Jose across the way blew the transmission gasket on his van. He puts so much labor into keep that Dodge running that I think somebody sold him a junker. I lent him a ton of tools but I know nothing about transmissions. He helped us refill the flat on Wallace’s rental, which got swapped for a better car later in the day.
That was the high point of the day so far. Well, not quite. On the way back, Alain called just to chat. I mentioned what had happened with Barry U and guess what? It turns out she used to be the student president there back in 1984. (Now she tells me.) Anyway, she has assured me she will back up my application to the hilt, and in passing mentioned that I “had no idea how much money” their family has donated to that university. I don’t need any help, but that does not mean I won’t take it if offered.Wallace is spoiled, he has nothing to gauge things by, but he has again hit some of the nicest weather and lightest traffic in years. Still, it was hot enough to encourage just taking the day off and reading a good book. We toured the Canadian flea market at the Mardi Gras casino. I even bought a new wrist watch, which tells me I am about to take a late afternoon nap in about thirty seconds. See you later.
Much later, see, Wallace wanted a nap so I thought I’ll read an Economics text sitting in the easy chair. Five hours later, we barely made to Panera before dark. Where he managed to get hands of 24, 20 and four or five 16s in one and a half games. Double fives in several others. With my deck of cards. (Who can’t count? One and a half because we finished a game started two days ago.)Take a look at my high quality crib board. See the warped plastic. Some people like to think it was their “smokin’” hot crib skills that caused the damage, but it was a combination of cheap product and Florida sun on the dashboard of my car. The wooden boards are bulky, heavy, and don’t have a pocket to store the cards.
Over on 441, we got a different rental car, the other one needs lots of little things repaired. Now it is a freshly painted Neon, whoever makes those. Neither of us like the view from the interior, the hood is angled down so you cannot see (or perceive) the distance to the front bumper of the car.
At the flea market, I priced out some cowboy gear, mostly hats and belts with gaudy buckles. No cowboy boots, mind you. I ain’t no truck driver. (That’s a joke, son.) Many people might wonder why that swap meet has a Star of David instead of a Maple Leaf. I don’t know. Back home, I’m drinking tea and not worrying the least about such things.I also bought a new wristwatch. Sorry, but that Lorus was too finicky and did not have directions in the case or on the Internet. It had a dozen features, like a stop watch which nobody uses yet it would set itself into the 24-hour (Military time) mode, or the beep on the hour mode and no amount of experimentation could easily turn those off. My new Ottimo is bilingual. At midnight it changes to “SUN” and at noon to “DOM”. Clever. Anyway, this one is quartz, but has an analog face with arms and a second hand. It is more, well, cowboy.
Let’s find some trivia. Okay, everybody has heard about that modern art painting some museum hung upside down for, what was it, 24 days? Until an art student noticed the error, and not a moment too soon; sometimes wonder how we have survived as a Nation. Anyway, the name of the painting is “La Bateau”. I have no idea what that means or who painted it. Not being an art student, and all. But I do know that is about as famous as that painting ever got.
Newest cowboy pickup line. “Any woman who is too drunk to drive – please step up to the stage.”
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