8-10:25 p.m.

Straight ahead work of a nature never before undertaken. I know not how to describe it. Setting the steel frame of the building, cleared of all plaster, trim windows, etc. might do. The plaster, etc. a rather sweet sensation, quite intense at times. The steel, stripped, without sensation; an impersonal thing. This stripping in all centres of my being. After, this work continued at intervals, and there came an impression that s. would feed and renew something used up in this work. Took 2 sniffs about 11:30 and worked at intervals till after two. Slept till 6:30.

P.M.

This a.m. a few words with Ninette [Ninette Shumway] at the table occasioned by table manners of the boys. She says I never finish what I start, referring to this matter and Hansi carrying water mornings. The latter job I never took on, only stepping in a few mornings when she had no control of him. About the table—I wonder? It does seem to me that a meal does not go by that I do not speak. Difficult, not only because the constant work is wearisome, but because Ninette sometimes acts grouchy when I address Howie [Howard Shumway]. His & Lulu’s manners are common. (Rather early to judge Lulu, however.) Hansi has an innate grace which shows at times. His outer manners are imitations of the peasants; i.e. he objects to cutting his spaghetti and wants to suck in the long strings. He spreads his legs and spits, and in other ways imitates the peasants.