AUSTIN, Texas, May 30, 2005 — I thought of the troops a little. Primarily because I read articles in the paper, though.

I made some promises to myself today. I realized that the reason I was always reading papers these days (and being tormented by the piles that needed reading) was that I was trying to educate (or reeducate) myself about the world. I decided to take that seriously and get through the papers on the day they arrived. And I did that today! It's terrible when you actually feel good about reading the paper. But I did. A little.

I'm sure I'll fall behind again. And I was helped by the suspension of The Wall Street Journal for Memorial Day. But today I'd finished the day's papers by 2:30PM. (Including working two crossword puzzles.) At that time I'd also done fifty minutes on the recumbent bike, three sets of static lunges and three sets of balanced leg lifts. I'd eaten nonfat yogurt and cereal at home and a Reuben sandwich and a few chips at Billy's. I'd had three cups of coffee and about twenty ounces of water. I'd watched part of a match where Safin lost a five-setter to some Spaniard. I'd written an e-mail to my friend in South Africa. I'd published my journal for yesterday and set up for today. I'd also had an idea for how I'm going to improve the journal going forward. Details to follow. Let's just say that the journals I admire are updated daily and take their material from the day at hand but often appear more as little essays. Like John Bailey's. Bearing in mind that I want a more expansive and thorough 'commonplace book' for myself, I think I have an idea of how to keep this up and have a daily journal that is more what I'd like it to be for myself as well. Then again I'm always changing the journal and the change itself is upheaval until it becomes second nature.

Our bookkeeper was here and when she was done I did backups from her machine. I also went through the checkbook looking for expenses for the family budget. (We save receipts but I also go through the checkbook and the credit card statements.) I wrote checks to my niece for her upcoming birthday (35) and to my sister and her husband for their upcoming anniversary. I'd made a card for my niece and I found one in my collection for my sister and brother-in-law and got them addressed. FFP got some pictures he wanted me to print. I did some on my printer and will also get some prints from Snapfish.

I decided to review my films that I have checked out for AFF. I went into the big room in the back because I have a VCR and DVD there. But I just did the VCR ones. FFP asked what I'd like to do for dinner, did I want to go out. We considered Chinese, 34th Street (but they were closed). Then we decided to go to Whole Foods Planet (my name for it) downtown. We wandered around a bit looking at the places where you could eat in. We ran into some friends. He is going to have a bone marrow transplant in San Antonio and they were stocking up for an apartment they wented there. We settled in to have some seafood at the seafood counter, greeting another couple we know. We got a couple of glasses (well, plastic cups) of wine and ordered fish tacos and seared tuna to share. Two more people we knew came by. We talked about this and that, mutual friends, plans to get together. We joked that we didn't come to eat or shop, just to see our friends. When we finished the meal, we went to the cheese station, scored two stools and ordered a five cheese plate to share. We saw Peter Bay (musical director, Austin Symphony) and talked to him. FFP introduced himself to the thirty-somethings at the counter.

When we got home, I queued up the last two films I needed to review. FFP sort of watched them with me. I read old newspapers. Then we watched a documentary we'd recorded about Hollywood's treatment of Viet Nam.

Another thing I decided today is that I'm going to keep a part of my desk clear with only stuff for the most immediate projects. This has resulted in a bit of a mess in the area right in front of my monitor, however. I think I can concentrate on my projects better with a bit of clean desk. I'm going to move out some equipment I'm not using as well. This area of the desk can only hold work in progress, reference books I'm actually using. With lots less demands from my dad these days, I have more free time to fret over my own projects. This is good. Dad is also proud of himself for being able to handle things.

But neatness and promises aside, relaxing and doing this and that, remembering soldiers done, the day ends. They always do. I sleep.