On 2/12 I was up to 166 boxes.
As of yesterday I'm up to 273. Just look at what panic will do! And that was with missing days due to cat illness. 273 boxes translates to 3 boxes going home with me.
If only I was going at that rate all along, but I'll try not to think about that. And it's not true that I could have, in any case. I didn't know anything and had to move that slowly to learn the story of the lab. Now I can go quickly because I know what I'm looking for.
I'm leaving on March 12th. I've got 121 boxes left that I want to see. Wish me luck. Because I'm coming home no matter what. My friend Ruby is coming down on a train and is driving back with me.
Home, home, home! New York Fucking City! I don't have time to list all I'm looking forward to getting back to because I must shower and look at MORE BOXES.
They actually didn't eat very much but it's a start. Plus, no one has thrown up in two days, AND Finney just tried to knock over my cup of coffee. GOOD BOY.
They stopped eating. Since it was both of them I thought they must have eaten something bad. I took them to the Cat Hospital here in Durham, they took blood, but they said everything came back fine. Meanwhile, I got them to eat a little babyfood.
I called my vet, The Cat Practice in New York. They said it could be an unspecified virus, and to keep them on the babyfood for a couple of days. As long as they ate that and didn't throw up, they'd probably be fine. This morning they wouldn't eat it, and Finney threw up.
I can live with a lot of things, but not anything bad having to do with my cats. I've got messages into both vets, and I cancelled my ride to the library.
I saw this on the Met's website when I was looking for the Francois Gilot/Picasso photograph. I forget who the painter is now! But I like this painting.
Right now I'm downloading the new TV show The Conviction from the Apple Music Store. 1, because it's free, 2, because I've never watched video before on my new video iPod and 3, because I love TV and it's a new show.
I was at Petco last week, about to lug kitty litter when I broke down and asked, "Do you deliver?" (I make myself carry all heavy things for exercise, that's why I say I broke down.) The cashier answered, "What's delivery?"
I was so confused by her question I just repeated the word. "Delivery." We stared at each other in mutual non-comprehension. People were waiting behind me so she finally answered, "No," even though I'm sure she didn't know what I was asking. I figured it was probably the right answer nonetheless.
Along the same lines, I wrote a polite but angry letter to the Durham Police Department. People keep almost hitting me making right turns on red when I have the walk sign. And it's "almost" because I learned quickly that pedestrians are invisible in Durham. I always watch and jump out of the way.
Someone reasonably responded it's not much of a walking city, and I reasonably responded that they shouldn't have right turn on red then, in a city that's not used to watching for pedestrians.
(That reminds me, when I leave I'm going to post a BIG thank you to the librarians of the Special Collections Library who have been taking care of me. For instance, after this incident Elizabeth Dunn, who fed me an amazing meal, drove me to Petco to stock up on kitty litter. Then she drove me to Target to stock up on water. Zachary Elder, who was featured earlier as the youngest librarian of Special Collections, also had me over for an amazing dinner.)
This is the West Duke Building, where the Parapsychology Lab was located when it was at Duke. It's on the East Campus, what was then the Women's Campus. I wonder if that was like shuffling it off to the side at the time? Imagine if your office was one of the ones with those lovely arched windows, though.
Update
Cats: Finney meows at whoever walks by. People talk babytalk back to him until they notice me sitting here working. Then they look sheepish (I smile).
Gym: Next week we start free weights. My trainer warned me that the pounds are going to start going up, but that it's JUST MUSCLE.
Music: Continuing to sound like the religious fanatic in room 128. "Let the guilty prophet perish!"
Research: Something I've learned in life: Cops put as little as possible in writing. Scientists put EVERYTHING in writing. No matter how far along I am, I've decided, I'm going home in March. I've probably got enough for a dozen books at this point. I'm going to get as far as I get, go home, start writing, and if I've missed stuff I will hire a student here to copy it for me.
TV: I miss my HDTV. My glorious glorious HDTV. I'm missing the Olympics in HDTV.
I wanted to find an image of joy or peace. This was the first one I thought of. I've always loved this photograph of Francois Gilot and Picasso, and although there's a lot more going on here, certainly a lot that could be read into it, she looks happy.
I've managed to increase the number of boxes I get through in a day, so I think I can come home in mid-March. What do you think the chances are there'll be the second storm of the century when I get home? Oh, please please please.
Me and Charlie Brown. Well, fuck it. He's got Snoopy. I got Buddy and Finney. So Valentine's Day, GO TO HELL.
That said, presents are still accepted. Valentine's Day can go to hell except for the giving-Stacy-presents part. Presents for Stacy are welcome at ... well, I guess that wouldn't be too smart to post my address for all the world to see. Damnit. I want presents!
Bing, bing bing, ricochet rabbit! (We'll see how many people remember that reference.)
I've speeded up the number of boxes I'm going through a day, and if I keep it up I will be able to come home the end of March. Home home home!! Too late for the blizzard it's killing me to miss (damnit all). Once I start actually writing the book though, I'll figure out what I didn't copy and must have and I'll have to come back. But then I'll know then exactly what I need and where to find it.
Here's the table where I work in my effiency. (Note the little plant. My pathetic attempt to cheer the place up.)
Here are the boxes of copying I'll be taking home. "Box 2" is over flowing, as you see, and it's time to start "Box 3."
When I first scanned this photograph at the Rhine Research Center I had no idea what was going on in the picture (aside from all the ectoplasm). I found out a day or two later. This guy is what's called a "trumpet medium." The dead spoke via a trumpet. A trumpet. Wait, is there there some sort of religious significance here? Anyway, at one time there were a bunch of mediums call trumpet mediums. (It's just a little phallic too, isn't it?) This particular trumpet medium is Ed Moore.
I just figured out that at the rate I am going through these boxes, I will be here another three months, which I CANNOT DO.
How do I figure out this puzzle??
I can't stay another three months.
I'm pretty much going as fast as I can.
Thinking, thinking, thinking, solutions welcome. Forgive me for the cliched image, but I don't have a picture of me trying to rip my own head off. Speaking of the Scream, did they ever get this painting back?
A friend and fellow 9/11 volunteer is starting a new stress management workshop.
STRESS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP SERIES
Dr. Cori Stern-Torres presents a series or six progressive workshops designed to teach you how to prevent stress from causing you physical pain. Learn practical techniques for changing your response to stress. * Understand the Mind-Body connection in a new way. Learn breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques. Train your body to relieve pain naturally.
Live a healthier and more relaxed life!
First Session: Monday, February 13 at 7pm
Continuing classes: 2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27.
$20 per session
Location: HealthPoint, Chiropractic. College Point, NY
Limited enrollment. Must call to register!
(718)358-1155
* You will spend much of the time in these workshops relaxing. Dress comfortably! Call for details.
It's morning in Durham, North Carolina, but I wouldn't know because I have to keep the shades drawn when I get up so I can sit here in my pajamas.
