The morning after

 Yes, I was technically up before noon. Whew! After I got back here and ate my fried chicken and beer, I got into a pile of stuff I had plans for and moved things around, these huge storage boxes that are big but light, and a power supply I'd stripped down to just the big 3-phase transformer bolted into the case, dragged my next victim out to where I can work on it, moved some things around to get them stored more efficiently, etc. Then I took the huge piece of cardboard I set down on the office floor before putting my futon down, into the space where it was a nearly perfect fit. 

The end result was the area is clear and roomy and beautiful. 

I dragged the 3-phase transformer in its case, noisily, across the parking lot when I saw Chuey, the guy I'd offended. I asked him if he wanted it, and he sure did. So we both dragged it over by his truck. I said I was sorry I was rude the other day, and he grinned and laughed and said it's OK, it's all good. (I'm sidestepping what he called me in Spanish the other day but not showing that I know what he said, but he's got to have a sharp tongue to manage all those guy he does.) 

The problem is, ol' Chuey wanted to just leave the thing in the parking lot overnight, next to this black truck his red one was parked next to. I even went back out and tried to convey to him that some metal scrapper will take it if it's out there. He thought it was all OK and drove off in his red truck. 

So I got some boxes from the dumpster and put them around it, so no metal was showing. 

I then finished the load of laundry I had soaking and hung that up, and once that was taken care of and the office and bathroom all cleaned up, it was only another 15 minutes or so until Ken showed up. He had a hamburger and fries for me which was nice. And my pay check. And we talked the requisite hour and a half and then he was off. 

I had a 2nd huge piece of cardboard and considering I got at least a few years, maybe 4, out of the first one I'm set for the time I anticipate being here. I'd been trying to think of a good way to use the old one, and it was neat that it fit in its new role so well. There has to be cardboard there because that's where there's a lot of efflorescence that comes up when it rains. 

I went to bed just before two, and I guess with all the stuff  I did it's no surprise I slept in until almost noon. 

So, whew, I guess I had a very productive day. 

I even showed up my Getzen 900DLX cornet to Ken, just because I'd been thinking I need to take it out of its box and make sure the slides are all movable fine, especially the 2nd valve one which is the most likely to freeze on any horn. It was fine. If there's ONE horn I'm taking with me to Israel, it's that one. 

Giving Chuey the transformer was a great move. I got to apologize to him up close and personal, and I've saved the money I'd have spent on beer, as per my previous plan of giving a case or two of the stuff to them at their usual Friday night cookout. 

Two nice things: California is now the 4th largest economy in the world, and Ken is now anti-Trump. Somehow he's gone from voting for the guy (I believe) 3 times, he's talking about hos stupid he and his followers are. Stupid is as stupid does, but hey I'll take it. 

I guess Ken's stupidity is helpful,  because he's too financially stupid to realize that this business is almost certainly operating at a loss. And he's talked about, when he's done with it, just handing everything over to an auction company and having them sell everything off. 

The landlord can't kick us out of here until the lease is up, I'm just not sure how much time is left on it. I hate Ebay with the fire of 10,000 suns, and feel that begging on the street is a much more respectable way to make a living. I'm spending hours to find a $5 item, and it takes up so much of my time that I don't have time to busk, or even practice. 

I packed 3 things that had to go out, and left here around 2:30. I also had a bag of books I'd grabbed to trade in at the used book store. They were books I'd wanted to read but decided I probably won't get around to reading or are not *that* interested. Like, I was happy to find the latest version of "IBM And The Holocaust" but could not get interested in reading the thing. So I had a Walmart bag of books like that. 

I stopped at Nijiya first because I was hungry and got some salmon sushi and green tea, and went over to the old hospital building to sit on the steps and eat. In a few minutes Japanese Karen showed up and said they're having a meeting and could I please ... eat somewhere else? I said I'd gotten this stuff because I could eat it quickly and I'll be done and gone before the 15 minutes she gave me would be over. And I was. 

Next stop was the post office where I mailed the things. Then the bank where I deposited my pay check, and talked a bit with the gal from Israel. She's staying with friends here who are also Israeli (of course) and are having a hard time, financially. We talked a bit about "street culture" in Israel and I mentioned how, in videos by Relaxing Walker and others, I see people out walking around and talking, sitting at outdoor tables etc. She said, "People here don't know how to talk with each other" haha. 

Next was the used book store. I got $22 trade credit for my books and the guy took all but one. I got the used copy of Maus II they had, "My Life As A Man" by Philip Roth, and mentioned to the guy how I really hoped to find "The Plot Against America" as I'd started reading it in the library yesterday. The guy actually looked in the shelf of new arrivals and pulled out a used copy! So I got that too. I told him I'm on a kind of Art Spiegelman and Philip Roth jag right now, and he said those are two really good ones to be enthusiastic about. 

I went to Whole Foods and got something to eat and a beer, then, having gotten cash back, walked back to the book store and bought one of the new copies of Maus I they had. So I really had a good day, in terms of books. 

I got groceries at Whole Foods, loaded up the bike, and picked up bubble mailers at the Amazon place, and then headed for home. I had to whiz really bad though so I stopped at Nijiya, again. The "price" of that stop was I got another bottle of beer and a gyudon so that's dinner. 

All through the day is was grey and a bit cold. But I don't care because I got everything done and it can rain and pour tomorrow and I'll be snug in here, working. The service this week is on YouTube so I don't even have to go out for that.