Well, you know, we did go to Maui a couple of weeks ago. That was the main celebratory activity. But today was Sunday and I didn't want to do anything in particular. We went out for dim sum in the morning, a favorite treat for both of us, and I was especially pleased to snag some taro root dumplings. I love fried taro root with pork or shrimp in the center, mmm mmm. We also got warm egg custard tarts fresh from the oven, another favorite. You never know with dim sum brunch whether your favorites will come around in time, of course. Either you might be too tired of sitting to wait for one last particular sort of dumpling, or you might be too full. This was a fairly successful outing in every regard. Now if only I could find a Chinese restaurant around here that serves a decent dinner. The Flower Lounge has great dim sum but our sole dinner expedition was a signal failure. At least they don't use MSG.

Back home I wrapped presents and amused the cats by curling ribbons. I'm sending a wedding gift to Rick McGinnis who is getting married next month. It's funny, really, I am so very fond of him and yet we've never met. It's partly that he's a hell of a writer, partly that I seem to collect friends from St. Catharines, Ontario, and partly a no-point-in-analyzing-it, opposites-attract fun email relationship. That's life in the modern age. I'm happy he's getting married so I'm sending a present. I only wish I could have arranged to send him and K. to Barcelona.

I also had to wrap a birthday gift for my sister in Dallas, and a birthday gift to my dad in... oh, heck, where is he going to be for his birthday? This is right around the time of the annual migration south for them. A quick phone call reveals they are taking off for the desert this Thursday. Very well, the present goes to California. Anyway, everything had to be wrapped and cards bought or made because tonight I'm going to the airport Post Office to mail everything. They're open until midnight and the wedding gift is bulky and much too heavy to carry to work on the train.

After that I did homework and chores, but about the time I put in the third load of laundry and contemplated Chapter 5, "Argument Recognition", I decided a nap was both necessary and a justifiable indulgence. I've been so short on sleep for so long. My head is awhirl with images lately, dreams and nightmares in equal proportion whenever I do actually fall asleep. Insomnia is still something of a problem, but I think the situation is improving. Peaceful sleep, though, eludes me. Ah well, these are troubled times. It's not surprising I'm having troubled dreams.

In a bid to give myself some more free time I decided to skip the two upcoming Tuesday volleyball games. John can invite a friend to use my ticket; I will be free to go home. Except what's happening is I'm scheduling other things. Yes, I know. I know! But some are weekly commitments and some are just fitting in normal maintenance, and all of it is much more difficult and time-consuming because I don't have a car. I have to do it after work and either coordinate a ride with John or face a 1.2 mile walk home from the train station because the free shuttle stops running after my normal train gets in. Not that I take the normal train any day other than Monday now.

I worked out on Friday, for instance, for the first time in 17 days and it felt great. I hurt like hell now, though. So Tuesday I'll take advantage of the free day and work out again after work. Then I'll have to walk home, which sucks. But if I don't work out Tuesday it'll be another week! Monday I have class, Wednesday I have therapy, Thursday I see a counselor at college about how close I am to getting a degree, and Friday I go to Las Vegas. Sunday morning I'm back home at 11am, though I'll stay on at the airport to pick up my ticket for Palm Springs in December (I have to trade in a coupon for it, so I might as well get it done while I'm already at the airport and not needing to catch a plane) so I won't really get home until noon. I can relax for a while, but I have to study because Monday I have a test. Tuesday (now available because I'm missing a volleyball game) I booked a much-needed massage. I could skip that, but it falls under body maintenance and it was either that or the chiropractor and frankly a massage is a hundred times more appealing at the moment. Wednesday is the usual visit to Menlo Park after work. It's Halloween and I'm very disappointed to miss seeing the trick-or-treaters for a second year in a row but I need to keep my therapy appointment, I really do. Thursday... gosh, the next time I'm not doing anything is Thursday, November 1st.

John's car-hunting, that's all I can say. If I have a car I'll be able to combine some of my errands, appointments, and meetings and I won't have to stretch them out one weekday at a time. It does mean I'll have to drive to work part of the week, but it will also mean an increase in efficiency and conservation of energy, my energy. John's been shopping around quite a bit, and my guess is we'll be a two-car family by November.

Maybe I should have titled this 24/7.

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