Haikus: November 2009

HAIKUS: November 2009

By Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com

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, November 1, 2009, 9:45-9:52 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ottorino Respighi, Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite #2 (1924)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Rustic country dances
in the village where farmers
have reaped their crops. Sunday, November 1, 2009, 11:28-11:35 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Piano Concerto #21 in C, K. 467 (1785)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Second movement of
Mozart's Piano Concerto—
so romantic!

Sunday, November 1, 2009, 11:44-11:55 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Gordon Hunt plays
Domenico Zipoli, (Listen) CD, YouTube
Elevazione "Ascension" (1716)

Music such as this
uplifts our spirit so we
ascend heavenward. Sunday, November 1, 2009, 4:00-6:35 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Conrad Rudolph's Pilgrimage talk inspired
me to find nine pilgrim citations in Dante

Nine pilgrim citations
in his Commedia
for Dante is a pilgrim.

Sunday, November 1, 2009, 7:30-9:30 pm
Stanford Theatre, Frank Capra directs
"Lost Horizon" (1937), (Trailer), starring
Ronald Colman, Jane Wyatt, H. B. Warner

Plane crash in Shangri-La
where people live in
garden of earthly delight. Sunday, November 1, 2009, 9:40-11:46 pm
Stanford Theatre: Mervyn LeRoy directs
"Random Harvest" (1942), (Trailer), starring
Ronald Colman, Greer Garsont, Susan Peters

Amnesic soldier turned
business tycoon played
well by Ronald Colman.

Sunday, November 1, 2009, 11:55 pm
Stanford Theatre, Ronald Colman starring in
"Lost Horizon" (1937), "Random Harvest" (1942),
both adapted from James Hilton's novels (Photo)

James Hilton wrote both
novels that Ronald Colman
starred in tonight's films. Sunday, November 1, 2009, 11:55 pm
Skipped free Stanford Flicks The Soloist (2009)
to see Ronald Colman in "Lost Horizon" (1937) &
"Random Harvest" (1942) (Theatre Marquee Photo)

Had to see Ronald Colman
again for his great acting
in Random Harvest.

Monday, November 2, 2009, 8:00-9:15 pm
Stanford University: Cubberley Auditorium
Professor Emeritus John L'Heureux introduces
Joyce Carol Oates Stanford Reading

Not since Balzac's 96
novels has anyone written so
much as Joyce Carol Oates. Monday, November 2, 2009, 8:00-9:15 pm
Stanford University: Cubberley Auditorium
Joyce Carol Oates reads her short story
"The Knife" and answers questions in Q & A

Oates sees herself
walking hand-in-hand with
Edgar Allan Poe.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Stanford University: Margaret Jacks Hall
Building 460, Terrace Room 426
Joyce Carol Oates: Stanford Colloquium

Give yourself up in
admiring another's work—
and write your heart out! Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 2:00 pm-1:00 am
Stanford University: Art Library & Green Library
Typed up my 9 pages of Oates Colloquium notes.
Found Oates' Faith of a Writer in Green Library

No wonder she's so prolific—
Oates memorized many
books she had read.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 2:00-3:00 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me
grocery shopping at CVS Pharmacy
to use Long's rainchecks for spices

Italian seasoning,
garlic and onion powders,
basil leaves, skim milk Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 6:05 pm
Stanford University: Going to Building 50
to see flyers for Buddhist lectures, I cross
the Quad and see Blimp over Memorial Church

23andMe.com
Blimp floats gently
over Memorial Church.

Thursday, November 5, 2009, 1:01-1:30 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarti
Violin Concerto #5 in A, K. 219 "Turkish" (1775)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Lots of percussion
in last movement— that's why
they called this "The Turkish". Thursday, November 5, 2009, 2:11-2:19 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Erik Satie,
Je Te Veux for Piano ("I Want You") (1900)
(Listen), (CD) YouTube

Playing piano
at Montmartre with friends
Debussy and Ravel.

Thursday, November 5, 2009, 5:15-7:00 pm
Stanford University, Encina Hall West, Room 208
Professor Luis Gómez (Univ. Michigan, Emeritus)
"Imagining Paradises: Invoking Blissful Abodes"

Buddha's paradise
of measureless light comes
in the Pure Land of Bliss. Thursday, November 5, 2009, 7:30 pm-1:00 am
Stanford University, Art Library & Green Library
Typing Notes to Joyce Carol Oates Reading
and her short story "The Knife" in "Heat"

Oates' style is simple
with crisp short dialogues
to move her story along.

Friday, November 6, 2009, 11:18-11:29 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Gioachino Antonio Rossini
The Thieving Magpie: Overture (1817)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

They blamed the maid
for stealing the food but
real thief was the magpie! Friday, November 6, 2009, 1:42-5:10 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Reading about Professor Luis O. Gómez (Book)
whom I heard yesterday's Buddhist seminar

Great to see scholar
leaping from Buddhist texts
to Emptiness & Bliss!

Friday, November 6, 2009, 7:30-8:10 pm
Friends' House, 957 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto
Waverley Writers Monthly Poetry Reading—
Featured Reader Dan Bellm read 14 poems
from his book Practice & new poems

The opposite of faith
is not doubt. Its opposite
is certainty. Friday, November 6, 2009, 9:00 pm
Friends' House, 957 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto
Waverley Writers Monthly Poetry Reading—
Read my poem "Thirteen Ways
of Looking at Completion"

Certainty comes to being
uncertain. Completion comes
around and around.

Saturday, November 7, 2009, 10:59-11:01 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann_Sebastian_Bach
Cantata #129: Chorale ''Praise be to God'' (1726)
Listen, (CD), YouTube

Bach's Cantata 12—
"Praise Be to God" for
these beautiful gifts. Saturday, November 7, 2009, 11:49-11:56 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Giovanni Battista Martini
Plaisir d'amour "The Joys of Love" (1775)
Listen, CD, (YouTube), Elvis song

Elvis sang "Can't Help
Falling in Love with You"
based on Martini's tunes.

Sunday, November 8, 2009, 11:17-11:23 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Eugene Ormandy
conducts George Frederick Handel,
Xerxes: Ombra mai fu "Largo" (1738)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

King Xerxes prefers
the shade of his plane tree
than the loves of his wives. Sunday, November 8, 2009, 12:52-1:04 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Hilary Hahn
plays Johannes Brahms,
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 (1878)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Passionate playing
Brahms' Violin Concerto
by Hilary Hahn.

Sunday, November 8, 2009, 2:30-3:30 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery
shopping at Safeway (2580 California Street)

Fish fillets, cooked shrimp,
Ken's pomegranate dressing,
black grapes and pizza. Sunday, November 8, 2009, 8:00-9:50 pm
Memorial Auditorium, Stanford Flicks
Anne Fletcher directs The Proposal (2009)
starring Sandra Bullock & Ryan Reynolds

Grace joins Granny in
ritual dance in the woods
and cuts loose going wild!

Monday, November 9, 2009, 1:03-1:28 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Joaquín Rodrigo,
"Fantasy for a Gentleman" (1954)
Listen, (CD), YouTube

Fantasy for flight—
Icarus flew too close to
the Sun— thus he fell. Monday, November 9, 2009, 1:50 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Altocumulus clouds above eucalyptus trees
near Foothill College Parking Lot 4 (Photo)

River of clouds flowing
in blue sky or white fire
rising from the earth.

Monday, November 9, 2009, 7:30-9:15 pm
Stanford Theatre, Joseph L. Mankiewicz directs
"The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" (1947), (Trailer),
with Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders

She rents a seaside house
where the sea captain ghost
dictates his memoirs. Monday, November 9, 2009, 9:25-11:01 pm
Stanford Theatre: Norman Z. McLeod directs
"Topper" (1937), (YouTube), starring
Cary Grant, Constance Bennett, Roland Young

Her face is always serious,
but this is the first film
that Garbo laughs.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 11:59 am-12:02 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Patrick Doyle,
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Listen, (CD), YouTube, Film, Book

Where is the Globet of Fire?
Is it our Sun or right
here in our heart? Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 12:19-12:38 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Nicola Benedetti plays
Ralph Vaughan Williams, Lark Ascending (1914)
(Listen), CD, YouTube, George Meredith Poem

Silver chain of sound
stirs the sky as lark ascends
higher and higher.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 5:00-7:00 pm
Los Altos Library: Printing Joyce Carol Oates
Stanford Reading & Colloquium Notes;
Reading Joyce Carol Oates interviews
in New York Times, April 10, 2009
& Academy of Achievement, May 20, 1997

Her sister is autistic,
couldn't speak or read,
while she writes on and on. Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 8:00-9:30 pm
Stanford University, Hewlett Building, Room 200
Michael Chabon in Conversation
with Professor John Felstiner
"On the Notions of Home" and
discussing "The Yiddish Policemen's Union"

Chabon doesn't believe
in God— "we made him up
just as the Greeks did Zeus."

Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 11:39-11:44 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Sebastian Bach,
"Jesu, joy of man's desiring" BWV 147 (1723)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Joy comes to those whose
desires are fulfilled—
otherwise there is sorrow. Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 1:15 pm
Palo Alto, California Ave.— Father, mother,
two daughters walking. When father asks younger
daughter if she wants a ride. She yells "Yeah!"

How would you like piggy-back
ride across the street?—
"Yeah!" smiled the daughter.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 1:30 pm
Palo Alto, Galvez Street & El Camino Real,
Giant Blimp floats above El Camino
and turns on Galvez Street (Photo)

Ran across the street—
snapped photo before it
disappeared behind trees. Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 1:32 pm
Palo Alto, Galvez Street
After the Blimp had gone
saw these cotton-like clouds (Photo)

Blimp has floated away—
but these cotton-like clouds
are dreamy and beautiful.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 1:48 pm
Stanford University: Cirrus clouds over
Hoover Tower & Cummings Art Library
(Photo 1, Photo 2)

Why rush to Art Library
when there's an art show
up here in the clouds? Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 2:00-6:48 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Descriptive 11/11 New Zealand email from
Richard on his trip there with his wife Arlene

Boat ride through "Hole in the Rock"
and watching Maori children
singing in school play.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 7:20-9:10 pm
Stanford Theatre, Ernst Lubitsch directs
"To Be or Not to Be" (1942), (Trailer),
with Carole Lombard & Jack Benny

Jack Benny portraying
Professor Siletsky was
funnier than Lombard. Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 9:20-11:05 pm
Stanford Theatre: Ernst Lubitsch directs
"Ninotchka" (1939), (YouTube),
with Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas

Her face is always serious,
but this is the first film
that Garbo laughs.

Thursday, November 12, 2009, 12:00-4:00 am
KSFO 560 AM: Coast-to-Coast AM
George Noory interviews Andrew D. Basiago
"Project Pegasus" (Chronovisors & teleportation)

Saw with Chronovisors
holography of
Jesus crucifixion. Thursday, November 12, 2009, 11:25-11:33 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Camille Saint-Saens,
Samson & Delilah, Op. 47: Bacchanale (1877)
(Listen), CD, YouTube, (Bible: Judges, XVI)

Samson's strength was gone
when Delilah cut his hair—
then they blinded him.

Thursday, November 12, 2009, 11:40-11:50 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Felix Mendelssohn,
Hebrides Overture, Op. 26 "Fingal's Cave" (1833)
(Listen), CD, (YouTube), Fingal's Cave

Ocean waves clashing
on the rocks of Fingal's Cave
caught by Mendelssohn. Thursday, November 12, 2009, 2:33 pm
Palo Alto, El Camino Real & Embarcadero Ave.
California White Oak at Town & Country Village
Pass this tree when I get off Bus #22 (Photo)

Passed this oak every day
and never noticed
how beautiful it is.

Thursday, November 12, 2009, 2:49 pm
Stanford University: Pine Tree behind
Art Gallery & Dohrmann Grove (Photo)
Pine Tree shaped like isosceles triangle

Pine branches grew evenly
so it's shaped like an
isosceles triangle! Thursday, November 12, 2009, 2:50 pm
Stanford University: Pediment
of Art Gallery and shape of Pine Tree
(Photo) are like isosceles triangles

Isosceles triangles
shaped by man and nature—
standing side by side.

Thursday, November 12, 2009, 5:15-6:40 pm
Stanford Humanities Center: Reginald Ray,
"Path of Desire: Tantric Saints in Indian Buddhism"
Saints & Sages Lectures, Article, Book

Way to enlightenment—
not denial of desires
but to fulfill them! Thursday, November 12, 2009, 5:15-6:40 pm
Stanford Humanities Center: Reginald Ray,
"Path of Desire: Tantric Saints in Indian Buddhism"
Books: Vajra World, Indestructible Truth

Vajrayana practice—
desire as path & goal
of enlightenment.

Friday, November 13, 2009, 12:00-4:00 am
KSFO 560 AM: Coast-to-Coast AM
George Noory interviews Whitley Strieber
"2012 & Planetary Changes" (Book)

Mega-comet passed Earth
12,000 years ago
killing everything. Friday, November 13, 2009, 12:37-12:44 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johannes Brahms,
Hungarian Dances #1 & 2 (1868)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Brahms' Hungarian Dances
like waves of passion
sweeping on to the shore!

Friday, November 13, 2009, 1:40-2:10 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill College
Wasted two hours taking Bus #40
to Foothill College & finding it closed

Foothill Library and
Krause Center both closed
for Veterans Day holiday. Friday, November 13, 2009, 2:55 pm
Palo Alto, 456 California Avenue
Passed by California Avenue Optometry
and saw interesting sign in their window—

If you can't see what
you are looking for—
you have come to the right place.

Friday, November 13, 2009, 3:19 pm
Stanford University: Arrowhead clouds (Photo)
above Hoover Tower & Cummings Art Building
(Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace)

Two arrowhead clouds
next to double-headed eagle—
Is it time for war? Friday, November 13, 2009, 5:55-6:30 pm
Stanford University, Lake Lagunita
35 minutes walk around Lake Lagunita—
No colorful clouds or sunset but the stars

Walk around the Lake—
no colorful clouds or sunset
but silence and the stars.

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 9:50-9:55 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Joshua Bell plays
Jules Massenet, Thaïs: Meditation (1894)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Soothing strings of music—
Massenet's Meditation
brings peace of mind. Saturday, November 14, 2009, 9:55 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Hoyt Smith tells about
Joshua Bell's mistake at his Nov. 4 White House
performance for kids (YouTube), (News 1, 2)

He jumped ahead and
had to replay the piece
saying "I made a wrong turn."

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 11:30 am-5:00 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill College
Watching video of Bird Cloud
of 300,000 starlings in flight

300,000 starlings
swarm over Denmark
dancing a ballet! Saturday, November 14, 2009, 11:30 am-5:00 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill College
News photo of 55-foot snake
found in forest of Guping, China

Giant boa constrictor
found in Chinese forest
that's 55-foot long.

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 5:07 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill College
Parking Lot #4: Orange clouds
colored by the sunset (Photo)

I love these orange
clouds above the hills
colored by the sunset. Saturday, November 14, 2009, 8:45-11:55 pm
Cubberley Pavilion, Palo Alto
Ballroom dancing: Michelle Regal
teaches intermediate waltz sequence

Viennese waltz turn
to cuddle to hammerlock
to twinkle, close to waltz.

Sunday, November 15, 2009, 2:20-3:00 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery
shopping at Safeway (2580 California Street)

Quaker instant oatmeal,
granola bars, frozen corn,
green beans, red grapes. Sunday, November 15, 2009, 4:30-10:00 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Web page on Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates has
over a million web pages—
more than most writers.

Monday, November 16, 2009, 3:00-6:30 pm
Stanford University, Stanford Humanities Center
"Science & Religion: New Approaches" (Poster)
Blake's drawing & Alexander Pope's epitaph

"Nature, and Nature's Laws
lay hid in Night. God said,
Let Newton be! and All was Light." Monday, November 16, 2009, 3:00-6:45 pm
Stanford Humanities Center, "Science & Religion" Peter Harrison, University of Oxford, "Natural
Philosophy & Experimental Religion in Early Modern England"

Experimental knowledge
is more valuable than
those of the church.

Monday, November 16, 2009, 3:00-6:45 pm
Stanford Humanities Center, "Science & Religion" Jonathan Sheehan, University California Berkeley,
"On Providence and Probabiltiy" (Blog)
(Rudy came to these lectures at 3 pm)

Only God can see—
His complexity is beyond
human knowledge. Monday, November 16, 2009, 3:00-6:45 pm
Stanford Humanities Center, "Science & Religion" Stephen Gaukroger, University of Sydney,
"The Historicization of Philosophy & Religion" (Book 1, Book 2)

David Hume— original
form of religion
was polytheism.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 2:05 am
Mountain View, Latham Street
Bright meteor streaks over apartment
Leonid meteor shower: News 1, News 2

Bright comet streaks low
over my apartment
as I come home tonight. Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 11:44-11:58 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven
"Piano Sonata #14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 #2 'Moonlight'" (1801), (Listen), CD, YouTube

Beethoven's Moonlight
Sonata is a lullaby
for the Moon's sleep.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 3:00-3:45 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Reading Verlyn Klinenborg's NY Times Op-Eds:
Adwaitya (3-28-2006) on 250-year old tortoise;
Planetary Matters (10-1-2009) on period of light

A day is a period of light—
sun rolls upward from darkness
and then we roll outward into
the ocean of stars at night. Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 4:00-6:30 pm
Stanford University, Margaret Jacks Hall,
Terrace Room, Verlyn Klinkenborg,
"Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile"
a seminar on writing about animals

From Gilbert White's journals,
he wrote about a tortoise from
her viewpoint pondering on
the nature of humankind.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 4:00-6:30 pm
Stanford University, Margaret Jacks Hall,
Terrace Room, Verlyn Klinkenborg,
"Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile"
a seminar on writing about animals

Enter an animal's realm,
make it a place of silence—
they'll teach you how to behave. Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 8:00-10:30 pm
Stanford Film Society, Cubberley Auditoriium,
Preview screening: Werner Herzogdirects
"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans"
starring Nicolas Cage & Eva Mendez (Trailer)

Cage makes a good performance
playing a bad policeman
hooked on drugs & sex.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 11:39-11:48 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Tomasso Albinoni / Remo Giazotto
Adagio for Organ & Strings in G minor, (1945)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

From Dresden's ashes
Albinoni's Adagio
rose like a phoenix. Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 1:30-5:10 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Web page on Joyce Carol Oates:
Books, Essays, Poems & Interviews

Displayed 22 Oates books
to match the letters
of the Hebrew alphabet.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 7:00-8:50 pm
Stanford University, Cubberley Auditorium
Greg M. Epstein, Harvard Humanist Chaplain,
"Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe", Book, Stanford Daily

Humanism is a philosophy
without supernaturalism aspiring
the greater good of humanity. Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 7:00-8:50 pm
Stanford University, Cubberley Auditorium
Greg M. Epstein, Harvard Humanist Chaplain,
"Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe", Book, Stanford Daily

Need more interfaith dialogue—
Learn about our disagreements
without platitudes.

Thursday, November 19, 2009, 11:08-11:24 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Janine Jansen
plays Ralph Vaughan Williams,
The Lark Ascending (1914)
(Listen), CD, YouTube, George Meredith Poem

The lark's song for all
to hear— notes that are
joyous, pure, and crystal-chear. Thursday, November 19, 2009, 7:00-9:30 pm
Palo Alto, 75 Alta Road, CASBS Building
Sarum Seminar: Allan Langdale, UC Santa Cruz
Film screening & Discussion: "The Stones
of Famagusta: The Story of a Forgotten City"

150,000 cannon balls
fired into Famagusta
turning it to ruins.

Friday, November 20, 2009, 1:03-1:38 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Robert Schumann,
Symphony #1 in B flat major, Op. 38 "Spring"
(1841), (Listen), CD, YouTube

His first symphony
called "Spring of Love" for
his new wife Clara Wieck. Friday, November 20, 2009, 2:15-5:10 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Web page on Joyce Carol Oates:
Titles of books, short stories, poems

Interesting titles
of novels & novellas—
words to write a poem?

Friday, November 20, 2009, 7:30-9:10 pm
Stanford Theatre, Mark Sandrich directs
"Top Hat" (1935), (Trailer), starring
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
Irving Berlin's song "Cheek to Cheek"

I'm in heaven— nothing
thrills me as much as
dancing cheek to cheek. Friday, November 20, 2009, 9:20-11:05 pm
Stanford Theatre: Mark Sandrich directs
"The Gay Divorcee" (1934), (Trailer),
starring Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
Cole Porter's song "Night and Day"

Night and day, you are the one
beneath the moon or sun—
I think of you.

Saturday, November 21, 2009, 11:45-2:06 pm
San Francisco: Panoramic Highway (Photo)
Richard & Arlene invites me to Muir Woods
along with their friend Elaine from Oakland

Panoramic Highway
view of San Francisco
on way to Muir Woods. Saturday, November 21, 2009, 2:48 pm
San Francisco: Muir Woods National Monument
Richard & Arlene at Muir Woods Entrance
Peter at Muir Woods Entrance

33 years ago
my friend Warner Lee
took me here and toured San Francisco.

Saturday, November 21, 2009, 8:00-9:45 pm
Los Altos: Richard & Arlene invites me for
dinner at Chef Chu. Arlene tells me about
Sherri Mandell's Blessing of a Broken Heart

A bird taps Arlene's
chair as she reads same
happening to the author. Saturday, November 21, 2009, 8:00-9:45 pm
Los Altos: Richard & Arlene invites me for
dinner at Chef Chu. Arlene tells me about friend
Ann Kocin— 6 year-old girl's letter to Einsten

Dear Mr. Einstein—
I think you ought to have
your hair cut, so you can look better.

Sunday, November 22, 2009, 10:48-10:54 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: George Frederick McKay,
"Meditation: Song over the Great Plains" (1953),
(Listen), CD, McKay's Music

McKay captures in
his Meditation
the majesty of mountains. Sunday, November 22, 2009, 10:54-10:57 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Camille Saint-Saens,
Carnival of the Animals: #13 The Swan (1886),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

The swan's elegance
gliding smoothly in the lake
makes our mind tranquil.

Sunday, November 22, 2009, 11:43-11:50 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Maxim Vengerov plays
Jules Massenet, Thaïs: Meditation (1894)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Thaïs had a pure heart—
leaving the brothel
for life in the convent. Sunday, November 22, 2009, 11:57 am-12:12 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven,
Symphony #3 in Eb, Op. 55 "Eroica" (1803)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Symphonic breakthrough—
Eroica brings out
the hero in all of us!

Sunday, November 22, 2009, 2:30-4:30 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me
grocery shopping at Safeway,
Nob Hill Foods & 99 Ranch Market

Black grapes, lotus roots,
green pepper, tofu, bean curd,
vegetable dumplings. Sunday, November 22, 2009, 6:00-10:00 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Recording the time & file names of 80 photos
taken at Saturday's Muir Woods hike

Cleaning up dust specks
in photos of Muir Woods
info boards with Photoshop.

Monday, November 23, 2009, 10:26-10:34 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Joseph Haydn,
Symphony #101 in D major "Clock" (1794)
Listen, CD, YouTube

The clock tells the hour—
Is there a timepiece
that measures eternity? Monday, November 23, 2009, 12:30-5:40 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Formatting 80 photos of Muir Woods hike
from camera chip to USB flash drive

The tall redwoods blocked
off sunlight— brightened
most photos in Photoshop.

Monday, November 23, 2009, 7:30-9:40 pm
Stanford Theatre: Michael Curtiz
directs "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942)
starring James Cagney, Joan Leslie,
Walter Huston & Richard Whorf; Film biography
of George M. Cohan, "Mary's A Grand Old Name"

It was Mary, Mary
before the fashion came—
It's a grand old name. Monday, November 23, 2009, 9:50-11:33 pm
Stanford Theatre: George Stevens directs
"Swing Time" (1936), (Trailer),
starring Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
Jerome Kern & Dorothy Field's song (lyrics)
"Pick Yourself Up" (Obama Inaugural Speech)

If you slip, pick yourself up,
dust yourself off—
Start all over again.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 3:00-5:00 am
Home in Mountain View: Reading
The Journal of Joyce Carol Oates: 1973-1982
April 18, 1980 entry (page 367)

To celebrate. Here. Now.
To express gratitude.
For life? For being alive. Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 4:30-7:50 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Jack got here just before me. We chat
about sports and my hike at Muir Woods.

Found film lyrics to
Irving Berlin, Cole Porter,
George M. Cohan & Jerome Kern.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 10:38-10:48 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky,
Symphony #6 in B, Op.74 "Pathetique" (1893)
(Listen), CD, (YouTube: Karajan, 1st movement)

Tchaikovsky died
nine days after the premiere
of his Sixth Symphony. Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 12:15-5:00 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Caught up in writing November Haikus
for the last week trip to Muir Woods

The hike to Muir Woods
with Richard and Arlene
was a Thanksgiving gift.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 5:50-7:20 pm
Stanford Theatre: W.S. Van Dyke
directs "The Thin Man" (1934) with
William Powell & Myrna Loy, (Trailer)

Surprise ending— Nick
unveils the murderer
at the dinner table. Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 7:30-9:05 pm
Stanford Theatre: Gregory La Cava
directs "My Man Godfrey" (1936) with
William Powell & Carole Lombard, (Trailer)

Irene picks up Godfrey
from city dump and turns
him into a good butler.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 9:15-9:45 pm
Stanford Theatre: Sally sees me after the movies,
introduces me to her old friend Karen,
offers me ride home to Mountain View.

Got home early tonight—
more time to cook veggie dish
for Sally's Potluck. Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 11:19-11:25 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony #2 in Bb "Song of Praise" (1959)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Praise for good friends that
come our way— they are
our true Thanksgiving treasures.

Thursday, November 26, 2009, 12:00-3:00 am
Home in Mountain View: Cooking Pan-Fried
Noodles with Angel Hair pasta and a dozen
vegetables for Sally's Thanksgiving Potluck

Broccoli, cauliflower,
green onion, garlic, cabbage,
bean curd, radish, lotus root,
baby corn, peas, bamboo shoots. Thursday, November 26, 2009, 2:17-2:46 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Julia Fischer plays
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Violin Concerto #3 in G, K.216 (1775)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Mozart's Concerto—
so sweet to listen to on
this Thanksgiving Day.

Thursday, November 26, 2009, 4:45-10:00 pm
Los Altos Hill: Sally's Thanksgiving Potluck
with 50 people, half from ballroom dancing
and half from her Presbyterian Church

Veggie pan-fried noodles,
green bean almondine,
pecan pie with ice cream. Thursday, November 26, 2009, 4:45-10:00 pm
Los Altos Hill: Sally's Thanksgiving Potluck
Chat at dinner table with Bearl, Louie,
Beverley, and Debbie (gave me ride home)

Chat on old films, Buddha,
Blavatsky, Wang Yang Ming,
Han Yu, and Jesus Christ.

Friday, November 27, 2009, 10:26-10:34 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker: Waltz of the Flowers (1892)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

Dancing to sweet music—
Nutcracker Suite Ballet:
"Waltz of the Flowers". Friday, November 27, 2009, 2:00-3:40 pm
Palo Alto & Mountain View: Friend takes me
grocery shopping at Walgreens (Maybell Ave),
CVS, and Safeway (2580 California Street)

Deluxe mixed nuts, eggs,
clam chowder chunky soup,
muesli and cole slaw.

Friday, November 27, 2009, 5:40-7:25 pm
Stanford Theatre: Alfred Hitchcock
directs "To Catch a Thief" (1955)
starring Cary Grant, Grace Kelly
Jessie Royce Landis, & John Williams (Trailer)

Skyview of Riviera—
Police chasing "The Cat,
John Robie, jewel thief. Friday, November 27, 2009, 7:35-9:55 pm
Stanford Theatre: Alfred Hitchcock
directs "North by Northwest" (1959)
starring Cary Grant, Eva Maria Saint,
James Mason & Martin Landau (Trailer)

Romance and suspense—
Train escape, cornfield plane chase,
descent of Mount Rushmore.

Saturday, November 28, 2009, 10:36-10:41 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Yundi Li plays Frederic Chopin,
Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. 66, (1835), (Listen), CD, YouTube: Yundi Li

Waterfall cascade
like silver bells tinkling—
wind chimes on piano. Saturday, November 28, 2009, 1:30-5:00 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library;
Wasted an hour going to Foothill Krause Center
that was closed after they said it will be open

Wrote haikus of films
seen this week with YouTube
links to video trailers.

Saturday, November 28, 2009, 5:17 pm
Stanford University, Tresidder Union
Cold Moon & Palm Trees (Photo)

Cold Moon shines on three
palm trees as globular lights
glisten like gold pearls. Saturday, November 28, 2009, 5:27 pm
Stanford University, Tresidder Union
Shopping Express Hybrid-Powered Bus (Photo)

Stanford Hybrid-Powered Bus
stops by palm trees while
Cold Moon shines above.

Sunday, November 29, 2009, 11:22-11:26 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Herbert von Karajan conducts
Pietro Mascagni, (Listen, CD, YouTube)
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo (1890)

Opera's Intermezzo
used in the opening
scene of Raging Bull. Sunday, November 29, 2009, 1:25 pm
Stanford University, Tresidder Union
Shopping Express Hybrid-Powered Bus;
Bus driver stopped after I got off for photo

Snapped this photograph
of Stanford Hybrid-Powered Bus
by the palm trees.

Sunday, November 29, 2009, 1:30-7:45 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Sent two photos of Hybrid-Powered Bus
to marguerite@stanford.edu for contest

Sent Hybrid Bus photos
by palm trees in moonlight
and in bright sunlight. Sunday, November 29, 2009, 8:00-10:32 pm
Memorial Auditorium, Stanford Flicks
Quentin Tarantino directs Inglourious Basterds
(2009) starring Brad Pitt & Christoph Waltz

World War II spaghetti
film made in the mode
of the Dirty Dozen.

Monday, November 30, 2009, 9:40-9:43 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Alison Balsom
plays Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Magic Flute: Queen of the Night Aria, K620 (1791)
Listen, (CD) YouTube

Mozart's "Queen of the Night"
from The Magic Flute wakes
me up from deep sleep. Monday, November 30, 2009, 10:36-10:41 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Stefan Ruha
plays Ciprian Porumbescu,
Ballade for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 29 (1880),
(Listen), CD, YouTube, Notes

Ballade for Violin—
romantic tunes for the heart
from a Romanian.

Monday, November 30, 2009, 1:30-6:45 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Reading about Qiu Jin (1875-1907),
Chinese revolutionary heroine, feminist,
and writer. Poem: "Sun's Root Land"

Riding over East Sea's winds,
my thoughts expands like a sail
between ocean and heaven. Monday, November 30, 2009, 7:00-8:40 pm
Stanford University, Cubberley Auditorium
Film Screening: "Autumn Gem",
bio documentary of Qiu Jin (1875-1907),
Introduction by Thomas Mullaney (Trailer)

Free women from oppression,
educate them so our nation
can be strong again.