It's been a quiet week...almost too quiet. My visits to my favorite haunts have been unnervingly absent of my long-time "friend."

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Not at the Farmer's Market, where I got my knives sharpened. Not at Costco, where I make my weekly "I don't really need to be here, but I'm going to buy something anyway" visit. Even going to Walgreen's was a tranquil experience. To my surprise, there was not even a hint of my buddy Fast Eddie . He always has a knack of showing up at the oddest places at the oddest times. Not this week. It's been eerily serene...until it wasn't. I knew I was counting those chickens too early...

I went to the new Palestinian coffee shop in Mid City. Delicious. Expensive, but delish. I was taking a quick sip of my drip coffee (it had cardamon in it, which put it over the top!).…