last night there were even fewer people on the street than Tuesday night - probably the "residents only" rule below 14th st (though a friend of mine had no trouble crossing the police barricade). The Phoenix had more people in it than the night before, perhaps because the Cock was closed. It was good to be around people, people I knew, since I hadn't seen anyone I knew all day. The conversation turned from personal stories to discussions of our political leaders, and all that stuff, and I don't know what I said exactly, but it seemed to stop the discussion cold - something like "I don't care who can't read a teleprompter, or what lame proclamtions congress makes, right now I just care about you and you and you" as I pointed to the circle of friends, and just-introduced strangers - I think the strangers particularly were unnerved ....... too much beer, I suppose, so I eventually slowly pedaled home, coughing from the increased smoke. This morning it seems much thicker, the air, that smokey smell, the haze outside......... somewhere in the distance I can hear venus as a boy playing........ still no long distance calls outgoing, and I just want to hear my Mom's voice.......