My whole body feels like it’s shutting down today. My stomach has roiled since I woke, my back is thrown, and now a slight headache has arrived. Some call Dr. House.

The two oldest boys are watching “Enchanted.” M, N, and I watched some of the movie this afternoon, and I’m waiting for the two oldest to catch up before I start watching again. This morning I hit the coffee shop to read Nathanael West but found a free NY Times on the table and perused the newspaper instead. The coffee shop is operating in a construction zone so I feel morally obligated to support them. The coffee shop girl had “I Love Hiro” on her wrist. I asked her why and she told me she just got a cat named Hiro. I asked why the name “Hiro” and she said he was her little hero. I stopped asking questions then so she wouldn’t think I was hitting on her.

After I arrived home M left for observations. N and I planned on visiting the zoo but the skies were rainy and overcast. Instead we picked up the movie at Blockbuster. I tried to get him to agree to hit a few stores in search of M’s birthday present but he wanted to return home. He likes hanging out at home, esp. on his days off of school, so he can play video games without fraternal interference. I watched some Bourdain (Indonesia) while he played on the computer. I finally yanked him off the games for pasta. After M arrived home we watched the first hour or so of the film. Later I read more West while T attended his drum lesson. I sat on a straight-backed chair in a messy music room and delved further into “Day of the Locusts.” West was funny. I like his style.

The vacation is going well. I feel I’m growing every day. Of course today I feel an angry, bitter old man with back and stomach problems. Maybe I’ll brew some tea. More later.