I had the strangest dream

that I was invited to attend the wedding of Pope Benedict/Ratzinger and Queen Elizabeth, through the well blooded niece of the girl I was dating/married to.

then it all dissolved and there was a battle on the plains, between the pillars of the hall, and I was general, and won, with the enemy dissolving
into goo and the pope (for he was the enemy) in bitter defeat.

and then sweet kisses of victory, and a weary aftermath in the evening, sun setting golden and breezes cool. a plate of grapes. some wine. a purple curtain undulating in the breeze.

Sf Symphony:

MTT conducting Tchakovsky.

Rimsky-Korsakov Dubinushka
Stravinsky Petrushka
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4

A great all-Russian program. No guest artists to distract, just MTT and a very large symphony. I enjoyed the Stravinsky a lot. To be honest, I got a little lost in symphony, but enjoyed the scherzo and the last movement.

W was busy so I took my friend Ty to this concert. Dinner beforehand at Q. And we dressed up–I wore my suit and my purple tie. Fun.

Have we gone too far?

that’s what a poster on BART asks.

In reference to laws about the woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy.

This morning on BART I saw a asian woman in her late twenties or early thirties fiercely responding point by point on the poster with her pen.

A guy watching said: “tear it down.” She replied that it was better to educate.

Hurray for her, and for laws that protect a woman’s right to choose.

I understand that there are many who are deeply opposed to abortion. I once was, as well. I could not understand how anyone could justify what I considered t that time to be outright killing.

As I got older, I started to understand how much life changes when a woman bears a child, and what a big responsibility it is. As a teacher I started to understand the comfort of parental support and the cruelty of parental neglect.

Some argue for the fetus: we are taking away its right to live. I do not deny that it is so. There is potential being denied at the very start. But that is what life is: we deny one future so that another may prosper. I read the paper at the expense of… I help my son with his homework instead of … I leave one lover for…. I quit a promising career to… I end this pregnancy and start …

Life denies potential every moment, so that it can nurture another potential. Animals are driven by instinct, but humans can shape their potential and their lives. To deny women the right to choose is a denial of their humanity.

(Human desire, that rebuking of the hungers of instinct, has raised us up from caves and into temples, up from the sea and out to the stars. It constantly dreams and invents a better future–and it always does it while denying some potentialities in favor of others.)

Notes on the commute

I’m riding BART again these days, and it is interesting transitioning back to a commute of people-watching, rather than car-cursing.

The fares were raised as of January, so I estimate that this commute ticket I pay $48 for will only last two weeks: the fare is now 5.90 round trip.

There were a bunch of cops out last week in the stations: when I got out, I understood why. bin Laden had issued another threat via tape.

Waiting at the bus stop in Emeryville, a fellow rider noticed an abandoned purse. She asked if it was one of ours. Nope. We checked inside for ID, but there was nothing, no cash, no contents, no indication of what it was or why it was there. one woman, who had hung back and not examined the purse, said: “you never know, these days, if there might not be a bomb or something in a bag like that.” Unbelieveable. The bus was pulling up, so as I got on, I turned towards her and said, “A bomb on this corner? Not likely. Maybe that other corner.” pointing at the Starbucks.
Continue reading “Notes on the commute”

Winter morning

Saturday was rainy, so when W. called I wasn’t surprised she suggested postphoning our run. I was tired and groggy anyway.

Sunday though was gorgeous: no clouds, brisk and clear. I had a quarter bowl of flakes and a gelpack. W. called, and I was out the door. We did a gentle run down JFK, to Chain of Lakes, and then back up Middle Drive. It was an hour round trip, with a water and bathroom stop, too. I got home at 11:45am.

We talked a bit about the week, I told her about seeing Walter Murch @ sfcutters on Wednesday, she told me about seeing Dirty Harry on DVD.

I remember: the 60 yr old woman we slowly overtook on middle drive. The toddler with her leg stuck behind her bike pedal (and the training wheels) at the waterstop. The tree shorn of all its branches near 8th avenue.

Tuesday morning, and I’m out at the bus stop. A wintry sky, feathered altocumulus clouds stretched out across the sun to the east. My express bus doesn’t come, and the stop is full of people glancing in disbelief at their watches.

I cut my losses, walk to Geary, and take a cab.

The Corner

I mentioned previously that I loved the HBO series ‘The Wire’. I found out that the writer of the show, David Simon, had written a couple books based on his experiences in West Baltimore. The books are critically praised non fiction portrayals of drugs and death in the inner city.

I picked up a used copy of one of his books, The Corner, via Amazon. It arrived last week.

Today I’m back to riding BART to work, and so I’ve started the book. 20 pages in, I’m really enjoying it.

Lake St Run in damp darkness

All night I heard the sound of rain pouring down. It’s been raining since Saturday morning.

Sunday morning. W. called at 9am. “feeling sick- let’s skip this week.” No arguments from me.

Late Sunday, the rain stops. After a busy afternoon shopping–Sports Basement for 2 pairs of running shoes and socks, EBgames for some used videogames, L’Occitaine for Mom, Trader Joe’s for groceries–, I unload the car and motivate for a late run. I go out at a little after 5 pm.

Up Lake St. It’s already dark. Around Mountain View Lake and under route 1. Back onto Lake St, my time is 18 minutes or so. Slow. At 30th Ave I clock 30:14 minutes. On the leg back I try to kick and move my arms. I stop for 56 seconds at the red light at Park Presidio (42.34″). I kick hard to beat 50 minutes for the last stretch, hitting 5:53″ for the last leg, to finish at 49:23″ for the run. (includes red light).

Whoo!

And I feel good.

Maybe I should run more often, instead of just once a week.

The Wire

ok, for a long time I insisted that I didn’t watch TV but that’s not true anymore. Now that I am able to download entire seasons of TV shows and watch them commercial-free, I’m more inclined to watch them.

The Wire is an incredible serialized drama. Set in Baltimore, it portrays a slick, well-run drug operation and the police’s efforts to shut it down. It’s not standard cop drama fare, however. The show delivers great dialogue, well defined characters, and a detailed and realistic depiction of the war on drugs. What is most curious is that there are heroes and villains on both sides.

I devoured season 1 over a long weekend, and I’m looking forward to season 2 as soon as it finishes downloading.

UPDATE: Season two was also great, with an unexpected narrative direction.

Walk the Line

I enjoyed this movie. It was a lot of fun to hear Johnny Cash’s music in the context of what was happening in his life. Joaquim Phoenix was pretty convincing as Cash, and Reese Witherspoon was a great June Carter.

Still, it is a biopic, and it

Aeon Flux

popcorn movie, fun for the theater, but the badness may come through on the small screen. Skip the rental.

I thought it was competently made and the sets and customes were very fun, and very Hollywood.

2 of 4 stars.