Howdy from Atlanta

Collin picked me up at the aiport last night and promptly took me to a very cool 50-something-year-old diner for delicious greasy food. We stayed up late talking about high school sex and reading to each other some of our recent writing.

Now I'm at a computer in the common area of Collin's huge apartment complex. It's a lot like living in a huge hotel.

Today Collin had to go to work, so I walked all around Mid-town Atlanta. Went to the Carter Center and Presidential Library. It was phenomenal. So many exhibits, lots of videos, etc. It was inspiring to be in the midst of the life work of a President whose main interest was in promoting peace and human rights. What a striking and distressing contrast to what we have now.

I also walked around an area called Little Five Point, a neighborhood that has lots of funky stores, tye-dye, art, health food ... my kind of place. I had a great berry smoothie. It was warm with a bit of a breeze, probably low 80s.

Now I'm going to take a nap then shower and dress. Tonight's my speech. Afterward Collin and I will come back to his place and watch the debate, which he's recording. Should be fun to watch it with him since he's so funny. Maybe we'll riff on some jokes together that will appear on his blog.

Yesterday Was . . .

. . . 12 hours with my mom, getting her transferred from the care facility back into the hospital since she she's been having more health problems.

Today was fielding phone calls about her care and a transfer to another hospital since there's no room in the one she was taken to yesterday.

The day before yesterday was a glorious 22-mile bike ride with Annie, here,

along the Coyote Creek Trail. Hawks with wingspans like open-doored cars swooped over our heads, and we swerved around two magnificent rattlesnakes who were grabbing some rays on the trail.

In the midst of it all, I've been continuing research for my novel. I've mostly been reading about Auden's and Britten's creation of the operetta Paul Bunyan. In the lyrics, Paul Bunyan expresses the hope that Americans will be saved from the

Pressure Group that says I am the Constitution,
From those who say Patriotism and mean Persecution,
From entertainments neither true nor beautiful nor witty . . .
From the dirty-mindedness of a Watch Committee.

Auden witnessed the devastating rise of facism in Europe. And yet he was not a blind patriot for Democracy. He recognized that all systems have their pitfalls and need their critics.

Speaking of critics, GO JIMMY. And swallow any possible apologies. I don't know why it's considered such an anathema for one President to speak his truth about another. Patriotism serves to silence.