I've seldom smoked as much of the sacred herb as I have today, among Kimchee, Marcus, my neighbour from across the hall, and Darlene, severally and serially. Getting stoned and getting my teeth cleaned is what this day has been about--and seeing Darlene finally off to Olympia to school. Also, of course, it's payday for us SSI recipients who are paid our stipend on the 1st of the month, or on the friday before the 1st, if the 1st fall on a weekend as this July 1st does. So, in less than 36 minutes of this counting, at midnight, I shall be $603.00 richer. I like, when I first get my money, within the first few hours, to indulge a few harmless pleasures. Usually I go round to the Satellite Diner, which is open till 4:00 a.m., and is full of charm and atmosphere and wide-awake young people, and have one of their many specialty omlets, which if you sit at the counter you can watch the charming and literate short-order cook prepare right in front of you. But the reality of my gut hanging before me contraindicates that too-usual, innocent little debauch.