Well chips falling as they would and cards dealt as they are, spoke to Feldstein again, per plan, and he laid out the results of his mysterious 'formula': two year lease, monthly rate hike to $1234.61 per month (no renovations, he was quick to add) which, while hardly the $800 per month prize it is now, remains miraculously within our budget. We will stay! And, as such, subject to great rejoicing. In fact, when I hung up the phone I danced a wild, ecstatic, silent victory jig right there on the spot. Agreed to his terms although I did, thinking quickly, mention our hope for a) a new stove ("If it doesn't work, we'll get it fixed.") and b) new paint to which he responded, "That's another $1000 I'm not prepared to give you." To which I responded, "Ok."
But the real excitement of the day came in the form of collecting $$ for Hernanito (still out on health leave). I had been thinking it was the wise + compassionate thing to do and today I suggested it to the café crowd and they wholeheartedly agreed but offered no volunteers to actually solicit the funds. So I made a heroic leap out of selfishness (away from selfishness) and accepted the responsibility. Spent ½ hour after work chasing + hounding and really the response was terrific, reaffirming – especially amongst the café crowd who almost universally donated $20 per unit to the cause. Chet, of course, was his usual reluctant self, wrinkling up his face and shaking his head like retreating from a distasteful odor. "I don't know," he said. "I've got real issues with this. Hernan has money. He has a house in Columbia, a business… for all I know he made thousands with his scrowming." But when he saw the #s and the response from others, he soon changed his tone and all but promised to come through on Saturday.