03/24/98

Natasha and I are engaged in the Clavamox Death Battle 2000. We are both monumentally unhappy about her bladder infection. She is equipped with moveable paws, extensor claws, snapping jaws, and an uncanny sense of when it's time for another pill. I, of course, am superior in weight and brute strength as well as possessing opposable thumbs, but I'd say it's an even match. Poor little one, she's not feeling very good and she so hates taking pills. I am not moved by heartrending shrieks or piteous howls for mercy, however. Leaving aside the health issue, she pees on the carpet when she's got an infection and it smells horrible. We're going to have to have the rug shampooed at least once a year in this condo. The pets are leaving odors which we never noticed in the house with hardwood floors. One more strike against wall to wall carpeting.

I'm starting to get a sense of the peninsula cities as I drive around on weekends. I drove down Middlefield Road last week between Atherton and Redwood City, and it was quite a contrast. Most of Redwood City, for instance, seems to have been down so long it's on its way up again, very blue collar and funky with an overlay of gentility in areas. The city motto is, and I know you'll like this, Proven Best By Government Test. It doesn't say which government. I'm thinking Truman. Anyway, Atherton is a very tony location with gorgeous old houses and even more gorgeous old plantings. Between the two cities (I'm not sure Atherton's a real city since it has no downtown but I think it's incorporated) lies this long, flat, sunny stretch of peninsula which is indistinguishable from a Mexican town. It made me feel all cozy and happy. I like Mexican culture in general, and I like Cal-Mex culture in particular, having lived in the Mission District of San Francisco in the 80's. Hispanic influence is all over the Bay Area, of course. I think it's pretty cool that my local drugstore carries prayer candles along with ordinary candles. If I ever need to pray to a particular saint for their intervention I can nip across the street and grab a Money, or Love, or Confusion to my Enemies candle.

Speaking of confusion, I think I'm going to have to break down and learn to use some kind of HTML editor. I have a copy of GoLive Cyberstudio but I'm having the worst time making myself learn it. However, my HTML is a bit limited and I'm tired of my layout schemes. Complaints about the download time on my pages do not go unnoticed, either, but I don't imagine that'll change much since I insist on using graphics liberally. Be grateful I don't go in for embedded movies or midi.