I got up on Sunday at three PM, which is revolting, but I really needed the rest. There was some sunlight, though it was chilly and windy. I set up the panel for picture catalog number 931 (a large commission) and sanded it. Then I added another spray layer of primer coat and let it dry, outside on my terrace. After that I dragged myself out of the house with re-cycling trash in the car, and dumped the re-cyclables into the bins near the shopping center. The winter sun was pale and slanting, in between purple and gold clouds. I visited the supermarket and bought toilet paper and Poland Spring water, purchases which naturally go together. Went into Starbucks and found that my friend the manager is being transferred to another store, where he will continue to invite me to do the art on the "Daily Offerings" panel. I got some espresso beans, as my supply was running out.

Returning to my dwelling, I sprayed a coat of spray gesso on the now-dry board and turned on the computer as twilight fell. Resolved to myself NOT to watch TV or the Superbowl or anything connected with it. Am I a bad American because I don't care about the Superbowl? And why don't I care about Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, the Olsen twins, Lindsey Lohan, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, or Angelina Jolie? Their names are all over bright, colorful printed material in the supermarkets and convenience stores. Their lovely hairless bodies are displayed for our viewing. Sometimes I think these may all be the same person, just wearing different clothes. Is this important? Environmental scientist Jesse Ausubel said this bon mot in the January 28-February 3 issue of NEW SCIENTIST magazine when he was peeved over the media's indifference to the "Millennium Ecosystem Assessment:" "…People are like dogs sniffing each other's genitals. Social status and sexuality are what interest us. That's not going to change." Spoken like a scientist.

I painted clear sealant on another wooden plank for a Trader Joe's fruit sign. Finally, the laundry machine was unoccupied and I did two loads of laundry. I don't have a little wifey to do the laundry and keep house for me. She won't type my manuscripts, either. I cranked up the graphics programs and printed out lots of pricetag sheets for Trader Joe's. They pay for the ink cartridges. I did some designing for "tea" pricetags, printed some more, and then the cartridge ran out of ink, at which point rather than install another one, I stopped printing. Out there in Science Land, scientists are really busy doing important scientific work, not these trivial tasks.

I made dinner (no helpful wife to cook, either) which was pasta, into which was thrown some peas, canned tuna fish, and a few cut-up artichoke hearts. That counts as "vegetables," so it was a healthy dinner. Seasoned it with lemon-pepper and grated parmesan cheese, and it wasn't bad. Washed it down with soymilk and Poland Spring water. Cleaned the pots and utensils in the sink (Dear, could you do the dishes? I need to work on my talk for the quantum gravity colloquium…) and went back to the computer, where I found that the Pittsburgh Steelers had beaten the Seattle Seahawks. Who cares about football, it's only one month till spring training.

The laundry is ready, so I have to fold it now. Two more loads remain to be washed. Sorry, my darling subservient helpmeet is not available, because she doesn't exist. I wanted to do art, but I didn't have the time. I wanted to watch one of my "Particle Physics" DVD's, but I didn't have the time, because of the laundry. I am still working on learning the work-energy theorem. This states that the amount of unwashed laundry is complementary to the amount of clean laundry in an entire pile, as long as no new articles of clothing are added to the load. NEW SCIENTIST's current issue has a special feature on robots. I am waiting eagerly for "Rosie," the housekeeping robot predicted in the classic TV show The Jetsons. Alas, the future isn't what it used to be. I need new energy to be added to the system. Espresso beans have now been re-stocked.

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