1987-02 (February)

Monday, February 16th[1987]

Mailed Amex-paid $17 annual subscription to the “NY Revision of Books.” Six to Eight weeks’ delay. Spent morning reading Racine’s Britannicus—with small profit or pleasure, I’m afraid. Walked 2.5; played Mozart’s Posthorn Serenade. Terrible TV movie (Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood as behind-the-lines heroes)followed Lean Cuisine. Back to room by 10; read Civ War I, maneuvers leading up to second manassas.Went to sleep by Bach’s goldberg variations.

Tuesday, February 17th[1987]

Mailed postcard reminders for my Wolf River dinner, one week from tonight.Rode out Poplar to new Video market; acres ofVCRs, all exposed or raw after row of [illegible]. Joined up; checked out “Pandora’s Box,” with Louise Brooks, which I’ve been wanting to see for years. on way back, as sleet + snow began falling along with the thermometer, I bought four gallons of kerosene for my workroom hearth, which apparently [illegible] greatly needed. Read Timon of Athens, which I hadn’t looked into in years; Act I, then broke for the news, dinner, + “Pandora’s Box.” Enjoyed seeing Louise Brooks again after some four decades, though I’d never before seen “Pandora.”

Wednesday, February 18th[1987]

Returned to Timon, Acts II-IV, then drove out east to my dermatologist, C.J. Safely. He reviewed a troublesome growth, a sort of permanent blackhead on my left cheek (with reassurance that it didn’t seem too serious) + prescribed two ointments for my splitting fingertips.Proofs arrived for the Carter interview from The Georgia Review. Unpleasant evening, redeemed somewhat by watching the “Mississippi Summer” segment of PBS’s program, “Eyes on the Prize.”

Thursday, February 19th[1987]

Whirlwind outing. Video outlet; returned “Pandora’s Box.” Bank; cashed $250 check. Seessel’s; gottwo huge, prime sirloin strips for dinner, plus eight small Delmonico steaks for packaging in the freezer, along with a fresh baguette. Total bill, $25.40. Finally, got a haircut. Busy ninety minutes. In afternoon, finished correcting galleys for the Georgia Review interview. Also wrote to Mary Kling in Paris asking for a report on accumulated royalties + publishing plans for a follow up by Galinard with Tourbillon. Instead of the regular Thursday night out, stayed home + cooked large strip sirloins,with spinach en brauche + a baguette—plus my Christmas bottle of Pominard; all good

Friday, February 20th[1987]

Cold + rainy. Isaiah came, but left at 10:30, rained out. Cut dead links from courtyard magnolia but not much else.Spot-read Vol. I of Civil War—mainly the chapter “The Sun Shines South,” winding up with second Manassas, following the Bragg—Kirby south Kentucky invasion. Preparation for Tuesday-night’s Wolf River dinner.Otherwise a slow-drag day.Lead Cuisine; bed by 11.