gova

(Continued from August 19, 2010)

The wine that the girls had brought was also excellent.  It came from aunt Dorothy’s cellar.  Thea told me that she wouldn’t feel good about buying a bottle in a wine store.  “I wouldn’t know whether the clerk is really knowledgeable or whether he is just a smooth talker,” she said.  “Next time, when we know a few days in advance about our get-together, you and I will go to a wine store and you will point out the wines you used to enjoy in France.”

“Did aunt Dorothy recommend this white wine?”

“No, she phoned up her chef who has a list of all the different wines that she has in her cellar.  He was in the process of preparing my fish when he received the call.”

“So, I presume that this wine is not just suitable for fish in general; its flavor will enhance the taste of cod fillets in particular,” Alice remarked.

“That is very possible,” I said.  “Aunt Dorothy’s chef, who has been in the gastronomy industry for many years, probably jots down notes about the reaction, favorable or non-favorable, of his clients.  The suitability of a certain wine with a certain kind of fish will definitely be recorded.”

“Both of you have possibly been participating in an experiment.  The chef will, in all likelihood, ask how you enjoyed the combination of the cod and that particular wine.  He will then record your remarks in his famous notebook.”

“We could possibly repeat the experiment when you are not the designated driver,” Alice replied.

While Alice and I very slowly sipped the Calvados, Thea showed me the basic functions of my new cell phone.  Both girls complimented me on my structured manner of learning.  I took detailed notes of all the instructions.  My computer dealings with Alphonse had taught me that my memory could not retain more than three complex directions at one sitting.  Furthermore, if I did not jot them down within the hour, I would confuse one with the other.  Therefore, taking notes at the outset was the way to go.  It obviously was also the opportune time to ask for further explanations.

I had the intention to review the cell phone notes before going to bed that night, so I placed them in a conspicuous spot.  Next, I gave the girls a comprehensive overview of Doug’s e-mail message.

“Did Doug mention a specific date for their journey to the North West?” Thea wanted to know.

(To be continued)

(Continued from August 13, 2010)

The content of Doug’s e-mail was pretty well what I had expected.  There was a lengthy description of the excitement that my message had created.  Thea’s farm had provided the focal interest.  Before her beautifully undulating acreage had come into play, there had been some hesitation on the part of Doug’s wife concerning the best time for a trip to the North West.  It appeared that shortly after she had grasped the farm’s wealth of possibilities, she decided that as soon as possible was the best option.

Since Alice still had a copy of the common-area key, the girls were able to walk right up to my condo entrance.  I could hear the faint sound of their laughter in the hallway, which, I reasoned, was caused by the strange sentiment of passing the former dwelling place of an ex-boyfriend.

I had swung open the door seconds before they had reached it and the pleasant aroma of food preceded them.  They each carried two bags, which they set on the empty surface of my dining room table.

Alice’s hug was relatively short compared to Thea’s lengthy embrace.  I got the impression that they were wearing the same brand of perfume.  It had been a long time since a fragrance, which one associates with ladies, had been able to permeate the air of my apartment.  Since the girls would stay for a while, that pleasant smell would linger for days.

“Can you wait until after dinner?” I asked Alice as I pointed at the bottle of Calvados.

“Yes, I want to build up a strong longing for that liquor by staring at the bottle now and then,” she joked.  “In the meantime, you and I will be able to sip from the white wine which we brought.  The main dish will be fillets of cod tonight.”

“I will be the Perrier sipper tonight,” Thea asserted.  “I’ll try to be as good a sport about being the designated driver as Alice was during our visit to the French restaurant.”

We set the table together.  I took the dishes, the glasses and the cutlery out of the cupboard and handed them to Alice.  She passed them on to Thea who gave them a quick rinse. We all got involved in the act of drying the items.  It provided me with the opportunity of showing off the colorful dishcloths that I had brought from France.

Minutes later, we were enjoying the cod fillets and the pan-fried potatoes.  They were delicious.  Apparently, Thea had ordered everything from the restaurant of aunt Dorothy’s chef.  The green salad and the dessert were also excellent.

(To be continued)

(Continued from August 04, 2010)

“I remember Bob talking about his enterprising aunt.  I got the impression that she knows the particulars of her profession very well.”

“That was a correct evaluation.  She was telling me about mortgage matters and she really seems to know what she is talking about.”

“Experienced real estate agents know exactly which mortgage brokers will come up with the desired results.”

“Bob’s aunt was saying that it will be easy to arrange a new mortgage for him when he buys his next apartment.”

“Undoubtedly.  As a unionized construction worker, he earns big money.  Anyway, I am happy that he will no longer be in your apartment building.  I have been wanting to see your condo and Alice wants to come along for the first visit.”

“My guess is that she has a special reason for wanting to be here for the first visit.”

“That is a good guess.  She wants to get a taste of the Calvados that you brought from the French restaurant.  Do you remember that she didn’t get any because she was the designated driver?”

“Yes, I do remember her selfless behavior of that afternoon.  You can tell Alice that I have put the bottle in a place that is out of sight.  That way I won’t be tempted to take a sip now and then.”

“Alice has nothing planned for this evening and I can easily delegate my chores.  So, we would like to visit you tonight and bring along dinner.  Would that arrangement suit you?”

“It would suit me very well.  It just occurred to me that I am out of a number of provisions and it is a bit late for going shopping.  Anyway, dining together is more fun than doing it alone.”

“I will also bring along your new cell.  This evening will probably be a good time to bring you up to speed on the various functions of the phone.”

“And, I will provide you with all the details of Doug’s e-mail message.  He just sent me a short text-blurb via his I-phone.  He indicated that there will be a lengthy response from him within the hour.”

“I am looking forward to that!”

(To be continued)

(Continued from July 24, 2010)

“Coincidentally, I happen to have a piece of news that may well do the trick.”

“You are making me extremely curious.  It is not a detail that refers to your sons because you would already have mentioned it.”

“I won’t make you wait; I’ll give you the news in a few words.  Bob has moved out of his apartment.”

“That is very surprising news.  How did that come about so quickly?  Alice didn’t mention that Bob had intentions to relocate.”

“Sometimes circumstances that one cannot control force a person to make a decision.  Apparently, Bob had an accident at work and he will be in the hospital for some time.”

“That is hardly a good reason for selling an apartment of which one is extremely proud.”

“It appears that Bob was not sufficiently well insured and the equity he has in the condo will just about cover the additional medical bill.”

“I am stunned by the fact that you were able to gather all that information about Bob in such a short time.”

“I was on the way to my mailbox; and, when I passed by his apartment, I noticed that his front room was practically empty.  I got a good view because the entrance door was wide open.  Then, at that very moment, a lady came down the hall.  She told me that she was a real estate agent.”

“The situation is becoming clear to me now.  She was undoubtedly more than willing to supply you with any information that you wanted to know.  It is part of her job to talk to strangers because one never knows who will bring around the next potential buyer.”

“She told me that Bob’s work buddy was willing to store the furniture and that the moving needed to be done immediately.  Apparently, the man was about to go on holidays.”

“Bob and his work buddy are indeed very close friends.  They will do anything for one another.”

“And, the real estate lady will give Bob special treatment.  She is his aunt.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from July 18, 2010)

“I think you are suggesting that keeping Bob’s furniture is a good idea because he will be in a position to purchase another apartment in the relatively near future.  Is that a correct assessment?”

“Indeed it is.  Apparently, he is a highly skilled construction worker who earns big wages.  Therefore, I will easily be able to arrange a mortgage for him.  I am his aunt, so I will go easy on the real estate fees.”

I had heard enough.  Therefore, I excused myself before the talkative agent was going to ask me questions such as: “Do you have any friends who might possibly be interested in enjoying a marvelous view?”

I was eager to get back to my apartment.  I wanted to convey the good news to Thea as soon as possible.  My daughter had expressed disappointment about having to avoid my condo building because of Bob.

In my mailbox, I found a leaflet pertaining to Bob’s apartment.  The reasonable asking price indicated that my neighbor wanted to sell quickly.

Back in my apartment, I got Thea on the line pretty well immediately.  Her phone system notified her about my incoming call; so, she asked me to allow her twenty seconds to finish her chat with Alice.

“So, what did my brother Richard have to say about acquiring a sister at such a mature age?”

“He predicted that only good experiences would come from ‘this family development.’  The remainder of his e-mail was about Alphonse having eased into your aunt’s good books.  Obviously, he couldn’t have discussed the matter without referring to the fact that you had initiated that fortunate process.”

“If you were here, you would note that I am blushing profusely.  And, I couldn’t have asked for a better initial reaction from my young brother.  When do you expect an e-mail from Doug?”

“Probably within the next hour or so.  His message will be after my sons have discussed the matter.  I am expecting an e-mail that contains plenty of enthusiasm about visiting your farm.  Doug’s wife is very much into a healthful environment and good wholesome food.”

“I am having a great day.  I cannot imagine a development that would intensify my jubilant mood,” Thea asserted.

(To be continued)

(Continued from July 13, 2010)

After my telephone conversation with Thea, I checked my e-mail.  There was a message from Richard; I was not surprised by the prompt response.  My young son usually got up early in the morning to have a small snack.  Then, he would attend to his e-mail for an hour or so before going for a lengthy run.  Triathletes need to exercise daily in preparation for a race.

As I had expected, Richard was pleased about my father-daughter relationship with Thea.  “As far as I can determine at this moment, only good experiences will come from this development,” he wrote.

I concluded that Richard hadn’t as yet discussed the matter with Doug, my oldest son.  That would probably happen within the next couple of hours.

The remainder of Richard’s message was devoted to going into detail about the lucky break that Alphonse had experienced.  My young son hinted at the fact that such was a direct consequence of my relationship was Thea.  “Up until now, the big guy had not been very lucky with his employment; his previous employers don’t seem to have noticed the tremendous skills that he possesses,” Richard wrote.

I tried to get hold of Thea to let her know about Richard’s e-mail, but I was only able to reach her mailbox.  So, I left a message in which I explained the reason for my call.

Since I hadn’t retrieved my mail for a few days, I went down the hall toward the communal boxes.  As I passed by Bob’s apartment, of which the entrance door was wide open, I was able to cast a glance into his living room.  It was completely void of any furniture.  Only a few similarly shaped boxes were neatly stacked in the middle of the room.

At that moment, a middle-aged lady came down the hall and turned into the apartment.  Noticing my inquisitive look, she volunteered: “I am a real estate agent.”

“Has the owner already moved out?” I inquired.

“He had an accident at work and he will be in the hospital for at least the next six months.  Since he was only partly insured, he needs some cash to pay the hospital bills.  Therefore, he decided to sell his apartment. The equity that he has built up in the condo should take care of most of his medical debt.”

“What happened to his belongings?”

“His work buddy was kind enough to store them for him.  Although Bob will be laid up for a lengthy period of time, he will apparently make a full recovery.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from July 08, 2010)

“By now, your sons will already have a pretty good idea about the recent developments here.  The first issue that Alphonse will surely have mentioned enthusiastically to Richard is the way things have worked out for him on aunt Dorothy’s estate.  He will have written about the boardroom, robots and job prospects for the future.”

“You are right.  He couldn’t have discussed those matters without making frequent references to you.  Therefore, they know a lot more about you than we had originally supposed.  And, the information is undoubtedly all favorable.”

“The only not-so-favorable matter, of which Alphonse is aware, is my involvement with Bob.”

“I doubt very much that my young friend will mention anything about that part of your past. Other than the fact that you had a brief relationship with the guzzler, he doesn’t really know anything specific.”

“During that time, I did not make good decisions.  My father was already quite ill and I spent most of my time at his bedside.  So, when I met Bob and he seemed to lend a sympathetic ear, I did not question his sincerity.”

“It probably didn’t take very long to realize that Bob was mainly interested in his own pleasures.  As one of you girls mentioned before, my neighbor had profound narcissistic tendencies; and, in all likelihood, he is still influenced by them.  It is a part of one’s personality that can be controlled if one is fully aware of the inclination toward that kind of behavior.  Bob would need professional help to come to that awareness.”

“I could recognize his selfishness a few weeks after we had met and, at that point, I should have terminated the relationship.  Of course, as you know, Elsie became interested in him shortly thereafter.  I told her about his egocentric behavior, but she didn’t appear worried about it.  We girls often think that a man will treat us better than he did his previous gal or that we can change his behavior.  It seems that we can only learn from experiencing a few disappointments.”

“Alphonse will probably not mention anything relating to love affairs for another important reason.  His most recent relationship involved a great deal of self-deception.  The big guy is very much aware of his error in judgment regarding that young lady.”

“Seeing that they are very good buddies, I am assuming that Richard had been informed about all pertinent issues pertaining to that girl.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from July 01, 2010)

“Have you already communicated with your sons?” Thea wanted to know.

I told her that I had sent a short message; and, since I had mentioned a full report before, she said: “I am sure that you had a good reason for changing your mind.”

“Going into too much detail usually means that one is trying to make a point. There is no need for that.”

“I understand completely what you are saying.  There will be plenty of time to connect the dots.”

“There is also the matter of Alphonse’s e-mail messages to Richard.  I didn’t want to pry concerning their content when I spoke to the big guy earlier.  If he had wanted me to know what they were all about, he would have sent me a copy.”

“Between longtime buddies, there will, in all likelihood, be remarks with a special spin.  You won’t need to see those.  Your sons’ specific questions will indicate, to a certain extent, which details they discussed in their e-mails.”

“I did mention your farm.  I felt that it would bring about a discussion, which would involve the mothers of my grandchildren.  Those ladies are very keen to see their children breathe fresh air during their visit to North America.  I assumed that you would be in favor of seeing the kids on your farm.”

“I would love to entertain your grandchildren on the farm.  We will purchase bikes, tricycles and other toys for them.  Then, when they come in ravenous from their energetic play, we will feed them the most healthful organic food in the county.”

“If there is hesitation about consuming some of the wholesome items, the presence of the ice-cream machine will figure largely in encouraging the children to finish everything on their plate.”

“Do you expect them to come over this summer?”

“It is very probable that they will be here.  There has been much talk about the necessity for practice in the English language.  Nicolas, the oldest at six, can carry on a simple conversation, but he needs a good spell of total immersion.”

“What about the younger children, do they possess some English language skills?”

“They seem to understand simple commands and they know the English words for animals and concrete things.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from June 27)

“The execution of the plan was admirable, though.  Few people would have been able to arrange, on the spot and in the correct order, the different moves that Sam would have to go through to complete the task.”

“I must confess that I had already contemplated to make Sam work on the Mini while I was reading through the manual for the robot.  So, I had a fair amount of time to consider the necessary stages that the sturdy little fellow would have to cope with.”

“Well, that is an even better example of being proactive,” I replied.

Although he showed great modesty, Alphonse seemed to be in complete agreement with me regarding the wisdom of continuing to be proactive.

We terminated the call and I leaned back in my most comfortable chair to consider the content for the e-mail message to my sons.  My initial intention had been to send a comprehensive report of what had transpired during the past few days.  However, I had changed my mind.  By supplying too many details, I would give the impression that I was trying to convince them about the beneficial nature of my father-daughter relationship with Thea.

I got up and sat down behind my computer, relieved that I had made the decision to send a short message.  I wrote: “I have met a young lady whose late father was my doppelganger.  I have seen photos of him and I must say that the resemblance is striking.  She told me that he appeared in a dream, advising her to ask me to take his place in her life.  I have accepted her request.”

I assumed that Richard had conveyed to his brother the information he had received from Alphonse.  Without those details, my message would cause my oldest to question my sanity.

The only other detail I mentioned in the message was that Thea owns a beautiful farm.  I was trying to instill some enthusiasm into the Tokyo crowd.  I wanted the city dwellers to look forward to breathing fresh air during their visit to North America.

I was expecting a reply before long.  My sons would discuss the matter and their questions would be pertinent.  So, after receiving the details that would give them a comprehensive portrait of the situation, they would be delighted to welcome Thea into the family.

A few minutes after I had sent the e-mail, I got a phone call from Thea.

(To be continued)

(Continued from June 23)

“You will be able to make the salad bar display its capabilities in you usual smooth manner.”

“Thanks for your encouraging words.”

“I think that, in the future, you will be called upon to demonstrate more advanced robots.”

“My interpretation of your words is that I should be concentrating on determining which gadget I would like to demonstrate next.”

“You understood correctly.  Aunt Dorothy expects you to continue your proactive behavior.”

“Just to give my self-esteem an additional boost, remind me about the instances of proactive conduct on my part.”

“When you first started playing with the salad bar, it was just for fun; but, when you realized that the ladies were impressed, you increased your focus to achieve even greater smoothness.”

“If you have ambitions in the area of mindreading, you do have talent.  I did indeed redouble my efforts to impress the ladies even more.”

“I have known you for a long time; so, occasionally, I have a fairly good idea about what may be going through your mind.”

“What is your next example of proactive behavior?”

“The ladies were expecting you to take Sam out for a stroll and to make him duplicate some of the lingerie-bag moves.”

“I know that you would not have applauded me for copying that scenario.”

“You are right.  I was expecting you to show us your usual proactive tendencies.  Making Sam display some of his other skills, while doing repairs on your Mini, was a brilliant move.”

“Thank you for the praise, my friend; but, I feel compelled to point out that severing the Mini’s tailpipe was on the top of my things-to-do list.  Therefore, the idea of making Sam do it came to me effortlessly.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from June 20, 2010)

“Interesting development,” Alphonse said.  “You have often mentioned that you would like to make a bit of wine.  Obviously, you couldn’t possibly get a more favorable situation.”

“As I have explained to Thea, making wine from Zinfandel grapes is relatively easy.”

“Indeed, the high alcohol content means that you don’t have to resort to the use of chemicals.  Another advantage is that your grape vines are in a greenhouse.  If the North West summer turns out to be inclement, you have some control over heat provision.”

“Folks who make wine in apartments would be envious. On the farm, there is lots of room to manipulate equipment.”

“What about storage, do you have a cool place?”

“I haven’t seen it yet, but Thea mentioned a large cellar.  Apparently, the former owners used to produce cheese and butter, which needed to be kept cool.”

“I am looking forward to seeing the farm and your wine prospects.”

“When winemaking time rolls around, we will need your help.”

“Will that be a party kind of situation?”

“Very likely.  Elsie and Alice will be there as well.  Normally, wine from the preceding year is consumed.  Since we won’t have any, we can buy some Zinfandel wine and speculate how we will improve on that product.  By the way, how is the ailing bodyguard doing?  Is his convalescence progressing satisfactorily?”

“The latest information on him is that there was a slight complication, which has been dealt with.”

“What is the newest time estimate concerning his absence?”

“It will be at least three weeks before he will be able to return to his duties.”

“So, next week, you will be multitasking when we visit the robot factory.  The bodyguard will show the sales force how to demonstrate the various gadgets.”

“I am happy that the tour of the atelier will precede my performance with the salad bar.  Any additional knowledge about robots in general will help me.”

(To be continued)

.

(Continued from June 17, 2010)

“I am happy that our Zinfandel won’t have any chemicals in it.  Do all store-bought wines contain chemicals?”

“Most of them do.  Wineries use a chemical product to stop the fermentation, which brings about sediment.  Many wine drinkers don’t like the sight of sediment.”

“It is becoming obvious to me that certain folks may well need to have two different kinds of wine on hand,” Thea proclaimed.  “One kind, with chemicals and without sediment, to offer to clients or fussy visitors.  The wine that one drinks oneself can be syphoned off just before consumption.”

“Richard, in Tokyo, buys his wine at Costco.  He has found there a Chilean brand that contains sediment in each bottle.  When I have dinner at his place, it is the Chilean wine that he serves.  The sediment comes out in clumps, which, we tell each other, is prove that the wine is as old as the label claims.”

During the short ride from the shopping center to the place, near my apartment, where Thea dropped me off, she requested that I provide a few more details about Richard and his family.

Upon entering the front room of my condo, I noticed the blinking light of the answering machine.  There was a message from Alphonse.  He requested to be contacted immediately and he underlined the urgency by supplying his cell number.

It was the development that I had hoped for.  Alphonse would be waiting for my call.  It often wasn’t easy to contact him during the day.  He seemed to prefer the space of his Mini to that of his apartment.  Furthermore, recently, he had frequently left his cell at home.  “The money I save, by not being subjected to unnecessary chatting on my cell, buys the fuel for my Mini,” he asserted with a chuckle of satisfaction.

I did not have a cell phone, a situation that was about to change.  “I supply all the volunteers with cell phones,” Thea had told me.  “Aunt Dorothy’s accountant made an agreement with a telephone company.  Volume buying really does work out well.”

The contact with Alphonse was immediate.  “Where have you been all afternoon?” my young friend wanted to know.

I explained about the time spent on the farm and I briefly mentioned the winemaking store.  I then realized that he would definitely want to know the purpose of our stopping off at the shop.  So, I told him about Thea’s wonderful Zinfandel grapes.

(To be continued)

.

.

(Continued from June 14, 2010)

“As you might expect, Alphonse is very handy with tools.  So, he’ll construct the stand while you girls are doing the initial pressing.  Is there some lumber on the farm?”

“Yes, there is a shed that has all sorts of pieces of wood in it.”

In the winemaking store, along the far wall, there was a row of glass jugs filled with fermenting wine.  In noted that the jugs had been arranged in order of progression, which would allow me to show Thea the various kinds of action in the fermentation locks.

There were a good number of clients in the store; so, when a clerk came forward to assist us, I told him that we were familiar with the winemaking procedure.  Since we wouldn’t buy anything that day, I didn’t want to waste his time.  Furthermore, I would enjoy explaining details about winemaking to my daughter.

They were all ten-gallon jugs and most of them contained red wine.  The most recent addition was on the very right.

“In the spring, one doesn’t expect to find wine in the first stage of fermentation,” Thea remarked.

“They used concentrate, not fresh grapes, for these.”

“So, concentrate is available any time of the year,” I presume.

“Yes, but winemaking from concentrate is not so simple. It involves what you referred to as ‘fiddling with measuring cups.’  I would not be interested in working with chemicals.”

“I agree with you.  We will be patient and wait for our Zinfandel grapes to ripen.”

Thea and I walked over to the jug in which the wildest fermentation was occurring.  The wine was full of tiny ascending bubbles and the small hood, inside the fermentation lock, was bobbing up and down at full speed.

“I can clearly see that the bubbles of gas can easily escape and that no air can enter through the fermentation locks.  They are simple but effective contraptions.”

The fermentation lock on the middle jug showed moderate action.  A bubble came up every ten seconds.  To see an escaping bell of gas in the one to the left, we had to wait forty seconds.

(To be continued)

.

(Continued from June 11, 2010)

As we were walking toward the Audi, I remarked: “When I get home, I will sit down in front of my computer and write a lengthy e-mail to my sons in Tokyo.  There have been a number of very interesting developments.”

“How will they react to getting a sister in this advanced stage of their life?”

“They will undoubtedly react positively.  There has often been talk about the fact that a sisterly point of view would be beneficial.  Furthermore, in addition to my rendition of your good qualities, there will be a mighty favorable description of them by Alphonse.”

“How well do your sons know Alphonse?” Thea wanted to know.

“My youngest, Richard, is best friends with the big guy.  I imagine that the two have already been communicating.  I noticed that there are all sorts of computers in the boardroom.”

“What makes you so sure that Alphonse will talk positively about me?”

“It is mainly because of you that he finds himself in a great situation.  A day or so before, he was unemployed.”

“It was rather a one-thing-led-to-another kind of progression that caused Aunt Dorothy to form such a favorable opinion of Alphonse.”

After some more enjoyable kibitzing concerning who was most responsible for Alphonse’s enviable position, Thea determined that it was I.  She reasoned: “By making your young friend part of the Bob affaire, you started the chain of events.”

We were approaching the shopping center with the wine store.  So, the conversation reverted to our winemaking ambitions.

“I forgot to show you the big cellar where the former owners used to keep their butter and cheese cool.  That might be the ideal place to store the wine,” Thea said.

“Even without seeing it I am pretty well convinced that you have hit upon a splendid place.  Is there a floor drain in that cellar?”

“Yes, there must be one because I have seen them clean the floor with a hose.”

“We will have to build a stand on which to place the barrels so that we can manipulate them more easily.  Also, elevation is necessary for syphoning.”

(To be continued)

.

.

(Continued from June 08, 2010)

“He is extremely happy here.  In the Dakotas, there was not much that could be done in winter and he used to get bored.  Our mild winters allow him to putter around outside on the farm as well as work in the greenhouse.”

“Does he have relatives who live in the North West?”

“No, his children and grandchildren live in North and South Dakota, but they visit periodically.  He is fond of saying: ‘Since I am able to bank pretty well all my pension money, I can show my children and grandchildren a really good time when they visit me.’  Last Christmas, they all came west for a week.”

“Did they stay at the farm?”

“No, the old gentleman had made arrangements with a nearby hotel.  He had rented three luxury suites.  I couldn’t believe my ears when he mentioned the bargain price that he had been able to obtain.  He has an interesting way of haggling.  That talent also benefits my organization.  He gets seeds, plants and tools at very low prices.”

“He appears to be a really interesting gentleman.  Therefore, I venture to guess that pretty well all the volunteers are his friends.”

“That is correct.  At lunchtime, he usually consumes his meal in the company of a few volunteers; and, when he wants to go into town, one of them will drive him there and arrange for his pick-up later.”

“I take it that he does not have a driver’s license.”

“His Dakota license has expired and he does not want to go through the bother of obtaining one here.  Also, he does not consider himself capable of driving in the dark.  Apparently, his night vision is poor.”

“I am assuming that his relatives drive back and forth in their vehicles.”

“Yes, with whole families, that usually turns out to be a lot more convenient and more reasonable than flying, especially at Christmas time.”

“In that respect, your field manager has a bit better set-up than I have with my children and grandchildren in Japan.”

“On the other hand, you have the opportunity to experience and learn about an interesting culture when you go to visit them.  I am looking forward to accompanying you on your next trip there.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from June 05, 2010)

“Do you take any precautionary measures if stronger than average frost is forecasted?”

“Yes, we cover the carrots with straw.  We always have some bales ready in the shed and the field manager can depend on assistance from a number of volunteers.”

“In the summertime, your fields provide you with a much greater variety of vegetables than in the wintertime.”

“We supplement our North West winter yield with produce from southern California.  We have made an arrangement with an organic farm there.  They furnish us with vegetables at their cost.  They are fully aware of the charitable nature of our organization.  They usually visit us a few times during the year.”

The rain had stopped and the sun had come from behind the clouds; so, we walked into the field to view the small remaining patch of carrots.  Because of the exceptionally mild winter, the use of straw had not been necessary.

“During the next couple of weeks, we will have to dig up those carrots.  Very soon they’ll start growing again and the new foliage takes nutrition away from the roots.”

“What about the new growth on the kale stems?”

“That is an entirely different situation,” Thea responded with a laugh.  “The small and tender new leaves are great in the salad; and, since we don’t eat the stalks, we are not worried about the loss of nutrition in them.”

“The fields look very organized.  You must have a very good manager.”

“The gentleman in charge is a retired gardener who came west from the Dakotas.  He was attracted by our much milder North West climate.  We have made an interesting agreement with him.  He lives in the farmhouse for free and he gets his three meals a day.”

“So, his part of the bargain is that he organizes and oversees the work to be done by the volunteers.  Is that correct?”

“Yes, and he is very good at coordinating activities that need to be done.  One could say that his background prepared him for this position.  He used to be head gardener in a cloister.  In addition to a farm, there was a large ornamental garden to be kept in good condition.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from June 02, 2010)

“Rum or whiskey, eh.  That is interesting.  And, they would be better than new barrels?”

“Seasoned winemakers will shy away from so-called new barrels for a number of good reasons.”

“Your are implying that they are not really new.”

“Many of the barrels that are available in winemaking stores have been renovated.   All of the ones in the store near me are like that.  Only the metal hoops are new.  The wooden staves have been planed on the outside to make them appear new.”

“However, we won’t be able to see all of the inside.”

“You have just pinpointed the big problem.  Bad bacteria from previous wine may be inside.  It is much simpler to decide on rum or whiskey barrels with strong liquor soaked into the wood.”

“Hopefully the liquor barrels will be available.”

“We will have plenty of time to get good barrels as well as other equipment and gadgets before wine making season rolls around.  It is early spring and the pale-green leaves are just starting to show on the vines.”

We turned our attention to the midsection.  At a height of 90 cm, there was a table of about a meter and a half wide.  It extended the full length of the greenhouse.  Flats with small seedlings occupied the entire surface.

“Those tiny plants will be transplanted as soon as the soil becomes warm enough outside,” Thea explained.

We walked to the end of the table and around it to gain access to the right side of the greenhouse.  A table that was the same height as the one in the middle and about 70 cm wide stretched all along that side.  A bit less than half of its surface was taken up by various kinds of herbs.  Tomato plants filled the remainder of the space.

“In this temperate climate, which vegetables are hardy enough for the winter time?”

“We cultivate large quantities of kale, Brussels sprouts and leaks, which survive nicely even in cold winters.  When mild temperatures prevail, here in the North West, various kinds of cabbages also survive quite well.  Furthermore, we leave our carrots in the ground in the best-drained, sort of sandy, parts of the fields.”

(To be continued)

.

(Continued from May 30, 2010)

“So, after cleaning that jug, we will have enough room to syphon off barrel number two.  A little bit more than half will go into the jug and the remaining wine will go into barrel number one,” Thea reasoned.

“We will top up that barrel with juice from the second five-gallon jug.”

“And after we clean barrel number two, the remainder of wine from jug number two will be syphoned into it,” Thea observed with a chuckle.

“The wine from barrel number one, stored in temporary containers, should then go into barrel number two as quickly as possible.  Mind you, it should be fine because, as expert wine makers, we will have covered the containers carefully.”

“In this kind of scenario, I wonder how much juice would be left for topping up.”

“Anything more than two gallons would surprise me.  We would have washed away a lot of sediment.”

“Therefore, it appears that we just rehearsed the logistics pertaining to a small yield of grapes,” Thea concluded.  “During the next months, with moderate fermentation continuing, quite a bit more sediment would form and the two gallons wouldn’t be sufficient to replace that.”

“We would already be down to less than 25 gallons and the gasses that escape daily through the fermentation locks would contribute to a further reduction.”

“I am curious about the functioning of a fermentation lock.”

“Later, when you drive me home, we can stop off at the shopping center near my place.  There is a wine store in that complex.  We will be able to have a look at some other equipment and gadgets as well.  They have a good selection.”

“Are their prices reasonable?”

“For small items, like fermentation locks, that store will be alright.  However, we will probably be able to buy the crusher and the winepress secondhand, for next to nothing.  People who have to purchase grapes often make wine only once.”

“What about barrels?”

“Expert wine makers say that the best barrels have previously been used for rum or whiskey.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from May 27, 2010)

Thea wanted to know details regarding sediment removal.  So, I explained to her that, around Christmas time, we would syphon the wine from the top and clean the barrels and the glass jug.

“I can already appreciate that ten-gallon barrels would be a lot more convenient than one twenty-five gallon monster,” Thea said.  “Ten gallons of wine can easily be stored temporarily in relatively small containers while we clean barrel number one.  What are the subsequent logistics?”

“At this point, I need to backtrack a bit because I neglected to discuss the ‘surplus’ juice, of which we may have as much as ten gallons.  To be prepared for that possibility, we should probably purchase two five-gallon glass jugs.”

“Why such a large amount of extra wine?” Thea inquired.

“First of all, keep in mind that 27 gallons was only an estimate; the true yield varies from year to year.  Furthermore, when the heavily fermenting wine is poured into the barrels, we won’t be able to fill them up to the top.  A considerable quantity would just spill over.  As the fermentation process becomes less violent, we will top up the barrels.”

“So, when ‘sediment removal’ time rolls around, five gallons or less may be available for topping up the barrels.  Is that correct?”

“If two weeks before Christmas there is none left in one-gallon jars and we would have to syphon off one of the five-gallon jugs, we will stop the topping up process.”

“What would be the logic of doing that?” My inquisitive daughter wanted to know.

“Five gallons of wine in one container will ferment much better than a one-gallon quantity.  As for the relatively small space on top of the barrels, it will be filled with gasses that are escaping from the wine below.  No air can enter because all containers will have fermentation locks on them.”

“Thanks for the in-depth background information.  Let’s go back now to ‘clean barrel number one.’  What will be our next move?”

“Let’s assume that we will actually have a five-gallon jug of ‘surplus’ wine, which would give us ten gallons altogether in glass containers.  Of course, the amount of clean juice would be less; a considerable layer of sediment would be clearly visible on the bottom of the jugs.  Anyway, we would syphon the pure liquid of one of the five-gallon jugs into the barrel.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from May 24, 2010)

“Making wine from grapes is not difficult; and, when the variety is Zinfandel, it is very easy,” I asserted.

“I know that grapes have yeast on their skins,” Thea said.  “Therefore, one doesn’t have to fiddle with measuring cups, as is the case with other fruits.  However, why is Zinfandel easier to handle than other varieties of grapes?”

“Zinfandel grapes have a high concentration of sugar, which will turn into alcohol during the fermentation process.   That high percentage of alcohol will prevent bad bacteria from affecting the flavor of the wine.  That is why my French friend mixed his backyard grapes with very sweet ones from North Africa.  He wanted to boost the alcohol content to avoid getting a wine that would become too vinegary.”

“We will have to get barrels and all sorts of equipment, I imagine.”

“We will need a grape crusher, a wine press, and an open-end barrel for the first stage of our operation.  Since we will have a relatively small amount of grapes, a manual crusher will do.  We can make use of Alphonse’s muscles for the crushing as well as for getting as much juice as possible out of the pulp.”

“Alice and Elsie will definitely want to participate.  So, we three girls won’t leave all the heavy work for Alphonse.”

“In the beginning, the manual wine press is fairly easy to operate.  At that time, you girls can take turns.  Later, when the heavy ratcheting needs to be done, Alphonse can apply his muscles.”

“What kind of equipment or devices do we need for the next stage?”

“If we have a sufficiently large quantity of juice, we can use a barrel.  Can you remember the number of kilos of Zinfandel that you harvested last fall?”

“We had about 400 pounds.  That would make how many kilos?  You are fond of the metric system, aren’t you?”

“Yes, my early European education is showing through again.  Anyway, to change pounds into kilos, we divide by 2.2.  That would roughly be about 180 kilos; and, according to my buddy in France, 17 kilos will get us about 10 liters of wine.  Therefore, 180 kilos would yield approximately 105 liters.  That is about 27 gallons, which will allow us to work with two ten-gallon barrels and a five-gallon glass jug.  When the time comes to remove the excessive sediment, one twenty-five gallon barrel would be much too cumbersome.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from May 21, 2010)

In response to my hyperbole about her great quantity of fruit trees, Thea exclaimed with a laugh: “Very interesting exaggeration!”  Then, pensively: “However, I may have the largest orchard in the county.”

“I imagine that pruning all those trees is an enormous task.”

“It is also very costly.  Two professionals spent a couple of months in the orchard this year.  There was a bit more work because the former owners did not get the pruning job done the previous year.”

“Is there a way of neutralizing that extra expense?”

“Aunt Dorothy’s accountant has suggested that I sell a portion of the fruit crop.  He had already contacted a reliable retailer.  Although I dislike diminishing the amount of fruit available for my charity, I will follow his advice.  Because of the economic downturn, the return on my investments has been reduced and I don’t want to incur a loss.”

“That accountant is an extremely valuable person for your organization.”

“He does my books and, day or night, he is available for any advice I may need.  And, he does it all for free.  He says that it is his way of contributing to charity.  He likes the idea of being able to witness charitable action in progress.”

We had entered the greenhouse and, within seconds, the earthy smell had a favorable effect on me.  It made me recall that, as a youth, I had spent many pleasant hours working in the flower business.  My employer was a nice gentleman who paid me reasonably good wages and the green house was nice and warm in the wintertime.

Grape vines occupied the entire left side of Thea’s greenhouse.  She explained to me that most of them were table grapes, but about a quarter of them were Zinfandel and therefore more suitable for making wine.  She said to me, in jest: “You are probably an expert wine maker.”

It so happened that I had experience in wine making.  A friend of mine in France made his own wine every autumn.  He had a number of vines in his backyard and he combined the yield from those with grapes from North Africa.  I participated in the wine making for three consecutive years.  So, I told my daughter: “I would not consider myself an expert, but I am familiar with all the details pertaining to turning your Zinfandel grapes into tasty wine.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from May 18, 2010)

Both the soup and the rest of our lunch were exceptionally flavorful. The use of salt had been minimized and a great variety of herbs had been added.  It was the kind of cooking that I had learned to love during my stay in France.  Thanks to some good friends, I had quickly discovered restaurants where salt was sparingly used.

I told Thea about the wonderful tastiness of the food that we had just consumed.  “Your cook knows a lot about the use of herbs,” I said.  “She has probably done a great deal of experimenting to determine which ones go together and the quantity of each herb that one should use.  Therefore, in my opinion, don’t change anything; don’t try to improve on perfection.”

We decided that we would have some ice cream “in a little while,” after doing a search for the inscription on the beam.  We procured a stepladder and the flashlight from the Audi and set to inspecting the massive timber.

To the left of the entrance door was a column that supported one end of the beam.  We chose to commence our search in that area.  Thea focused the shaft of light on the timber while I ascended the stepladder.  There was nothing on one side and the numbers on the other side were measurements.  So, we went to the far end of the beam.

When Thea shone the ray of light on the wood, even before I had ascended the ladder, I could see numbers and words.  I rose to within forty centimeters and read the inscription to Thea:  “From Ed Brown’s mill, March 1934.”

Satisfied about our accomplished mission, we were in a mood to enjoy our ice cream.  That day, the machine contained strawberry and vanilla, which allowed us to decide on a bi-flavored swirl.

At the big window, while we enjoyed our dessert, I told Thea about my curiosity regarding the width of the lengthy orchard.  “As soon as we have finished our sweet treat, we will take a walk along its front.  On a day when it is not raining, we will go and have a look at the great variety of fruit trees, which, I was told, are prospering because of the hilly terrain.  Apparently, they like well-drained soil.”

We paced the frontage of the orchard under an enormous umbrella.  There was no wind; so, the heavy drizzle came straight down on our slightly tilted canopy. The drip behind us fell well wide of our summer sneakers.

“The width of the orchard is about one hundred twenty meters,” I said to my daughter as we walked toward the shelter of the greenhouse.  “I would guess that more than half of the fruit trees in the entire county are on your farm.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from May 15, 2010)

During the early years of operation, the former owners of the farm had about a dozen dairy cows and most of the milk was used for the production of butter and cheese.  Therefore, they needed a very large kitchen.  That spaciousness turned out to be extremely beneficial for Thea’s purposes.  It made Aunt’s Dorothy’s accountant remark enthusiastically: “Many medium-sized restaurants would love to have that kind of room.”

The adjacent dining area rendered the vastness of the room even more impressive.  The end of a lengthy table had been placed against the sill of an enormous window.  There was a bench on either side from which one could enjoy the view of the undulating terrain.

“Twelve adults can sit here without feeling cramped,” Thea said.  “And, since it is all open space, an eye can be kept on the cooking in progress.  Also, the large surface of this table allows the volunteers to do the packaging while they are enjoying a snack or an ice-cream dessert.  Take note of the soft ice-cream machine beside the fridge.”

Thea walked to the cooking area to get our soup.  She realized that the cook was fully occupied with a number of dishes that she was preparing.  While I was alone at the table, I observed the ceiling beam that extended across the entire width of the room.  I imagined that it had been cut out of a fair-sized Douglas fir.  In the center was a supporting post.  Hooks, which served as coat hangers, had been screwed into it.  They had obviously been chosen to blend in with the natural color of the wood.

“I can see that you are admiring our rustic beam,” Thea said as she placed the soup bowls on the table.  “All men seem to be fascinated with its size.  It was a frequent conversation piece for the renovators.”

“Many decades ago, the main carpenter in charge of constructing a farmhouse would go to a local sawmill and choose the tree from which an important beam like this would be cut.  Often, there is an inscription somewhere in the corner of the beam; it gives the name of the mill and the year it was produced.”

“That is mighty fascinating,” Thea, exclaimed enthusiastically.  “After lunch, we can take a few minutes to inspect the beam.  I have a good flashlight in the Audi.”

During lunch, we admired the view from the window.  Right in front of it, a cultivated field stretched for at least half a kilometer down a gentle slope.  At the end of it was a stand of tall evergreens.  To the left of the field was a lengthy greenhouse, which was much bigger than what Thea’s casual indications had made me envision.  And, on the right was an orchard, which also appeared to extend as far as the lofty evergreens.  I was curious about its width.

(To be continued)

(Continued from May 12, 2010)

During the half-hour ride to the farm, Thea explained about the distribution of produce and fruit.  Rather than establishing a sort of food bank system, where one can pretend to be a needy person, my daughter and her late father had created a referral system.  People would point out genuinely needy families, often mentioning specific details and circumstances.

“Such clearly defined information would probably make an investigation unnecessary,” I remarked.

“That is correct.  We commence deliveries and our volunteers will, in a short period of time, learn a lot about the families.”

“The fact that you specify ‘needy families’ makes me think that your emphasis is on improving circumstances for children.  When there is a shortage of money, the meals are often not nutritious enough for the normal development of young bodies.”

“That is a very astute observation,” Thea said with a big smile.  “Our organic vegetables and fruits will supply all the necessary vitamins for kids.  In some instances, our volunteers will actually prepare the meals in the home.”

“I assume that you are referring to situations, where parents, because of illness or accidents, cannot perform household chores.”

“That is right.  Those situations occur and they present our volunteers with the opportunity to interact with kids.  For instance, they will teach youngsters how to prepare simple meals while observing all the safety rules.”

Related to the in-home preparation of meals, there was one more feature about which Thea was very enthusiastic.  Fairly recently, since she had become owner of the farm, my daughter had renovated the kitchen of the farmhouse.  The new equipment and appliances allowed the staff to prepare meals on the premises.  Those could then be delivered to persons who were incapable of doing their own cooking.

“We have developed a recipe for a tremendously tasty vegetable soup in which we use very little salt and a great variety of herbs.  Apparently, kids love our soup.  Incidentally, when I was in the main house with aunt, I phoned the main cook in the farmhouse.  I advised her that you and I would be having lunch there.  Since you are a great connoisseur of foods, I would like your opinion on the quality of our dishes.”

I told Thea that I would take my job as official taster very seriously.  If I would feel that there was a need for it, I would suggest improvements.

(To be continued)

(Continued from May 09, 2010)

“You two men can attend to getting Sam safe and sound into his shed while Thea and I go and look at some clothes that I bought recently.  Here are the key and the code number for the shed’s doors.  We will meet you in the boardroom in about fifteen minutes unless you will need more time.”

“Fifteen minutes will be plenty of time,” Alphonse replied while he directed Sam to pick up the piece of sawed-off tail pipe and to deposit it into the rear of the Mini.  Back to full size, the robot raised the vehicle’s backend again, allowing us to retrieve the wooden blocks.

Next, it was back to his shed at full speed for the robot.  Alphonse used the goggles to manipulate Sam directly into the middle of his circle.  After we had locked the doors, my young friend checked his watch.  Eight minutes had passed since the ladies had left for the main house.

“You really gave that robot a good workout,” I remarked as we strolled toward the boardroom.

“As you are well aware, I like to test the limits of machines and equipment.  When the need arises to make them function at full capacity, one should be informed about those limits.”

When we reached the steps that led to the boardroom’s entrance, we could see the ladies exiting from the main residence’s front door.  We waited for them outside, as Thea and I would be departing soon.

Aunt Dorothy and Alphonse accompanied us to the Audi; and, after a few minutes of small talk, my daughter and I departed.  My young friend jogged to the gate. While he opened it, he shouted: “Have a good time at the farm.  I am looking forward to paying you a visit there soon.”

Shortly after her dad had passed away, Thea had been presented with the opportunity to purchase a very interesting organic farm at an extremely reasonable price.  Because of their advanced age, the owners deemed themselves no longer capable of operating the enterprise; and, since Tea and her father, for years, had purchased the bulk of the produce and fruit for charitable purposes, she was given first refusal.  Aunt Dorothy’s accountant advised her to take advantage of the opportunity.  So, Thea became the owner of a farm.

My daughter was eager to involve me in her world; and, because the farm was a very big part of that, we had decided to venture out into the countryside that very day.

(To be continued)

Thea’s organic farm for charity purposes

At that point in time, Alphonse realized that his spectators might be somewhat puzzled about the project in progress; so, he explained: “According to the manual, the blade that is presently in the cordless will easily cut through steel piping.  Well, my exhaust pipe is rusted through and held up with wire.  Using the goggles, I will be able to do a precision job in cutting it exactly in the right spot.”

Without further ado, Alphonse shrank the robot to its lowest position and made him move under the Mini.  My young friend then stretched out on the tarpaulin; and, with the use of the goggles, was obviously able to find, with ease, the most appropriate place for the severing process.  For, within seconds, we heard a few strokes of the blade and the “clang” as the metal hit the pavement.

Ominous clouds had appeared in the sky.  Therefore, Aunt Dorothy advised Alphonse to get the robot to his shed.  “You made Sam perform marvelously,” she added with a smile.

“We will schedule the visit to the atelier for early next week,” Aunt Dorothy said pensively.  “Then, at the board meeting a few days later, Alphonse will be even more informed and ready to impress the board members.”

Alphonse listened to aunt Dorothy’s comments with an impassive expression.  Her high expectations obviously did not affect him adversely.  I knew that he would perform admirably.  On a number of previous occasions, I had seen him shine on center stage.

While he studied the instructions for the use of the remote, Alphonse was thinking aloud: “I must keep in mind that Sam’s cousins are much more advanced.  Therefore, if I notice a response that appears to need improvement, there is a good likelihood that the adjustment has already been made.  Nevertheless, I will make a note of any area where I would like to see betterment.  Then, when we visit the workshop, I will check on the cousins’ advancement in those areas.”

(Continued from May 06, 2010)

The ladies and I kept pace with Sam by walking briskly.  After about fifteen meters, the robot came to a sudden halt.  We turned around to look at Alphonse, who had remained near the shed.  He shouted: “I am going to experiment with the goggles.  Please, stay clear of my field of vision.”

Sam resumed his jaunt–again at fast speed.  About one meter from the Mini’s rear bumper, he stopped.  Then, seconds after Alphonse had plugged in the cord for the goggles, the robot’s arms moved to a horizontal position and Sam very slowly advanced toward the automobile.  A slight adjustment during the approach allowed the arms to slip neatly under the steel bumper.

Alphonse walked toward us proclaiming: “According to the manual, Sam is quite strong.  So, I’ll get him to lift up the back of the Mini.  By means of hydraulic cylinders in the ‘legs,’ he will be able to raise it about fifty centimeters.”

While he spoke, Alphonse opened his hatch, took out two twelve-by-twelve centimeters thick wooden blocks and explained:  “In an upright position, these are about forty-five centimeters; so, they should fit neatly under the bumper.  After lowering the car on them, Sam will be able to attend to other duties.”

The project panned out as Alphonse had planned it.  Sam readily lifted the Mini’s rear end to fifty plus centimeters, allowing the easy placement of the wooden blocks.

Next, my young friend spread a tarpaulin on the blacktop behind the Mini and sat down on it.  He then directed the robot to take a certain jigsaw blade from his breast pocket and insert it in the cordless.

At that point in time, Alphonse realized that his spectators might be somewhat puzzled about the project in progress; so, he explained: “According to the manual, the blade that is presently in the cordless will easily cut through steel piping.  Well, my exhaust pipe is rusted through and held up with wire.  Using the goggles, I will be able to do a precision job in cutting it exactly in the right spot.”

Without further ado, Alphonse shrank the robot to its lowest position and made him move under the Mini.  My young friend then stretched out on the tarpaulin; and, with the use of the goggles, was obviously able to find, with ease, the most appropriate place for the severing process.  For, within seconds, we heard a few strokes of the blade and the “clang” as the metal hit the pavement.

Ominous clouds had appeared in the sky.  Therefore, Aunt Dorothy advised Alphonse to get the robot to his shed.  “You made Sam perform marvelously,” she added with a smile.

(To be continued)

(Continued from May 03, 2010)

“We will schedule the visit to the atelier for early next week,” Aunt Dorothy said pensively.  “Then, at the board meeting a few days later, Alphonse will be even more informed and ready to impress the board members.”

Alphonse listened to aunt Dorothy’s comments with an impassive expression.  Her high expectations obviously did not affect him adversely.  I knew that he would perform admirably.  On a number of previous occasions, I had seen him shine on center stage.

My young friend had removed the electric cords that had attached Sam to the battery recharger.  Then, very slowly, he manually turned the robot around so that he was facing the doors and said: “It would be best if all of you stand behind Sam. The buttons on the remote may be very responsive.  My fingers may have to adapt very quickly to applying the right amount of pressure.  Otherwise, Sam might sense that his usual master is not at the controls,” he added jokingly.

“I am assuming that you have several different speeds,” I remarked.

“That is a correct assumption,” Alphonse replied.  “There are three separate buttons—slow, medium and fast.  In addition, I have five knobs to adjust direction.”

“Really?” Thea questioned.  “Beside ‘straight ahead’ or ‘left’ or ‘right’ what else is there?”

“I also have ‘extreme left’ and ‘extreme right.’  And, there is a note in the manual that cautions against attempting the extreme course directions at fast speed.  I like the terminology they are using; they talk about the little fellow ‘losing his footing,’ as would a dancer or a skater.”

Alphonse made Sam move out of his shed at low speed and, he thought, straight ahead.  However, the robot gradually started turning toward the big shade tree.  “Something is not functioning correctly,” my young friend grumbled.  “I did press the ‘straight ahead’ knob.”  Then, after a closer inspection of the remote, he asserted: “Ah, I just figured it out.  The ‘right’ button was still down; it needed to be pressed to pop up.  So, now I have to push ‘left’ if I don’t want Sam to hit the big tree.”

The ladies were visibly as pleased as I was with Alphonse’s running commentary.  He wanted us to be an integral part of an experience that he enjoyed immensely.

By using the “left” button, Alphonse was able to correct Sam’s direction.  Having done so, he pressed “straight ahead” and “fast.”  The robot sped forward toward the big open space, where the Austin Mini was parked.

(To be continued)

Seconds after Thea finished her discourse in praise of her adopted brother, he walked in, sat down and exclaimed: “That gate is a marvel; it moves swiftly and noiselessly.”  Alphonse then explained, with a chuckle: “As my long-time friend is well aware, I have an idiosyncrasy pertaining to malfunctioning doors, gates, windows, etc.  My former landlords profited from that hang-up.  In my rented apartments, I made all hanging and sliding objects smooth-functioning.”

“On the topic of smooth-functioning objects, I have a suggestion,” Aunt Dorothy asserted.  “Seeing that, at the moment, the weather is beautiful and the forecast for this afternoon is not so good, now is the right time for Alphonse to familiarize himself with Sam.  There are general directions about the use of the remote in the back of the manual.  While you peruse those, I will get the master key for Sam’s shed.  I have no idea where the guard keeps his copy.”

While he studied the instructions for the use of the remote, Alphonse was thinking aloud: “I must keep in mind that Sam’s cousins are much more advanced.  Therefore, if I notice a response that appears to need improvement, there is a good likelihood that the adjustment has already been made.  Nevertheless, I will make a note of any area where I would like to see betterment.  Then, when we visit the workshop, I will check on the cousins’ advancement in those areas.”

I had a feeling that Alphonse would make the contraption move at top speed within a short period of time.  It was a talent that my young friend had displayed on numerous occasions, well before he got his hands on the Sophia remote.

(To be continued)

(Continued from April 30, 2010)

Thea and I started walking toward the exit and Alphonse, relying on his peripheral vision, followed us.  He was audibly uttering, again and again, a technical phrase—as one does for the purpose of increasing comprehension.  That was followed by: “Ah, I have got it.  I now know what they are trying to say.”

My daughter and I walked leisurely toward Sam’s shed with my young friend about ten steps behind us.  We did not go right up to the imposing structure because an enormous tree threw its shade on and all around the shed.  We preferred waiting in the sunshine until aunt Dorothy arrived, which would be within minutes as we observed her exiting from the main house.

After the outside door had swung open, we entered into a small antechamber where a second solid door barred our way.  Aunt Dorothy opened that one with a numerical code.  The wrong code would set off a siren.

For those of us who had never before entered the robots’ dwelling place, two white circles caught our attention first.  Sam occupied the one on the right; the one on the left was empty.  When aunt Dorothy flicked on a second light, a workbench took on prominence.  It stretched all along one wall and many parts and tools were scattered on its surface.

As she pointed at the oil-covered items, aunt said, with a laugh: “That used to be Agnes.  She was one of our first prototypes.  Compared to Sam, who appeared on the scene less than a year later, Agnes was quite clumsy.  Seeing that the designers’ workshop did not want her back, the guard dismantled her.  He reasoned: ‘If I can learn something about the way her different parts interact, I may be able to transfer that knowledge to running Sam more easily.’  The CTO at the workshop didn’t think that the guard would gain much transferable wisdom in the process; but, he admired his enthusiasm for wanting to make Sam function as well as possible.”

“As you pointed out, Agnes was not at all satisfactory from an engineer’s point of view,” Alphonse responded.  “Therefore, the technicians probably had a few brainstorming sessions and they decided to abandon completely the method they had previously employed.  Their trial-and-error experience had taught them that an entirely new procedure was necessary.”

“That is an excellent assessment,” a broadly smiling aunt Dorothy asserted.  “It sounds eerily similar to what the CTO told the board at the time.”

“Judging by clever Sam, I would say that their new direction is a success,” I observed.  “And, I am really looking forward to seeing his even more advanced cousins in action.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from April 27, 2010)

While Alphonse had gone to manipulate the controls for the massive gate, the two ladies and I remained at the table.  They were finishing their coffee and I enjoyed my second cup of tea.  After silently observing Alphonse’s automatic response to his first call of duty as a bodyguard, Aunt Dorothy exclaimed: “Amazing!”

“He had anticipated the office ladies’ departure,” I commented.  “This morning, before breakfast, he was perusing the bodyguard’s manual.”

“This is a wonderful way of hiring a new employee,” aunt Dorothy remarked.  “It is much more realistic than scrutinizing resumes, which often contain untrue or grossly exaggerated assertions.  For that reason, all those new workers undergo an initial three-months probation period.  A clause in the contract stipulates that a position can be terminated immediately during that time.  Of course, to protect the good reputation of our company, we don’t fire a worker for frivolous reasons.”

“Apparently, it is not unusual that agreements are made between workers and former bosses,” Thea pointed out.  “Acceptance of an immediate termination is rewarded with a favorable work report.  Sometimes, the supposed duration of employment is lengthened excessively.  With Alphonse, there has been no exaggerated praise from former employers.  Instead, we have been treated to a display of pretty positive actions.”

Seconds after Thea finished her discourse in praise of her adopted brother, he walked in, sat down and exclaimed: “That gate is a marvel; it moves swiftly and noiselessly.”  Alphonse then explained, with a chuckle: “As my long-time friend is well aware, I have an idiosyncrasy pertaining to malfunctioning doors, gates, windows, etc.  My former landlords profited from that hang-up.  In my rented apartments, I made all hanging and sliding objects smooth-functioning.”

“On the topic of smooth-functioning objects, I have a suggestion,” Aunt Dorothy asserted.  “Seeing that, at the moment, the weather is beautiful and the forecast for this afternoon is not so good, now is the right time for Alphonse to familiarize himself with Sam.  There are general directions about the use of the remote in the back of the manual.  While you peruse those, I will get the master key for Sam’s shed.  I have no idea where the guard keeps his copy.”

While he studied the instructions for the use of the remote, Alphonse was thinking aloud: “I must keep in mind that Sam’s cousins are much more advanced.  Therefore, if I notice a response that appears to need improvement, there is a good likelihood that the adjustment has already been made.  Nevertheless, I will make a note of any area where I would like to see betterment.  Then, when we visit the workshop, I will check on the cousins’ advancement in those areas.”

(To be continued)

(Continued from April 24, 2010)

The general consensus among us was that the chef’s omelets were delicious.  They were solid and lightly browned on the outside and slightly runny on the inside.  However, concerning those tasty creations, there was another detail that Elsie indirectly clarified: “Although one of these constitutes a complete meal for modest eaters, I will indulge in a second one.”  Everyone else followed her example.

Halfway through the second round of omelets, aunt Dorothy casually remarked: “The chef will also prepare a batch of his renowned pancakes.  They are very light and fluffy and contain chunks of all kinds of fruits.”

That piece of information discouraged all but Alphonse from ordering a third omelet.  The server returned with a messaged from the chef written on the back of my young friend’s leaflet: “Would you like large, regular or small?”  Alphonse chose the regular size.

The large dish that contained the pancakes had four compartments.  For each one, there was a tag attached to a skewer indicating the kind of fruit used.  The covered dish was sitting on a warmer.  Therefore, the pancakes were consumed in a leisurely fashion, along with gulps of coffee or tea.

Because of the pleasant ambiance that had permeated the area around the breakfast table, Alice and Elsie were in no hurry to get up and run off to work.  They both had an understanding boss; and, since they very seldom arrived at work after nine, they were not worried about negative repercussions.

Thea did not have a job.  She lived comfortably from what her late father had bequeathed her.  Aunt Dorothy’s accountant had helped Thea invest the large insurance payout and he had reviewed the investments that her dad had made in the past.  My daughter spent a lot of her time engaged in charity work.

I had occasionally considered becoming involved with one or two charitable organizations, but negative reports about the large sums that some managers pocketed, had held me back.  However, times had changed for the better.  My daughter and her aunt were already connected with organizations that had been investigated thoroughly.  I would be able to lend them a hand in their efforts.

It was obvious that Alice and Elsie would have enjoyed remaining somewhat longer at the breakfast table.  However, as responsible employees, they did not want their tardiness to go beyond an hour.  So, they stood up from the table, fetched their belongings from the bedrooms and, after thanking Aunt Dorothy heartily, they walked toward the exit door.  Alphonse followed at a short distance. His manual had taught him that the gate needed to be opened and closed.

(To be continued)

(Continued from April 21, 2010)

After cleaning my teeth, I checked on the number of covers on the bed.  On top of the sheet, there was a heavy woolen blanket; and, on top of that, a light spread.  Having determined that the room temperature was twenty-one degrees Celsius, I removed the thick blanket.

While I was carefully folding the large blanket, a feeling of extreme tiredness enveloped me.  It made me happy for it banished any lingering worry and it promised immediate restful slumber.  Not often am I blessed with such soothing sleep; nor, it appears, is the remainder of adult humanity.  Centuries ago, Shakespeare poetically referred to its unique magic as “…sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleeve of care.”

The next morning, the sound of distant clatter woke me up.  The digital clock on the nightstand informed me that it was six thirty.   I felt completely reenergized; and, since, the previous evening, seven had been bandied about as a good time for breakfast, I got up immediately.

I was the second guest to walk into the boardroom.  Alphonse was already sitting on a chair in front of his bedroom.  He was so focused on the contents of the bodyguard’s handbook, which aunt Dorothy had given him the previous evening, that he wasn’t aware of my presence until, almost in front of him, I observed: “I take it that you are considering the bodyguard’s rules and regulations as a hurdle to be crossed before you can get to the fun stuff.”

“You are right.  Although these details are quite interesting, I can’t wait to get my hands on robot Sam,” my young friend responded with a chuckle.

We could hear the girls moving about in their bedrooms.  Then, minutes later, aunt Dorothy and Thea walked in and the arrival of the hostess prompted the server to start setting the table.  She also placed, in front of each seat, a number of leaflets, which contained a list of fillings for the omelets that the chef would prepare.

On the top of the leaflet, in bold letters, was an advisement that was particularly pleasing for hungry folks: “You may want to try various different omelets.  For each one, please check the squares in front of the desired fillings.”

The hostess and all the guests were gathered around the table and the server brought jugs, containing a variety of fruit juices.  She then collected the leaflets for the first round of omelets and ten minutes later she placed the steaming dishes in front of us.  Aunt Dorothy, noticing our astonishment at the quick service, observed: “The chef has developed an extremely rapid routine.  So, for a small group, he can prepare them as fast as we can devour them.”

(To be continued)