Tomorrow the days begin to get longer.  Today was damp and very mild.  I worked this morning, went down to the gym and put in 24 minutes on the elliptical (20 minutes workout, four minutes cooldown; it’s programmed that way).  It was almost like being on my old schedule.  I came back upstairs and showered and dressed.

I had a lunch date at 1:15 with a friend from the neighborhood.  On my way out I ran into one of our building staff and one of our neighbors, both of whom wanted to know whether I was still doing well.  As we spoke, another neighbor came in, so I told her what the story was, too.  I’m afraid I shocked her, but then again, I’m pleased that I shocked her; I really don’t look sick.

I was not late at the restaurant, but my friend was already waiting.  I’d spoken to her before I set up this diary, and she wasn’t aware of it, so I gave her the URL.  We went to a little Thai restaurant with an inexpensive prix fixe lunch, which I managed to finish– even the ice cream.  I was very proud of myself, but I don’t know how much dinner I’ll be able to eat.

After lunch, with some trepidation, I stopped at the post office to mail a couple of items that needed special postage.  I was in great luck.  There was no line at all, and it took me longer at the light to cross the street than the entire time I spent on the transaction.  When I got home there was a parcel waiting for me with an unfamiliar return address.  It turned out to be a package of assorted chocolate, from the sister of my California chocolate-sending friend.  (Coincidence?  I think not.)  I didn’t recognize her married name until I read her card.  I was so full from lunch that I couldn’t imagine eating them.  I’ll be working my way through them all, bit by precious bit.

I got back to work for a while, and then realized it was probably a reasonably good time to try calling an old friend, my computer science mentor, to whom I hadn’t spoken in years.  He was, as has always been his wont, late for something, so we didn’t talk for long, but it was good to be back in touch, and we’ll try again tomorrow.

So it’s been a very good day.