Haikus: December 2021

HAIKUS: December 2021

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.

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 8:03-8:28 am
Mountain View: Went to bed at 3:40 am;
Woke up at 11:30 am; Solved Jumble Puzzle
@ 8:28 am— NMSIU = MINUS; NDLEB = BLEND;
GAOTUE = OUTAGE; SYUJOO = JOYOUS

Cartoon Answer— The person
putting up the new billboard was
INS BED OAG JS = ASSIGNED THE JOB Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 3:40-5:00 pm
Mountain View: Left apt @ 3:40 pm; Half-hour walk
to Valero Gas Station for "Daily Posr"& "Metro";
Shop at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff Ave) 4:20-4:41 pm
4:48 pm Bus #40 to Montecito Ave & walked home

10 Yoplait Yogurt 6 oz @ 29¢ = $2.90;
2 Stouffer's Swedish Meatballs @ $1.99 = $3.98;
Spinach Souffle & Tuna Casserole @ $1.99 = $3.98.

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 3:00-3:20 pm
Mountain View: MidPen Housing Re-Inspection
by Jessica Sparks & Tatiana Alekseeva

Cleaned top of stove, toilet, bathroom floor,
cleared six boxes from living room,
so apartment looks less cluttered. Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 3:00-3:20 pm
Mountain View: MidPen Housing Re-Inspection
by Jessica Sparks & Tatiana Alekseeva

Tatiana recommends boxes by the window should
be 6 feet away instead of 6 inches for firefighters;
Jessica: "clear papers & books above microwave oven".

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 7:00-8:00 pm
Mountain View: Emails from Foothill College
(11/23 4:18 pm & 11/30 11:07 am) on registration
for Winter Quarter (Jan. 3-March 25, 2022)

Foothill registration via MyPortal not
accessible by Safari Browser; Need
to use Chrome Browser to get through. Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 7:00-8:00 pm
Mountain View: In Chrome Browser, searched through
Schedule: 34 LINC classes Winter 2022, Foothill College;
Have taken many classes; Only LINC-405 is repeatable

LINC-405 "Beginning Technological Skills" 0 unit,
CRN 31485 (1/03/2022-3/25/2022), Cassandra Pereira;
Registered via MyPortal, but not confirmed yet.

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 8:45-9:15 pm
Mountain View: Watched Gene Tognetti's video
tape (9-23-2021) Intro to Course, Canvas,
Course Arc, Google Drive, Sharing with KCI

This is the first time tuning to
Gene Tognetti's tape for LINC-405 class;
Last tape (10-14-2021) Google Drive,
Organizing and finding documents. Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 9:25-9:45 pm
Mountain View: Because I was busy cleaning
my apt for the MidPen Housing Re-Inspection;
fell behind with LINC-405 assignments this Quarter

Buster Posey's Retirement (Posey Infographics) 11/4;
Free ICON Theater Movies (GoogleDrawings2) 11/14;
Gmail to Friends for Movies (Google Gmail Forms) 11/14;
Cicadas 17-Years Emerging 2021 (Google Slides).

Thursday, December 2, 2021, 2:30-3:20 pm
Mountain View: Went to bed at 1:50 am;
Woke up at 2:20 pm; Solved Jumble Puzzle
@ 3:20 pm— SEIRK = SKIER; HSYAT = HASTY;
RRADEH = HARDER; GIRNIO = ORIGIN

Cartoon Answer— When her husband
pretended to be a hula dancer, he was
SKE AST HAE ORGN = NO GREAT SHAKES
64.99% of 2222 responders had trouble with this answer. Thursday, December 2, 2021, 5:40-7:15 pm
Mountain View: Left apt @ 5:40 pm; Half-hour walk to
Valero Gas Station (Middlefield Road) for "Daily Posr";
Shop at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff Ave) 6:05-6:42 pm;
7:00 pm Bus #40 to Montecito Ave and walked home

1.5 qt Sig Sel Ice Cream (Peppermint) @ $3.99 - $1 = $2.99;
33.8 oz Sig Sel Sparkling Water (Peach Creme) @ $1.00;
2 Stouffer's Swedish Meatballs ($3.99) @ $1.99 = $3.98;
Stouffer's Spinach Souffle ($3.29) @ $1.99.

Thursday, December 2, 2021, 8:30-9:15 pm
Mountain View: Two trees in the courtyard
with pea-sized fruits spilled all over the ground.
Can't find tree's name in Herbert S. Zim's Trees (1956)
& Norman Taylor's Taylor's Guide to Trees (1987)

Searched in Google Images "pea-sized fruit trees"—
the closest with fruits & simple smooth leaves
is Gooseberry Tree (Phyllanthus acidus). Thursday, December 2, 2021, 9:30-11:00 pm
Mountain View: Missed LINC-405 Zoom class (6:00-6:30)
and Q&A session (6:30-7:00 pm) today; Watch old videos
Tognetti's Aug 16 Talk on Google Slides;
Tognetti's Aug 23 Talk on Google Slides 2

Google Slides: Elephant Stamps (7-30-2021);
Poem: "Cicada Art on Sidewalk" (11-12-2021);
Compose Google Slides: Cicada (12-2-2021).

Friday, December 3, 2021, 8:10-8:20 am
Mountain View: Went to bed at 3:25 am;
Woke up at 2:50 pm; Solved Jumble Puzzle
@ 3:20 pm— RUGDO = GOURD; NSYUN = SUNNY;
CTNIEE = ENTICE; DIRLAA = RADIAL

Cartoon Answer— The subway was
running late, and not everyone was
GUD SNN NTE RDIA = UNDERSTANDING
36.12% of 1318 responders had trouble with this answer. Friday, December 3, 2021, 3:30-4:45 pm
Mountain View: Email from Foothill College 12/2, 5:44 am
that I'm registered for Winter 2022; Hope LINC-405
class won't be cancelled, so my VTA Bus Clipper Card
will be valid for 3 months instead of paying $90 fee

Tried to do LINC-405 "Google Slides: Cicada"
last night (11:00 pm-1::08 am), but didn't
get it done correctly in Google Drive,
so have to repeat the assignment.

Friday, December 3, 2021, 5:00-6:35 pm
Mountain View: Karen invited me out to
In-N-Out Burger (1159 N. Rengstorff Ave)

She had a double-double Burger;
I had hamburger & French fries;
Picked up "Daily Post" & "Peninsula News". Friday, December 3, 2021, 5:00-6:35 pm
Mountain View: Saw Karen on 8/7 with Al Guzman seeing
"Green Knight" and 8/23 for free films at ICON Theater

Karen is getting evicted from her apt
as landlord's daughter is coming back;
She'll go back to NYC to live in January.

Friday, December 3, 2021, 11:20 pm-3:28 am
Mountain View: Tried to do Google Sites
using 9 images from poem "Cargo Shipment"

Google Sites is much harder
than Google Slides as putting
text box next to image is time consuming. Friday, December 3, 2021, 11:20 pm-3:28 am
Mountain View: 4 hours to do Google Sites
"Cargo Shipments"; an hour to do in HTML

No need to know HTML to do Google Sites,
but it's too clumsy writing text next to the
images, that I prefer to work in HTML.

Saturday, December 4, 2021, 8:40-8:59 am
Mountain View: Went to bed at 4:05 am;
Woke up at 3:40 pm; Solved Jumble Puzzle
@ 8:59 am— AEWF = WAFER; SACEE = CEASE;
RIKOEO = ROOKIE; TPAOOT = POTATO

Cartoon Answer— The large glossy, black birds
lived in Zagreb, to them, it was the capial of
WA CA RI OT = "CROW-ATIA". Saturday, December 4, 2021, 5:35-6:42 pm
Mountain View: Left apt 5:35 pm; Bus #40 at 5:47 pm
to Chef Chu's bins for "Daily Post" & "Palo Alto Weekly";
Walk to Showers Drive stop for last Bus #40 @ 6:24 pm
to Central Xpwy Stop and walked home

Too late for shopping at Sprouts Market
since last Bus #40 home is at 6:21 pm;
Should go out at sunlight for Vitamin D.

Saturday, December 4, 2021, 8:30 pm-12:25 am
Mountain View: Foothill College Fall 2021
Quarter ends on December 10; Need to get
assigments for LINC-405 done on time

Make sure to attend LINC-405 Zoom class
(6:00-7:00 pm) on Monday 12/6 & Thursday 12/9
to show Randall, Cavada & Tognetti on what I've done. Saturday, December 4, 2021, 8:30 pm-12:25 am
Mountain View: Found 5 projects in LINC-405 folder—
Label on Bottle (9/20); Gmail (10/9); Posey Infographics
(11/4); Google Drawings 2 (11/4); Google Forms 2 (11/14)

Done last two days: Google Slides: Cicada (12/3);
Google Sites: Cargo Shipments (12/4);
and LINC-405: Fall 2021 (12/4/2021).

Sunday, December 5, 2021, 8:47-9:16 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 3:30 am; Woke up 3:30 pm
(12 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 9:16 am—
ADUTOSI = STUDIO; COIXET = EXOTIC;
NLIFUS = SINFUL; ACVTAN = VACANT;
GELALE = ALLEGE; FOTPIR = PROFIT

Cartoon Answer— They saw one piece
of property with their realtor, and it was
SIO TI SFL VT AEE RT = LOVE AT FIRST "SITE". Sunday, December 5, 2021, 7:00-8:00 pm
Mountain View: No "Daily Post" printed Sunday
or need for grocery shopping; stayed home to work;
34% increase Public Storage fees $116 to $155;
Need to get Medicare Card # to get Booster
Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine shot

Breakfast of Jewish Rye sandwich—
2 scrambled eggs, 4 slices Swiss Cheese,
8 slices Black Forest Ham, Spinach, 2 Pickles.

Sunday, December 5, 2021, 8:05-9:50 pm
Mountain View: "14 best & brightest Bay Area displays"
(By Martha Ross, Mercury News, 12-5-2021, F7-F8)

1. Deacon Dave's world-famous display (Livermore)
2. Christmas in the Park, San Jose (194 South Market St)
3. Alex Dourov's Knottingham Circle
(67 Knottingham Circle, Livermore)
4. Oakland Zoolights "Glowfari" (9777 Golf Links Rd)
5. Historic estate lights in Woodside (86 Cañada Road)
6. Picardy Drive's Storybook Christmas
(off Seminary Ave near Mills College)
7. Crippsmas Place (Nicolet Avenue, Cripps Place, Fremont)
8. Lights in the Cacti in Walnut Creek (1552 Bancroft Rd)
9. History Park's Heritage Holiday Light Show
(south end of Kelley Park, San Jose)
10. J.R. Mattos's new, amazing home show
(17271 James Lex Lane, Morgan Hill.)
11. Widmer World, Pleasanton (3671 Chelsea Court)
12. Los Gatos Fantasy of Lights (Vasona Lake County Park)
13. Christmas Tree Lane, Alameda (3200 Thomson Ave)
14. Friday "Nights of Lights" Half Moon Bay (Main Street)
Sunday, December 5, 2021, 8:45-10:25 pm
Mountain View: "Fodor's GO list for 2022 includes three California destinations" (By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 12-5-2020, F7)

Here are the West Coast finds— in alphabetical order.
Check out the full GO list at www.fodors.com/go-list/2022
Eleven of those destinations are on the West Coast,
including the lively city of Bend in Oregon,
Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho
and three spots in California: Long Beach,
Mono Lake and New Cuyama.
1. Bend, Oregon
2. Big Sky, Montana
3. Burning Man, Black Rock City, Nevada
4. Craters of the Moon, Idaho
5. Crested Butte, Colorado
6. Estes Park, Colorado
7. Leavenworth, Washington
8. Long Beach, California
9. Mono Lake, California
10. New Cuyama, California
11. Walla Walla, Washington.

Monday, December 6, 2021, 7:35-7:41 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 3:00 am; Woke up 3:00 pm
(12 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 7:41 am—
SAYET = YEAST; RPWEI = WIPER;
NDYEOK = DONKEY; MRISEM = SIMMER

Cartoon Answer— Mr. Twain predicted
his latest story would become popular by saying
YAS WR DOK MMR = MARK MY WORDS.
42.23% of 1177 responders had trouble with this answer Monday, December 6, 2021, 4:45-5:55 pm
Mountain View: Left apt @ 4:45 pm; Half-hour walk to
Valero Gas Station (Middlefield Road) for "Daily Posr";
Shop at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff Ave) 5:15-5:38 pm;
5:45 pm Bus #40 to Montecito Ave and walked home

La Terra Fina Quiche Lorraine $11.99 @ 50% off = $5.49;
2 Sig Sel Sparkling Water 33.8 oz @ $1.00 = $2.00;
Stouffer's Swedish Meatballs ($3.99) @ $1.99;
Stouffer's Spinach Souffle ($3.29) @ $1.99.

Monday, December 6, 2021, 6:30-7:30 pm
Mountain View: Johnny Richards (music),
Carolyn Leigh (lyrics), to "Young At Heart" (1954)
YouTube: Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante

Fairy tales can come true—
It can happen to you
If you're young at heart. Monday, December 6, 2021, 7:30-7:52 pm
Mountain View: Search "Knight & Castle" images for
"Fairy Tale" web page; Create banners "Once upon a time"
& "Fairy tales came true" for free cartoon image

Both Can Stock ($12) and
Shutterstock block image with text
that's hard to erase in Adobe Photoshop.

Monday, December 6, 2021, 8:00-10:52 pm
Mountain View: "BASEBALL: O'Neil, Miñoso, Hodges,
Kaat, Oliva, Fowler get into baseball Hall of Fame"
(By Ben Walker, AP, Mercury News, 12-6-2021, C2)

Gil Hodges became latest Brooklyn Dodgers star from pennant-winning "Boys of Summer" to reach the Hall, joining Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella and
Pee Wee Reese. An eight-time All-Star with 370 home runs and a three-time Gold Glover at first base, Hodges enhanced his legacy when he managed 1969 "Miracle Mets" to
the World Series championship, a startling five-game
win over heavily favored Baltimore Orioles. Monday, December 6, 2021, 8:00-10:52 pm
Mountain View: "Rita Moreno Reveals the Biggest Difference in Steven Spielberg's New Version of West Side Story"
(By Nicole Pajer, Parade, Dec. 5, 2021, pp. 6-10)

Steven Spielberg chose Rita Moreno's character
Valentina to sing "Somewhere" in his West Side Story
adaptation: "I can't imagine another person more apt to underscore the need for all of us to keep hoping for,
dreaming of & working toward a better, more just world,"
Spielberg says. Rita won Oscar as Anita in 1961 film.
A day after Spielberg's new film opens on Dec. 10, 2021, Rita Moreno (born Dec. 11, 1931) turns 90-years old.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 6:58-7:05 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 2:40 am; Woke up 10:50 am
(8 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 7:05 am—
SCEETJ = EJECT; TMHAC = MATCH;
BRAYCB = CRABBY; DONOEL = NOODLE

Cartoon Answer— He wanted to change
the channel to watch the game but didn't have a
EEC MTH CRA NOE = REMOTE CHANCE.
19.69% of 889 responders had trouble with this answer Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 12:30-1:30 pm
Mountain View: Ridley Scott directs "House of Gucci" (2021) with Lady Gaga; Adam Driver; Jared Leto; Jeremy Irons; Salma Hayek;
Al Pacino; Jack Huston; Reeve Carney; Camille Cottin;
Vincent Riotta; Madalina Diana Ghenea; Catherine Walker;
(Film Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3)

Sleazy backstabbing movie
with Lady Gaga in the spotlight
and Al Pacino playing the Godfather.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 7:15-10:00 pm
Mountain View: Karen picked me up at 7:15 pm for
ICON Theater (2575 California St); Tuesday $6 special;
Arrived @ 7:25 pm to see Ridley Scott's "House of Gucci"

Ridley Scott (age 84) has directed Alien (1979),
Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1991),
Gladiator (2000), Martian (2014), Last Duel (2021). Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 7:15-10:00 pm
Mountain View: Was not aware that Ridley Scott directed
so many classic movies; enjoyed "The Martian" & ending
of "Thelma & Louise" (discussed at Stanford seminar)

Scott directed TV commercial to launch Apple's Macintosh
computer (1-22-1984), during Super Bowl XVIII,
considered greatest TV Commercial of All Time.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 6:00 pm
Mountain View: Karen phoned saying
ICON Theater (2575 California St)
is closed for Private Showing Event;
Door of Theater was locked.

Will have to see Ridley Scott's
"House of Gucci" movie
on another day in the future. Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 6:30-7:30 pm
Mountain View: Lion's Roar email @ 6:03 pm
on their January 2022 "Great Teachers Issue"—
"Helping Hands": Joanna Macy (change direction of karma);
Rev. angel Kyodo williams (wisdom & goodness are always there);

Maha Ghosananda (practice peace & loving-kindness);
Robert Aitken (hold experience with humble tenderness);
Thich Nhat Hanh (Peace is the way. Peace begins with you).

Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 7:30-8:00 pm
Mountain View: Free NY Times for "Interesting News" bookmark:
"Bob Dole, Old Soldier and Stalwart of the Senate, Dies at 98"
(By Katharine Q. Seelye, NY Times, 12-5-2021)

Son of the Kansas prairie, who was left for dead on
a World War II battlefield, became one of longest-serving
Republican leaders. Lost Presidency to Bill Clinton in 1996. Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 8:00-8:20 pm
Mountain View: Free NY Times for "Interesting News" bookmark:
"Alana Haim Surprised Everyone With Her Movie Debut. Even Herself." (By Lindsay Zoladz, NY Times, 12-6-2021)

When Paul Thomas Anderson asked her to star
in "Licorice Pizza", the musician had zero acting
experience. Now she's winning rave reviews.

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:06-7:11 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 11:10 pm; Woke up 1:00 pm
(13 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 7:11 am—
BHAIT = HABIT; UEQNE = QUEEN;
CENRHD = DRENCH; RUYPIF = PURIFY

Cartoon Answer— As the noisy kids
grabbed slices of the pizza, Mom asked for
AIT QEE DENC PUI = "PIECE" AND QUIET Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 4:08-5:40 pm
Mountain View: Left apt @ 4:08 pm; Half-hour walk to
Valero Gas Station (Middlefield Road) for "Daily Post";
Shop at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff Ave) 4:40-5:06 pm;
5:25 pm Red Bus to Montecito Ave and walked home

Sig Sel Sparkling Water (Peach Creme) 33.8 oz @ $1.00;
Open Nature Almond Milk ($2.99) @ $2.08 - $1 = $1.08;
Ferrero Rocher Chocolates ($6.49) @ $3.99 - $1 = $2.99.

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:50-8:40 pm
Mountain View: Added poem "Posey's Perfect Number"
to LINC-405 Project #3 "Posey Retires Infographics"

Made web links to poems in LINC-405—
Project #6 "Cicada Art on Sidewalk"
Project #7: "Cargo Shipment". Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 8:40-9:00 pm
Mountain View: Emails to LINC-405 Instructors
William Cavada, Kim Randall, Gene Tognetti

Images & links on LINC-405: Fall 2021
are not showing up in Google Drive,
but show up clearly on WisdomPortal.com.

Thursday, December 9, 2021, 7:37-7:48 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 4:00 am; Woke up 12:25 pm
(8.5 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 7:48 am—
LIYSK = SILKY; OLIOG = IGLOO;
TMRETA = MATTER; NESYRT = SENTRY

Cartoon Answer— With so many cases on
the docket, the court system was experiencing
SIY IG MTT ENR = TRYING TIMES Thursday, December 9, 2021, 3:40-5:30 pm
Mountain View: Left apt @ 3:40 pm; Half-hour walk to Valero
Gas Station (Middlefield Rd) for "Daily Post" & "Peninsula News";
Shopping at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff Ave) 4:20-4:55 pm;
5:15 pm Red Bus to Montecito Ave and walked home

Open Nature Beef Meatballs ($8.49) @ $5.49 - $1 = $4.49;
Waterfront Shrimp Skewers ($5.99) @ $5.00 - $1 = $4.00;
8 cans Dole Pineapple Chunks ($2.49) @ $1.25 = $10.00.

Thursday, December 9, 2021, 6:30-6:55 pm
Mountain View: LINC-405 Zoom Q&A Session
with Kim Randall (final class for Fall 2021);
She got my email & told me Gene Tognetti had emailed
me that he's not having Zoom Class (6:00-6:30 pm) today

Missed Tognetti's email @ 5:47 pm on no class today;
His email @ 5:59 pm "I'm impressed by the movie
flyer and Cicada Slide deck you created." Thursday, December 9, 2021, 7:00-7:47 pm
Mountain View: Bookmarked "Interesting News" from
today's Mercury News— "Five miles of stunning Northern
California coastline preserved in landmark redwoods deal"
(By Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 12-9-2021)

"New Movies: Steven Spielberg's new West Side Story mostly gets it right". (By Randy Myers, Mercury News,
12-9-2021)— "dance numbers are breathtaking & flawless".

Friday, December 10, 2021, 8:40-9:07 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 3:30 am; Woke up 1:05 pm
(9.5 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 9:07 am—
FINUT = UNFIT; NUHOD = HOUND;
GAIOHE = HOAGIE; LAZTOE = ZEALOT

Missed Cartoon Answer— It makes expert poker
players happy to welcome an inexperienced player
NFT HD OIE LOT = INTO THE FOLD
40.83% of 1903 responders had trouble with this answer. Friday, December 10, 2021, 4:30-6:20 pm
Mountain View: Left apt @ 4:30 pm; 4:49 pm Bus #40
to Chef Chu's bins for "Daily Post" & "Palo Alto Weekly";
Shopping at Sprouts (630 San Antonio Rd) 5:10-5:33 pm;
6:07 pm Bus #40 to Central Xpwy Stop and walked home

(19 oz Raw Whea Germ @ $2.99 Sold Out);
One Bunch of 7 Organic Green Onions @ 99¢;
Pirouline Dark Chocolate Creme Filled Wafers @ $3.99:
0.98 lb Raw Whole Cashews ($8.99/lb) @ $5.99/lb = $5.87.

Friday, December 10, 2021, 4:17-4:26 pm
Mountain View: Phoned Medicare & was surprised
in 9 minutes Desiree & Lucia Sanchez gave me
my 11-digits Medicare #; 4 weeks to receive Card

Need my Medicare # to get booster
COVID-19 shot at CVS Pharmacy & other outlets;
Got 2 Pfizer vaccine shots at Santa Clara Kaiser in March. Friday, December 10, 2021, 7:45 pm-3:52 am
Mountain View: Frank Sinatra singing "Young at Heart":
Can't download MP3 file without paying fee at all sites;
Need music in the background of "Fairy Tales" page

Conference of the Birds by Farid al-Din Attar
is a 12th century Persian poem that's included
in "My Favorite Fairy Tales" web page.

Saturday, December 11, 2021, 1:15-1:24 pm
Mountain View: Went to bed 5:30 am after writing on
10 books in "My Favorite Fairy Tales". Woke up 1:05 pm
(7.5 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 1:24 pm—
NIHEW = WHINE; RPTAA = APART;
CPIRST = SCRIPT; DBOYNO = NOBODY

Missed Cartoon Answer— When the colt showed
off his art skills by sketching his sister, it was
WHE AR SR NOD = HORSE-DRAWN
27.77% of 940 responders had trouble with this answer. Saturday, December 11, 2021, 3:00-4:15 pm
Mountain View: Ann & Jack came at 3 pm to pick up
2 bags of newspapers & poems ("Pinocchio" & "Robert Bly");
Drove me to Valero for "Daily Post" & "Peninsula News";
Shopping at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff Ave) 3:15-3:49 pm;
4:05 pm Bus #40 to Montecito Ave and walked home

8 oz Watson Hand Sanitizer @ $4.49 = Free;
8 oz Sig Farms Fresh Spinach for Salad @ $2.29;
International Delight Creamer @ $3.99 - $1 = $2.99;
Northern Chef Honey Walnut Shrimp ($7.99) @ $4.99.

Saturday, December 11, 2021, 5:00-5:30 pm
Mountain View: Pinterest sends photos twice each day based on
photos downloaded previously; 4 interesting photos sent today—

Elk's Love Antlers;
Fuzzy White Owl;
Peacock Full Spread;
Baby & Sleeping Kitten. Saturday, December 11, 2021, 7:45-8:15 pm
Mountain View: Add 4 books to "My Favorite Fairy Tales"
web page, so there are a sonnet of 14 fairy tales—

Alice in Wonderland;
A Wrinkle in Time;
Cinderella;
Snow White.

Saturday, December 11, 2021, 6:15-7:30 pm
Mountain View: Jack Mullen phoned, chatted over an hour;
worried about my apartment inspection; told him it went well

He ranted Democrats are destroying
this country, turning it Communist;
complained of inflation & Biden is senile. Saturday, December 11, 2021, 9:00-10:00 pm
Mountain View: "Ali grandson to box as fights back at Madison Square Garden" (Brian Mahoney, Mercury News, 12-11-2021, C5)

Ali Walsh (2-0, 2 KOs) fights against Reyes Sanchez (6-0) during the first big boxing card back at Madison Square Garden. Middleweight fight of 4 rounds. He won.

Sunday, December 12, 2021, 7:46-8:40 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 6:00 am; Woke up 1:25 pm
(7.5 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 8:40 am—
ASEYW = SWEATY; UNNLAA = ANNUAL;
SANSOE = SEASON; ZORICE = COZIER;
PAURTB = ABRUPT; GREEED = DEGREE

Missed Cartoon Answer— The fluffy feathers
had arrived, so the pillow maker could now
SWT NNU SSO OIE BT DEE = GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. Sunday, December 12, 2021, 5:20-8:20 pm
Mountain View: No "Daily Post" printed Sunday
or need for grocery shopping; stayed home to work;
Did laundry $1.75 wash, $1.00 dry (used up detergent);
Listened to SF 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals NFL game
on KNBR 104.5 FM radio from 1:25-5:00 pm

Robbie Gould missed 47-yard field goal to win;
Deebo Samuel & George Kittle scored TDs in first-half;
Brandon Aiyuk's 12-yard TD to win 26-23 in overtime.

Sunday, December 12, 2021, 7:00-8:00 pm
Mountain View: While writing about "Snow White" last night
in "My Favorite Fairy Tales", recalled "Snow White" (12-17-1978)
poem in "Journey to the Stars" (1978) which was retyped

Surprised this old poem didn't mention
7 rainbow colors, 7 chakras of the spine,
7 wonders of the world to symbolize 7 dwarfs. Sunday, December 12, 2021, 7:00-8:00 pm
Mountain View: Added two lines to "Snow White" poem
(lines 9-10)— "Seven chakras along the spine /
Rainbow colors simply divine"

Need to embed audio of Frank Sinatra singing
"Young at Heart"— "Fairy tales can come true"
on "My Favorite Fairy Tales" web page.

Sunday, December 12, 2021, 9:00-10:00 pm
Mountain View: MedPen Housing December Newsletter—
"New mailboxes to arrive early January"; Two thefts already.
Braden Cartwright, Daily Post, 12-9-2021, p. 4—
"Police: Duo stole 55 pieces of mail"

Suspects used a shaved key to open mailboxes
from a townhome complex in Los Altos.
Dominguez & Hill arrested for identity theft,
credit card fraud, & possession of burglary tools. Sunday, December 12, 2021, 10:00 pm-1:00 am
Mountain View: "Sheriff warns: 'Tis the season for mail theft"
(By Megan V. Winslow, Los Altos Town Crier, 11-30-2021);
"Alleged mail thieves arrested in Aptos""
(By Jessica A.York, Santa Cruz Sentinel, 7-9-2021)

"San Jose: $10,000 reward offered in mail theft case"
(By Jason Green, Mercury News, 6-15-2021)
"Video Shows Thieves Ransacking Mail Truck in San Jose"
(By Damian Trujillo, NBC Bay Area, 6-15-2021)

Monday, December 13, 2021, 8:06-8:10 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 4:30 am; Woke up 10:20 am
(6 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 8:10 am—
RBUYL = BURLY; SHCUR = CRUSH;
DMIEDL = MIDDLE; VLARGE = GRAVEL

Cartoon Answer— The deadline for the Jumble
puzzle was fast approaching, so the creators
BL CRS MD AE = SCRAMBLED
18.62% of 913 responders had trouble with this answer. Monday, December 13, 2021, 11:30 am-1:25 pm
Mountain View: Rudy came at 11:30 am & chatted about
the racist readings in his Sociology F023 class; Drove to
Valero Gas Station (Middlefield Road) for "Daily Post"; Free items
& specials for Rudy at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff) 12:30-1:05 pm;

64 oz Sig Sel Apple Juice ($2.99) @ $1.38 - $1 = 38¢;
16 oz Sig Sel Raspberry Preserves @ $3.99 = FREE;
8 oz AHA Lime Watermelon Water @ $4.99 = FREE;
2 gallons Value Corner Fatfree Milk @ $1.90 = $3.80.

Monday, December 13, 2021, 6:00-6:40 pm
Mountain View: "Those Cute Cats Online?
They Help Spread Misinformation"
(By Davey Alba, Mercury News, 12-13-2021, C10)

Epoch Media, parent company of The Epoch Times published videos of cute animals in 12,062 posts
on its 103 Facebook pages in the past year,
racked up nearly four billion views. Monday, December 13, 2021, 7:00-7:30 pm
Mountain View: "Anne Rice, Who Spun
Gothic Tales of Vampires, Dies at 80"
(By Neil Genzlinger, NY Times, 12-12-2021)

She wrote more than 30 novels, including the
best seller "Interview With the Vampire", which
became a hit movie starring Tom Cruise & Brad Pitt.
Her husband Stan Rice, was a poet, died in 2002.

Monday, December 13, 2021, 7:30-8:30 pm
Mountain View: "Lowe's CEO addresses race, inflation and vaccine mandates" (Anne D'innocenzio, Mercury News, 12-13-2021, C10)
(At 55, Ellison stands out as one of only 3 Black Fortune 500 CEOs.
Personally knows about racism, grew up in segregated rural TN.
His father was a sharecropper-turned-insurance salesman.)

21st anniversry of Dad's passing
to the other shore— I honor him by
sharing wisdom & compassion with others. Monday, December 13, 2021, 7:30-8:30 pm
Mountain View: “The cost of 'Freedom'”
(A 1964 ballot proposition backed by realtors made freedom a conservative catch-all. Gene Slater's 5-stars book "Freedom to Discriminate: How Realtors Conspired to Segregate Housing
& Divide America" (Louis Hansen, Mercury News, 12-12-2021)

He explains that realtors discriminated
against black, Asian and Hispanic families.
Rudy's Sociology class made me aware more on racism.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 6:07-6:11 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 1:20 am; Woke up 8:30 am
(7 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 7:05 am—
SEYZT = ZESTY; OSUEH = HOUSE;
JTREEC = REJECT; BNILEB = NIBBLE

Cartoon Answer— They went
tandem skydiving and were able to
ZET HUE REC BE = "CHUTE" (THE) BREEZE.
36.72% of 719 responders had trouble with this answer. Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 7:30-10:20 pm
Mountain View: Steven Spielberg directs "West Side Story" (2021)
with Ansel Elgort; Rachel Zegler; Ariana DeBose; David Alvarez;
Mike Faist; Rita Moreno; Brian d'Arcy James; Corey Stoll;
Jamila Velazquez; Yassmin Alers; Jamie Harris; Curtiss Cook;
Ana Isabelle; (Film Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3)

Spielberg's remake of classic "West Side Story"
is fresh and innovative, bringing back
the magic & wonder of the original.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 11:35 am-2:30 pm
Mountain View: Rudy came at 11:35 am; drove me to Los Altos
Library to return 13 overdue books at main checkout desk
where I got receipt for all the returned books at 12:05 pm

Rudy drove me to Social Services (1330 W Middlefield Rd, St. Pierre Way) @ 1:37 pm; Tricia made me sign two forms to pay $303 from my Cal-Fresh account instead of cash. Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 6:00-10:20 pm
Mountain View: Al & Rudy came to my apt @ 6 pm; Al drove
us to In-N-Out Burger (1159 N. Rengstorff Ave) to meet Karen
who bought $6 tickets to see "West Side Story" at ICON Theater

Nice get-together of Karen, Al, Rudy, and me;
we used to have breakfast at Hometown Buffet,
Santa Clara and movie afterwards years ago.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 7:33-7:40 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 1:40 am; Woke up 4:15 pm
(14.5 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 7:40 am—
FOGOY = GOOFY; LTIPO = PILOT;
ZNATAS = STANZA; NFIEAL = FINALE

Missed Cartoon Answer— The birds flying around
where the hay was stored in the barn were
OOF LT TA FAL = ALOFT (IN) A LOFT
40.35% of 1534 responders had trouble with this answer. Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 5:50-7:00 pm
Mountain View: Left apt at 5:50 pm; Grey Bus didn't stop;
6:04 pm Bus #40 came at 6:15 pm; Drizzling and cold;
6:48 pm Bus #40 to Montecito Ave & walked home;
Didn't shop at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff) today

since Safe-Just-For-U coupons
was not emailed to me until 6:29 pm—
4 Lucerne Sliced Cheese 8 oz @ $1.99,
6 free items, 99¢ Skippy Peanut Butter for Rudy.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 9:00-9:30 pm
Mountain View: Al Guzman came early @ 5:40 pm instead
of 6 pm yesterday; Helped me to scan from my Apple laptop—

The scanned "Shakespeare & Company Postcard"
is much sharper & clearer than photo version; Later
I scanned COVID-19 Vaccination Card front & back. Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 9:00-9:30 pm
Mountain View: Ann's Dec 14 email @ 8:22 pm
with Czeslaw Milosz quoting Basho on the pine.

That's one of my favorite Basho quotes
from "Kawazu Aware" (1686) which
I've designed for the letter "P" (1995).

Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 9:30-11:00 pm
Mountain View: Numbers: 2974: "Stephen Curry's 2974 Three-Pointers broke NBA's all-time career 3-point shooting mark."
Bleacher Report (12-15-2021); NY Times (12-14-2021)

Ray Allen (2,973 three-pointers), had mark since 2011,
when he took the throne from Miller (2,560) to form top three long-distance scorers along with Curry, who took record away from Allen in 1st quarter against NY Knicks. Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 9:30-11:00 pm
Mountain View: "COSMOS: Our galaxy's
supermassive black hole has sprung a leak"
(By Joshua Hawkins, Yahoo News, 12-13-2021)

The supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy may not be sleeping, after all. Biggest outburst from the black hole came around two million years ago. However, new evidence has been found that outburst could still be active.

Thursday, December 16, 2021, 2:30-2:45 am
Mountain View: "Pelicans respond to Thunder's preposterous
game-tying shot with preposterous game-winning shot"
(By Jack Baer, Yahoo News, 12-15-2021)

Down 110-107 with 4.5 seconds left, Oklahoma City
Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sank halfcourt 3-pointer
to tie game; With 1.4 seconds left. Guard Devonte' Graham
of NO Pelicans threw 3/4 full-court winner at the buzzer. Thursday, December 16, 2021, 2:45-3:20 am
Mountain View: Can't find Rudy's folk tale of
of grasshopper helping Emperor designing fortress
that would become the "Great Wall of China"

Read "Great Wall of China" in wikipedia;
Found an image of Grasshopper,
and photo of Great Wall of China,
insert grasshopper in photo to design book cover.

Thursday, December 16, 2021, 7:45-8:07 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 5:00 am; Woke up 4:40 pm
(11.5 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 8:07 am—
NAOCG = CONGA; CNMHU = MUNCH;
UGOATE = OUTAGE; DSLEET = ELDEST

Cartoon Answer— The individual
digits that make up the numbers 11 are
NA MN OAE DES = ONE AND (THE) SAME
25.16% of 1566 responders had trouble with "Eldest". Thursday, December 16, 2021, 6:15-7:40 pm
Mountain View: Left apt at 6:15 pm; Half-hour walk
to Valero Gas Station for "Daily Post" & "Metro"
Shop at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff) 6:45-6:59 pm
7:22 pm Bus #40 to Montecito Ave & walked home;

$303 Lump Sum reduced from Cal-Fresh Account;
33.8 oz Sig Sel Sparkling Water (Key Lime) @ $1.00;
4 jars Planter's Peanuts 16 oz ($4.99) @ $1.99 = $7.96;
Skippy Peanut Butter ($3.99) @ $1.99 - $1 = 99¢ for Rudy.

Thursday, December 16, 2021, 10:00 pm-7:15 am
Mountain View: 9 hours to write Preface for
"Tour of WisdomPortal: Selected Poems 2021"

Had planned to do this job in two days
since there are 69 poems to summarize,
but got carried away & finished in one sitting. Thursday, December 16, 2021, 10:00 pm-7:15 am
Mountain View: After "Preface: Selected Poems 2021",
made Cover for "Selected Poems 2021"

69 poems written in "Selected Poems 2021";
41 poems written in "Selected Poems 2020";
16 poems written in "ABC Poems for You & Me" (2020).

Friday, December 17, 2021, 8:00-8:20 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 8:50 am; Woke up 4:40 pm
(8 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 8:20 am—
IGCNI = ICING; VIAEW = WAIVE;
GPTILE = PIGLET; NTOONI = NOTION

Cartoon Answer— The twins usually knew
what each other was thinking because they were
II WV IET OTN = "IN-TWO-ITIVE"
55.64% of 2047 responders had trouble with this answer. Friday, December 17, 2021, 5:30-8:10 pm
Mountain View: Left apt at 5:30 pm; Red Bus @ 5:48 pm;
Walk to Chef Chu's bins for "Daily Post" & "Palo Alto Weekly";
Sprouts: 2 Solgar Magnesium Citrate (120 tabs) $28.90 (6:34 pm);
Shop at Safeway (645 San Antonio Rd) 6:45-7:31 pm;
7:57 pm Bus #40 to Central Xpwy Stop & walked home;

3 Quaker Instant Oatmeal @ $1.67 = $5.00;
32 oz Coffee Mate Peppermint Creamer @ $2.85;
Raspberry Pudding Cake $5.00 @ 50% off = $2.50.

Saturday, December 18, 2021, 9:17-9:35 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 3:50 am; Woke up 1:05 pm
(9 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 9:35 am—
KEISR = SKIER; HOYAO = YAHOO;
SOLONE = LOOSEN; PRETIM = PERMIT;

Cartoon Answer— He thought he could
pick up the heavy box by himself but was
SKER YAO LSN EMIT = SORELY MISTAKEN
40.88% of 1245 responders had trouble with this answer. Saturday, December 18, 2021, 4:00-6:00 pm
Mountain View: Left apt at 4:00 pm; Half-hour walk
to Valero Gas Station for "Daily Post" & "Peninsula News"
Shop at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff) 4:30-5:10 pm
Last 5:50 pm Bus #40 to Montecito Ave & walked home;

3 Ferrero Rocher @ $3.99 - $1 = $2.99 x 3 = $8.97;
4 jars Planter's Peanuts 16 oz ($4.99) @ $1.99 = $7.96;
AHA Sparkling Water Lime Watermelon @ $1.49 = Free;
Skippy Peanut Butter ($3.99) @ $1.99 - $1 = 99¢ for Rudy.

Saturday, December 18, 2021, 5:15-5:50 pm
Mountain View: Waiting for Bus #40 at Rengstorff Ave &
Middlefield Rd, Full Moon of December (5:35 pm PST)
appeared that Native Americans call the "Cold Moon"

December's "Cold Moon"—
not so cold to me, warming
my heart with radiance. Saturday, December 18, 2021, 7:47 pm
Mountain View: Cathy emailed @ 9:51 am from Las Vegas,
inviting me to dinner at Chef Chu's @ 6 pm on Thursday, 12/23;
Phoned Chef Chu & confirmed they're now open for indoor dining

Our annual Christmas holiday get-together
except last year due to the pandemic—
great to meet again for celebration!

Saturday, December 18, 2021, 8:15-9:00 pm
Mountain View: Videos of 1961 & 2021 "West Side Story"
songs— 1961 "I Feel Pretty"; 2021 "I Feel Pretty";
1961 "Tonight, Tonight"; 2021 "Tonight, Tonight"

1961 "Maria"; 2021 "Maria";
1961 "America"; 2021 "America".
Comparison of 1961 & 2021 "West Side Story". Saturday, December 18, 2021, 9:00-10:10 pm
Mountain View: Time Magazine (12-27-2021 to 1-3-2022)
came today— Elon Musk selected "Person of the Year";
He's richest in the world with $300 billion.

His electric-vehicle Tesla $1.02 trillion value
dwarfs other U.S. automakers; SpaceX sends
astronauts to Space Station & plans trip to Mars.

Sunday, December 19, 2021, 8:10-8:39 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 3:00 am; Woke up 12:00 pm
(9 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 8:39 am—
SIFSLO = FOSSIL; CRHOSC = SCORCH;
HDROIA = HAIRDO; SOMHOT = SMOOTH;
RNPOSE = PERSON; GLURFA = FRUGAL

Cartoon Answer— They would get
back to waxing the car after they
FIL SCH DO OH PEN FRL = POLISHED OFF LUNCH.
30.62% of 369 responders had trouble with this answer. Sunday, December 19, 2021, 3:00-3:15 pm
Mountain View: No "Daily Post" printed Sunday
or need for grocery shopping; stayed home to work;
Phoned (408)-970-2000, talked to Carol (Santa Clara Valley
Medical Center) for Pfizer COVID-19 Booster Vaccine at
Mountain View Community Center (201 S. Rengstorff Ave)

CVS Pharmacy had vaccinations in San Jose;
Palo Alto 352 University Ave site not available;
Mountain View Community Center is closer—
Appointment: Friday, December 31, 1:35 pm.

Sunday, December 19, 2021, 4:00-4:45 pm
Mountain View: 69 poems in "Selected Poems 2021";
38% to print Table of Contents on one page;
However the text is too small to read

Place the 69 poems in two columns;
Now 65% for Table of Contents
is much easier to read. Sunday, December 19, 2021, 4:50-10:13 pm
Mountain View: Print 3 copies of each poem;
Print Poems 1-34 (4:50-7:20 pm);
Print Poems 35-69 (7:25-10:13 pm)

Five and half hours to print 69 poems;
Will the half-inch spine accommodate
the 76 pages without cracking?

Monday, December 20, 2021, 7:22-7:25 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 3:00 am; Woke up 2:30 pm
(11.5 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 7:25 am—
CWLNO = CLOWN; TAAEB = ABATE;
HXAEEL = EXHALE; ZENSEE = SNEEZE

Cartoon Answer— She was learning to use Microsoft's
spreadsheet program and thought it was
CLN TE XL EE = EXCELLENT. Monday, December 20, 2021, 3:30-4:14 pm
Mountain View: Left apt at 3:30 pm; Red Bus @ 3:50 pm
to Showers Drive's Walmart news bins for today's
"Daily Post"; Bus #21 to San Antonio Road;
CVS Pharmacy (2630 W. El Camino Real)

2 Whitman Sampler Dark Chocolate @ $10.99
BOGO free ($5.45 each); 40% off and 30%
coupons not valid, since this was a sales item.

Monday, December 20, 2021, 4:20-4:58
Mountain View: Shop at Sprouts (630 San Antonio Rd)
5:20 pm Bus #40 to Central Xpwy and walked home

0.99 lb Raw Macadamia Nuts @ $15.99/lb = $15.83;
2.11 lb Raw Whole Cashews @ $4.99/lb = $10.53;
10 Terra Exotic Chips ($4.29) @ $2 = $20.00;
8 Coconut Rolls ($3.49) @ 99¢ = $7.92;
2 lbs Mandarin Oranges @ $2.00. Monday, December 20, 2021, 5:30 pm
Mountain View: Didn't shop at Safeway for 6 Free items,
since I already had 7 shopping bags, too much to carry

Mid-Pen Housing left bag of Christmas gift
by my door— Ghirardelli Mini-Chocolate Bar;
1.7 oz Be Well Hand Sanitizer; Candy Cane;
0.5 oz Pretzel Twist; 1 oz Popcorn Ball;
8.4 oz Martinelli Sparkling Cider (Gave bag to Rudy).

Monday, December 20, 2021, 8:00-8:45 pm
Mountain View: Assembled "Tour of Wisdom Portal:
Selected Poems of 2021" (77 pages) in 1/2-inch spine
(luckily spine didn't crack with this bulging booklet)

Cleaned papers off kitchen counter (28 inches)
above the sink by the telephone for a flat space,
so the 2021 poems could slide within the spine. Monday, December 20, 2021, 9:00-10:30 pm
Mountain View: Print 41 poems written in
"Morning Star: Selected Poems 2020", and
assemble them in a booklet with 1/2-inch spine

Cathy didn't come to Bay Area last year from
Las Vegas at Christmas due to the pandemic,
so I never gave her "Selected Poems 2020".

Monday, December 20, 2021, 7:36-8:00 pm
Mountain View: Rudy Perez emailed 7:36 pm on Santa's reindeers
"Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner & Blitzen. But do you recall most famous reindeer of all? Yap, That is me!"

Also sent PDF file "A Christmas Story:
The Virgin of Gaudalupe" on Juan Diego's visions
(Dec. 9-12, 1531) of Virgin to build a church on Tepeyac. Monday, December 20, 2021, 10:00-11:30 pm
41 poems in "Selected Poems 2020";
59% to print Table of Contents on one page;
However the text is too small to read

Place the 41 poems in two columns;
Now 95% for Table of Contents
is much easier to read.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 8:25-8:30 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 4:45 am; Woke up 1:15 pm
(8.5 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 8:30 am—
THALC = LATCH; WSOHE = WHOSE;
DUELSG = SLUDGE; GANROD = DRAGON

Cartoon Answer— The college offered earth
science programs that were considered to be
LC WS SLD RAO = WORLD-CLASS. Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 3:30-4:30 pm
Mountain View: Phoned Kaiser Pharmacy for refills
of Humulin @ 3:30 pm; They emailed @ 4:15 pm for
ready to pickup ($36 for 3 vials, 3 months supply); 4:30 pm
gave Jessica signatures for MidPen Housing Re-certification

Today is Winter Solstice (10:59 pm EST)—
darkest day of the year, but I'm happy because
from this day forward, each day will be brighter!

Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 4:45-6:40 pm
Mountain View: Byron's "Prisoner of Chillon" (1816) reminds
me of Richard Lovelace's "To Althea: From Prison" (1642)

Stone walls do not a prison make
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 4:45-6:40 pm
Mountain View: While sleeping last night
thought of Lovelace's poem, and wrote—

Listen to poet William Blake
that we're asleep & not awake,
our body locked up in a cage
not living the mind of a sage.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 12:00-12:30 am
Mountain View: Ann likes to write Bay Area's Full Moons
for 2022; Suggested reading Joseph Bruhac's book in the
Children Section of Los Altos Library J 811.54 BRUCHAC
"Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back" (1992); 4.7/5.0 stars

Recall Meeting Joseph Bruhac at CPITS Conference
in Santa Barbara (1995), where he taught Tai Chi on the beach & chopped a watermelon in half with his bare hand. Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 1:00-2:22 am
Mountain View: U.S. Naval Observatory Phases of the Moon 2022;
Printout @ 69% so can save 3x5" size paper to carry in my pocket;
Last Full Moon of December 18, 2021 "Cold Moon" (5:35 pm PST);
First Full Moon of January 17, 2022 "Wolf Moon" (3:48 pm PST)

Have 272 citations on "Moon" at Wisdomportal.com—
"Lunar Eclipse: August 28, 2007" (8-28-2007);
"Meditation on the Moon" (12-17-2008).

Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 8:07-8:12 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 4:25 am; Woke up 4:40 pm
(12 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 8:12 am—
AALDS = SALAD; FWALU = AWFUL;
LMFAEE = FEMALE; RUHYOL = HOURLY

Cartoon Answer— The trash collector
retired after 40 years and was voted into the
ALA FU FEM HO = "HAUL" OF FAME. Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 6:45-7:30 pm
Mountain View: Kaiser Pharmacy closes at 4:30 pm;
Woke up too late (4:40 pm) to pick up the Humulin;
Half-hour walk to Valero Gas Station for "Daily Post";
7:18 pm Bus #40 to Montecito Ave and walked home

Cathy phoned from Milpitas @ 8:20 pm
having arrived from Las Vegas today;
Will meet at Chef Chu's at 5:45 pm tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 8:20-9:30 pm
Mountain View: Thought about poet Lew Welch (1926-1971)
in bed; Wrote about his koan "The Riddle of Bowing"
in Notes to poem "Phalaenopsis" (5-11-2010)

In every culture, in every place and time, there has
always been a religion, and in every one of these
religions there has always been the gesture of bowing
so fully that the forehead strikes the ground. Why is this? Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 8:20-9:30 pm
Mountain View: "Hers" ("Woman Warrior" author on Lew Welch)
(By Maxine Hong Kingston, NY Times, August 3, 1978, C2);
Lew Welch wrote two poems he called first American koans,
"The Riddle of Hands" and "The Riddle of Bowing"

Welch had driven William Carlos Williams
from the airport to Reed College. He said
Williams giving the power of poetry to him.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 8:20-9:30 pm
Mountain View: "Ring of Bones" (2012) by Lew Welch
Google Books (pp. 75-284 not shown in preview);
"Wobbly Rock" (pp. 68-73) for Gary Snyder;
page 72— "Far up the sky / a hawk"; page 73—

Wind water
Wave rock
Sea sand Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 8:20-9:30 pm
Mountain View: "Biography of Charles Upton" (born 1948);
Met Charles at Ibn Arabi Symposium, UC Berkeley (10-1-1989)
where I presented "Reality & the Straight Path of Rectitude"
paper; During lunch break, we chatted on our mentors—

Charles Upton had studied with Lew Welch
and knows the answers to his two koans;
Told him not to tell me until I solve them.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 8:20-9:30 pm
Mountain View: Lew Welch committed suicide,
after leaving a note on May 23, 1971.
His body was never found.

Gary Snyder searched for
his friend Lew Welch
all over the hills—
nowhere to be found. Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 8:20-9:30 pm
Mountain View: Lew Welch committed suicide,
after leaving a note on May 23, 1971.
His body was never found.

Lew Welch killed himself,
devoured by vultures,
Soul soars to the skies—
but where is his gun?

Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 9:30-11:20 pm
Mountain View: "If you spend as much time on the Mountain as you should, She will always give you a Sentient Being to ride: animal, plant, insect, reptile, or any of the Numberless Forms. What do
you ride?" — Lew Welch, Ring of Bone (1973), p. 142; 2012 Poem

Riding the Earth
spinning around the Sun
across the Milky Way. Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 9:30-11:20 pm
Mountain View: Lew Welch composed two American koans
"The Riddle of Hands" and "The Riddle of Bowing";
He solved the "Bowing Riddle" in 3.5 years after the
question occurred to him; Only one correct answer.

Meditated on these koans for years,
wrote a poem with several answers,
but can't find them now.

Thursday, December 23, 2021, 9:10-9:14 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 2:05 am; Woke up 9:00 am
(7 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 9:14 am—
WABRL = BRAWL; LAVEV = VALVE;
ILANFE = FINALE; OMQUUR = QUORUM

Cartoon Answer— She asked if she could borrow
her sister's favorite sweater, but the response wasn't
BA VE FAL OR = FAVORABLE. Thursday, December 23, 2021, 11:25-11:51 am
Mountain View: Rudy came and drove me to
Kaiser Pharmacy (555 Castro St) to pick up
3 vials of Humulin (@ $12.00 x 3 = $36.00)
Drove to Valero Gas Station for "Daily Post"

Was planning to take Bus #40 to California St.
transfer to Bus #21 to Bryant St. & walk to
Kaiser Pharmacy, but Rudy offered ride there.

Thursday, December 23, 2021, 12:30-1:06 pm
Mountain View: Rudy drove to Middlefield Rd;
Shopping at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff Ave)
4 Lucerne Sliced Cheese @ $1.99 = $7.96 for Rudy;
Sig Sel Java Chip Ice Cream @ $2.82 - $ 1 = $1.82 for Rudy

2 Sig Sel Sparkling Water 33.8 oz @ $1.00 = $2.00;
3 Stouffer's Meatballs, Tuna, Spinach @ $3.03 = $9.09;
Northern Chef Honey Walnut Shrimp ($7.99) @ $4.99. Thursday, December 23, 2021, 11:25-11:51 am
Mountain View: Rudy paid $33.55 for specials—
4 jars Planter's Peanuts ($4.99) @ $1.99 = $7.96;
Quaker Instant Oatmeal (Raisin-Date-Walnuts) @ $1.67
Solgar Magnesium Citrate (120 tabs) $12.99 + $1.46 tax = $14.45

3 Coconut Rolls ($3.49) @ 99¢ = $2.97;
2 Terra Exotic Chips ($4.29) @ 2.00 = $4.00;
Raspberry Pudding Cake ($5.00) 50% off = $2.50.

Thursday, December 23, 2021, 6:00-8:00 pm
Met Cathy, Larry, his brother David & his two sons
at Chef Chu's (1067 N. San Antonio Rd, Los Altos) for dinner

Gifts for Cathy: "Poems 2020" & "Poems 2021";
2 Terra Exotic Chips; 3 Coconut Rolls; Ferrero Collection;
Whitman's Sampler (Dark Chocolate); 2 Planter's Peanuts. Thursday, December 23, 2021, 8:00-8:30 pm
Mountain View: Mercury News carrier Antonio Rivera
included Christmas Card with newspaper; Gave him gifts—

Whitman's Sampler; Planter's Peanuts;
2 Water Crackers (Sesame & Wheat);
2 Coconut Pillows (Lemon & Mixed Berry).

Friday, December 24, 2021, 8:16-9:16 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 3:30 am; Woke up 2:05 pm
(10.5 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 9:16 am—
SREHF = FRESH; RNSLA = SNARL;
PUYGMS = GYPSUM; NCLEUT = LUCENT

Cartoon Answer— The cosmetic
surgeon offers nearly invisible stitches to
FRE SNA YU UCT = "SUTURE" FANCY
57% of 2163 responders had trouble with this answer. Friday, December 24, 2021, 3:50-5:35 pm
Mountain View: Left apt at 3:50 pm; Bus #40 @ 4:20 pm
to Los Altos Library (closed) to return overdue book Robert Bly's
"Stealing Sugar from the Castle" (outdoors slot); 4:50 pm Bus #40
to Chef Chu's news bins for "Daily Post" & "Palo Alto Weekly"

Shop at Sprouts (630 San Antonio Rd) (5:00-5:18 pm):
5 Chocolate Coconut Rolls ($3.49) @ 99¢ = $4.95;
2 lbs Mandarins $2.50; 9.8 oz Jumble Blueberries $1.98;
5:25 pm Bus #40 to Central Xpwy Stop and walked home.

Friday, December 24, 2021, 8:00-9:30 pm
Mountain View: "AN APPRAISAL: Joan Didion Chronicled
American Disorder With Her Own Unmistakable Style"
(By Parul Sehgal, NY Times, 12-23-2021)

For half a century, Didion, who died on Thursday at 87,
was the grand diagnostician of American disorder
in essays of strong, unmistakable cadence,
churning with floods and fire. Friday, December 24, 2021, 8:00-9:30 pm
Mountain View: "Northern California native
Joan Didion, peerless prose stylist, dies at 87"
(By Colleen Long, AP, Mercury News, 12-24-2021, A5)

Along with Tom Wolfe, Nora Ephron and Gay Talese,
Didion reigned in the pantheon of "New Journalists"
who emerged in the 1960s and wedded literary style
to nonfiction reporting.

Friday, December 24, 2021, 10:10 pm
Mountain View: Enjoy receiving Bob Thurman's 11:08 am email
with year-end greetings— "Happy Holidays & A Miraculous
Water Tiger 2022! Love and Blessings from Nena and Bob!"

Earlier holiday photos had Bob & Nena
under Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree;
This year: Photo of Dalai Lama in Prayer behind them. Friday, December 24, 2021, 10:10 pm
Mountain View: USPS sends email daily of incoming mail;
Christmas card from Theresa of Seattle (December 23);
Christmas card from Deborah of Las Vegas (December 24)

Can't retrieve these snail-mail cards
as I've lost my keys to open mailbox;
MidPen Housing office not open until Jan. 4.

Saturday, December 25, 2021, 6:08-6:16 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 3:00 am; Woke up 1:10 pm
(10 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 6:16 am—
SKAAEW = AWAKE; NNNAY = NANNY;
TLCUSP = SCULPT; HELSIG = SLEIGH

Cartoon Answer— When they dressed the cat
in a St. Nick costume for Christmas, he had
AWA NA SCT SL = SANTA "CLAWS". Saturday, December 25, 2021, 3:20-5:35 pm
Mountain View: No "Daily Post" printed today,
no need for grocery shopping, stayed home to work;
Rudy's 11:46 am email— liked poem (12-25-2014) sent to him
"If I Were Santa Claus", he shared with his sisters & friend Wayne

Santa exists as surely as love and kindness exist,
for the most real things are those we cannot see—
Santa's gift of gladness is real and abiding.

Saturday, December 25, 2021, 3:20-5:35 pm
Mountain View: Cathy sent two emails (8:15 am)
thanking me for my poems & snacks shared with
her brother-in-law David who treated us at Chef Chu's;
Cathy's email (8:22 am) shared her sister Carol quoting

Pir Elias Amidon: "Between the dark sky and
the dark earth we hang a light in a dark tree
and sing of our wonder together". Saturday, December 25, 2021, 3:20-5:35 pm
Mountain View: Bruce Tinsley's "Mallard Fillmore" comics
(12-25-2021) in "Mercury News" (B9) "A blessed Christmas to you"
quotes John 1:5— "The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness has not overcome it." (New International Version)

"And the light shineth in darkness;
and the darkness comprehended it not."
— John 1:5 (King James Version).

Saturday, December 25, 2021, 3:20-5:35 pm
Mountain View: One of my favorite poets on nature
is Wendell Berry (born 8-5-1934)— Quotes on Peace;
Quotes on Gratitude; Poem: "To Know the Dark"—

To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings. Saturday, December 25, 2021, 3:20-5:35 pm
Mountain View: Cathy's email sharing her sister
Carol's quote about "darkness" inspired me to find
Wendell Berry's poem "the dark, too, blooms and sings";
"darkest day of the year" four days ago (Winter Solstice)

Before the cosmos "Let there be light",
there was darkness, the Unmanifest—
our Father we return to each night in deep sleep.

Saturday, December 25, 2021, 5:35-6:30 pm
Mountain View: Searching for "darkness" on my web site
WisdomPortal, came across Fra Giovanni Giocondo's
"Letter to a Friend" (1513) in Poetry on Gratitude—

There is radiance and glory
in the darkness, could we but see,
and to see we have only to look.
I beseech you to look! Saturday, December 25, 2021, 5:35-6:30 pm
Mountain View: Found poem inspired by Patrick McDonnell's
comics "Mutts" (12-25-2012) to share with friends,
"Every Day Is Christmas"—

when there is always peace within you,
when each moment is a miracle,
when you treat all days as Holy Day,
when the Great Spirit flows through you.

Saturday, December 25, 2021, 7:00-8:30 pm
Mountain View: For Lew Welch's "Riddle of the Hands",
found postage stamps of praying— Saar B106: Dürer: "Praying Hands" (12-10-1955); New Zealand 358: Madonna in Prayer
(10-15-1962); Paraguay 1884b: Virgin Praying (4-28-1979)

Canada 451: Dürer's "Praying Hands" (10-12-1966);
Australia 306 & Australia 307: "Child Praying"
after Joshua Reynolds (1776) (11-6-1957);
Vatican City 238: St. Bernadette Praying (2-21-1958) Saturday, December 25, 2021, 7:00-8:30 pm
Mountain View: For Lew Welch's "Riddle of Bowing",
found some images of kneeling & prostration in prayer—
No postage stamp showing Muslim prostrate in prayer;
U.S. 645: "Washington Praying at Valley Forge" (1778);

Prostration with head striking ground (left);
Prostration with head striking ground (right);
Flat Prostration with head striking ground (left);
Flat Prostration with head striking ground (right).

Sunday, December 26, 2021, 7:50-7:57 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 2:30 am; Woke up 10:50 am
(8 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 7:57 am—
DEELGP = PLEDGE; COSILA = SOCIAL;
RSEYDS = DRESSY; APBOHI = PHOBIA;
RNEHWC = WRENCH; CAEIEP = APIECE

Cartoon Answer— When he made the
wisecrack about his wife's skiing ability, he was
PL OAL SSY POI REN PE = ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE. Sunday, December 26, 2021, Before 7:45 am
Mountain View: Mercury News carrier Antonio Rivera
threw Saturday's newspaper next to gift bag by my door,
not knowing it was for him; Since Sunday's paper is bulkier,
he'll deliver it closer to my door and see the sign on my door;
See Haiku (Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, 8:00-8:30 pm) for contents

Wrote on 8.5x11" paper with red magic marker
taped on my door "To Antonio Rivera:
Gift Bag for You"— He picked it up!

Sunday, December 26, 2021, 3:00-4:40 pm
Mountain View: For poem "Blessings for the New Year"
found image of Richard Lovelace, Chillon Castle, & postage stamps for illustration— Greece 316 Byron; Romania 1220 William Blake; Poland B73 Leonardo da Vinci; U.S. 1285 Albert Einstein;
U.S. 1998 Virginia: Cardinal & Dogwood

Since "Snow White" was the last poem in 2021,
need to relegate this poem as the first in 2022,
along with "Riddle of Bowing" & "Riddle of the Hands". Sunday, December 26, 2021, 6:00-7:00 pm
Mountain View: Bookmarked this article in
"Interesting News"— "4 Bay Area hikes for the New Year—
with pre-hike bagel options" (Berkeley Rose Garden and
Staircase Hike, Berkeley Hills & Grab a bite at Boichik Bagels)
(By Melissa Ozbek, Mercury News, 12-26-2021, F7-F8)

Flag Hill-Indian Joe Creek Loop, Sunol;
Mayfair Ranch-Longwall Canyon Loop, Morgan Hill;
Los Trancos Loop, Los Altos Hills (Izzy Brooklyn Bagels).

Sunday, December 26, 2021, 6:00-7:00 pm
Mountain View: Bookmarked this article in
"Interesting News"— "World's 50 best winter
road trips include two California treasures"
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 12-26-2021, F8)

1. Icefields Parkway, Canada; 2. Parke County, Indiana Covered Bridge Tour, USA; 3. Great Smoky National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee; 4. Bow Valley Parkway, Canada; 5. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia; 6. Yosemite National Park, California; 7. Taos Scenic Byway, New Mexico; 8. The Grand Loop Road, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming; 9. Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada; 10. Highway 240, South Dakota;
11. Route 100, Vermont; 12. Arches National Park, Utah
(Big 7 Travel & EnjoyTravel: All 50 Road Trips) Sunday, December 26, 2021, 6:00-7:00 pm
Mountain View: Ann's 12/26 email @ 5:24 pm
cites Jorge Luis Borges' poem "In Praise of Darkness" (1974)—

Old age (the name that others give it)
can be the time of our greatest bliss.
The animal has died or almost died.
The man and his spirit remain.
I live among vague, luminous shapes
that are not darkness yet...
My friends have no faces,
women are what they were so many years ago,
these corners could be other corners,
there are no letters on the pages of books.
All this should frighten me,
but it is a sweetness, a return.

Sunday, December 26, 2021, 9:40-9:50 pm
Mountain View: Curious to see what Emily Dickinson
wrote about "darkness"; Consulted Thomas H. Johnson's
"Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson", Subject Index, p. 725
Poem 419 "Darkness" (1862), page 200—

We grow accustomed to the Dark—
When light is put away—
As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp
To witness her Goodbye— Sunday, December 26, 2021, 10:00-10:25 pm
Mountain View: Helen Keller was blind all her life;
16 quotes on "darkness" at AZ Quotes— "Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever
state I may be in, therein to be content." Brainy Quote—

Once I knew only darkness and stillness... my life was
without past or future... but a little word from the fingers
of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness,
and my heart leaped to the rapture of living.

Monday, December 27, 2021, 7:50-7:55 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 3:35 am; Woke up 11:30 am
(8 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 7:55 am—
ROOFG = FORGO; PITNU = INPUT;
OTMDEH = METHOD; NWENIR = WINNER

Cartoon Answer— Animated shows will
continue to be produced as long as viewers
O I TO NN = "TOON" IN. Monday, December 27, 2021, 1:52-3:00 pm
Mountain View: Left apt at 1:52 pm; Half-hour walk
to Valero Gas Station (No "Daily Post" printed, 12/22 "Metro");
Shopping at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff) 2:20-2:40 pm
2:46 pm Bus #40 to Montecito Ave & walked home;

64 oz Sig Sel Apple Juice ($2.99) @ $1.38 - $1 = 38¢;
2 Ferrero Rocher @ $3.99 - $1 = $2.99 x 2 = $5.98;
Sig Sel Hot Cocoa Mix 10 oz ($1.99) = Free for Rudy.

Monday, December 27, 2021, 12:20-12:23 pm
KDFC: 104.9 FM: Playing 2021 Classical Ultimate 250 Playlist (Dec. 27 to New Year's Eve); Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello;
Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano; Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, piano play Camille Saint-Saëns's Carnival of the Animals: The Swan (1886);
(CD); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3)

"The Swan" by Camille Saint-Saëns
polled at 215 of 250 in Ultimate Playlist—
soothing to hear it played by 22-year-old British cellist. Monday, December 27, 2021, 12:28-12:33 pm
KDFC: 104.9 FM: Playing 2021 Classical Ultimate 250 Playlist (Dec. 27 to New Year's Eve); Riccardo Muti conducts
Philharmonia Orchestra to Pietro Mascagni's
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo (1890);
(CD); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana
polled at 213 of 250 in Ultimate Playlist—
it's one of my favorite classical music.

Monday, December 27, 2021, 3:15 pm
Mountain View: When bringing two copies of "Metro"
to rack by the Mailboxes for neighbors, found my house
& mailbox keys at bottom of the Sprouts bag— HURRAH!

Lost my keys since Thursday, December 23—
Went out for five days without locking my door;
luckily, none came to loot my apt when I was gone. Monday, December 27, 2021, 3:15 pm
Mountain View: Have not opened my mailbox since 12/23
as I lost my keys; AT&T 12/17 phone bill $23.59 (auto-payment);
Wells Fargo December 15 monthly statement of accounts

Christmas greeting cards from Theresa
of Seattle (former ballroom dance partner),
& Deborah of UNLV (architecture professor).

Monday, December 27, 2021, 4:30-5:16 pm
Mountain View: "Desmond Tutu, Whose Voice Helped Slay Apartheid, Dies at 90" (By Marilyn Berger, NY Times, 12-26-2021)

The archbishop, a powerful force for nonviolence in
South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, was awarded
Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. Cause of death was cancer.
First diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997, and was hospitalized several times in the years since. Monday, December 27, 2021, 4:30-5:16 pm
Mountain View: "Desmond Tutu, South Africa's moral conscience, dies at 90" (By Andrew Meldrum, Mercury News, 12-27-2021, A4)

South Africa's 1984 Nobel Peace Prize-winning icon,
an uncompromising foe of apartheid and a modern-day
activist for racial justice and LGBT rights, died Sunday
at 90. Enjoyed Video shown on Oct. 16— "Mission Joy"
of Archbishop Tutu's friendship with the Dalai Lama.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 7:07-7:21 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 12:45 am; Woke up 10:50 am
(10 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 7:21 am—
RUSEH = USHER; OPRDO = DROOP;
NAREBT = BANTER; XTCEEI = EXCITE

Cartoon Answer— They wanted to put
George Foreman's name on a grill, so they thought
USH DOO BTE XITE = OUTSIDE THE BOX
56.51% of 1467 responders had trouble with this answer. Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 6:40-9:10 pm
Mountain View: Jon Watts directs "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
with Tom Holland; Zendaya; Benedict Cumberbatch; Jacob Batalon;
Jon Favreau; Jamie Foxx; Willem Dafoe; Alfred Molina;
Benedict Wong; Tony Revolori; Marisa Tomei; Andrew Garfield;
Tobey Maguire; (Film Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3)

Spider-Man: No Way Home has ratings
93% (Critics) and 98% (audience),
with $1 billion box office already.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 1:00-1:49 pm
Mountain View: Bookmarked 6 articles on "Poetry News";
"Amanda Gorman on Poetry, Beauty and Sudden Fame"
(By Time Video, Time Magazine, 12-28-2021)

Amanda Gorman's eloquent poetry at President Joe Biden's
inauguration soothed millions of Americans still reeling
just two weeks after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
Shortly after, she spoke to former First Lady Michelle Obama about art, activism and more. Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 1:55-2:05 pm
Mountain View: Bookmarked article on "Interesting News";
"Sardi's Is Back After 648 Days, Its Fortunes Tied to Broadway"
(By Michael Paulson, NY Times, 12-25-2021

Sardi's, which has been operating on West 44th Street since 1927, employed nearly 130 people during peak seasons before the pandemic arrived; It's restarting with 58;
Sardi's has about 1,200 caricatures of famous people
who have eaten in the restaurant.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 3:13-3:25 pm
KDFC: 104.9 FM: Playing 2021 Classical Ultimate 250 Playlist (Dec. 27 to New Year's Eve); Margaret Batjer conducts
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in Johann Sebastian Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #3 in G, BWV 1048 (1721);
(CD); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3)

This concerto is the shortest
of the six, ten minutes long—
polled at 144 of 250 in Ultimate Playlist. Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 3:31-3:40 pm
KDFC: 104.9 FM: Playing 2021 Classical Ultimate 250 Playlist (Dec. 27 to New Year's Eve); Piotr Anderszewski piano and conductor to Sinfonia Varsovia to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's
Piano Concerto #21 in C, K 467 (1785);
(CD); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4)

The 1967 movie Elvira Madigan made
this Mozart Concerto extremely popular—
polled at 120 of 250 in Ultimate Playlist.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 6:40 pm
Mountain View: Karen picks me up at my apt at 6:40 pm,
drives to ICON Theater (2575 California Street, Suite 601);
She bought $7.50 tickets in advance, Auditorium #3, Seat D-1

Al Guzman & Rudy Perez came here
on Dec. 14 to see West Side Story,
but are too busy to join us today. Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 6:40-9:10 pm
Mountain View: Karen picks me up at my apt at 6:40 pm
to ICON Theater in time for film 7 pm without Previews;
Gave me a tub of her homemade vegetable minestrone soup

New Year Gifts for Karen: Ferrero Rocher chocolates,
Chocolate Coconut Rolls, 1 lb Raw Macadamia Nuts
that she likes; Received many gifts from her in the past.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 10:00-11:10 pm
Mountain View: Have seen all "Spider-Man"
movies (2017-2021) starring Tom Holland

Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 16, 2017);
Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 2019);
Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 28, 2021). Tuesday, December 28, 2021, 10:00-11:10 pm
Mountain View: Have not seen "Spider-Man" films (2002-2007)
starring Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield (2012, 2014)

Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker 1) and
Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker 2) appear
in latest film with Tom Holland (Peter Parker 3).

Wednesday, December 29, 2021, 8:04-8:08 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 12:45 am; Woke up 11:25 am
(11 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 8:08 am—
RNUEOC = OUNCE; LIHWE = WHILE;
ALSDIN = ISLAND; RNLAMO = NORMAL

Cartoon Answer— When their son began to
learn addition, his proud parents thought it was
UE W S MA = "AWE-SUM"
19.05% of 966 responders had trouble with this answer. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, 2:30-3:40 pm
Mountain View: Left apt at 2:30 pm; Bus #40 @ 2:45 pm
to Middlefield Rd Valero Gas Station for "Daily Post";
Shopping at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff Ave) 3:00-3:21 pm;
Bus #40 @ 3:25 pm to Montecito Ave an walked home

Sig Select Cinnamon Apple Sauce (6 ct) @ $1.88 - $1 = 88¢;
3 lb Mustard Potato Salad @ $7.99 - 50% off = $3.99;
8 oz Sig Farms Fresh Spinach for Salad @ $1.67:
64 oz Sig Sel Apple Juice ($2.99) @ $1.38.

Wednesday, December 29, 2021, 5:30-6:30 pm
Mountain View: "John Madden, Hall of Fame
coach and broadcaster, dies at 85"
(By Daniel Brown, Mercury News, 12-29-2021, A1, A5)

Known for his comic-book lexicon— Boom! Whap! Doink!— Madden parlayed his success as Raiders coach into a distinguished broadcasting career & became face of the biggest-selling sports video game "Madden NFL Football" of all time; Won 1977 Super Bowl XI & 16 TV Emmys. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, 5:30-6:30 pm
Mountain View: "OP-ED: The genesis
of New Year's Eve countdowns might surprise you"
(By Alexis McCrossen, Mercury News, 12-29-2021, A6)

It was not until seconds before the arrival of 1979 that a Times Square crowd counted down to the new year; Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, which debuted in the 1970s
to welcome, featured confected countdowns staged on its
dance party set; In 1957, Ben Grauer countdown on radio.

Wednesday, December 29, 2021, 6:30-8:30 pm
Mountain View: "See the beautiful, ecologically
priceless trees Italy is protecting forever"
(By Jonathan Moens, National Geographic, Sept. 8, 2021)

Dotted across Italy, 22,000 ancient trees have gained federal
protection, making them cornerstones of cultural history.
750-year-old Pontone beech tree with 7 barks fused together.
600-year-old Loricate Pines of Pollino. 1,000 years old
Plane Tree of Curinga has 60 feet trunk circumference.
2,500-year-old Olive Tree of Villastrada. 800-year-old
Cypress Tree of St. Francis of Assisi. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, 6:30-8:30 pm
Mountain View: "A person or a thing?
Inside the fight for animal personhood"
(By Rachel Fobar, National Geographic, August 4, 2021)

Happy, a 50-year-old Asian elephant at the Bronx Zoo, is at
a legal battle over animal rights. Happy drinks 60 gallons of
water a day, enjoys digging in the sand, gets pedicures from
zoo staff. But is Happy happy? Steven Wise of NhRP, wants
Happy to be moved to an elephant sanctuary where she'll be
with others of her kind in a larger, more natural setting than
her present acre-size enclosure where she lives alone.

Thursday, December 30, 2021, 8:35-8:40 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 12:05 am; Woke up 10:25 am
(10 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 8:40 am—
NNOU = UNION; GSYOG = SOGGY;
LOWHOL = HOLLOW; NCRAYA = CANARY

Cartoon Answer— They passed out
water at the marathon so the runners could
UO GG HL CNA = CHUG ALONG
46.64% of 1385 responders had trouble with this answer. Thursday, December 30, 2021, 1:05-2:45 pm
Mountain View: Left apt at 1:05 pm; Bus #40 @ 1:15 pm to
Middlefield Rd Valero Gas Station for "Daily Post" & "Metro";
Shopping at Safeway (580 N. Rengstorff Ave) 1:25-1:50 pm;
Bus #40 @ 2:27 pm to Montecito Ave an walked home

La Terra Fina Quiche Lorraine ($10.99) - 50% off = $5.49;
2 International Delight Creamers ($3.99) @ $1.99 = $3.98;
64 oz Silk Vanilla Oat Milk ($4.99) @ $2.49;
15 oz Lucerne Spread Butter ($4.49) @ $2.99.

Thursday, December 30, 2021, 11:18-11:26 am
KDFC: 104.9 FM: Playing 2021 Classical Ultimate 250 Playlist (Dec. 27 to New Year's Eve); Frederica von Stade mezzo-soprano, with Seiji Ozawa conducting Boston Symphony Orchestra in Antonin Dvorak's Rusalka: Song to the Moon (1901);
(CD); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3); Polled at 71 of 250

Rusalka is a water nymph who sings
"Song to the Moon" to become human
to marry the Prince she sees at the lake & loves. Thursday, December 30, 2021, 12:52-1:02 pm
KDFC: 104.9 FM: Playing 2021 Classical Ultimate 250 Playlist (Dec. 27 to New Year's Eve); John Mauceri conducts
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra to Bernard Herrmann's
Vertigo: Prelude and Scene d'Amour (1958);
(CD); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4); Polled at 63 of 250

Hermann's Vertigo's melodies, echoing the "Liebestod"
from Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde discussed
by Professor Dupuy in "Vertigo Symposium" (2008).

Thursday, December 30, 2021, 3:15 pm
Mountain View: Medicare Card from CMS (Baltimore MD) arrived;
Also Christmas Photo Card from Richard Hanauer (classmate
from Columbia Engineering 1959-1963) last heard on 7-21-2020

Missed their card last year;
Arlene Hanauer's 2021 Newsletter
updates their activities that they are well. Thursday, December 30, 2021, 4:30-5:30 pm
Mountain View: "How Nicole Kidman
Learned to Love Playing Lucille Ball"
(By Dave Itzkoff, NY Times, 12-26-2021)

A career of dramas like "The Hours" & "Big Little Lies" was not enough to help Kidman portray the "I Love Lucy" star in "Being the Ricardos". As she put it, "Funny's hard".

Thursday, December 30, 2021, 8:15 pm
Mountain View: Sent "Silent Night Angel" cards to Theresa
(Seattle) & Richard (Furlong, PA), "Ram Rejoice!" card to
Deborah (Las Vegas) after receiving their greeting cards

Included two poems with the cards—
"Gust of Wind: D.T. Suzuki" (6-9-2021)
& "Blessings for the New Year" (1-1-2022). Thursday, December 30, 2021, 1:05-2:45 pm
Mountain View: Read in Mercury News that free COVID-19 tests
available at Palo Alto's Mitchell Park Library (no appointment)
and Cubberley Community Center (4120 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto)

Mitchell Park Library tests on Tuesday 9 am-2:30 pm; Cubberley Community Center not available in Palo Alto,
but go to Gilroy & Sunnyvale for free COVID-19 tasts.

Thursday, December 30, 2021, 10:00-11:00 pm
Mountain View: "OP-ED: Progressives have sacrificed liberalism"
(By Paul Marshall, Unherd.com, UK, 12-30-2021)

Is liberalism in retreat? Problem is not that liberalism has passed its sell-by date; rather, it has lost its moorings. Liberalism of 1689 was grounded, in the Protestant faith, born of the fight to produce an English translation of the Bible and to defend freedom of conscience. Enlightenment thinkers also developed their own theories of knowledge. One built on empiricism of Hume & Adam Smith, other built on Rationalism of Descartes & Rousseau. The former, with its inherent modesty, is compatible with Christian understanding of human fallibility, the latter is not.. Thursday, December 30, 2021, 11:00-11:30 pm
Mountain View: "Times Square's 2022 New Year's Eve Ball design revealed by crystal maker" (Cortney Moore, Yahoo News, 12-27-21)

Waterford, crystalware company behind New Year's Eve ball, announced it will be replacing 192 of prized sphere's 2,688 crystal triangles. Its upcoming Gift of Wisdom design has cobalt blue crystals that symbolizes "enlightenment and ingenuity" & evoke "reflection & clarity". Times Square New Year's Eve ball measures 12 ft in diameter & weighs 11,875 pounds. Each crystal triangle varies in size & ranges between 4.75" to 5.75" in length per side. Total of 32,256 LED lights add to crystal ball's sparkle, it displays more than 16 million colors in addition to billions of one-of-a-kind patterns.

Friday, December 31, 2021, 9:11-9:38 am
Mountain View: Went to bed 12:35 am; Woke up 10:55 am
(10 hours sleep); Solved Jumble Puzzle @ 9:38 am—
BLYOB = LOBBY; LUBBR = BLURB;
RPCEPO = COPPER; KBEYAR = BAKERY

Cartoon Answer— The enthusiastic New Year's
Eve party guests drinking champagne were
LOB LUB PPE BEY = BUBBLY PEOPLE
21.33% of 872 responders had trouble with this answer. Friday, December 31, 2021, 1:05-2:00 pm
Mountain View: Left apt at 1:05 pm; Red Bus @ 1:15 pm to
Stanford Ave, Mountain View Community Center @ 1:25 pm;
1:35 pm appointment for Booster COVID-19 vaccination;
Red Bus #40 @ 2:00 pm to Showers Dr; Bus 21 to San Antonio Rd

They took photo of my California Photo ID and
COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card showing my
Pfizer vaccines on 3/1 & 3/22 at Kaiser Santa Clara;
Nurse Sarah gave me Booster shot of Pfizer vaccine.

Friday, December 31, 2021, 2:00-2:54 pm
Mountain View: Red Bus #40 @ 2:00 pm to Showers Dr;
Bus 21 to San Antonio Rd; Chef Chu's news bins for
"Palo Alto Weekly"; Dittmer news bins for "Daily Post";
Shopping at Sprouts (630 San Antonio Rd) 2:30-2:54 pm

3 bags Cinnamon Crisps ($5.49) @ 99¢ = $2.97;
2.37 lbs Hothouse Tomatoes @ $1.48/lb = $3.51;
1.58 lb Walnut Pieces @ $3.99/lb = $6.30;
1.01 lb Brazil Nots @ $8.99/lb = $9.08. Friday, December 31, 2021, 3:00-4:15 pm
Mountain View: Shopping at Safeway
(645 San Antonio Road) 3:00-3:36 pm;
Friday Specials: 5 Pringles Potato Chips for $5.00 all sold out;
4:05 pm Bus #40 to Central Xpwy Stop and walked home

Bought 3 cans that were left on shelf—
Pringles Sea Salt & Vinegar @ $1.00;
2 Pringles Pizza @ $1.00 = $2.00;
Stacey wrote a raincheck to buy 10 @ $1.00.

Friday, December 31, 2021, 11:45-11:57 am
KDFC: 104.9 FM: Playing 2021 Classical Ultimate 250 Playlist (Dec. 27 to New Year's Eve); John Williams conducting Vienna Philharmonic in John Williams's Star Wars: Main Theme & Imperial March (1977); (CD); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3); 25 of 250

John Williams' music to "Star Wars"
made the movie more memorable, as it became
the best-selling symphonic album of all time. Friday, December 31, 2021, 7:05-7:37 pm
KDFC: 104.9 FM: Playing 2021 Classical Ultimate 250 Playlist (Dec. 27 to New Year's Eve); Osmo Vänskä conducts
Minnesota Orchestra to Beethoven's Symphony #5 in c Op 67
(1808); (CD); (YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4); Polled at 7 of 250

Beethoven's "dun-dun-dun-DUN!"—
most famous four notes in all of music
is telling us to wake up! wake up! wake up!

Friday, December 31, 2021, 9:00-9:40 pm
Mountain View: Luke 12:7— "But even
the very hairs of your head are all numbered."
God Knows Every Hair on Your Head

Blondes have about 150,000 hairs;
Redheads have around 90,000 hairs;
Black or brown haired people have about 110,000 hairs. Friday, December 31, 2021, 9:00-9:40 pm
Mountain View: "God Knows Every Hair on Your Head"
Average human head has 100,000 hairs. 7,660,000,000 people
on earth; 7.66 quadrillion hairs that God knows quite well.

8.7 million species of animals on earth;
200 billion stars in the Milky Way;
100 trillion galaxies in the universe.

Friday, December 31, 2021, 9:40-10:30 pm
Mountain View: 86 billion neurons in the human brain;
between 50 billion and 430 billion birds on Earth

3.04 trillion trees on earth;
10 quintillion (10¹⁸) insects on earth;
3,500,000,000,000 fish in the ocean. Friday, December 31, 2021, 9:40-10:30 pm
Mountain View: 3x10¹⁸ blades of grass in the world;
7.5x10¹⁸ grains of sand on beaches of the Earth

Carl Sagan said there are more stars in
the universe than grains of sand on earth—
10 sextillion 10x10²¹ stars in the universe.