May 16, 2016

 

Dear Hildie:

 

I finished Kessler’s book CAPTURE. What a disappointment. Mainly case studies—all post hoc, of course. And his “concept” is one known by any psychology student: Namely, that some stimuli become ingrained and cause behavior. Wow! What an insight! I expected more of him.

 

I am busily writing reports for clients. The crew is up state, in Red River Parish. I hope they don’t get rained out. Rain costs money!

 

Now I’m reading a book on global warming. I know Popper would say taking measures against it is futile but I find his philosophy flawed in this respect: Should we do nothing? Besides, some social engineering—like the cleanup of the Thames in the late 19^th century–has been very effective.

 

I hope you’re okay.

 

Take care,

 

Love, M

May 10, 2016

Dear Hildie:

I gave my talk and slide show to some little varmints in the fourth grade today. Nice group of kids But there was a pretty little girl with long blonde hair who asked a lot of questions. I kept saying, “Yes ma’am,” until a teacher corrected me and said he was “sir.” Well, if you wear your hair like a girl, expect to be treated like one. Ah, times do change.

In my current novel, I went back to my original draft—I liked the old characters better. Varmints.

 

Take care.                                                                                                       Love,

 

 

 

May 9, 2016

 

Dear Hildie:

 

I got waked up at 1:30 this morning by the alarm company and had to go down to the office and wait for the police. It was a false alarm, fortunately, but nothing messes up the sleep like having to get up like that.

 

Otherwise, yesterday was entirely pleasant, sitting outside at the table in the front yard reading and smelling the fresh scents of spring—the tree bark, the flowers, etc. All that was missing was the odor of wood smoke, which evokes so any pleasant memories for me. One of life’s simple pleasures. I could imagine I was in Yucatan, or Ireland, or England, or Scotland, or even some place in the world I’d never been to.

 

Ah, well. Smelling is so much more acute these last few years since I went to a real allergist and ditched those ENT doctors.

 

Take care.

 

Love,

 

M

May 3, 2016

 

Dear Hildie:

I ‘ve lost weight so far (less than a week) but I’m always hungry. Sherlock Holmes used to say hunger honed his senses but it just makes me irritable and I have trouble concentrating.

My newspaper keeps failing to arrive (or getting stolen). Not that the deathless prose of the Advocate is any great loss. And the TV news is even worse—These local newscasters are such a bush-league lot: Greg what’s his-name on Ch 9 editorializes about “precious angels” being taken away whenever a kid gets killed. Reminds me of the cub reporter who was sent to cover a flood and said  “God’s wrath has visited destruction on this town. His fury…etc.”, to which, when he sent in his story, his old editor replied, “Drop flood story. Interview God.”

 

Take care.

Love,

M