AUSTIN, Texas, June 2, 2005 — Here is one reason that I keep writing this journal. It gives me the feeling of control over time passing. A few words, a picture. Neatly captured. Saved to the WEB for who knows how long.

Other things I need to do in life, other tasks and duties, well, it's less clear what if anything you are accomplishing. One step forward, two steps back.

I think I should get up in time to work out a bit before I go play tennis. Doesn't happen of course.

I mean I get up, but I write e-mail and deal with things. I've offered an old laser printer on Freecyle and someone wants it for parts and has agreed to pick it up this evening. I have to disconnect it and get it ready. I call Dad and tell him that he is supposed to wait at his house for the sprinkler repairman. And that this afternoon he needs to come over and we will go for the first appointment for this thyroid update test.

(Note to self: must get those cords on my desk organized!) I get to the courts five minutes late, but it's OK. They are just getting organized. They usually play on the 'dirt' (fake clay) but I am subbing for the one who won't play on hard courts so they are switching. We play three sets. I seem to be doing OK, except when I spray balls out. We have fun.

After the tennis I'm thinking I need to do a few things in the yard, I need to eat, Dad is coming over later for me to take him to his appointment which is near here. I should do some weights. I realize: I can do it all, no problem. I go to the gym for a half hour of weight work and situps. Then I go home and eat. While I'm eating a salad and leftover chicken, I realize I've gotten to the point where eating leftovers and salad at home is, in many ways, more appealing than going out to eat.

I have changed out of my sweaty shorts into jeans and T-Shirt. I put on an old long-sleeved shirt, an old cap and gather up my loppers, gloves, furniture oil, rag and go outside. I have to take down some volunteer bamboo. Then I put some more of the oil on my teak. The garden looks OK. The one pond still has the pump out in spite of a new GFI...it's shorting out still.

I go inside and shower. I then sit at the computer and work a little on the budget and a bunch on plans for our driving trip. I call Dad. He says he'll be over that the guy is still working on his sprinkler system. (Note to self: having houses is a pain.)

He does come over and he's plenty early and we are plenty early getting to the place for the test. We've never been to this one before. It's a brand new medical building across from the Heart Hospital. I let him out at the elevator and we get parked. As is all too often the case at medical buildings, there are no handicap parking places. Fortunately, he is getting along so well that he can get out of the van and get his walker easily. I get the van parked and we go to the check-in. Miraculously, they don't make me fill out a bunch of paper work? Has Austin Radiological finally gotten a computer? Dad is one of their best customers and yet time after time I've filled out the same forms.

The big, fancy waiting room has a flat screen TV, lots of magazines, coffee. But we are ushered quickly to a smaller waiting room. A flat screen TV is showing some show where a woman's mother gets to live like a star for a day. I think about all the coverage of the French Open I haven't had time to watch. I thought when I retired that I would watch a lot of tennis including all the rounds of the Grand Slams. But I find that I'm usually doing something more active than watching TV all day. And that's good, I guess. Even when I record stuff, I don't find time to watch it.

They take Dad back and he's back before I know it. They have had him swallow some pills that will get in his system and make whatever it is visible for his thyroid.

We go back to my house and he drives himself home. I go inside and try to think of something to do in the short time before we have to go to a surprise birthday party for our friend William. I publish yesterday's journal.

We go to the party house, park around the corner and gather with a bunch of people. We don't know a lot of them...relatives, friends of the young daughter who organized the party and their parents. We drink some wine and I inspect my friend Jon's new Nikon digital camera. I may just have to buy one.

The victim arrives, is surprised (or fakes it well) and we all party for a while. We go home and three friends stop by our house for a while. For some reason I'm falling asleep. Everyone leaves and I try to finish the papers for the day. I don't succeed. I fall asleep very soon.