[BRINDLEKIN TALES – Book 5: Chapter 10]
Subject: Deek FINALLY showed up, picked up the pups…
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 21, 2022 at 6:26 PM
…but when I asked him how did things go, he queried: “What are you talking about?”
“That housing opportunity of course,” I replied.
“Oh, they didn’t show up, so I’ll have to just wait till they do,” he explained.
So it looks like possible housing is on hold for now. He had the nerve to ask me for Thursday’s payment TODAY, so I marched on down to my Chase branch, only to discover the doors were locked because President’s Day. So I slogged on back to tell Deek he’ll have to wait until tomorrow, because it’s a holiday. And I added:
“But I have twenty dollars in my wallet, so take that now and swing by tomorrow for the remaining thirty.”
He groaned a bit, head in hands like he was mourning. I told him it’s not the end of the world, and wished them all a lovely night with God’s blessing. He said thanks, catch ya tomorrow. I was impressed with his calm demeanor. Now I’m back hovel by my lone some, while they’re still camped out below my window. It feels weird. He never wants to hang out with me for any length of time, yet they’re right downstairs.
Interesting that he left the doggies with me for four nights in a row. Perhaps he’s concerned about the cold nights, as he mentioned it during this present meetup:
“I know it’s another cold night, but I’ll keep my dogs warm, don’t worry.”
Before departing, I showed him the two space blanket packets I tossed into the bag of dog vittles I brought him: one regular blanket, the other a poncho. He also had another bicycle, which, glad to say, was set on its side.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Subject: Pups are back already!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 22, 2022 at 1:53 PM
After four nights of pup visits in a row, then one night on the streets, Deek showed up around noon, said it was a cold night, so he’d appreciate my taking them in for the day, maybe longer. He gave me a baseball hat with built-in speakers on the bill, a new smartphone, a small battery pack and that crappy wooden speaker to recharge. He was rather edgy, told me to make it snappy re. the phone, as it’s on zero charge and he just bought if off someone, so wants to be sure he wasn’t ripped off.
I told him I don’t work well under pressure, don’t appreciate him being so rude to me…and he’s gotta wait at least ten minutes for the phone to be juiced up enough before I can get it up and running. As it turned out, it was factory reset and required me to input either the owner’s original pattern or gmail account. IOW: he DID get ripped off, and I had to put up with his screeching, drama queen behavior once I returned and told him the bad news.
I doubt though he actually paid for the smartphone; more like he’s putting on a show to come off as “important.” He has a bossy streak in him. Said he wanted to see if it works and has cell service ASAP, ’cause if it doesn’t he’s gotta catch up with the dude who sold it to him, and get his money back. But it’s been almost a half hour since I returned it, and he’s hangin’ out there on the corner, chewing the fat with another drifter.
However, his behavior was nowhere near as extreme as in the past…I told him why act like a child, you always take a risk when you buy some device without first checking it out. He calmed down then, said thanks, and returned the bag of dog food. So I guess he’s gonna linger there for a coupla hours, then pick up the charged devices and depart while the dogs remain here.
Glad to see that the bag of pooch vittles did not contain any damp kibble this time around, nor were any of the cans smeared with gravy from a container he already opened.
Last night after collecting the pups, and twenty or so minutes later, I saw him parked across the street in a shop’s recessed doorway. Flaco & Lucky were comfortably settled on a pile of cushy jackets and covered with a space blanket. They moved on an hour later, after a string of visits by friendly vagrants. The pups rarely barked, but when they did, it was brief and not so boisterous.
Today when he returned the furry angels, I waited by the gate until the mailman departed. And only Lucky barked at that, a short “Woof!” and nothing more. Yet Deek hollered, “Lucky, stop that!”
I told him it’s okay, it was just one little bark, and Flaco remained still. Deek then retorted “No it’s not okay,” which is ridiculous. Doesn’t he realize how that solitary bark is a clear indication how much better socialized they are, as a result of my calm, loving guidance over the months? At any rate:
A FedEx delivery person stepped in right after the mailman exited, so I still kept the dogs outside until HE stepped back out, too. Ten seconds later he did, and held the gate open for us. To my delight, neither dog barked at him as we entered.
Attached is a pic of three devices I’m presently recharging: the clunky wooden speaker, small battery pack (with orange trim) and the baseball cap. I just looked outside to see that Deek is no longer parked at the corner, nor behind my building on 16th Street. Once he returns, I’m sure he’ll have another smartphone to charge up…presumably in working order.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Subject: Deek picked up the pups yesterday afternoon…
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 24, 2022 at 11:26 AM
…and collected the devices I charged for him overnight, including that crappy wooden speaker. This time, the speaker and screen weren’t even screwed down, as the screws were missing, and the screwdriver I loaned him was gone. So those components could easily fall out were it not for the frayed black shoe strings he tied around it. The USB-C cord was sticking out, so all I had to do was plug it in without removing anything.
When I lifted the speaker a tad, to see if the battery light turned on to show it was charging, to my surprise the C-cord was no longer plugged into the battery, and the wires once more were disconnected from the speaker’s terminals and, even more surprising: all the tape was stripped away so thoroughly, there was no sign he had ever taped the wires into the terminals in the first place! An amazing feat in itself, as he did such a thorough job with the tape, it must’ve been quite a chore to remove every last shred. Maybe he was tweaking his ass off.
I was not about to rejoin the wires, as that would leave the door open to his blaming me if the speaker no longer worked…besides, it was rude of him to place this burden on me, rather than take care of it himself. Especially since these thin, short bundles of wire are excrutiatingly difficult to shove back into the miniscule terminal slots, then tape it all down again. I should have taken a pic of these wires and terminals to show what I’m up against, good doctor. Maybe there’ll be another chance, though I hope not, as I’ll be greatly relieved when he replaces this speaker with something better.
So when I discovered the battery was no longer connected (this was two days ago) I stepped back outside with the complete speaker under my arm, and approached him where he was still seated at the bus stop, chatting with another street ally.
“The battery’s not connected, Deek,” I informed him.
He turned his face up to me and, dismissing me with a wave of his hand, replied, “So just tape it up again!”
“No I won’t do that,” I retorted. “I’ll leave that up to you.”
“Alright, so just charge the battery,” he answered with some annoyance over my interrupting his conversation.
“Of course I will, that goes without saying,” I said and promptly returned hovel.
When he picked it up yesterday, I also handed him an old roll of tape that’s been sitting around since the Stone Age. He seemed not the least bit perturbed over this, and got right to work with Flaco & Lucky patiently resting nearby, enjoying our company and the sunlight. Before departing, I asked him the obvious question:
“Why did you remove all the tape in the first place?”
A twisted scowl then appeared on his mug: “What are you talking about, they were never taped down!”
“That’s not true, Deek,” I exclaimed. “You had the wires totally secured to the speaker with wads of Scotch tape so they’d never fall out again!”
“You talk too much,” he griped. “Get outta here, leave me alone.”
I shrugged my shoulders: “Whatever.” I saw NO point in arguing, as he’d just perpetuate the lie, and there was not a single snippet of tape remaining on wires or terminal to prove him wrong. In conclusion:
This is just the latest example of how he often makes things more difficult than need be. I had assisted him in jury-rigging the speaker to make recharging it a simple process. But no, he had to turn it into an idiotic charade. Kinda makes me feel like an aide in a psychiatric ward.
About “loaning” him tools such as a screwdriver, Scotch tape, flash drive, electric cord or whatever: I never see them again unless I stand around while he’s repairing a device, which he’ll pocket when done, forcing me to ask for it back with him hemming and hawing and taking his sweet time before handing it over. Loaning him something rarely happens, but when it does I know what to expect: pulling his teeth to regain the item…or never seeing it again.
And since I don’t care to stand around waiting for him to get the job done (as it usually goes on for a half hour or longer and bores me out of my skull watching him), I just go back upstairs for awhile, then return to ask if he’s done. If he isn’t, I’ll return hovel once more, and wait twenty minutes or so. But the outcome is always the same: he’ll say he doesn’t know where he put it, and I’ll insist he rummage through his piles of possessions scattered about, as I’m sure it’s somewhere nearby, and with a little effort he’ll find it. And he always does, albeit begrudgingly. One time he had disappeared when I came back downstairs to retrieve an item, thus lost to me for good. Next time he dropped by I asked if he still had it…and of course he said no.
Even more exasperating is when he asks for a tool I already loaned him, but he never handed back. “No I don’t Deek, you already borrowed it and never returned it,” I’d remind him, then add: “I can’t afford to keep buying the same item over and over again, because you fail to return it. I’m not a dollar store, and I don’t have money to throw around.”
I actually tried very HARD to not loan him that screwdriver. When he was securing the speaker and grill by slowly twisting the screws one by one, I stood over Deek, waiting for him to finish. (The screws fit awkwardly in the holes, which make it a tedious and bungling process.) But I got bored and told him I’ll be back down in ten minutes to pick it up. Two other vagrant friends of his were seated alongside him in the ATM alcove, so I burdened my captive audience with a little speech, hands out and shoulders shrugged:
“Whenever I loan him a tool, I never get it back unless I nag him. And if he walks off with it, it’s lost to me. Then he asks for it again some days or weeks later, and I remind him I don’t have it anymore because he never returned it.”
But after the second time I recharged that Speaker From Hell, he said he needs the screwdriver so he can charge it himself. (He sometimes juices up a device via a PG&E utility easy to get at, as many of the higher functioning homeless do. Such as Boulevard Joe who I believe taught Deek this nifty little trick. You have to lift and slide back the concrete cover first, then plug a grounded power strip into the company’s power box, and you’re good to go. But there are OTHER illicit electricity sources as well, scattered about the city…such as by those bus stops with animated posters, certain small shops and single homes.)
So I wound up surrendering my screwdriver anyway, knowing he’ll lose it soon enough. His returning the speaker two days ago for a recharge MINUS the screws proved me right, once again. I didn’t even bother to ask if he still had the screwdriver, ’cause I know the game.
Regarding his baseball cap with speakers: he gave me the USB cord that came with it, as if it were important. That is because I recently told him that some smartphones won’t charge as fast with a generic cord, since some are made to work best with the one they came with. And may explain why the previous phone he gave me took six hours to fully charge. So with a sigh I explained to him:
“It’s only the more expensive devices you need to worry about, such as smartphones, battery packs and speakers. These cheaper products charge just fine with any old cord.”
The world is confusing enough even for well educated people…I can’t imagine how dropouts like Deek maneuver their way around in this high tech reality. Meanwhile, back to the crappy speaker:
When I returned it to him yesterday I said I’ll be glad when he gets a different speaker. To which he replied:
“No, this one has great sound!”
“Well, whatever,” I replied, then stepped back inside to leave him and the pups to their own world on the streets, and Deek fussing up the contacts with unbelievable focus and tape. He didn’t even see me leave, though Flaco intently gazed upon me with loving eyes and a strong desire to return upstairs, until I disappeared behind the gate. I looked back at her once, with heartbreaking regret and a sense of guilt. Well, at least I gave them another space blanket as their master, of course, had already lost the two I gave him.
Around ten minutes later I was disturbed from my Internet activities by some loud rap music blaring outside. At first I thought it was coming from a car parked below with doors open, as that is a frequent scenario (though mostly late-night). However, a few minutes later it occurred to me it might be Deek’s speaker! So I left my work station to peer out the window and, sure enough, it was.
“Wow, that really DOES sound good; excellent bass!” I noted to my impressed self.
As I observed Deek pack up his stuff and start pushing his cart westward with little doggies in tow and speaker gangsta-rapping to the max, I also mused:
“Gee, he must think he’s some hot-shot audio technician right now…that’ll teach me!”
– Zeke K-Holmes
P.S.: I should note that, in spite of his continued nuisances, his behavior has VASTLY improved these past several months, in every way. When he DOES get upset, it is less frequent and far less explosive. His trusting me with the dogs so much more often (mainly to spare them from a long string of cold nights) is also impressive. As is his no longer lashing the pooches to his bike, unless it’s laid down on the sidewalk first. He was pleased to hear I gave the dogs a thorough shampooing, which turned out to be not much of a fuss. While they didn’t enjoy being forced under the shower, they were patient little angels…and real happy once rinsed and dried off. What mess remained in the washroom was minimal and easy to clean up. And they didn’t even bark, growl or whine through the entire ordeal. They didn’t seem dirty at all, though, as no gray water flowed from their fur. Looks like their short-haired coats do a great job of repelling dust and dirt! Not to mention how studiously they clean themselves and each other.
Subject: Deek pisses me off…but not how you think!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 24, 2022 at 11:56 AM
I find myself getting pissed off at Deek not so much for his OWN aggravating behavior, but for dumping another difficult challenge over how I’m gonna unravel the latest scenario into a well written piece of prose! It is FAR FROM EASY putting it all down in a way that duplicates (as best as possible) the latest incident (which I like to call “Deekcident”), as well as conveying how it impacts me, in such a way that it touches my readers in a similar fashion. IOW:
Whenever Deek presents me with yet aNOTHER dramatic episode, it pisses me off because DAMMIT, HOW’M I GONNA WRITE THIS ALL DOWN, IT’S COMPLICATED…THANKS FOR NOTHING, DEEK! And the frequency of such picaresque tales with which he burdens me these days, barely gives me space to breathe before the next one occurs. Artemis help me if I put off taking to keyboard for TOO many days, or even hours…it piles up rather fast, and then I REALLY got a Herculean chore tossed at my feet! With no way around to continue on my Odyssean path until it’s all put down on e-paper.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Re: Deek picked up the pups yesterday afternoon…
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 24, 2022 at 12:33 PM
> Well, in a sense, you are!!
At least he provides for his own medication. After all, Wattson, I’m only a nurse’s aide and do not have the authority to prescribe!
> And so am I…
This reminds me of a sci-fi tale I read years ago and which title and author I’ve long forgotten. It was about a world run by idiots (’cause inherited wealth or corporate profit proved more powerful than intelligence, on the government level; sound familiar?). So in order to deter the planet from self annihilation, a small population of scientists and other very smart people constantly busied themselves to exhaustion, averting these stupid leaders’ plots one way or another. And they had to accomplish this in utter secrecy, for were their clandestine efforts exposed, they’d be sentenced to death. Which DID happen from time to time. And this cabal of uber-intelligent devotees grew smaller and smaller over time, as a result…since acquiring NEW and younger allies grew more difficult with each passing year. Those never caught and thus not executed died from exhaustion long before old age ever crept up on them, decreasing their numbers further.
> Why can’t somebody steal that accursed speaker??
I’d PAY someone to do it, if it wouldn’t trigger yet another, maybe more horrific, scenario. Can you imagine my actually doing that, only to have my accomplice spill the beans later on? Or try to blackmail me, that he remain silent?
> Just keep saying to yourself: “For the love of the pups.”
I do! I do!
– Zeke K-Holmes
Re: Deek pisses me off…but not how you think!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 24, 2022 at 1:03 PM
> Oh, I get it. Believe me. Make notes to yourself of the “high” points of a day’s events, so that when you go to give it the full writerly treatment no details are lost.
That’s exactly what I do. But for the love of Glob I STILL wind up with tons of notes stretching back into foggy years, that I will probably never get around to, though ya never know. Like an old fisherman:
“You should see the one that got away!”
Subject: Pups are here again, Deek was mellow!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 25, 2022 at 8:54 PM
He brought them by this afternoon, plus three gadgets to charge, including the Speaker From Hell (which I gladly saw was taped up and a cinch to recharge). When I approached the gate he was by the curb rifling through a hefty sack while the pooches stretched their leashes to reach the front gate, thus blocking passage for any pedestrian in either direction. So before I opened the gate, I called to Deek to lure Flaco & Lucky away, since I didn’t want them inside until I collected his electronics.
He did just that, gently pulled them toward him…but suddenly Flaco had disappeared…the harness she wore lay empty on the ground! I looked around me and Deek, then up and down the sidewalk: “Where’d she go?”
“Right there,” he replied, pointing at the gate, “between the gate and the doors!”
Yep, there she was, happily scratching at the double doors for entry. I began to urge her back outside, but Deek stopped me, said to just bring them upstairs and come back for the stuff he was still searching for.
Nothing else to report, really, as he was no-drama. Pups are sound asleep now, delighted to be here, as I am to have them back once more after their enduring two chill nights in a row. I gave him his Sunday allowance two days early, per his request. Fair enough since he’s so generous with the darling canines, so why quibble.
Doing well with my budget…even after paying $79 today to cover another three years for VPN service. And I still have $271 in the bank, which means I’ll have saved at least $180 by the time my next month’s Social Security check arrives.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Re: Pups are here again, Deek was mellow!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 26, 2022 at 12:04 PM
> Great news!
Yes it sure is. Yesterday afternoon when I stepped out to return Deek’s devices and he took off, I discovered I left my keys upstairs. That happened because I just took a shower and neglected to hang the lanyard back over my neck and in the shirt pocket. So I had to wait by the gate for a resident to exit or enter. Who of all people do you think showed up? My quasi-fascist neighbor, Moe! As he approached the gate I said: “So glad to see you, I locked myself out!”
He didn’t say a word, but DID hold the gate open for me, and I said thanks. But the weird thing was, his head was shaved except for some long strands sprouting from the top of his skull and down the back of his neck: THE EXACT SAME HAIRCUT AS DEEK, who only acquired this new look less than a week ago!
> You’re an excellent money manager. Plus, you have the right attitude about money: it serves you, you don’t serve it.
And thanks to rent control I can use my stipend to benefit not just myself, but a homeless friend and his lovely pups.
BODHISATTVA PREMISE:
I have previously conjectured that those who play my antagonist are merely bodhisattvas testing my mettle, and going along with a script to shape me into the hero of these Brindlekin Tales. And as I’ve also conjectured, such “enemies” toss me a clue now and then, that they are actually on my side. In this case, Moe’s duplicating Deek’s haircut is one such clue.
So both Moe and the building manager (who are friends and often discuss matters in the hallway or right outside) act in opposition to my caring for the pups, to challenge me to be brave (while remaining peaceful through it all) and not cave in to their heartless declarations. IOW: they are actually ROOTING FOR ME in their hearts, and love the doggies.
Assuming my premise is correct, then Deek is in cahoots with those two. BECAUSE IT’S ALL A FUCKIN’ SCRIPT, and they play their roles like a boss. Just as Myrtle Haversak and her dysfunctional teenage offspring have done in an earlier chapter.
FYI, Morey at the corner shop on Noe Street continues to support my puppy-love mission with praise and wise advice. In this little drama unfolding among a handful of people here in the Castro, he plays one of the good guys. I owe him much gratitude.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Subject: Some Youtube Silliness
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 26, 2022 at 12:43 PM
This is a recent conversation I had on a Youtube video entitled “How to Beat THE BACKROOMS (Level 0 to 2).” Doesn’t really matter WHAT game, though, as my frivolous comment applies to ANY computer game. Enjoy!
Subject: Deek picked up the dogs yesterday morning…
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 28, 2022 at 1:38 PM
…not without spewing a few insults and false accusations my way, but they were brief and quickly deflected on my part. In recent days he’s shown shame (with lowered head and red face; how unexpected) whenever I tell him to stop the bullshit…and ceases immediately. Overall, it was another excellent meetup.
He also is being more patient and kind towards the pups, rather than yanking on their leashes, he talks to them gently, and lo and behold they comply.
But there’s still the upcoming Vet SOS appointment on the 14th, for checkup and booster shots. I HOPE Deek doesn’t back out of it…or worse yet, insists he’ll go there by himself, then when he next sees me claims they got all their shots. But if no rabies tags on their collars, I’ll know better. And I can always call them to find out if he showed up.
Though I want very MUCH to go with him, so I can get a printout of the appointment, clearly showing they got their booster shots, and take home anything they might give for the pups, such as deworming medicine. ‘Cause otherwise I’m afraid he’ll lose all these things by the time he gets back to me.
With this month’s leftover money, I purchased two doggy sweaters ($9 each, camouflage style), two leashes for backup ($6 each), two more kids sleeping bags ($19 each), three more cartons of canned dog food ($45 for 36 cans), a large bag of duck breast treats ($45 for 2.5 lbs.) and a few other helpful items for my own needs. And I STILL have $114 remaining with just three days to go before my next Soc. Sec. deposit. So I’ll hold onto that and just use my food stamps.
– Zeke K-Holmes
P.S.: Received a voicemail a few hours ago from the building manager that my neighbors found a bedbug this morning, so the exterminator wants to check my room later today around 3 PM…and possibly treat it then. Attached is a screenshot of my reply back, via text.
Re: Deek picked up the dogs yesterday morning…
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 28, 2022 at 2:46 PM
> Oh, I hope you can go to the appt. with him and the doggies!
I’d do it myself, except Vet SOS doesn’t know me (or even Deek), and they’d probably think I’m making up a story to get free shots. And if I set up an appointment with the SPCA, they might be weirded out that I’m not the registered owner (and Lucky is registered, while Flaco is not, because Deek said they refuse to assist him unless he gets her spayed…but I suspect he’s fibbing). I could explain my situation to them, and say I’d like them to get their shots, in spite of Deek’s unreliability. And I’ll be glad to pay the reduced fee for those on food stamps.
> Surely is recovering from surgery on his belly to remove an ugly red shiny growth that suddenly got very big and nasty. It was expensive, about $600, but 90% of the cost was covered by a local fund for animals, whose original mission was to spay and neuter cats and dogs, but who have expanded to helping the un-rich pay big emergency vet bills. When I made my appeal, I told them about my many years trapping, neutering and releasing wild kitties, and I estimated, via exponential figuring, how many wild unwanted doomed kittens I’d prevented from coming into this lousy world, at least 1000. They were impressed, and I know it had something to do with them deciding to help as much as they did!
Wow, sorry to hear that about the little feller, but SO glad you got financial help, and he’s okay now. I think you benefited, also, by living in a low populated area, where people CAN more readily help in the manner they did. A disappointing discovery re. the SPCA, is they do NOT do any surgery for homeless pets…other than neuter them.
> Such a fucking bummer about the bedbugs. Still have to set up with Tomato!
It’s a HUGE monkey wrench in everything else going on in my life…like a demon occupying my closet and refusing to leave, EVER. A giant, evil Tomato that will likely outlive yours truly. Bedbugs until the day I die. UnLESS some brilliant inventor comes up with a safe way to eradicate them, like cockroach disks. Boy wouldn’t THAT be great!
But who knows what OTHER pest will come along to disrupt our lives, as a result of rapid climate change? One that is DANGEROUS as well as prolific. Coming out of the tropics, where MANY poisonous insects dwell. Not to mention microbes and viruses.
Do you know about the chinch bug? Not dangerous per se, but a real nightmare nonetheless, even more teeming than bedbugs.
Re: Deek picked up the dogs yesterday morning…
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 28, 2022 at 4:51 PM
> No question. I also know that I benefit from other unfair advantages, like being able to speak and express myself well. Most people don’t/can’t. I’ve reaped all sorts of goodies throughout my life because of it, and I know it. It’s a form of inherited wealth. I’ve used it for myself, yes, but I also use it on other people’s behalf whenever I can, my way of paying back the universe. In this case, it was all for Surely, who has cost us just about zero in vet bills over the ten years we’ve had him, but who is a beautiful little soul who suddenly needed help in a big way.
His master’s voice has golden tones. Using your gifts for the sake of goodness is admirable.
> The thing about insects and certain microbes is that on some level, we KNOW that our very existence would not be possible without them. We need them; they don’t need us.
We deal with ’em like a bludgeon, instead of learning their nature and how to better live with them as cohabitants rather than enemies. Rachel Carson must be turning over in her grave. And Loren Eiseley, et al.
> Revolting!!!!!!
They’re the least of our worries, as repulsive as they may be. Worse invasions are marching north. At any rate:
Deek dropped the pups off, asked for an advance on Thursday’s allowance, but I told him I only have $23 to my name, so he can have 20 now; he must wait till Thursday for the remainder. He was fine with that. I told him another bedbug treatment is soon due, but I don’t know which day that will be, yet. Probably Thursday or Friday.
Shortly after I left him and brought the doggies inside, Kevin called and asked if Thursday’s fine. I said yes, perfect. Deek will come back this evening to collect his gadgets, so I can update him on this.
I noticed that a pile of kibble was spilled around his bags set on the sidewalk. But he was in a scramble to go somewhere (“Hurry up, I gotta go!”) and it spaced me out, so I just grabbed the leashes and took the mutts upstairs. I think his rushing off is a sham to distract me from returning what dog vittles remain, that I can take it upstairs and use it to feed them, before diving into my own supply. His waste of this food is costing me dearly, though I appreciate he’s followed up on returning any unused amount the past few meetups. If I forget to ASK him about it, he doesn’t offer to return any, just scoots off. And of course by the time I realize I forgot to mention it, he’s long gone.
I suspect he’s giving a portion (maybe ALL) of that food I buy for him to someone else…maybe a lady he likes, who has a pooch of her own. And he feeds Flaco & Lucky with donations from the SPCA, perhaps. Deek is quite the scammer, Wattson, though not without redeeming qualities!
– Zeke K-Holmes
Re: Fwd: [MCN-Announce]- SpaceX launching now from Vandenberg
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: Lenora Rausch
Date: June 28, 2022 at 7:32 PM
On 2022-02-28 14:18, Lenora Rausch wrote:
> You are popular, eh?
With the right-wing crowd I am! Mr. Cooper is one of the more notorious Elon Muskmelonhead butt kissers, and a white supremacist, anti-left dunderhead on the discussion list. He hides that aspect of himself from the announcement list, but his nasty attitude has begun leaking through there, bit by bit these past few months. He gets a thorough lambasting and mockery from me on a frequent basis…but I’m not the only one, just the most prolific.
-------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Re: [MCN-Announce]- SpaceX launching now from Vandenberg Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:16:43 -0800 From: Arron Cooper To: Lenora Rausch Hi Lenora. I wish you would stop talking to this jackass. I can only assume that you are not on the discussion list to know just how big of a jackass he is. Thanks for considering doing that. - Arron
Subject: And…latest Arwyn spotting!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: February 28, 2022 at 8:27 PM
Less than an hour ago, so it was already dark when I returned from my Chase branch to withdraw a couple of Jacksons for the laundry and stuff. He didn’t see me, as I remained more than half-a-block distant, but there was no mistaking him. He was standing on the corner of Moe’s shop, with two large dogs, one white and one black. Both were poodles, that obviously he’d been hired to walk.
I didn’t enter Moe’s until Arwyn moved on towards Market Street. I purchased a box of lawn-sized garbage bags and exited in the same direction. He turned the corner at Noe and proceeded up Market, towards Castro Street. Quite predictable. Soon as he was far enough ahead, I finally returned hovel where the pups were blissfully aslumber. However, my nostrils sensed a faint stink in the room, but I thought perhaps it was from outside. But when I advanced toward the window I stepped in something gushy and wet, in my stocking feet.
One of the mutts had either vomited or pooped, I couldn’t tell which, as it was not super-rank like the usual dog feces, nor was it scent-free as their vomit always has been (and was dark brown instead of the usual straw yellow). I suspect Lucky did it, as he’s the only one who’s ever puked indoors thus far. And he left behind that telltale signature of his: the corner of the violated throw rug partly turned over to hide the evidence. But since the cardboard box was set on the same end of the rug, he couldn’t fully conceal his little accident.
Cleanup, again, was simple and expedient, thanks to the pup being so thoughtful as to keep this expulsion limited to a tiny spot in the room and near the window. But I take it as a sign that the rugs are definitely due for another stint at the laundromat…perfect timing in light of Thursday’s bug treatment! I won’t wash all nine of them tomorrow; I’ll leave a few so my brindlekin can still have some spots to rest on other then newspaper atop a filthy, splintery wooden floor.
The doggies slept through it all, and remain so…innocent as cherubs! So glorious to have them back here with me, once more.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Subject: Puke AND Poop!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 1, 2022 at 10:20 AM
An hour or so after I cleaned up the mystery blob, around 10:30 PM, Lucky began to puke…four times within a half hour he hurled what appeared to be his entire breakfast. (Neither doggy touched their dinner, so that’s how I know it was from when Deek fed them earlier that day). The last two upchucks had a strong red tint to them…though not like blood, more like food coloring from the kibble.
Then, some minutes after he was done vomiting, he hunched over some newspaper near the window and took a dump. It was the same dark color and makeup of that original deposit. He was not the least bit perturbed through it all…no indication of being in pain or misery. No worse for the wear, he finally slurped up some water and returned to bed.
Both brindlekin were frisky and happy in the morning, to my relief. Flaco’s poop was solid, though Lucky’s was still on the sludgy side, but getting back to normal.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Re: Puke AND Poop!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 1, 2022 at 11:23 AM
> Sounds as if something Deek fed him disagreed with him!! Probably some cheap, lousy dog food!
Maybe. Or something Lucky picked off the street. So many potential hazards for little homeless doggies. The most horrific thing is that I can’t even discuss Lucky’s puking or other serious doggy issues because he’ll just blame me for any misfortune. And he doesn’t bother to take them to a free vet service for regular checkups…at least once a year if not every six months. These dogs deserve EVERY kindness possible; they are SO sweet and attentive.
Deek is improving in every way, including his attitude towards me AND the pooches. So I hope the brindlekin’s situation will further improve very soon. The big test is coming up, re. that Vet SOS appointment.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Re: Puke AND Poop!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 1, 2022 at 12:48 PM
> Well, sounds to me as if Lucky isn’t actually sick–more like he ate something nasty, puked and pooped it out, and is back to his healthy self. So probably no point in mentioning it to Deek. And their basic health is robust, thanks in great part to your attentiveness and care.
I agree, Wattson, thank you! Just stepped out to pick up a half-gal of milk and more bananas. When I reached into the closet for a jacket, Lucky jumped off the bed, stretched, yawned and wagged his curly tail. That’s his signal he needs to poop again. If he didn’t he would’ve remained curled up and resting when I grabbed my jacket off the hanger.
Flaco stayed behind, as she already took a good poop earlier, and isn’t the one with loose stools. Doggies are well behaved and quiet when I leave both, or just one, in my hovel. They don’t mind when left alone for awhile…no sign of distress or sadness. Flaco LOVES to greet me upon my return, while Lucky just lays there with his sweet eyes gazing up at me.
So he DID defecate after a few minutes’ stroll, but it was gooey and almost pitch black. Hopefully he will get back to normal next time we go out for a walk. Neither ate dinner last night, and this morning Lucky skipped breakfast as well, though Flaco ate 2/3 of her dish. Wish I could afford to buy them roast chicken every week!
– Zeke K-Holmes
Subject: Here are the little angels right now.
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 1, 2022 at 1:10 PM
<3
Re: Here are the little angels right now.
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 1, 2022 at 4:51 PM
> Good babies!!
Pure furry benevolence in spades. Lucky’s appetite is back. I’m tempted to order a half roast chicken for the pups later this eve. $12. Or a whole roast for $20…half tonight, half tomorrow. The restaurant is just across 16th Street, behind my building. I still have $110 in the bank, so I can easily afford it.
Re: Here are the little angels right now.
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 1, 2022 at 9:15 PM
> What’s stoppin’ ya?
My Scottish frugality is always at the helm. However, I ordered the roast chicken two hours ago, and the moment I returned and opened the door, their schnozzolas perked up right away, and they danced around me all the time it took to peel off the skin and separate meat from bone into bite-size chunks to fill their doggy dishes. I fed them about a third, then made them wait a half hour for the second round…and I’m about to polish it all off in the third and final feeding.
They went nuts, loved it so much! Kept staring at me after the first go, while I sat down to a slice of toasted raisin bread with whipped cream cheese spread over it. Washed down with a cup of Lady Grey tea. Their eyes followed me with great anticipation as I moved about the room. The brindlekin were hoping with all their heart for more. I told them to wait until I finish my snack, it’s coming. And so it did, much to everyone’s delight.
They seem pretty satiated now, comfortably resting w/o expecting yet one final, generous and savory portion.
Deek showed up in the middle of all this, and asked for the folding cart that I stored for him a couple of days. It’s made of dense khaki canvas with a steel frame and has four, big fat wheels…and is rather heavy. Said he’ll return tomorrow by 2 PM for the pups. Just as I had requested. He also gave me a smartphone and that Speaker from Hell to charge, but I guess he’ll wait until the next day to get them, too, as he has some other device to play his music.
I watched him from my window unfold the cart, dump a passel of items into it (to my surprise, neatly arranged in colorful bundles), secure it to his bicycle with cord…and then take off into the deliciously cool night kissed by ocean breezes.
Time for a third serving of roasted chicken! So ending this missive now.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Re: Here are the little angels right now.
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 1, 2022 at 10:04 PM
They just ate their third and final portion with gusto! You should have seen the expression on their darling faces as I stood up and prepared the remaining feast. Like two little kids who snuck out of their bedroom on Christmas Eve to see Santa place their gifts under the tree!
Though Flaco decided she was full by the time she consumed half her share. Lucky didn’t mind eating the rest of that, too…but he patiently waited by her bowl, gazing up at me with hopeful dachshund eyes for permission to dive right in. I gave it, and he did! Flaco wasn’t the least bit perturbed; she remained curled up in my chair with puppy sighs of satisfaction, and eyes half closed.
Welp, good physician, time to take them for their nighttime stroll before yours truly kicks back to watch the last twenty minutes of that great, classic horror film from the ’90s, “The Faculty,” over a late-night supper of lemon-cilantro infused brown rice and quinoa. It comes in a microwavable packet and takes just 90 seconds to cook. With some mild salsa and grated extra sharp cheddar chess mixed into it, it’s a taste bud frolic! Quaffed down by a foaming mug of A&W Diet Root Beer. Life is good.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Subject: This may be the culprit…
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 2, 2022 at 10:58 AM
…for Lucky’s digestive troubles. The leash has rubbery guards that I don’t think are okay for dogs to chew on. And you can clearly see in the top image, some chewing took place. He had dark, loose movements at a previous time (maybe a year ago) after massive gnawing at those rubber sleeves. And that’s when I started cutting them off soon as the leashes arrived from Amazon. I just got lazy and neglected to do that, this time around…though I did check regularly, to see whether or not chewing had occurred, deciding to remove the rubber parts once that happened. Must be the black dye that turned his poop so dark.
The leashes are a great deal, Wattson, just $12 for the pair, and are quite durable and long-lasting even with the rubber shields removed.
Deek just arrived to collect the pups, and griped at me over not bringing down the food at the same time. He’s done this many times before, even though I explained to him just as often, that I don’t carry anything when I’m bringing the dogs up or down the stairs. An accident could happen, I could trip or drop something on the dogs…it’s just not doable. The pooches often start to play as I traverse the stairway, and the two leashes sometimes get entangled with my legs.
“But I’m in a hurry, I got into trouble!” he shot back, though with no sign of distress…in fact, he smiled.
“You’re ALWAYS in a rush when you drop by, it’s getting old,” I retorted, then returned hovel to grab the bag of five cans of wet food and two 1-gallon Ziplocs bulging with kibble. I didn’t ask him WHAT trouble, as I presume it’s just another drama-queen canard to make him look important, or work my nerves. The boy who cried wolf.
Which kibble BTW is specifically for small doggies, in hopes they’ll find it preferable over the larger bits I’ve been feeding them. I even had filled their bowls with it for the first time this morning (mixed with wet), to see how they’d take to it. But they weren’t hungry when I set it down, and their master showed up ten minutes later, so I never had a chance. Deek is very good at sabotaging my efforts to improve the dogs’ lives every step of the way. It’s like I have to wade through waist-high molasses to get anything done.
Before they departed, I reminded him that the earliest he can bring them back is tomorrow at 9 PM.
“What, nine in the morning?” he asked.
“No, PM is night, and AM is morning. So tomorrow night at nine.” I almost added, “That’s what you get for not staying in school, you illiterate rube,” but decided to bite my tongue instead.
“Oh, okay,” he replied, then asked, “Can’t you give me the money today?”
“Of course not,” I rebutted. “Take it up with the government, tell them to send my check earlier.”
Really annoying how he sticks his nose in my financial affairs, and can’t take no for an answer the first two times around…let alone stop prying.
But then he changed his tune and thanked me for everything I do, and said a number of other gracious things as he and pups meandered towards the intersection of Market & 16th. Of course he’ll return tomorrow morning like a bee to its hive, to pick up his Thursday allowance…on THURSDAY, of all days! I’ll give him the full $50 rather than deduct the twenty I advanced on Monday.
I forgot to mention in an earlier post, that another day when he showed up to deliver the pups, Flaco’s harness was surprisingly dirty…because it was being dragged across the sidewalk from her leash hanging from the handlebar! I guess he does the same with Lucky’s $18 collar, when he’s free-roaming. This is atrocious, like so many OTHER things about him.
But rather than end this missive on a sour note, I should point out that his cooperation in taking the dogs (and that heavy folding cart) so I can finish prepping my room, was both seamless and drama free. Makes my bedbug chores so much easier! Now I can launder the throw rugs today, instead of bagging them to do that a day after treatment.
And it was really nice to know their bellies were content with copious portions of chicken last night. I shall have to reconfigure my budget to allow me to feed them roast fowl once every week. I can do this.
– Zeke K-Holmes
ADDENDUM
To add a new complication to bedbug treatment, is the smoke alarm debacle. As you already know, Wattson, I have disabled it because it kept going off of its own accord with not a wisp of smoke. The question is: will the exterminator become distraught tomorrow, over its not going off when he bombs my humble monk’s cell, and report it to the manager? Or will he just keep mum? But here’s something weird that happened last week:
The alarm suddenly went off around 7:15 AM when the doggies were here! Two things I learned from this:
1) Neither Lucky nor Flaco were the least bit disturbed by this; in fact they remained sound asleep, even when I pulled out the ladder to climb up and turn it off. I removed it from its base, as it continued to go off every ten seconds, then disabled it once more with a switch in the back, and set it on a storage bin. BUT IT WAS ALREADY DISABLED, so should NEVER have beeped again!
2) Disabling the alarm is supposed to be PERMANENT, thus needs to be replaced. Before securing it back into its base up there above the sink and close to the ceiling, I switched the tiny lever back to “on,” so as to appear that I never messed with it, and that the alarm was simply dysfunctional…in the event the exterminator DID bring it up to the building manager who then would check it out. And yet it raucously shrieked ANYway some days later, while the pups were here! So maybe disabling it is NOT permanent, in spite of the label’s claim? But you CAN’T turn it off in any way exCEPT to disable it, since pressing that button in the front which is SUPPOSED to stop the beeping, does NOT work.
Now, I don’t know yet whether to RE-enable it before the exterminator arrives, and see what goes down. Or just LEAVE it disabled and hope he doesn’t bother to report the failure. This exterminator has become a PEST in his own right!
Re: This may be the culprit…
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 2, 2022 at 1:37 PM
> I’d reenable it, in case he looks.
I suppose that’s the best answer. Though if it goes off, it will NOT stop, causing a likely brouhaha where the manager checks it out, then replaces it…and the problem persists through the endless tunnel of time, forcing me to live with a shrieking alarm going off on a frequent basis, replacement after replacement after replacement…like living out my own Groundhog Day.
It may even start squawking before the exterminator shows up, and I’ve already departed for the day.
These things don’t work right, at least not in MY room. But what’s so special about this particular unit? I can understand if it goes off when I burn toast, or hot water vapors from the sink float up to where the alarm is directly above. But it doesn’t. It ALWAYS happens when NOTHING is apparently setting it off! So why don’t these same alarms prove flaky in all the other units?
This is essentially targeting me for more needless nuisance by management, or at best further invasion of my privacy on top of the bedbugs. After all, I can’t PROVE it went off for no reason, as that would require me to be up all night as it screeches every half minute, until the morning when I walk upstairs with it beeping in my hand as I bring it to Kevin’s apartment. And if he’s not present, I’ll have to try later that day; meanwhile the alarm continues its shrill cacophony!
My life seems to be an ongoing series of impossible scenarios for which I’m blameless, yet scapegoated nonetheless. Been this way since childhood…maybe since I morphed into an embryo in my mother’s womb, though I can’t imagine what kind of scenarios THAT would entail when I still HAD a tail.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Subject: The other nice thing about Deek…
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 2, 2022 at 2:50 PM
…helping to make my bug prep smooth sailing, is that even though I told him to pick up the pups no later than 2 PM, as that will give me plenty of time to do laundry…he said yesterday he’d drop by at 10 AM. Which he did. Even though I told him it doesn’t need to be so soon, but still okay by me.
That was considerate, as it shows me he indeed realizes bug prep is a hellish chore for me, so figured to make things easier by retrieving the pups much earlier. I now have two loads washed and dried, including all the throw rugs. One more load to go, and I’m done! But first, a lunch break.
Another plus is the local laundromat has resumed staying open until 10 PM as of New Year’s Day, instead of the pandemic closing time of 3. Another stress factor eliminated.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Re: This may be the culprit…
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 2, 2022 at 5:01 PM
> We have a techno-demon in this household. Inanimate objects conspire with one another to drive us to the brink. If we fix a plumbing problem, the car tires hear about it, and one of them goes mysteriously flat. We get the tire fixed, and the water heater gets the message, and springs a leak. They know exactly how much money there might be for such contingencies, and exceed it. They whisper together on a malevolent wavelength, planning, scheming, chortling.
Looks like a job for the Friendly Ghost Detective Agency!
Subject: My Social Security deposit hasn’t arrived!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 3, 2022 at 12:38 AM
It’s supposed to show up in my account just after midnight on the third of each month, but no deposit has arrived! I also miscalculated my expenses: I now only have $18. Gee, just one headache after another!
Re: My Social Security deposit hasn’t arrived! IT’S OKAY NOW.
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 3, 2022 at 6:03 AM
Woke up 6 AM, checked again, and my soc. sec. deposit is now showing. WHEW!
Subject: Can you believe this?
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 3, 2022 at 11:42 AM
See attached screenshot of Kevin’s text that was sent a few minutes ago. I’m still waiting on his affirmation. This is absurd. This is exactly what happened LAST time around: I got all prepped, then I get a call from Kevin that the exterminator was in a car accident, so the treatment date got postponed. That was during the Exmass season, which proved to be a miserable time all around. Except for Deek’s magnanimous patience and cooperation around this. He dropped by this morning, BTW, an hour earlier than arranged.
I saw him crossing the street with pups in tow while I had just sat down around the corner, to enjoy a few java-sipping minutes by the parklet. The tables and chairs are already set up by the time I step out to Rosenberg’s, even though they don’t open for business for another two hours. But instead of being able to relax into my day, I had to jump up and catch him before he starts calling up to my window.
“Yo! Yo!” I hollered, and he turned around to see me from across 16th, waiting for the traffic to pass.
“You’re an hour early,” I remarked once I caught up with him. Soon as I got within ten feet of the doggies, they both tugged on the bicycle handlebars in the opposite direction, in their urgent desire to enter the building. But I was already crouched down to summon them back for happy greets, so the bike landed on my shoulders instead of the sidewalk or, perhaps, upon their little bodies.
“Dammit Deek,” I exclaimed. “Stop leashing them to the bike like that. Or at least hold onto it when you see me arrive!”
He was somewhat apologetic, grabbed the bike and held onto it, and told me to hurry up, he’s gotta get somewhere.
“They love you, they’ll be back soon,” he addressed me as I spent a half minute giving them pats and neck scritches. Then I stood back up:
“I didn’t expect you to show up so early, Deek.”
“You said nine o’clock!” he replied.
“That’s true,” I agreed, “I said you can come by after 9…however, you told me you’ll show up at 10.” (Which I appreciated, as he was clearly being sensitive to my morning schedule.)
“Well, you were walking by here anyway,” he asserted.
“Only because I saw you cross the street from where I was sitting,” I explained.
I then handed him the cash in a Chase envelope and told him I’m not deducting the twenty I gave him in advance…and he thanked me.
“Okay, I’m going back to my spot before you showed up,” I declared, and promptly walked away so the dogs wouldn’t resist their departure from my hovel.
Well, as I was typing the paragraph above, Kevin finally got back to me. See second attachment. Looks like I gotta disconnect now, so I can move really fast and get outta here! I’ve never met Summer, I just hope she or he won’t be a problem with the smoke alarm or anything else.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Re: My Social Security deposit hasn’t arrived! IT’S OKAY NOW.
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 3, 2022 at 4:21 PM
> Double WHEW. Those of us who were already on thin ice before the pandemic and the war are way too vulnerable.
You can say that again. I’m at Tart to Tart cafe now, using my Android tablet…after a relaxing ride on the N Judah all the way from one end to the other (bay to ocean). I decided to replace the smoke alarm with a new one (same exact model purchased last month from Amazon at two for $27). Fit perfectly, ran the test beep successfully, so they’ll never know it’s a replacement should something go wrong during the bug treatment.
Very glad the room’s getting fumigated today instead of postponing it…for Deek and the pups’ sake. He really did a great job of helping my prep go as smoothly as possible; didn’t even give me anything to charge last night or this morning. I’m very impressed, especially since it’s a good sign he’ll follow through on other vital issues re. Flaco and brother.
I was hoping to kill some time at the cafe, two hours or so…but their toilet is not working. I didn’t notice the sign on the register that said, “Restroom out of order, sorry!” So right after I made my menu selection, I noticed that the key to the loo was not hanging from its hook. “Oh, is someone using the washroom right now?” I queried. When he said no, it’s out of order, I stood a few seconds in chagrin and muttered “how awful.” Though I did not cancel my order, figuring my situation was not yet urgent.
So I’ll have to leave after finishing my sandwich and coffee, and find a hidden spot in GG Park two blocks away, to relieve myself. Maybe their public commode at the Strybing Arboretum is open, as I get in for free because I reside here in San Franshitsco. Then come back here or go to another place for some tea and a cookie.
Because of my semi-toothless condition, I have to only order dishes on the soft side. I got an egg salad sandwich on toasted wheat, skip the pickles and onion. Since some of the contents spill onto my dish, I went to the counter where they provide plastic utensils, but only found a handful of spoons. So I asked the worker who was presently adding more soda cans on the shelves of the help-yourself fridge with a stupid Coca-Cola emblem on one side (see boring pic). Asked if he had a fork, he replied “no, just spoons, they’re over there” and pointed to where I had just been standing.
I told him I know, that’s why I asked. He said sorry, but then said wait a minute, stepped up to a sink and quickly rinsed a metal fork under cold water. No soap either, and he didn’t even dry it off before handing it to me; he just gave it a quick couple of shakes. I said thanks in a less than appreciative tone. He’s Chinese if that makes any difference, but does flesh out the tale.
Just now I received an alert from Amazon that my latest delivery has arrived…but from where I now sit, it’s impossible to simply run downstairs to pick it up, so no one can steal it. So I guess I’ll just head back in ten minutes or so…wait, more like 20 minutes because I’ll first need to evacuate both bladder and bowels. Even so, all I can do is hide the package in the short side hall next to my room. Then where do I go to kill more time, or should I linger comatose in that side hall for two or three more hours, to guard my package(s)?
Jesus fuckin’ christ. Let the bombs drop already.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Subject: 2 more hours to go!
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 3, 2022 at 6:30 PM
I can enter my hovel at 7:30 PM…yippee! Gives me oodles of time to make it all comfy again before Deek abd pups show up, if at all. No sign of any mishap over the smoke alarm, which is nice. I didn’t allow the disturbing non-deposit of my SS check intrude upon my dream time, as I already realize worry is a self-curse, and why wouldI want to do that to myself? And sure enough, when I logged into my Chase account at 6 AM I saw that Aunt Samantha made everything right. Thus I went happily back to bed and fell back to sleep promptly. Another tale of horror was spookily playing from my Blu smartphone that lay beside my pillow. And you, Morticia, know better than most anyone else, how soothing that can be!
All I remember is something about a couple of long-time buddies who love camping out together as often as possible, but this time while walking down the side of a mountain just after dusk to return to their tent, a bear had suddenly leapt from the bushes and tore part of his companion’s face off as well as ripped flesh from his shoulder, both thighs and an arm before the other guy temporarily drove the beast away with a heavy wash of anti-bear pepper spray, which gave them dear time to clamber the rest of the distance beyond their campsite to the parking lot where they got into their vehicle and drove like two Chiroptera out of Gehenna to the nearest emergency room 19 miles away through twisty, unpaved roads. I slept like a babe through the rest of the story, and didn’t awaken until nature called. I should have never given her my cell number.
So now I’m cozily ensconced in the side hall, beside my Amazon box. Which contains a large bag of duck breast wedges, two cartons of canned doggy food, and two camouflage sweaters that I know will look adorable on my brindlekin. See pic.
– Zeke K-Holmes
Re: 2 more hours to go! ADDENDUM
From: Ezekiel Krahlin
To: My Dear Wattson
Date: March 4, 2022 at 9:56 AM
I was too busy straightening out the room and tending to the pups, to give you more than a brief summary about last night’s meetup with Deek. I said he was like a whirlwind but left out his pointless screaming for several minutes, as I was laying down the rugs and ignoring him. I thought he was in an argument with another vagrant, and didn’t make out his words, but I finally poked my head out the window and said: “Are you hollering at me?”
“Yes!” he looked up. “I told you to come right down, and I’m soaking wet waiting for you!”
So I rushed down and told him I thought he said he’ll come back later to bring me some devices.
“NO, I told you to come right back down to get THESE!” he then handed me his gizmos and I took them back upstairs and plugged them all in. All he needed to do, was just call up “Yo!” again, and I’d know he was addressing me. His hotheaded antics are NOT appreciated, to say the least. And the way he mumbled his words of anger were not particularly coherent. But the good thing is:
Before I departed with his electronics, he stopped me and said, “Oh, take this, too,” and handed me the sack of dog food that contained the remainder of what I gave him two days before. I was pleased that I didn’t have to ask him about it, as I’ve had to do every time before. But the funny thing is:
The bag still held the full amount I gave him (my usual 5 cans and 2 Ziplocs). What’s he been feeding them, if not this, I wondered. At any rate, glad to see so much food not wasted, and I hope this keeps up.
– Zeke K-Holmes
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