Dry Things

Things that make life easier:

a) A good, sharp kitchen knife, vis a vis the infuriatingly dull hacksaws provided with a furnished apartment;

b) Modish new woollen socks in a late October city;

c) Sushi-grade tuna and salmon sold in $5 blocks easily pairable with home-steamed rice and a saucer of soy sauce--instant, affordable chirashi!

d) Sweet, pure orange juice at a bargain price.

e) Buying the knife, new socks, fish, and OJ in shops nearly right next door to each other.

f) Having a home printer;

g) Decent melons in winter;

h) The inevitable end to deadlines.

Things that make life difficult:

a) When the gales rip through the tree, how can the fruit (nearly ready to drop, but not so) not feel the terror and dismay?

b) Far off-site laundromats, the cooling air, the weight of queen-sized sheets and coverlets, and all the hassle they bring.

c) Unpredictable heaters.

d) Kitchen lightbulbs too high up to change, even with a step-ladder.

e) Presentations of termpapers not only not yet written, but not yet researched.

f) Longterm 5 AM bedtimes.