today:
wake up to find that last night's first big gale off the ocean of the winter inevitably knocked out electricity and cable to the whole area, thus eliminating not only electricity but phone, cable, and internet. cell phone doesnt work, either, because power to tower is apparently out.
figure out that i can get the time by powering up laptop on battery.
make it out door in time to get to attorney appointment by 10AM, when i'm supposed to sign forms and take them to file at courthouse.
arrive at appointment to discover that power is also out at attorney's office and forms can't be printed. go over handwritten stuff, plan strategy; agree to meet again at 1:30, which should allow me to file by 3 before court clerk in Watsonville closes for day.
go home. power is still out; i take batteries from cable remote and put them in alarm clock so i can keep time.
go to return appointment at attorney's. forms take until 2:45 to prepare. i still have until 5 to file today.
i now have to go back home because i need to get my checkbook so i can pay a fine installment due today at the (separate) courthouse in Santa Cruz; i go home, get my checks, and leave. power is now on, but cable/net/phone still out.
i go to Santa Cruz courthouse to pay installment on traffic fine. this is simple.
from parking lot, i have to call on cell phone (since home phone was still out) to make payment on home loan. this requires three calls on cell phone with dying battery. it's now going on 4.
i stop for gas before leaving for courthouse in Watsonville; lock self out of truck. it takes a half-hour to break into truck, which fortunately has old-school vent windows. it's now 4:35. i leave for Watsonville, 14 miles away.
the preceding night's storm has caused power outages disrupting traffic lights in Watsonville. i arrive at the Watsonville courthouse at 5:10 PM, too late to file today, and will have to drive back tomorrow.
for a consolation prize, i stop at Starving Musician on the way home to look at stompboxes; the shop guys, who know me, commisserate about my shit day and legal position.
i drive from Santa Cruz back to Felton, stop at Safeway for some food, and finally get home at 7:20 PM.
i used to make
money for working this hard. but at least the TV and internet are back on. and my kitty is here
