AUSTIN, Texas, July 22, 2005 — We managed last night to pull most things out of suitcases and bags. We have sorted laundry and dry cleaning and sorted out a few things to press. But there are many errands to get to today. We are up pretty early. Last night we were puzzling about the flourescent fixture in the kitchen. It didn't want to come on. Of course, you would just walk into the kitchen and flip it on and curse. FFP had just done that when going from some coffee and then he saw a big owl sitting on the trumpet player outside in the backyard. He called for me and I saw it before it flew away. Almost fully dawn, time for bed for him I guess. As we marveled, the light in the kitchen sputtered to

life and has been working ever since. I said to FFP that if this were a B&B and it had a garden like that (with an owl!) we would be marveling at it. Now fully lit we enjoyed our coffee machine. If we were in a B&B and they had a Capresso like this where you could get a fresh-brewed cup any time we would be very impressed.

I take a shower even though I think I'll go work out later. Road grime must leave me. Then FFP says he is going to take the dry cleaning, get some groceries. So I go down to get Chalow at the Barking Hound Village even though it's rush hour. I don't have too much trouble getting there and back. She doesn't seem too much the worse for wear. The kids at the place who take my large chunk of money for keeping her seem to like her. They say she tried to eat other dogs' food. Yeah she would do that. Back home there are things to do. A few clothes didn't get worn but are wrinkled. I'll touch those up with the iron. We run the laundry and fold and put stuff away. We continue the mail sorting we started last night. FFP starts organizing the papers that were piled into still-rolled heaps into type and date. Naturally we won't get all of them read. I set automatic backups on the computers to start again. We call the car dealer to get an appointment for an oil change (we drove about 5000 miles) and to check that engine emission light. They say bring it in and we do. (The light is due to a faulty computer which they will replace for free but have to order.) So we chase back and forth getting the car. FFP runs errands (another trip to the grocery store, go to his parents) and I iron the clothes. If this were a B&B, I'd be thankful for an iron and ironing board.

The day is consumed with errands. I don't catch up on my journal although I get my pictures loaded to Snapfish in case I want to copy any of them. I don't get the budget done but I find all the receipts and scribbled notes about expenses from the trip and put them together. I also find time to go down to Austin Film Festival and get some movies to watch this weekend. The day flies by. I get to sleep early, still catching up after the big drives.