nervous before a big trip to pekin this morning. up early, before five, dressed and had two cups of coffee already. it's about a fifty minute drive; we'll leave here at about 7:45. my son has a court appearance but the particulars are settled; he's paid the fine (we paid the fine); he took a driver's safety course and can prove it. all that remains is to have the judge free him from warrants.

the whole experience turned him into slightly more careful, more responsible; he doesn't want to have warrants but on the other hand he's a little not ready to take full responsibility. it's a gradual process. enough about him. the daughter also wants to go to hanna city; that's almost just as far, same southwest side of peoria. she thinks we can just go there whenever we want. on demand. on her demand.

it is gorgeous out there in the countryside. the back roads to hanna city take me through three towns, maquon, yates city, and farmington, and last weekend was yard-sale weekend. i didn't know how much they coordinated, but i found out. in farmington was a lot with about forty tents. perhaps people from the countryside came, rented a tent, set up their wares, and sat out there all weekend. the best i could figure it was lots of houseware, glass, china, etc. of course that's what shines in the sun as i'm driving by. one place had an ancient car and another had some very old desks. but i already have very old desks that i can't get rid of.

in fact i'm purging all kinds of stuff; it's been around too long and causes too much hard feelings. even in cases where my wife has as much as i do, she knows what she has and wants it there, whereas mine looks like big piles of junk to her. from my point of view, stuff i save i save for everybody, like old electronics, charging cords etc., and everybody at times comes back to paw through it. there are things though that i save for myself, like stamps and old postcards. and i'm sure they look like junk. but they're not, to me. i'll purge the deco. i have no need for deco. christmas wreaths, old cloth pumpkin-men, etc. one more year and i never put any of it up. what's the point? someone at the thrift store can enjoy it. pay a quarter and take home a whole armload of it.