1987-10 (October)

Thursday, October 1st

Finished Faulkner’s Fablein midafternoon; a great work badly flawed in its conception, but with the writing overcoming all but the unremovable flaws of symbolism. I’m glad I got around to this rereading. Walked 1.5 in 26 mins; played Dvorak Quartet op. 105. Walkman acting up, alas. Heard, first from Hugs + then from Nancy Lemmon herself that he is staying in her NY apartment though most of October while she is at home in New Orleans. Good luck. Got VCR, “Swimming to Cambodia,” also a round-the-world pizza from Broadway Pizza. Ate, then watched show; good, but not as good as I’d hoped.

Friday, October 2nd

Gwyn drove out to Goldsmith gardens to pack unsold Elinor Giobbi paintings for storage, + also tobring out three back here. When she returned I hung our “Formal Fish” on the window indention near my desk, where it makes, I think, a splendid effect. In afternoon I got two new goldfish at a shop on Poplar; brought them home + put them in the courtyard pool, now covered with screened frames to keep out the falling leaves. Also got a can of pellets, enough to feed them (three now; one died early this week) through the fall + winter + into the spring if not summer.

Saturday, October 3rd

First cold weather; turned on furnace for the first time since last May. Spent the day reading the latest draft of the Burns (Florentine Films) Civil War TV script. Found eighteen errors; will list them tomorrow + send them to Ric Burns. Walked two miles in 33 minutes; played Beethoven’s seventh symphony—my longtime favorite, which I haven’t heard in a good while.

Sunday, October 4th

Ungrens returned; finished all termite damaged wood except short beam over library window. Drove out to Blockbuster Video; got two VCRs for the price of one—documentary on the waking of “Under the Volcano,” mainly concerning Huston, + “Crockadile Dundee.” Saw former first; latter tomorrow. Also saw a good educational TV show, “Soldiers,” based on John Keegan’s Face of Battle; enjoyed it.

Monday, October 5th

Slept till 7:15, thanks to continued cool weather. Much appreciated, as John Connor used to say. Showed unreason the remaining carpentering work to be done—replacement of weather-damaged wood in the courtyard + the back porch; guest room balcony still in question. Also the price of replacing three or four windows. Steep, I expect. Dinner was leek + potato soup, made with broth from chicken gwyn cooked Sunday. Afterwards, popped corn for watching VCR of “Crockodile Dundee,” amusing farce.