It is
nineteen below zero outside, thankfully no wind. My furnace is running constantly using fuel,
but our house is warm. Central Maine Power just doubled their rate for power consumption and my light bill jumped
from $100 to $140 for the same amount of energy consumption last month. The cats are in bed with my wife. They always dive in as soon as I get up to
feed them. They are big cats so they
take up my side of the bed.
I have been
nursing a cup of tea and thinking how comforting it would be to light up my
pipe, which has a prominent place on my bookcase. We
quit smoking in 1986, but I have always missed my pipe. A pipe is more than smoking, it is a
familiar friend. Only someone from my
generation could understand that.
Our
Cuisinart pressure cooker is twenty-nine years old. The gasket has become brittle and needs
replacement. The pressure cooker is stainless
steal and otherwise fine, but Cuisinart no longer produces this model or
supports it. I did an extensive
internet search and the only pressure cooker gasket that would fit our unit is
available in England and cost 28 pounds plus shipping to the U.S. Therefore, I have retired a perfectly good
pressure cooker and replaced it with an electronic model that is computer
controlled and does everything automatically – except it will, in no way, last three
decades. There will probably be a new-improved
model out within the next five years.
I am on the
extinction list. I have come from a
different time and don’t actually fit this era. My values are different. I don’t do text messaging and only carry a
cell phone when I am traveling – and then don’t turn it on. My favorite handknitted wool sweater is
forty-six years old. My L.L. Bean coat
and Moose River hat are over twenty years old.
When I was growing up men carried pocket knives – I do. I don’t
like impermanence; I don’t like things that are designed to be replaceable. I still use an analog wrist watch, and have,
and sometimes use, the pocket watch of my grandfather.
People of my
generation are mostly gone, but some how I hang on.
Don’t get me
wrong. Life is worth living: sex is
great, good food is great, Scotch whiskey is great, fresh tomatoes are great,
cats are great companions…
Did I run and am I tired?
the Ol’Buzzard
Hey! I have a twenty year old L.L. Bean coat, too! For what it's worth, we don't purchase L.L.Bean anymore because their prices have sky rocketed and shipping costs (and return costs) make it ridiculous. But I still wear my coat. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteI still wear an analog wristwatch too -- a large plain one with big numbers so I can see them, LOL!
ReplyDeleteA watch?...I thought you were relaxed, I have no need for a watch anymore...It's time for you to set yourself FREE!
ReplyDeleteIf I'm late for anything I'm sure someone will let me know..(;+)......Or charge me $$$$$$$,
ok...worth a shot..give me the number of the ring and all the information..I may have a way to get it..
ReplyDelete