Well, dear readers, may I just be the first to say that it is August? May I just be the first to say it? And is my fervent hope and prayer that August will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful. And after the car news I got yesterday, the second item on that list would be very helpful. According to the service man, after three days they ascertained that the engine is basically kaput and told me I’d need a new engine. At that point, he suddenly became a comedian and quoted me a cost of $14K PLUS labor. I laughed out loud. He then said a rebuilt would be less, like $10K. I laughed louder. Then he got to his real point – wouldn’t it be better to just buy a new – Infiniti? Did I want to speak to a salesman? As dear reader Jeanne later pointed out to me, these dealer service folks don’t want to fix older cars, they want to sell cars.
I then called the salesman I’d already chatted with, and we went over some options available to me. I told him I’d call him back in the next day or so. Then I called a small car repair place that I’d gone to a couple of times – they, too, laughed out loud when I told him what the dealer service guy had quoted. I gave him the make and model and year and he said he’d call me tomorrow, meaning today, which, if you hadn’t heard, is the first day of August. So, I’ll await his call and then I can make an informed decision as to what to do. None of this would be so stressful if it hadn’t happened on a Kritzerland show week. I doubt I’ll rent a car, but I have to get to the mail place today should the important envelope arrive, I have to get to the bank if it does, and how I’m supposed to do all that and eat prior to our three o’clock rehearsal is anyone’s guess. I suppose if Grant is around I could see if he could at least get me to the mail place and bank. If not, it will be several Uber trips and then I’ll probably not be able to eat until after rehearsal. I’m also just about out of Diet Coke so I’m going to try and find some place that delivers groceries where the price is not full price for everything. I don’t want to be lugging home twelve packs a half-mile.
I did get nine hours of sleep, so that was nice. The car guy actually didn’t call ever until I called him and said he had to get back to me or get me a loaner. I ascertained that the important envelope hadn’t arrived (sometimes it gets there early), and then I walked to Islands and had a Big Wave with cheese but no bacon. The calorie count they assign to this burger is so wrong on every level and it’s very easy to figure out. The burger itself is no bigger than an In N Out double, although not quite THAT big. I know what the calorie count of that is with cheese, so this should actually be a bit less since they only put mustard on it, no sauce. It comes with their yummilicious french fries – a big basket this time, rather than just shoving them in with the burger. But I was a very good boy and only ate less than a third of what was in the basket, so with the walk back and forth I think I did just fine, calorie-wise. And the burger was great and it was a lunch “special” too, so it wasn’t too crazily expensive.
I walked back home, listened to music, got the car news, made all those telephonic calls, and was then exhausted. I’m also trying to not talk too much, as I’ve had a lot of throat clearing and phlegm this week and it’s making me hoarse, which is better than making me horse, and I have to be in good voice for Sunday. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Play It Again, Sam, written by and starring Woody Allen, based on his Broadway play and featuring his three co-stars from Broadway – Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, and Jerry Lacy. I saw the show on Broadway, and it was hilarious. I didn’t really understand why they needed to relocate it to San Francisco, but they did. They opened it up quite a bit and that all works fine. Herbert Ross directed and was smart enough to just photograph the thing without much ado. The laughs are all still there, although some lines will make some people uncomfortable in 2019 and that’s their problem, frankly. But I know if they did this show anywhere today, out would come several lines. I also watched a bit of the DVD of The Last of Sheila.
Then I had more telephonic conversations, listened to music, and took a Mucinex-D to try and get rid of this damn phlegm.
Today, I’m hoping for some better news from the honest service guy, but whatever that news is it will help me make whatever decision I need to make. If the important envelope arrives and Grant can’t get me there, I’ll either walk or Uber. Then I have to get to the bank, so that’s another Uber or a walk. Then I have to get home and that’s another Uber or walk. Then we have our three o’clock second Kritzerland rehearsal, and then I will have to go walk somewhere to eat.
Tomorrow, I have no idea what is up, Saturday is our stumble-through and some of us will get food afterwards. Then Sunday is sound check and then we do our show, which is almost sold out. Then next week I will either get the motor car fixed or get a new car.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, hope for better car news, make a car decision, hope that the important envelope arrives and then get it, get to the bank, and get home by three for our rehearsal, after which I’ll eat, then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What is the longest jog or longest walk you’ve ever done? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to welcome in a little month I like to call August – and it is my fervent hope and prayer that August will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.