Hubster Kills Computer

The crashing and banging sounds emanating from the study upstairs, and that were paired with masculine oaths and thudding sounds, caught my attention from the downstairs living room where I was calmly and quietly catching up on Facebook entries. In some alarm, I called out "what's going on up there?" Hubster yelled back that he was "sick of this da** computer" and that the email had frozen up on him "one time too many times." In response to my further concerned inquiry, through gritted teeth, as he whacked the computer with our heaviest hammer, he said "not to worry, I'm killing the computer."  Once I opened wide the study door, there he was, Computer Axe Man demolishing an e-machine, shards of plastic and metal flying about as he tore into what was a desktop computer. "I've been looking forward to doing this," he said, as bits and bobs flew and landed against the far wall. I knew things weren't going well with this particular electronic device as I have heard him previously invoking various well known Anglo-Saxon epithets at the screen of this computer. It does -- did -- seem to freeze up a lot, you know, just when you're downloading a critical IRS form or that email from the boss or the plane ticket confirmation, all of which disappear forever and which will require you to execute a repeat of at least an hour's worth of computer entries to get to where you were before the computer freeze-up occurred.Clearly, it's time to buy something new and shiny and fast and loaded with tons of memory. And time to make sure the hammer gets back in the tool box.

Oops, Easy to Miss the Alleys

First St NW alley

Adams St NW alley

W Street NW Alley

You can walk right by the entrances to the alleys, not even seeing them at all, but they are there if you look for them.  Sometimes narrow and rather dark, they are one of the reasons why you see little trash on the street, because most of it is in bins in the back alleys. They are also the reason why you don't see the trash truck pick up unless you get up early enough in the morning and exit out your back gate.  I only hear the noise of the trash trucks as these hardworking city employees (?) crash about upturning our bins and dislodging our rubbish into these giant trucks that they somehow manage to squeeze into the twists and turns of our neighborhood alleys. While walking by, the alley may beckon your longer glance to see glimpses of what your neighbors might be up to -- ladders and construction equipment signaling remodeling or tossed out mattresses and bureaus signaling new furniture, or cars parked closely to the garage wall when overnight guests have failed to get the visitor permit in time and don't want to risk the Parking Ticket Nazis on the street front.  The alleys often belong only to the cats and the stray dogs that got away during the day.  Occasionally, in the summer, you may see young people shooting baskets or playing ball if someone has been so kind as to put up a hoop. Of course, about a decade ago our alleys were the scenes of drug dealing, some prostitution, more than a handful of murders and some public drunkenness, but it seems like most of that has passed.  However, today if you do see someone walking through the alley from your house rear view windows you do find yourself  remarking about them and wonder what they might be up to in a different way than the people you notice walking by on the sidewalk in front of your house. There's something more unusual and more private about the public alley ways, as if the space has been reserved only for certain purposes like egress to a garage or garden or some other special purpose.  This layout and design adds a great deal to our neighborhood, in my opinion, and it's something we take for granted, so used are we to the benefits the alleys bring.