Negligent

I'm under the weather these past 2 days. Scratchy throat and a terrible cough. Fell like my head will come off.
This is not a reason why I have not blogged. I'm just negligent. My common excuse.

I can always do better.
But during that time I finished reading Bruce Feiler's Learning How to Bow-his experience of one year teaching English in a Elementary School in Japan.

There are lots of insight about Japanese culture. And the book is well written.

Wednesday

It's cold but sunny and not raining.

Does it make a difference that I don't like to walk when it's raining for fear of slipping on the pavement?

I'm analyzing the chess positions from my correspondence chess games. I can focus and concentrate and I take breaks to feed my brain with food-nuts and dried fruit.

I'm reading the books I bought from the book sale. I'm enjoying the "Learning to Bow."

Books to read

I went to the book sale sponsored by the Friends of the Library. I got a bag full of 12 books and cost me only $15.

One of the books was Learning How To Bow by Bruce Feiler about his stay in Japan teaching English. It is funny and with lots of good reading about Japanese culture. Another book is The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker. This is fiction about poetry. Another is The Abbey Up The Hill by Carol Bonomo which is about her experience as a Benedictine oblate.

What's time when you enjoy

reading a book?

Kung hay fat choi

We watched, "Kung hay fat choi", Year of the Hare, Chinese New Year parade,

yesterday in SF. Because of the rain earlier in the afternoon there was no thick layers of people lining the parade route. We were able to just behind the street barricades and saw all the parade procession closely.

The was plenty of fire crackers, colors, and enthusiasm in the parade participants and the crowd.
It was cold but we were bundled up for the weather.

Earlier in the afternoon it was raining but did not deter people in walking and looking at the street fair and shopping. Plenty of colorful umbrellas of different sizes.

It was an enjoyable evening.

This morning it was sunshine and cool.

Like spring

You are told to be aware
of your thoughts during meditation
Let them slide
like leaves falling down
over other leaves
the wind will scatter them

Where will you go
your trunk is

naked, branches bare
birds don't sing anymore
when they see you

But there is a river
the tide comes and leaves
touching your thoughts
about love that left you
bare like the tree

you were aware of the songs
you did not forget
you will sing them again
like the tide that whispers to the marsh
like spring.

A simple day

It rained on and off today. I had lunch with a friend at the Fish Story. Afterwards, I went to the library, returned some books and borrowed 2 new ones.

Before going home I passed by the health club and worked out with weights and machines.

In the evening we had dinner at home with our son,Greg, his wife,Therese and their 2 children.

A simple, non-ordinary, meaningful day.

Lessons on adventure or travel

From L'Amour's Last of the Breed:
Advice given to an older man (in his seventies) and his young daughter who are trying to escape on how they travel the mountain-"Do not think of time. Short marches are best for you. Camp early, so you can be snugged in well before dark. In the darkness you can find nothing. Start early but do not exhaust yourselves. Most people who freeze do so only because they have burned up their stores of energy before stopping to rest and have nothing left to fight the cold. Do not become exhausted."

It sounds so familiar.

Virtues

L'Amour writes that a warrior has 4 virtues: bravery, fortitude,generosity, and wisdom.
I'm reading again his novel,"The Last of the Breed."

Small is beautiful

2 days ago with a couple of friends, my wife and I went to J Winery in Healdsburg and had a Valentine wine tasting with food pairing and Tchoc chocolates as an ingredient.
Very small portions of food and small amount of wine.

A very enjoyable, delicious, satisfying experience.

Trying my best

Every day I try to cut my time on the Facebook. I think I'm getting better.
Time surfing the Internet I have to limit also.
I'm studying Spanish again and playing chess.
For poetry, I can not force myself. I have to wait for inspiration. It can come from anywhere.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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TEXTING
How could my heart triumph over differences
And not lose innocence?
I took all my possessions to the temple
The shrine was bright with candles
Scents ascending with verses.

Outside I looked at the plowed,furrowed fields
Twittered my message from the village
Framed by disks linked to the stars
Sentiments wrapped with leaves
Destined for the compost.