Max & The Fairy Godmother Card

I am not a fan of calling older people "cute," but "Max"* is one of those people that is just, well, cute.

He said I have permission to blog about him, though I'm not sure he knows what a blog is. He also told me last Wednesday at the free caffe de luca tarot night that I should go to the Oprah taping on Michigan Avenue today because "It would really be something to see." (I did not see the Oprah show, but I did work on the neighborhood eNewsletter all morning, and until just now. An editor is checking for mistakes since I usually make plenty of them.)

Also this past Wednesday "Max" updated me on some progress with a woman at the senior center. They've been rehearsing for a play together, and he informed me that he finally got her digits. He wanted to know what would happen next. I told him, like I say to everyone, that I do not know, or can predict the future, and that all I can do is interpret the literal meaning of the cards drawn. I also asked him what had happened with the other lady, the one he'd been trying to coordinate a date with for the better part of a year? Apparently there had been some frustration, miscommunication, and resentment over him taking the train all the way out to meet her, and then her not extending the common courtesy of picking him up at the station, and forcing him to walk a near mile with his cane. I concurred he should probably move on. What is it with women these days?!

Well, quite cheesily, Fred drew the Nine of Cups, which is like the Fairy godmother card, per my trusty reference book of choice, Power Tarot by Trish MacGregor, and Phyllis Vega. The nine of cups seriously means that whatever you wish for will come true. Really? Fred asked me. Really, I had replied.

So, I'm thinking if he wants things to work out, they probably will.

Speaking of trains, Max told me about his past few weeks. He had done something that I thought was pretty cool, and might even imitate. He had been to Carbondale, in southern Illinois at least 40 years ago, and figured it might be nice to get away, and visit the small town again. Recently laid off from many years of loyal service working as a security guard, he did not want to spend too much money on the vacation, either.

How much was the train ticket?, I asked him.

About $65 round trip, he told me, but added that for me it would be more.

"You're not a senior," he stated.

No, I guess I'm not.

And, it wasn't until I wrote this blog that I realized the woman that didn't pick him up at the station might be the no longer love interest in Carbondale, which is a further distance than Columbus, Ohio. Illinois is vertically a very big state, kind of like Abe Lincoln was as a person. Boo on her.

** Name, and photo altered.

Dear, Smoky Salmon

You are
Thin, sliced, pink flesh**
melting beneath me,
It's love or hate,
with you, smoky salmon-
There are no 'in-between'
feelings, only
inspiration tinged
by my salt, the briny juice
I stew in, trapped inside a jar,
crammed among my people,
waiting to break free, to live
with you, atop a plate
sprinkled over your body
again, and again,
in yet another random cafe,
another dark booth,
how long we've been together,
I've lost count, we are so
perfect for each other,
oh the bat mitzvahs,
oh the weddings,
oh the shiva houses,
it's the way we go together
like salt, and pepper,
day, and night,
jews, and bagels,
that makes me know
we will always be
together, lox, and caper,
you pink, me green,
our colors as perfect
as our taste---
some call you
smoked salmon,
others roll you into sushi,
or label you "sashimi,"
yet in the dark of night
I breathe your name:
lox, lox, baby.

Love,
Your Loyal Caper(s)
** appeared on the caffe De Luca Facebook page, but I am sick of freaking out about the Olympics, and city politics here on GONE, so figured i need some lighter fare, like lox

It's Been a Gorilla Glue Morning

With the holiday weekend approaching, and my brother, and his family headed into town, I'd love to finally put "humpty dumpty" back together again.

This table has been in a state of dysfunction since the move, and it still is, despite my half ass efforts this morning. I made coffee, turned on NPR, put on gloves, took a deep breath, dampened both sides, applied Gorilla Glue, clamped, and nothing. Well, not actually nothing, the top of the table slipped off, because none of the metric washer sizes I brought back from the hardware store fit on the leg's screws, so I am back to square one. And done for the day. At least with humpty. I swear I have some real work to do.

Here's a few shots, plus a photo of the wagon wheel wine cart drop leaf table (at bottom, left) in far better times, assembled, with wine in it.



Gorilla Glue and Cats (I'm going to keep a close eye on Koji): http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1677+1684&aid=3478

Tax Day Tarot is Tonight @ caffe De Luca

... because I can't walk dogs due to the tugging on my lower back....
.... b/c I have no coordination, can trip on air, and b/c even waitressing jobs are tough to find these days....
.... b/c I have yet to find a new full-time job that I can be passionate about, though I've been looking...
.... b/c I like people/RealSpace, and most of my contract jobs involve writing, and sitting in front of a screen, or on the phone
.... b/c there are not that many cool cafes left in the hood, and caffe De Luca** has been around almost 10 years....
.... b/c I am tired of talking/blogging about my selfish old unemployed self & want to do something fun like peer inside your cards, even if I am not a total "believer" in the ancient art of tarot reading.....
..... b/c it's free
.... b/c it's Fun, whether you are dubious (hecklers, those that see it as 'the Devil's work' etc. are all most welcome, and in fact encouraged to show their skeptical faces), or think there's merit in it, or are just plain curious.... or want to catch up b/c we haven't seen each other lately.... or whatever....

Hope to see you there!

** CDL is on the evil Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Chicago-IL/Caffe-De-Luca/67233847263?ref=ts#/pages/North-Chicago-IL/Caffe-De-Luca/67233847263?v=photos&viewas=1600874983