1985-09 (September)

September 1st, 1985 Diarrhea apparently cured, though I still feel somewhat woozy. Don't know whether the sickness(?) came from food poisioning or some other 24 - hour flu. At least I seem to be recovering, whatever it was. Walked briskly at noon; than the VCR movie "Paris Texas." Late afternoon feeling better; I walked down to morningside to see Tunkie. Told him at last that I have valued his friendship and that I want him to know I'll be glad to be of help XXXXXXX I can to his three children, especially in matters of art and reading; a rather awkward attempt to say I knew he was dying and was saying goodbye ahead of time. Had xxxxxxxxx for lunch. For dinner, poached eggs and toast - first solid food in two days. Began reading bound galley's of McShane's biography of James Jones. Memories of him kept coming back as I read.

September 2nd, 1985 Labor Day: no Mary. Finished McShane's J. Jones. Found it intesresting, mainly because of its careful laying-out of the facts; but I doubt I can give XXXX a blurb; with any honesty, that is. Got out the Two Gates early XXXXX for the first time in many months, but found myself unable to do anything with it at all. The domestic station gets worse all the time and my self- contempt (for putting up with it) isn't great for me to feel that I can write anything of the slightest validity or with XXXX ABILITY. Hell of a note. Hurricane Elena finally came ashore this morning at Gulfport and Biloxi, after wandering all along the gulf coast for several days, aftermath threatening Louisiana and Florida before it made up its ground to stick between them. Damage not great; few injured because of early warnings and evacuations. Recored "The Executioner's Song." Watched first forty minutes; next ran on automatic while I slept.

September 3rd, 1985 Mary here, also Fletcher cutting grass front and rear. Got out the Two Gates stuff again. Alas, it looks more unpromising than ever. No core, no inner motor to drive it; no iterating counceXXX. This is going to take some heavy consideration. Gwyn took Booker to the vet (Ramsey) in another attempt to get something done about his itch, ehich is driving him (and us) to distraction. He sheds about two pecks of hair a day. Wonder is, he isn't bald. Walked 2 1/2; played one of my Civil War tapes. Played TV cassette. "The Executioner's Song."

September 4th, 1985 Booker much better; me too. Began fine-tooth-combine Dungagn and Stewart's Ploesti for use in backflashed in Two Gates. Walked 2 1/2; more Civil War. Lean Cuisine; rewatched "XXXXXX the Volcano," which Gwyn hadn't seen.

September 5th, 1985 Continued Ploesti, gathering much good material; my third reading, as always with many thoughts of Louis Nicholson, who dies coming back from the raid. Skipped walk - in celebration of 29th wedding anniversary. Gwyn and I decided to give each other a tree as a combined present; will wait till a good planting time. Peking for dinner- fried dumplings, fragrant pork, wonderful shrimp; Lite beer. Home by 9; watched cassette of commercial (badly censored as Many ads) recording of "The Missouri Breaks.'