Getting my roof redone. Crew came this morning and tore off the old roof. Another crew started putting new roof up, and sure enough, it starts raining. In September. In California. The first rain since about May. Fortunately, a light rain that quit right away, but a dribble got into my garage and wet two good Usagi comics on the floor. Damn. Clear now, thank goodness.

Now, workers of magic know that there are few more powerful spells for rain than removing your roof for repairs. It's worth about thirty car washings, and at least a hundred lawn waterings. It is a well-known fact that the ancient shamans used to dance with the smoke and feathers for rain, but later they would sneak off, lay their most expensive items on the floor of their hogans, and remove part of the roof.

There is great sorcery in common objects. The Spell of Extension Cord and Garden Hose is one that comes to mind. Drag such an object along, and if there is an obstruction an ant wouldn't trip on, it will become firmly stuck on it. Mountain climbers don't need nylon rope, they need extension cords. Throw one up on a sheer glass wall, and it will stick somewhere. Of course, the trick is, it never comes unstuck no matter how you rattle the cord.