January  4, 2011

Dear Cyndy,

Happy New Year to you and Ned.

My memory has tricked me again in that I mistakenly thought I had answered your most recent letter.

Tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. Margaret and I will set out for another day trip to Nantucket. Two plumbers have made appointments, to look at my project, the first at noon, the second at 1:30. Nothing at all has been heard from the two plumbers whom I had previously asked to give me estimates for the work required to bring my plumbing "up to code." I'm not sure it's worth speculating why, if they're all looking for work, they should spurn getting involved. Perhaps my basic premise is correct: The system as it is now, functions reliably and will continue to do so for many years. If reason governed, the installation should be approved as is. Of course, reason doesn't govern. There's no cause to think that the Appeals Court decision has cured the inspector of his vindictiveness. He may well be discouraging his acolytes from cooperating. Obviously also,the plumbers whom I ask to "help" me have an economic interest in finding imperfections. The Inspector has been warned by the Court that his inspection must be one of "integrity and fairness", a challenge which may well be beyond his capacity. Even though I would never hint at such a thought, the plumbers understand that if they make proposals costing many thousands of dollars for remedies which ultimately prove to be unnecessary, they risk being charged with fraud. It's an interesting proposition, and far from resolved.

Meanwhile I have indulged in the purchase of the least expensive lap-top computer I could find. Reprogrammed with the Linux Debian Ubuntu operating system, it functions gloriously. Even with hundreds of books stored on the 250 Gigabyte hard drive, ninety-five percent of its memory remains available for other projects. It's a toy with which I will while away the four and a half hours (round trip) to be spent on the boat tomorrow.

Nathaniel's symphony concert on December 30, was again a flawless performance. He conducted first, Wagner's Siegried Idyll, then Beethoven's 4th symphony, and  as an encore, the (Lone Ranger) overture to Rossini's William Tell. The auditorium at the Senior Center was packed. My contribution, using elaborate electronic equipment which Klemens had previously acquired, was to make a digital recording of the music. During the Wagner Idyll, the computer stalled, but the sound of Beethoven and Rossini was preserved. 

Now that the days are beginning to get longer, spring cannot be far behind. Stay well, and give my best to Ned.

Jochen

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