1987-07 (July)

Wednesday, July 1st

Read some of Mark Twain’s Gilded Age, then wrote to Bob Loomis thanking him for A.P. Hill.Bob Ungren came by at 2:30; stayed half an hour, scanning + measuring termite-damaged beams + XXXXX. He’ll replace tower uprights, also thosein garage doorframe, + railings on rear steps. Estimate will be sent to Keith C. Ritz, manager of Terminix branch that he’s insured us against termites for 21 years. I also had him examine, for a separate estimate, the water-rotted windows—one in basement, two in bedroom, one in guestroom, one in bathroom, one in Huger’s room (over desk): total, six windows, at least three of which will have to be replaced entirely. Dinner at Grisanti’s; spaghetti carbonara for me, pasta + spinach for gwyn; a bottle of Brolio chianti.Walked 2.5 miles in 39.5 mins.; played Hindemith, quartet 2, string trio.

Thursday, July 2nd

Began Euripides’ Happoloytus; a curiously unsatisfactory play—demonstrative, for me, of reasons why I prefer both Aeschylus + Euphucles. Too humanmaybe; or just not stark + terrible enough to measure up to the notion of grekart. Called Cline about Cartier clock; says it will be ready next week (after 3.5 months) + at same time I can leave my pocket watch for cleaning. Called Allen Fisher; couldn’t reach him, but talked to Sandra Mullins, who says she’ll get back to me about house/see insurance problems. Good news in mail room from Loomis: hardback Warhas gone into new printings—Vol. I, 16th; Vol. II, 13th; Vol. III, 9th. Lots of Books. Letter from E. Esau McNaughton, AIA, New Orleans, confirms $750 honorarium for 17-19 Oct conference in Natchez. Reservation made for Gwyn + me at Eola Hotel. Itinery will come by mail presently. Finished Hippolytusby mid afternoon; pale indeed by comparison with The Bacchae. Walked two miles but got held up by an autograph hunter—40 mins. Played Mozart, Divertimento 15; good walking music.

Dentist,4 p.m.-2:30

Friday, July 3rd

Up at 7:30; cereal breakfast; Sarah off on July 4 weekend. New, youthful yard man, Lee, arrived at 9: I put him to clipping ivy, high on the extension ladder. Threat of rain.Changed 2:30 dental appointment to next Friday at 4 oclock. Dr. Roy Tyrer, a neurosurgeon, came by with a set of the Warfor me to autograph for him. Gave me the name of a roofer (Central Roofing, Charles Geno) who has done good work for him in his tile XXXXXX XXXX; $800 total. Lee stung by a wasp at 4 oclock; had to leave. I paid him in full, because he had all but completed the ivy clipping all round the house. Wanted to come back tomorrow (the fourth) but I put him off till early next week. Gwyn brought mustard greens + corn-on-the-cob home from market.

Saturday,July 4th

July Fourth—124th anniversary of Vicksburg’s fall. Cereal breakfast, plus sausage roll.Drove gwyn out to Steinmart, where she got nothing + I got two pairs of thick cotton walking socks + a pair of pajamas. On way home, picked up hotdog buns, then cooked the frankfruters on the back yard grill + ate them with washed down with a chilled bottle of white Macon Village. Bad VCR starring seven good actors; I’ve already forgotten its name.So went the glorious Fourth.

Sunday, July 5th

Sunday; abed till 7:30; cereal then toast with peanut butter. Not hungry after last night’s hot dogs. Began rereading The Art of Aeschylus which I first read back in March. Good book. Walked two miles in 34 mins; played Haydn Cello Concerto; Sinfonia Concertanti on return. Watched VCR “To Live + Die in L.A.” From start to finish, I had only the faintest notion of what was going on, or of who were the good guys, + who the bad; or, for that matter, what was what. Infuriating.