AUSTIN, Texas, September 4, 2005 — As I lie abed in my expensive bed on the clean sheets (I laundered them yesterday), I give thanks for my air conditioning, the coffee beckoning in the kitchen, food, fresh water.

We mess around over coffee, computer, newspapers for a while and then gather up some things we have to donate that e-mails we received indicate could be used. Some clothes, children's books and toys for the evaucees in Austin. Food, batteries, flashlights, can openers for the Mobile Loaves and Fishes guys who are going to Lousiana. They also want boxes to pack stuff in so I call SuRu and we go over there and pick up some

clothes and boxes from her.

At the donation center at Freescale out on Ed Bluestein there is a continuous line of cars but it goes very fast and we drop our stuff and get out of the way. We head back across town and stop at Austin Java and enjoy some delicious breakfast tacos (they have a great salsa) and coffee. I can't help thinking about all the people who don't have something tasty to eat and certainly not a great cup of coffee.

Then we head down to Bee Caves and out to the Catholic complex and drop off food, can openers, batteries, flashlight, boxes. It isn't much, but this is stuff people are asking for to use for their operations.

We head to the club. At the club, I do fifty minutes on the bike and then FFP is ready to go so I don't lift or anything.

I must say when there is a news story like the Katrina tragedy that I never fail to appreciate my hot shower, clean clothes, good food and fresh water from the tap.

At home I watch some tennis. Great coverage this weekend. I shower and read and FFP and I decide to go hear the local jazz chamber orchestra at Copa. At $5 a piece to get in and three sets from a ten-piece jazz orchestra it is surely a bargain. I think how lucky I am to be able to eat tacos and drink beer and listen to music which takes my mind off the events of the hurricane horror. The poor people who can't take their minds off of it because they are in shelters and have lost so much, I just can't imagine.

After the music, it's around nine. We think of going somewhere else to see what's happening. After all, smoking isn't allowed now. But we are tired. And the smoking rule certainly doesn't seem to have driven people from downtown. There are cars everywhere in the paid lot where we parked. There are people on the streets. And it's Sunday night.

At home, FFP watches The Comeback which I can barely tolerate. He assures me the season is over. I watch some of the tennis I recorded and fall asleep.