I wrote a condolence note to Phil Klass’s (William Tenn) widow and she has not acknowledged it and I don’t think she will, but I did the right thing. However, it doesn’t make me think any better of her than I did all those years ago when she set out to separate Phil from all his friends. Or is the protocol that the bereaved do not acknowledge these notes? I really don’t know.

Sometimes Ed will second guess himself on good deeds and ask if I think he was sucked in. A while back an old friend called in dire need. They hadn’t been in touch for years. He was being viciously divorced by his wife, was almost penniless, living frugally, winter was coming on. It was December and he didn’t have winter clothes. He came over and Ed lent him $500 and gave him a warm jacket. We never heard from him again. I always tell Ed he did the right thing and that his hapless friend was probably unable to repay him. The thought also crossed my mind that this guy had used up all his friends. The divorce Hell he was living through had been of his own making – constant cheating. Ed had defended him. I said, help him, of course, but don’t make him blameless.

I don’t know for sure, but I doubt I would ever take revenge in a divorce. It was what it was, and you move on.

Steve, Aces Handyman, finished the pool deck this afternoon. When he comes back from his vacation he will refine what he considers a poor job the contract workers did on the edging of the planter at one end. It looks fine to me, but he said it should be better. Also, he left undone, the second pad outside the door where the outdoor shower is. He will pave that. The storm shutters were removed and one pool cage screen has to be replaced because they just ripped the shutter off instead of unscrewing it. Ed will work on those things. Steve said we should paint the pool – drain it and paint it a deep blue. Ed won’t go for it. Says this particular pool lining can’t be painted.

Steve left today, eyes wide for Costa Rica where he will live on a beach next to a jungle for two months. He goes, he surfs, he lives the native life. He can’t wait. He plans to retire there. (He said I’m okay for a white girl so I am guessing he has some native girlfriends.)

Before I have my friend take pix with her digital camera, we have to wait a couple of days till the new mortar sets, and then power wash the dust off and return the pool furniture and put out the beautiful urns we bought recently. Then I will post the pix.

A new friend, Toni, who I met at Nadine’s, my best friend on the island, goes to an art class nearby and on Saturday, I went to meet her teacher and signed up. So every Saturday morning I will refresh my knowledge of drawing and maybe get some skill back. It is a three-hour class and we had a nude model come in. The class is free to members of the Art Assocoation – so I joined for a year - $30. There was an added $4 charge to each to pay the model. She was young, I am guessing in her mid twenties, and very pretty with a perfect body and also shaved. The one time I attended a life drawing class in New York, the model looked like Sophie Tucker.

I wonder if I can hang in – my focus was really challenged. Also, he gives homework. I guess I’ll have to stop playing Free Cell.

xx, Teal