What's Up Now

After the 10-Q was filed for the quarter, I took a day "off" last Friday, as did my mother, and we spent the weekend doing some bricolage. We put two coats of paint on my garage, so it looks like it belongs with the house instead of like an alien building that just landed during a tornado or something. We also drilled holes for new kitchen cabinet knobs, and replaced the stupid formica/Corian knobs on the new side of the kitchen with more authentic glass ones. Then we watered the lawn, and plastered all the cracks in the sheetrock that popped up when the foundation work was done. That way I can do some interior painting, and put up curtains and and put in crown molding like I've always wanted to do. Not exactly a restful weekend, but we got a lot accomplished. I'm also hoping to get some landscaping advice so I can get some plants/trees/shrubs established this fall. Whew!

I have also been kind of a social butterfly; I'm meeting lots of new people, some of whom are interesting in a dating kind of way, but no real thunderbolts exactly. My friend Shannon is dating Garth Adam, the bass player for "Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts," so I'm going to the show at Stubb's on Saturday, which should be fun and quite a scene. Last year, there were a number of real Hollywood stars and tons of wanna-bes and wanna-sleep-with-Russell-Crowes hanging around. Kinda weird for Austin.

I'm also planning a trip to D.C. in early October to visit a good friend of mine from college. I'm looking forward to a more in-depth visit to the city; my previous forays were choir- or protest-march related, and I didn't get to see any of the museums, or get official tours of the monuments, etc. Smithsonian, here I come!

Letter to the Austin Chronicle

Regarding Mme. Chastenet de Géry's rant about the wastefulness of other restaurants' huge portions in her Starlite restaurant review: To a certain extent, I agree, but hasn't she ever heard of a to-go box? I don't ever leave any significant amount of food on my plate, but rather always ask to take it home, where it usually makes an easy second meal. If it's hot outside and I can't leave it in the car or carry it around, I give it to a homeless person, something I also have done in San Francisco and New York. Perhaps asking for a to-go box or tinfoil is considered impolite or uncool, but I think it's immoral to waste food when so many people in our own community are going hungry, and if I were on a date with someone who insisted on leaving half his meal behind, it would be our last. I agree that most restaurant portions tend to be huge, and that it's often difficult to finish all of just one entrée, much less several courses. This is partly because Americans tend to eat just one all-inclusive entree, say, a pasta dish that also contains a lot of meat or vegetables, rather several separate courses as they do in Europe. But I just see large portions as an opportunity to skip the cooking on two nights, and during summer in Texas, that's a blessing!

Welsh is Scottish

Irvine Welsh did a reading at Book People last night, which I attended. He signed all three of my books: "Trainspotting," "The Acid House," and "Glue," his newest. It was great to hear him read aloud from the new book, and doing all his characters' voices, although it was easier to understand when I read along. I grew up watching nothing but BBC programs, and I thought I was pretty good at understanding all manner of UK accents. Without the book, however, I would have been lost. Lurvely accent, though. People were asking him about all of his writing, and I commented that "Bad Blood," which functions as a self-contained short story within "Trainspotting," is one of the best stories I have ever read. "The Acid House" is also really good. My two favorite stories are "Disnae Matter" and "Snuff." Diabolically clever!

My New Cat Toby

I brought home a new kitty from the Town Lake Animal Center today, and he is very mellow, super-sweet and so cuddly, and has the softest fur ever. Diana isn't sure what to make of him, but I'm certain she'll warm up soon and they'll be playing together in no time.

This is the picture of Toby that was on the Austin Pets Alive website. He's even more handsome in person.

P.S. TLAC has lots of beautiful cats and dogs that need homes, so please check them out if you're looking to add to your family.

Oscar Party 2001

Here's the invitation for my 2001 Oscar Party:

Reflections

I am tasting
Crusty bread dipped in olive oil
Redolent of rosemary.
Across the table
My pleasure is reflected in your eyes,
Doubled as it returns to me.
And how much more
When your touch brings delirious waves
Lapping at my shore,
Then rolling out again,
Your nearby island intensifies
And sends them back to me