Sunday, September 15, 2024

 Sunday, September 15, 2024 

 

   Today was Damon's 52nd birthday. He called yesterday. A project he initiated ten years ago came to fruition. Damon found the book Wild Robot before it was published. He was a creative vice president at DreamWorks Animation at the time. It was his job to identify new projects.  This one sat on the shelf. The administration at the time wasn't taken with it. The one that followed also shelved it. The current one found it interesting. Damon was already involved with a project as an executive producer, so it went to someone else.  It's still neat. Damon said it may be a candidate for an Oscar.

  I sang the traditional Ross version of the Happy Birthday song for Damon's birthday. Because Mike couldn't carry a tune, we developed an improvised version that didn't require anyone to stay on tune. It involves some caterwauling and/or whispering and/or whatever strikes your fancy.  While some look forward to hearing what I produce each year, others have begged off. I have to remember which is which. Damon texted me the day before to say he anticipated this year's version.  He was, however, concerned about who else would be subjected to the experience if he was in public at the time.

    Later that day, he said I wasn't the only one who sang Happy Birthday that way. He sent me a copy of the song one of his directors sent him. I told Damon his director owed me royalties.

  I didn't do much of anything except listen to Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead on Audible. I feel compelled to listen to the book to the end.  It's not a satisfying or even comforting experience for me.

    The latest in physical exercise and long-term health is the health benefits of racket sports for the elderly.  A racket sport involves more of the body than walking. Good possiibliity. However, other activities with similar benefits are orchestra conducting and playing the harp, which are hardly whole-body activities. What do all three activities have in common? They involve percussive moves with the arms, which jars the muscles.  My one concern was whether the sudden onset of violent movement would start moving cholesterol in dangerous ways.  I know I have atherosclerosis, but I don't know quite how bad. I also don't know how it was detected.