Sensory overload

Last night or early this morning, after I finished posting Friday's journal entry, I decided to see what others were writing. A couple of weeks ago, I discovered that the best way to learn about journals on the web is to peruse the web journal rings. And the best place to start that is at open pages - suburbs (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) which is a wonderful index to the rings. Let me mention three sites that reveal, in various ways, what Faulkner called "the human heart in conflict with itself."

Willa's Journal is a deceptively straight-forward entry in which Willa examines her world. Gentle, low-keyed, thoughtful and very perceptive.

A computer artist in NYC journals under the nom de web t e r r a p i n d r e a m . (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) A home page that is brilliant in its restraint. An HIV+ individual who has lived a most complex existence.

Jason's Page (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) is the story of a 17-year-old gay high school student who has recently come out to his parents. He has also formed a relationship with someone who was the best friend to Matthew Shepard. Jason's courage is awe-inspiring.

Was able to sleep late this morning. Of course, the cats were up early and ready for breakfast, so I did have to get up to feed the darlings. Later when I got up, for real this time, I meandered around the house engaged in obligatory chores.

Lunch was the local sushi bar, again. One reason for the repeat visit is that the food is consistently excellent. Got a single table this time since the bar was full. Over the years, the place has become phenomenally popular. Almost too popular. Bordering on claustrophobic with a matching noise level. Several years ago, I could go and be the only diner. I can also remember going and being the only occidental - a very curious sensation to hear nothing but Japanese.

After lunch I wound up at Circuit City. What the cathedrals were to the peasants of the Middle Ages, Circuit City is to the consuming masses of the 90s. Talk about sensory overload!!! Geeeeeeeezzzze. Bombarding images. Swirling music. White noise. Yelling clerks. I could almost feel the synapses in my brain short-circuiting.

The evening has been quite. Watched Lenny Henry on "The Lenny Henry Show"; man is a genius. Then Rowan Atkinson in "The Thin Blue Line"; another comic genius. It is quite enough that I can hear the traffic sounds from the Interstate which is some distance away.

PAX!