Parking the car I read the sign on the meter, but for some reason didn't figure out today was a free parking day, put the card into the slot and popped for an hour. A guy who'd just parked nearby commented on my error as he passed by. Ah, yes. A new weekend has started.

Anyway, what the hell, I had the single pork chop to see if it made any difference, not mentioning the seasoning salt mix to my waitress who is well aware of the problem. Don't know if she remembered to mention it to the cook or not, not sure why I didn't mention it. Well, whatever, the day has started.

Still, so far, so good. The rain all last night now looks as if we might have some clear periods later lasting long enough for a walk, we'll see soon enough. But maybe after lying down for a while after a nap.

Later. A good hour's nap. Tired, but with none of the ocular symptoms, although I watched for them. I do watch for them. Always.

A walk over to the lake and then along to the ATM on Lakeshore, then turning around and heading back to the morning restaurant for a BLT, ice cream and coffee. Lots of people on the sidewalks, many more it seemed inside the greeting card shop where I bought a birthday card, fewer in evidence when I passed through the farmers market. People are indeed out there shopping.

There had indeed been a break in the overcast: no rain, a fair amount of sun, not particularly cold, although I was dressed for the cold just in case. Comfortable, in other words, allowing the mind to wander.

I do remain sensitive to these now more common mental lapses, managing to drop that birthday card I'd bought (safe inside a blue plastic bag) at the crosswalk in front of the restaurant while I was futzing with my wallet, realizing shortly after crossing that I'd left it or dropped it somewhere along the way and so I immediately turned back to find it. At the light across from the restaurant I spotted it near the curb on the other side of Grand. Safe and sound, but again, another blank moment, another lapse, easily managing to space out and lose it without thinking (or blinking).

Sounds like you need a minder.

Sounds like I need a drink.

Later still. Rain again at three this afternoon and dark enough to turn on the living room lights and to close the curtains. A good time to pick up the guitar you'd think. One thing that always surprises me is how much better the guitar sounds after replacing the strings. A sharper, more musical attack that's really quite nice. A reason to pick it up, you'd think.

Anyway, a walk to the local 7-11 look-alike to pick up a small box of Good & Plenty and another three shot bottle of Jack Daniels for reasons I'm not able to explain. Seemed like a good idea and, since there was a break in the rain, I did it, ate the Good & Plenty while walking on the way back and then sat down to watch the Italian police procedural at six, the German language one set in Venice, an episode I've seen before. Which didn't seem to matter.

Although I remembered the brief scene at the beginning, I really didn't remember much of anything beyond it, allowing me (I assume) to feel all over again that the good detective was making a serious mistake in the argument with his wife. My opinions don't count when in comes to arguments with one's wife. Still, the man was an idiot.

I spent time on the guitar while watching, but not enough time. There's still time left in the evening to catch up. Consumed the Jack Daniels over a two hour period feeling it's effect, the sinuses better, the head not particularly clouded, but you can't depend on your own opinions about that. Nice, though. Might even be better than sake. There's more ritual with sake, but I'm not sure the sinuses do as well, ritual or not.

I played around with Viewpoint, a DXO labs program that makes horizontal and vertical adjustments to photographs, correcting perspective distorted by a wide angle lens. It's interesting, but I'm not sure it's something I need or want. I don't particularly dislike it, but it could be I'm less sensitive to angles that aren't quite right. I suspect they've gotten me to buy the thing though, now that I've downloaded and installed the trial version, although I'd be willing to bet I don't use it more than once or twice.

We'll turn on Netflix, find something to watch before going to bed.

Guitar?

That's one option.