A Journal of Sorts

Wednesday, 17 March 1999

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I suppose my single lifestyle as well as my depression had something to do with the lack of reading. I can't blame surfing the net because I was surfing the BBS's as much as I was surfing the net. Anyway, it is time to expand my horizons and enrich my life through reading. Also, it sets a good example for Jason.

My first trips to our little local library were overwhelming -- what to read, what to read? This last time, I headed over to the fiction section and tried to remember authors I've enjoyed in the past. One name that stuck in my mind was John Updike, not because he was a favorite, but because of his writing style. I got tired reading Rabbit, Run. I've never seen such looooong sentences. Sure enough, just a few pages into In the Beauty of the Lilies, I found myself once again, looking for the period. Seventeen line long sentences. Whew!

I don't know how I can enjoy the book and pay so much attention to the writing style at the same time. Last week, when I was reading Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer I was caught up in his use of simile and metaphor, although I didn't much enjoy the book. It was one I bought many, many years ago and had tried to read several times, but couldn't get through it. I finally did.

I have felt sort of depressed today. I always worry about DEPRESSION instead of simple depression -- a normal mood swing. So far, since I've called myself cured or in remission or whatever, I have simply had a few hours, every now and then, when I was in a low mood. It is hard to remember back before I had real DEPRESSION to know if this is normal, but I think it is and that thought, all by itself is uplifting.

The interviews yesterday felt like they went OK. I had to talk to the honcho boss and a manager over a 'sister' department. I think they like me because of my OS/2 experience, although one of them seemed disappointed that I didn't have much programming on the s/36 and s/400 platforms. I also feel like I'm going to have to compromise a bit on salary if they make an offer and I accept it. I think I like them well enough to come down a couple of thousand, but not more than that.

The carrots are sprouting!!!!!! (I'm excited again). I did actually get around to planting some Nasturtium seeds today as well. I put some in the mum bed as well as the bed around the Burr Oak. Perhaps I'll get some other seeds in the ground a little later today.