Shots from the Lip

 We were not able to get Jon Berg served.....we provided proof of LA Sheriff attempts.  We got a continuance to 20 August and by 15 August, we need to serve through alternative means Mr. Berg.....and we think we can do this........ And we still have the City of Santa Monica and the tree issue that is also dependent upon the TRO issue......who said that life was simpler here in the good ole US of A????? This has been so time consuming and in essence is such a fucking waste of time.........

 They sent us CP-504 for 2025, Notice of Intent to Levy.  It was dated 24 July.  We have proof of payment using IRS Direct on 13 July. I called the 27th.  Could not get through.  Tried answering a different way on the 28th - get further through the system.  Called at 6:30am this morning and was told to call between 8 and 8.  I called at 8:01. I was put on hold and told there would be about an hour wait. At close to 100 minutes, I was switched to a line that rang...twice.....and then those mother-fuckers disconnected me!!!!! I went to IDme.com, set up by the IRS to get transcripts among other things, never expecting to actually being able to get it to work.......hey, it was confusing but I got there........and my 2025 transcript showed that I did pay and that the letter was wrong!!

 I was going to call the IRS this morning.  I never did......the fact that i have all the proof I need and there is still a lot of time before I really have to call......I'm not in any hurry....... I did go to class and after, in the confines of the Emeritus office, discovered how technically inept I am - the Geek Squad taught me how to pair my Fire to my iPhone......and I already forgot.....dammit! My 'novel' class ended today.  There were 6 of is there, live.....approximately 50 online.  There is so much more gained from live attendance......I will have a mixture of both in the fall as I do 4 classes - one md-morning Monday;  one each at the start of both Tuesday and Wednesday......and one to follow the Wednesday morning class. I will go to SMC before the end of August and pay $22.50 again - 4 x $22.50 for a year of ALL  LA County public transportation....$90 a year is a bargain! .......and I will try to get the IRS by phone this afternoon.......

 I pressed the wrong button on the Fire and I could not get MP4s to view on the Fire.  That's what $179.95 per year gets me: as many appointments as needed with the Geek Squad at Best Buy (WLA-Sawtelle).  This morning, with Katherine joining me, They got MP4 working and we will use this on Thursday in Court. They also paired my iPhone with the Fire.....did I remember this procedure?   I will try learning this to use it....this is goal # 2 for the Fire. And then we went to Teddy's by the #7 bus.  $34, including tip, for a big breakfast made for two by adding coffee, orange juice and home frie potatoes.   It is big, greasy and fucking good! Across the street from Teddy's is Marukai Market, the 'other' Japanese market, 3 bus stops from Sawtelle on the #7 going west. It is 1:40pm with the temperature comfortably in the low 80s on a Santa Monica summer day.  Time to read the New Yorker on my Fire!

 Stillzy is still cheapest - even with their $3.45 service fee and failure to include prior  discounts still available.......and ordering yesterday afternoon, I was secure in the anticipation of knowing how the delivery route is set up and that I'dbe the first delivery........of course I was!! And then my normal, morning walk followed by my news reading routine. It is now 11:01am.  The stuff I had scheduled to work on today can easily be worked upon later....not today......and I will likely play some music (I already have, accompanying Buena Vista Social Club in Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White on harmonica. Yeah, I'll do some piano later on and, who knows  - one of these days it'll be time for me to take out my keytar??!!!!! And I do want to continue sketching, without SMC classes but You Tube lessons that seem to be what will work.......assuming I follow through COMPLETELY.....

 By beach city standards, it is going to be hot here over the next week with the temperature projected to hover around 32C (94F) at the day's hottest times.   We lived with a whole lot more (pollution, humidity, temperature) in Bangkok and the tropics.........it might get to 32 but it don't feel like 32 - it feels lower....and it ain't bad!  Inland?  Who knows??  I sure as hell am not going out! I did my morning walk in T-shirt and light-weight Uniqlo cargo pants but switched to my sole pair of bathing-trunk-like shorts for the balance of the day.  The weather needn't prevent us from living our way - we simply start earlier and are out ONLY before it gets too hot.  Ralphs opens at 5am as does NY Bagel & Deli;  Whole Foods opens at 7am, Trader Joe's at 8am and CVS is a 24 hours a day business........we can start early and productively plan to have great days, indoors and out, by managing our time to maximum benefit. Hey, this applies no ma...