Louganis Quote; Eyeglasses; DC Comics Super Heroes Postage Stamps; More DC Heroes - Green Arrow; Sorting and Categorizing; Furniture Removal - Part I; Furniture Removal - Part II; Cemetery

I just finished glancing through Greg Louganis' "Breaking the Surface," and I was unable to find the quote about suicide. (Not a conscious act of suicide, but just a fading away.)

I'd forgotten that he did indeed try suicide several times. To say his personal life was a mess is an understatement. But from the outside you never knew.

I think the quote comes from his appearance on "Oprah." In fact, I'm almost certain it does. I remember that wherever I came across it, it immediately struck a chord. I can definitely recall feeling like that at different points.

Something else I'd not noticed before. There are many times during the book when he is told he needs to do something, or he starts to do something about his life, and he never does it. That also seemed all to familiar. My theory is that depression induces some type of lethargy that makes doing certain things seem to not be worth the effort. Or you at some semi-conscious level, repress them.

Last week, I was trying to figure out what to do with three pairs of unused eyeglasses - two belonged to mother; one to me. I vaguely remember hearing something about donating them to the Lions Club, but I wasn't sure how. So I picked a nearby optometrist, drove there, went in and asked. The nice lady said they had a collection box at their other store, and she would be happy to pass them along.

Then I wondered what does the Lion's Club actually do with them. So to the web I went. At the Lions Clubs International - Donate Eyeglasses, there's a section called "Journey of Pair of Eyeglasses." Essentially, they're sorted by prescription, stored, then shipped to a dispensing site in a developing country.

So now I know. Odd how you'll hear about some process but never stop to examine the details.

I always get a big kick out of buying the latest commemorative postage stamps. They really are miniature works of art.

Last time, I picked up "Wonders of America: Land of Superlatives". Among some of the stamps are: Largest Reptile: American Alligator; Longest Hiking Trail: Pacific Crest Trail; etc. I think it was the largest pane of stamps, 4 x 10, that I've ever bought.

This time I noticed a poster for "DC Comics Super Heroes". From Superman to Wonder Woman to Hawkman. Alas, I'm not up on all the super heroes. Although everyone in this batch has been around for decades.

By the way, "TV Guide" says Green Arrow will show up on this season's "Smallville," and there's a yummy photo of the actor Justin Hartley in costume - green leather, bulging biceps and tousled blond hair. See "Emerald Archer". I could make all kinds of references to arrows at this point, but I'll restrain myself.

I've given up trying to figure out the relationships among the characters. Does Lex have or have not the hots for Clark?

I'm still fighting the battle of sorting items for my garage sale. I set up a batch of bins on the carport, each designated for a set of items: holiday decorations; pots; cups and glasses; plates and dishes; yard/garden; decorative items; tools and such.

Monday, I woke up around 6:30 and could not go back to sleep. So in a moment of crazed intent, I thought attack the problem. I dragged two bookcases onto the carport. Then I went through the house several times trying to place objects in bins. But it gave me such a headache, I had to go back to bed.

My American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language says that the use of drug for dragged is nonstandard. Did I know that?

One of the most difficult areas has been anything made of cloth. I just could not get a handle on this. This afternoon, I created one basket for curtains and one for table linen: table clothes; runners; place mats; and weird round fluffy things that appear to go in the center of a table.

I've found scraps of cloth all over the house. I'd collected it into a box but was still not sure what to do with it. Then I decided I split the collection between two large paper bags. As I went through the items, I came across pieces that really belonged in the curtains or linen baskets. And I sorted out a group of scarfs.

That was one of the most satisfying things I've done.

Now I have to face ribbons, thread, yarn, pin cushions, etc.

My really big physical chore for the day was the removal of two very battered and damaged recliner chairs. I had to turn them on their sides and contort them around the doors. Once I got them outside, I pushed and pulled them to the street. I have no idea if someone will pick them up, so far, much to my disappointment, no one has. And I have no idea what the garbage guys will do. They will most likely throw rotten eggs at my front windows and scream out homophobic epithets.

As you may or may not remember, I still have a mahogany-style bedroom suite that I want to sell. (Mahogany-style means that the outer surface is a veneer. A piece made completely from mahogany would cost a fortune and weigh a ton.)

But I've not known how to price it. So yesterday, I stopped off at the nearby behemoth furniture store that is almost like a theme park. They have a merry-go-round, a cafe, video games and a small basketball court. Now this is just what I saw. The massage parlors and S&M rooms are most likely in the back near the loading docks.

The furniture was gorgeous. For some reason, I thought it more along the lines of a discount place. Nothing discount here. Also, there was no such thing as a linear path. All the walks curved and meandered and spiraled and snaked to the point that I expected to see Dorothy and Toto at any moment. And I'm sure I saw myself on another path at least twice.

But I did find the appropriate suites, and the middle-range ones were in the $1500 area. So I think I'll ask about $800 or so.

Believe it or not, the furniture store is across the street from the cemetery where my parents are buried. Actually, it's not unusual to find cemeteries surrounded by commercial developments. Very common, in fact.

This was the first time that the tombstone was actually in place. The last time I checked, several months ago, they were waiting for the soil to settle which apparently takes months.

There were some really tacky-looking plastic flowers in the accompanying vase which are provided in each instance. I cleaned it off the best I could and placed pebbles by each name.

As I looked around, I noticed a site surrounded by four large NASCAR trucks. A curious story, no doubt.

I didn't feel sad or very emotional. However I did briefly reflect on the Buddhist concept of katannu katavedita. It seems to be the perfect way to approach such a visit - not as a chore or as a traumatic event, but one that shows simple respect.

PAX!