1988-01 (January)

JANUARY 6 WEDNESDAY 1988 6th day- 360 days follow Violent snowstorm predicted for Arkansas + West Tennessee Hugs spent morning packing for afternoon departure I took him to the airport at 3.30 then came back home Snow was already falling by then For dinner fixed a hash stew using the leftover portions of our Sunday night sirloin strips - onions carrots celery garlic plus bay , mushrooms worchester good- as always Passed mid point of PhinesesFinn snow got heavier by evening as predicted

THURSDAY 7 JANUARY 1988 7th day- 359 days follow

Eight inches of snow on ground with more on the way Paid bills; continued Phineas Ate leftover stew for dinner plus french fries Moosehead beer to wash it down watched an hour of TV "LA LAW" then came back to gas heated room + Phineas

JANUARY 8 FRIDAY 1988 8th day- 358 days follow Snow still eight inches deep unmelted by subfreezing weather Phone call from Stuart Prallet to NY Union League Club I'll speak there- give a reading that is, with a follow up discussion on March 3 a Thursday Fee: air travel plus $1000 letter will follow Seessels's in afternoon driving on slippery pavements; got perch filets for dinner tonight plus bread milk potatoes + such like Came back + finished Phineas Finn at 4.30 Trollope is a solid truthful writer; the John O'Hara of his time (Note: Found the Clarksvilles note, Vol V pg. 578-79 "A gloom rests over the city...") Cooked the perch filets in peanut oil planters, not the used expensive brand Boiled potatoes Italian bread bottle of Macon Village Blanc

SATURDAY 9 JANUARY 1988 9th day - 357 days follow Wrote to Ken Burns quoting the Clarksville passage + telling him I'll be in New York in early March Alas, didnt finish it until too late to catch the postman Read Joyce's "The Dead" a justly respected story but a long way short of [?] his best; or Maupassant for that matter Cold continues snow unmelted streets too slippery to risk driving on Made cornbread in old oven to go with pork medalions + collards Good but that up to last because I had to use peanut oil instead of bacon drippings Margaret came by + got $20 Trouble again with Landlady; will be moving In bad shape all around but I don't at all know what to do about it What's best I mean; even [?] to help [?] at all if she wont help herself

JANUARY 10 SUNDAY 1988 10th day- 356 days follow

Scribbled note on back of envelope to Ken Burns calling attention to the Presque Isle Talladega quote in Vol V concerning the fight for Little Round Top Cold continues but sunshine has begun to melt ice on south side of the house streets are apparently still slippery though I havent ventured out on them since that first day of the storm on Friday Played some sit-by-the-fire Bach: unaccompanied violin sonatas + partitas sent [?] $438 for security 1988