Errands: Two Day Deal

Yesterday was errand day again. I hadn’t been out and about in the car since New Year’s Day, before the advent of the snow and brrrr cold weather. With today’s weather warnings, we can know in advance when the weather and roads will be bad, so we have a chance to get in the necessities to tide us over. If I don’t have to go out, I don’t. In addition my son called to see if I needed anything, but as it happened I didn't. I don’t see any point in getting out in the bitter cold and cleaning the snow or ice off the car if I’m not going anywhere. As the weather warms up and/or the sun comes out, I let the warmer temperatures do the job for me. The sun took off most of the snow on my car, plus I saw someone brush off some of it on the east side of the car! Much of the snow had melted on the west side.

The temperatures were in the thirties, there was no cold wind to contend with, and six stops had accumulated. Since one of those stops was the grocery store, I decided to cut the stops in half because that one alone tires me out. There was an open parking space in front of my villa, so I didn’t have to park at the curb, carry the bags in, and then find another space to park, down the block. I still have three more errands to do, so that means I have to go out again. The rest of the week is supposed to be even warmer than yesterday, so that’s good.

I’m grateful that I can still get out if, and when I want to, or need to. And for the fact, that in Missouri, we know the temperatures will change for the better. I’m also grateful for children who are willing to help if, or when I need them to.

Errands - Part Two: Temperatures are warmer, but damp cold. I went back out to try to finish the second half of the three erands I didn't do earlier this week. Meanwhile, three more jobs cropped up. While out today, I did two of the errands I didn't get done on my earlier foray, pushed back one task yet again, and did one of the newer things that had cropped up. So, I'm still three errands behind. Maybe no new things to do will pop up before I go out again, and on my next trip out I can cross the current three jobs off the list, and end up with zerio errands to do - until the cycle begins again.

Time Saved, Time Lost, Lesson Learned

Two weeks ago Monday I picked up several books from the library. Thinking ahead, I got a couple of more books than I thought I would read. It seems I outsmarted myself. My plan was to renew them online, saving myself a trip, and still have plenty of reading material until I was ready to take them back. They were due Monday of this week. Late afternoon, I went online, checked “All Books;” then checked "Renew all.” Up popped the message, “Can’t renew. Book has been requested.” That has never happened to me before in all the times I’ve renewed books here. When I did go to the library, I had several errands planned for that direction. I wasn’t ready to do that yet. I wanted to go to Dierberg’s, which is in the opposite direction, so I could replenish some of their deli foods. I didn’t feel like going anywhere yesterday, so put it off. Today, I thought I’d better get over there and drop off the books, so whoever was waiting for the one on request could have it.

I didn’t want to do all the errands I had planned today, but that would mean I would just have to make another trip that way soon. I decided I would go ahead and do all the errands in that direction anyway, and then on the way back, pass up my street, then on to Dierberg’s. When you don’t want to cook for just one person, it is nice to have some ready-cooked food on hand.

First I drove to the library. These were all right turns on the way out. Coming back, I made three left turns and two right turns to get back home. After I left the library, I stopped at the gas station to fill up my gas tank for the first time in just under a year, by me; and by anyone, for more than seven months. I had my son-in-law fill up the tank for me, when they were here at Christmas 08, so I could take advantage of the cheap gas price at that time. I didn’t think ithe price would stay that low very long. Today the gas was not cheap! Next I drove to City Hall to pick up “Blue Bags,” the city’s recycle bags for paper, plastics, cans, and bottles. Coming back, it was a straight shot down Mexico Road to Salt Lick to go to Dierberg’s, where I spent too much money. I left home just before 12 noon and got back home about 1:30 p.m. By that time I was ready for lunch, and then some.

When I turned in the books, I told the librarian, I had tried to renew that one book too, but couldn’t because it had been requested, so it was overdue a couple of days. After all that, as she checked in the book, she told me that it had been released from the request. Apparently another book had come in, or perhaps from another library. So, I wouldn’t have had to go in that direction after all today. I could have gone to Dierberg’s late morning, so the deli foods I wanted would be ready, and have done a more leisurely junket for all the other errands [no doubt more would have been added later] at another time. NEXT TIME, I’ll call and see if the book is still on request, so my conscience will rest easy, and I won't have to make an unnecessary trip.