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November 1,  Wednesday,  2006

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4 pm.

TFFC Gym: Weightlifting then teach Power Yoga class.

First real rain of the season begins today.  We expect rain, heavy at times, until Saturday.

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November 2,  Thursday,  2006

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4 pm.

TFFC Gym: Weightlifting then teach Yoga class.

Raining today.  GOOD!!

"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

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November 3,  Friday,  2006

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4 pm.  Teach Webpage Creation: Why and How to 7th and 8th grade
science classes at Maywood School. 

"I you want to follow the doctrine of the One,
Do not rage against the World of the Senses.
Only by accepting the World of the Senses
Can you share in the True Perception."
-   Seng-ts'an 

5 Animal Frolics, Healing Qigong Chi Kung.  By Master Jesse Tsao.  Video clip: 7 minutes. 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1643391367898750104

8 Pieces Brocade Qigong.  By Master Jesse Tsao.  Video clip: 5 minutes. 
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5941928815527121512

November 4,  Saturday,  2006
 

Walking and Taijiquan in the early morning.

Teach Tai Chi and Yoga at TFFC from 10-12:15.

Overcast and cloudy day. 

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
 

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
 

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
 

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
 

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
 

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
 

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
 

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.


 

"To be able to be unhurried when hurried;
To be able not to slack off when relaxed;
To be able not to be frightened
And at a loss loss for what to do, 
When frightened at at a loss;
This is the learning that returns us 
To our natural state and transforms our lives."
-  Liu Wenmin

December 2006 
November 2006 
October 2006 
September 2006 
August 2006
July 2006  
June 2006   
May 2006    
April 2006    
March 2006    
February 2006    
January 2006   
December 2005     
November 2005  
October 2005  
September 2005   
August 2005  
July 2005   
June 2005   
May 2005   
April 2005  
March 2005  
February 2005   
2005   
2004   
2003 
Index  

November 5,  Sunday,  2006

Walking and Taijiquan at daybreak.

Working around the house and yard.

Watch television in the afternoon. 

  To be empty means to be empty of ego, to be without any thought of self, not in the sense that one functions as a vegetable or a wild animal - living things which merely process water, food and sunlight in order to grow and reproduce - but in the sense that one ceases to gauge the events, the persons, the places, and the things of one's environment in terms of "I" or "me" or "mine". A person who is "empty of self" seldom has occasion even to use these pronouns.
- REMEMBERING MASTER XU YUN
By Jy Din Shakya



In Zen, the whole universe is empty. Not in the sense of nothing, not empty of content...Zen does not assent to a vacuum. It means empty of our judgments about the world, so that the world is simply itself, completely...To view the world from the standpoint of emptiness is to see the world in absolute fullness. At this point we are not separate from the world--we become the universe itself." Empty of judgments--of presuppositions--the idea begins to take form in my mind. This is pure objectivity, seeing the world not through our judgmental eyes, but through eyes that belong to the universe. Eyes that take in everything at once, equally. "The everyday mind, then, is the empty mind...the mind which does not discriminate the self from the world."
-Empty Hand, Empty Mind
By Erica Smith-Llera

November 6,  Monday,  2006

Walking and Tai Chi Chuan at daybreak.

Chores around the house: watering porch, splitting wood, repair bird feeders and doors,
close swamp cooler for the winter, picking pecans, clean garage.  Cool and overcast day.

A frog croaked in Fort Meyers, Florida,
A butterfly flapped its wings in Western West Virginia,
Bombs exploded in Baghdad,
Pecans fell to the wet earth in Red Bluff ...
All connected?  All interrelated? 
The Web shakes from end to end, up and down, side to side;
or Not.

Treasuring the belief that the small transforms the great,
the little influences the grand,
one book is The Word,
the trivial shakes the powerful to their knees,
the pen is mightier than the bomb,
a single word (like Love) becomes the answer,
one man is the Savior of the World,
One Way triumphs in the End;
we dance the Dance of Maya, deluded;
or Not.  

Wild geese fly south overhead,
shadows flow over the fields,
shit falls in the dark pond,
the honking comes and goes,
the clouds thicken as the raindrops fall -
mountains are walking,
enlightenment unfolds;
or Not. 

Wild geese land in the Kunlun Mountain valley Storms brewing, volcanoes steaming, earth shaking ...

 

Decline invitation to teach Tai Chi Chuan in Cottonwood.  I need to focus on using my time off work for CUESD to accomplish other goals: home improvement, reading, exercise, writing, etc..  I already
teach 6 exercise classes every week - this is enough for a 60 year old man.  Also, I often work extra
hours for CUESD on Monday and Friday.  Finally, driving to Cottonwood would take 40 minutes. 

TFFC Gym in afternoon: weightlifting for 45 minutes, teach spin cycling class.   

Christian Mysticism

http://www.innerexplorations.com/chmystext/christia.htm

Web of Creation

http://www.webofcreation.org/

Biographies    

Reginald H. Blyth  
Han Shan
Sun Lu-Tang  
Chang San-Feng  
   

November 7,  Tuesday,  2006

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 2 pm.

TFFC Gym: Weightlifting then teach Yoga class. 

Cast my vote in the general mid-term election. 

November 8,  Wednesday,  2006

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4 pm.

TFFC Gym: Weightlifting then teach Power Yoga class from 5:30-6:15.

Democrats take control of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Work for CUESD from 7:30 - 4 pm.

TFFC Gym: Weightlifting then teach Yoga class.

Walking and Taijiquan in the morning.  Work on projects.

KS 11-8 pm.   

I tend to think that most "Moslems" don't read and ignore the Koran - thankfully.  Likewise, most "Christians" don't read and ignore the Bible - thankfully.  If it were not for the irrational fear of not living forever in a fanciful heaven, many of these people would just stop pretending to believe in these foolish old religions of desert tribesmen.  They could still be good, honest, fair, just, hardworking, kind, generous, peaceful, smart, and live a truly happy life without these outmoded beliefs in macho male gods and shameful subservience to wrong headed, power hungry clergymen. 

"To even consider that Islam is a "religion of peace" is to ignore the texts of the Koran (translations by Yusufali).

Sura 8, verse 12 states: "Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."

Sura 3, Verse 151 states: "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority: their abode will be the Fire: And evil is the home of the wrong-doers! "

Sura 9, Verse 5 reads: "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. "

Sura 9, Verse 29 states: "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. "

Muslim Ideology

http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=34&idsub=158&id=6483&t=UK%3A+MI5+warns+of+a+'generation'+of+Muslim+terror

Christianity is no better.  Both the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible are filled with hate, violence, spite, bully men, racism, and religious intolerance.  Over the centuries, Christianity has tolerated or encouraged slavery, the oppression of women, theocratic rule of society, anti-democratic ideology, stupidity, religious intolerance, violence against non-believers, racism, and rejected the scientific study of our world. 

Wake up Mainstream Americans!  Our true values are not Christian or Moslem or Jewish.  Our true values are liberty, peace, cooperation, food on our tables, common sense, family life, friendships, good health, decent jobs, scientific progress, decency, beauty, and enjoying the good life.   

For just one year, stop going Church.  Stop praying.  Stop giving lip service to sacred books filled with nonsense.  Stop slavishly obeying misinformed, hypocritical and bully clergymen.  Stop giving money to churches, and give extra money to your family, friends, and the needy.  Take a long walk and think, instead of going to church.  In one year, you will liberate yourselves.  Your false guilt will fall away.  Your mind will clear.  You will not need to pretend that you believe in something, when you do not.  You will break the cycle of conditioning first imposed on you by your misguided parents.  Your good example will liberate others.  We will all start on the road to true peace and happiness. 

Walking and Taijiquan in the early morning.

Work around the house.

KS 1-6 pm. 

The books that I am currently reading and studying include:

Essential Yoga: An Illustrated Guide to Over 100 Yoga Poses and
Meditation.  By Olivia H. Miller.  San Francisco, Chronicle Books,
Ohm Works, 2003.  Index, 239 pages.  ISBN: 0811841154.   MPGC.

Tibetan Relaxation: Kum Nye Massage and Movement.  A Yoga for
Healing and Energy from the Tibetan Tradition.  By Tarthang Tulku.
London, Duncan Baird Publishers, 2003.  Index, 144 pages.
ISBN: 1904292674.

Zen Body-Being: An Enlightened Approach to Physical Skill, Grace,
and Power.  By Peter Ralston with Laura Ralston.  Berkeley, California,
Frog, Ltd..  183 pages.  ISBN: 1583941592.

The Serpent and the Wave: A Guide to Movement Meditation.
By Jalaja Bonheim.  Berkeley, California, Celestial Arts, 1992.
Index, 258 pages.  ISBN: 0890876576.

The Complete Book of Zen.  By Wong Kiew Kit.  Boston, Tuttle
Publishing, 2002.  Index, 324 pages.  ISBN: 0804834415.

The Sword Polisher's Record: The Way of Kung Fu.  By Adam
Hsu.  Boston, Massachusetts, Tutle, 1998.  204 pages.
ISBN: 0804831386.

Amazon Bookseller
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1583941592/gardendigest

There are two ways of looking at rituals. On the one hand, rituals are an external expression of our inner state. And on the other hand, we strengthen and reinforce our inner state by these external actions. Of course, in reality there are not two things, but rather a unified whole. As we practice together sincerely, we become increasingly aware that such notions as internal and external cannot be separated. This awareness is actually the growing realization of the real harmony that underlies everything.

~Taizan Maezumi in On Zen Practice

Used on 11/7, Tuesday in CH.

Fasting blood work a Lassen Medical in the morning.  Working around the house.  Helped Karen get her backup tasks completed; and got her a new USD flash Drive. 

It rained most of the day.  Cool and wet day. 

TFFC Gym from 4:20 pm:  Weightlifting, teach spin class to four persons.  I really was very strong tonight. 

Relax and read this evening.

Watched a thoughtful film called "The Empty Mirror" on IFC.  The film was about Adolf Hitler. 
Also watched the film "Purple Rain" about the musician Prince. 

Work for CUESD from 7:30 to 4 pm. 

TFFC Gym:  Weightlifting and then teach yoga for 75 minutes to 14 students.
Theme of the week:  Recovering the Beginner's Mind. 
I was not very strong or energetic today.  Very sore hamstrings. 

Prepared Yoga 5 set for Power Yoga class. 

The Mother of All Buddhas
A version of the Heart Sutra, created by Morgan Nels,
based on a translation by Red Pine

http://morgannels.org/blog/?p=103

Avalokiteshvara, Awakened One—
reincarnation of Maya, Mother of Shakyamuni—
while practicing the Perfection of Awareness,
looked upon the aspects of reality mistaken for a self
and seeing they were empty of self-existence,
said, “Here, Shariputra,
matter is emptiness, emptiness is matter;
emptiness is not separate from matter, matter is not separate from emptiness
whatever is matter is emptiness, whatever is emptiness is matter.
The same holds true for energy and emotion, thought and spirit.

“Here, Shariputra, all reality is defined by emptiness
not started or finished, natural or artificial, sacred or profane.

“Therefore, Shariputra, in emptiness there is no matter,
no energy, no emotion, no thought, and no spirit;
no eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no hand, and no mind;
no image, no sound, no smell, no taste, no feeling, and no idea;
no perception, from visual recognition to abstract understanding;
no causation, from ignorance to decay and death,
and no end of causation, from ignorance to decay and death;
no symptom, no cause, no cure, no treatment;
no wisdom, no achievement, and no failure.

“Therefore, Shariputra, without achievement,
awakened ones know Perfect Awareness
and live without cave walls.

“Without cave walls and so without fears,
they go beyond delusions and even Paradise.

“All buddhas past, present, and future
also know Perfect Awareness
and realize unsurpassed, simple enlightenment.

“You should therefore know the great spell of Perfect Awareness,
the spell of great magic,
the unsurpassed spell,
the spell containing what cannot be contained,
which resolves all suffering and is true, not false,
the spell of Perfect Awareness said this way:

“‘Gone gone, beyond gone, entirely beyond gone, awakening is so.‘”

Mountains and Waters Sutra

http://bodhidharmausa.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!F79A4EA894F7B9FE!298.entry

Harriet's Tomato
http://www.harriettstomato.com/

Genjo Koan
Master Dogen

http://www.thezensite.com/ZenTeachings/GenjoKoans.htm

Study the Self

To study Buddhism is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things. To be enlightened by all things is to be free from attachment to the body and mind of one's self and of others. It means wiping out even attachment to Satori. Wiping out attachment to Satori, we must enter actual society. When man first recognizes the true law, he unequivocally frees himself from the border of truth. He who awakens the true law in himself immediately becomes the original man.
 

Studying the Buddha Way is studying oneself. Studying oneself is forgetting oneself. Forgetting oneself is being enlightened by all things. Being enlightened by all things is causing the body-mind of oneself and the body-mind of others to be shed. There is ceasing the traces of enlightenment, which causes one to forever leave the traces of enlightenment which is cessation. When people first seek the Teaching, they are far from the bounds of the Teaching. Once the Teaching is properly conveyed in oneself, already one is the original human being.
-  Translated by Thomas Cleary

To study the buddha way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind as well as the bodies and minds of others drop away. No trace of realization remains, and this no-trace continues endlessly. When you first seek dharma, you imagine you are far away from its environs. At the moment when dharma is correctly transmitted, you are immediately your original self.
-  Translated by Robert Aitken and Kazuaki Tanahashi.

Work for CUESD from 7:30 to 4 pm.  Set up my first PBWiki for Maywood EAST project.
 

TFFC Gym:  Weightlifting and then teach yoga for 45 minutes.  A women's professional
group needed to meet in the yoga room at the same time as our class.  We moved
into the women's weight room and shared the space with a circuit training class and
a spin cycling class going on at the same time.  It was not a good experience for me,
but we coped for 30 minutes. 

Work for CUESD from 7:30 to 4 pm.  Attend managers meeting at 9 am.

TFFC Gym:  Weightlifting and then teach yoga for 75 minutes. 

The statistics for October 2006 usage at www.egreenway.com shows that readers around the world requested 180,243 webpages excluding graphics files (.jpg and .gif).

For the 2006 year, based on statistical analysis, www.egreenway.com sent out the following number of webpages:

Mind-Body Arts
Cloud Hands: Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong Website;
Yoga, Meditation, and Fitness Websites
1,123,900 webpages in 2006

Months Website and Green Way Blog
749,300 webpages in 2006
Of this total, the Green Way Blog is served to an average of
438 persons each day or 160,000 each year.

Total for www.egreenway.com in webpages served:
1,873,200 webpages in 2006


I estimate that the Cloud Hands: Taijiquan and Qigong Website will have served 2,263,900 webpages to people around the world from January 1, 2003 until December 31, 2006.

Walking and Taijiquan in the morning. 

Trip to Chico:  Pick up my new prescription glasses, used bookstore shopping
for Karen and I, and other shopping chores. 

Added all the items below to webpages and blogs. 

Practice 3rd Section of Yang Form and view videotapes on the subject. 

Posture One - Three Body Posture (San Ti Shi):

The Five Element Creation Fist routine begins as with most Xingyiquan routines in the Three Body Posture (San Ti Shi). The San Ti Shi is the most important and most basic training method in Xingyiquan. All movements in the style do not stray away from the principles of the San Ti Shi. There is a saying which states that "ten thousand methods originate from the San Ti Shi". The San Ti Shi is formed by first placing the feet together with body erect. The arms hang down beside the body. The toes of the right foot turn out at a 45 degree angle. The legs bend at the knees as the weight of the body shifts to the right leg. The left arm rises up to the front of the chest with the palm facing down and fingers pointing to the front. The right hand rises up directly above the left hand (the right index finger is in line with the left middle finger). Both elbows are bent. The left foot steps to the front with the two heels in line with each other. The distance between the two feet should conform to the length of the lower leg. To check the width of one's stance, place the knee of the right rear leg down to the ground. The knee should fall directly next to the left front heel. Should the distance be different, simply adjust the feet to fit this width. The knees are bent with the weight distributed 60 percent on the rear leg and 40 percent on the front leg. Consequently, this stance is often referred to as the 60/40 stance. At the same time, the left hand straightens to the front. The fingers point up with the palm facing out at an angle. The wrist is at shoulder level. The elbow is bent at an angle of approximately 135 degrees. The wrist of the left arm should be directly above the ankle of the left leg; the elbow of the left arm should be directly above the knee of the left leg; and the left shoulder should be directly above the left hip.

Ted W. Knecht in San Ti Shi

The nose, the index finger of the left hand, and the toes of the left foot should be aligned in a straight line. The right hand lowers down to the front of the lower abdomen. The base of the right thumb is pressed against the navel. The eyes look in the direction of the left hand. The head should be held upright with the chin slightly tucked in. The tail bone should be slightly curled under to allow the spine to become straight. The chest should be hollowed and the abdomen should be filled. These requirements should be maintained throughout the entire routine. 

-  Ted W. Knecht, Yongnian Taiji Martial Arts,  Xingyi

From wuji we move into another standing posture that is called san-ti. The san-ti is the primary posture of Hsing-i. In fact, about 60 % of the Hsing-i student's time is spent holding this posture. The transition from wuji to san-ti is made by bringing the feet together and then raising the arms with the palms facing up along your sides. As your hands reach above your head, they begin to close into fists with the thumb side closest to your body. Sink your chi as the fists are lowered to the pelvis level. The right fist screws inward and up along the center line of the body. This screwing is started in the ground and involves the entire right side of the body. However, do not sacrifice your vertical posture. As the right fist screws upward along your center, the hands rise at a 45 degree angle away from the body. When the right fist reaches the level of the chin, the left side begins its movement. Just as on the right side, the left's movement starts from the ground and is done in unison. The left fist screws and follows a path along the center of your body. The fist moves away at a 45 degree angle and passes over the right fist. As the left fist passes the right, the hands rotate and the right hand is pulled back to a position to the right of the tan tien. The left hand goes forward and is held as shown. Examine the photographs closely. But I must point out that which can not be captured on film. The intent of the lead hand is to project forward while the intent of the rear hand is going back to counterbalance the action of the lead hand. This is an important point that will become more clear as we examine the requirements of the san-ti posture. As the left foot extends forward, the left foot will also step out with the toe pointing straight. About 70% of your weight will be held in the rear leg.
The Hsing-i classics address this transition. Essentially the classics state: the movement is started with the intent of the mind. With this intent the bear and eagle combine to move the body without further thought or consideration. In regard to this, here is a translation of the Song of Tai chi. The mind has already moved, and the boxing has started. (The boxing) is hard and soft, empty and full, opening and closing, rising and falling.

What I have just described is what the average person would see if he saw the transition from wuji to san-ti. Now, let me tell you what really happened. Hsing-i postures, to include the fists and animals, have four requirements that must be met at all times if a sound structure is to be maintained. When fighting, or training with a partner, there are two more requirement which I will detail when appropriate. For now, we shall look at the four we need for standing practice. They are: chicken leg, dragon body, bear shoulder, and tiger embrace. The details of these requirements are spelled out in the Hsing-i classics. I will attempt to summarize them for you here.

Chicken leg refers to the manner inwhich the feet and legs are held. First, the toes must grasp the ground to secure the feet in their place. The legs are held as if screwing into the ground. The effect of which is felt in the knees which are inclined slightly inward. The heels will feel as though they want to push out, but the toes hold the feet in place. As a result of the inward inclination of the knee, the inner thigh is opened. The pelvis is relaxed and allowed to sit back and rest on the rear leg. The hui yin is raised. The focus of the balance should be on the bubbling well of the foot. The toe of the lead foot points straight while the toe of the rear foot points about 45 degrees outward. The knee of the lead foot should be above its heel. The distance between the two feet should be comfortable.

Dragon body refers to the turning of the torso in the direction of the rear foot. The head will remain looking straight ahead, however. A key point here is to relax the inner groin and sit back on the rear leg. The muscles along the ribs should also relax as much as possible to allow for good rotation. Do not rotate the pelvis. It remains oriented toward the front. Also, keep your posture straight and erect. The dragon body accentuates the intent of the lead hand to go forward and the rear hand to counter balance it to the rear.

Bear shoulder helps keep the structure sound by relaxing the shoulders and allowing them to roll forward from the side as opposed to hunching them over the top. Think of hollowing the chest through relaxation to help you fulfill this requirement.

Tiger embrace ensures the arms will keep a sound structure while sending and receiving energy. The palms will be hollow and the tiger mouth open (area between the thumb and index finger). You must always drop the elbow and sink the shoulder. This ensures sound structure and also acts to protect your ribs. Remember to relax and hollow the chest or there will be too much tension and your chi will rise. The index finger will be on the same plane as the big toe of the lead foot and the tip of the nose.

The importance of the four requirements above can not be stressed enough. If one of them breaks down then your structure will not reach it's potential and you may become vulnerable. One of the characteristics of the Shang Yun Xiang method of Hsing-i is that it does not matter what your opponent offers for a defense. Your structure will uproot his upon contact and you will be able to strike his center. If, however, your structure is lacking in the requirements you will not necessarily be able to accomplish this feat. The other two requirements come into play only when fighting or training with a partner. I will detail those in the next article when we look at the first of the five fists.

-  Jim Dees, Hsing-I: An Examination of Principles

Walking and Taijiquan in the morning.

TFFC Gym:  Teach Taijiquan and Yoga from 10-12:15 pm. 

Chore 1:  Cleanout wasps in wood burning stove.  Split kindling.  Quarter wood logs.
Get nice decorative wood containers filled.  Clean around stove.  Light first fire today.

Chore 2:  Start creating THE LIST OF MIKE GAROFALO: 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days. 

Karen and I went shopping in Red Bluff: Home Deport, Food Max, Staples, 

Watch USC (9-1) vs California (8-2) on television today.  This is touted as being "THE"
matchup game in the PAC10 this year.  Gametime at 5 pm.  It was a close game in the first half 9-7 in favor of Cal, but USC dominated the second half and won 26-9.  Their defense was excellent today.  Cal had averaged 35 points a game this season, the best in the the PAC 10. 

Next Saturday, USC (9-1) plays against the team I dislike the most - Notre Dame (10-1)in Los Angeles.  Last year USC had a last second lucky win against Notre Dame.  I hope they beat the Fighting Irish this year by 20 points.   

For a few hours last weekend, the garden behind the little blue house in the village was a quiet province in the commonwealth of of winter. The snowfall was lovely, but the earth was warmer than the air, and I watched the fluffy carpet melt away as it reached the ground. The winter white stuff lingered in the ash trees for a brief interval and then faded away, leaving just a fleeting impression of the season's first snowfall - one of those vivid tableaux which lingers behind one's eyelids when the day has been spent and night comes tumbling down with its bright waning moon and its retinue of stars.

Strangely enough, there is still a fair bit of greenery on the buckthorn shrubs under the ash trees (perhaps because the shrubs are sheltered), and the scene at the moment is beguiling. My weathered old red bird feeder (one of many) oscillates back and forth in the wind, and there are flocks of happy chickadees making quick visits and practising their winter landings.
Beyond the Fields We Know

http://kerrdelune.blogspot.com/2006/11/by-window.html

Walking and Taijiquan in the morning. 

Chore 1: Fix up the dog sleeping area:  roofing, tacking up plastic inside, removing old straw, and putting in fresh dry straw. 

Chore 2: Water back porch and put up cold sensitive plants.  Expand wood and kindling storage areas. 

Chore 2:  Start creating THE LIST OF MIKE GAROFALO: 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days. 

Catch up on Internet work - Blue Host was down yesterday. 

Tortoise (Black Warrior) = North, Winter, Black, Water
White Tiger (Kirin) = West, Fall, White, Metal
Red Bird (Phoenix) = South, Summer, Red, Fire
Dragon = East, Spring, Blue/Green, Wood

SHISHIN 四神
Below Text courtesy of JAANUS
www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/s/shishin.htm
Ancient Chinese mythical animals associated with the four cardinal directions: green/blue dragon (Ch: Qinglong 青龍, Jp: Seiryuu) of the east; white tiger (Ch: Baihu 白虎, Jp: Byakko) of the west; red phoenix (Ch: Zhuque 朱雀, Jp: Suzaku) of the south; and black warrior (Ch: Xuan Wu 玄武, Jp: Genbu) of the north, a tortoise-like chimera with the head and tail of a serpent. The pictorial theme developed around the Warring States to Early Han period in China. Frequently painted on the walls of early Chinese and Korean tombs, the animals served primarily an apotropaic function warding off evil spirits. In Japan notable examples of the shishin are found on the walls of the tomb chamber in the tumulus Takamatsuzuka 高松塚 of the Asuka period, and on the base of the Yakushi Triad, Yakushi Sansonzou 薬師三尊像 at Yakushiji 薬師寺, both in Nara.

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/ssu-ling.shtml

"Chinese Mythology:
An Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend"
by Derek Walters. ISBN: 1855380803
"The Four Directions, East, South, West an

More on Tortoise and Snake Symbolism
Below text courtesy Gabi Greve
www.amie.or.jp/daruma/Tsurukame.html

Tortoise and Snake 亀と蛇
In Chinese culture, especially under the influence of Taoism (道教) the tortoise is the symbol of heaven and earth, its shell compared to the vaulted heaven and the underside to the flat disc of the earth. The tortoise was the hero of many ancient legends. It helped the First Chinese Emperor to tame the Yellow River, so Shang-di rewarded the animal with a life span of Ten Thousand Years. Thus the tortoise became a symbol for Long Life. It also stands for immutability and steadfastness.

We often see stone grave steles on a stone tortoise or reliquaries standing on it. The tortoise is also regarded as an immortal creature. As there are no male tortoise -- as the ancient believed -- the female had to mate with a snake. Thus the tortoise embracing a snake became the protector symbol of the north, but since the word "tortoise" was taboo in Chinese, it was referred to as the "dark warrior" (genbu 玄武 ) and finally became Zhenwu (in Chinese Taoism), one of the four protector gods of the four directions. The symbol of Zhenwu, the Protector God of the North, as tortoise and snake (or tortoise entwined by a snake) dates back to the third century BC. For more on Taoism, see this online catalog about "Taoism and the Arts of China".

Zhenwu   (Perfected Warrior) the Taoist god who, over many centuries, evolved from an ancient symbol of the north (the entwined tortoise and snake) into a superhuman warrior god, adopted in the Ming dynasty as the protector of the imperial household