Loki, front of house, 10 AM, 01/07/14, -7 F. His tush has not yet frozen to sidewalk.
_____Manista
Hope you are OK. Wright me or should I say E Mail me....
Dear ______,
1. Several days ago the battery in my watch stopped.
2. That same day the batteries in my camera proved dead.
3. Batteries in my keyboard and my mouse are flickering out.
4. Also that same day the battery in my telephone gave up.
But,
1. I can get my watch a new battery when I get to a mall or some such.
2. I have recharged the batteries in my camera.
3. I have bought new batteries for my mouse and keyboard.
4. I emailed Andy that my charger was likely left in his bedroom. He wrote
(emailed) back that he will return the charger by mail, so I'll get it soon and
resume telephony. (Rechargers for telephones that are over two years old
cannot be located. They would be happy to sell you a new phone with many
more functions but, No, Thanks. I can wait.)
Today I moved my car from the alley court to the street. However, the key
stuck in the lock as it is wont to do on Foci (Beware, Focus owner, your day
will come). I locked it with the electronic locking keypad. When I went out
to do some errands, I found my car battery had gone dead. I am currently
waiting for my neighbor to come home and help me boost it.
Last night the winds and low temperatures gained on the boiler and indoor temp
on first floor fell to 53 degrees F (with brand new, expensive boiler going full blast).
Plugged in my electric space heater but it too failed to make a difference. Temps
on second floor did not go below 60 F. But I am too weak to haul my futon and
iron frame up there; beside I'd have to rearrange all of D's stuff to fit it anywhere
convenient.
In the afternoon outdoor temp rose from -11 F to 3 F. As a result the indoor
temp is returning to 59 F. Who knows what my gas bill will be?
How I Am (Cont'd)
Where did I leave off? Oh, yes, I was writing about my singular mishaps
when my supper in the microwave tripped the circuit breaker and rendered
my computer a lump of metal and glass.
What cloud is so bleak as not to have a silver lining though? Loki barked to alert me
that my neighbor (not the new restaurant-owner neighbor who bought Mike's house
but the second-newest neighbor, Nick, who is converting a factory building into lofts)
was setting his Subaru SUV (not SVU, god forbid!) up in front of my yellow
wreckage so he could cable me to righteousness.
I joined in the effort by finding a second key from the car-file to be able to open
my own as there wasn't sufficient battery power left to respond to the key prompt.
After much wire adjusting and a spark or two the little four banger sprang to life. I
thanked Nick with profuse verbal gratitude (no money) and he offered to stay for
a few minutes to see if the cure worked. I left the key in the ignition (couldn't pull
it out anyway) locked baby up with the other key and allowed the jitney to run--
to recharge--its battery while I returned inside to feast on my linguini, spaghetti
sauce, chicken, and peas with cheese please, which had only moments earlier
killed my iMac.
By this time it was about 7:20 P and I thought to race the cripple into the Apple
infirmary at Crocker Park before 8 P when they would close. I got there about 7:50 P
and watched them lock the doors. "Come back at 10 tomorrow and we'll analyze
the living daylights out of it," they said. I considered chiding them about the early
closure but decided against biting the hands I hoped would resurrect my electronics.
I thought of going to your house and letting you both know I was ok, but
I said, Nah. Let 'em squirm. Besides, I now had to find a gas station with a
functioning air pump before my left rear tire went completely flat.
It's really amazing how many tire pumps on the West Side failed during
the bad weather. In the meantime I encountered Steve (owner of Mike's house) who
told me they had neither heat nor power at their business last night and all day
yesterday. It's hard to serve customers even frozen food in a dark space when the
temperature is 38 degrees F inside. He was very congenial and sympathetic to my
travail, but ever the entrepreneur, he had a business to get back on its feet.
Finally I did find an air pump that took all of the three minutes to get me from
unregistered pressure to 30 lb.
I got home and the inside temperature had risen to 57 F because hell had
decided to return to its arctic home. The computer was in the trunk ready for
Wednesday's trip. I showered in my much-maligned basement bathroom, wore
only two sets of bed shirts to bed, read with Loki and Sophia snuggled under my
arms, and sought real downtime which almost never came--traumatic insomnia.
It must have though, as I dreamed I had received acclaim for something I had
done in a dream weeks earlier. It's never too late for phantasmagoric glory.
Got in a jaunt to Bibles and Bagels (biblical study at Forest Hill) for which I was
required to provide bagels this one morning. That's why I needed the Focus to focus
on carting my ass thither.
Then to the Apple store where they plugged the sucker in and it worked on
the first jolt of AC. "Probably just needed to wait about ten minutes and it would
have started again last night." Grateful for this one victory (discounting the 22 miles
last night and the 22 again today). Passed out my business cards to several
uninterested people--prophet without honor in his own land.
Drove to a jewelry shop in the Promenade who for a mere $13 installed a new
battery in my watch. Can't just pop the back open; one needed a proprietary
wrench. The store owner, his daughter, and I were the only ones in the place.
They chatted cheerfully about my battery and car problems (low tire still needing fix)
and concluded that except for the watch they weren't going to try to fix them.
"Thanks," I said, "and I won't be buying any diamonds from my mechanic either."
Gave them two bus. cards. They seemed happy to get them. Damn right, I might
be their only customers today.
Car shop found tire was only a rim leak which they fixed promptly but examination
of my ever-noisier exhaust resulted in an estimate for a $1K replacement.
Didn't pass out cards. Got out while my skin was still attached.
Got home, let my computer warm up, plugged it in, flipped the switch, and
here we are again.
The package from Andy (my old telephone charger) did not come in today's mail.
Until it does I'll be an e-mailer not a caller. But thanks to persistence I am no
longer just a frozen pedestrian who has no sense of what time it is and cannot
complain at length via the Internet.
And you, lovely ______, is your furnace back to functioning?
Love, Peace, and Hope,
James Manista
[What is so ironic about all this was that at church Sunday we were invited to retrieve
a paper star bearing a special word, each star a different word, from a stash near
the communion rail and we were to meditate through the week on that word's meaning
for us. My star read Playfulness.
I thought, "How metaphysically apt is that? Class clown gets to ruminate about funny
business all week." And I didn't cheat either. Clover warned us not to search for another
word if we saw the next one was Patience or Purity. I adhered it to my sticky name tag
to invite comment at the coffee fellowship after service. Needless to say others were
not so forthcoming about their assignments
But after the last couple days I began to think maybe it's not about my playfulness
at all. I'm just the kitten on the floor chasing the laser dot and God's just yukking it
up with his flashlight: "Thought you had it, dincha? Now it's over there."]
| Loki, front of house, 10 AM, 01/07/14, -7 F. His tush has not yet frozen to sidewalk. _____Manista |
Hope you are OK. Wright me or should I say E Mail me....
Dear ______,
1. Several days ago the battery in my watch stopped.
2. That same day the batteries in my camera proved dead.
3. Batteries in my keyboard and my mouse are flickering out.
4. Also that same day the battery in my telephone gave up.
But,
1. I can get my watch a new battery when I get to a mall or some such.
2. I have recharged the batteries in my camera.
3. I have bought new batteries for my mouse and keyboard.
4. I emailed Andy that my charger was likely left in his bedroom. He wrote
(emailed) back that he will return the charger by mail, so I'll get it soon and
resume telephony. (Rechargers for telephones that are over two years old
cannot be located. They would be happy to sell you a new phone with many
more functions but, No, Thanks. I can wait.)
Today I moved my car from the alley court to the street. However, the key
stuck in the lock as it is wont to do on Foci (Beware, Focus owner, your day
will come). I locked it with the electronic locking keypad. When I went out
to do some errands, I found my car battery had gone dead. I am currently
waiting for my neighbor to come home and help me boost it.
Last night the winds and low temperatures gained on the boiler and indoor temp
on first floor fell to 53 degrees F (with brand new, expensive boiler going full blast).
Plugged in my electric space heater but it too failed to make a difference. Temps
on second floor did not go below 60 F. But I am too weak to haul my futon and
iron frame up there; beside I'd have to rearrange all of D's stuff to fit it anywhere
convenient.
In the afternoon outdoor temp rose from -11 F to 3 F. As a result the indoor
temp is returning to 59 F. Who knows what my gas bill will be?
How I Am (Cont'd)
Where did I leave off? Oh, yes, I was writing about my singular mishaps
when my supper in the microwave tripped the circuit breaker and rendered
my computer a lump of metal and glass.
when my supper in the microwave tripped the circuit breaker and rendered
my computer a lump of metal and glass.
What cloud is so bleak as not to have a silver lining though? Loki barked to alert me
that my neighbor (not the new restaurant-owner neighbor who bought Mike's house
but the second-newest neighbor, Nick, who is converting a factory building into lofts)
was setting his Subaru SUV (not SVU, god forbid!) up in front of my yellow
wreckage so he could cable me to righteousness.
that my neighbor (not the new restaurant-owner neighbor who bought Mike's house
but the second-newest neighbor, Nick, who is converting a factory building into lofts)
was setting his Subaru SUV (not SVU, god forbid!) up in front of my yellow
wreckage so he could cable me to righteousness.
I joined in the effort by finding a second key from the car-file to be able to open
my own as there wasn't sufficient battery power left to respond to the key prompt.
After much wire adjusting and a spark or two the little four banger sprang to life. I
thanked Nick with profuse verbal gratitude (no money) and he offered to stay for
a few minutes to see if the cure worked. I left the key in the ignition (couldn't pull
it out anyway) locked baby up with the other key and allowed the jitney to run--
to recharge--its battery while I returned inside to feast on my linguini, spaghetti
sauce, chicken, and peas with cheese please, which had only moments earlier
killed my iMac.
my own as there wasn't sufficient battery power left to respond to the key prompt.
After much wire adjusting and a spark or two the little four banger sprang to life. I
thanked Nick with profuse verbal gratitude (no money) and he offered to stay for
a few minutes to see if the cure worked. I left the key in the ignition (couldn't pull
it out anyway) locked baby up with the other key and allowed the jitney to run--
to recharge--its battery while I returned inside to feast on my linguini, spaghetti
sauce, chicken, and peas with cheese please, which had only moments earlier
killed my iMac.
By this time it was about 7:20 P and I thought to race the cripple into the Apple
infirmary at Crocker Park before 8 P when they would close. I got there about 7:50 P
and watched them lock the doors. "Come back at 10 tomorrow and we'll analyze
the living daylights out of it," they said. I considered chiding them about the early
closure but decided against biting the hands I hoped would resurrect my electronics.
infirmary at Crocker Park before 8 P when they would close. I got there about 7:50 P
and watched them lock the doors. "Come back at 10 tomorrow and we'll analyze
the living daylights out of it," they said. I considered chiding them about the early
closure but decided against biting the hands I hoped would resurrect my electronics.
I thought of going to your house and letting you both know I was ok, but
I said, Nah. Let 'em squirm. Besides, I now had to find a gas station with a
functioning air pump before my left rear tire went completely flat.
I said, Nah. Let 'em squirm. Besides, I now had to find a gas station with a
functioning air pump before my left rear tire went completely flat.
It's really amazing how many tire pumps on the West Side failed during
the bad weather. In the meantime I encountered Steve (owner of Mike's house) who
told me they had neither heat nor power at their business last night and all day
yesterday. It's hard to serve customers even frozen food in a dark space when the
temperature is 38 degrees F inside. He was very congenial and sympathetic to my
travail, but ever the entrepreneur, he had a business to get back on its feet.
Finally I did find an air pump that took all of the three minutes to get me from
unregistered pressure to 30 lb.
the bad weather. In the meantime I encountered Steve (owner of Mike's house) who
told me they had neither heat nor power at their business last night and all day
yesterday. It's hard to serve customers even frozen food in a dark space when the
temperature is 38 degrees F inside. He was very congenial and sympathetic to my
travail, but ever the entrepreneur, he had a business to get back on its feet.
Finally I did find an air pump that took all of the three minutes to get me from
unregistered pressure to 30 lb.
I got home and the inside temperature had risen to 57 F because hell had
decided to return to its arctic home. The computer was in the trunk ready for
Wednesday's trip. I showered in my much-maligned basement bathroom, wore
only two sets of bed shirts to bed, read with Loki and Sophia snuggled under my
arms, and sought real downtime which almost never came--traumatic insomnia.
It must have though, as I dreamed I had received acclaim for something I had
done in a dream weeks earlier. It's never too late for phantasmagoric glory.
decided to return to its arctic home. The computer was in the trunk ready for
Wednesday's trip. I showered in my much-maligned basement bathroom, wore
only two sets of bed shirts to bed, read with Loki and Sophia snuggled under my
arms, and sought real downtime which almost never came--traumatic insomnia.
It must have though, as I dreamed I had received acclaim for something I had
done in a dream weeks earlier. It's never too late for phantasmagoric glory.
Got in a jaunt to Bibles and Bagels (biblical study at Forest Hill) for which I was
required to provide bagels this one morning. That's why I needed the Focus to focus
on carting my ass thither.
required to provide bagels this one morning. That's why I needed the Focus to focus
on carting my ass thither.
Then to the Apple store where they plugged the sucker in and it worked on
the first jolt of AC. "Probably just needed to wait about ten minutes and it would
have started again last night." Grateful for this one victory (discounting the 22 miles
last night and the 22 again today). Passed out my business cards to several
uninterested people--prophet without honor in his own land.
the first jolt of AC. "Probably just needed to wait about ten minutes and it would
have started again last night." Grateful for this one victory (discounting the 22 miles
last night and the 22 again today). Passed out my business cards to several
uninterested people--prophet without honor in his own land.
Drove to a jewelry shop in the Promenade who for a mere $13 installed a new
battery in my watch. Can't just pop the back open; one needed a proprietary
wrench. The store owner, his daughter, and I were the only ones in the place.
They chatted cheerfully about my battery and car problems (low tire still needing fix)
and concluded that except for the watch they weren't going to try to fix them.
"Thanks," I said, "and I won't be buying any diamonds from my mechanic either."
battery in my watch. Can't just pop the back open; one needed a proprietary
wrench. The store owner, his daughter, and I were the only ones in the place.
They chatted cheerfully about my battery and car problems (low tire still needing fix)
and concluded that except for the watch they weren't going to try to fix them.
"Thanks," I said, "and I won't be buying any diamonds from my mechanic either."
Gave them two bus. cards. They seemed happy to get them. Damn right, I might
be their only customers today.
be their only customers today.
Car shop found tire was only a rim leak which they fixed promptly but examination
of my ever-noisier exhaust resulted in an estimate for a $1K replacement.
Didn't pass out cards. Got out while my skin was still attached.
of my ever-noisier exhaust resulted in an estimate for a $1K replacement.
Didn't pass out cards. Got out while my skin was still attached.
Got home, let my computer warm up, plugged it in, flipped the switch, and
here we are again.
here we are again.
The package from Andy (my old telephone charger) did not come in today's mail.
Until it does I'll be an e-mailer not a caller. But thanks to persistence I am no
longer just a frozen pedestrian who has no sense of what time it is and cannot
complain at length via the Internet.
Love, Peace, and Hope,
James Manista
[What is so ironic about all this was that at church Sunday we were invited to retrieve
a paper star bearing a special word, each star a different word, from a stash near
the communion rail and we were to meditate through the week on that word's meaning
for us. My star read Playfulness.
I thought, "How metaphysically apt is that? Class clown gets to ruminate about funny
business all week." And I didn't cheat either. Clover warned us not to search for another
word if we saw the next one was Patience or Purity. I adhered it to my sticky name tag
to invite comment at the coffee fellowship after service. Needless to say others were
not so forthcoming about their assignments
But after the last couple days I began to think maybe it's not about my playfulness
at all. I'm just the kitten on the floor chasing the laser dot and God's just yukking it
up with his flashlight: "Thought you had it, dincha? Now it's over there."]
longer just a frozen pedestrian who has no sense of what time it is and cannot
complain at length via the Internet.
And you, lovely ______, is your furnace back to functioning?
Love, Peace, and Hope,
[What is so ironic about all this was that at church Sunday we were invited to retrieve
a paper star bearing a special word, each star a different word, from a stash near
the communion rail and we were to meditate through the week on that word's meaning
for us. My star read Playfulness.
I thought, "How metaphysically apt is that? Class clown gets to ruminate about funny
business all week." And I didn't cheat either. Clover warned us not to search for another
word if we saw the next one was Patience or Purity. I adhered it to my sticky name tag
to invite comment at the coffee fellowship after service. Needless to say others were
not so forthcoming about their assignments
But after the last couple days I began to think maybe it's not about my playfulness
at all. I'm just the kitten on the floor chasing the laser dot and God's just yukking it
up with his flashlight: "Thought you had it, dincha? Now it's over there."]
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