I got stuff ready to list but didn't end up listing it last night, and decided that's probably OK because of the big batch of things I packed and shipped. I also took a gadget apart, and put the scrap metal out. Sure enough, eventually a bum came by and took the stuff and scuttled off with it (it was pretty heavy) and stashed it under the bushes a ways up.
Since I'd put the stuff out Sunday-Monday overnight, and the stuff was still stashed, some of it anyway, last (Monday) night I swung by and had a look - there was an extra thing there that looked interesting so I grabbed it and it turns out it's a gadget I (Ken, actually) can get about $80 for, so it'll get listed. Bum 0, me 1.
With all this stuff to do, I was pretty busy but I did what's really important and that's get an hour's practice in one the flute. I'm coming around to thinking that octave exercises on the headjoint are neat, but there's no replacement for playing exercises on the flute, and doing what I'm starting to like doing, playing them as written and then playing them again an octave up.
When I'm playing an octave up and things are going well, I can tell it's a sound that can really carry. I've noted that at any distance it doesn't matter whether a busker is playing a sax or a trumpet or even a violin, at enough distance it sounds like a flute. So why not just make a nice clear flute tone? I'm beginning to realize this instrument can give the trumpet a real run for its money.
I woke up at 4. I packed a few more things and delivered them, not needing the bike trailer so I went over to 99 Ranch for some shopping. The tea eggs looked pretty old, so I got a lotus cake and ate that out front, then picked up some celery and 3 cans of pate'. When I was loading the things into the bike bags I realized someone had started to open one of the cans of pate, so it was no good - I went back in and they let me get a new one. This no doubt happened because they let bums into the place. It's not like they can keep them out, at present, but it'd be nice if they could.
I didn't really find much coming home. A pear-apple, which I ate later with coffee. Some odd little fixtures from the bountiful dumpster that might be good for something. And so on.
I got back in here and besides other things, took apart this big laser thing that had a red "take-apart" tag on it and that took a while because it was really put together well. But now we can sell the parts and it's less clutter in the shop. And more metal and wire etc. put out there for the bums.
After that I was hungry so I got out my dried coconut flakes to munch on and inhaled a piece of one or something. It was really bad. I could barely get air, made lots of horrible sounds, and the thing kept re-lodging itself in my trachea so it was a real ordeal. I ended up taking a piece of cardboard and laying it down on the parking lot and lying on it for a while because I felt better lying down, and enjoyed the cool air.
When I felt better, I took the bag of coconut slices and emptied it into the bushes. I like the stuff but I'm not willing to die because of it. I love raw carrots but many experiences choking on those made me swear off of them unless I've grated them and they're in a salad. This stuff was worse. Nearly dying didn't help my headache, always waiting in the wings, a bit. Fortunately (?) last night my headache was acting up too, and I was still able to practice flute OK. I'm not sure I could say that about the trumpet at all.
Even after spending about $11 at 99 Ranch it looks like I'm saving $80 in my bank account this week. This is pretty good, but I did some math and realized I need to save about $60 a week to cover what I have to send the IRS each year, which is about 3 grand. Most of that isn't income tax, but is for things like Medicare and Social Security, things which help society which I am but a part of, so I don't feel bad about this.
I want to keep my taxes paid, and I also want to have about 10 grand in the bank when I leave. That means saving a lot more than $80 every pay check. That's where busking needs to come in.
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