Wednesday,
February 5, 2003
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office assistant I don't get up until 8:25. I keep staying up late watching movies and reading, my clock switching around because it can. FFP has appointments for two interviews. (One at nine and one at one. The first takes a long time. The lady is very talkative and they really get on, I think.) I'm responsible for answering the phone, waiting for the handyman and scanning and downloading pictures that come back from the interviews. With a break for a little salad (with some chicken and cheese on it) for lunch, I look up and that's all I've done and it's 2:30 in the afternoon. Except. Update this journal. And read a little of the paper and try to work the Wednesday crossword puzzle in The New York Times. Which I almost do. The trick to the puzzle today: some squares are meant to contain the word 'box' or perhaps you pencil in a little drawing of a box. (I use a pen actually). Or maybe the square is a box and so, that's that, you are meant to leave it empty with all that implies. The phone really hasn't rung that much. So mostly I've just caught up this journal. Is that a good use of my time. Is that too catoptric? Writing in a journal about spending time preparing the journal? And why do I have to find a quote and do a 'Just Typing' and find a picture? And why can't I get myself to take any current pictures instead of stealing from ebay or going to the archives? I don't know the answer to any of this or if I'm displacing. I did have some email exchanges this morning, particularly one with a friend about this and that like depression and taxes, house repairs and stuff. How much time does that take? Then the Internet connection falls over. FFP finally calls and they agree it's on their end (the ISP) but not before I've booted the modem, the router, my machine. A little boot now and then is good for the soul, however. And. When our connection is down for a half hour or something and we are all antsy and out of sorts, it always makes me think about people deep in the heart of Africa or in the jungle of South America who are trying to get together some food and have no electricity. How different our deprivation. Alas! No internet! No email!
I was supposed to meet up with Dad and discuss his taxes today but he calls and says he has a cold and wants to stay in and away from others. Outside it's cold and rainy. But I need a workout. It's already 4:30. So off I go to the club. I carry my shorts and a TShirt and change out of my grubby jeans and flannel shirt at the club. I do my 45+ minutes on the bike to nowhere. I'm finishing my latest book. (Life at the Dakota by Stephen Birmingham.) I do a bunch of upper body exercises. The club is jumping but no one really gets in my way and no one dares lounge on the equipment at this busy time.
When I get home, FFP is gone. To do the grocery shopping. I'm a bad wife. He gets home and we put away the groceries. (Orange juice, potatoes, salmon, green onions, tomatoes, canned soup, three kinds of salad dressing, coffee beans, stuff like that.) He cooks up some salmon with olive oil, lemon juice and capers. I eat some cheese and green onions and little toasts first, he eats a spinach salad. We watch Millionaire and pass judgments on the questions and the participants. I clean up and go to my office and watch Crashbox. I really like that show. Is it supposed to be for kids? Then I work on editing a small book for a friend while watching West Wing. I don't think that show deserves my full attention, do you? Heck, I don't even give George Bush my full attention! And he really is president.
I watch Law and Order in the media room. But it isn't worth my attention either. The religious crises of this bunch doesn't ring true. A man who hides a gun in a wall for a priest? Or did the man really do it? I don't pay close enough attention to figure it out. Then that sappy character (the DA) gives some speech about a buddy in a VA hospital. Huh? I read a few things in the paper during this wasted time and I fall asleep briefly and wake up and think it is one in the morning. I go shut down my mail so it can back up, pick up shoes, water bottle, etc. and get my book and go to bed. It's only 11, however, I must have misread the clock in my stupor. This inspires me to actually finish my book while watching a movie billed as Happenstance which, in French, is Le Battement d'ailes du Papillon. It follows chains of chance and, in some cases, explores people's choices by running small bits over with various outcomes. I like it. It's a lot like Amelie in its celebration of France and it has Audrey Tautou in it, too. Then it is too late. Once again, I've stayed up too late.
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what is life anyway...itself or a reflection or a cigar box collection?
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175
JUST
TYPING