I do remember the late seventies drought and, I suspect, if I thought about it long enough, I'd have placed it in the late seventies remembering an incident at the old Rip Off Press when rationing affected businesses with a photo lab, although I don't have any recollection of the running of a water line across a bridge. And the drought of 1988 - 1992? Well, it probably didn't affect me much living in Napa other than to remember droughts have been common during my forty years here in California, no reason to jump to the conclusion my brain is locking down.

Your brain is locking down.

To breakfast an hour or so later than usual, the café almost full. Good to see that. Is it just because it's a Friday? Generally, when I get in earlier, I sit with maybe one or two other customers and it's good to see their business picks up later in the mornings. They say the financial downturn in the Bay Area hasn't been as bad as it is in the rest of the state, state wide unemployment hitting a grim at 9.3 percent in December. The feeling is whatever's out there is coming here sooner than later.

Later. I took close to a three hour nap late this morning through early afternoon. This after getting to bed at ten last night and awakening around seven-thirty. Why so much sleep? It's overcast, the nights are long? I don't remember doing much of anything yesterday other than walking most of the way back from the downtown after lunch with the old crew. None of that is unusual. In my deep dark past I've had bouts of sleeping during times of stress, but what stress I have here is deciding what to order for breakfast: should I get eggs again? A bagel instead of toast?