These haikus were written as exercises in mindfulness— an attempt to catch the fleeting moment in my daily walks, while reading, listening to music, and pondering about life. (Underlined words are not for emphasis but to web links.) This web page best viewed with Times font size 14.

Sunday, February 1, 2009, 11:15-11:19 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Sir Edward Elgar Enigma Variations, Op. 36 (1899) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) Woke up to Elgar's Enigma Variations— the mystery of life!	Sunday, February 1, 2009, 11:23-11:28 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Max Bruch, Scottish Fantasy in E-flat major, Op. 46 (1880) (Listen), CD, YouTube Fantasy or fact— Belief becomes knowledge not through faith but science.
Sunday, February 1, 2009, 1:00-5:00 pm Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University Deborah Butterfield, Untitled Bronze Horse (1999) I take Rudy here for his first visit (Photos & Haikus) Rudy says "Energy from this horse is coming to me." The power of art— imparting emotional energy to us.	Sunday, February 1, 2009, 1:00-5:00 pm Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University Jane Stanford's Jewelry Collection, (Gold Watch). I take Rudy here for his first visit (Photos & Haikus) Rudy asks "How much is Jane Stanford's jewelry?" Jane Stanford lost her crown jewel— Leland Junior died! Then she sold her jewels.
Sunday, February 1, 2009, 1:00-5:00 pm Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University "Dürer to Picasso": François-André Vincent, "Zeuxis Choosing His Models for the Image of Helen from Among the Girls of Croton (1789) Zeuxis cannot find a model with the beauty of Helen of Troy.	Sunday, February 1, 2009, 1:00-5:00 pm Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University "Dürer to Picasso": Hans_Arp, Silent (1942) I take Rudy to Stanford Art Museum, his first time here. (Photos & Haikus) White marble before form takes shape— Arp's Silent singing of stillness.
Sunday, February 1, 2009, 5:00-6:00 pm Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University Rodin Sculpture Garden: "Orpheus" I tell Rudy about a poetry writing exercise: Describe a sculpture to someone who is blind. His face lifted up to heaven playing his lyre to win back his bride.	Sunday, February 1, 2009, 7:30 pm Art Library, Stanford University KDFC Videos: David Fray, a young French pianist rehearsing musicians in J.S. Bach's concertos at a German café How exuberant are his eyes and fingers as he brings Bach to life!
Sunday, February 1, 2009, 9:30 pm Art Library, Stanford University "A formula from Einstein with a spiritual twist" Rabbi Albert Lewis, Grand Rapids Press, 2-1-2009 Enlightenment = mankind's constant curiosity squared Enlightenment equals Mind multiplied by Consciousness squared.	Sunday, February 1, 2009, 10:00-11:50 pm Memorial Auditorium, Stanford Flicks: Saul Dibb directs "The Duchess" (2008), starring Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Hayley Atwell, and Dominic Cooper Duchess of Devonshire Georgiana Cavendish in beautiful costumes.
Monday, February 2, 2009, 11:03-11:20 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Ralph Vaughan Williams, The Lark Ascending (1914) (Listen), CD, YouTube, George Meredith Poem Blake's 28th Lark ascending to the perfect— that's where we're going.	Monday, February 2, 2009, 11:23-11:27 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Sebastian Bach, Cantata #140: Sleepers Awake (1731) (Listen), CD, YouTube Sleepers wake up to your true essence beyond this world of shape and form.
Monday, February 2, 2009, 4:00 pm Art Library, Stanford University "Embraced by the Stanford bubble" Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 1-2-2008 Reading article about Stanford University 8200 acres— Stanford campus— 40 UC Berkeleys or 27 Disneylands.	Monday, February 2, 2009, 5:55 pm Art Library, Stanford University Groundhog Day & Candlemas: Presentation of Jesus to the Temple— 40 days after his birth (Luke, 2.22-40) Today's Groundhog Day also Candlemas— 40 days since birth of Jesus.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 12:59-1:40 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Felix Mendelssohn (1842) Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, "Scottish" Listen, CD, YouTube (Mendelssohn's 200th birthday) Mendelssohn's genius came from grandfather Moses' genes— no wonder he shined!	Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 2:35-2:47 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Felix Mendelssohn (1826) Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, Op. 21, (Listen), CD, YouTube (Mendelssohn's 200th birthday) Midsummer Night's Dream— composed when he was sixteen while reading Shakespeare.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 1:45-2:26 pm Mountain View: Friend takes me shopping at Rite-Aid (Cup of Noodles) and Safeway Total Safeway Savings = $63.29 Clam chowder, skim milk, fish fillets, frozen shrimps, potato salad, red grapes.	Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 6:30 pm Art Library, Stanford University Reading "From illness to enlightenment" by Eckhart Tolle, (Common Ground, Feb. 2009) If you have illness, use it for enlightenment to subdue your ego.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 10:03-10:08 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Felix Mendelssohn (1842) A Midsummer Night's Dream: Wedding March Listen, CD, YouTube Music favored at weddings after Princess Victoria married Prince Frederick.	Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 10:10-10:17 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Pachelbel, Canon in D major (1680) (Listen), CD, YouTube Pachelbel's Canon— celebratory music that's great for weddings.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 3:15-6:00 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University Mark Doty's Poetry Workshop: Read revised poem "Song of the Self" (2 pages) for class critique They liked stanza omitted— protein dialogue with my niece Elisa.	Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 3:15-6:00 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University Mark Doty's Poetry Workshop: Read revised poem "Song of the Self" (2 pages) for class critique Class likes my use of concrete scientific language rather than abstractions.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 3:15-6:00 pm Mark Doty likes my "Notes: Song of the Self", suggests combining it with poem as single work. Recommends two books. Mary suggests another. Nabokov's Pale Fire, D'Agata's Halls of Fame, Danielewski's House of Leaves.	Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 3:15-6:00 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University Mark Doty's Poetry Workshop: Students ask Mark Doty about craft in writing poetry Combine openness with stubbornness to improve revisions of your poems.
Thursday, February 5, 2009, 12:00-1:00 am Green Library, Stanford University Gathering Notes on "Spiritual Sun" Physical Sun is metaphor for Real Sun The Fire in the Cave is Plato's metaphor for our physical sun.	Thursday, February 5, 2009, 2:09-2:16 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Jules Massenet, Thaïs: Meditation (1894) Listen, CD, YouTube Meditation— Being in the midst of attention where Sun always shines!
Friday, February 6, 2009, 12:35-12:44 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Tomasso Albinoni, Adagio in G minor (Remo Giazotto, 1958), (Listen), CD, YouTube Feeling like phoenix reborn from ashes of fire— my soul soars skyward!	Friday, February 6, 2009, 7:30-9:00 pm Friends' House, 957 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto Waverley Writers Monthly Poetry Reading— Read poems "Four Wands" & "What Is Belief?" Greatest love story— proton-electron marriage— May they never part!
Saturday, February 7, 2009, 9:46-9:57 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Joseph Haydn, Symphony #104 in D major "London" (1795), Listen, CD, YouTube Croatian folk song in finale of Haydn's Final Symphony.	Saturday, February 7, 2009, 10:01-10:13 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony #3 in E flat, Op. 55 (1803) (Listen), (CD) YouTube From deep depression Beethoven's daring spirit soared above defeat.
Sunday, February 8, 2009, 9:30 am Dream of Dorothy Hodgkin showing me a long scientific equation with four physical constants of Nobel Laureates = 1 coulomb of electricity Planck, Einstein, Debye, Nernst in equation that equals one coulomb of charge!	Sunday, February 8, 2009, 12:58-1:02 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: John Williams, Star Wars: Imperial March (1980) (Listen), (CD) YouTube Darth Vader appears when this music is played in The Empire Strikes Back.
Sunday, February 8, 2009, 5:40 pm Art Library, Stanford University Email to thank Greg for lending me DVD of "Name of the Rose" film (1986) to watch on blind belief versus rational logic. I share with him Coast-to-Coast.am photos Bird devouring man, Alien invasion spaceships, Beautiful Wolf Moon.	Sunday, February 8, 2009, 10:00-11:30 pm Stanford Flicks: Eric Darnell directs "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" (2008), starring Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), and Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) Alex the Lion prefers to dance than fight and becomes the hero.
Monday, February 9, 2009, 1:14 am Stanford University Oval: Waiting for Midnight Express Shuttle Bus and watching February Full Moon overhead. (Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, Opening Buds Moon) Praise to the Snow Moon whose gentle glow is slowly opening buds for Spring.	Monday, February 9, 2009, 11:32 pm Stanford Green Library: Denise writes on seeing Venus & Moon in telescope as I read about them in Ficino's Letter #78 to Lorenzo de' Medici the Younger (c. 1477) She watches them in a telescope while I read them in Ficino's book.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 12:07-12:17 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Gordon Hunt plays Domenico Zipoli, Elevazione "Ascension" (1716), (Listen) CD, YouTube Ascend to the Sun— the First Beauty whose Eye shines upon everything!	Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 1:30-2:30 pm Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery shopping at Rite-Aid (San Antonio Road) and Safeway (2580 California Street) Italian seasoning, bacon bits, baby carrots, red peppers and ham.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 4:00 am Home in Mountain View: Reading G.A. Gaskell's "Dictionary of All Scriptures and Myths" on Sun Symbolism (Khandoya Upanishad VIII.6.5) and Plato's "Laws" Book X, 898e The Sun is the door to wisdom and Higher Self— chariot of the Soul.	Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 1:00-1:35 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Dennis Russell Davies conducts Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings in C, Op. 48 (1880) Listen, CD, YouTube A beautiful waltz to serenade and dance to with the one you love.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 3:15-6:00 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University Mark Doty's Poetry Workshop: Students discuss privacy issues on "Facebook" Photos and chats posted on the web stay there forever to haunt you.	Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 3:15-6:00 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University Mark Doty's Poetry Workshop: Discuss poem "Slow Dance" by Matthew Dickman Class likes Dickman's voice— he's less preachy than Whitman and trusts what he says.
Thursday, February 12, 2009, 12:30 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Dianne Nicolini's quiz: Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 today 200 years ago. What man from England was also born on the exact same day? Born 200 years ago— Abraham Lincoln, Darwin and history!	Thursday, February 12, 2009, 2:11-2:17 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Dennis Russell Davies conducts Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata #8 in C minor, "Pathetique" (1880) Listen, CD, YouTube A beautiful waltz to serenade and dance to with the one you love.
Friday, February 13, 2009, 10:04-10:21 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Claudio Abbado conducts Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony #3 in E flat major, Op. 55 "Eroica" (1803), Listen, CD, YouTube Wake up!— The hero within you need to create something fresh and new!	Friday, February 13, 2009, 12:25-12:33 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Riccardo Chailly conducts Dmitri Shostakovich Jazz Suite #2, Op. 50b (1938) Listen, CD, YouTube Lovely lilting waltz for planets to dance around the sun in glory!
Friday, February 13, 2009, 12:33-12:38 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Han-Na Chang (cello) plays Camille Saint-Saëns Carnival of the animals: #13, The Swan (1886) Listen, CD, YouTube Wake up!— The hero within you need to create something fresh and new!	Friday, February 13, 2009, 3:00-5:00 pm Art Library, Stanford University Typing Sun Symbolism from books in my library: G.A. Gaskell, J.E. Cirlot, and J.C. Cooper Sun symbolizes the Higher Self— it sees all. It's Pure Consciousness!
Friday, February 13, 2009, 7:30-9:05 pm Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto "The Freshman" (silent, 1925) starring Harold Lloyd & Jobyna Ralston with Dennis James on the Wurlitzer He's the laughing stock of Tait College until he scored the winning touchdown.	Friday, February 13, 2009, 9:15-10:30 pm Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto "The College Coquette" (1929) starring Ruth Taylor, William Collier Jr. & Jobyna Ralston She's a Betty Boop— every curve of her gestures screams out to be loved!
Saturday, February 14, 2009, 11:50-11:59 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Robert Schumann Romances for Oboe & Piano, Op. 94 (1849) Listen, CD, YouTube In love with Clara and his work, Schumann's music was so romantic.	Saturday, February 14, 2009, 3:00-5:00 pm Art Library, Stanford University Send Valentine Day greetings to friends & Brenda Hillman's "The Spark" love quote "When you are loved, the darkness carries you. When you are loved, you are golden—"
Sunday, February 15, 2009, 12:20-12:28 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Joseph Haydn Symphony #101 in D "Clock" (1794) Listen, CD, YouTube The clock tells time— but what's the yardstick to measure eternity?	Sunday, February 15, 2009, 12:53-1:00 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Johannes Brahms Symphony #3 in F, Op.90 (1883) Listen, CD, YouTube, Santana: Lyrics & Video Carlos Santana inspired by Brahms music to write "Love of My Life".
Sunday, February 15, 2009, 2:15-3:30 pm Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery shopping at Safeway (2580 California St.) in heavy rain Red grapes, blueberries, mozarella cheese, pizza, fish fillets and milk.	Sunday, February 15, 2009, 8:00-10:00 pm Memorial Auditorium, Stanford Flicks: Kevin Smith directs "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" (2008), starring Seth Rogen & Elizabeth Banks Platonic love to romantic love— that moment must be full of bliss!
Monday, February 16, 2009, 1:13-1:23 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Frederic Chopin, Fantasie for Piano in F minor/A flat major, Op. 49 (1841), (Listen), CD, YouTube Wouldn't it be great to play this Chopin music in your dream concert?	Monday, February 16, 2009, 2:30-3:00 pm Palm Drive, Stanford University No Shuttle Bus on President's Day as I walk up Palm Drive to Stanford Thanks goodness it stopped raining as I travel light with my umbrella.
Monday, February 16, 2009, 7:30-9:10 pm Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto "Miracle of Morgan's Creek" (1944) directed by Preston Sturges, starring Betty Hutton & Eddie Bracken She went to all-night dance party and forgot which soldier she married.	Monday, February 16, 2009, 9:20-11:00 pm Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto "The Major and the Minor" (1942) directed by Billy Wilder, starring Ginger Rogers & Ray Milland Ginger's thirty-one playing a 12-year old girl in this comedy.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 10:51-11:04 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Frederic Chopin, Piano Concerto #1 in E minor, Op. 11 (1830), (Listen), CD, YouTube, Study Guide Waterfall cascades down a golden fountain as I wake up to light.	Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 1:05-1:43 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony #6 in F, Op. 68 "Pastoral" (1808) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube), Analysis In the countryside Beethoven's Pastoral sings of nature's grandeur.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 10:10-10:21 am KDFC 102.1 FM: George Frederick McKay, "Meditation: Song over the Great Plains" (1953), (Listen), CD, McKay's Music Song of meadowlark inspired him to paint lonely beauty of the plains.	Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 11:18-11:23 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Henry Purcell Abdelazar: "Moor's Revenge" Suite (1695) Listen, CD, YouTube English Country Dance— I recall dancing to this tune "Hole in the Wall".
Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 7:00 pm Art Library, Stanford University Reading "On the Origin of the World" in Nag Hammadi Library (1988) on what came before chaos in the universe (pp. 171-172) First was shadow, then Pistis (Faith), Sophia (Wisdom) and primeval light.	Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 8:15 pm Art Library, Stanford University: Reading Marsilio Ficino's The Book of the Sun (1494) an allegorical & anagogical rather than dogmatic interpretation of the mystery of the Sun The light of the Sun is similar to Goodness itself, namely, God.
Thursday, February 19, 2009, 12:36-12:40 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Joseph Haydn, Symphony #94 in G major "Surprise" (1791), Listen, CD, YouTube, Notes Slow minuet dance then suddenly a surprise— the kettledrum stroke!	Thursday, February 19, 2009, 1:02-1:30 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto #21 in C major, K 467 (1785) (Listen), CD, YouTube Lovers in a boat rowing around the blue lake as this music played.
Thursday, February 19, 2009, 4:08-6:15 pm Mountain View & Palo Alto: Took Bus #35 three times today and Gail was the driver each time. Wrote about her in 1989 journal. In one hour ride from San Jose to Palo Alto bus driver got four dates!	Thursday, February 19, 2009, 7:00 pm Art Library, Stanford University Reading story about woman sleepwalker sending email invitations while asleep! It's called "zzz-mailing"— write while you sleep— but how did she recall her password?
Thursday, February 26, 2009, 12:18-12:30 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Henry Purcell King Arthur: Overture (1691) (Listen), CD, (YouTube) (The Grail: 13th century painting) The Grail at center of the Round Table is a symbol for the Sun.	Thursday, February 26, 2009, 7:00-9:30 pm Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University Japanese Anime films: Hiroyuki Okiura directs "Jin-Roh: Wolf Brigade" (1998) on female terroist in love with anti-terroist policeman Heroine acts like Little Red Riding Hood killed by Big Bad Wolf.
Friday, February 27, 2009, 2:34-2:50 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Cecile Licad plays Robert Schumann Papillons, "Butterflies" Op. 2 (1831) (Listen), CD, (YouTube) Schumann is soulful writing "Papillion"— music flight of the spirit.	Friday, February 27, 2009, 4:15 pm Palo Alto: Riding Bus #22 on El Camino Real on way to Stanford and seeing two suns in the sky amidst the afternoon clouds (Notes to Poem: Hymn to the Sun) Surrounded by clouds— two suns lumped together like Frosty the Snowman!
Friday, February 27, 2009, 7:30-9:10 pm Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto "Seven Days to Noon" (1950) starring Barry Jones, directed by John & Roy Boulting, screenplay by Paul Dehn & James Bernard Unless there's a nuclear freeze, scientist will explode a bomb in London.	Friday, February 27, 2009, 9:20-10:40 pm Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956) directed by Don Siegel, starring Kevin McCarthy & Dana Wynter (Both still alive!) People colonized by aliens hatched out of pods without emotions.

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© Peter Y. Chou, Wisdom Portal P.O. Box 390707, Mountain View, CA 94039 email: (2-1-2009)