Mexico

Mexico more relaxing, fun, and beautiful than had hoped. On first day am perhaps a bit too enthusiastic about sun worshipping and end up with extremely nasty looking rash. Have grim thought that will have to stay out of sun for rest of visit and that trip is ruined, but fears turn out to be baseless (Dave calm throughout.) Water and weather equally ideal. Become accustomed to waking up and throwing self into waves, getting coffee at small restaurant at hotel (hotel consists of small number thatched huts grouped around larger central hut with restaurant.) We are very much in the jungle. And am very impresed with self when wake up to find very large insect crawling on face near eye and in one movement throw insect across room and roll over to go back to sleep. Because of mix up at hotel, end up sharing taxi with woman from Atlanta. Dave asks her if she had a good time. It is very beautiful, of course, she says, But it was too remote for her and she can't wait to get back to Civilization. See that we have nothing in common. Rest of trip to airport spent in icy silence. On plane trip back to New York, read Harper's article about why George Busyh should be impeached which presents very compelling case about how war in Iraq was decided in first days of presidency. Become very very airsick. Usual recourse to the Sky Mall ineffective. Try to sleep. As am exiting plane (face I am sure, tinged green) stewardess chirps, Did you have a nice nap? Sunday spent doing laundry and playing with Jenny, who the Contessa has once again spoiled. (Can tell because when sit down to have snack of cheese toast, Jenny leaps up onto lap and tries to lick plate.) Night alternates between bizarre dreams (Giselle and Leona Helmsley a lesbian couple who live in desert) and panicked thoughts about needing to do taxes, pay apartment insurance on time, and non-specific but very fearful thoughts about what awaits me at work. Wake up in foul mood. Am walking briskly down stairs to train when hear voice behind me saying, Excuse me, in tones of extreme irritation. Even though there is ample room on my left side for passing, squeeze over to right so that small woman can charge down stairs. Am filled with wicked glee when she tries to swipe her card and message of "insufficent fare" pops up on screen. Wickedness rewarded when sit down on train. It becomes clear that seat neighbor has not bathed in very long time. Try breathing through mouth and then not at all. See that am not going to be able to hold breath all the way to stop. Instead, try practicing compassion. Compassion severely tested when man puts his head down on my shoulder. Reach stop. Have not recovered from train experience at all when in front of school see man standing between two parked cars peeing on street. In the elevator, run into Libby who says, Your nose looks burned! Did you go somewhere? Yes.