Well, well, well . . . I got back from Grand Rapids on Wednesday afternoon. I was there at two appearances (one at the community college and another at the public library). It all went okay. I had driven up there on Tuesday morning, and both appearances were on Tuesday, so the first one I felt I didn't have all that much enthusiasm (I fear it made the students feel I was bored with the topic), and the second one went okay but I messed up the ending big time. I basically started rambling and then quite talking. The reason for the mishap in the second speech was that I had prepared about 45 minutes worth of material, and I was trying to cut it down to 30 minutes on the fly—while I was actually giving my speech. So, I left out a bunch of stories, but during the talk I realized that stories I left out were prerequisits for understanding the ending, and so I couldn't go with the ending I had prepared. It was a terrible speech really, but the content was good and the audience was even better, so they were quite forgiving. And while I was there I sold some books.

Previously, on Sunday, I bought an electric guitar. I have been playing pretty much nonstop. On Sunday I played for about thirteen hours, getting blisters all over my fingertips in the meanwhile. But now the blisters are pretty much gone and I'm getting calluses. That is great. And I'm writing a song. It isn't all that good, but it is my first attempt so I won't be too tough on myself.

Other than that not too much is going on with me. I was out for a coffee earlier tonight, and while out I saw about six different beautiful women. It was quite the sighting! But it made salient in my mind how lonely I actually am. I need a woman to share my life with so desperately. So, I went from the coffee shop to the bar to get drunk. I had a few drinks but didn't get drunk, and now I'm back in my condo. I have been playing the guitar for the past hour, and now I'm just listening to love songs and feeling lonely. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.