Journal of a Sabbatical

August 11, 2000

mood disorder

Today's Reading: The Sea and the Ice by Louis J. Halle

Today's Starting Pitcher: Rolando Arrojo

Already in a bad mood, I check my stock price and see that it's down again. It lost 6.5 percent yesterday and 11 percent on Wednesday. So I check the news services for an analysis of the decline, the prognosis is positive and the stocks is still rated "strong buy" so one might think that would cheer me up. The article is displayed in 9 point Arial and in some kind of frames thing that won't let me up the font size. I'm giving myself a headache trying to read it. I add aging vision and irrational continued use of Netscape to my list of reasons why I suck.

I try to download the latest Netscape upgrade on the off chance it solves this problem (making 9 point Arial look like insurance contract type) but my modem disconnects an hour into the hour and 35 minute transfer. I give up.

I make several attempts to download a visa application for China. I realize that I really only have until Monday to send it in if I want mail-in service. Since the alternative to mail-in service is to drive to New York, there is no alternative. Fortunately, I succeed in downloading it and the instructions I need to fill it out.

I hear weather forecasts for the weekend predicting rain for Sunday, the day of our second attempt at reaching Appledore for the Celia Thaxter garden tour. Suddenly I feel like summer had passed by and I've missed it.

I curl up in my recliner with Wilbur on my chest and read almost all of what's left to go in The Sea and the Ice.