Yankees are up, two games to none. The friendly confines of Fenway will heal and energize this team.

We switched from the ball game to watch the debate last night. Acrimonious bickering between a couple of white guys from Yale is easier on the mind and soul than the Red Sox in October.

Here's something to agitate the tin-foil hat crowd (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinfoil_hat): the FDA has approved implantation of a chip that will assist medical personnel in retrieving a patient's medical records. The chip doesn't contain medical information, but does uniquely identify the individual and allow the medical staff to retrieve medical records from a database. Its initial application will be for patients who cannot communicate, such as Alzheimer's patients. It's interesting from this corner because MRM had to provide her medical history repeatedly for each medical crew that was providing care to her. It would have been nice for all to have access to the same information. There are serious privacy issues, to be sure. The risks of providing incorrect or incomplete information from memory are also great.

This week marks three months at this new job. The projects are interesting and the people remain nice. The pace of the work has picked up. I still don't focus as well as I'd like, but I'm getting along.

Sandra's aunt, Marie, died yesterday in Florida. Her family is arranging for services in New Hampshire. Marie was Sandra's father's sister. Woody and Marian each observed yesterday that they are each the last of their siblings.

Yankees 10, Red Sox 7. 'Nuff said.

We've passed another milestone on the way to wherever. This weekend, I requested services for us from AARP. I've been a member for a while and have read their publications, but this is a first. As Mel Brooks observed, we mock the thing we are to become.

The 'rents continue to improve. MRM was able to climb the stairs to the second floor on Sunday. The physical therapist came to the house over the weekend and will return tomorrow. The goal is to increase the walking distance, first around the yard and then around the neighborhood. The doctor prescribed a gadget that's supposed to strengthen the bones. Marian is handling all of this attention and hullabaloo with grace and good humor.

Huck went grocery shopping on his own last Monday, the first time in a couple of months. He got his Jeep back from the repair shop and is tickled with the quality of the work on the steering and plow hydraulics. He arranged to have a new top made for the Jeep. The plow is hitched up and he's ready for winter.

We visited with Adam, Jennie, and Lily on Saturday. They've remodeled their kitchen and it looks wonderful. They're a fun family. They were very happy.

Lynn will have her baby during the first week of November. The excitement now centers on names for the baby. We don't know if it will be a boy or a girl.

Yesterday was a holiday for which, as a contractor, I didn't get paid. There are a missing benefits, such as paid holidays, vacation time, insurances, and 401-Ks, that are starting to become more significant. I am grateful that the checks clear. It may be time, however, to start looking again for a permanent position (as permanent as anything can be).

The Red Sox and Yankees start their playoff series tonight. The Red Sox have the edge in pitching. Both teams can put up a lot of runs at any time. It's going to be fun.