March 10, 1997

Diablo Diabolique

The central tenet of Zen Buddhism is not every man for himself.

Somehow Monday is now over. I have no idea how this happened. Let me see: yesterday we ran errands and I did filing of our papers. All of our records, bills, everything. I found myself wondering why filing isn't considered aerobic exercise, but then I realized that filing isn't probably as time-consuming and strenuous when you do it every day, or every week, or heck -- every month.

When you leave it for 16 months, you have quite a few more papers to go through.

Today we ran errands (ever gone to the DMV on a lark? no, you haven't -- you've only gone there on an errand) and when we came back I did more filing, having not finished it the first time. As of 11pm this evening, it's still not done, and dammit: I still have to file through my clothing.

Last night we had dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Sloo and Greg. Tonight we had dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan as well as Chris. We're combining get-togethers, because I have so little time to see people while I'm here. This week most of the "social times" have already been filled, and I don't particularly want to fill it all up.

Every so often it dawns on me: the next time I come back, it will be as a visitor. I will be staying at someone else's home, or staying in a hotel. I am moving away. I keep thinking I'm moving to a new state, which Southern California practically is. The last time I did a move this momentous, I was 10 years old and my parents handled everything. I'm beginning to learn why people don't move particularly often. And I am beginning to feel this move.

Oh yes -- and I haven't written a damn word yet, whether on the new and improved treatment or on Act I of the screenplay. I'm thinking maybe a little bit Wednesday morning (before lunch with Judy) and Wednesday evening (before dinner with friends).

One of the problems interfering with my getting any writing done is this huge list of things Darin and I have to do this week (as opposed to things that can be done next week, when we're in different cities and our material goods are in a big moving truck and Darin's sleeping on the bed we're leaving). Another major, more insidious problem is this game Diablo. Diablo is a Dungeons-and-Dragons type game for the PC. Reportedly it's coming to the Mac, but it's here now, and Darin has a PC at our house specifically to play it. (He might be doing some programming on it too, but not while I'm around.)

Diablo is fun: shoot the monsters, find the loot, embark on quests. It is also addictive: "What, one in the morning already? I can quit any time I want to, honey, and I'll be in bed in a minute...What, two in the morning already?"

I don't have time this week for distractions.

Quote of the week from Sean Connery: "Discipline is always worthwhile." Sigh. I need to get that tattooed on my fingers or something.