Monthly Archives: September 2026

Exergasia (ex-er-ga’-si-a): Repetition of the same idea, changing either its words, its delivery, or the general treatment it is given. A method for amplification, variation, and explanation. As such, exergasia compares to the progymnasmata exercises (rudimentary exercises intended to prepare students of rhetoric for the creation and performance of complete practice orations).

There would be no more “free lunches” for me. “The Ricky Nelson Homeless Shelter” had closed its doors, gone belly up, bit the big one, gone kaput. It had been my lunchtime life-line for 12 years. That’s a lot of lunches. Now, the only free lunch in town was the Hare Krishna Temple: free bowl of rice and two cups of tea, no meat ever—a far cry from “Ricky Nelson’s” sumptuous feasts—flat-iron steak, a raw bar, Chicken Kiev, Greek style cheese cake, broiled halibut, sushi, imported beer, goat cheese Caesar’s salad, calamari, and much, much more.

I was turning into a stick from my one meal of the day: rice. I decided to start stealing food from Cliff’s—a combination gas station and convenience store. I’d go into the store and stuff something good in my pants, and then, nonchalantly leave Cliff’s like nothing happened!

In my first attempt, I learned that stuffing a slice of pizza down your pants is a bad idea, but not all bad ideas lead to totally bad outcomes.

My pants got all stained and the warm pizza in my pants made me want to poop. I had to run behind Cliff’s to let the dump go, out of the public eye. As I squatted there going number-two and eating my pizza, I noticed there was a women’s purse in the bushes to my right. It probably had been misplaced or even stolen.

When I was done, I grabbed the purse. It was green and had a big dirt smudge on the side. I tried rubbing off the dirt smudge, and the purse glowed, got warm and said “Congratulations. Your wishes are my commands.”

I dropped it. I was initially scared by the talking purse. But then, I remembered the story of “Aladdin’s Lamp.”: This guy found a lamp and was polishing it when a genie popped out and granted his wishes. There was no genie here, but the purse had offered to grant my wishes, just like Aladdin’s lamp. I thought for a minute. I told the purse, “I want to win the ‘New York Take Five’ scratch-off lotto $5,000 jackpot. But first, I wish for one dollar so I can go back in Cliff’s and buy the ticket.” A dollar bill popped out of the purse. I grabbed it, slung the purse over my shoulder, and went back into Cliff’s, bought the ticket, scratched it off, and won $5,000. While I was still in Cliff’s I asked purse to pay for the chips, Red Bull, and sour cream dip I had grabbed. The purse complied.

Now that I was rich, I needed to upgrade my homeless situation. I had my refrigerator box weather proofed, bought two white plastic lounge chairs, a twin mattress, a hibachi, and a solar powered refrigerator and radio.

I had had my eye on Dirty Mary for nearly a year: she was my neighbor. She was more than pretty, beautiful, or gorgeous. She was angelic. Now, I could invite her to “my place” for dinner. I asked and she agreed. I grilled a couple of pigeons on my hibachi. We drank our muscatel from cups and feasted on the pigeons, with one raw carrot each on the side. We got drunk, crawled into “my place,” and went wild.

Now, I rarely use my magic purse. Dirty Mary and I are happy with what we’ve got: food, shelter, and clothing. The last time I used the purse, I asked for a Ducati and two helmets. When winter come’s, I’m asking for shed for the Ducati, heat, and a snow blower.