Friday. Awoke before six after another decent night's sleep, at least getting the motor going wasn't a problem. Up to head out for breakfast, walking down the hill in the middle of my narrow one way street to run into this guy approaching me sheepishly on the sidewalk. Took the camera off the shoulder and shot pictures thinking it was still dark and I should have set the ISO higher. I've seen only one other raccoon since I've lived in Oakland. This one seemed more embarrassed to be spotted than worried I'd think he might make something nice for breakfast.

So, the excitement for the morning (and maybe for the week) behind us, another plain waffle with sliced bananas and strawberries for breakfast, noting they'd lowered gas prices by five cents a gallon (for regular) and then noticing they'd changed the signs. They'd switched from a Union 76 station to a Mobile station. Wondered how that might have come about, but only for the moment.

No overcast this morning. Nothing on the schedule, although it's a First Friday and there will be an Art Murmur this evening over on Telegraph. I haven't photographed one in years now, but maybe.... Well, we've said that before. Still, the crowds have gotten much larger in the interim and I am feeling reasonably ambitious at the moment.

Just stop. Talk about it later if you should actually do it.

Later. Nice day, the temperature in the low seventies as we enter the afternoon. I checked the battery charge on the phone and discovered it was sitting at just over sixty percent after charging it yesterday and so it's continuing its rapid loss. No problem charging it daily or every other day, of course, but you wonder if its ability to retain a charge is just beginning and it will rapidly tank. I guess we worry about it when it happens.

Headed out the door thinking if I got out the door the head might clear and I'd settle on a destination. To the burger drive-in to bring home a grilled chicken sandwich? I was hungry, but suffering from the same can't think of anything I'm willing to eat. A bus downtown? One was coming in ten minutes. Ended up standing at the bus stop debating going here, debating going there and finally just gave up and returned to the apartment as the bus turned the corner.

I'm going to have to do something about this “not here, not there” business if it continues much longer. Find something more to engage the soul other than the various events I enjoy photographing. Maybe start talking/hanging with people again. Radical stuff.

Later still. Seems you can buy replacement batteries for an iPhone 4 (as well as others), so we'll not concern ourself over a failing phone. Maybe just order one today in case.

Evening. Ah, right. First Fridays. There's one going on right now, but right now it's dark and I'm obviously not going to attend. But then I suppose it's no surprise for me or for anyone else.

Nothing on television, the public stations are raising money and substituting programs I'm not willing to watch. Odd, in some ways. Some of the music programs are from my era, but I'm not willing to sit through one. Full circle. Who'da thought they'd be broadcasting Who/Clapton/Stones/Young concerts on old folks public television? Logically yes, emotionally no.