AUSTIN, Texas, August 28, 2005 — I wake up early but don't get up. The dog bugs me to go out, then to get in bed, then she jumps off again, then bugs me to get back in. FFP has been up but comes back to bed and then we all sleep until 8:30.

I don't do anything worthwhile until close to one o'clock. I answer an e-mail, surf for stuff on the WEB, talk to FFP, update my journal, lok at ads in the paper, read an article in The New York Times about the surgery my dad had on his fractured disk and similar surgeries. This makes me review (in

this very journal) the development of his back pain and the progress after surgery. Which takes me on an excursion to other places on the WEB, other people's journals and such. It's a day for reflection.

Three years ago today my mother died. I didn't write much about the summer of 2002 and the events leading up to her end. I wish now that I had. Not that I've forgotten the most significant moments. Some of the in-between moments, though, were probably worth remembering. I guess Today when I was reading the article about the back surgeries and it suggested that the surgeries might not be effective, it was good to be able to review what I wrote about my dad as his mobility failed in the face of increasing pain and as it increased after the surgery seemed to allow the pain to gradually fade away.

Well, yes there is that anniversary to consider. We will go to a friend of my dad's tonight to have dinner with him and his friends. It's a coincidence that it is this date. But enough reflection. Life goes on.

I need to lift weights. I've been getting a bit of exercise every day but not enough lifting. It's almost one, like I said, and I haven't eaten anything unless you count a bunch of black coffee. That puts me in a bind. I need to eat soon or I will spoil my appetite for dinner. Maybe. But I don't like to eat too soon before I exercise.

I just give it up and go to the gym. I cut my recumbant bike ride short at thirty minutes and do some chest, bicep and tricep exercises. Not enough but something. I'll try to do some leg stuff tomorrow after the water aerobics class I promise myself. I go home and have salad, some chips and the garlic, basil, neuchatel cheese dip and twelve ounces of V8. That fills me up.

I don't accomplish much in the afternoon. I read papers and watch things off the DVR. I clean up files on my computer. (This form of cleaning is the least obvious of all!) I work a little on the family budget.

We watch the news about the hurricane. It makes you feel helpless when nature's power is headed to the coast. I'm glad I don't live on the coast. (Of course, as we all know these storms sometimes spawn deadly tornadoes. There is always something to be afraid of.

We go over to Dad's friends' house with a couple of bottles of red wine and a couple of bottles of champagne for the hostess. We all watch the hurricane some more but in spite of the Internet connection and the TV news channels there really isn't much to see. Soon the host's kids and grandkids fill the house. Their son has a birthday Tuesday. After a dinner of Icelandic lamb and the trimmings, we have chocolate cake for him.

Time to go home. I stay up too late, reading all the day's papers. I read The Beak of the Finch on the bicycle today. (Fascinating book about research into evolution and natural and sexual selection.) By the way, I finished listening to Speciman Days by Michael Cunningham in the car on CD. A very strange book. Wonder if they will make a movie of it the way they did The Hours? I'm thinking no, but who knows? I want to go back to reading books. But I have a 2.5 foot stack of old newspapers I haven't gone through. Shame. It is around 1:30 when I succumb to sleep. I don't know why I stayed awake so late but I'll pay in the morning.