Hey Roger,
We're waiting for the storm to clear so,we're out here about sixty miles south if Oahu. The storm should be subsiding by midnight.
Charlie Rudolf and his sister in law, Elsie ran that store and had two generations of customers. Families they "FRIGIDATED" to buy predominantly FRIGIDAIRE,Kitchen Aid,Maytag,Whirlpool, and JennAir. They gave me promo stuff, suites catalogs, promo pens,signs for my bedroom and appliance magazines. I gave then great business for decades and rode there,about twenty miles from my home every weekend or day off school. One night, I had gotten a flat on my bike and Charlie offered to throw it in his truck and take me home. We got there and he walked me up. My Dad came out,grabbed me by my neck and threw me inside the hours. After that happened, Charlie promised me I could come to his store abd hang out as long as I wanted abd let me sell appliances while there. We'd talkvahoptalk and speak f the history of many brands. They finally closed about half a year ago.Charlie died of cancer back in the late nineties and she ran that store.
Back around 1993,Rudolfs took Baltimore gas and Electric to court and won the case regarding utility companies selling to customers with poor credit that couldn't buy anything with a card but let them put it on their gas and Electric bill. It went national and the Supreme Court gave privately owned appliance dealers a real boost. However, the big boxes took over and they closed for good. I have many fondue memories. The funniest being that, on Topaz Rd., a couple who owned and ran a FRIGIDAIRE CION CLEAN CENTER on North Point Blvd. Right across from the A&P and the sewerage treatment plant that fed Back River where everyvodies shit was treated and the water filtered before it was sent back. On a hot, blustery day when theorizes blew,you'd smell the stink and try to get out of its path. Anyway,we're gonna rest a while then take up anchor and sail to Oahu. There, we'll go get a few supplies,party a little then sail back out. As long as we have access to internet,I'll try to keep in touch. The waves were peaking at around seventeen to twenty five feet. Not as severe as a while ago. We took in some but bailed it out enough then tipped and the rest went over. We were around 70° tilt. Just so you can understand, this is a trimaran. A sailboat with three sections held together with two rubber,perforated, trampoline like structures that lay flat and connect the three together. There's a big size galley where it can sleep ten. We,have a crew of seven and it's tight but comfortable enough to sleep,eat,or shit. I don't recommend going down there just to hang out. You will get seasick. Trust me. Been there,Done that,won't do it again. I stay where I'm comfortable and steer or guide the sail. We take turns so nobody gets bad calluses. That,meeting strangers who may or may not be homeless hut prefer being out in the rough. ANYBODY can wing it here without any living quarters. I know at least thirty homeless people whom I love and help out. I never give out money. I buy or catch food,cook it in a bonfire on the Bayfront and "POW". Thats what we say when it was so "UNO"which means one ate all of what they took. Gone.
I met a girl before we sailed. O was hanging out waiting for Mack to call and I was smoking some bad ass weed and rock n rolling. She asked for a hit and did not sound local. She was born in Taiwan, moved with her mom to Chicago, then,after graduation,became a paramedic and was on a six month visa here to train am no drivers here. She's leaving in a month and her apartment will be vacant. I want to get my own place and this may be it. It's safe,it's right smack dab downtown and has a nice view. Tour hundred fifty a month including g&e, water and you may have your own a/c. I told her we'll see each other before her leave. Take care and come see the paradise where I live now.