AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 28, 2004 — Wrote an article for The West Austin News. It felt like getting something done, but not like writing.

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 24, 2004 — I really, really need to make time to write something besides this journal.

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 22, 2004 — I made an appointment to interview someone. Does that count?

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 19, 2004 — Just doing the journal has been a big deal, it seems. I did capture lots of stuff in the chronlogy and essays, though, that I might use someday.

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 3, 2004 — Vignette: Older black man seems to be helping a teen-aged, young twenties black woman learn to ride a bike, holding the back of the seat as she slowly and tentatively peddles along.

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 2, 2004 — Since this became my commonplace book it gets updated more often. I did have a column published in The West Austin News this week, though.

This evening I was driving down Perry Lane and so two women on a front porch deck, drinking wine and talking. They seemed so relaxed and enjoying their conversation so much that I envied them. But why? I have wall-to-wall leisure.

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 1, 2004 — A woman at the tennis drill rubs sunscreen on her neck. Another woman notices a scar and asks about it. The first woman describes a car accident: adjusting radio her twenty-year-old self loses control of the car and runs into a pole. No seat belt. Ejected from the car, the muffler lands on her and gives her third degree burns. She says she could have more plastic surgery but it's painful. I'd played with this woman before and not noticed the scar. But I wouldn't have asked. "What they say about distractions and all that when you are driving is true," she says. Or something like that.

AUSTIN, Texas, August 28, 2004 — Classmates from forty years ago stood around talking about taking care of their parents, retirement (having done it or wishing for it), travel. One fellow promotes some multi-level marketing. A teacher seems apologetic about teaching. A large unreconstructed hippie living in California doing 'fund raising' to 'make the world a better place' repeatedly says she 'likes my voice' but falls short of insulting my accent. She has a fancy many megapixel digital camera. I point out to FFP that those that are incarcerated or the real down and outs and those too obese to leave the house aren't represented. Also, I guess, though I don't say so, those who are so successful they can't be bothered. There is a cardiologist, though.

AUSTIN, Texas, August 27, 2004 — T-Shirts spotted in the gym from low to high, ridicuolous to sublime: Dirty Martin's Hamburgers and Jungfraujoch.

I read out the names of the deceased to FFP as we drove away from his reunion reception. He would express surprise at some, described the medical problems of one even in high school and said one was 'shot by his wife.'

 

• Piles of useless stuff...bad objects, broken electronics, broken toys, dusty books. Should convince me that what I want are sleek surfaces! The Junior League makes things look more tidy but it's still a thrift store.

AUSTIN, Texas, August 14, 2004 — Vignettes:

AUSTIN, Texas, August 13, 2004 — Didn't really do anything much today for production.
Vignettes:

AUSTIN, Texas, August 12, 2004 —
I reread some material that I'd written earlier to be part of a memoir of sorts and I also started rereading some material that wanted to be a novel. I made some handwritten notes on a possible memoir, too. Truthfully, the journal is my attempt at 'writing' for the moment. A place to keep my chops up. That's why I have the different sections. The journal is a commonplace book, the place where I record impressions and freely write what I please. I'm thinking I need a section called 'vignettes.' Because I notice little things that don't fit in with the essay or with the 'just typing' or with a chronology or whatever. For example, the other day we went to Dirty's for a burger. When we came out there were some 'drag worms' (homeless people who hand out near campus) who were eating out of the garbage cans. And just a few days ago when I got into my car at the club, two dragon flies were mating on my windshield. Occasionally I see interesting people or observe something about a group. I get snatches of conversation. These are the things that belong in a commonplace book. Since this section (writing) is so little, um, 'written in' and since it was intended to be the record of writing I did outside the journal...well...I've decided that it is going to be the place for these vignettes, ideas, smatterings. As well as to announce progress on real writing, that being writing that (for now at least) is not available on the WEB.

AUSTIN, Texas, August 1, 2004 —
Alas...am I never to write anything but this journal??

AUSTIN, Texas, July 16, 2004 —
Started work on an article for West Austin News.

AUSTIN, Texas, July 8, 2004 —
Finished article for West Austin News. Like the journal I don't really consider this 'writing.'

AUSTIN, Texas, July 7, 2004 —
Worked on an article for West Austin News.

AUSTIN, Texas, July 2, 2004 —
When I do a 'just typing' on the sort of theme of the day is when I feel that somehow I am producing something creative, not just words.

AUSTIN, Texas, July 1, 2004 —
I swear I'm going to write this month. Really.