1986-02 (February)

Thursday, February 6th [1986] Radiated promptly, still no side effects that amount to anything serious. Warm weather continues after heavy all-night rain. Cold predicted for next week, though, so I drove out summer for five gallons of coal oil. Stopped by secondhand bookstore on way back, but did find anything I wanted. Lunch at new Restaurant, Fulton’s, on madison behind McLean. Also gave her a year’s subscription ($15650) to the daily NY Times for her upcoming birthday. Buttered-popcorn dinner: watched Brazilian movie (VCR) “Pixote,” a good one.

Friday, February 7th [1986] Radiation: midpoint, end of third week. Returned “Pixote” to Magic Video, then went to library + got two more for the weekend: “Sugar Ray” + Lina Wertmuller’s “Seven Beauties.” Watched The Robinson Fights; old times remembered, when he + me was in our prime. In afternoon, returned to Hollywood bookstore, got an old edition of Walter Scott’s Heart of Mid-Lothian. Decided to give him another try; Ivanhoe, which I read at twelve, is the only one of his novels I even managed to finish. Walked two miles; Elgar’s Violia Concerto.

Saturday, February 8th [1986] Up at 7; fix regular breakfast; came back + began Mid-Lothian. Hard going—especially the facetious unconnected first chapter. Skipped walk because of blustery weather. In evening, watched VCR of Lila Wertmuller’s “Seven Beauties,” a confusing hodgepodge of intermixed scenes, but well-acted.

Sunday, February 9th [1986] Fixed Sunday breakfast for us both; then watched Brinkley Report on TV. Turning colder—much. Continued Mid-Lothian, but slowly.

RENEW EXTENDED CD AT KT TENN. Monday, February 10th [1986] Sleety snow, slippery streets. Drove cautiously to Baptist for radiation; cautiously back, too. Lunch at Peabody with D’Army Bailey + wife Adrienne; guest of honor Maya Angelou—a likeable black writer from Arkansas by way of California. Made reservation for Bob Loomis at Port-Chartrain in New Orleans for NBA meeting on Sat. + Sun. May 24-25. Finished opening section, chapters 2-7, of Mid-Lothian. Better, but still slow.