3045

I'm smogged and registered! Truck passed the smog test with no problems. I then went online and submitted my registration--smooth and easy! The DMV site is really easy to use and very efficient when processing online transactions. Whomever designed the site did a great job.

I came back from my smog expedition and slept for a couple of hours. Heat from outside is starting to seep into the house. Will see when the cooler kicks into action. My lunch today was a Jamba Juice--which tasted good, but I'm not sure it was substantial enough.

It's Wednesday and there are several tasks on the docket--Putting out the trash cans for tomorrow's pickup, turning on the sprinkler system for tonight/tomorrow morning, watering the garden lots in the morning, and so on.

The Orangevale PD support group is meeting tomorrow, but I also have a CW dance class--not sure I can do both, but may try.

End of April 2014 and the start of May 2014! Time marches on, and on, and on--to the last syllable of recorded time.

3046

Woke up early today. However, the duration up until now didn't seem like that is what I had done. Hours collapsed in upon each other and I did take a nap for a few hours after eating lunch. Time is relative--sometimes more so than others.

All the yard projects appear to be on hold. The moles rule, I guess! Along with other reasons! 

I felt pretty good today even with the soaring temperatures. It probably hit the 90s for part of the day. I puzzled through the thermostat settings and figured out how to activate the cooling system. Inside the house, the temperatures held around the 80s. The good news is the cooling system worked. The bad news--there is no automatic system built into the unit. I have to manually switch everything between cool and heat--it can be either/or but not in a dynamic way.

Sprinkler systems, thermostats, lawns, gardens, flowers, plants, mole holes, weeds, spiders, wasps, flaking paint, flooding eaves, and probably a lot more details--enough things to keep a sound body and mind engaged, but alas not in my condition.

I walked the loop this evening once it got a bit cooler. A neighbor that I walked past commented positively on the Save the Whales t-shirt I was wearing.  It is a striking design. It was a gift from my friend LL. 

I walked well given that I pushed it at dance class last night. Tomorrow, I need to get my truck smog checked so I can file the registration form. 

I lied last night--I watched an episode of the Mentalist instead of the Good Wife. I just felt like watching a show that was more frivolous--which it is. I watched the Good Wife tonight--heavy and dark. It's a good show, but it's sailing into dark territory, beginning with the ending shows of season last. Looking forward to Survivor's latest twist.

Well, it's time to sign off here in the heat of the night. 

3047

Last dance class in Orangevale tonight. Place we were dancing is only a short distance from where they just caught a bear--yes, a big live bear. Perhaps he was checking the place out for a late hibernation. Anyway, he's now on his way back to the real wilderness.

I'm zonked tonight. We reviewed at least four dances and learned a new one. I was starting to feel a bit wobbly when we got to the end of things. My feet were not moving all that well tonight--they felt heavy and not that fast. We did do a lot of dancing though--most of it fairly fast moving.

So, will watch an episode of the Good Wife, and then hit the rack. Tomorrow, here comes the sun! It will be a quick taste of what it will be like in the summer when the temperature goes and stays above 100 degrees!

So, off to dream the wizard--the wonderful wizard of sleep!

3048

Off to see the wizard! The grandkid was in a play today--the Wizard of Oz. She played three roles--one of the munchkin flower people, one of the blue jay flock, and one of the spirits, or angels, that were part of Glenda's (the good witch) creatures. It was a charming play with kids in most of the key roles. Dorothy was played by a young girl with plenty of talent (she could sing, dance, speak, act, and deal with a live Toto (dog)). The overall play clocked in at over 3 hours. Fortunately, the grandkid only appeared in the first act so we could leave after that 1.5 hours of entertainment. MD, the grandkid's great-grandmother, was there, along with her grandmother and mother. Four generations all together!

I felt a bit out of it today. I awoke early and didn't go back for a nap until I came back from breakfast. I really soaked out then and awoke feeling logy and heavy. I had a bit of a problem sitting still (not moving) for the duration of the first act of the play. I was ready to go when we decided to leave early.

One of MD's sons came by to pick her up and take her to dinner. He drove up from the Bay Area and will make the haul back this evening. But, he's used to driving a lot. For MD, the day has been lengthy--she handles such activity better than I do and she's more than 20 years older than me.

I've got two CW dance classes in the coming week. There will be a solar eclipse on Tuesday but not where it can be watched from here. There is the promise of a cluster of 90+ days next week! April leaves us scorching! Maybe May may be cooler, may it not?

3049

Getting to be a busy weekend! People coming and going! Movement and coolness! No progress on the patio (and other) projects--blame it on the rain. Moles are awake and on the move. One tunnel cut through a garden planter box. Where did he come from and where is he going? A mole can tunnel at the rate of 18ft per hour! A mole can travel through a tunnel at the rate of 80ft per minute! It appears that the only effective countermeasure is setting traps--no chemical or poison bait solutions are very effective. Only trap and smash seems to work! 

I'm checking the cholesterol content of everything I'm eating. I'm surprised at how little I seem to be ingesting. Today, I had an order of fish and chips from a local vendor. His signs say that there is no cholesterol even though everything is deep fried. I asked him how this is possible. He said he uses a special cooking oil that contains no cholesterol--however, the fish is breaded and the fries absorb the fat, adding to any daily amount of fats that may be ingested. And it matters what kind of fat is being discussed. For example, trans fats are not healthy, period, even if there is no cholesterol involved.

I still believe that my exercise levels were responsible for my lower lipid readings last year and my higher ones now. More exercise! For me, I believe that is the answer--I'm really not eating all that poorly.

Tomorrow, we're going to a performance of the Wizard of Oz. The grandkid is one of the cast (with a minor part, but a part none the less). She's been rehearsing and they went through a dress rehearsal, I believe. Good experience!

Getting late! Time to shut the gate! I can't wait--to dream.

3050

Rain and coolness have returned. The changes in weather bring out the PD symptoms, more so than when everything stays stable. When do things become stable? Never, really, but changes definitely amplify the magnitude.

Went to the recreation center that seems to have a more stable schedule of CW dance classes. I signed up for the set of classes that begin next week (Thursday). That means I will enjoy two classes next week--the last class of the current program and the first class of the next sessions. The class at the new center is a bit more costly than the current one, but nothing worth worrying about. The new fees are still very reasonable.

I was talking with MD about a person I knew in college days who went on to host game shows on TV. I couldn't access his name though--not surprising! But everything is on the Internet! With a few keystrokes, I popped his name. Turns out he's still doing a bit of TV work--he's the spokesperson on the AARP/Walgreens public service announcement. Small world!

I dreamed last night about some thoughts that were triggered by the search I did to find the game host's name. The entire dream was about me being at a conference where I was sharing with people the names of people with whom I had interacted, and who were likely to be listed on the Internet. I had interacted with dozens of such persons. Many lives and many stories--many stories and many lives.

The week has gone by slowly--it seems like it's been a long time since Easter--but it's only been five days or so. How the mind doth measure movement and stillness so differently at times.

I've paid more attention to cholesterol amounts with today's ingestions. But, I didn't have that much of anything that contained a significant amount of the fatty stuff.

When I pulled into Panera's for lunch, I grabbed a parking space to my right that was being targeted by someone who was in the oncoming lane to my left. From my lane, the slots to the right were angled at about 45 degrees--a natural way to accept cars from my lane. The person to my left would have to cut across traffic and make a 225 degree turn to enter the slot. I got the slot! When I went inside, the person whom I had aced chided me for taking such an inconsiderate action (his words)--that he was there first. I pointed out that was not the case--I was obviously there first--I was in the slot. We left it at that, fortunately--he was a rather big person, not someone I'd care to really argue with. I turned and ordered a tasty chicken noodle soup.

3051

Another day and another sprinkler spasm! I got up early today to spy on the sprinkler system as it sprayed its morning moistures. Discovered a pipe that goes nowhere and one that is probably not connected--one of each! I awoke around 7am to go out and watch the different cells start and stop their patterns. Things in the yard go around and around, and under the ground, without a sound.

I showed the contractor what I had observed and he thinks he now knows all that he has to do. It will be great when he is at some point of completion. Of course, there are many other possible projects--more than I want to think about.

I got the sad news that the CW dance class will not be taught again until later in the year (October). I guess if I want to continue with a similar class I'll need to look into the one that's taught on Wednesday afternoons. Otherwise, I'll have to find some other dance alternatives.

Despite my early rising, I feel like I've hopped, skipped and jumped through the day. I haven't really napped at all--although I seem to feel like that is what I need to do. It's almost dinner time, but I feel stuffed from a big lunch--Annie's Thursday Special--meatloaf with gravy and mashed potatoes, green beans, a salad, and a slice of garlic toast. Tasty but very filling!

I overheard a diner at lunch order a specific veggie omelet that sounded low on the cholesterol rating--included egg whites, no meat, no butter or heavily fried elements. Sounded like something I'll have to try given my new lipid panel readings.

3052

Saw my PCP today! My cholesterol levels were the focus of discussions. He suggested that I do a low  cholesterol diet. I also think that my lower exercise levels over the last few months is also contributing to my higher readings. Daily exercise is a key component instead of zoning out and not doing much movement. Also, I probably need to be eating food with more fiber--since I've been here I've reduced the amount of fiber-foods (beans, rice, and so on). Will search for more info tomorrow.

The yard needs a lot of attention--watering, fertilizing, weeding, planting, trimming, pest control, and more. What a pain in the grass! The other day, I discovered a broken pipe in the sprinkler network. Today, I may have found another broken pipe in the vegetable bed system. Will confirm with the guy who's working on the patio since the drainage that's happening is flowing toward the patio area. Oh, boy! Oh, joy!

Looks like my daughter's partner will be moving in soon. It will be one more person to interact with (now have on site three adults and the grandkid, three adults off site, plus a part-time caregiver). Her partner will just move from off to on site status. It will be good to have him around. He gets along well with the grandkid.

It was cool last night--the heater kicked on this morning. Felt a bit cool all day--winds were up, keeping everything from getting too warm. Enjoying the cooler weather while it's here!

3053

Earth Day! Happy Earth, everyone! I missed a lot of today--starting by not getting to sleep until late last night (early this morning). I slept well though and napped a lot throughout the day.

Last night's dancing helped pump up my energies and kept me going after I got home. Also, I kept smelling the essential oil that I had rub on my hands and arms at the PD support group. The energy release and the well being that I experienced reinforced my thoughts of exploring the healing energy options in more depth.

Right on cue, I got a call from my PCP. He wants to go over my test results. His office called right on cue as it were. I'll be seeing him tomorrow.

It's early still but I'm feeling drowsy. Getting to sleep late last night and today's naps has jumbled my system somewhat.

When I did get out today, I was greeted by magnificent clouds--giant clusters of thick and lustrous patterns that filled the sky. It's been a long time since I've seen such formations.

I haven't done the loop for a few days. Have to keep it going! Need to do it everyday no matter what else is happening.

But, time to kick back now. Sleepy dreamings!

3054

Easter has happened! All's egg now! There was a somewhat round of chaos as was predicted. I turned the sprinklers on last night and checked them this morning. When the set nearest the house started, the sprinkler heads were not putting out a lot of water. I noticed some dampness spreading in the sand where the patio floor is being laid. I thought that the sprinklers were somehow pumping the water out of the bed. What I found out later on was that the pipes under the flooring had suffered a break. The water was just being pumped out of the bed. In the process of trying to understand which sprinklers were working, I managed to learn more about controlling the various sprinkler programs, So, all was not just a loss.

The PD support group had an informative speaker this morning. She's a healing practitioner who does body work, Jin Shin Jyutsu, and aroma therapy, in combination. What she does has similarities and overlaps with the tuina sessions I was getting in the Bay Area. What she does and talked about seems to align with the "next step" thinking that I've begun. She's battled off an episode of TB, and three bouts with Lyme Disease! I came away a bit tired (and over stimulated with various aromas) but I plan to move in the directions that she has explored and practiced.

In last night's dream, I did something that is related to the Mr. Peanut ad that is now running on the Internet. In the ad, Mr. Peanut takes on the super guru style of promoting a philosophy or religion. The ad is a parody of the guru promotions and seminars. In my dream, I met a powerful man who was leading similar seminars. But, there was an undercurrent of me not being able to do what was wanted of me, and what I could commit to. In leading up to attending my first seminar, I agreed to take on more tasks than it was possible for me to complete for the start of the seminar. So, I ended up going to the seminar with nothing done. That fact was true for nearly everyone and was not the focus of the seminar. There was an undercurrent running through the program and presentations--a sense of things being about to explode or such. There was also a juggling of people's places--if you left your seat to do anything, when you returned your stuff would have been moved to another location in the room, and put with unfamiliar people. I awoke (early) tense and disturbed.

CW dance class tonight! Looking forward to dancing! It's been a busy day, but still more to do.

3055

Sunday was quiche day! My daughter and ex made a tasty, healthy brunch--fruit salad, asparagus, dinner rolls, two flavors of quiche, and cider. The grandkid was at her dad's place.

Last night, I managed to win the Just Words game playing at the expert level. There is a strategy that can lead to a winning result--although it involves the use of a lot of questionable words--such as ZA, NU, ED, DEKE, and so forth. Winning also requires a great deal of trying out various letter combinations, for which there are no penalties. In actual play against a live opponent, there are time limits--in the Guest game mode no such limits apply. Anyway, I'm now playing at the expert level!

I also want to go back and play some medium level games using the expert strategies. That should be interesting!

Quiet here now! Only MD and her son sleeping away the rest of the day! Awaiting tomorrow's morning of chaos--patio contractor, MD's caregiver dropping by to take MD's son back home, PD support group meeting in Folsom, and who knows what else. CW dance class in the evening.

I slept well let night. Not sure why--perhaps it was winning at the expert level of the word game. Maybe it was just time to sleep well.

I hear the phone ringing in the background. Merry Easter!

3057-3056

Missed making a post yesterday--suddenly it was late and I was ready to hit the hay.

Perhaps I was anticipating the chaos of today and the weekend. MD's son is here along with my ex and the grandkid. And there are the requisite Easter rituals or rather Easter bunny rituals. Lots of pastel colors and chocolate eggs.

I had a series of very vivid dreams over the last few days. One involved me living in a house of the coast. The house was up on a dune that looked out and down the coast to the sea. In the dream, I was dealing with some large objects that were being hauled down the beach and being pushed out into the water. They were supposed to be tsunami prevention devices. They formed an underwater barricade that would trap and destroy any tidal build up. I was concerned about the possibility of a tsunami and about the devices that were being put in place. Both issues seemed to be equally worrisome.

A second dream involved being an advisor to a company that was making small plastic items that could be launched and flown remotely. They were like tiny drones whose purpose wasn't all that clear. They worked and that was part of my responsibility--that they would perform as expected. However, it was never clear how they were going to be used. The devices could be launched with the flick of a finger--when launched they would zoom away and could be directed remotely.

I seemed to have lost the most recent dream (last night's production). It will bubble back up if need be. Oh, I know (or think I do)! I was dreaming about building words for the Just Words game in the expert mode. I've started playing the game at the expert level and I've discovered a strategy that seems to be promising. But, I broke my rule and stayed up too late playing with that game level--I went to bed zapped.

3058

Holy Thursday and soon it will be Good Friday! I had a plentiful lunch today at Annie's. When I returned there was a sudden presence of police cars zooming back and forth through the neighborhood. Seems that someone had robbed a store in the shopping center and made his getaway by walking up to our neighborhood and disappearing into the area. They had police dogs that appeared to locate a track through a neighbor's back yard. Everyone was cautioned to stay inside and await information.

The police came and went, and that was all we heard. I looked on the Internet where there is a crime map on display. It shows the designated area and flags of where criminal activity has taken place. In our immediate area there has been a vandalizing of a vehicle and a breaking/entering of a home over the past two weeks. This robbery is the third such event in the nearby area.

While I was looking at the crime map data, I saw a side story of a crook who tried to rob a bank, but his note was so illegible the teller couldn't read it. She had to excuse herself and ask her manager what it said. Meanwhile, the wacky robber took off and was arrested as he was trying to get away. Good penmanship makes more effective criminals!

Getting late! I'm sort of drowsy--I didn't get a green tea latte today (but drank an energy drink that contains some caffeine). Did my laundry while we were on lock down today--so crime does pay in some odd ways!

3059

Now past the Ides of March! Don't know how Caesar made out, but he probably got what he was rendered (the things that were his).

The day went somewhat out of sync--everything pushed forward and out of normal step. The morning all but disappeared. When I finally was ready to go grab my morning libation, it was lunch time. So, I went to lunch and postponed going to SB's until later in the afternoon.

I went to Annie's for lunch. They had a different Wednesday special--a BLT with avocado, a salad and a bowl of fruit. Light and tasty, yet satisfying. Their regular Wednesday special is meat balls and spaghetti. The warmer weather probably shifted the choice of specials to something cooler and lighter.

I came back from lunch and slept until it was time to take my afternoon medications, and then went to SB's for a Frappaccino--the weather was warmer by then and that called for a cooler drink.

I came back and napped some more, did some surfing on the Internet, and went for a loop walk before dinner.  I watered the two planter boxes that contain the bean and corn plants that have sprouted. Stuff is growing fast!

Holy week is going quickly! School must be out--SB's is relatively quiet versus when classes are in session. Wednesday wends to its end! I dreamed something interesting last night, but lost the content as the day began. Time to dream some more!

3060

I watched the eclipse last night--or at least the first half of it. Bright red moon with a keen red Mercury hovering nearby. It was still and quiet around midnight as the eclipse went on to put the moon in full shadow. I had made a place for me on the floor next to the glass doors. I could lie in comfort on the carpet and watch the show through the glass.

Earlier in the evening, I had gone to dance class. They went over a new dance, Tush Push, and reviewed the dances we did last week. I felt good as the class ended and I made my way home. I stopped for an ice cream--a reward for dancing. My feet felt a bit heavy in the dance class, but I did well enough.

I awoke again really early this morning--just like yesterday. I took my medications and fell back to sleep. I was awakened by the arrival of MD's caregiver.

My left foot/ankle have been swelling up. Yesterday and today, I spent some time lying on my back with my feet elevated, resting on the bed. The swelling seems to go down almost instantly if I assume this position. The swelling seems to be activated by me sitting too much. Anyway, it's helpful to have a way to help normalize everything. Walking also seems to help a bit as well.

I walked up to the mailboxes today. As I neared the boxes, a neighbor pulled up to check his mail. I realized after he was gone that he was the wacko who lives next door. His wife was driving their car and said something light as I walked up to them. She had probably told him to keep his trap closed, and he did so, for a change.

3061

Almost time to head out for dance class. It's been a lazy day. I arose early and checked the sprinklers to see if they had turned on last night. They had and the lawns were wet. I then found myself wide awake and unable to get back to sleep.

I ended up going for my morning latte earlier than usual. SBs was not crowded when I got there--the place was quiet. I went back home and napped for a bit, and then went to Annie's for lunch. Had a bowl of soup and 1/2 sandwich--I was not all that hungry but felt that I should eat something more substantial than my breakfast at SBs (latte and morning bun).

Then? I came back and fell asleep for the better part of the afternoon. I awoke to take my afternoon medications, watched a TV episode (Mentalist), and then went back to sleep again for a few hours. I woke up groggy. Grabbed a bowl of fruit for dinner and I'm counting down now to the time to leave for class. Hopefully, the class will thoroughly wake me up.

I hope to watch the lunar eclipse tonight and that my extra sleep today will let me stay up a bit later than usual. May the night be clear and unclouded so that the blood moon may appear.

I'm getting much better at winning the Just Words (medium level) game. I'll have to raise the ante and give the expert level a few games. Dance time!

3062

Sunday the haircut day! Dropped by the barbers and got trim. There was only one barber doing cuts today. When I arrived, there were three people ahead of me. When I reached the chair, there were at least 4 or 5 people waiting, and several had decided to come by later and had left. Busy barber business!

I watered the two planters where the grandkid has planted beans and corn. The seeds are sprouting already! It's only been a week and they are popping out of the ground. After watering them this morning, I checked on everything after dinner. More plants were showing and the ones from this morning had grown 1/4 of an inch or more! Going to have lots of beans and corn!

Dance class tomorrow evening, followed by the blood moon total eclipse. If it's not cloudy, I should be able to see it (if I'm not asleep). The heavens are turning--the heavens are churning! Dance of the planets in the middle of the night!

My daughter's partner may be moving in with us. That should be a positive thing--B is a good person and seems to get on well with my daughter and the grandkid. They are talking about it being done in a month or two.

Into the holy week!

3063

Made the loop today! Also ate a lot!

Last night, I was reading the opening story in Alice Munro's short fiction collection Runaway. As I read, I noticed an odd spelling for a word. I flagged the fact that there was an odd spelling but didn't do anything to remember the actual word. So, after reading and rereading the first half of the story numerous times, I finally found the word--dialling. Yep, dialling--the British spelling for the American (English) word "dialing." Munro is a Canadian writer and, if I remember correctly, has sent me on a similar sidetrack in other of her stories.

Yes, there is a protocol for such instances that involves the stress and number of vowels preceding the various suffixes (-ed, -er, -ing, and so forth). But, the bottom line is that it makes the American version of the words into British words, which appear to be misspelled to American readers.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday! The day is the start of Holy Week, ending a week later with Easter Sunday--the day of the Resurrection.

It was quiet here at the home front today. All's quiet on all of the fronts!  Let it be, let it be!

3064

It was a bit muggy last night. I tossed/turned on/off throughout the night. I didn't nap this afternoon. After eating some lunch, I grabbed a green tea latte and settled down for a round with Just Words. I continue to hold my own at the medium level--picking up an odd word here and there that helps bump up my scoring.

Weekend arrives! With sun-kissed skies! The weather's warm! And filled with flies! Perhaps I'll don a good disguise! Cover my face and hide my eyes! Pretend I'm clever, that I am wise!

I continue to think about what it is I can start doing that will kick start my being. I can't seem to settle on anything that randomly comes to mind--nothing seems all that substantial or worthwhile.

There are billions of people on this planet doing billions of things--despite their circumstances and despite their resources. Surely, I should be able to discover one thing that I might do that would be of value in these passing hours--something upon which I might focus my attention and that awakens my spirit. Is that too much to ask for?

As I burrow my way deeper into the Murdoch Mysteries, I'm finding them well done. The episodes have components, set in the early part of the 20th century, that presage what CSI will become. There is a focus on leading edge forensic techniques of the day that is compelling. As the episodes progress, the actors are starting to become more of a team.

Dreamy dreams! And sunny themes! Clever memes!

3065

Scorching hot day! Probably the warmest day since I've arrived. Rains have receded and so it's April without the showers. I'm feeling logy and sleepy--even though I've eaten a substantial lunch and downed my daily green tea Frappaccino for today.

I'm rationing my play on the Just Words game--I'm only playing one round at the medium level each day. Otherwise, I become totally absorbed and loose track of time, get to bed late, and other addictive phenomena. At the medium level, the game is winnable even though there is still some mystery surrounding the computer plays and final scoring. But, I'm learning some of the computer's new words--such as ZA, short for pizza, where the letter Z scores 10 points, plus any multipliers that it might land on when played to the board. Oh, lexiconic joys!

Wacko neighbor has been doing something (noisy) all day around his place. There are people coming/going, lots of chatter, and presumably something being done. Despite the warming outdoors, my room stays fairly cool even in the late afternoon, with a western exposure. Looking forward to seeing the lunar eclipse next week with the red moon. If not cloudy, I should have a full view of the event (assuming that I'll be up around 3am as per usual).

Palm Sunday, Tax Day, Passover, Lunar eclipse, Good Friday, Easter, all leading up to Cinco de Mayo--holidaze upon holidaze! And interspersed, some dancing! Don't step on the hidden eggs!

Dreamed something loud last night. I seem to recall me talking to someone in my sleep and waking myself with the conversation. Not sure! It was warmer than usual last night and I was tossing/turning some.

3066

Dog day! I was awakened this morning by our two dogs (daughter's dog and daughter's partner's dog) yipping away along the wacko neighbor's fence. Not sure what they were barking about, but their combined yipes were certainly annoying.

Since I was up early, I went to Annie's for breakfast. Had a decadent serving of egg's benedict--probably more calories than I want to count. But, it was tasty!

Reviewed the dances we learned in dance class on YouTube. It's handy to have videos of dances available between classes. In this way, I can watch the instructional videos and not have to deal with step sheets.

It's a bit cooler today over yesterday, but still warm. House is well insulated and stays fairly cool. Will probably have to crank up the AC when it gets into the plus 100 temperatures though.

Getting further into the Murdoch Mysteries. Still feel that they are somewhat more theatrical than other mystery/murder series, but they are entertaining. Expect the plots/stories to get better as the series matures.

Will go out this afternoon for a green tea Frappaccino--in deference to the warming weather.

May have dreamed some last night, but have lost any threads in the tangle of dog barkings.

3067

Dance class went well last night. About 20 people taking/teaching the class--about all the room can hold. We went over three dances (Cowgirl Twist, Power Jam, and Cuban Shuffle). Will add a fourth next week (Tush Push) and so on. Despite the long layoff, my feet and legs were not too tense. I noticed it more today when I walked the neighborhood loop. I felt really good after the class--looking forward to continuing. I noticed that I felt better trying to dance over trying to exercise--dopamine levels seemed enhanced by dancing.

I had a very vivid dream last night. I was living in section of a town that housed a lot of people who were into drugs and other crimes. I and a few others was trying not to become entangled in those activities--we just wanted to live there and be left alone. But I was looking out a window when a group of the street people went into a store and stole some items. As they came out with their loot, a couple of them saw me watching them. They made silent gestures toward me, letting me know that there would be problems if I told anyone what I had seen. In the dream, the interactions between me and the looters kept escalating--with them harassing me, breaking into my apartment, threatening me, and so on. As the dream continued to unfold, the mood became more and more intense and scary. I think I brought myself out of the dream state because it was so intense.

My daughter's partner dropped by and mowed the lawn today. The whack job who lives next door made a point of coming out and blowing the clippings that might have been thrown into his yard back in our direction. As he did this, he and his wife carried on a yelling/shouting diatribe--him about the intrusion onto his property and her about his crazy behavior. His actions upset my daughter. She wrote him a note letting him know that she didn't appreciate his hostile actions and for him to lay off such demonstrations. Fireworks!

Weather shifted into warm gear today! Supposedly hit 86 degrees in this area. Definitely could feel the difference--really noticed the places that had their cooling units turned on.

3068

As I was sleeping last night (after staying up later than I had planned--thank you Just Words), I heard a strange noise. It sounded like someone was drilling or cutting some kind of metal. The sound was erratic and not sustained. I pulled myself out of bed (reluctantly) and stepped into the hall. The sound seemed to be coming from the other side of the house--the kitchen perhaps. As I made my way down the dark hall, I could hear the sound coming from MD's office. I flipped the light on and found her small alarm clock, which was ringing away. It was 2am in the morning! Why was the alarm going off? Why two in the morning?

After hitting the snooze alarm, I was able to determine that the alarm switch was set to ON. I switched it to OFF and stumbled back to bed. Poltergeists playing with the alarm clock? Who knows!

I'm resting today to try and make up some for the late night and early morning adventures with the alarm clock. CW dance class starts tonight and I want to be in good shape when I'm there. Yesterday's neighborhood loop was tough on my legs--they felt heavy and tight. It was a bit of a struggle to do the longer route. I don't think I'll do the loop and the dance class tonight--just the dance class and see how that goes.

Have to remember to water the garden where my ex and the grandkid have planted some beans and corn. It is much warmer today (and the rest of the week, as forecast). It's going into the high 80s! What a shift from the cooler times just passed! Getting ready for the summer months! Grow plants grow!

3069

Sun day morning haze--all the roses are ablaze! Busy morning in that there were a flood of people coming and going until now. Suddenly, it is quiet except for my polyester outer garments flailing in the dryer (air only).

The grandkid is still recovering from her tonsil surgery--she's not her active and noisy self. This too will pass--but it's no fun for now.

It's getting late in the day and I've not had much to eat of substance. Perhaps, once items in dryer have aired some, I'll slip out for a bite. Not really hungry but feel like I need to eat something other than the morning bun I had with my green tea latte.

CW dance class starts tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to going. I used the Google map feature to compute how far I'm traveling on mu neighborhood loop--6/10th of a mile one way, 1.2 miles round trip. I'm doing the 1.2 miles in about 20 minutes--good pace! If I were to do the loop twice a day, that would be about all I need to do to keep my walking up to par. No hurry to shift to that regimen but it's something that feels right for me.

Well my laundry has stopped clicking and clanging--various items on the garments were making a clacking noise as the items spun through their cycles.

I think I dreamed last night but I lost the thread as I awoke. More dreams on their way, Jose!

3070

I had a very detailed set of dream episodes last night. In one part of the dreaming, I was talking with JON. He was planning to move to the Bay Area. He asked my opinion and I gave it--I told him it would be a mistake to move there now. The place was too crowded, noisy, dirty, crime-riddled, poor working conditions, and more. He didn't want to hear what I was saying. He kept trying to bring up positive reasons, but I was being adamant--I didn't think it made sense to go there anymore. I felt somewhat guilty saying those opinions, but I felt it was true and that he needed to know it.

In a second part of the dream, we were in a storage facility. It was a large open warehousing floor that was filled with defunct and discarded technologies. We were there trying to locate a couple of old pieces of equipment that we needed for a current project. I felt overwhelmed by the huge amount of stuff that was stored there, and was wondering why we still had so many obsolete items. I couldn't help but start thinking about getting rid of all that junk, emptying the facility, and letting go of the space we were leasing.

In a third part of the dreaming, I was talking with someone (LL?) about moving to Hawaii. I was explaining why I thought I should move there--it all had to do with my PD diagnosis and my recent wellness check. I was telling her that if my test results indicated anything radical that I would prefer to skip all of the drama and just go there, relax, and let nature work its magic. All of the dreaming sequences were highly verbal with me and another person staying in dialog for long periods of time.

I walked my extended loop again today. I like the steeper parts that I've added--I can feel them working on me as I move down and back up the inclines.

I had lunch at Panera's today--Cobb salad with chicken, avocado, bits of bacon, a little cheese, and greens. I ordered a half salad but the clerk rang me up for a full serving. When I pointed this out, she tried to reverse the item and change it to a half order. For some reason, the system gave me two orders (a full salad and a half salad) for just the price of a half salad. I enjoyed the full salad and took the half salad home for dinner! Can't beat that!

3071

Weather was on and off today. At times, it was sunny and bright--then alternately it would cloud up and rain. I went for a neighborhood loop in one of the sunny spells. I lengthened the route and included a steep down up segment, which also increased my time. It felt good to walk.

I stayed up late last night--playing Just Words! I wanted to play at the medium level and see if I could ever win. It is possible! I managed to discover some strategies that keeps the computer on its toes (or whatever it uses for support). I admit, I also tried the expert level and got squashed fairly quickly. I'm still not certain just how the computer selects its words--whether it does so randomly or exhaustively while optimizing its plays. Anyway, I stayed up way too long and payed the price today.

I still remember that I did dream last night--even with the truncated sleep cycle. There was a dream segment dealing with jokes and laughter. Everyone in the dream was telling and listening to various jokes, and laughing loudly. I think I actually awoke myself laughing at a few points in the dream.

The grandkid had her tonsils and adenoids taken out. They did the whole thing in an out-patient mode! No stay over in a hospital! Just in and out, like the burgers! Of course, she needs some time to recoup, but except for a slight gurgle in her vocalizations, she seems like nothings happened. Modern medical miracles!

The clouds here in the Sacramento area are spectacular! Big rolling clouds that look like moving creatures and giant structures. And, to top it off, the occasional lightning and thunder accompaniment to mark their passage. Interesting conversation with the grandkid about why one should worry about lightning but not the thunder. She has some trepidation when she hears thunder.

There was a big boom just a few minutes ago! All over now!

It's still quite early in the evening. Guess I'll watch an episode of the BBC Murdoch Mysteries, which may just put me to sleep--the intensity level in this series is somewhat muted.

3072

Took a different route today. Went to a park that's just down the street. It's all flat trails, but is lush and green, and not that crowded. I took the inner loop for today's jaunt. There's a much longer outer route, which is the one I need to be doing. Hopefully the weather is changing enough so that doing the park route stays feasible. Today was sunny and cool as it has generally been during the past month when it wasn't raining.

I'm feeling logy today--logy and drowsy. I made it out for my late morning latte and grabbed a sandwich (and a small cup of ice cream), which may have something to do with how I'm feeling. It's getting close to dinner time where I'll have some fruit, as per normal.

 This week has zoomed by--seemingly here and gone in the blink of the eye. The weekend approaches.

Will do a laundry run if the washer/dryer are free. Everyone seems to be doing spring cleaning--polishing, dusting, and clearing out the debris of yesteryear.

I think I dreamed last night something about me being an agent or spy--triggered no doubt by my immersion in my favorite TV shows. More tonight--which includes this week's episode of Survivor--I'm still addicted to that show! Can't let it go! Have to have mo! Don't you know?

3073

No April showers today! Bright and sunny with clouds sailing by! Was up late last night--playing Just Words at the medium level. It is possible to beat the computer at this level, but it takes perseverance and a bit of luck. The computer player definitely gets dealt better sets of letters versus what I get. But, if I play well in the early stages and build up a lead, I can win occasionally. Anyway, I was up late trying to prove my assumption and then it was Wednesday!

It's blustery and cool outdoors, but the sun in persistent and keeps burning through. I made my shopping loop (latte, TJ's for groceries, bank, sandwich, and now back for a nap). Had an artichoke/chicken sandwich on a Dutch Crunch roll with mozzarella, lettuce/tomato and tapenade. Very tasty, indeed!

Started watching the Murdoch Mysteries episodes. Not as compelling as Foyle's War--set in Canada around the turn of the 20th century. Uses what was then embryonic technologies to help solve the mysteries. The first episode had a cameo appearance of Tesla and his gadgets that helped resolve the story. Not bad, but a bit more like people acting versus the naturalness used in the FW series. I will keep at the MM series, at least through its first season anyway. We shall see, we shall see!

Quiet here except for the laundry that's being done. Patio contractor hasn't been seen so far today.

Feeling drowsy after my journey out and about, eating lunch, and returning homeward. Time for a nap and some medication. Perhaps to dream!

3074

April Fool's Day and the living is easy (or should it be that the living are easy (or perhaps uneasy))! Tricky day anyway! Rains are not fooling around. The steady downpours keep everything soaked. Puddles, like small creeks, adorn the front and back yards. Perhaps the moles will have drowned by now.

I didn't make it to the PD support group meeting today. The repair projects intervened and made me late for lunch and beyond. When the contractor left, I went out to Annie's and had a filling hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes, all smothered in gravy. I then picked up a green tea latte and came back and slept for a while.

In the morning, I went through my medical records and found the last previous readings for lab results that are now showing low or high readings. After reviewing everything, I think my cholesterol is the only major issue--followed closely by a T3  thyroid reading that is high. I'll find out if that's the case when I review the lab results with my PCP. My prostate serum level is not out of bounds for my age, and when compared with my previous readings from two years ago. I enjoyed looking up the data for the current outliers--doing some detective work before talking with the PCP.

Slept fairly well last night! I awoke once when I think I was hearing someone's drainage pumps turn on as the rain fell heavily.

Time for a small portion of fruit before succumbing to the evening's rituals. No fooling!