Friday

Sept. 21, 2001

dark skies

Yesterday when I drove to work, the western sky was briefly, ominously black. It looked very threatening while I sat at this corner, waiting for the light to change. It was much clearer when I made my way to the office, just down the block. Odd. This morning it was raining when I went to work. But it was sunny later.

At lunchtime, SuRu and I went to Texadelphia. Friends, whether the whole world is depressed or out of work, Friday and cheese steak seemed an unbeatable combination to lots of people. The tiny place was jammed but people were eating quickly and tables were cleared and more cheese steaks consumed. While we ate the line streamed out the door. A guy with a take-out menu and a cell phone improved his chances of getting done sooner. He smiled and waved the menu at the person taking the phone order, making eye contact.

We went to REI so that I could get a second UK plug adaptor. My laptop and hair dryer work on 220V, but it is convenient to have two plug adaptors so I can run the computer and dry my hair.

SuRu and I looked around at the fun stuff that we will never need. Like backpack-sized expensive and light Titanium cookware. And all the bags, of course. I bought a small waterproof bag to carry my toiletries in my carry-on. SuRu felt buying something might improve her mood but she didn't do it.

I thought FFP would want to go to the gym this evening. As I walked into the house after work I thought, "I'll do whatever he wants. Gym. Stay home. Go out."

"How does Fonda sound to you?"

"Fine."

"Let's go."

And we shortly got in the car, he with a magazine to read and me with my book of essays. We drove over to Fonda only to see the parking lot and street packed with cars. Geez. Well. I dig out FFP's cell phone and call Zoot. Sure, they say, come on.

It starts out quiet. We have Carpaccio, some soups, FFP a watercress salad and duck and duck/lamb sausage cassoulet. We drink a very credible J Pinot. As we are finishing up, some friends come in with another bottle of Pinot, cork already pulled. They sit with us and the waiters set them up and they have salads and entrées and we drink and talk. Deborah mentions that she has an op ed piece about the atrocities and mental health in tomorrow's paper. (That link looks like it'll last until next Saturday.)

Kinky Friedman and councilman Will Wynn and their companions were dining, too, by the time we left. FFP took the opportunity to hit the Kinkster up about appearing as a celebrity Mother Ginger with Ballet Austin. Kinky is talking about his Texas Monthly column over the stub of a stoogie when we are leaving. He thinks up a new phrase to describe his column (I've forgotten it now) and scribbles it in a little notebook full of scratchings. He is wearing a black cowboy hat, jeans (no belt), a black T-shirt that says 'Doesn't play well with others' and a fancy Western style black suit coat. And boots, I guess. I didn't notice. Kinky is kinky, for sure. We'd met him before, here and there. His widowed father married a friend's widowed. mother and we've bumped into him at parties at his house. FFP has met him other times. Definitely an unusual guy. As I looked at his WEB site in preparing this, I saw he'd added a Sept. 11 donation page and I thought "he'll have something about the injured pets" and sure enough he linked to this.

We went to Four Seasons. Seemed a bit quiet. FFP gave Rebecca an arm massage for her tendonitis during her break.

the sky darkens

"Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace..."

John Lennon, "Imagine"

Meta:
I feel the need to write and, more than ever, the need to read other journalers' accounts. It makes me feel better that Mighty Kymm goes back to rehearsals. My heart goes out to Josh whose neighborhood won't be normal for a very long time.

JUST TYPING
Freedom.
Power.
Freedom is powerful.
Power strives to limit freedom. Because power cannot give freedom and hold power.