Later. Many fewer people than you'd expect on a workday, so lots of folks have undoubtedly taken off for the weekend. A bus ride downtown to sit out at a table in the City Center for maybe twenty minutes, a picture of the name blistered into the base of one of the sculpture arms, a picture of two aligned light poles because there I sat and there they were, a walk then through the City Hall area and on to the music store where I rented the guitar. I looked through one of their music book sections: beginning guitar lessons for the old and the feeble.

Something's obviously gotten hold of me with this learning guitar business but we'll not think about it too much, put any thought off until this three month rental period is done in August. Lots of time between now and August (he said, with a muffled cough).

Later still. I think we're done with going outside for the day. Some guitar practice (yes, I bought a couple of beginner's guitar books, nothing too exotic) and did some additional work on the Here in Oakland site, changing the color and shape of the navigation arrows. Still not tight, still not right, but again, it takes time for we dilettantes who need practice, practice, practice. I find I've forgotten much of what little I've learned over the years, misplaced one or two software tools I've used in the past to make it easier to do this and to do that, but also learned I'm finding it's fun to go back and scrape it together again. Open old dusty books. Relearn. Like that.

My, my. Give the boy a gold star and a chocolate bar.

My, my, yourself. I need stuff to keep me amused so I can find something to look forward to during these coming declining years. No amusing stuff to do and these declining years will pass like a man walking with a noose around his neck. Or something less flamboyant, but you understand what I'm getting at. Not an uncommon problem, methinks, for this generation of old duffs trudging up behind. Methinks.