2025 Daily - 02/28/2025

 Writing .. first thing in the morning Get It DONE...

Today I have been to Rotary meeting, will meet Steve, have dinner w/Neal... and might workout and might do more house cleanup, and might see an Academy Award nominated film. The Substance was seen yesterday, up for some award (maybe just Moore for best actress -- and that is possible)....Today will be: Conclave. Another film will/would be: Anora OR Flow OR Wild Robot. Do not plan to purchase The Brutalist.

BTW -- Coffee is GOOD.... 

Note: Eggs are terribly expensive!!!! Rotary breakfasts have always included breakfast but going forward they will only have eggs every other week. Maybe WE should not have them at all to put what pressure our not purchasning eggs would put on the system. 

Maybe more later-------------------------------->>>>>>

2025 Daily - 02/27/2025 - added day late

 Well - I thought I had written... 

I had a conversation with sister's main doctor. I shared with him one little thing. He suggested I see her sooner rather than later. Maybe the new treatment will work... but ... sadly - IFFY.

SO - I have made plans to visit in mid-March - in between concert and trip to Portugal. 

Yesterday I did walk w/Ava. Nice. Right knee acting up and I'm using/trying a brace.  Watched the movie: The Substance w/Demi Moore. Moore was very good however the movie ... not so much. Confusing, symbolic, gross.... Reminded me a bit of: Picture of Dorian Grey.... At best - film - highly wierd.

2025 Daily - 02/26/2025

 whoops... missed the 25th... and this may not be much...

But - yesterday I did clean up guest room a lot, worried about my vision - and still do a little...  saw and shopped w/Rachel... 

TODAY -- it is about 10pm -- and I had a good workout, vision was good all day though after evening thing was a bit bad for a while... This evening I went to a dinner program that was promoting property in Mexico. Interesting. I wonder if some of those pre-fab houses I see from time to time on Facebook would be acceptable there.  In any case we met at the Kings Buffet where you can get a lot a not very good Chinese food. It was more convenient then going to Spaghetti Factory in Sac. 

Political news is worse and worse. I wonder if it would be a good idea to leave it to the Republicans and let them crash and burn themselves.... They might also C and B the country ... but maybe they will get it right somehow. In the meantime -- Democrats must come up with a clear, easy to understand, positive program for the people of our country. It will not be around saving democracy and institutions. That is for wonks. The people have never gotten such things as ... nominations for the Supreme Court and in any case McConnel POWER killed that.

Its the ECONOMY....  it is the price of everything and everything is going up ... with tariffs and illness (bird flu and egg prices). Its the phrase -- are you better off now than you were 2 or 4 years ago? Are the rich not paying enough taxes? The tax thing may or may not be a winner... It might be if it were well understood and presented. What DOES happen as the teirs go up? Here are two simplified examples and the worse one may be real... or is it the better one?

INCOME = 100,000 AND 111,000

TAX RATE = 10 PERCENT ON 100,000 AND 20 PERCENT ON 110,000.

IF THE BREAK CAUSES ALL TO BE TAXED AT RATE ONE SIDE OF THE BREAK OR THE OTHER YOU GET:

10,000 AND 22,000

BUT IF AFTER THE BREAK ONLY THE ADDITIONAL INCOME IS TAXED AT THE HIGHER RATE YOU GET:

10,000 AND 12,000

I wonder.... which is it? I think the Only Additional Income Taxed higher is reasonable and fair and clear. BUT what is the law??? 

2025 Daily - 02/24/2025

 Today I write as I am also online with CBS at morning services. I am getting a jump on the day and getting some (this) writing done. With or without me there is a minyan... as indicated by the doing of Kaddish. 

Today, Monday, the last one in February, 2025. is the third day, I think, of the dropping of the Dow... at least at this point. Actually the Dow may be up a little while the NASDAQ is down a lot. And things in the Middle East, the Ukraine, for Federal Government workers, and certainly more are not going well under the Trump/Musk regime. When will the Trump/Musk war on the United States end? OR - will they win and the end of our nation as it was and could be dies? There is some push-back by some of Trump's loyalists but it is Congress that must act... and soon. Resolutions at least. Impeachment is necessary. The charges would be essentially a failure of Trump to do the job of Executive. It is Trump's job to do the bidding of Congress who passes laws and funds those laws, etc. The wholesale ignoring of the wills of Congress is a direct assault on our system and all checks and balances are now skewed to the political and not to what is just, true, real, and right. A resolution might, might? forstall a full-blown Constitutional Crisis of an impeachment.. However - three times is the charm! Trump's impact with what he has already done can  be capped by a conviction of impeachment and removal from office and the return of reason and balance and equinimity. Then Trump can go off into retirement with a big entry in future history books. A legacy of de-politicalization of the Suprem Court and the return of powers to the Congress would be a great legacy. IF ONLY!!!???!!!

There a so many people suffering now... immigrants, workers, sensitive people, you, and me! Are people who voted for Trump really celebrating the ends of programs that help them? Of deportations which will leave our agriculture devastated? Are they really happy? Now? What does the future hold for all of us?

More later??? Off now at 8am.

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AND now -- at about 8:30am .... as I read the entry in "Living each day" the message for Shevat 26 was: mean your prayer... and let it penetrate ... be aware ... BE AWAKE... 

SO MY PRAYER FOR TODAY: I pray for the health of our government institutions and all who have worked there in the small basic jobs that serve all of us directly and really. 

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2025 Daily - 02/23/2025

 Well... I did my piano today...

This is my writing so far and may be all...

I performed with the Davis Corale at the Church ... Nice...

Later may go to game night at Hil's -- just confirmed time -- 6pm. Might a game called? Communication Game...whatever that is...  or it might be for next card night... 

IF I were to go write... an essay, whatever -- it would be about...????

BTW --- I found, at the Grocery Outlet -- 2025 Big Foot Ale -  and got one six pack. Just about finished drinking one now - 2:20pm. It is GOOOOOOOOOOODDDD!!! As for working out today... might be passing as the beer is in me now. 

AND - shopping for a car.... now is time to check local Toyota. Maybe Tuesday if I work out early... Or Wednesday in early afternoon.

RIGHT NOW === off to read Diesal book.... 

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2025 Daily - 02/22/2025

 It is late Saturday ... so I can write ... Shabbat is over...

Went into SF today, fixed SAATVA mattress order. More fixing may yet need to be done.

Met Susan and she helped a bit at mattress store and we went to SFMOMA... 

And that's all folks... She I had a conversation when we both got home .. it was a nice time .. But I don't think there is a future there.

And so ... tomorrow, tomorrow, the sun will come up -- tomorrow!

2025 Daily - 02/21/2025

 It is almost 1pm, PT -- so stock market will close soon. It seems to have seriously tanked today after a fairly big drop yesterday. Not good... along with news about Trump and his siding with Putin. Really tough times. Crazy... and all the other adults in the room, i.e. Congress, seem to be asleep. It is one thing to be awake, woke, whatever -- but to be asleep, absent - seems worse.. .for anyone.

THOUGHT -- I used to have a book: "Notes to myself" and the author worte pithy little paragraphs, pages -- about how he felt and thought seemed to be implied by the title. NOW it might be a good idea for all of us to write some notes to ourselves to express how we think and feel and what we hope for... and what is it we think is right! The point, in my opinion, would be for all of us to look at our ideals and reality in broad and specific terms and see if there is a match or a disconnect. My bottom line is: Love and peace and freedom and basic necessities for all. Then, if most/all of us really want such - how do we all get to such a place. My assumption is we can do it. Maybe I'm wrong but if we truly want a good world for all then the path to that good world can either be found or built.

Equanimity came up in a conversation I had with a friend and I thought of another friend who seeks equanimity. The friend with whom I had the conversation practices a martial art that for him is more a way to inner peace and tranquility -- i.e. equanimity?! His point as we talked is that we all need to get into feeling our bodies more and be less in our heads. Sounds good to me... Makes sense. Our bodies are always here and now. Our minds, our thoughts, our heads often think about the past and the future and therefore accomplishments or lack of accomplishments and regrets about things that can't be changed and hopes and expectations and anxieties about things that may not come to be. SO many unknowns and undoables. My other friend is very much in her body and her mind and both are hurting. AND THEN - the idea of embracing whatever we are thinking and/or feeling is suggested as an answer. In other words - Be Mindful. Mindfulness, in my humble opinion, is a place here and now. A point in time and space where each and every one of us is alive and ok.... even if just for a moment. Perhaps, as I think, being mindful - experiencing mindfulness - is momentary. Always momentary... and as the old song by the Incredible String Band said: "This moment is different from any before it... This moment, this moment is now!" See a youtube of that song HERE. AND here are the lyrics:

This Moment

Song by The Incredible String Band ‧ 1970

OverviewLyricsListen

Search Results

Main Results

Lyrics

This Moment Lyrics
This moment
Is different
From any
Before it
And this moment

Is different
It's now
And if I
Don't kiss you
That kiss is
Untasted
I'll never
No never
Get it back
But why should
I want to
I'll be in
The next moment

Sweet moment
Sweet lover
Sweet now
The walls of this room
Are different from any before them
They are now
They are now

The air that you breathe
Is different from any before it
It is now
It is now
You may think that life is repeating
Repeating [Repeat: x4]
You may think that life is repeating
Oh no [Repeat: x5]
Each moment
Is different
From any before it
Each moment
Is different
It's now

AND SO -- Yes to the 70's and to NOW.

And there are more songs by the Incredible String Band which may give us all hope, lightness, joys.

2025 Daily - 02/20/2025

 

I wrote and sent to papers (enterprise and times a couple of letters to editor. One was about Walls and the second was about Silence.

SO - I wrote today!!!

And played the piano....

And talked w/Nancy and Dalia AND Susan Schwartz who I will see Saturday in SF.

ANd played a little tennis with Amos... at which I did badly. Oh well.... 

2025 Daily - 02/19/2025

 It is morning... on the 19th ... I've got a wash now in the dryer. Checked about SF jazz (nothing on Saturday). Plan now seems for me to go to Roseville after zoom class w/Rabbi and have a lunch and visit a couple of car dealerships (Lexus and Mazda) at Roseville Automall - dropping in.

As for thoughts for today - well my weight is down to 272 - which is getting better. The last couple of days talked w/Susan and maybe will see her on Saturday.... at Saatva showroom where I need to go and check on a chosen mattress.

My cough may be a bit better today. Early morning congestion and mucous but that was two hours ago and I seem better. I have yet to spray nose AND take a dose of sudafed... Will do in a moment and then off to the light workout (yesterday was a full).

I am still not feeling inspired  to write on any subject. Israel, politics, relationships... All nothing, really. About relationships -- I am feeling a settling into aloneness... In an alright way. The online stuff has proved poor - especially the One Dollar specials. Might have to try Jdate again... and Match is still working and fairly ok. Have not yet actively reached out to all friends and acquaintences. I do like being able to decide where, what, and when to do something on my own. For instance the bed showroom thing could be today or Saturday and I'm working on that. IF, as it seems it will be, Satursday then the driving/transportation is a bit more efficient and also might get to see Susan in City. Pending that w/Susan. Ahhh... distances and traffic.

I need to move now so as to get back in time for zoom class.

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2025 Daily - 02/18/2025

 it is late now == almost 10:15pm and I'm tired and will go to bed after I write this... SO as to at least write something today... trying to do the daily!

Busy day... it seems. I did get in a complete workout and then visited w/Rachel and then showered, had a little lunch, and visited Jim. Then off to rehearsal with UCD Chorus. A good day... and I' ve got myself prepared to travel into SF tomorrow to check the SAATVA Bed I have contracted to purchase. Get that done! Plan is to go to CBS for 11am class and then Bart into SF - go to the Brazilian Restaurant for their Market Table/Salad Bar -- and maybe happy hour drinks. Took a little time but finally found my Clipper Card for BART. YEA!

I am not sleeping too well. Waking too early after going to sleep late. I'll try getting to sleep earlier!

I managed today or last night a transfer of money from Chase to B of A... as I have set up some Chase accts for a bonus reward. Next I need to either buy that new car.. or park my monies in a higher yield acct then the very low interest rate savings. 

Wearing my new glasses ... the clear progressive. Not bad.. Need to adjust the left ear, I think.

Cough continues.. I am dosing w/Vitamin C..

On my calendar - call xfinity about billing and also AAA about car insurance changes.

AND - add to "cruise" docs... stuff about reading to kids, reading especially to Amy, and Ashland, etc.. Some positive stuff to remember!

That's all for now...  Good night!

2025 Daily - 02/17/2025

 It is near the end of the day... almost 11:30pm... And yet I remember to do and here I am doing... the writing. Something. 

To be sure -- I am not at this moment inspired nor feeling creative. The creativity and/or the inspiration is not necessarily part of my daily piano playing/practicing. Writing does, imho, demand...??!! creativity and so when that is missing .... what to do? Ramble on as I am doing now/here?

Playing/practicing the piano is wonderful as I bring to life .. for myself and maybe sometime for others... music of those who were creative, inspired, talented, capable. They live on, come back alive ... as I play - or so I think, imagine, HOPE. And I do it in my special way... not as a replicating recording.

NOW if I were to think and try to be creative ... well there is the slogan, idea: Some disrupt... and some distroy. In one case order needs to be restored. In another case rebuilding needs to be done. After the disruption or the destruction the need arises for a return to the basics of those things, institutions, lives... since there were kernals of needs, essentials, wants, etc... THERE WAS VALUE...  At some point. Lost perhaps but still there at some level and so ITS A CYCLE... isn't it? Isn't all life, reality, history, etc, etc.. cyclic? Thus would the old wisdom in the Bible of the Book of Eccliasitics... Vanity or futility - all is around and goes around and comes around. Life/death, peace/war, love/hate, etc. It is known... and yet not understood nor transcended! 

Transcending the norms of the past is what we keep trying to do and failing. Can we ever succeed? Will we ever succeed? What if we stop trying? What then?

2025 Daily - 02/16/2025

 At the moment.... its about 8:30 and this post is to be a "daily". Doing the daily as I promised myself.

Listening to radio, waiting to do breakfast, will read online news (Enterprise was again WET/soaked). read book, piano, listening to radio (npr - news and ??), then will cleanup, talk w/Sarah at 10am, workout, AND???

Just processed request to return the paninni maker as it doesn't work well for me... Doesn't handle the thick sandwiches - well. Seems not right and there is no good manual to help from the company.  Oh well.

Might make some soup today -- pea soup again... BUT I need to prepare to make some other type. I DO have a bunch of regular mushrooms. Maybe will try a mushroom soup. AND I need to get some milk as using milk with condensed Campbells mushroom soup tastes a lot better than when I make it with water. 

AND now -- will compose an email to tv and radio newscasters with idea about organizing segments clearly and distinctively.  AND maybe more later...

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As I consider the news... and listen about Rubio in Israel... it occurs to me that all the news coming from the Middle East which has lots of drama -- some new - is a distraction from a lot of other issues. One of the smokescreens from the new Administration. Terrible... 

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2025 Daily - 02/16/2025 sort of 2/15/25

 its a little past mid night ... technicly its sunday....

saturday night.... A THOUGHT..... write to radio and tv news programs... ask yo have segments scheduled for international, domestiv, local news,,,... set, limited, fillee appropriately... AND bring back up tyo the moment news ... like warly days of cable...

2025 Daily - 02/13/2025

 Ahhh... today it is necessary to think about the future of political parties in the USA with the idea that while the Democrats have done good things and the Republicans took a long view to depose the Democrats and since I feel a sense of URGENCY...I don't think reforming the old Democratic Party is best. What is better, best, good, possible?? - is a real new party. Not a third party but a new party. One for American unity and ideals. A party of the great middle or silent majority if you will. The Bell Curve thing!

NAME: Party of the American People = PAP... Party for All the American People = PAAP... The thing to do is list the basic shared values that people in the main part of the Bell Curve can agree on and stand on while shaking to the sides some specific, subjective, individual interests. Those "special" interests will be addressed with compromise, collaboration, cooperation... all together. This is not some coalition. This is something else... I don't know what to name it... perhaps The Great Plurality! More in essays... later??? YES.

2025 Daily - 02/12/2025 - Israel is the One

 Israel seems sometimes to be The One issue on the international stage to consider. Ukraine is not given so much press, neither are suffering people in Africa and Asia or the Americas. This issue is The One that has been worked on by many, many people - competent and not so competent... honest and not so honest. So - that is the Essay of the day on my computer. Off to it now.... at about 11am after reading a bit into the book: One Jewish State by Friedman.

==========================

2025 Daily - 02/11/2025 - DEI, Women's rights, G-d!

 So today  may write a bit about DEI which is related to women's rights which also brings G-d into the discussion. Some here... maybe more elsewhere (ESSAYS).

THE CONTEXT -- I think most people want to do what is right, righteous, humane, good. I believe the Bell Curve is where most of us are... SO:

About DEI - I must say as a white man I am generally included and get an equitable deal, so to speak. As a Jew that was not always the case but today I am privileged, for sure. What is THE most important thing, imho, about DEI programs is that they educate people about the good and the bad today and in previous times about our system. People have been oppressed in the USA while the image and slogans and ideals of our country have been freedom and opportunity. The truth matters! People of all races, creeds, ethnic backgrounds, sex and gender, etc... can do well when education is done well. Ah... EDUCATION.... maybe that is why a major attack is being made on education as The Department of Education is seriously under attack!

Women and their rights are part of DEI - especially when it comes to equity of pay. And there are other issues impacting women in our country that I must say seem similar issues in other countries where we highlight inequality and oppression such as what we see/talk about in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The USA can do better by all its own women. Pay could be better. Child care and household tasks can be shared with male partners (as well as female partners) with regularity. It is not special that a man changes a diaper or vacuums a floor or does the laundry. Those and other tasks are necessary to get done and all of us can do them!

And G-d is sometimes viewed as being ok with a lack of diversity and equity and even inclusion. There is a history of some people being not worthy of G-d. There are ways religions religate women to special status' (even as they may speak of them highly, honorably, respectfully) that IS lesser than that of men. Sometimes G-d, whose ways we cannot fully know, is used as the reason we do not treat women as well as we might. I think every religion has real big examples of this. REALLY

SO: AGAIN -- I think most people want to do what is right, righteous, humane, good. I believe the Bell Curve is where most of us are...

That is my writing for today... as of about 10am and revised about 11:45am. NOW off to workout!

2025 Daily - 02/10/2025

Good morning.... as it is about 9:30am - services over (they begin on zoom at 7:45am Mondays and Thursdays). Good beginning to week and day.

Today I will write, soon, on my 2-way blog and the issue - One alone or Two together... And that sounds like a good title.  For me ... I have to wonder which way to go. I know I what I've preferred. I've preferred being in a couple but I am unfortunately not connecting with anyone ... relatively close to Davis. To some extent that may be due to my not asking for help from friends and acquaintences which I may do. On another hand - this Friday, Valentine's Day I actually have a date to go wine tasting and her suggestion was an old favorite of mine -- Lava Cap up near Placerville. Should be fun. 

As for THIS post .. maybe more later... maybe a link to the noted blog entry I now to to begin.\

2025 Daily - 02/09/2025

 Looks like I skipped/didn't write on Saturday, Shabbat, 2/8/2025... I need to check wordprocessing program...

Anyway - here I am today -= about 2pm -- and I've play/practiced piano -- I truly enjoy that! The writing is a lessor thing, so far... With the piano I play someone elses creation while with writing I must create. I do read ... The Diesel book... and other stuff. I need to grab the one Jewish state book before it gets returned to the library... AND today is SuperBowl Sunday and I'm rooting for the Eagles. Comes on soon. 

All is well, ok.. I worked out. Ate a little for breakfast. Need to watch how much I eat while watching the game... OY! 

More later??? Hmmm. no more done... watched superbowl and was happy the Eagles one.

2025 Daily - 02/07/2025

 it is late... have I written anything earlier? Maybe not.. I did do my piano... And I am writing here. Times are troubled... That is the thing. People are upset. People are worried and anxious and bothered by others... and get bothered more by others... and so on and so on...

TODAY I think it is difficult to oppose such things as the emptying of Gaza ... even if temporary... It seemed a few days ago as if with the cease fire and Gazan's returning to their homes or at least the sites of their homes... they could feel a small victory. Their return was something! It is yet to be seen what develops... with the main thing being Hamas must relinquish power and control. But to whom? Who can do the job? Who can take Hamas on, if/as necessary. VERY DIFFICULT!!!!!

2025 Daily - 02/06/2025

 Its early morning... about 8am -- at services on zoom.... and will write more later.

From the Chabad web site today;

"Daily Thought

Greater Miracles

There will come a time, very soon, when we will be shown miracles so great, they will make the Ten Plagues and the splitting of the Red Sea appear as ordinary as nature itself.

So great, no mind can begin to fathom them;
so powerful, they will transform the very fabric of our world, elevating it in a way that the wonders of the Exodus could not achieve.
For then, our eyes will be opened and granted the power to see the greatest of miracles.

And what are those miracles?

Those that occur to us now, beneath our very noses, every day."

ABOVE IS WHAT WOKE IS ABOUT,  Wake up and smell the roses... see the wonders of our world...  and the suffering, too. Be aware, sensitiv e and BE GRATEFUL... These are essential messages, are they not? Trust, Hope, and Do Good. 

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And then there is IRONY.... Yes - the terrible, imho, irony of the attempted and much accomplished ethnic cleansing of Jews from Europe in the 20th century with the 21st century being a time when people can't seem to live near or with "others". There is more in my Essay - EthnicCleansing.doc - not published... yet?!

2025 Daily (skipped 3&4) - 02/05/2025

 It is early in morning, the 5th, as I write THIS... and I have skipped entries for the 3rd and 4th. Seems my writing discipline is not as good as my piano playing. I haven't missed a day this year of practicing a bit on the piano. The writing IS more difficult but lets see what the future brings.

Yesterday I hosted the bookclub in my house and the book was: How democracies die ... very disturbing. Written/published at the beginning of the first Trump execution of the Presidency now as we begin his second attempt to destroy democracy the distance between the good and the bad is very very short. These are troubling times for what some call (accurately???) the longest existing/surviving democracy in the world. Fact is ... democracy as a system may be easily dismantled. Maybe!!??!! More in Essay area of my writing, I suppose.

BTW -- today's weigh-in was BAD!!! Came in at 280 ... so my new "set-point" of the mid-270's is broken. The Sunday Rotary event and the sausages and cookies yesterday had to have taken it's toll. I've got to watch it! As it is now almost 6am -- I'm signing off and going to workout ... Yesterday I missed working out as there was too much on my plate, so to speak. Services, bookclub, lunch w/Bruce, meeting with Jim Fields, Univ. chorus... A full day!

SO -- I did some writing about ethnic cleansing... will need to work more on it... It is one of those things!!! Trump, Bibi... REALLY!?

2025 Daily - 02/02/2025

 hmmmm.... late today. No writing. Good workout. A rehearsal, a rotary party, a meeting about africa...and now... its 9:15pm ... and  will practice piano.... at least keeping that streak going. Nothing much coming to mind to write...

2025 Daily - 02/01/2025

 Day one of February, 2025. I is about 3pm --- and I'm back from my drive to services in Walnut Creek. It was a Women's Shabbat from their sisterhood organization. Well attended and well done!

Writing today ... may not happen -- nor will piano practice or workout. It is Shabbat and my day of rest. I do rest pretty good!!!

BTW - Recent movies watched at home:

One Life

About Endlessness (title?? to be checked)

AND A NEW PBS TV show... I came across and which looks fascinating... "Alice and Jack" from early 2024.