AUSTIN, Texas, September 3, 2005 — There is nothing I have to do today. I lie around in bed. Then up for coffee. Talk to Dad on phone. Drink more coffee. Post journal, write e-mails. Watch disaster TV. FFP and I get an e-mail from a local realtor's group. They are putting together household goods for people who are going to be moved into apartments in Austin. FFP and I collect sheets, towels, a crock pot, blue jeans and T-Shirts that we should have given away before. One of the T-Shirts I notice is a give-away from a conference from my working days. A brand new shirt, never worn, from a conference in New Orleans.

Around 10:30 I go to the club. On the way I call my friend who is moving today (SuRu) and tell her if she needs help to call me. At the club I do fifty minutes on the bike. I get into an argument with a guy who thinks we should crank down the AC in the gym. Geez, guy, look at disaster in front of you. There is disaster on two TVs. Of course, we have football and tennis on the two other. The disaster has leaked onto these channels, though. There are pop-ups about disaster relief appeals and people in the stands of the football game collecting as well. Later I'll see crawlers appealing for bedding in Austin for evacuees.

I do a few weights and leave. I have time to do more but I don't.

At home, FFP has sauteed chicken breasts in lemon pepper. I make a sandwich with it, have some vegies and dip, some chilled mint mellon soup. I watch a barn burner of a match between James Blake and Raphael Nadal. Blake has made me root for him and not just because he's American. Much as I like Nadal, I like a bit more serve and volley.

Ah, what to do with the rest of the day? Well, tennis watching for sure. Maybe a bit of trip planning. I guess the airlines are going to survive the crisis.

What do I really do? Well, I watch a lot of tennis. We go over to SuRu's new rental and see her place. It's full of boxes. We go to Billy's and have snacks and drinks. I go back with her and help her unload her car. She says she needs a plan. I suggest finding soap and towel (to wash our hands), her sheets and pillows (to make the bed) and the clock so she can see the time. Then I suggest we open each box with the idea of getting rid of something out of every one. We actually go through a couple and pick stuff to toss.

I go home. FFP is watching the Horns trounce Lafayette. I watch, read, work crosswords and finally take a shower. I watch my tennis recordings until sleep takes me.

I must say when there is a news story like the Katrina tragedy that I never fail to appreciate my hot shower, clean clothes, good food and fresh water from the tap.