2026 Daily - 02/03/2026

 3rd day now ... writing in this blog. What is happening? What has changed? 

WELL -- I had the usual Tuesday morning walk w/Ava even though my heel - or side of my right heel was hurting. Well the walk may have done it good. Loosened it or something. Less pain... almost no pain. As for my left arm which is awaiting an MRI ... that does seem to need the MRI just in case .. before I begin working out my upper body again.

COMMUNICATIONS...??? Heard from Lori and we will talk on weekend. And later today will talk w/Dana -- about my "issue"....

And - back now from my book club where the book discussed was:  Crossing to safety - by Wallace Stegner. I need to read another book by him... "Angle of repose" (getting audio version on hoopla now). And I continue to read - Children of Men.... and will look for Potok book for next month... 

(ended abrubtly, early - published next day as I started next day's entry)

2026 Daily - 02/02/2026

 As I wait to connect to religious services .... via zoom .... (it is now almost 8am -- so some problem at Walnut Creek - I might try Mosaic Law soon) - I write:

Last night was a nice tu'b'shvat potluck at Bimla's and Harel's. Good group of people. BASIL!!! (chuck?) and Recardo who has a son Faustino and friend Max. And several CBH  poeple there, too. Good food. I brought a nice bottle of white wine from Berryessa Gap... (oldie but goodie).

Did I say the past Friday night was special.... Sarah came w/Foxie and we had a nice dinner at Buckhorn.

Also yesterday, Sunday, a long and good rehearsal w/Davis Chorale as we prepare to sing Mozart's Rquiem.

TODAY - later a regular reheasal, see Jim, and read in Children of Men.. as I prepare for my mc'ing that book in a few months. It has differences from movie ... but ok, so far. There is more details of some groups who have concerns and resist ... but there is a lot more to read in the book that coincides with the movie. I await it !!!!

On my calendar is Death Cafe -- might go .. probably not. And there is Indivisible Yolo - liberal/left politcal action group's weekly meeting. Maybe?

Thoughts for the day have not come up. Yesterday heard a bit from Dana who lives far away. She has yet to respond to astrology question. Driving is not her thing and that is disturbing to her sense of equality which I find postively interesting. So ... will see if she responds and how.

Logs on google sheets show - weight going up and assets also going up... today. Big asset jump. Creeping up of weight. Yesderday's pot luck and then my having some snacks, sugery, when I got home, as well as the wine - known causes. I can try better this week!

(1st publishing point)

2026 Daily - 02/01/2026 - back, education, diversity, centralized power

HELLO whoever is reading this .... 

1:BACK

It has been about two months since I last wrote... AHHH... me and voluntary discipline! Today I almost didn't begin what may be a new chosen set of routines... Lack of time, discipline, trip to Vietnam, recovery from horribly stretched arm, etc on last day of that trip, and now - better!!!

On February 1, 2026 begin this new daily morning routine - all days EXECPT Saturday/Shabbat. Noted on calendar and maybe check-offs there that I've done the stuff.

lie in a bed a few minutes, weigh-in, stretch a little, put some clothes on

get a cup (double cup) of coffee and do blogging

check the news (paper Monday - Friday) and/or online those days and on Sunday

THEN - maybe followup with more writing or go on to services (Monday and Thursday) or something

Rest of the day - workout, read, choral rehearsing, other socializing and entertainment. Maybe correspond with people afar and near.

Some dinners out... including Friday night dinner (w/Neal... sometimes at Hillel)

ENJOY LIFE!!!!

on Saturday, Shabbat - drive to services, lunch, and ????? (Shabbat nap, a movie, etc)

2. Education -- generally a way to instill community values, ideas, ways and means. Sort of indoctrination. Benign but subjective and too often chauvinistic (in some way - race, gender, religious, etc). HOW does one teach FREEDOM, Free thinking... and such! To what extent can free thinking be tolerated? How can it be taught? WHAT IS FREEDOM???

3. Diversity --- often fear of the "other" is more real than respect of the other and the other's dignity. We are all similar in certain basic ways and individuals and groupings of individuals are different and special. It is very iimportant to limit and even eliminate the subjugation of "others" and to tolerate and accept ALL!

4. Centralized power --- There have been, I think, political organizing of geography which has centralized certain powers while allowing communities to live as they preferred - religiously, economically??, racially??, sexually/gender, etc etc.. AND in various places such as markets and cities all the diverse groups could come and meet, share, etc. etc. Rome may have been like that. The Arab/Turkish/Muslim Empire(s), Cyrus's biblical nation, and maybe others. THEN - too often/sometimes the central power begins thinking it is The Best Single Way - by religion or ethnicity or nationalism, etc etc...  The Individual and The Group are in constant tension between freedom and enslavement. The Fight is always ON.