i'm staying overnight in belmont again because i have to take my mother to her colonoscopy appointment in kenmore square early tomorrow morning. she can't eat anything at this point, only drink clear fluids, and the occasional bottle of magnesium citrate, a chemical laxative. my sister made dinner instead, a slew of american dishes.

i'd forgotten the st.patrick's day parade was today until i saw all the people dressed in green at harvard square. by coincidence i had my green shirt on as well to show my solidarity. normally these parades are wet and cold, but the irish couldn't have ordered a better day, with temperature at 65 degrees. i bumped into ed, who was chatting with john, one of his tenants. i told ed i might be getting my motorcycle out of storage which got him all animated. as long as it doesn't snow again, it's riding season for me.