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January 1,  Sunday,  2006

"Eden is that old-fashioned House
We dwell in every day
Without suspecting our abode
Until we drive away."
-   Emily Dickinson

I worked all day on setting up Karen's new computer: Hewlett Packard, Pavilion, a1250n.  I loaded all the programs she uses on her new computer.  I transferred all data files from her old computer to her new computer and backed up critical files on CDs.  What a big job.  

It rained all day.  In the last five days we have had six more inches of rain.  

The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma.  Translated and with an Introduction by Red Pine.  New York, North Point Press, 1987.  125 pages.  ISBN: 0865473994. MGC.  

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January 2,  Monday,  2006

"The secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all
the details of daily life, and in elevating them to art."
-  William Morris

Walking for 90 minutes, taijiquan and qigong practice outdoors.  The rain let up today.  Gym: 40 minutes: pulldowns, reverse leg curls, chair back hyperextensions, triceps pushdowns.  

Recording poems.  

Tai Chi Connections: Advancing Your Tai Chi Experience.  By John Loupos.  Boston, MA, YMAA Publication Center, 2005.  Index, 194 pages.  ISBN: 1594390320.  MGC.  

Daoist Medical Qigong Center.  Michael Rinaldini is the director of the Daoist Medical Qigong Center, Sebastopol, California, an affliate branch of BaGua XunDao Gong Qigong Center, Beijing, China. He is also a Certified Teacher of Master Wan Sujian's Bagua Xundao gong qigong system. He is an acupressure and Tuina therapist (CMT). His trainings in qigong include three study trips to China, and in August 2003, Michael was ordained a 22nd generation Daoist Priest (novice) in the ( Longmen ) Dragon Gate sect. He was given the name "Dao Li-Chang."

Staff weapons addition:  http://martialstaff.com/

http://renqizhen.typepad.com
The Way of Long Life and Long Vision
Ren Qizhen

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January 3,  Tuesday,  2006

5:45 - 6:45 am, Gym training with Jeff:

Work for CUESD 8:30 - 5 pm.  

Gym: Teach yoga from 5:30 - 6:45 pm.  

Recording poems and reading.  

Podcasting: The Do-It-Yourself Guide.  By Todd Cochrane.  Indianapolis, IN, Wiley Publishing Inc., 2005.  Index, 281 pages.
ISBN: 0764597787.  MGC.  

I've decided to being creating audio recordings of poetry readings, short lectures, and commentary.  

I will be setting up a home recording studio using a Behringer UB802 Eurorack 8 Input Mixer, Studio Projects C1 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone, a Sony Vaio PCV-RX540 computer, Audacity digital recording software, stereo dual audio tape recorder/player, stereo amplifier, backup MP3 recorder.  

"Your body is a field of energy, transformation and intelligence made out of the food you eat.  A sugar molecule in the apple you ate at lunch yesterday may be a part of you stomach lining today.  An amino acid from the side order of cottage cheese you ate may be a fiber in your bicep muscle.  An iron molecule from you spinach salad may already be part of the hemoglobin in one of you red blood cells.  You become what you eat.  

One  of the four things happens to every molecule you ingest: (1) it is transformed into a structural part of you body; (2) it is used for energy; (3) it is stored for possible future use; or (4) it is eliminated."
-  Grow Younger, Live Longer.  By Deepak Chopra and David Simon.  2001, p. 64.

January 4,  Wednesday,  2006

Work from 7:30 - 2 for CUESD.

2:30-4 Walking.  It was a lovely clear day.  The snow on the surrounding mountains was very dramatic.  

I watched the USC vs Texas game.  It was the Super Bowl of college football.  Both teams were undefeated.  USC was ranked #1 and Texas #2 by all the college football polls.  They played before 94,000 people at the Rose Bowl and before millions on ABC TV.  It was a beautiful day in Los Angeles.  USC had a 35 game win streak going and Texas a 19 game winning streak.  

The game was a thriller.  Many lead changes.  Outstanding play by the Texas quarterback Vince Young!  Good play by the USC quaterback Matt Linnert.  Texas won the game in the last 10 seconds on a 9 nine scamper by Young.  Texas 41, USC 38.
Overall and Outstanding Classic game.  

Walnut Orchards Near Our Home
Red Bluff, California

An Alchemy of Mind: The Marvel and Mystery of the Brain.  By Diane Ackerman.  New York, Scribner. 2004.  Index, 300 pages.  ISBN: 0743246721.  

Added to my new Third Eye webpage.  It will collect my notes about the Third Eye, Mind's Eye, Brain.  

January 5,  Thursday,  2006

Gym workout from 6-7 am with Jeff: squats, Russian deadlifts, hyperextensions, ab and back mat work.  

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4 pm.  

Gym workout for 20 minutes, then teach Yoga from 5:30 to 6:45 pm.  

I've been busy exploring audio recording.  I put up a webpage to list my audio recordings.   I only offer one recording to people at a time to control bandwidth usage.  I'd like to get much better at reading outloud and at recording my voice.  

January 6,  Friday,  2006

Workout at gym from 6-7 with Jeff.  Strength training: Kettlebell workout: swings, clean and press, pushups.  

Walking and tai chi at home: 6 laps, Wild Goose Qigong, Yang 24, Yang 108, Sun 73.  Squats (deep, butt back, lift with gluts and hamstrings) 4Sx10R.   

Heart Sutra posted to Green Way Blog along with audio recording of the Sutra.    

Drove to Chico and then to Sacramento.  

January 7,  Saturday,  2006

Attended YogaFit Level II workshop from 8 am to 6 pm in Sacramento.  The workshop was held at the new Healthy Habits Pilates Studio on H Street.  

I was able to do the Power Workout (2.5 hours) with much more strength and endurance than I did the last time.  

"The number of over-55 health and fitness club members has increased nearly sixfold since 1993, to 10.2 million, according to a recent study by the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association.  They now account for a quarter of all memberships."
-  AARP Bulletin, January 2006, "Pumping Platinum", p. 3

January 8,  Sunday,  2006

YogaFit Level II Workshop from 8 am to 6 pm.  Stuart Rice was the workshop leader.  
I have now completed my retrain (reintegration) for both Level I and Level II.  All I have now to do is complete the Level II retrain in March, 2006, and I will have completed the 200 hour YogaFit training progam.  

Drove from Sacramento to Red Bluff.  

Strength training workout at TFFC with Jeff Crow from 6 - 7 am: close grip bench press, flat dumbell presses 5sx10rx50lb, seated rows, triceps pushdowns.   

CUESD Work from 8:30 to 4 pm.  Two grant meetings, writing special education grant.

Gym workout after work: wightlifting, and then teach yoga from 5:30-6:45 pm.  I felt really good about my teaching tonight.  

Grow Younger, Live Longer: Ten Steps to Reverse Aging.  By Deepak Chopra, M.D., and David Simon, M.D..  New York, Harmony Books, 2001.  Index, references, p. 64.  ISBN: 0609600796.  

"You can reverse your biological age by: 

1.  Changing your preceptions.  

2.  Deep rest, restful awareness, and restful sleep.

3. Lovingly nurturing you body through healthy food.  

4.  Using nutritional complements wisely.  

5.  Enhancing mind/body integration: breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi, qigong, aikido, etc.. 

6.  Exercise: strength and aerobic conditioning.  

7.  Eliminating toxins from you life.   

8.  Cultivating flexibility and creativity in consciousness.  

9.  Love and loving relationships.   

10.  Maintaining a youthful mind.

CUESD from 7:30-4pm.  Special education grant, Tuesday follow up, clean out Maywood, open Room 13 lab.

Feeling very sore, tired, and under the weather.  Rested at home in the evening.  
Stayed warm and enjoyed soups.  Be gentle on myself.  

"It is this subtle dimension of understanding that marks the southwestern
Indian peoples from other religions and separates tribal peoples from the
world's religions. Somewhere in the planetary history religious expression
changed from participation in the sound, color and rhythm of nature to
the abstractions of man outside this context pleading for temporary respite
and hoping in the next life to return to the Garden.
- Vine Deloria, Jr., Frank Waters, Prophet and Explorer

CUESD work from 8:30 - 4 pm.  Grant ordering, budgeting, special education grant.

Gym workout at TFFC from 4:30 pm: warm up, teach yoga from 5:30 - 6:45 pm.

"I measure myself
Against a tall tree
I find that I am much taller,
For I reach right up to the sun
With my eye;
And I reach to the shore of the sea
With my ear.
Nevertheless, I dislike
The way the ants crawl
In and out of my shadow."
-   Wallace Stevens

Strength training workout at TFFC with Jeff Crow from 6 - 6:40 am.  Legs, kettleball, box step up, hyperextensions.  This was my last workout with Jeff.  He will begin a strength training program for six high school girl's volleyball players five days a week in the morning.  He advised me to prioritize my workouts, and not to over-train.  

Walking and tai chi at home: 6 laps, Wild Goose Qigong, Yang 24, Yang 108, Sun 73.  Squats (deep, butt back, lift with glutes and hamstrings) 4Sx10R.   

Scatter fertilizer.  It was raining gently most of the day.  

Get medicine in Corning, shop at Staples.  

Work on Karen's old computer- set up, music software, remove old programs, add Office.  

Thai food dinner with Karen.  

"We walk about 115,000 miles in a lifetime - more than four times the circumference of the globe.  

A 150 pound person walking one mile exerts the equivalent of 63.5 tones - 127,00 pounds - on each foot.

Our feet our more subject to injury than any part of the body.

Walking is the best form of exercise for the feet."

-  American Podiatric Medical Association

Walking and tai chi at home: 6 laps, Wild Goose Qigong, Yang 24, Yang 108, Sun 73.  Squats (deep, butt back, lift with glutes and hamstrings) 5Sx10R.   

TFFC:  Deadlifts ().  Teach Tai Chi and Yoga at TFFC, 10-12:15.  

Karen and I lunch and shop in Chico.  

Researchers at McMaster University near Toronto, Canada, have found that the best predictor of cardiovascular disease is not Body Mass Index (BMI), the commonly used ratio of weight to height; but, instead, the waist-to-hip ratio - simply your waist measurement divided by your hip measurement.  The researchers analyzed data from the Interheart study of people in 52 Countries; comparing 12,461 people who had suffered a heart attack with 14,637 people free of heart disease. 

A person, for example, with 36" Waist and a 40" hip measurement would have a waist -to-hip ratio of 0.9. 

Having a waist-to-hip ratio of over 0.85 for women and over 0.9 for men indicates greater risk for heart disease. 

The risk increases continuously with higher waist-to-hip ratios. Those in the highest fifth of people studied were 2.52 times more likely to have a heart attack than those in the lowest fifth.   [CHB 1/13]

Michael Gauvin wrote on December 19, 2005, and commented:

"Your work is very impressive.  I have one question: do you feel the love from the one that is?"

I wrote back to Mr. Gauvin,

Hard outdoor exercise and edge play for 6 hours at home.

American Council on Exercise predictions for 2006:

1. Teenagers and kids are utilizing personal trainers for sport-specific training. 
2. Clubs and trainers offer more flexible workout sessions. 
3. In-home training grows in popularity. 
4. An increase in specialized fitness programming for older adults. 
5. Simple exercise habits, such as a walk-a-day, remain popular. 
6. Balance training continues to be a strong trend. 
7. Employers are encouraging fitness and weight loss. 
8. More and more restaurants are offering healthier nutrition options. 
9. A growing tendency to blend popular mind-body programs such as yoga and Pilates with more traditional forms of exercise. 
10. Functional fitness continues its strong presence in personal training sessions and group fitness classes. 

Work 8:30-4 pm at CUESD.  Set up EETT3-EAST website on Blue Host for CUESD.
The new website is at cuesdeett3.org

Teach yoga at TFFC from 5:30-6:45 pm.  15 students attending. 

Work 7:30-4 pm at CUESD.  Meetings, writing special education grant, Olive View staff meeting presentation.   

Exercise at TFFC:  4:40-5:20 weightlifting (bench press, dumbell military press, triceps pressdowns), spin class 5:20-6 with Tonya.    

Exercise at TFFC from 5:45-6:45 am.

Work 8:30-4 pm for TFFC.  Supervisor's meeting, ribbon cutting for EAST Lab, eye exam in afternoon with Dr. Robertson.  

Exercise at TFFC:  weightlifting 4:40-5:15 (squats, leg press, step ups), teach yoga from 5:30-6:45.  

"We call upon the waters that rim the earth, 
horizon to horizon,
that flow in our rivers & streams,
that fall upon our gardens & fields,
and we ask that they:
Teach us, and show us the way."
—Chinook blessing

Shui Long: The Water Dragon Internal Art and Meditation

Tribe - Sacramento: Tai Chi Chuan

Tribe - Sacramento: Qigong

Tribe - Sacramento: Zen

Dogen takes the old saw, "A painting of a rice-cake does not satisfy hunger" and completely turns it on its ear.  

Lao-Zhuang Taoism   

"The completed one has no ego,
The Spirit person does not labor,
The enlightened one has no fame."
Zhuang Zi, Chapter One

"If sitting was the only requirement, all frogs would be Buddhas."

Cinnabar Swan: Healing Arts.  Isabeau Vollhardt.  Ashland, Oregon. 

Off work at TFFC.

Work on Karen's computer.  Install Norton Security.  

Rest body.  My lower back is really sore and tender.  It has been bothering me now for two weeks.  

"As for walking around stupas, the stupa is your body and mind.  When your awareness circles your body and mind without stopping, this is called walking around a stupa.  The sages of long ago followed this path to nirvana.  But people today don't understand what this means.  Instead of looking inside they insist on looking outside.  They use their material bodies to walk around material stupas.  And they keep at it day and night, wearing themselves out in vain and coming no closer to their real self."

-  Bodhidharma, 515 CE

The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma, p. 101.  Translated and with an Introduction by Red Pine.  New York, North Point Press, 1987.  125 pages.  ISBN: 0865473994. MGC.  

Walking and taichi in the morning.

Teach classes at TFFC: taijiquan from 10-11, yoga from 11-12:15.  

Lunch and shopping with Karen till 3 p.m..

I came home to a BIG SUPRISE Birthday Party for me.  In attendance 
were 15 people:

Karen Garofalo, my wife of 39 years
Alicia Flinn, my daughter, and her husband Sean Flinn from Portland
Michael Garofalo, my son, and his wife April Garofalo from Portland

Paul Garofalo, my brother, and his wife Janet Garofalo from Los Angeles
Philip Garofalo, my brother, and his daughter Marcella from San Diego.

Debbie Anderson, our next door neighbor and good friend
Jordan Knickerbocker, our next door neighbor and friend

Jim Scott, April's Dad, and his girlfriend Torrie and her son Jesse
Christie Scott, April's sister

Mick and April prepared and served a fantastic Japanese meal with many delicious foods and special drinks.  The house was decorated with Japanese lanterns and artwork.  It was beautiful.  

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  I CERTAINLY DID!!

How kind and generous of this fine people to come to my home, some from grat distances, to celebrate my 60th birthday.  

Clean up the house after the party.  

Alicia and Sean Flinn left for Portland this morning.  

Mick and April Garofalo are staying until next Wednesday.  They have a week's
vacation to enjoy.  

We all gathered at Sierra Nevada brewery in Chico for lunch.  

Visiting with family all day.

Mick, April, Karen and I went to Redding for lunch and then to Shasta Caverns.  

Visiting with family all day.  

Work 7:30-4 for CUESD.  We won an EETT4 grant for $86,000.  Paperwork and websites.  

Gym: pulldowns, reverse leg curls, hyperextensions, tricep pressdowns.
Teach yoga to 14 people from 5:30-6:45.  Keep pace fast, less talk, variety,
attentive to temperature of room, dim lights.  

Visit with Mick and April.  

Mick and April leave for Portland.

Work 7:30-4 for CUESD.  Open Room 13 lab before school, lunch B, and after school.

Rest at home.  Trying to heal my sore lower back.  I've had three weeks 
of continuous lower back pain.  

A reader named "powerspade" wrote to me to complain about my 
History of Gardening Timeline.  He says, 

"Why BCE it should read BC "Before Christ" or are you ashamed 
of the name of Jesus Christ. I find your way setting out time an 
insult to Christianity.  Your a mornon."
-  powerspade, 1/24/05

I assume that "powerspade" is a man and a angry true believer.
Normally, I toss Christian crank mail in the spam
pile.  Something in powerspade's tone caused me to want
to toss a spadefull of clay mud on his boots, piling insult upon insult.

I had used the term “Before the Common Era” or “B.C.E.,”
instead of “Before Christ” or “Before Caesar” or “B.C..” I retained
the whole common Gregorian calendar system in the timeline; and used either CE (common era) or the traditional “A.D.” (Anno Domini) abbreviation.  An avid botanist or scholarly gardener might playfully suggest an alternative  dating standard division point such as “A.A.” (After Aristotle), or “B.L.” (Before Linnaeus), but we try to be practical people on such matters.  I did not get any complaints for not using the Chinese, Jewish, or Mayan calendars; but I guess these folks don’t have a power spade up their righteous craw.

Maybe having to shoulder up next to dolts like powerspade during Sunday services are one of the reasons why so many more folks are now going to work and play and worship alone in the garden, and no longer wasting their time with boring party-line religions or pushy Christian Supremacists.

“Some keep the Sabbath going to Church,
I keep it staying at Home -
With a bobolink for a Chorister,
And an Orchard, for a Dome.”
- Emily Dickinson, No. 324, St. 1, 1862

Bob"o*link` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) An American singing bird (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). The male is black and white; the female is brown; -- called also, ricebird, reedbird, and Boblincoln.  Numerous spelling variations for the name.  

"The happiest bird of our spring is the bobolink." W. Irving.

Work 8:30-2 for CUESD. Chiropractic appointment with Dr. Stawberry Webber at 3:15. 

Teach hatha yoga to 6 people from 5:30-6:45.  We did gentle yoga.  Four of us chatted about Bikhram's yoga after class: working out in heat, lack of much clothing, repetition of postures.  Cindi said that my changing the routines makes it hard to plan before and after class for other exercise routines.  

I've been resting my body a lot and trying to get over my lower back strain.  

Walking and taijiquan in the morning.  

Gym workout: Spin with Tonya.

Work for CUESD from 12-4 pm on EETT4 grant.  

Thai food dinner with Karen.

Walking and taijiquan in the morning.

Teach Taiji at TFFC 10-11, yoga from 11-12:15.

Long nap in the afternoon.  Very tired.    

What kind of socks does a gardener wear? Garden hose
  - Sent to me by Angie Girdham.

http://p3.forumforfree.com/dragonsden.html

Dragon's Den Forum

2006, the Year of the Dog (January 29, 2006 - February 17, 2007)

2005, the Year of the        (2005 - January 28, 2006)

The Observant DOG 'Xu'
2006 brings a period of growth and development. Steps taken this year will set the stage for the next two years and lead to noticeable improvements. The time can be spent usefully redistributing assets or reorganizing expenditures. The astral climate dips somewhat during the Ox-ruled month of JAN and a bit of caution is in order. It's all work and no play for a while as your workload gathers momentum. The financial benefits from this come as a lovely surprise next month. FEB's Tiger-ruled month combined with the energies of the New Dog Year make for a 4 star month! If every Dog has their day, then 2006 will indeed be yours. Enjoy!
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/chinesenewyear/a/astrology2006_2.htm

People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest, and inspire other people¡¦s confidence because they know how to keep secrets. But Dog People are somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and eccentric. They care little for wealth, yet somehow always seem to have money. They can be cold emotionally and sometimes distant at parties. They can find fault with many things and are noted for their sharp tongues. Dog people make good leaders. They are compatible with those born in the Years of the Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit.
http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/zodiac/dog.html

Walking and taijiquan in the morning.

Karen and I go to Chico for 39th wedding anniversary celebration: lunch, bookstore shopping with gift cards from birthday, The Used Bookstore, and Chico stores. 

Reading and relaxing in the late afternoon and evening.  

Walking and taijiquan in the monring.

Home chores and projects.  

Rest at night - fighting off a cold.  

Pulling Onions:

Beauty serves many masters.
The garden is a great place to hide from argumentative dolts.  
Truth deals with the past; Hope deals with the future.
You should be worried about being angry so often.  
Persons who cannot love trees lack something in their soul.  
We live in a multiverse rather than a universe.  
In the canvas of Winter we can still find a spot of summer.  
Your special - and don't ever forget that!

Work for CUESD 8:30 - 4 pm.

Gym workout in evening: bench press, seated dumbell military press, seated rows, triceps pressdowns, alternating light leg work.  Teach yoga from 5:30 - 6:45 pm.  Moderate synergy workout.  

Feedback from Readers:

"Your website is amazing. I like the way you gave plenty of space to each selection... and plenty of textured white for winter.  I kind of wandered around ... and it was fascinating. I'll probably go back. Your choices show so much thought and background."
-  Joy H. 1/2/2006

"I am studying Tai Chi and happened apon your VERY informative myriad of pages on the topic.  Thank you very much for your compilation, creation, and recording of all of this wonderful information."
-  Dave, 1/12/2006

"Thank you for your extensive list of staff links (bo, jo, etc.)"
-  Matt S., 1/7/06 

"I've googled into the Valley Spirit Journal, Poetry and Cloud Hands, and also visited the Green Way and Spirit of Gardening.  IMPRESSIVE!
Postings on the "older" websites are sometimes very long, but useful as reference. Maybe an update notice or referral to your currently maintained blogs and websites would be useful to stray visitors?  May I wish you and yours a new year full of hope, health and happiness."
-  Ren Qizhen, 1/10/2006, The Way of Long Life and Long Vision

"Quite an interestingly comprehensive site. I am planning an Arbor Day ceremony for an inner-city, public montessori school. This is my second year facilitating the science lab at this school. I am constantly searching for avenues to help these students learn about their environment (physical, emotional, etc.) Any suggestions you might have to deliver a concise and powerful message of the importance of trees would be appreciated. We have outdoor stations & gardens (as in the other schools where I've taught). Helping children experience the magic of nature and gardening is rewarding. We live in central Louisiana where the Forest Service is giving Live Oak seedlings this Arbor Day. These trees are plentiful in the hurricane ravaged coastal areas.... still standing, they represent strength in the wake of the storms. Thank you for sharing your gift. I look forward to hearing from you."
Karen L. MacPherson, 1/15/06

"Why BCE it should read BC "Before Christ" or are you ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ. I find your way setting out time an insult to Christianity.  Your a moron."
-  powerspade, 1/24/05
   Why not Before Caesar?  See my remarks on Green Way.  

"Chang San-Feng was real It's very disrespectful to "portray" Chang San-Feng as a "imagery” figure. Please don't have false infomation on your Web Page... He did exist, the so called common years that he lived (1247-1447AD) is just a “estimated range”.Chang San-Feng (also known by different spellings ex. Zhang Sanfeng) was the “original creator” of the 13 original movements of Tai Chi Chuan. One just has to look, at the old book of “The Tai Chi Classics”, to see his teachings. It not only, insults the original master, of all forms Tai Chi Chuan, but it also shows lack of knowledge, history, and understanding of the art. I hope you remove all false references about him, from your website. I am from direct Yang family lineage Thank You for reading the above. Sifu"
-  From Sifu, 1/24/06, from not@happy.com
   I did write back to Sifu, however the email bounced.  Since he did not give
   his full name, I could not include his remarks on the Chang San-Feng webpage.
   Please give me your full name and correct e-mail address "Sifu." This could be
   a phony crank letter.