Right
to left. Don Simons, Karen Simons, and a slightly unstable bald
guy in a vanity cap wondering where his bifocals are, at the
Weatherstone Coffee House in Sacramento, 2014.
They also leaned on him to be a tuxedoed usher for live performances at the university theater and as a guest at the outdoor venue in Balboa Park, occasionally hauling him off to lunch and/or bringing relief supplies from In 'N Out Burgers, which is the finest fast food chain in the known universe and probably beyond.
Okay, the condo is great, the San Diego climate worthy of paradise, my blessedly quiet neighbors have an amazing ability to mind their own business, and anything I might think I need is within 5 miles. Hell, I don't even have to drive to get it. If it's small enough it will fit in the basket of an electric scooter the Simons gave me.
But there is a downside to scooter travel. Being an ex-biker, I'm well aware of the hazards of two wheeled travel in traffic where aged motorists tell the cops, "I dunno, officer. He just came out of nowhere" as the biker's flattened remains are rolled up and stuffed into a rubber bag.
The only other problems I've had were self-inflicted. Still are, and ain't that always the way? I've managed to kill off not one but two tropical fish by not reading the directions that came with the water purifying chemicals for the small aquarium. That oversight purified the aquarium of fish as well as algae. Twice. So now I have a low maintenance fishless aquarium that looks rather nice, a light illuminating the multi-colored gravel along with the plastic grotto scenery. I'll suppose I'll get another fish and seek the fish person's counsel about proper care and feeding, but not today.
The latest crisis occurred yesterday when the ghost of a previous tenant and maybe a troublemaking banshee hid the keys to my condo, my car, my storage locker and what remains of my mental balance. The bill for the locksmith, the locks and replacement keys has me on a bland diet with headache and constipation supplements.
Well, it could be worse. I could be fishless in Sacramento where the triple digit August heat makes mere breathing an Olympic event. So here's to the better weather and good friends in San Diego.
-oOo-
Address comments, critques and snarky suggestions to tomatomike@aol.com
If all else fails, let the muck take over the aquarium and raise frogs or salamanders. Say you did it deliberately. -- Brat
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As always, a nice thing to get mail from you. It seems as though my friend Mike has appropriate thankfulness for a pretty good life. I really appreciate the thought of you being in nice digs with good people around you, and events of the days making your brain workin' good and your heart laying back warm. I say that "brain workin' good" stuff in spite of your lost keys portion and for a very good reason. I, too, have lost my keys and my little packet of ID cards, debit cards, health cards, irretrievably vanished into thin air. I refuse to chalk that up to any sort of brain fade so I can't accept that for you either . Instead, I prefer to think of these things as a life challenge and character builder, and right off, an exercise to see how many expletives I know. Keep the words coming, Mike, and be well, keep California Dreamin'. -- Zoey
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Awww love it! -- Julisari
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I, too, am glad you're out there, but still no report on
their famed zoo. I also want a review of that "In 'n Outburger
place which I've heard so much about. We don't have one here. Are
they as good as their hype? Take care and keep writing. me. --
Linda
As
far as I know, In 'n Out burgers are geographically limited to
California. And yes, they're very good. -- MB
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Sounds
like you are doing swimmingly and, as for the fish: highly overrated
unless they're plated. Always good to hear from you! -- Ellen
