Broken Things

This hasn't been a banner month-or-so for keeping my possessions in working order.

First was my stereo speakers, one of which suddenly stopped working one evening. It had made crackly sounds when I adjusted the volume for years, and I figured it had given up the ghost (being about 14 years old and all), but I decided to try splicing down the cords connecting my speakers to the receiver, and lo and behold it works again. So maybe the cord broke somewhere along the way. It still crackles when I adjust the volume, but that's not a big deal.

Of more concern is my bicycle, which almost seems cursed.

First there were the two spokes on the rear wheel which broke within 6 weeks of each other last spring. None since then, fortunately.

Then I had to get the chain replaced last weekend because it had somehow stiffened up and was slipping every time around the gears. It started spontaneously as I was biking to work about a month ago.

Then, Wednesday I started to bike to work, got about 2-1/2 miles out, and found my rear tire going flat. Faced with the prospect of walking home or figuring out how to navigate the bus system home, I instead sat down and figured out how to replace the tube with a new one. But, not having much confidence in my ability to replace it without pinching the tire, I decided to bike home and drive in anyway.

So Thursday I took the bike out for a spin through Shoreline Park to see if it would hold up. Well, it didn't, though it did for about 5 miles. But then it swiftly went flat and I walked home the rest of the way. So now I have to figure out if there's something stuck in the tire which is puncturing the tubes, or if I pinched the tube when I put it in, or if the wheel has something wrong with it. Oh, boy.

I've been sufficiently discouraged that I haven't tackled this yet.

I've also still got to buy some wood glue to repair a little wood carving I bought at WisCon a couple of years ago, which broke in places when it accidentally fell. It's very pretty and I'd like to make it whole and find it a better place to live. Just haven't gotten around to it.

Fortunately, none of this has involved, oh, a major problem with my car (creeping up on 50,000 miles) or my house (which has a squeaky downstairs toilet but otherwise is in great shape).

Debbi's been dog-sick this past week. Last weekend we both felt like we were coming down with something, but she got it all, whereas I've just been slightly stuffed up and had the occasional sneeze or two. (In fact, usually two.)

She's feeling better, though, and tomorrow we pick up her kittens and introduce them to their new home. They won't see my home (and my cats) 'til next week.

Speaking of my cats, we've pulled out some toys and have been playing with them a lot over the past week. Jefferson in particular has been delighted and has been playing his little heart out. Playing seems to have made him warm up more to Debbi, too (in a way that, say, her feeding him never did).

Also, I took the cats to the vet for a checkup for the first time in a couple of years. I didn't want to make the 20-mile trek to The Cat Hospital, where I used to go when I lived just a few blocks away, so instead I'm going to the Adobe Animal Hospital. They seem pretty good, although it's hard to tell from a single check-up. Each of my guys has developed a little bump somewhere on their body, and the vet says they just look like warts, and if they don't get any bigger then they're probably nothing to worry about. (Neither cat seems to notice the bump is there, even if I'm rubbing on or poking at it.)

My cats are nearly 10 years old, and it looks like they've still got a number of years left in 'em. Yay!

Lastly, a plug: I recently picked up Ian Anderson's latest solo CD, Rupi's Dance, and it is excellent. In comparing it to his Jethro Tull work, I'd say it most closely compares to their late 1970s albums, especially Heavy Horses, and it may be his best work since 1987's Crest of a Knave. It's heavy on flutes and whistles and has a vaguely middle-eastern feel to it at times. The liner notes are also entertaining. If you enjoy Tull's folkier side, or are up for some light and playful acoustic music, I'd strongly suggest checking it out.