The power came on at eight and I started
a load and went out and Hanukkah and I filled the swamp cooler with the hose
and ten minutes away from making toast the power is gone. I’d like to have toast this morning, fellas.
When the power returns I’d also like to make copies of
the two intermediate tests, one I’ll give tomorrow. Yesterday I did four hours of toefl reading
and there is a lot more there urging me to read on, get ahead. The second toefl class will begin tomorrow
after a few false starts. Ah, today I’d
rather read about the blind French girl, Werner in boot camp and the mysterious
blue flamed diamond.
And I couldn’t wait so I boiled a cup of
water on the black stove and spread peanut butter and apple jam on rapidly
staling bread and as I sat down the power returned. Stale bread is as close as you’ll get to
toasted bread without electricity I reckon.
Yesterday evening’s sunset from the roof was quick and
captured images look a lot better than I expected. The central Asian sun is bright as snot
during the day and only slowly, reluctantly, conceded her heat until it had
slipped behind the crescent mountains.
“Ya know what it looks like, it looks
like I’ve been called to live a monastic life without my consent.”
I shared a thermos of green tea with Hanukkah yesterday
afternoon and what did I learn. He likes
Bush a lot more than Obama and I understand, the war here is not the same as it
was in Iraq. There was a legitimate
enemy that had to be taken down and the US did that and the locals are still
thankful. Really. No one wanted to live under Taliban
tyranny. We swept them away, albeit
under the kilim and the roaches are out again but they aren’t as capable as
they were.
A late morning raga to wake me up
How does a fast pacing meditation work to
calm you on a day you are rushing? I can
think of a few who upon listening to the tabla and harmonium they’d spill their
coffee, drop a few dishes, yell loudly at everyone so they can hear the
pulsating rhythms with a message to set your pace. Pace.
And how do you do that?
A fast melody over and over, speeding off, breaking to the right and
left, the low keys blow threats and dangers through my ears, the tabla is
picking up speed, where is he going for crying out loud, shhhhh….You don’t wish for the sun to rise
too quickly, right?
The Guardian had a story about the new
smart and very approved for now drug, Modafinil, taken by college students to
help them on exams. I’d like some. I could use some clear logic while I go
through this toefl book inch by inch.
1.15pm
Younnis invited me to eat lunch with him and I
did. He doled out a bowl of this pureed
potato and tomato dish and I eagerly ate it up with my slab of bread. We watched Indian television shows that have
no category. They’re bad, they’re dopey,
but sometimes they dance.
7.10pm
We had one hour of city power today, two
hours of solar and that for some reason is depleted so Fezel turned on big blue
otherwise we are in the dark.
Another pleasant sunset and a few photos. With some clouds and low flying fighter jets
this is a workable landscape.
This was a well accepted three day holiday of
no teaching and I didn’t mind not leaving
the grounds. I was up for going to one
of the places I mentioned to Fezel and Simon but really it’s too hot. When it cools off a little and shadows stretch.
It is only slightly disconcerting when someone sighs
and says ‘here he goes again’ when I write
about all things spirited. It’s all one
man’s opinion, I know, one slightly crazy opinion, but Dr. Arroway cemented my conviction, experiences
can never be taken away.
Fezel is also cooking pasta tonight, I’m
grateful, I didn’t want to walk to any markets today.
Manana manana.
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