AUSTIN, Texas, August 10, 2005 — I wake up calmly. I think I was dreaming but it wasn't upsetting. The bed feels good and I want to stay in it but it's water aerobics day and Dad says he's coming back for more. I get up. We are letting the dog out and I realize it's raining. By the time I have my bathing suit on (with shorts and T-shirt over it) it is a minor mist. I call Dad. He's coming. It isn't raining out his way. Plus he says he's getting a haircut so he's 'coming to the neighborhood' anyway.

I go over a few minutes after eight. Dad is there and the class is collecting. Several other women show up. The talk is all about movies and food

and activities for seniors and grandchildren's visits and grandchildren on the way and trips and volunteer activities. The class doesn't feel like much exercise to me. But I think that it gets me moving in some new ways and, if I don't slack too much on the stuff in the gym because of spending an hour on it that I will benefit from doing it. Besides the benefit of visiting with my dad and the ladies, I mean. I read today an article about exercise obsession. People who jog and play tennis so many hours a week that they hurt themselves. No danger for me.

After class I watch as Dad climbs the ladder to get out of the pool. I think he has more muscle in his legs than before. Physical therapy? It's starting to rain a little, but we've managed to get through the class first. I help Dad off with his shirt (when the shirt he wears in the pool gets wet he has trouble pulling it off) and say goodbye. I go into the gym and change. I do ten minutes on the bike and some weights and ab stuff. Not enough, but something. When I get home I realize I left one of my Nissan commuter cups somewhere at the club. Must look for it tomorrow. It's funny at places like the gym: the lost and found is always full of clothing and personal stuff but usually not the thing you lost.

At home I have some breakfast. It pours rain outside while I go about my day, but I won't leave the house again. I'm inside and no need to go out so who cares? Turns out there is flooding around, in the northern reaches of the metroplex, but I'm oblivious. I watch the rest of the movies I have checked out to review for AFF. Am I getting better at rating them? At spotting and classifying the flaws? I'm not sure. But I'm trying. Some where in there I take a shower and rinse out the bathing suit.

Fairly early, right around five, FFP comes down and heats the salmon burgers and opens a can of asparagus for supper. I get out a bottle of Bonny Doon Le Sophiste that's been in the wine closet for a while. FFP says that he has been going through client files and paste-ups (pre-computer ad originals) and getting rid of stuff. I have been sorting out some details for him to visit New York City and see Ballet Austin perform while I'm in South Africa.

After dinner, we finish the wine and watch Monsier Ibrahim which we checked out from Netflix. When the wine is gone, FFP gets me a glass of Sandeman Rare Oloroso Sherry to finish off my buzz. When the movie is over, we both check our e-mail and then go back to the TV. I read some of Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible. We listened to this on our trip on CD (the neighbors gave us) but the last disk was missing. FFP and I bought a paperback copy of the book. I'm probably the last person in America to read this book, but the language and story on the CD was mesmerizing. The book is brilliant at least the first nine tenths or whatever. It will be interesting to see how it ends.

I guess I didn't accomplish much today. I did review some films. I read quite a bit, a bit of the book and lots of newspaper sections. I ate too much, including a package of cheese crackers and peanut butter for a snack and, I admit it, I filled that sherry glass a second time. I must say that staying inside, skirting the rain, going barefoot with shorts and a polo all day after the club visit was kind of wonderful and decadent. But I should have accomplished more.