Saturday, July 1, 2000

2:08 p.m. Still inside, still in front of the monitor: yippee, yeppers. I'm still here. I've managed to talk-talk-talk myself out of sailing today and I made of series of promises instead. They included getting a bright and early start tomorrow.

So now, I can put my July stuff up while the sun is still shining and do a lot more filing before I get too tired, *and* I can even do some sweeping up and reading in the sun if I'm lucky. I've clung to my little nest in a really pathetic way and complained about all the work I have to do here. (Hint: organize animations.)

I'm good.

More later.

1:30 a.m. There is such a delicate, jury-rigged, Rube Goldberg balance to a set of marriage negotiations. In exchange for staying home, I've promised to wash and mend (by hand) the black covering that goes over the sail. In exchange for that favor, we went to the home supply store Lechters, and I bought a few essentials. Sure they were for the boat, but I got a hook for the home bathroom door in the bargain.

See how this works? Then, I agreed to eat at a Chinese restaurant in exchange for eating out. Next: Starbucks for latte and I found a steal of a deal for $4.99, reduced from $25.99 (box of writing supplies). Are we in balance yet? Not exactly. On to the video rental place and I knew there was no way I was going to be able to rent the Bug Story movie unless I wanted to watch it alone, so we compromised with Topsy Turvy and I pushed Three Kings, my treat.

Now, I should point out that each and every one of these transactions is executed silently and in perfect harmony, sometimes at the same time. Twenty-five years of relationship practice creates a very honed, precision machine. And sometimes, but not very often, there are surprises. For instance, Three Kings.

I suggested we watch it first, assuming I'd watch a few minutes of it, see that Igor was all safely tucked into the couch with his tea and sugar-free chocolates and lime-flecked tortilla chips and chocolate egg cream, and then I'd slip away and play with my animations for a glorious hour or so. But not tonight.

That movie was amazing. Who could resist it? Every single frame was wonderful, and now I finally see why George Clooney is on the cover of People this week. Brilliantly written, plot to write home about, and gripping -- edge of the seat stuff. Wonderful. So now the movie is rewinding and I've slipped away to finish this piece so that I won't have to wait until almost 3 a.m. when Topsy Turvy is finished.

And the best part? There's no way I'm getting up bright and early tomorrow morning.

I said I was good.