AUSTIN, Texas, July 1, 2005 — Well, it's July. Things haven't worked out 'as planned' the last couple of days. But when do they? I spend the whole day manic. Going from one thing or idea or wild goose chase to another.

I went to sleep late last night but I'm up early. FFP is rattling around and it just seems futile to stay in bed. I get dressed in workout clothes and I honestly believe I'll get to the gym at some point.

FFP does go to the gym. I wait for the sprinkler guy. FFP is back before he comes, however. He comes back from the gym via Upper Crust.

Maybe it's a retirement thing to stop off at the bakery after working out. He's done it a couple of times in the last week or so. It's something I was tempted by, the idea of it anyway, when I first retired. Not sure how many times I actually got the baked goods. He brought me a Texas croissant. Full of mozzarella and jalapenos, folded into the layers of croissant dough. That's how I know he was at Upper Crust. That's a specialty of theirs.

The sprinkler guy arrives. We discuss, he digs. It's getting hot out. At least I'm not the one having to dig. FFP has other errands. I stick around the house to answer the phone and 'supervise' the workman.

One thing leads to another. The sprinkler guy finishes. He says the pressure is awfully high. We had a step down (PRV) valve installed last winter. We call the plumber. Miraculously the plumber comes, tests the house pressure. It's 100. Should be 60/65 PSI, no higher. He finds the PRV and says it isn't working. He starts digging. At least it's not me in the sun with the temp heading to 100.

Inside I'm doing things like looking for stuff I'm going to take on vacation, folding laundry, standing by to answer the phone while FFP does a phone interview, proofreading for him. I take the time to peek at some Wimbledon. I talk to my dad a couple of times.

I eat some leftover fish taco for a late lunch. The maid comes. I give her instructions about us being gone. They usually send someone different to my dad's but she is doing his for a few weeks.

Finally everyone has gone. FFP asked me earlier to put water in the ponds. No rain lately. I string an extra hose and start on it, sitting in the yard with the Statesman crossword in my workout clothes, sprayed with OFF, watching the water run into first one pond and then the other. FFP comes out and takes over and waters his potted plants, too.

After a while FFP and I go do a couple of quick errands in the neighborhood.

I realize I don't have what it takes to go to the club. I eat some spinach salad and Salmon. I get myself a beer. We watch a DVD of The Dinner Game. I've seen it before but I don't remember if I rented it, saw it on cable or what. FFP hasn't seen it. I make myself some nachos. Oh, so sleepy. I actually feel like I accomplished a lot today but I did almost nothing.