The Tank, The Tools, And 203

Our friendly plumber showed up mid-morning, solo, bearing a sleek, new, 29-gallon hot water tank. Obviously the elevator is fixed. And heating water in our biggest pot to wash dishes will, we hope, be a one-time experience.

Due to my short-sleeve dress shirt deficiency we next went to a store rare for being known as a bargain center for men's clothes. That mission failed but we did discover an adjacent discount tool store. Now I'm a very long way from being a tool time talent but this place was a delight. Carol and I enjoyed looking at all they had and we left with some pretty amazing values. But first we had to join the tail end of 20 Quebecers waiting in line to pay.

Two blocks from our condo, we found the condo (#203) of Anna's parents. It was a surprise to learn that they were such close neighbors. We spent a few enjoyable hours with them and have a photo to show for it ...

Yes, we were only four and we all got in the picture.

Edwin has his ways.

And since this is my blog I have decided, for no particular reason, to include a photo of myself taken in New York City in July, 1953, during an international convention of Jehovah's Witnesses held at Yankee Stadium. I've been fiddling with a few photos like this to give them an artsy aura.

In those days we used to do service in the morning and attend sessions in the afternoon and evening up until 9:00 pm - for eight days. And we'd sleep in a rented guest room of a Puerto Rican family who had loud arguments with their 14-year-old son after we went to bed because the son, Pedro, insisted on being called Peter instead. And we'd wear a straw hat to the convention because the July sun was beaming and they don't call them "the bleachers" for nothing. No, the guy behind me is not checking his iPhone. Steve Jobs wasn't born till a year and a half later.