A blog about New York City, my books, and my cats. Mostly.
I saw this on the Met’s website when I was looking for the Francois Gilot/Picasso photograph. I forget who the painter is now! But I like this painting.
Right now I’m downloading the new TV show The Conviction from the Apple Music Store. 1, because it’s free, 2, because I’ve never watched video before on my new video iPod and 3, because I love TV and it’s a new show.
I was at Petco last week, about to lug kitty litter when I broke down and asked, “Do you deliver?” (I make myself carry all heavy things for exercise, that’s why I say I broke down.) The cashier answered, “What’s delivery?”
I was so confused by her question I just repeated the word. “Delivery.” We stared at each other in mutual non-comprehension. People were waiting behind me so she finally answered, “No,” even though I’m sure she didn’t know what I was asking. I figured it was probably the right answer nonetheless.
Along the same lines, I wrote a polite but angry letter to the Durham Police Department. People keep almost hitting me making right turns on red when I have the walk sign. And it’s “almost” because I learned quickly that pedestrians are invisible in Durham. I always watch and jump out of the way.
Someone reasonably responded it’s not much of a walking city, and I reasonably responded that they shouldn’t have right turn on red then, in a city that’s not used to watching for pedestrians.
(That reminds me, when I leave I’m going to post a BIG thank you to the librarians of the Special Collections Library who have been taking care of me. For instance, after this incident Elizabeth Dunn, who fed me an amazing meal, drove me to Petco to stock up on kitty litter. Then she drove me to Target to stock up on water. Zachary Elder, who was featured earlier as the youngest librarian of Special Collections, also had me over for an amazing dinner.)
This is the West Duke Building, where the Parapsychology Lab was located when it was at Duke. It’s on the East Campus, what was then the Women’s Campus. I wonder if that was like shuffling it off to the side at the time? Imagine if your office was one of the ones with those lovely arched windows, though.
Update
Cats: Finney meows at whoever walks by. People talk babytalk back to him until they notice me sitting here working. Then they look sheepish (I smile).
Gym: Next week we start free weights. My trainer warned me that the pounds are going to start going up, but that it’s JUST MUSCLE.
Music: Continuing to sound like the religious fanatic in room 128. “Let the guilty prophet perish!”
Research: Something I’ve learned in life: Cops put as little as possible in writing. Scientists put EVERYTHING in writing. No matter how far along I am, I’ve decided, I’m going home in March. I’ve probably got enough for a dozen books at this point. I’m going to get as far as I get, go home, start writing, and if I’ve missed stuff I will hire a student here to copy it for me.
TV: I miss my HDTV. My glorious glorious HDTV. I’m missing the Olympics in HDTV.
Me and Charlie Brown. Well, fuck it. He’s got Snoopy. I got Buddy and Finney. So Valentine’s Day, GO TO HELL.
That said, presents are still accepted. Valentine’s Day can go to hell except for the giving-Stacy-presents part. Presents for Stacy are welcome at … well, I guess that wouldn’t be too smart to post my address for all the world to see. Damnit. I want presents!
Bing, bing bing, ricochet rabbit! (We’ll see how many people remember that reference.)
I’ve speeded up the number of boxes I’m going through a day, and if I keep it up I will be able to come home the end of March. Home home home!! Too late for the blizzard it’s killing me to miss (damnit all). Once I start actually writing the book though, I’ll figure out what I didn’t copy and must have and I’ll have to come back. But then I’ll know then exactly what I need and where to find it.
Here’s the table where I work in my effiency. (Note the little plant. My pathetic attempt to cheer the place up.)
Here are the boxes of copying I’ll be taking home. “Box 2” is over flowing, as you see, and it’s time to start “Box 3.”
