It’s like September in Massachusetts outside today. Cool and cloudy. Setting the heat at 55º last night instead of 65º was a dumb idea. It was only 69º come 11:30 this morning! I warmed it up to 75º and now it’s 79º. It shouldn’t get any warmer than that.

Later…

What’s going on? Oh, just fighting with the usual breakage curse. The fucking generator that’s only 5 years old is acting up. Who knows if we’ll be forced to shell out $600 of our permit/shed/shower money for a new one that’ll just break before its time like this one? As it is, I have to worry about all our other shit breaking. I worry the heater’s going to break, or the stove, or the computers, etc. It’s been nearly a month now without any major truck trouble, so that ought to be acting up any minute. It just never ends!

Meanwhile, I did get a Bob letter today. Yes, he’d like any stories, journals or jokes. I’m sending my big story. Once he confirms he got it, I’ll send some short stories, pictures and journal excerpts covering the trip.

He said that only his old landlady writes him occasionally and that he hasn’t gotten any visits in 7 years which is kind of sad. After being railroaded myself, I’m more convinced than ever that he was, too. I always said the guy didn’t have it in him to rape a fly, he never tried anything on me, and I think his worst crime was being too nice to say no to the delinquents who wanted his booze.

He says he’s got 3½ years to go, though where he’ll go and what he’ll do for money beats me. I hope he doesn’t get his hopes up about seeing me because the only way that could happen would be if he came here and stood in a motel. We won’t have the room for him, and even if we did, I doubt his presence would make Tom very comfortable no matter how much of a harmless, feeble old soul he may be. I sure as hell couldn’t be the one to go to him since I hate to travel. If it were that easy, then yeah, why not? He gave me rides, chatted with me on the phone, and more or less was like a surrogate father to me.

Tom just came in to say he thinks the problem with the generator is the spark plug which is only $3 and should be replaced every year. This one’s never been replaced, so it’s well overdue.

Instead of using the laptop for music in the shed, I’m going to use my usual music computer for a few reasons. 1. It’s got all my songs on it. 2. Its screen darkens. 3. It’s faster and easier to use.

The only drawback is that it’ll use more juice which will mean I can’t run it as long. It’s a trade-off that’s worthwhile, though. This way he can always have the laptop available for handicapping.