AUSTIN, Texas, November 13, 2005 — I woke up dreaming about Geroge W. Bush. The dog was bugging me. I thought she wanted to go out, but she really wanted to get in bed with me. My left calf was cramping. In the dream, George took my arm and led me into a room where displays were set up like kids might do for a science fair and he found a W doll and held it up to his face and said he should do something. (I forgot what.)

I decided going back to bed was a bad idea and had coffee and watched some of the morning news programs and looked at the ads in the papers and checked my email. Which had almost 100 percent spam.

I dressed for the gym and figured I'd go, but FFP suggested walking to Upper Crust. We did. We saw Stephen Harrigan, the author, there.

We stopped by FFP's parents' house on the way back. His mom had filled all the cans she had for yard waste with leaves. She fights hard against the leaves and acorns. A limb had fallen from their big tree, "missing the new roof," and my ninety-four-year-old father-in-law had sawed it up. When I saw the (three inch diameter) pieces on the curb, I was afraid to ask who cut it up. She volunteered the info. We talked to them for a while about neighborhood history (he's been interviewed recently by the Austin History Center) and family stuff.

On the way home I thought I'd better gather up all the old computers that I want to get rid of. I'm actually hiring someone to make sure the hard drives are clean and to carry them away for 'proper' disposal. Whatever that means. Donating them or whatever. The guy is coming tomorrow and I don't want to forget any stuff I should send him away with.

I work on that for a while, hauling systems from the storage room and going through wires and parts and manuals. It's very depressing so I quit. I do about three of the holiday cards (stamping envelope, writing a personal note on the picture card, putting the mailing label on). I lose interest in that and read the papers and watch episodes of Jeopardy off the DVR.

Dinner tonight is a fund-raiser for Aids Services Austin. It's at 34th Street which is a restuarant we love. They have a new chef, Justin Raiford, and he's been doing some great things. I liked the whole meal but the Grilled Fennel Bulb and Herbed Ricotta Ravioli with Crawfish, Browned Butter and Shaved Pecorino was probably my favorite. There wasn't a missed note in any of it and the smoked butternut squash and Pumpkin soup was a great seasonal twist...although the hot temperatures have not really turned us to fall foods. We enjoyed sitting with people from the Fonda San Miguel restaurant and talking to them and other friends. And, of course, a good amount of money was raised for ASA to help people battling the desease. The influx of refugees from NO and other places has, of course, increased their caseload. Like all the human services organizations in town they are straining.

At home I read some papers and watch Desperate Housewives. Well I don't really watch it...FFP does. I do watch Grey's Anatomy, It isn't much better, though. Must stop watching these shows.

Sleep comes as it always does.

It wasn't a productive day. I'm overwhelmed with things like needing to get rid of stuff. Silly. I have time for it if not the inclination.