I woke up at 2. I'd been so tired last night, I got some stuff together to list, and then just crashed at maybe 4 (I'd tried a 2nd cup of coffee) and woke up at 8:30, then went back to sleep until 2. No kava pills either; I'd forgotten I had them.
I had my coffee etc (I hadn't even made a cup last night to put in the fridge, and making a cup of coffee and icing it is no fun when I'm trying to wake up) and was out the door around 4. I went to Nijiya first and got a small bento and a Coke Zero.
I dropped off a bag of brown rice and a packet of ginseng tea at the 6th street blessing box, then went by the one on 5th and put in a packet of ginseng tea and picked up a copy of Wuthering Heights.
I rode over to the pepper tree to eat, and gave my fish bones to the ants, which really had them partying. I ended up taking some with me, and brushed off ants, many of them biting me, as I rode over to the Amazon Hub to pick up a book I'd ordered, something like "How To Cook A Wolf" about life during the Great Depression.
Next I went over to the bank and put my pay check in. Then I went over to Whole Foods and got some cream for coffee. Then, I went over to Target with a list of things I'd written out, and I even found most of them. I went out to my bike and ... my bag and pannier set was gone. A bum was sitting there and said he'd seen someone "lingering" around the bikes and had gone back out to keep an eye on his own bike.
The bag and pannier set I'd bought on June 9, had lasted me until July 9. Exactly one goddamn month. I told the bum how, when I'd first gotten that model of bag and pannier set, I'd stopped in at Workingman's Emporium for something, and some guy out front had said, "Oh yeah, those are ones you can slide right off the rack!" and I'd decided right away to drill a hole in the rack and put a nut and bolt in there so it wold be difficult for someone to slide it right off. But, over time, I'd gotten lazy and not put it back in when I changed a tire etc., and when I got the new bag set I didn't bother.
I listed the things the thief had gotten: The bags of course, 2/3 of a Coke Zero, some exam gloves and zip ties and a P51 can opener probably, some hand wipes, a flashlight, a set of bike lights... the book I'd just picked up from Amazon and the copy of Wuthering Heights.
My problem with homeless people is, of course there are good ones, but it's the 95% of 'em that are bad that ruin things for the rest. I said this to the bum and will say it to any homeless scumsucker to their face. He seemed like a good bum but for all I know is the lookout for the thieves - they'll use little radios or their phones to coordinate thefts. I also think the Arabs have the right idea regarding thieves. I suspect if we become actually WROL or Without Rule Of Law thief is going to become a very risky occupation and thieves are going to become very thin upon the ground (under it may be a different matter).
As I thought about what was lost and I'd have to replace, I realized one of the things was the cream I'd just bought at Whole Foods. So I went back over there and got more. On the way back, I cut through San Pedro Square and who were there but Rabbit Trumpet Guy. He had a new horn, a silver Jean-Baptiste (you can buy those new for not much over $100) and he said he'd had to get another as his had been stolen. "I've been getting so much stuff stolen, I'm considering getting a gun!" he said. I told him about Bullseye Bishop and then we talked about general things. He'd made about $20 the day before, and $12 or so today "But spent $2 on a Popsicle." He started packing up as we talked, and a lady came out and gave him a few dollars and thanked him for "The Addams Family" theme, and he and did did the theme again with our voices and I snapped my fingers.
He says he's "providing night time security" at a place where he gets to park the van he lives in for free. Thieves have broken into it and even stole his rabbit's leashes, though. He was filthy, and his various belongings filthy also. I told him a few tricks, like get a dark colored hose and let it sit in the sun, and put a spray nozzle on it, and you can have a hot shower whenever the sun's bright. Or, the old Windex trick - just scrub yourself with Windex, and you won't smell like it, it will just get you really clean.
I managed to get home with what I'd bought at Target and my heavy bike chain and lock, in the Target bag - at least they provide really sturdy bags.
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