Gray and cold day. In the morning, go to the Fish Factory to get a driftwood piece with some fern moss growing on it. Go back home and do a water change in the fish tank. Place the driftwood into the tank. The fish start picking at it immediately. They are going to strip the moss from the new driftwood I got for them, no doubt about it. In the afternoon, walk up the Oak Leaf trail to North Avenue. Around sunset walk south on First Street to Washington Avenue. A little bit down today.
Toilet paper aisle
In the morning drive to Valvoline to get a vehicle emmissions test. They tell me they don’t do that on Friday. Go somewhere else. Get the emissions test and pick up new registration sticker for my back plate. I have been driving around all year on expired plates. Drive out to Sam’s Club. Long lines and panicked buying everywhere. Load up on Diet Coke and water. Stop at Pick N’ Save. The toilet paper aisle is completely empty. I laugh out loud at the scene. Other people seem unnerved by my nihilistic sense of humor. A national emergency is declared. In the late afternoon walk along the Oak Leaf trial out to Capitol Drive. Stop at Culver’s for a cheesebuger and strawberry malt. Life at Culver’s seems to be going on normally.
Coronavirus fear
In the morning drive to Racine. Go to court for a status hearing. Drive back to Milwaukee. Go to the courthouse for a bail hearing. Go to the jail for a consultation. In the afternoon walk along the lakefront to Northpoint. Walk back down Farwell Avenue and up Brady Street. On the way back stop at Pick N’ Save to get a few groceries. There are long lines. People looking a little panicked. The Coronavirus fear has come to Milwaukee.
Wander
Cloudy day. In the morning, go to the courthouse for a hearing. Go over to the Criminal Justice Facility for another hearing. Go to the jail for a couple of consultations. In the afternoon, go back to the courthouse for some more hearings. In the late afternoon, walk down to the lakefront and up to the Brady Street bridge. Walk up Brady Street and wander back downtown. Go to Orange Theory.
Get an idea
Much colder today. In the morning walk to the office. Work all day. Later walk along the lakefront to Northpoint. Get an idea for a novel. Interesting. Walk down Farwell Avenue. Walk up Brady Street. Stop at Emperor of China and order pork fried rice for takeout. Stick in my backpack and walk home. Enjoy my supper. Relax and watch television.
Ordinary day
Rainy all day. In the morning go to the office. Work on files. Clean the desk. Go home and do a water change on the fish tank. Do some laundry. At night go to Orange Theory. Ordinary day.
Sunday morning in Madison
In the morning walk to Camp Randall. Stop to get doughnuts. Walk back to the hotel. Pack up and leave. Drive to Milwaukee. Even more warm and sunny today. Walk up the Oak Leaf Trail to Capitol Drive. Feet get sore on the walk back home.
Saturday in Madison
Beautiful day. Warm and sunny. Walk over to my old apartment on Gilman Street. Walk down Langdon Street past all the fraternaties. Stop at the Memorial Union. Walk up Bascom Hill. Walk around the law school. Walk down to the lakeshore path. Take the path all the way to Picnic Point. Walk south to Regent Street. Stop at a little place across from Camp Randall for lunch. Eat fried rice. Stop at the Vilas Zoo. See the animals. At night go to the Gordon Dining Hall. Eat dinner with the students. Go to the Free Thought Festival. The speakers are atheists. They discuss legal issues in their many fights with Christian activists over the separation of church and state. Walk back to State Street. There are drunk college kids all over yelling and running around.
Friday night in Madison
In the morning, go to the Criminal Justice Facility for a couple of preliminary hearings. In the afternoon, drive to Racine. Go to the courthouse for a hearing. Drive to Madison. Check into a nice hotel. Walk down State Street. Walk to the Memorial Union. Go out on the Terrace and watch the sunset over Lake Mendota. The sky is orange. Walk back up State Street. Walk over to the Capitol Building. It is all lit up with a full moon shining overhead.
Hung Jury
In the morning drive to Racine. Listen to a podcast discussing enlightenment through meditation. The sun is rising as I wind my way down to the courthouse. Continue the jury trial with closing arguments and jury deliberations. Wait around for a verdict. Go to the Racine Historical Museum to pass the time. Called back to the courthouse. The jury is hung. A mistrial is declared. Drive home.
