Day - 1456

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Worked from home today and it was surprisingly busy...lots of little jobs and one major job that I had to rush.  Made time to take the Youngs (Richard, Lisa, Trey, Miles, Sophia) out for coffee at Peet's for an hour.  We occupied one of the large roundtable areas with nice swival chairs.  After 1, it was back to work until 3, then the office closed early.  I scrambled to wrap up a few things and pack up before heading to SF for New Year's. 

I made it to Sunset at 5:45.  Alice and I went to Safeway to get flowers for Amy, then we headed over to Amy and Patrick's for a very nice New Year's Eve dinner party.  The kids Patrick and Peaches were there, along with Patrick's mother.  We had a great time.  Somehow, we ended up playing musical instruments after dinner...Patrick played piano, then Peaches, then Alice played ukulele. From out of nowhere, Patrick brought down a violin that hadn't been played in about ten years.  After five minutes to tune the instrument, I played a couple of Christmas songs and Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  It was fun playing something on the violin when no one except Alice knew I could play.  We were there until 9 p.m., then left for home.  I tried staying up until midnight, but fell short by 90 minutes.  Such an oldie!

Day - 1457

Monday, December 30, 2019

Up bright and early with lots of energy for racquetball.  It was just me and Robert for the first hour, then Tiger showed up for Iron Man.  I got a good workout, which I needed because I'm starting to feel like the Pillsbury Doughboy over here.

Work was pretty quiet.  I like staying home over the holidays and like working between Christmas and New Year's.  I was able to get a couple of things taken care of, then went home and practiced for an hour or so.  Somehow, my place became a bit of a disaster.  Looking forward to some time to clean.

Day - 1458

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Day - 1459

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Day - 1460

Friday, December 27, 2019

So quiet at work.  Nice!  Got the remaining cards out and came home for a bit before heading over to Richard and Lisa's for some games with the gang.  Lots of fun tonight!

Headed home around 10:30 and went right to bed.

Day - 1461

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Thanks to a few things that have happened in the past two years ((1) playing again for the past two years, (2) Scott Yoo's Now Hear This!, (3) reaching an age in which I can truly appreciate the important things in life, (4) Trump (believe it or not, the very worst of humanity ignites in all of us the very best of humanity), (5) a lifelong love affair with J.S. Bach, and (6) a new violin bow, which has triggered a thought of perhaps investing in a new violin next year), I've realized a lifelong goal I would have never imagined for myself, having believed it too impossible, unrealistic, beyond my ability as someone who took a 25-year break from playing music.  What I once thought was impossible is not impossible, is not unreasonable, but is actually exactly what I should do given the desire, commitment, discipline and motivation.  The goal is this:  achieve the technical ability to learn, memorize, and perform Bach's Chaconne to the best of my ability within the next five-to-ten years. This one goal would motivate me to work harder, study more intensely, practice more, commit more to my instrument, push myself and work my brain while at the same time learning the most sublime, the most spiritual, the most amazing and glorious music for violin ever composed.  I've always been in awe of this piece, always seen it as a musical Mt. Everest, a mountain only climbed by virtuosos.  No, you don't need to be a virtuoso to play this piece.  You only need heart and commitment and desire.  I would like to attempt this.

Slow at work today, so I listened to some favorite interpretations.  Of course, I first went to the gold standard, Heifetz, who makes everything look so easy.

I also listened to Nathan Milstein, another oldie but goodie, whose comments about his own playing and approach to Bach really touched me:

Fabio Biondi only has a master clip of his Chaconne interpretation, but it's enough to know why he's the baroque violin Heifetz of his generation (IMHO):

James Enhes's performance is so cool and controlled:

And Midori's is so passionate and thoughtful:

Then there's this performance by Gidon Kremer, whom I've always loved and who actually kind of brought me to tears:

I also loved loved loved this interpretation by Nemanja Radulovic:

I pulled out my Bach Sonatas and Partitas from a box that's been in my garage for years.  I studied Bach Partita No. 3 in college, so it's not like I can't play these things.  I would need to take lessons again, and develop certain technical skills I never learned earlier in life.  I can do that.  There are passages I can already play, but the most demanding passages will take a while, years maybe.  And my whole approach to my instrument would need to change.  I will need to learn how to relax my left hand, especially when playing double-stops.  But that would be the challenge.  Good for my brain for sure!

Another piece I would love to learn is the Biber Passacaglia:

This is also simply heavenly...

I'm glad I'm playing again and allowing the power of music to flow through me.  This is my therapy during such troubled, shocking, disheartening times.

Day - 1462

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas!

Woke up at 7 and went to Diamond Heights for a Christmas hot tub soak.  Back at 9:30 and prepared a crustless quiche for lunch with Austin, Sharon and Alice's father Charles.

The rest of the day we hung out, relaxing by the fire listening to Christmas tunes.  I caught up on the journal, read a little, and took a nice long nap.  What a wonderful, quiet Christmas.  Not my usual thing, but very enjoyable and relaxing.

Had this pic sent to me later in the afternoon.  Wow, what a great family pic:

For dinner we were invited to James and Gary's house.  James's mother was there as well.  We had a wonderful crab dinner with baked ham, corn bread, vegetable, steamed chicken, and pecan pie for dessert.  She good!  The real treat of the evening, however, was hearing all about Gary's new purchase of the Bosendorfer piano his former teacher, Adolf Baller, once owned.

Gary studied piano with Adolf Baller in the 70's at Stanford.  Born in 1909, Adolph Baller was a virtuoso child prodigy from Vienna.  When the Nazis occupied Vienna, soldiers arrested him and crushed his hands because he was Jewish.  After many years of rehabilitation, he resumed his playing career in England and then America where he met Yehudi Menuhin and became his accompanist for many years.  He has recordings with Menuhin and the Alma Trio, along with cellist Gabor Rejto. 

Adolph Baller died in 1994, and for the next 25 years his daughter Nina kept his Bosendorfer grand. Constructed in the 1950s, Baller's Bosendorfer was known throughout the piano world as being one of the grandest instruments around, and Adolph Baller was considered something of a gold standard for loose, authentic, fully musical play.  Gary said watching him play was like watching the most relaxed fingers in the world perform wonders only imagined in dreams.  The piano went up for sale this past fall.  Nina, 75, was downsizing and wanted only a suitable buyer for her father's beloved Bosendorfer.  So Gary made an appointment and took along a virtuoso friend of his from the San Francisco Conservatory.  Gary's friend played Schubert on the piano and Gary said Nina broke down in tears.  Afterward on the way home, Gary asked his friend what he thought of the piano.  "It's heaven," his friend said.  "The piano has a soul.  You must buy this piano."  So Gary did.  He now owns two grand pianos, his Steinway in the living room and the Baller Bosendorfer downstairs.  Gary played some Debussy for me on both his Steinway and new Baller Bos.  Not only does the Baller piano have a soul, it also has the most brilliant and distinguished sound, the same sound heard on Baller recordings (he played his Bosendorfer in recordings).  Aside from needing replacement bushings, the piano is in impeccable condition.  It's such a treasure to own.  I'm so happy for Gary and delighted to hear him play.  I can't wait to hear stories of today's greatest pianists coming over to Gary and James's house to have a go at the Baller Bosendorfer.  Their minds will be blown away!

Day - 1463

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Worked from home today but there was absolutely nothing going on...no emails....no texts...no jobs...nothing, so I wrapped up the first wave of Christmas cards, ordered another round for wave two, prepared chicken masala for dinner tonight, bought ingredients for a crustless quiche dish we'll make tomorrow for Christmas, practiced an hour or so, organized Christmas cards from years' past, took out the trash, then went over to Lisa and Richard's at 3:30 to hand out gifts.  Lisa was sick on the couch sound asleep.  Richard was sound asleep upstairs. But all the Young kids and Connor were there and we caught up for about 30 minutes or so.  I'll get together with them Friday night.

After my visit, I went back home, packed the car, stopped at Walgreen's for my batch two of Christmas cards, drove across the bridge to San Francisco Target West, picked up two home orders (Duraflame logs, stocking stuffer for Alice, and gift card for Austin and Hannah), then arrived at Alice's around 6.  We immediately started cooking our tikka masala chicken.  By 7 dinner was ready and we ate with Austin and Hannah with a log in the fire.  Very nice dinner and that chicken masala recipe is so good!

Afterward, we hung out in the living room drinking tea and chatting until 10.  Then it was time for bed.  

Day - 1464

Monday, December 23, 2019

Racquetball from 5-6:30, then work, which was surprisingly busy.  Came home and banged out more cards, practiced for an hour, then had a quick dinner before tidying up my place and going to bed around 9.

Got a wonderful gift package from mom that included six delicious and sweet Harry & David pears.  How do they make their pears so good?

Day - 1465

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Drove to Ivy's at 9 for a haircut, then we headed to Oakland for lunch at Rhonda and Biff's and dinner at Howard and Leslie's.  But first, we stopped at Whole Foods for dessert that we're bringing to Howard and Leslie's.  We only had time to drop off bags at my place, then headed to Rhonda and Biff's in Montclair. 

We had such a nice visit.  Rhonda cooked a delicious quiche and salad.  So good. 

We exchanged gifts and chatted for a couple hours until it was time to go.  We headed back to my place and hung out for a few hours.  I took a very short nap.  Then at 6 we headed to Howard and Leslie's. 

We had another fabulous meal and talked about all the things we love to talk about, politics, travel, reading, cooking.  Leslie had just returned from China so she had all sorts of stories to share. 

We left at 9:30 and headed back to the city.  A full, wonderful day!

Day - 1466

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Up at 7:30, quick breakfast, then off to Whole Foods to buy a couple of soaps Alice liked, then Barnes & Noble for books for the Youngs.  Novels this year:

For Richard -

Lisa -

Ari -

Trey -

Miles -

Sophia -

Back by 11 and then three full hours of Christmas cards, notes written, addresses scribbled in the worst handwriting I've ever seen.  I do love the self-adhesive Christmas stamps and the satisfaction of mailing a big stack of envelopes that three days ago only existed as a task on my to-do list.

Picked up a gift for Rhonda and Biff at Urban Indigo and met Alice after her lunch with friends for Peet's and a snack before dinner later at Mijori.  We headed home to SF around 8, then another hour for me with the cards.  I still have about 30 or so to send.

To be by 11.

Day - 1467

Friday, December 20, 2019

Racquetball from 5-6:30 with Kirk, Ari, Robert, Tyrone, Tiger, but no Glenn.  Work was quiet so I had a chance to assemble a few Christmas cards and get that whole process off my desk.  Then after dinner I headed to Mark's for a pretty uninspiring and somewhat painful night of cards, facing Boston Mike who had my number with hands hitting his face all night long, though when his set of Aces lost to Kevin's made flush on the turn, he actually began pleading his case that he was the most unlucky player at the table, even though his cards were so hot otherwise and so consistent that it was futile to go against him, even though I did most of the evening and was way the worse for it, sadly.  Only down $54 in a cold session with no cards except for the KK that won me a small pot.  My luck is not strong at Mark's but the company is fine and fun, and it was a treat to see the Warriors pull one out against the Pelicans.  Home at 1 and in bed by 1:30 with the heating pad on 8.

Day - 1468

Thursday, December 19, 2019

So the stock market keeps going up and up and up, which is something all right, really something, considering how high it's already been this year.  As I wait for the fall, waiting feels futile and even a little bit foolish at this point.  I have maybe 7% or so parked in cash, sitting on the sidelines waiting for the market to plunge downward.  I'm already $80k higher than I would have settled for back in July.  How much of it all is an illusion, that's what I wonder.  I think about the wasted trillions spent in Iraq and Afghanistan.  How many libraries, fixed pot holes, new bridges, community buildings, and paid debts does $6 trillion take care of?  What a country.  I'm still fuming about the Trump Loyalist gaslighters and their shallow, sad, amoral defense of this shallow, sad, amoral mentally ill monster incinerating principles in the Oval O.  

Day - 1469

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Racquetball at 5, then a full day of work, Christmas card prep, practicing and also a few minutes here and there of the impeachment debate and vote.  In rehearsal we played the scherzo movement from Beethoven's 9th Symphony to celebrate his 250th birthday.  We also played excepts from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.  After the sightreading, we practiced the first movement of the Amy Beach Symphony and Vaughn Williams' The Lark Ascending.

Back to the impeachment debate.  It was surreal listening to Trumpists defend the indefensible.  Clearly, they have no shame.  What are they even in office?  If principles and doing the right thing are so meaningless to them, they should resign.  They won't though.  The coming political battle will come to a head soon enough.  Recapturing the Senate and Oval Office are of paramount importance.  Trump impeached himself.  Things will really get ugly now.

Day - 1470

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

I'm putting together our one-page Christmas letter.  That's taking up some time.  Rather than writing just one letter, I'm modifying a base template based on honeymoon fund gifts we received, and changing up a few of the pictures.  I hope to have them all finished by Monday of next week.

Came home after work and ran into this after leaving the bus:

Yes!

Day - 1471

Monday, December 16, 2019

Up at 3:30 a.m. and out the door of my hotel by 4:15 a.m.  Had to scrape ice off the windshield, rear and side windows.  Luckily, there was no rain.  Traffic was a breeze to SeaTac, except for a few miles near Everett and Lynnwood.  My flight back home was at 7:25.  Got into Oakland, dropped my bags at home, had an eye appointment, then and made it into the office before our welcome lunch with a new hire, Georgette, at 12:30.  Four of us at at Per Diem.  Work was steady throughout the afternoon.  The Christmas cards I'm putting together that are taking longer than I'd like.  I didn't have much energy to work on them when I came home.  I was in before before 8:30.  

Day - 1472

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Steve and Nancy's wedding!  The event began at 3 p.m. at Cordata Presbyterian Church in Bellingham.  It was simple and elegant with a very good singer.  There were maybe 25 people in attendance.  Both Steve and Nancy were relaxed and happy.  Uncle Steve needs to be with someone and I'm so glad he found Nancy, who he can travel with, play golf with, and share his remaining years.  He was so heartbroken when Judy died.  He's a new man with Nancy in his life.

At the reception at the Country Club, we had drinks and mingled before dinner.  It was great chatting with Nancy's daughter Corey and her husband, Rob, Karen and Heather, Dad and Sue, and of course Steve and Nancy.

I had the king salmon for dinner, along with a few pieces of steak that the chef brought out.  Everything was so good!

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and hung out in Karen and Heather's room.

Day - 1473

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Fly up to Bellingham this morning, got my rental car ($55 for the weekend from Dollar...such a great price!), then drove to Everett where I met Nicole, Mike and the kids for lunch!

I love visiting with Nicole and her family.  Hailey and Hank are so adorable.

Back on the road, I made good time to Bellingham and drove up East Toledo to check out the old neighborhood.  It's different and not different.  The large three-story house across the street doesn't look as massive as it once did.  The bushes we played hide-and-seek in have grown to become trees, and our 1003 E. Toledo house was all decked in Christmas lights and banners.  Very festive.

I drove up West Toledo, cutting across Racine, and connecting down Pacific Street to the light at the bottom of the street on Lakeway Dr. Every time I'm in Bellingham, I'm bombarded with old memories.

I checked into my room at the Oxford Suites around 1:30 and read for an hour (Phil Roth's Operation Shylock).

Got a quick bite to eat, looked through the shelves of Barnes & Noble, then went to be early, a quiet Saturday night in Bellingham.  

Day - 1474

Friday, December 13, 2019

It was our company Christmas party this afternoon at a new venue across the street from the Transbay Terminal on Howard St.  It's a very stylish nightclub with lights all over the walls and ceiling, synchronized by a very large master control panel on the side of the dance floor.  No gift bags this year...what?

I left early to shop for Christmas gifts on Grand and Lakeshore, then came home and packed up for tomorrow's whirlwind trip to Bellingham.

While in Walden Pond Books on Grand, I bought a used copy of Philip Roth's Operation Shylock.  I remember when the book came out back in the '90s.  I need to read more Philip Roth.  He's so good and creative.  He tends to go on and on about the subjects he's passionate about, but he's so entertaining and funny.  This novel, about a second Philip Roth promoting the diaspora back to Poland from Israel, is really something.  I'm 30 pages in and hooked.  

Day - 1475

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Busy at work.  Came home and practiced, ate dinner, and worked on the newsletter I'm putting together for Christmas cards.  The day flew by so quickly!

Day - 1476

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Wow.  That was a surprise.  Looking forward to reading this.  I didn't pay too much attention to Greta's speech at the United Nations, but I know Fox News analysts mocked her and found her scary.  Time to become more educated on her story.

Rehearsal after work...it's coming along, but I'm still playing the Beach so slowly.  Ugh!

Day - 1477

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Pretty quiet at work today.  I met with Dorian and Howard in the afternoon to discuss an ongoing legal matter Dorian is facing.  It was good to have Howard hear how things are shaping up.  We had coffee afterward.  Dorian's in good hands.

I came home and practiced for two hours in preparation for tomorrow's rehearsal.  I'm slowing getting the Amy Beach part in my fingers.  It's taking a while.

Day - 1478

Monday, December 9, 2019

I listened to some of today's testimony at work, but not a lot.  I find it interesting that every Republican congressperson has decided to gaslight the country on impeachment.  I guess they have no choice.  I find it difficult to watch.  Of all the personalities on the planet, how does this con-artist monster sidestep consequences each and every time?  How does he get so many people to side with him, enable his impulses, and do his evil bidding.  It's really something.  

Day - 1479

Sunday, December 8, 2019

We woke up early and headed to Diamond Heights for the nice jacuzzi that Alice enjoys, then swung by the farmer's market for carrots that I made for our racquetball potluck at Glenn and Amy's later tonight.

We drove to Oakland at 10, hitting Oaktown Spice Shop first.  This is a great spice store on Grand Ave.

This is Alice's beauty store.  She was in heaven.  We bought all the spices for our chicken masala dish that Alice has been cooking, along with ginger, paprika, and a few other spices Alice wanted to try.

We then hung out on Lakeshore for a bit, people watching at Peet's and enjoying our Sunday.  Back home, I prepared a batch of carrots for the pot luck, doing what I did at Thanksgiving.  It's such a simple way to make carrots taste delicious.

The pot luck ran from 5-9.  Most of the regular racquetball players were there.  We had lots of wine and food for everyone.  Most of the morning guys were there, except Steve, who's still in recovery from his shoulder.

After the party, we drove back to SF, but watched 60 Minutes at my place first because an accident had created some backup along the Bay bridge.  Once we left, it was smooth sailing.

Day - 1480

Saturday, December 7, 2019

A quiet day in SF taking care of chores, reading, thinking of gifts for Christmas, and planning cooking ideas.  

Day - 1481

Friday, December 6, 2019

Another spirited racquetball session with eight players showing up this morning.  Work was busy until 3 or so.  I spent the rest of the day updating Quicken and and the entries in my 401k.  The market continues to climb.  Will the economy ever tank? 

Looking forward to Monday and the House Intelligence Committee leaders speaking to the House Judicial Committee on the Impeachment of Predator in Chief Bernie Madoff.  What a loser and total failure he is.  As for his followers....wow.  

Day - 1482

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Lots of little chores and tasks at work.  I attended a Zoom webinar in which Lisa Young was the guest speaker.  She talked about content strategy and had all kinds of great ideas and thoughts on how to build a brand and capture the moment on the page.  I enjoyed it very much. 

Reading the Douglas bio when I can and also reading his first autobiography.  

Day - 1483

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Some great racquetball games this morning.  Ari and I will try to defeat our doubles title in January. 

Work was slow today, which gave me time to hear a couple of constitutional scholars talk about impeachment in front of the House Judiciary Committee.  Wow, were they impressive.  How half the country doesn't think Con in Chief did anything wrong is a mystery to me. 

I practiced two hours today before rehearsal.  The Amy Beach symphony is hard.  It's challenging rhythmically and is really fast.  

Day - 1484

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

I made the playoffs in my Fantasy League, a nice accomplishment that wasn't easy. I had to win my last four games and have some help with one other team losing two of their last three.  I face the Tremors this week in a two-week game.  How fun.

Day - 1485

Monday, December 2, 2019

Feeling better today, nearly 100% normal.  Had a lot of energy this morning at racquetball, running the tables with Robert, which means they'll be after us Wednesday morning.

Now that my monitors are properly situated at work, my desk space is awesome and roomy.  I really like my setup. 

On Cyber Monday I signed up for two apps at 50% off

LoseIt and Blinkist.  Loseit is an app I use that helps keep track of the food I eat.  With the Premium subscription, I can link my Fitbit data and 23andMe data to set up the best types of food to consume.  It's a great interface with all sorts of food resources and recipes.  I really want to shed the 15 extra pounds I've been carrying around, so I guess I'll see if this app helps me do it.

Blinkist is an interesting app that prepares 15-minute audio overviews of books, bios, manuals, etc.  Bonus, I can listen to the audios while doing other things on my phone, like playing a little Hold'em.  I'll give it a try and see how I like it. 

Work was generally pretty quiet this morning and afternoon.  Over lunch, I studied the Amy Beach Symphony we're playing.  I'm really enjoying the piece, but it's difficult and fast. 

At home I practiced, had dinner, read a few pages of the Frederick Douglas bio I'm plowing through, then called it a night at 9:20.

Day - 1486

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Feeling better today, but still took it easy.  Caught up with bills, looked over my music and planned the next few weeks of Christmas to-doings. 

In bed early.  Should be back to normal tomorrow.

Day - 1487

Saturday, November 30, 2019

We had to drive to Los Altos to visit Elaine and Wayman for our second Thanksgiving.  I was still out of sorts, but had no choice.  Staying in bed was not an option, so I drove to SF and we then drove to Los Altos for the day.  There was so much food prepared but I wasn't hungry and was taking things easy.  Friends of Elaine and Wayman who are traveling with them to Japan in a few days, Mark and Jenny, brought over an Nvidia Shield that streams at such a high level...we watched the first three episodes of Star Wars Mandalorian.  Excellent.

By 6 it was time to go.  We drove Bill and Vicky home.  Once we were home, I went right to bed. 

Day - 1488

Friday, November 29, 2019

I really did overdo things yesterday, but by 7 a.m. I was not feeling well at all.  Alice and I stayed in Oakland and went to Peet's for coffee.  I couldn't drink anything and had a banana but it didn't go down well.  We went to Trader Joe's for a few ingredients Alice needed for her own take on chicken masala, but by the time I came home and showered, I was really feeling nauseous.  I actually got sick a few minutes after taking a shower, and that was that...I was bed bound the rest of the day.

Alice drove home and I slept around the clock, only to get up one more time to empty all the nonsense going on in my insides.  I didn't return to the living until the next day.

Day - 1489

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Organized, prepped the carrots and Brussels sprouts, and cleaned up this morning before Alice came over at 10 a.m.  We went to Whole Foods Oakland for lunch -- a little chicken masala and latte.  The place was packed with last minute cooks.

We headed over to Richard & Lisa's at 3 p.m. with the goods.  The place was amazing as always.  Lisa is so talented at staging a beautiful home.  She bought new furniture for the living room but the couch hadn't arrived just yet, so we made due with a loaner for now.   Soph and Miles were with us and Margaret joined us at 4.  What a feast we had.  The turkey was so moist and delicious this year, and together with Richard's cocktails and Miles's mashed potatoes, I think I overdid it in all departments.  The pies only added insult to injury.  I was a blimp by 11 p.m.

Such a wonderful and delightful Thanksgiving!