The Visible Woman...December 14, 2003

Certain news makes me turn on the TV. Other news doesn't. The biggest stories will come to you and infiltrate your brain.

I will hear enough about Saddam and his capture. No need to turn on the TV.

Before I get out of bed, FFP tells me "they got him!" He learned this on an online bulletin board chatting about the Texas Longhorns and football. While he was gone his mother called to be sure I heard the news and then my dad did the same. As if one were actually going to miss this news.

My comment to both the parental units was "maybe this will push Michael Jackson out of the news."

At the club I watch several versions of events...someone appears to check SH for head lice on several screens, others show explosions in Iraq.

This news, like the Dow reaching 10,000 can be taken in at a glance. I may not can read it but I saw five figures there during the week.

Meanwhile I'm still reading old papers, searching for more obscure news...like the collecting potential of swizzle sticks.

Yeah, there will be enough of old Saddam. And, when we tire of him, they will revive the stories of Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Smart, Luci Peterson, Jon Benet Ramsey and Elian Gonzalez. Maybe Elizabeth and Elian will grow up and get married and he will become a U.S. citizen and Janet Reno will come to their wedding. To the media's credit...you don't hear much about O.J. anymore.

it's easier to see how the pocket door will work once the frame is in	the news we don't need to pursue Certain news makes me turn on the TV. Other news doesn't. The biggest stories will come to you and infiltrate your brain. I will hear enough about Saddam and his capture. No need to turn on the TV. Before I get out of bed, FFP tells me "they got him!" He learned this on an online bulletin board chatting about the Texas Longhorns and football. While he was gone his mother called to be sure I heard the news and then my dad did the same. As if one were actually going to miss this news. My comment to both the parental units was "maybe this will push Michael Jackson out of the news." At the club I watch several versions of events...someone appears to check SH for head lice on several screens, others show explosions in Iraq. This news, like the Dow reaching 10,000 can be taken in at a glance. I may not can read it but I saw five figures there during the week. Meanwhile I'm still reading old papers, searching for more obscure news...like the collecting potential of swizzle sticks. Yeah, there will be enough of old Saddam. And, when we tire of him, they will revive the stories of Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Smart, Luci Peterson, Jon Benet Ramsey and Elian Gonzalez. Maybe Elizabeth and Elian will grow up and get married and he will become a U.S. citizen and Janet Reno will come to their wedding. To the media's credit...you don't hear much about O.J. anymore.
JUST TYPING Certain news. Needn't be sought. It will come. As an onslaught.
		Food Diary. *breakfast* nothing *lunch* three slice turkey bacon two bowls of herbs and greens with parmesan cheese and some green onions and dressing a banana a clementine *snacks* ten or so pieces of candy four frosted sugar cookies that people brought by two ham and mustard 'sandwiches' on that little bitty dark party bread a cracker with some dip of spread two small glasses of red wine *dinner* a small (three ounce?) serving of salmon with lemon and capers Today I - remembered that yesterday I actually had bread and butter with dinner but I forgot to write it down and now I'm not opening that day...I already went back to put down the popcorn. - ate candy! and cookies! A lot! Yikes!
		Time flies.... At 9:30 I've dressed, had coffee, poked around on the computer, looked at some ads from the newspaper and put away some groceries FFP bought on his way home from the gym. I don't get to the gym until 11 and then I'm a bit in a rush because I need to be back by one so I can be in the house with Dumb and Dumber the plumbers. [Ed. note: they left with gaping holes in the ceiling from vents, pipe dope spilled all over the wood floor we were salvaging and trash everywhere. This is the most unhappy we have been since the subs appeared. Oh...and, inexplicably they cut one of the phone wires the electrician put in. They cut holes and didn't use them, put things in the wrong place. Geez and for that we put up with them all weekend.] When I got back from the gym, I figured I'd work on the pile of papers but I ended up sorting out the stuff in front of my computer, working on a 'to do' list and having unexpected conversations. Someone called I hadn't heard from in a long time who received my holiday mailer. Her husband died in 2001 and I hadn't known. We spent a long time talking. Some distant cousin of Forrest's called looking for genealogical information. Some friends who are moving back into town called. New neighbors came by with holiday cookies. [Ed. note: They were good...I ate all four of the cute little decorated things.] Yeah, if the theme wasn't "the news we don't need to pursue" it could be "unexpected conversations." But just one theme a day, it's a rule. So before long and with only a square foot of desk cleared and a little laundry done, it is nearly six and we have a come and go party that runs six to ten. FFP and I have discussed the plumber folly and left a message for the contractor. He's cooked some salmon so we can reheat it later and we've both had a bit. (Magic food, salmon.) I've snarfed cookies and candy for some reason. So I must get dressed. We don't stay long at the party because FFP doesn't feel well. I read a few newspapers and watch the end of Angels in America on HBO. I need to see the whole thing again. I saw the play but this is a great production. It will come out on DVD, I think. We go to bed early because FFP has to get up early and because he doesn't feel well. We read a little.

		Reading. As Eagles Screamed on the bike. This is a cool first-person account. I have an old paperback...it is out-of-print but, of course, you can get anything on-line these days. Old newspapers wherein I read about the most expensive existing home sale in Austin history (the home has a tax bill that is equivalent to a median home price). I have been in that house! Cool. Of course, there are more expensive homes...they've just never resold. Like the Dell Mansion.
		nada
		Exercise Thirty minutes recumbent bike. Chest, shoulders and tricep weight work. Fifteen minutes on the bike.
	. .	I'm not happy with the plumbers' work but it isn't getting me down. It will get fixed eventually. I call it embracing chaos.
	It's a Tangled Web we weave...these days of our lives.	One year ago "I go home and fool with the camera I shouldn't have bought and FFP comes home and I confess the camera and he doesn't seem to mind. " Two years ago "Mom had made cookies and sugared pecans for people and is going to talk Dad into mailing them off. (I hope!)"