AUSTIN, Texas, September 10, 2005 — In the days of work, Saturdays were sometimes like this. Not too many chores or obligations. Then getting stuck into silly things and wasting time. Doing a little something at the gym but not enough. Watching some tennis. Going to a friend's house to see her house and drop off some business stuff.

I got up at a reasonable hour I guess but then somehow got drug into one silly thing after another. I saw a deal where I could get 500 Frequent Flyer miles for my Red Cross donation, I tried to use the control panel for the WEB host that hosts the page you are reading and

got a blank page. I entered a complaint and got back an e-mail saying, basically, "yeah, it's broken and we are trying to fix it but you can move all your stuff and reconfigure it and use a different tool or pay us $50 to move your stuff." Uh, I don't think so. I hate junk like that. But, of course, I didn't really need to do anything on the control panel just now. I was just going to look and see who was coming to the site.

For some reason that reminded me that I need to do something about the Norton subscription on my laptop that was expiring. It wouldn't let me just renew the subscription in any sane fashion so I became frustrated and uninstalled it. I own four paid up subscriptions to McAfee so I had an extra (machine taking out of service) or maybe two...I think maybe FFP's is in his name. I installed McAfee. So there. I can take my business elsewhere. Of course, I occasionally get frustrated with McAfee, too. I just hate dealing with such things. All this meaningless stuff, publishing my journal, etc. took a lot of time and it was noon before I got to the club and finished my fifty minutes on the bike. I should have lifted, done situps but instead I felt the need to go home. I showered up and FFP and I went to the clothing store he likes, Capra and Cavelli to get some advice about a tux shirt and tie he wanted to wear next week. I looked at belts. They have women's clothing but all too trendy and too small. I will buy a belt in the Men's dpeartment, though, since I have, ahem, a thick waist. But I don't see any that I both like and could afford. I see a really pretty shirt, though, and convince FFP to buy it for himself. He looks at sports coats but doesn't buy one. Maybe he's hoping to get another buy at the Salvation Army. He was wearing that jacket last night, as a matter of fact.

We drop by our friend's house. I had noticed this house before and wondered about it long before she bought it. (Like in 2002.) Outside, frankly, I don't like the house much. Inside, though, it's a marvel. And she collects several artists I'm really impressed with. We talk and get a tour.

At home, I reviewed some stocks FFP was considering buying and watched tennis. I ate breakfast (cereal, nonfat yogurt, banana, coffee) although it was far too late in the day for that. But I hadn't eaten anything except for a thin slice of turkey.

So finally it is after five and I find myself paying more attention to the tennis when Hewitt manages to eke out a set against Federer. Hewitt looks calm and determined. Federer always does. Federer prevails just as one friend comes by and it's time to go out to dinner.

At home, I check the Women's Final. Clijsters prevails. The typeface they use for scoring makes it look like CLUSTERS. Sadly, the men are usually more exciting. I think women should play best of five. Just my opinion.

I channel surf, FFP exalts in UT's victory. I read a few sections of the paper. And sleep.