Sunday.   Robert and I walked about 4 miles along the San Francisco Bay Trail (near the dog park here in El Cerrito.)  The trail signs gave a little history about the many tribes who lived in this coastal region 2500 years ago!  A lovely thought.  The signs told us not to disturb the birds, as they needed to nest and rest.  Sudden flurries made them use up precious fat reserves.  There was a salty, moist, reedy smell in the air as we looked out over the silvery bay.

In the evening, we had a little family party to celebrate Fumiko's 38th birthday!  Robert gave her durian-flavored wafers (we almost gave her the real durian fruit--one of the most foul-smelling foods on earth, I guess.  We saw all about it on the Travel channel!  Auggie really liked the wafers!  He likes blue cheese, too.  Rather wild for a 2 year old.

Went for a 3.5 miles walk with Robert this morning.  Returned my book on tape and got another one (to use during walking--another mystery.)

I want to get a lot of writing done today, so I can play tomorrow!  My friend, Denis, is having a little celebration upon getting his Ph.D. (his thesis was on road-side memorials.  He's an English dancing fiend, and one of the smartest people I've every met--knows a lot about esoteric subjects.).  I've mentioned him before in this blog.

Went into San Francisco yesterday with Robert to see the new Westfield mall in downtown--and meet Karla for coffee.  Nice place--the "grocery store" is exquisitely stocked--every green bean looks hand placed.  Pricey.  They preserved the old classical dome from the old Emporium store that was there.  I still remember shopping in that store in the sixties or seventies.  I could still tell you where the white gloves and hats were stocked.  I know were the men's department was, and the information booth at the front on Market street.  It's been closed for how many years?  Ten?  more? 

I'm trying to keep up with the times. 

Last night online I placed an order for my first digital camera (my friend Zenobia loves her Panasonic Lumix, so I got the same one.  I'm planning to ask her to show me how to work it!)  I guess I'm joining the rest of the world.

 Just finished Love's Executioner by Dr. Irvin Yalom--a psychiatrist talking about the process of therapy.  It's fascinating to see how he struggles to know how to work with people, and shares his thoughts so personally. I loved the one segment where he shows how we can never really know what another person is thinking--even when we feel we know them well. Robert and I talked about it.  He said that's one of the laws in linguistics.  You can't read other people's minds.  You can never be really sure what others are hearing when you say something.  I forget what the other law was that he mentioned.

I think someone gave me Dr. Yalom's book--it seemed to appear on my shelf.  I might look for some more of his books.  I've got another Paul Theroux--Pillers of Hercules--about the Mediterranean travels.  It's so fabulous to escape into a travel book. I'll take it to Japan.

Just finished all the curriculum for the Japanese seminars, and feel great about that.  Now to pack.  All black clothes I think.   

The weather is beautiful.  Yesterday I spent 4 hours putting in succulent cuttings in front my house by the sidewalk--and setting 5 rocks into the ground.  Lots of work, but entirely satisfying.  Being outside gave me the chance to talk to two of my neighbors--one is a young mother who is in school and wondering how to make her schedule work.  She came over to me to say hi, but went away thinking about "what would make her more peaceful."  Jody shared how her car got bashed in on the street the other night.  We talked about her new "on-demand" hot water heat that is like the one I had installed.  I don't think I applied for an energy credit though.  Oh well. I can't think of everything.

Two Japanese friends are arriving tomorrow, so we are planning to take them shopping and up to Napa Valley for some wine tasting.  The Japanese numerology charts are coming along, and Fumiko and Robert and I are working on getting the program to work.  It's very complicated!  Only Robert could figure this all out.  The new Chart Summaries are in place in the English version, and I'm so excited at the way they turned out.  So easy to see elements of life purpose and life lessons now. 

 EK and I will take a hot tub tonight and relax and catch up on our news.

It's interesting to watch the mind each day and see what it is that you're afraid of.   

Yesterday was a beautiful Sunday.  Robert and I went for a walk to follow the San Francisco Bay Trail, and found only a small part of it.  In El Cerrito, there is a Cerritos Creek Restoration project, to reclaim the creek to health.  Behind El Cerrito Plaza, there is a little plaque that shows where the big Spanish land grant, Rancho San Antonio was located (Trader Joe's market sits there now.) It shows where the Indians lived, where the dynamite factory was (in the 1880's) and where the first blacksmith shop was that was the center of El Cerrito (Ace Hardware is there now.)  

A little further down, the Creek was quite dirty and littered behind the Pacific Ranch Market (the Asian food market where we go to get fish, vegetables, Chinese sauces, and dim sum). It was sad and frustrating to see the  mess.  I was thinking maybe I should join the Five Creeks Restoration project, and maybe participate in a cleaning day.

We walked about four miles and went home to work on my new chart Profile Summary (it's finished!  All Primary Life Charts now have this new, succinct profile summary at the beginning of the full chart. I am very excited about this because it makes it easier for people to read.)  

At 4:30 pm we decided to take a break and walk over to the the local street fair, The Solano Stroll.  As we were looking at the booths, I spotted the booth for the Five Creeks Restoration project!  I was so happy to come across them as I had just discovered them in the morning on the walk.  I mentioned the litter on the Creek, and a volunteer in the booth suggested I call the management at the Pacific Ranch Market--it's their litter that blows into the area.  They also had literature about clean up projects.  I think I might do one!  And I should call the Market and see if they have plans to keep that area cleaner.

At the end of the fair, the Emeryville Taiko Dojo (big Japanese drums) was performing.  I was so happy!  It's my favorite thing, the Taiko drumming--I've been a fan since the very first moment I heard them.  I remember the moment about 20 years ago.  It was the very first time I went on a catering job.  I was at the Oakland Museum.  My job?  Opening champagne. On my break, I heard drumming and marched toward the sound like a lemming!  I've followed their progress ever since.  If I had more time (and dedication), I would take up drumming.

All these things I thought of doing with my time on Sunday!