11-4-01 11:50 Sa

“I’ll be thirty-four in two months,” Thing hisses. “It’s frightening.”

I’m thinking it would be a funny thing to say that we should send the Statue of Liberty back to France and tell the huddled masses to go there. I don’t really believe that, but it’s a funny thing to say. Alkied out with a game tomorrow. Moron. Though of something pissing that I wanted to write, but now I can’t remember. I want to go bowling. A few Mexican strums, backed by sirens and rustling palms, ride the cool breeze like a score closing in on the midnight Hudson stoop; only in California. Thing’s dog shits condoms and cat litter. The magnolia’s dropping seeds on me. Thing took a copy of Jim home, the first 148 pages. I was reading it last night and liked what I read, but I was a little high. I discovered some essential paradox last night. What was it?~~It’s morning now. I can’t think of anything to write. I should go for a bike ride. I haven’t enough time. It rained this morning. What else? Ada is awake now. She’s playing with my pen. Rochelle wants to take a nap, but she says she can’t sleep. My shoulder hurts. Ada’s taking bites of banana and spitting them out. The Bucs and Packers are on TV at Lambeau. The Ravens are on in Pittsburgh. Game Seven of an epic World Series is on tonight. I’m hungry. And fat. Schilling vs. Clemens. I wish the game was being played in New York.

I have to go to the Leadership Council meeting tomorrow. And also “Smush.” Ugh. I’m supposed to type concerns for the meeting. I’ll have to leave by four.

 10-31-01 W 4:15 PM

I need to change the clock on the mantel. Check email. My mom is here. She wanted to be here for Ada's first Halloween. I'm tired and crabby as usual. I typed fifteen minutes before school started this morning. I read the first part of The Secret Sharer. The secret sharer is the inner Mr. Hyde we share ourselves with. Ho-hum. A witch, a tiger-princess, a fairy princess, two devils, and three ninjas came to class today. We checked our homework and read spooky tales like "The Golden Arm" and "Wait Until Martin Comes," and "Taily-Po" and others. Then the kids wrote their own scary stories, and we carved the pumpkin. I asked if they wanted a scary pumpkin or a happy pumpkin. Seventeen scaries and one vote for happy. Then we cut out letters and ghosts and bats and things for our parade banner. Then the kids read their stories: ghosts that eat children, that kind of thing. We watched "Mad Monster Party." Rochelle brought cupcakes and a cute little duck named Ada. There was a union meeting after school. It was boring and aimless, but at least I'm not alone in hating the principal. OK, that's it. Now what? I haven't read the newspaper yet. Game Four of the World Series is on soon. I roasted the pumpkin seeds, but I left them in a little too long. I just got a vodka and margarita mix shiver. What else? Ugh. I'll find a photo to post on the next page so I won't have to think of that much more to write. 

Here's Ada in New Rochelle, New Jersey at cousin Krista's house. I should email them. What else? My mom's bagging on Persians. That's it.