-- Tuesday, March 14, 2000 --

2:16 a.m. And now, for my favorite part of the day. I can finally do something creative with my time. I can make something beautiful, durable, sturdy ... with just a pinch of piquancy. Ah, to write is to dream is to fly.

It's otherwise been an incredibly busy-work kind of day. There was another plumbing leak, for example. Another hole in the wall. Another go-round on the mechanics of a cover; lots of detail work and errands and all the tiny little things that we really should feel some pride about when the day is done.

Tasks too mundane to matter, yet -- I'm convinced they are the secret path to enlightenment. One of these days, one of these sponge-swipes, and I'm going to figure it all out.

The diagnosis for our pipes isn't too promising. We had an emergency bypass today on the main artery, and there's enough plaque and corrosion up and down the tube to predict that we're going to eventually need a complete valve job.

They throw in the wall-repair as part of the service, once the wallboard dries out. It's a little bit puckered and lumpy today. There was the telltale hissssss of water seeping its level. The $ound of money $plashing along its merry viaducts.

But, we knew all this going into the deal. Our house has many interesting features and an impeccable lineage ... it's just that nasty deferred maintenance that keeps tripping us up. For example, my very next dream purchase is (was) going to be one of those wonderful stainless-steel-front refrigerators.

And not even a real restaurant model, although I know a store where they're sold, secondhand. No. Just a measly Sears knockoff, small in size to fit in the space between the cabinets. Nothing extravagant.

And nothing doing. That telltale hisssss has just erased any dreams of a fancy refrig. We will live with the hated harvest gold for as long as we must. At least we have a refrigerator.

When we first moved to Southern California, we were appalled to find out that refrigerators are not included in most apartment rentals. You actually have to contract with a rip-off refrigerator rental service and they have to use a dolly with straps and men with belly bands to sweat it into your place.

For several months we absolutely refused to go along with the scam. We figured we could live with a little ice cooler. Did you know that butter turns rancid if not properly refrigerated? It's very sad. And ice cream should never be taken for granted -- it is a miracle, pure and simple.

In fact, it's one of those simple miracles I keep buying expensive books to find. That, plus the simple fact that I can press on these keys and you can read these keystrokes, and somehow, an idea jumps from brain to brain. A miracle.

As is the fact that things seem to break in a merry succession, rather than all at once. So many sprongs and splints and surges and leaks are possible. Give it time.

There's always tomorrow.