I Think

School begins today. The only impact for me, is the drive to work. Good luck to parents and students.

A few months back, I injured my knee. My job keeps me constantly walking and climbing. I will take it a bit more easy this week, regardless of the work load. I have seen how knees go out permanently when constantly abused. It's a heartbreaking story, the one about a woman I have known for years, who ruined her body by moving her husband around for years after he lost the ability to walk. She has had both knees replaced and recently had hip replacement surgery. I don't fault her husband. I think that in his condition, he just did not realize. She is in part to blame, because she could not refuse his needs and wishes. He did finally move to a nursing home, where he lived four or five years more. I told my wife that if I ever get to that state, and she does not have somebody else to move me around, please put me in a home.
I am taking Osteo Biflex and putting heating and cold pads on my knee. This morning it feels fine, but one wrong move could cause a setback.

blinkety blankety

sounds to me like rest is what your knee needs, ed...

I agree. I don't plan to go up any stairs or move anything heavy. Also, no digging.

I had not paid enough attention to my trees. This year the drought is more subtle than it was the disastrous year of a few seasons ago. I discovered that the bald cypress, which is grown pretty tall, is turning brown. The same day, I put a hose by the trunk and let it pour out for about an hour. Two days later I ran quite a lot on the other side. We had a fair shower yesterday. Here's hoping I saved the damned thing. I recall cutting down another bald cypress my first year living here. I was ambivalent about the one I saved. I wish now I had taken it down as well.

"I have a dream" was not written into the speech MLK held in his hand. That portion was ad-libbed. So I learned yesterday. Good one, Martin.

I had spent my entire life believing there simply has to be purpose for a life to exist. But it depends on your definition of purpose whether such exists or not. To the universe at large, it is a supreme matter of indifference. If we and our planet were to vanish, the rest of it would go on unaffected. Purpose is one of those things we give to ourselves. I hope yours is a good one.

My knee is much better. But far from 100%. I am continuing to baby it.

Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary. I got to get out and find a nice gift for mrs edgarblythe.

We have to meet with a resident today to establish a plan of action for his work request. The subfloor beneath the carpet has to have repairs. The couple has lots of heavy furniture and has already accused me of inflicting harm by laying a clean unopened tube of caulk on one item. He will have to sign a paper to the effect that it is his responsibility to move the furniture out of the way and to put a protective covering to protect it from dust. We will not be responsible if any gets damaged. It is uncertain in my mind that he will sign the paper.

Watched football last night.

Letty is about to have eye surgery. Here is wishing the best possible outcome.

You're a real serf ed--putting up with that ****. Who do they think they are? Minor royalty? The tradesmen I know, and it's a lot, wouldn't do any jobs for plonkers of that sort. I bet they support withdrawing welfare from those who choose not to work and that's a very fundamental principle of both our constitutions.

You really should read Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.

My boss's philosophy is, give all to customers. I am but an instrument of the company while on the clock.

That was a serious heresy not too long ago. It has been set aside in the battle between the new estates of money and intellect, which are headquartered in cities, and the old estates of nobility and clergy.

That the battle is not yet won by the calling classes is shown by us having harvest festivals when the harvest is piled up high in the shops 24/7/365. And the companies which industrially produce millions of cakes and pies trade under names like Auntie Bessie, Uncle Ben and Mr Kipling.

There must be some visceral hankering for former times, possibly unconscious, in the success of those companies which suggests that the public does not entirely trust the estates of money and brains despite the companies being the babes of money and brains.

Whether they do "give all to customers" is a moot point but they certainly do make strenuous efforts to assert that they do.

A serf is an instrument.

Happy Anniversary, eb and Mrs eb!

Thanks JPB. I was on the verge of going shopping this morning. We can't buy big ticket items, but we don't need any tickets anyway.

Well, spendi, I can either get up in the morning and serve the boss and customers or walk the streets in search of a way to make some money. However, I don't mind my job and in general am happy there. After 21 years it is going to be a tough day when I am forced to leaver.

Happy anniversary to you both.

My comments were directed with regard to the customers you described and not to customers in general.

Had you been servicing a room in Balmoral our Gracious Queen would have brought you a cup of tea and some cheese and tomato sandwiches and told you about some history of the room and the furniture in such a way that you would choose to take great care of it all without being ordered to.

Your particular customers are very bad mannered and should be treated accordingly.

The customer I described this morning canceled our meeting. He is taking our paper to his lawyer to determine the legality of asking him to protect his own possessions.

Thank you, ragman. We don't intend to do anything other than go out to dinner. I just purchased her a nice card and some smelly stuff.

You're the recipient of the smells, so I hope it's a good smell!

It's called Green Tea. It must be pretty subtle, or else my nose is broken. I don't really smell it.