Tuesday

July 24, 2001

thought leaders

Today some people interviewed me for their project. They said they were interviewing 'thought leaders.' I'm not kidding. Scary.

I tried to spend the day learning what I needed to in order to have an informed opinion about a task. Let's just say that I welcomed interruptions. "Oh, I have an e-mail, I better read it." Hmm...I haven't checked this source of information for a while, I better do that.

I had one meeting. I didn't prepare much, just looked over my notes a few minutes before. But I ended up dominating the meeting. Why do I do that? Oh, well. I liked the results pretty well. And other people contributed. Probably they would have done as well without me.

At lunch, SuRu and I went to Taco Cabana. I've lost my taste for lots of franchise food. I never go to McDonald's. I rarely go to any places like Ruby Tuesday or Grady's American Grill. I've never set foot in the Marie Callendar's in the same center with Taco Cabana. Although on this day, I do suggest it to SuRu. She says nope. It's also satisfying to buy whatever at Taco Cabana and then stack the plate with salsa, jalapenos, cilantro, onions from their salsa bar. Who cares what greasy mass transports the spicy stuff to your mouth. The place is a working man's place. Highway workers in reflective vests chow down. A guy who might be a plumber or other workman says a silent prayer over his enchiladas. When whole families pray in restaurants, I find it a little embarrassing. One guy giving himself a few moments with his eyes shut over enchiladas seems OK. He does it before a companion returns from the salsa bar.

My whole idea was to go to CompUSA. I just wanted to look around. I really didn't intend to buy anything. I was tempted, though. I almost bought a cat5 cable that is on a compact reel. I was tempted by some software (but I'd have to install it and learn it) and, of course, I saw lots of flat panel displays, compact Sony laptops, compact mini-DV cameras. But I didn't buy a thing.

It was a night to stay home. FFP cooked salmon with lemon and capers and a chipolte sauce. He had made a spinach salad with good mozzarella and Calamata olives. Very tasty.

I cleaned up the pans and put the dirty plates in the dishwasher. I wrote a couple of personal e-mails and then I was a slug. Reading newspapers. Working a couple of crosswords. The New York Times from yesterday had a story about Holden Caulfield's New York. You know. Catcher in the Rye. It was published fifty years ago this month. And was the bible for the disaffected (along with On the Road as the writer of this article mentions) for a long time. Now even?

Darla gives a sidelong glance

more party

I was proofing this page and saw I'd spelled 'highway' as 'highwary.' Hmm...that would be a good word. Sometimes, yes, I do proof the thing. I sometimes go back a year later and correct a typo. But mostly, I'm just typing, you know.