Went for a 3.5 miles walk with Robert this morning.  Returned my book on tape and got another one (to use during walking--another mystery.)

I want to get a lot of writing done today, so I can play tomorrow!  My friend, Denis, is having a little celebration upon getting his Ph.D. (his thesis was on road-side memorials.  He's an English dancing fiend, and one of the smartest people I've every met--knows a lot about esoteric subjects.).  I've mentioned him before in this blog.

Went into San Francisco yesterday with Robert to see the new Westfield mall in downtown--and meet Karla for coffee.  Nice place--the "grocery store" is exquisitely stocked--every green bean looks hand placed.  Pricey.  They preserved the old classical dome from the old Emporium store that was there.  I still remember shopping in that store in the sixties or seventies.  I could still tell you where the white gloves and hats were stocked.  I know were the men's department was, and the information booth at the front on Market street.  It's been closed for how many years?  Ten?  more? 

I'm trying to keep up with the times. 

Last night online I placed an order for my first digital camera (my friend Zenobia loves her Panasonic Lumix, so I got the same one.  I'm planning to ask her to show me how to work it!)  I guess I'm joining the rest of the world.

 Just finished Love's Executioner by Dr. Irvin Yalom--a psychiatrist talking about the process of therapy.  It's fascinating to see how he struggles to know how to work with people, and shares his thoughts so personally. I loved the one segment where he shows how we can never really know what another person is thinking--even when we feel we know them well. Robert and I talked about it.  He said that's one of the laws in linguistics.  You can't read other people's minds.  You can never be really sure what others are hearing when you say something.  I forget what the other law was that he mentioned.

I think someone gave me Dr. Yalom's book--it seemed to appear on my shelf.  I might look for some more of his books.  I've got another Paul Theroux--Pillers of Hercules--about the Mediterranean travels.  It's so fabulous to escape into a travel book. I'll take it to Japan.

Just finished all the curriculum for the Japanese seminars, and feel great about that.  Now to pack.  All black clothes I think.