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Warthog of Simmer
Jul. 26th, 2021 09:45 pmMy intro to fandom was joining the Tolkien Society in high school. So I held Ed Meskys, who died today, in high esteem because of his founding and continuing role in Tolkien fandom in the US. I used to see him at cons occasionally, but my only story about him is that I once went to Mass with him. It was some east coast con, probably Lunacon, on a Sunday morning. Although he was intrepid in navigating the world, he wanted a sighted companion for heading off to some unknown church. We shared a taxi and went to Mass together. More end of an era stuff, sigh . . . .
Today the HVAC man came to perform the twice-yearly maintenance check on our AC. It took him a long time because he apparently had to wash the condenser. I didn't even know that was a thing. At any rate, I'm glad I didn't have to do it myself. I had gone out before my tea even to do half an hour of much-needed blitz weeding in the area. I didn't want the poor fellow to feel as if he was going to get a tick from wading through vegetation. He had brought with him a rather jaunty portable umbrella that he set up to protect him from the sun while he was working. I found it charming that he had a parasol. The Sparrowhawk and I both wasted some time, as one does, noodling about waiting hopefully for him to be done, and meanwhile not starting anything too involving. I cleaned and tidied several minor things, and later on, cooked dinner, took a walk, talked to Queenie and Zoomed with another friend.
I also got a call from the Philosopher, and felt alarm the moment he said hello, because it was obvious from his voice that something was wrong. He has a migraine-like pain around his eye socket and the doctors are afraid he has shingles. He's on an antiviral and a painkiller, but they have to do some more tests. He just wanted to ask some questions about shingles, since he recalled that Grandmother had it. Alas, I was able to give him a good deal of information. He said it helped, but I don't see how. When you have shingles, nothing really helps. Poor boy! I'll be thinking of him with much love and concern.
Today the HVAC man came to perform the twice-yearly maintenance check on our AC. It took him a long time because he apparently had to wash the condenser. I didn't even know that was a thing. At any rate, I'm glad I didn't have to do it myself. I had gone out before my tea even to do half an hour of much-needed blitz weeding in the area. I didn't want the poor fellow to feel as if he was going to get a tick from wading through vegetation. He had brought with him a rather jaunty portable umbrella that he set up to protect him from the sun while he was working. I found it charming that he had a parasol. The Sparrowhawk and I both wasted some time, as one does, noodling about waiting hopefully for him to be done, and meanwhile not starting anything too involving. I cleaned and tidied several minor things, and later on, cooked dinner, took a walk, talked to Queenie and Zoomed with another friend.
I also got a call from the Philosopher, and felt alarm the moment he said hello, because it was obvious from his voice that something was wrong. He has a migraine-like pain around his eye socket and the doctors are afraid he has shingles. He's on an antiviral and a painkiller, but they have to do some more tests. He just wanted to ask some questions about shingles, since he recalled that Grandmother had it. Alas, I was able to give him a good deal of information. He said it helped, but I don't see how. When you have shingles, nothing really helps. Poor boy! I'll be thinking of him with much love and concern.
