Thursday Morning

I'd better hurry up and hang the wind chimes back up. Last night, Pop gave up the big room early, and since the winds were really whipping around us, I took the chimes down in order to improve my chances for enjoying a good sleep. He tolerates my taking them down, but he is not happy about it. It's the same with the loud tick-tocky clock in the kitchen. The weirdness probably is with me, but what is wrong with a little quiet?

Thomas Mann

Reading Hayman's biography on Mann, I come across another discussion on Mann's World War One essay "Reflections of a Nonpolitical Man", and learning that Mann wrote the essay as a means to lighten the burden on "Magic Mountain", so as to not overfill a novel that was already growing a little cumbersome, I felt a greater urgency to get the essay. The problem: when I looked at it earlier at Amazon, I thought the lowest price was sixty dollars. Nevertheless, I took another look this morning, and I see that there is a paperback copy for twenty-five dollars. It's very used, but they are 'promising' that the text is unmarked. I am going for it. I ordered it, and it is expected to arrive in two to three weeks, which is fine. I'm not in a hurry. I think I will be sticking with Mann for some time, at least another couple of months. For instance, I also feel an inclination to read his brother Heinrich's "Blue Angel", but this is still down the road.

The Bank

Pop seems a little chastened this morning. He mentioned last night that he was having a little trouble with the bank. One of his checks bounced. He was a little cocky, saying that he was going to give them hell, that he is very careful about these things, though he also mentioned that he is having a harder time concentrating. Presumably, he simply forgot to record one of his expenditures. It is easy to imagine that he is perhaps a little too quick to play Daddy Big Bucks with Kay and Lorie, as well as with Jack and Jill, and he probably forgot to record one of his grand gestures. When he returned from the bank this morning, he said that he took care of the problem. I am supposing that it is not a catastrophe, but, as I said, he sounds and appears a little chastened. If it was a mistake on the bank's part, he would be crowing about his victory over the titans of finance.

Kay

As I finish watching an episode of "The West Wing", done with my lunch of chicken fried rice, I hear the rattling of Kay's white pick-up truck coming up the driveway. At least I am done with the grocery list, except for the H.E.B. items.

Weather

How about that! Grocery day is tomorrow and there is no forecast for rain. When was the last time that happened? Was it last winter? I am exaggerating, but not by much. I should probably switch to pants, though. It can be chilly in the morning.

Evening

I'm kind of nervous about working the cat's feedings around Kay tonight. Pop is obviously going to cook a heavy dinner, with steaks or pork chops thawing out on the kitchen table, not to mention having to work in my own feedings. I'm set for an early snack. In fact, I better start pre-heating the oven right now. I am going to have a slice of that french bread pizza. My dinner tonight is still an unresolved mystery for me, as we will have to see how appetite and opportunities are looking at around nine. In fact, maybe I will make that two slices, the whole box, so that I will not be feeling hungry too soon.

LiveJournal

For the first time since returning to LJ, I find myself leaving my Friends Page open. It does keep me in contact with celebrity news and gossip, which can be a little fun - following the sexy fun people. Though, I feel a twinge of pain from an old wound, remembering how nice it was to see fellow diarists, especially hot college girls, showing up regularly on my Friends Page, as well as how nice it was to still be thirty-something, even if just barely.

My Little Dinner

Pop, with Kay, took over the big room at nine. That works okay. The cats did not have to starve, and I did not need to bring the plate outside. It also would have been a good time, ordinarily, to make my dinner, though on this occasion I was still too full from that french bread pizza. My little dinner will be closer to 10:30 tonight. I am only going to have a sandwich with some pretzels and tea.