous. A historical thriller based on some concepts about who was the actual Shakespeare. It was lavishly done with major actors and was intriguing in its portrayal of who was the person who was the author of so much material but about whom so little is known. The film presents a complex scenario of intrigue and incest that produces various heirs to the throne. These heirs or heirs apparent trigger political infighting and jostling among each other that gets mimicked in the popular Shakespearean plays. The work didn't do all that well at the box office and garnered some review comments regarding the time switches that were made. But it held my interest even though the key character, William Shakespeare, was portrayed as an illiterate drunk who was a poser and a criminal and was used by the real author to help create the subterfuge.

Another day another twilight! May the night be bright and the rains be light! So says the sprite!

3404

Resistance class went well today. I felt strong--as strong as I've felt in a while. Might be related to what I ate over the past week--I put away a fair amount of food. Heading into a long weekend since I won't have a C&M class on Monday. Also won't have a G&B class on Wednesday. Seemed like I had just gotten back into the swing of things from the holiday's disruptions. Will just have to do some fill in work until the classes get back in sync. In the resistance class today, we did an extra 15 minutes of abs and cardio work. That seemed to be less tiring than in the previous session.

Laundry day tomorrow and hopefully some progress on getting info together for taxes and a possible move. First step--get my laptop back in shape with printer active and ready to go.

Watched a set of episodes from a British series--Ruth Rendell Mysteries. They are somewhat similar to Midsomer Murders but don't have a main character. Each episode is a standalone story with no elements of continuity between episodes. The acting is good in this series. The stories are a bit thin--not as complex and intricate as Midsomer Murders.

It's warmed up some over the past few days. Forecast is for temperatures to drop again and for there to be some rain. I think I've gotten accustomed to the colder days/nights--not bothered as much as I was when the coolness first settled upon the area.

I slept well last night. I slept without a heater going and that helped keep me bundled and burrowed. Looking forward another round like that tonight!

3405

Movement class was small today--only three people including the instructor. But, it was still relaxing and felt good to do some light movement. Picked up a second pair of running shoes--a matching pair that I had ordered after I discovered how well the shoes fitted and felt. I grabbed a sandwich at the SpiceKit place. It was a hefty, tasty Thai-style sandwich that tasted really good. It confirmed for me that the Roasted Meat place is not worth trying a second time. The RM sandwich was mostly bread and bland meat. The SK sandwich was hefty with meat, had tasty sauces and fillers, and was cheaper than the RM offering.

When I picked up the running shoes, they gave me an extra  pair of shoelaces. The laces were a different color than the original ones (blue instead of black). I decided that I would put the blue laces on the new shoes so I can keep them identified. Boy, I have a lot of empathy for the people in the factories that have to complete the assembly of a pair of shoes by lacing them up. It took me a while and a lot kinked-up fingers to unlace and relace the new shoes. Not a simple or fun task! More like a puzzle that has to be figured out!

Watched a spy thriller film this evening--Safe House. It was a 2012 production that ran about $85MM to make and that grossed nearly $200MM so far. It has a water boarding scene that makes me wonder why Zero Dark 30 got all the bad press about doing similar scenes. The SH film is a non-stop action movie with many hand-to-hand, bullet-filled, car chasing, and other high octane activities. It never stops to take a breath. It rolls from one battle to another as bands of agents of various stripes attempt to collar a rogue spy who is carrying a file of secrets that they would like to possess. Denzel Washington is the rogue spy who is wise in the way of the spy world--a font of information about what all his pursuers can do and will do to put him on ice.

Resistance training in the morrow. Dreamed last night that I had to go check on a woman that I had known a long time ago. It seemed that she was in some kind of trouble or distress. I had to explain to my wife (dream wife) what I needed to do. She was upset that I was going to see the woman much less help her in any way. My dream wife argued with me and became irate when I insisted that I had to do something. I left to go help the woman. The dreaming ended there without any complete resolution. I was awakened by noise and lights outside in the parking area. There were a couple of police cars sitting outside and the officers seemed to be walking around the complex looking for someone or something. I went back to bed and back to sleep!

3406

Big G&B class today! Enough people showed up so that we almost ran out of chairs. Will miss having this class (and others) over the next two weeks as the instructor will be on vacation. I almost slept through the class this morning. I turned over and it was nearly 10 am--I broke all my records in getting up, eating something, jumping in the shower, and getting to class. The class started at 10:30am.

Watched a quirky French film this evening--Around a Small Mountain. It was written and directed by a well know French film maker, Jacques Rivette, who is now about 84 years old. He uses his own technique of only giving actors their lines 30 minutes before the cameras start to roll. The result is a set of actors who are perhaps more alive and awake as they work through each scene in an almost improvisational manner. His technique also produces strange and enigmatic jumps and cuts in the action that give the film a somewhat dream-like quality. There are also scenes that display his autocratic way of imposing his will on the action no matter how odd it may seem in the general flow of things.

Began the reading of Paris Babylon, The Story of the Paris Commune, with GH. It's a somewhat dense historical unraveling of the events that led up to the revolution. The first chapter begins in the 1860s during the reign of Louis Napoleon. I have to do some background research on the book and the period to help make sense of what I'm reading. But not tonight! Movement class in the morrow and pick up another set of running shoes (got a call that they had arrived)!

3407

Had PD dance today. It wasn't a big class but it was fun. Did a resistance training session in the afternoon. We did an extra 15 minutes of walking at the end of the session that left me whipped. The extra 15 minutes of moving is a stretch or so it seems. Resistance class was also small.

Watched a film this evening--Two Lovers. It is a sort of love story about a guy who's a bit wacky who meets and is attracted to two women. One of the women is in love with a married man who keeps promising to leave his wife and family to be with her. The other woman is looking for a husband. Both of the women are attracted to the man's quirky way of being. The director said he based the plot on a story by Dostoevsky about a loner who longs for relationship. The film is a slice of life story where the slices are quirky and tense. Someone always seems to be hanging by a thread, dangling over an abyss.

G&B class tomorrow. Right now I feel tired and logy, ready to head for the bed. I had an intense flushing and turning red episode after eating lunch. Will have to see if I'm allergic to something I had. It's been happening for about a month--about the same time as last year I believe. It comes and goes but is really pronounced right now! Always something! I turn red and go to bed!

3408

Inaugural activities and holidaze are done! Long live the king (MLK and otherwise)! Have a PD dance class and resistance training session tomorrow. Will liven up the three day sleep fest that I've completed. Today was better--I got up somewhat earlier and didn't nap in the afternoon (had a green tea latte to make that happen). Weather has warmed up some and it's been more moderate at night.

I bumped into SB one of my chiropractors in my (now seemingly) distant past. I learned from him that GD (another of my past chiro people) has passed away. He died of colon cancer! He was still fairly young (vis-a-vis myself) and I was surprised and saddened to learn that it had happened. We grow old, we grow old, and slowly find our final ways (maybe not so slowly for some).

I listened to an NPR broadcast of City Arts and Lectures of a interview with the guy who has made MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction). The content reminded me that I can add a MBSR component to each day's regular activities. So be it! And let it be so! I could take a series of sessions on the technique at my medical provider. Will investigate!

Not a lot of progress over the long weekend in getting everything in order for a likely move and preparation of tax returns. Sleep took over and helped me stay inactive. But it's all on my to-do list and tabulation.

Watched a German film (that I had seen about two years ago)--The Ninth Day. It was about a priest from Austria who was put in the situation where could save the lives of other priests by writing a declaration said the church was aligned with the Nazis. He was given nine days "leave" from Dachau to visit with his bishop and create the declaration. He was pulled several ways (by his family, the Germans, his conscience, and his church). It's a tight film (all done in nine days on the screen) that the director said was modeled somewhat after The Trial of Joan of Arc film.

GH punted today on the Baker book we've been reading. It was getting very interior and tedious--not as free, open and funny as some of his other works. I agreed that I had read enough before we would have to jump into a couple of really lengthy chapters.

3409

Another sleepy day! I turned over early this morning and awoke about three hours later. After getting up and out for a while, I came back and fell asleep for a few more hours. It feels so good to sleep. I did a haircut in the midst of taking naps. Hair is cut really short. The only next stage is shaving the whole pate but I don't think I want to go there.

Had a pair of dreams last night and today. First was a dream of being in a car with BH and a man that we both knew. BH was driving and she pulled off the road and let her front left tire roll into a mound of soft earth. The car felt like it would be stuck when she was ready to pull away. A man came out of a nearby house and handed her a package. She had driven to the place in order to take delivery of the package. The dream ended there.

A second dream sequence involved music and songs. In the dream I was singing and improvising a variety of songs. Some I knew and were familiar. Others were new compositions that I was creating as I sang. I think this was the first musical dream that I've ever had.

Watched a film tonight--Changeling. It's a film based on a true story of a woman who had her son disappear and what she did to try and get the powers that were to try and find him. The police found a boy and brought him to her but he was not her son. The police insisted that he was her child and that she was crazy in refusing to accept who he said he was. The film was directed by Clint Eastwood. The film has his sense of pace and flow. Each scene is sparse and straightforward--always moving the story onward to a clear conclusion. Angelina Jolie played the mother and was very good and iconic in the way she portrayed a woman of those times (1930s).

MLK day tomorrow! No classes! Heading to the H's to read more of the current Baker book Fermata. Chuckle until I giggle and giggle until I laugh!

3410

Slept the day away! Awoke late to start--about 9am. Took medication and went back to sleep. Awoke and it was past noon. Got up and out. Grabbed some food (spicy chicken at Chef Liu's) and came back and fell asleep. Awoke and took medication (later than usual) and then went back to sleep. Awoke around 6pm and have stayed up since then.

Watched a film--Les Miserables. It was, well, miserables! Overall, the voices used were not all that good. The opening sequence looks like a CGI advertisement--it has a look and feel that disappears and is never seen again throughout the film. Hathaway has a fairly decent voice. Jackson is pathetic! Crowe is on and off alright! I give it a couple of stars (out of five)--It's nothing great!

Weather is warmer--thank goodness! Will see if I can resist sleeping all day tomorrow and get something done on my backlog that continues to grow.

Inaugural events and MLK holidaze! Weak ends for a week end! Listening for the rainbow--singing with the dream!

3411

Had a nearly full contingent of resistance trainers today! Lots of people (new and old) showed up for the session. The instructor added a 10+ minute walk to the session which helped to really wear me out by the time we finished. But overall the session felt good and went well.

Before heading to class I dropped by the running store to see if my shoes had arrived. They had not and clerk said it normally takes about 2 weeks to order anything (which seems really slow given all the choices for shipping. Anyway, when I got to class I had a phone message that my shoes had arrived! So, after class I dropped by the store and yes they had a pair of shoes but they were in the wrong size. So, I have to wait another week (or two) before we try again.

Watched a German film this evening--Robber. It's a sort of blend of Lance Armstrong goes postal. The film was based on a true story of a bank robber who was also an award winning long distance runner. He had been caught and jailed. He was released and went on to win some important races (with good prize money) but also started a chain of brazen bank robberies. The guy was suicidal and seemed to need the adrenaline rush of the robberies to keep him going. The film was devoid of a lot of talking (running is an alone sport for the most part) so it was easy to follow even in German. The actor who played the lead got a lot of exercise doing the film.

I seem to be having some bathroom karmic things going on. A couple of week's ago I had to call the landlord and get him to replace the bathroom sink faucets. Today, the knob that controls the shower nozzles popped loose. With some kind of luck, I was able to open the device and retrieve a screw that had worked loose. I replaced the screw and restored the shower to a working state. I suspect that my fix will only work for a while before the screw strips loose and will require replacement. But it's fixed for now!

Week ends! Weak ends! Meek friends! Seek blends! It never wends but it always trends! Make amends!

3412

Movement class today along with warmer temperatures! Made for a really good day! Still ended up napping in the afternoon but that also felt good. Resistance training tomorrow and then the week ends! Plan on making progress this weekend on getting ready for taxes and the compilation of stuff I'll need to apply to the Stevenson House. Days are going quickly by--time rushes onward like a cascading stream. Nothing to impede the flow!

Had a hearty sandwich after the movement class. Went to the CG and ordered one of their meatloaf sandwiches. Comes with potato salad and is garnished with shaved carrots and apples. Very good! Very filling!

Will do a few crossword puzzles and head for the bed to read a while. No movie tonight--just caught up on some TV shows that I normally follow.

3413

Late night posting! Fell asleep in the afternoon and only woke up at his late hour. Had a G&B session today. It felt good but I came away ready to sleep--which I did.

Movement class tomorrow! A bit warmer weather but still running heaters. May I have warm dreams!

3414

Dancing and lifting today! Day was bright and sunny but still cool around the edges. It's warmed a bit but still expect tonight to hit the low 30s or less. Well, Armstrong has done it--he's admitted to doping. He didn't do it in the form of sworn testimony--he went on Oprah!

Confirmed with instructor today that there are free PD exercise sessions at the Y three days a week. They've been underway since November 2012. They take place at a time that's not that convenient for me to go there. Monday is to tight with C&M class and reading session with the H's. Wednesday is also tight because of the G&B class and reading with the H's. Friday is out since I have a resistance training class at the same time as the Y class. I actually would rather find a dance class or such rather than another exercise session. We shall see!

B&B class tomorrow! Looking forward to it! Had an acupressure session this afternoon. Felt good! My energy level is high from the session and a tasty chicken sandwich that I had for dinner. Onward to dream land I go!

3415

C&M class was not too strenuous today or I'm getting in better shape. The Y here in PA is making a PD exercise class available 3x a week for free. I may try it out--it's almost within walking distance (if it weren't so cold outside). More options! More possibilities! The classes are on M-W-F at around 2pm-3pm. The resistance trainer at the PD Institute was helping lead today's Y-class. Will learn more from him tomorrow.

This month is zooming by! For some reason today I thought that we were in just the first week of the month--not the 2nd as we truly are. Already 15 days have sped by--half the current month.

Dreamed last night a cluster of dreams about people who go to the PD classes. There were scenes with several different people, in particular several from the dance class. I slept with the heater going all night. That kept the room warm and cosy despite the outdoor conditions. But, it will be nice when this cold weather goes away.

Armstrong cheated in the Tour de France wins! What a disappointment! It must have been extremely difficult for him to make such an admission, but not much sympathy for him or those who aided and abetted.

PD dance class tomorrow plus resistance training followed by a tuina session in the late afternoon. Full day! What the hey? Sunny day! All the way!

3416

Oldy and coldy! Temps are heading below 30s for several nights! Huddling up with the space heaters and eating spicy foods to keep my triple-heater pumping. Have a C&M class tomorrow and a full roster of classes and activities in the coming week. Plus have several extra activities that will also need attention.

I awoke myself in a dream I was having last night. In the dream I was telling a group of people what I had discovered while testing a module we had developed. I had discovered through rigorous testing that our code didn't randomly seed itself when it started. It had been designed to always start with the default seed and thus always produced the same sequence each time it was restarted. We could fix by either rebuilding the code to always start with a freshly chosen random seed. I showed how I had tested the original code and how I had discovered the error. I was explaining all of this to everyone when I realized I was talking out loud. My voice was echoing about the bedroom. I realized that my neighbors would be hearing what I was saying--that it might wake them. That realization woke me up and popped me out of the dream state.

Two weeks already zoomed by in the new 2013 year! How fast the time goes even when I don't do anything! The minutes, hours, days zoom past--clicking along with the atomic clocks--throbbing with the pulsing of the universe. Time to rhyme! Time to dine! Time to make the planets shine!

3417

The temperature is in the high 20s! Yes, the high 20s and it plans to stay there for a while. It was nice to hold my hands on the dryer at the Laundromat today. It was somewhat warmer in with the washers and dryers than it was outside. I had a hearty enchilada plate to help keep me warm as well. Otherwise, I've been huddling with the heater and have put on multiple layers. I can't recall a time when we've had sustained cold weather like what we're getting now.

Went to the library and exchanged DVDs but didn't watch anything this evening except one in a series of Midsomer Murders. That series of completely cookbook mysteries still gives me sense of clarity and balance as each story unfolds. The region in which the stories take place must be the per capita murder capitol of the world. Every story has three or more bodies and the series has been running for some time now.

Well off to bed early tonight. Will wrap up and read and let the heater warm the room. Dreaming all the way!

3418

And it gets colder and colder! And will be more so as the weekend unfolds! It was actually chilly in the resistance training class today, chilly and lots of people. Many people braved the weather and came to class. It was in the low 30s last night. Will be the same or lower tonight and tomorrow night. Maybe the same on Sunday. Oh, well! Will just bundle up and run the heaters. Just got December's utility bill and it was up compared to November. January will probably set a record.

Watched a French film this evening--The Class. It's a documentary-like film done in an actual classroom in a mixed race French community. The class was like the UN in terms of the students who appeared in the film. The film was done very naturalistically letting the kids express themselves each in their own way. It was Blackboard Jungle brought up to date with the times and what today's kids know, and say, and do. It was a rough and tumble collection of scenes (nearly all done in the classroom or a teacher's lounge) that focused on the kids faces and how they interacted with the teacher.

Laundry day tomorrow along with the cool, cool day! Resistance training went well today--it actually helped unkink some tight spots I'd accumulated over the week. As I ate lunch (sandwich and soup) I had a short interlude of feeling joyful as I munched my lunch. I just had a short period of time that I felt whole and hopeful. Why and where it came from I'm not sure. Maybe it was the warm soup! It was very pleasant.

3419

Movement class was small today--only three of us. Instructor was ill and her second took over. It was relaxing and helped counteract the cold weather--a cold that is getting more pronounced as the night progresses. In the low 30s tonight and through the weekend. Have a resistance training session tomorrow. Had a tuina session this afternoon and that's helping raise my energy levels and general well being.

Watched a Spanish film this evening--Amador. It's about a young woman who is living with a boy friend by whom she is pregnant. To help out with household money, she takes on a caregiver's job helping an old man. His children hire her to look after him but he dies half way through her first month with him. She wants to collect her money for taking care of him so she doesn't tell the children that he has died. And therein unravels a twisty tale of what she does to keep him "fresh" until her month is up. Along the way to the conclusion of this adventure, she learns a lot about herself, the world, and other people. It's an understated film throughout with a few sparks of humor involving the human condition in all of its forms. It's a little slow but the uncovering of the details of how she copes with such a situation kept me hooked and carried me along.

Ordered a 2nd pair of running shoes. They didn't have another pair in stock and will have to have them shipped in. The pair I have feel really good. I thought I might as well order a 2nd pair so I don't have to wear one pair to death--I can switch back and forth. Two pair should last me well over a year of constant wear.

3420

Big, big class today for G&B exercises! Room was filled--as much as it's ever been for a class. G&B exercises were tough--we did a lot of balancing on one foot for several minutes. Makes the thigh and butt muscles burn a bit.

Got my first SS check for 2013 today. Small increase--a few percentage points, but every little bit helps keep things on an even keel. Coldness comes! Supposed to dive tomorrow and Friday night into the freezing zone. Bundle up! Bundle up!

Movement class tomorrow and a session with Luca (tuina) later in the day. Looking forward to the tuina session. It's been over a month since I had a session. Building up a horde of aches and pains what with the exercises and activities, and the cooler weather.

Somehow my apartment has become more cluttered than ever. I've got a few empty boxes that I picked up in buying some new shoes and a new heater. Those few items make the place look even more cluttered and jumbled. Will have to jump on everything this weekend and see if I can restore some of the uncluttered ambiance. Laundry day this weekend--even if it's freezing cold!

3421

It was good to do a PD dance class once again. It's been a while since we were together. Good to touch base with everyone who was there. Moving is grooving! What can I say?

Also did a resistance training class as well. I noticed by the end of the second class that I was a bit frazzled. I came back and zoned out for some time and began to feel better after I had had a rest.

G&B class tomorrow! Should be a big class. New year's resolutions and all that!

Watched a German film this evening--Beyond Silence. I seem to recognize parts of the film but it may have just been scenes from some previews. It was a "shine like" film about a woman who is the child of two parents who are deaf. She has a talent for music, something her parents can't relate to. Her aunt encourages her to study music as she too was very talented but never did much with it. It was a touching story that followed her path through childhood, coming of age, and going on to become a musician despite her parent's reservations. I found that I was really moved by her struggle and how things resolved for her and her family.

It was a bit warmer today--very sunny and bright. But, the cold is coming, again! Predictions for very lows on Thursday. Winter is a'comin' in! You betcha!

3422

Tough but good C&M class today. There is one twisty move that is really difficult for me to do. I'm a bit concerned that I'll tweak my ribs doing the posture. But it was good to stretch and move. Tomorrow we have PD dance and resistance training. Wore my new tennis/running shoes today--they feel to be a really good fit and they are light and airy. I'm tempted to buy a second pair since I've found such a good set. Maybe I will and maybe I won't. Maybe! May be! May the bee be!

Watched a movie tonight--Asylum. I'd seen the film before but didn't see at first that I had done so. More of the story came to me as the film unrolled. It was a British psychological thriller about a woman who becomes obsessed with one of the patients and he with her. Her husband is a physician in the asylum where the couple first meets. It was a good film the second time round, maybe more so than the first. The woman was played by Natasha Richardson. Seeing this one right after watching Tyrannosaur makes for dark ripples on the mind's stillness. Obsession and violence, violence and obsession! The perfect grinder!

Began reading Fermata (by Baker) this afternoon with the H's. Baker is one strange fellow and his successive books seem to bear that out. He is one erudite person though. He drops in tiny references to people and events that are obscure as well as related--a magical writing trick!

Seems like an early night tonight. I went out for a sandwich earlier and came back and napped before starting the film. But I'm still ready for my beddy. Sweep tight and sleep light!

3423

C&M class tomorrow! Ready to do some moving! Coolness persists! I slept in this morning until hunger drove me to get up and about. Went to CG and had a tasty scramble with salsa, cheese, bacon, avocado, sour cream, and potatoes and toast. Yummy, yummy for my tummy!

Watched a film this afternoon--Tyrannosaur. It was a bit more graphic and intense that I thought it would be from the trailer. It's a British film that highlights the low lights of people and their acquired dysfunctionalities. There is mayhem, killing, women beating, dog killing and other perversities. I found the film to be disturbing and without a lot of redemption involved. Yes, the woman who's partnered with a control freak, sadist does kill him in the end and goes to jail. But the overall film sort of lurches from one confrontation to another without a lot of thought as where it goes and what happens--you just know that there is going to be a guaranteed other confrontation or crazy event.

Enough for tonight! Onward to dreaming I go!

3424

Saturday and the evening is raining! Some light rainfall was heard clicking on the roof. Went to the sport shoes place on CA avenue--ZombieRunners. Trippy place! They have a great selection of running shoes. They vary from the latest in technical shoes (including bare foot models) as well as a selection of street or trail models. I probably paid more than I would have at a Shoe Pavilion or Foot Locker, but it was worth it. I found an excellent fitting shoe, of light weight, and hearty enough that I can experiment with running again and not beat up my feet. So, when it stops raining I'll take them for a spin!

Had a Naughty Naan sandwich this afternoon at the new Curry Up Now Indian fast food place. The food was alright--tasty and spicy, but the price is too high for what they serve there. Today's dish was the second I've tried there and I had the same reaction both times--OK but not worth the price. It's much more cost effective to go to an Indian buffet (of which there are many) and come away more sated.

Sorry Curry Up! Not every of the many new places in downtown PA are going to make it, even if they have a good gimmick going.

Time to head for the bed! It's a bit later than usual tonight for me to still be online--but will remedy very soon! Adieu, adieu! It's off I goo!

3425

Warmed up some today! Still a bit chilly but less cool than it has been. Resistance training session went well today. We've turned the corner and headed into a month of solid classes and sessions. Feeling good! What will the new year bring? I grabbed a sandwich as I returned and ate it before slipping into a short sleep. I seem to need a brief nap in the mid afternoon and then am ready for the evening. I awoke last night a few hours after getting in bed. Wasn't sure I'd be able to fall back to sleep but I did so.

I'm reading a couple of interesting story collections. I've read a lot more over the past few weeks and watched fewer films. Reading seems to leave me less cluttered than watching movies. Especially when I'm reading such good stories as I'm reading now.

Don't recall any of last night's dreams. Awakening like I did (a few hours after getting to bed) and then awakening again early in the morning left me memory-less regarding any dreams. Last night I also set up my medications so that I don't have to get out of bed to take anything. That beats stumbling around in the cold darkness like I've been doing. Just turn over, grab my pills, and drink from my water bottle! Much better!

Weekend begins! Seems much shorter when there's a full roster of classes set for the next week. So here I go! Avoid the snow! Watch it blow! Across the flow!

3426

Had a movement class today. Just four of us but it was good to be back at it. Weather remains cool. It's going to be frosty tonight. Have a resistance training session tomorrow.  I did a walk through the downtown area this afternoon. Lots of people and traffic everywhere. I was looking for a pair of new shoes. I think I've found a place with a good selection on CA avenue minus the crowds and traffic.

I recalled a second dream I had a few nights ago that was so unusual. In the dream, I used the story and events of a piece of fiction I had read to flesh out the entire dream. At some point in the dream, I realized what I was doing and kept doing it--but lucidly. It created a weird sensation--being able to know ahead of time what I was going to say or do, and how it would direct the action of the dream. Strange and eerie!

I've not watched a film for a few days. Last night I crawled into bed early and read until I was sleepy. Will probably do the same tonight. I checked out a copy of Tyrannosaur--a film I've wanted to see since I saw its preview.

Sinus issues are clearing up. The cold and damp evening air doesn't help but overall it's clearing! May the healing powers of the universe descend and clear it all away.

3427

Big G&B class today! People coming back from vacation and the holidaze. The class was strenuous! In some exercises, it was all I could do to finish a sequence, especially when balanced on just one foot. The exercises worked the muscles of the legs and hams, including the glutes. My legs are begging me to get horizontal and let them rest.

Finished the Baker book (Anthologist) with the H's today. It was quite a well written book--idiosyncratic but well written. Next we do Fermata also by Baker. "A long pause"--Fermata--seems like a book he would write.

Coldness continues! Kept the heater on all night last night. And put it back on this afternoon. When I left the H's I went by the library to return DVDs and books, pick up replacements, and grab a NY Reuben from the deli. It was delicious! I ate the whole thing in a single sitting. But, I didn't nod off afterward but feel like doing so. Guess I'll head for the bed early, read some from the books I got, and keep the temperature warm as the night unfolds.

I think we have a movement class tomorrow but am not certain. Oh, well! I'd sleep in late anyway and will assume that there is a class and walk over when it's time.

Bumped into WB today. Her husband JB passed away last year. He was dealing with PD and took a fall from which he didn't recover. Pneumonia was what finally took him down. I was reading in a PD forum last night about people who are dealing with the end game of PD. It doesn't look nice!

I dreamed two graphic dreams last night. In one, I was here in my apartment. I had looked outside and saw a couple of strangers on the opposite landing. When they saw me, they abruptly started to back track and make their way down the stairs. It was then that I noticed there were other non-tenants standing at the end of the balconies and on the stairs. I knew something was not right and stepped out onto the balcony. I had my phone in my hand and was toying with the idea of calling 911. About then, one of the men nearest me (one who seemed to be in charge) pulled out a pistol and shot a man who was trying to sneak down the stairs. There was a lot of back and forth between everyone. I seemed to get the idea that they had come for me--not to shoot me but to take me with them for some reason. Eventually, we all left together in several cars and ended up in a garage where things continued to unfold. I learned that they wanted me to help them with some plan they had devised. It involved hacking into an electronic system. I was to take care of that task.

I can't seem to recall any details of the other dream. It too was clear and graphic. It was like paging through a comic book with elaborately drawn panels. But, that's all I can recall.

3428

The new year--2013! I'm arriving in a punky mode. I'm still trying to kick off my sinus drainage issue. I can't seem to break everything loose. The drainage and discomfort persist and continue. I've slept nearly round the clock. I got up late this morning, went out for a spicy Chinese meal, and came back to crawl into the bed and sleep some more.

There's a G&B class in the morrow which will help me get moving and such. The weather remains quite cool at night (lower 30s). My heater is getting a work out. It's been on continuously now for a while.

I tried watching a French film this evening--35 Shots of Rum. I watched about 1/3 of it before giving up. I don't know what the film is about. It's all played very interior-like and after watching what I've watched, I don't care what the rest is about. I will make a library run tomorrow, take back DVDs and books, and restock my lending collection. I'll be heading back to bed early tonight. Really early based on what the clock says is the current time.

Mumble jumble humble crumble. Make the starlight trip and stumble. Answer all the telephones. Pitch and toss the mammal bones. Say goodnight and then good eve. Pull a ticket from your sleeve.
Cross the stitches, make them weave. Wait and whisper, I believe! I believe! I believe!

Nighttime in silly cone valley! Yes it is, oh yes it is!