That is the problem with modern ink from a bottle. You do not have to think. You simply write what is swimming on top of your brain. And the top is nothing but pond scum, dead leaves, and mosquito spawn.---Amy Tan, THE BONESETTER'S DAUGHTER

I put Casey off for a day because we had a Jesuit play tonight. Rich went off to give blood. Tuesday he'd gone for his election training and says they had a universal "stop sign", the circle and red slash, over "FL". No Florida for us! I'm surprised at a couple of the changes, though. They used to have someone else mail in the summary, just in case the person delivering the ballots crashed or somehow lost them, I guess. That's no longer necessary. Also, they won't have to keep counting if there's a discrepancy.

There was a package, and at first I thought maybe it was a late birthday present, but it turned out to be a "Mendocino mushroom and winefest" t-shirt. I "guessed" (counted) the right number of mushrooms at the exhibit at the State Fair!!

The neighbor has finches, so we put out the thistle seed sack.

Jesuit's play, Other Rooms, was strange. It was a series of short scenes from the work of Oliver Sachs. Rich was really bored. I was interested, and the kids certainly did well with the acting (which of course is the point.) I overheard, afterwards: "They always do strange things. Do you remember The Visitor?" "Yes, at least this one was short!" Oh, well.