I’ve never seen Dad so tired and fragile. It’s terrible how this last year of KVC/Atlantic has aged him. Sometimes, when he gets excited about a new musical idea, his old energy shines out briefly; but in repose, the exhaustion shows in his face and in the way he sits.

This weekend of music-making has been a good change of pace for him, but he’s worried about my imminent departure (I already changed my ticket to give us an extra day). I know he’s afraid of not finishing in time, of letting me down. So in a way, I’ve added to his burdens. And me – maniacal auteur taking precedence over dutiful son – I’m pushing him as hard as he can take, hoping that my tireless cheerfulness will somehow cheer him up.

(They’re taking out a second mortgage on the house!)

I think we’re over the hump. Nearly all the music is done, and it’s fine – better than I’d hoped for, once I got over the initial disappointment of remembering what a piece of shit this machine is. There’s an opening-titles crescendo that’s genuinely thrilling. (Or at least, Dad and I have talked ourselves into believing it is – remember, this is an Apple II.)

Robert had better be blown away.  The sad thing is, probably very few other people at Broderbund will be – they’re used to Mac and Amiga and Atari ST music. Oh well. Somewhere, someone must appreciate this.

I’ll miss the San Francisco 4^th of July fireworks, but it was worth it.

[Back in SF] Fixed that eerie bug in the music routines. It was Roland who came up with the answer – I’d relocated Kyle’s sound routines so that the page boundaries fell in different places and subtly changed the timing. I never would have thought of that. Anyway, the music’s in now, mostly, and it’s gotten a great response so far (from Brian, Greg and Robert).

Bill offered 9% at 50,000 units, 10% at 100,000. I plan to counter-offer 10% at 30,000 units. The difference isn’t worth blowing the deal for, but it’s not chicken feed either.

It’s still not clear whether Lance will stay on at Broderbund to do the conversion.

This music is great. It’s terrific. It’s everything I’d hoped for. It gives the game a whole new dimension. I’m incredibly thrilled, actually.

Brian suggested a candidate of his own to do the Princess shoot – Peter LaDeau’s 18-year-old daughter Tina – and I agreed. The problem with Alison was, I couldn’t think of who to have her embrace. She might feel awkward about me asking her to throw herself into the arms of a total stranger. This way, it’s all within the family (so to speak).

Brian and Peter enjoyed the pastrami I brought back from the Carnegie Deli.

Dad is in a tough spot. The Prince of Persia music is practically the only bright spot in his life right now. I’m glad he did such a good job. We did.

Worked all day. By happy hour I was so burned out, I was dead on my feet and could hardly keep up a conversation. Then I went to the gym and worked out really hard in the heat. Then I went to Japantown and sat at a table by myself and slurped up a bowl of udon.

Now I’m all charged up again and rarin’ to go. Except… everybody’s gone. That’s OK. Maybe I’ll clean up the apartment. I feel the need to do something to restore my self-image as a human being (as opposed to a brain, a set of fingers, and the parts necessary to keep them the right distance off the ground to operate the computer).

Robert’s gone to LA for the weekend. He said Corey said Tomi seems lonely and doesn’t know many people in Paris.