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Monday, May. 6, 2024

9:06am EDT

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PORCH PONDERINGS

by QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #2198921

Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana

Well, hey there!
Welcome to Roundup, Montana! If it's a nice day, we'll sit a spell on my porch and talk awhile.

"All the resources we need are in the mind.” Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President of the United States of America.

Another quote I find interesting: "Creativity is intelligence having fun." Albert Einstein

What's on your mind today?

Signature for use by anyone nominated for a Quill Award in 2020

Signature for nominees of the 2019 Quill Awards

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Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Schnujo is Late to Lannister

Apr 28, 2024 at 7:30am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

I know carpal tunnel can be really bad. My friend's son has it really bad. At only 21, his hands were already numb because his dad wouldn't let him learn to drive so he couldn't go to the doctor and his dad wouldn't take him. He's finally moved out and learned to drive. His hands are better after he got a different job, but he's still got issues.

Have you tried learning to do speech-to-text? I hear it's quite a difficult transition for some folks, but once you get it, everything is a breeze after that. I keep meaning to take a series try at it. I did a few sentences one day, just to test it out, but didn't get too far. I need to really buckle down. It seems slower because the words don't appear on the screen as fast as when I type. But in the end, I can talk faster than I can type and I don't have to wait for it to catch up after ever sentence. lol I do need to figure out how much I can talk before it loses the thread, though.

But then, when writing fiction, I have to stop and think a lot, so it will probably be fine. lol I just need to do it enough that I feel comfortable not watching the screen anymore. I hear that's the real sticky point -- watching the words slowly appear as you are talking can be really distracting, so they recommend you don't do that. I will for a bit, just to get a feel for things and to satisfy my curiosity. But hopefully, if I take this seriously, I can let go of that need with practice and really get going.

Hmmm...I know I talk a lot. And I can talk while doing things I can't do when typing like getting dressed or making dinner or whatever. I wonder if I could actually finish a project through speech-to-text or if being bored sitting there typing isn't the real problem.

It's something to ponder and play with. Thank you! As usual, you've helped me with my writing YET AGAIN!

You're the best!

1 Like

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 28, 2024 at 1:37am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

schunujo I don't worry about NaNo or OctoPrep. I think that event is far enough in the future. I am bummed that I cannot garden this year. I've been typing and writing all this time with just one hand and three fingers so...

I am excited to get the pain level lessened. Then I found out from my daughter the other day that she suffers from carpal tunnel as well, but as is typical for her, she won't get it treated. The problem with that syndrome is if it gets too severe, you could actually lose total function of your hand. Now that is the worst case scenario of course. I am scared enough by that prospect, I'll endure a few more months of recovery pain to heal the problem.

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 28, 2024 at 1:32am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

Kåre Enga in Montana

When are you arriving back in Montana? And which airport? I'll be tied up for a few days after surgery. But I think once my husband goes back east to get our car, perhaps sometime in May we pray, I could make a road trip.

1 Like

Schnujo is Late to Lannister

Apr 25, 2024 at 7:13pm
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

Wow! You have so much going on!

I'm really sorry all of this is happening at the same time.

But I am super glad the doctor thinks he can fix you, even if you won't be good as new. But new things are too expensive anyway.

I'm certainly glad you'll be in much less (hopefully no) pain in the (hopefully not too distant) future!

I've also had times when a specialist told me I should have seen him sooner. Well, maybe if I hadn't been required to get a referral...

The surgery timing sounds pretty good with a 6-month recovery time. You'll be pushing it for NaNo, but I think you can do it. After all, I need my best cheerleader out there!

In truth, you have a big impact on my success in NaNo, but I could probably do it without you if I had to. Most importantly, I want YOU to be okay -- happy, healthy, and pain-free! If that means you miss a year of NaNo, so be it. YOU are more important.

QPdoll

Apr 25, 2024 at 6:00am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

and Kåre Enga in Montana

I hope you both can find transportation on Monday! Good luck to you!

Norma, it's good you have your surgery scheduled. I think you'll feel so much better with pain relief. My husband had carpal tunnel surgery and he is happy that his fingers don't go numb anymore.

Safe travels to you both!

1 Like

Kåre Enga in Montana

Apr 25, 2024 at 2:42am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

I don't have to explain my trip back to Montana as you get the picture.

I've been stressed for so long...

I can relax at the hostel and in Seoul airport.

Need to arrange a ride home though...

I assume you'll not be available.

1 Like

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 25, 2024 at 2:05am
In response to "Drama"

Elycia Lee ☮

Try cutting back your plants. Then try dusting them gently. They breathe through the surface of the leaves.
I found this on Google about rubber plants:
Water when the soil is almost completely dry. ...
Spray with a mister every few days, they like to keep their leaves moist.
Place in a bright room, but keep away from super sunny windows to avoid sunburn Between 15°C to 25°C is their optimum temperature.

Kåre Enga in Montana

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:50am
In response to "Drama"

I should be in Missoula May 1st. Chance of 20° or 70° ... sun, rain, snow, tornadoes, earthquake, Yellowstone blowing up?

Elycia Lee ☮

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:02am
In response to "Drama"

I never overwater them, but I think I'm underwatering them. The leaves are curling. When I put them out, their leaves burn. When I wipe them, lines appear on them... I really wanna start over, but I don't know how to... My rubber plants bottom stem leaves have dropped. Only the top is growing. For one of them, their baby leaf hasn't been growing for over 6 months now... Sounds like you've got quite the green finger there.

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:00am
In response to "Drama"

QPdoll

It was good to be out and work in the garden. We were both tired after, but that's okay. Digging in dirt always helps. There is always dirt in our lives. We have to dig up through it to get to the shining world on the other side.

1 Like

July 12, 2020 at 9:30pm

#987989

Heaven Help Us!

Greetings from the Porch in Montana this lovely Sunday night. The barometer is dropping and the clouds are gathering. Perhaps there is rain tonight.

I am taking time away from reading 'The Big Sky' by an old Montana author, A.B. Guthrie. This tale takes place back in the 1800's on a riverboat. But I'm sure it will end up somewhere West. Some characters just killed a 'buffler' and kept away wolves, cayutes, and Indians. All with two rifles you have to load with powder and balls. Hmm....braver than I. It is a slow read, dialogue is written the way people talked, and then you have French boatmen and backwoods men and mountain men....well, you get the picture. But it is worth a read to see how a good writer sets the scenes, tells a tale and gets you interested in characters.

Life is good here in Montana. Still no virus action here in Roundup. This week coming up will be the 2 week cut-off for the Rodeo, when everyone was worried that the virus would be imported by all those strangers. So far, nothing. All that angst. All that worry. I pray we keep being safe here in our little enclave.

I busied myself today with starting to clean a bit from our remodeling. Things are getting desperately dirty and making me nuts. So I figure I can start cleaning a bit, today it was kitchen window and curtains, a dining room window. Tomorrow perhaps dining room curtains. But the weather has a lot to do with my schedule. I'm pretty sure the curtains can't be dried in the dryer, so they have to hang outdoors.

I am going to make a sweet thing tomorrow. So tonight I pressed juice from key limes. Annoying to hand squeeze 20 key limes. I know, I can buy the juice already squeezed in a bottle. But isn't fresh always better? I like being the martyr. I have a nice recipe for key lime bars. But it calls for animal crackers for the crust. Hard to find, but I now have an outlet for them. So tomorrow - key lime bars.

Yesterday at the church potluck, first one since March, someone brought two Kool-aid pies. Ever had this? Weird. Cool-whip, sweetened condensed milk, kool-aid packet. That's it. Mix it and let it cool. Put it in a graham cracker crust. He made two - neon pink and neon blue. Strawberry and berry. I tried the blue and made a face and threw it away. I guess it's an acquired taste. Look it up on You-tube if you want the recipe. I won't do it.

Did anyone hear about the statement Don Lemon made on CNN? About Jesus not being perfect? Well, I am a Christian folks. I happen to believe there was only one perfect person, and that person was Jesus. He was the son of God. I take that on faith. I am appalled that someone like Don Lemon would have the nerve to say something like that. But then again, why should I be surprised at anything that happens any more? The world has gone absolutely, positively stark raving mad. I know what I believe, but you? I'm not so sure about you. This is the new normal and heaven help us, people. Heaven help us. Because we surely cannot help ourselves. We're proving that every day.

Keep calm, write on! So let it be written, so let it be done

Queen Norma Jean

1 Like • Comment

July 9, 2020 at 9:03pm

#987688

Traveling in the Green Kingdom

So it's been a busy few days here. Wednesday we do 'Meals on Wheels', and that takes up the mornings. I was looking forward to the meal - salmon patties. Then I get there, sorry - we changed the menu - sliced ham instead. Really? Uck - I don't eat pork. So I don't stay. Earlier I had a call from the lady in charge of SE Montana tourism. Oh - by the way, a representative is coming your way about 1PM to tour the museum. Can you take her in hand for me, show her around? Kind of short notice, but since I am a board member, sure thing. So I grab something to eat, and meet Megan at 1PM on my wonderful porch. Then we make the short walk across the street and tour the museum. That takes about 2 hours, since I have to explain everything to her. So I didn't get to church as usual. But when she left to go back to Billings, I did get to put in some time at the thrift store. We love our volunteer time there as a church group. We have a lot of fun doing that. Plus it's for a good cause. Then after that I rush home, find something to eat and then head out to Musselshell to our first play practice.

I have a part again this year, if you can call two small appearances on stage a part. But hey! I'll get a picture on the board and my name in the program, so there! And you know, I'll deliver those lines like nobody's business. I have to come on stage with a casserole, I play an elderly neighbor lady, find an even more elderly man dead with his head in a cake, accuse the grandchildren of murder then yell loudly as I leave for the police. And then I yell for the police again at the very end of the show! Hmmm....elderly lady. Type cast.....whatever. I choose not to believe that but I know that is probably what they think. But I've got some ideas about costume and voice already. So there. It'll be a good laugh.

But we did talk about how to do this. With the virus on everyone's mind, how to do the crowds we usually get at our matinee on Sunday, since we have a lot of elderly folks that don't want to drive in the dark. And how to do refreshments. No cookies on trays for everyone to breathe on and handle, and how to do a sit-down dinner like we usually do. And then how to seat everyone in our little theater. Blast this virus business. We pray all will be resolved somewhat by September.

Then today hubby and I decided to take a road trip. He is on a mission to find local, raw honey. I knew of a store near Moore, MT. That is West of Lewistown. But before we take off for that excursion, I had to meet the head of the Headstart program here in Roundup. She wants to have Headstart participate in the M.U.D. program in the fall. I am the chairperson for M.U.D. - the Musselshell Unity Drive. Think of United Way and you know what this is about. Our name is mud. Weird idea. But anyway, we needed to meet since she missed the sign-up drive last month. So I got to see what Headstart here is all about, she met me, she got the paperwork. Life is good. But before I met her, Denise is her name, I stopped by RSVP and said HEY to Shelly for a moment or two. So we chatted, then I had to go see Denise. So I stepped away from Shelly's desk. And suddenly the robot vacuum takes off and goes to where I was standing. Scares the bejesus out of me!!

Shelly comes around and says, "That's George." "You named your Roomba?" "Yeah, go back George!" Well, needless to say, that was just a little too weird. She was still fighting with the robot vacuum as I left.

As we drove through the green hills toward Lewistown and beyond, acres and acres, miles and miles of grass is being cut, mowed, and baled into hay. Those round iconic bales are everywhere. Then I saw a sign "Crystal Lake". It's in the Big Snowies. "Let's go there on the way back. We can go to Eddie's Corner, get something to eat and then go to the lake and eat." So we drive to Eddie's Corner. There's truck stop there, and an Amish store. Poor hubby, no bulk honey like he wants. I'm not sure he'll ever find what he wants. We did pass lots of bee hives in fields. Perhaps we need to get a bee hive and raise our own bees.

We get sandwiches, drinks, of course chippy things, and hubby needs chocolate then head back the way we just came. We take the turn. And start driving down the long dirt road. No signs, of course. We begin to second guess this decision. Aha! A truck ahead.

"Do you know - is this the way to Crystal Lake?" "I don't. I'm lost. I'm supposed to meet someone to drop off this baler." He indicates a big red machine attached to his truck. "But I don't know where I'm supposed to go." He's in worse shape than we are. We can turn on a dime. He can't. so we follow in his dust for a time. Then we lose him. Then another car. This one from Oregon. "Do you know where Crystal Lake is?" "That's where we're headed."

So we follow this car for another long drive up and down a dirt road, beautiful. Suddenly we see a sign. Finally going in the right direction. The road changes to blacktop at the forest service entrance and I suddenly understand why. 'Dear Lord Jesus protect me please.' I want to close my eyes but kind of want to see when my end comes. The road follows a ravine and my side of the car is suddenly a few hundred feet above a river and steadily rising. I lean toward hubby and want to crawl in his lap and suck my thumb.

But then it comes to a parking area and we pull in. Whew. That was close. We find a place to eat, because the hike to Crystal Lake is 6 miles in. I am not interested in driving further along the ravine. But after our lunch we do hike a bit along the little water, probably a creek. Lots of wildflowers. Beautiful. Green and lush.
But then we're back in the car and back along that ravine for the drive home. Next time we go, we'll do more research. Find an easier way in. Avoid the ravine. That's my plan, anyway.

Here and there and back again, all in the same day. I'm tired, not bad for an elderly lady, I guess.

Queen Norma Jean

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July 8, 2020 at 12:37am

#987528

Hail Storm

We stood on the porch this afternoon and watched a good old-fashioned thunderstorm, complete with a little bit of hail. Now you have to understand the deep psychological meaning of the hail watch in Roundup. Three years ago we had a hail storm that virtually destroyed every house and car in the town. Some are still repairing damage, and any car that was left outside and not repaired still shows dents. That storm lasted over half an hour and had hail balls as big as tennis balls. Our home suffered less than most, just a skylight in the kitchen blown out, roof damage and garage damage. Our Jeep was outside the garage, as there was remodeling supplies, yes, we were remodeling at that time also, in the garage. So the Jeep was dented and I think a mirror broken. Pretty minor, but the insurance considered it totaled. Incredible. Whatever, we now have a new vehicle, and were sure it was under cover today. I also was sure my vegetable garden was covered.

So it rained a bit, thundered a bit, and lightning some, and the hail came down. The hail measured about 1/2 inch, but didn't cover the ground like snow, and didn't break windows or shred screens. Whew! Thank God.

Another busy day..... We are getting a little closer to finishing the room remodel. Slow and steady progress. Someone decided to put plaster under the carpet right near the door. We figure on purpose. So now we are trying to decide why, and if it should stay, was it there to build up the floor? Or take it out. Hmmmmm. Hubby is putting outlets in the walls. We need to fix the hardwood floor, then refinish it.

Our lady from Musselshell came over with our fresh eggs. Her garden is now toast. They had a hailstorm yesterday. Musselshell is about 20 miles East of Roundup on Route 12. After Musselshell there is Melstone. Then further you'll find Ingomar, then quite a bit further is Forsythe, This part of SE Montana is flat and open and used to be big sheep country. There are still some ranches out that way. A whole lot of nothing meets your eyes as you drive. Ingomar has the 'Jersey Lily' - a small restaurant/bar. Pretty funky place. Then Forsythe is a biggish town on the Yellowstone River. The Milwaukee Railroad used to run through this part of Montana once upon a time, and you can still see the old rail bed in places.

Right before it stormed we walked up to the library. Our library is part of the high school. It has decent summer hours right now, but during school, we now have to abide by the school's hours. Something about security and safety. It is quite annoying to wait until after school to go there, or wait until the weekend to go during the day. But at least we still have a library so for that we are blessed.

I am trying to round up enough books to add to my reading list for my book club and for the reading activity here on writing.com. Can everyone remember not being able to read? I cannot. I cannot remember not reading. Books have always been a part of my life. My mother worked at the library in town.

So many books - so little time! So let's all write!

Queen Norma Jean

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July 6, 2020 at 1:41pm

#987380

Quiet at Last?

The porch is quiet now. We got up and about early. Hubby got an early start to stain wood to go in the remodeling project. I had an 8 AM meeting. Who decided that was a great time for a board meeting way back when? Oh well, the thrift store is going well. On the walk back, I notice some big pieces of wood stacked by the back of the museum. HMMM.... might make good closet doors. Marked free, old wood. Hubby comes over to see. He decides no, too heavy, won't work, well, I tried. But I know what will happen. He'll change his mind. And those large wooden door things will be gone.

I just found out this BLOG got 2nd place in the Bard's Hall Contest for June. Well, how about that! Thank you so much! I appreciate the support. I had fun writing about my little bit of heaven. It also spurred me to write more.

Yesterday I found out we start rehearsal this week for the community theater group I am a part of. My part last year was small, one of those with a line here, there, but lines that are hard to remember because they are here and there and so dependent on someone else remembering their lines. But I go for the fellowship and fun. And if you have never done theater, well, let me tell you it is the most fun. I first started in Ohio when I needed to get out and away from a caregiving situation. I needed an outlet for a few hours a week. It is creative, and even if you are shy, there is always something you can do. I found if I took my glasses off, I could deal with being on stage. Now it's not a problem. I even ham it up for the audience and love the interaction.

As hubby continued to take up carpet in the remodeling project room, he sees a spot near the door. "Oh no, look. Paint on the floor. That'll never come up." I looked at it. Hmmm.... "That does not look like paint." Sure enough. It is plaster, or spackling, or some such material. If you use a putty knife, it comes right up. So, a big problem all of a sudden becomes a minor irritation. You're welcome.

Time to take a walk. I need to check out a house near 8th Ave and 4th Street. We talked about it at the meeting. Reconnaisance. A need to secret mission. Then it will be time to think about our mid-day meal, off to church for another meeting, the radio show, a quick visit to the thrift store, then home for the night.

Tonight I pray will be quiet. Fireworks

are to be over by tonight. We'll see. Or the Queen may have to declare "Off with their heads!"

Queen Norma Jean

of everything Green in SE Montana

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July 5, 2020 at 6:24pm

#987318

Perfect Summer Afternoon

I just have to write from the porch this afternoon. What a glorious day!!!! It's about 80 degrees, a slight breeze, no humidity, a few clouds in the sky. The robin is singing. A dove is cooing in the tree next door. A firecracker sometimes pops nearby.

Earlier I got ready for a bike ride. I wandered to the back door. But I stopped short and looked. A deer was lying in the yard near our only tree. Ahhh... so cute. As I opened the door, she skittered away. But she looks bad, ribs showing. Must've been a bad winter for her. Then I go to the garage, get my bike, go around to the alley and......Low life scummy deer left a big line of diarrhea across our concrete driveway. Ooooh ick pooh. Now when I get back I'll have to clean up that mess. So much for lovely little Bambi.

My bike ride took me down to the fairgrounds where people were still camping, leftovers from the rodeo yesterday. I petted a few horses. Biked on over to the thrift store where I volunteer, sorted a few boxes. I try to do that on Sunday mornings. Then I rode home and we had lunch on the porch. And wouldn't you know it, that same scamp of a deer is out munching on my wildflowers out front! Salad bar - she is thinking. So we shoo her away.
Then we see her again, this time with another doe and a small buck at the corner house up the street. This time I tell hubby, get out the bear spray, try that. So he gave them a spray. Now they are headed north to terrorize more neighbors and eat their flowers.

More

firecrackers as I type. I am so over the noise of this. I pray the fireworks stand is closed now.

I checked the garden today. My corn is more than knee-high-by-the-4th-of-July rule. It is now thigh high. I have baby green tomatoes. Beets and carrots are doing well. Potatoes are blooming. My raspberry bush is growing well. I have some onion plants that wintered over, so we'll see how they do. I planted some melon seeds, but the plants aren't so good. It hasn't been hot enough yet. We have been eating fresh kale and spinach salads for a few months now. We love having a garden. In Gardiner, we could never get anything to grow, the season was so short.

Enjoy July! Summer is so fleeting here. So wherever you are, enjoy the sun while you can!

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July 4, 2020 at 10:20pm

#987246

The Bombing Continues

Things were noisy early today. Who starts fireworks on a Saturday at 8AM? Well, I guess children with nothing else to do on the 4th of July in Roundup, Montana. Yep, 8AM the noise started. So no sitting on the porch this morning. We got up later, busied ourselves with breakfast, I soaked in our walk-in tub jacuzzi. One concession I had met when we remodeled our bathroom, I had to have that. Then I made a salad to take to a picnic later. Then we walked to the parade - technically cruise - on Main Street. The official parade was cancelled by the powers that be. So protestors organized a cruise. But at least there were some fire trucks and some horses. It worked.

I then took my mid-day walk around. Everything is where it is supposed to be, all the junk in the yards as usual, all the yards that haven't been mowed for weeks are still growing unchecked, I picked up trash on the street, like I do sometimes. Then I came home, got ready for church and left hubby behind as he pulled up carpet from the room we are remodeling. There is hardwood under the carpet. We will refinish that floor.

After church, we drove south of town to a friends farm for a potluck picnic. She has a great place and we lucked out with no rain. So the church members gathered, we had good food, good talk, the kids ran around, and now I am home.

Yesterday evening there was a rodeo in town. That was fun. There were quite a few in attendance. That was a good thing. I know lots are worried about the virus and all, but we sure do need some fun right now. When we volunteered at the museum yesterday afternoon, we had only 3 visitors, and they were all from out-of-town. And they were there for the rodeo.

As ambassador for SE Montana tourism, the entire state is affected severely by the virus crisis. Montana relies a great deal on tourism dollars. And when no one travels here, we all suffer.

Another wrinkle today - the leader of a writing group I attended sent out an email stating she was going to 'hunker in her bunker' for two weeks after this rodeo was in town. All those strangers in town and all. And oh by the way, another thing she's heard, 'mask it or casket'. Well, this has been a controversy between the two of us for the past two weeks. I feel she is being too fearful and she feels I am not taking this seriously. Besides, the whole writing group is just not a fun thing for me. She demeans the only male member constantly. There is no talk of growth, no discussion of craft. Well, to make a boring story short, I told her I quit the group. I trust in God to take care of me. Hubby and I are following His plan for our lives. That is a concept this person will not listen to, I've tried. So, sayonara. I will now rely on writing.com for writing practice and discussion and reviews more than ever.

Today are birthdays for my son and my daughter-in-law. Amazing that I have two in my family with birthdays on the 4th! Of course, that is of no effect, since one is in Ohio and one is in Virginia. I used to tell my son that he was so special. Everyone in the country celebrated his birthday with a big party and fireworks. That worked for several years until he wised up and figured out it was a national holiday.

We're trying to get some rain right now. I pray this rain increase. Please. Because it will stop the non-stop bombing happening two doors down.

Queen Norma Jean

1 Like • Comment

July 2, 2020 at 8:12pm

#987071

Annoyances

Today was another marathon shopping and annoyance tally day. The main reason to drive that hour to Billings and waste the ENTIRE day was to check my eyes. It has been a month since the cataract surgery. All is well. No problems. Get glasses if you get too annoyed with taking the reading glasses off and on. Fair enough, I will save a few hundred smackers and see what happens.

Alright, now we start the tally on annoyance factors:
Costco - still doing the mask thing, fine. Whatever. No toilet paper - What? I thought they solved that problem. Annoyance #1
I thought I would look at frames for glasses there. There is a sale 40% off the second pair. Nope - locked down. Not allowed in. Annoyance #2
We went to a place to eat - you can't get your own drinks anymore. Drag, no napkins on the table. Annoyance #3
At least Bed Bath & Beyond had the Soda Stream refills. That's refreshing. No annoyance there.
WinCo the food store, everything seemed to be fine there. At least now you can wander freely in the store and not be annoyed by one way aisles like in Walmart.
I went to a resale shop, found a pair of pants and needed to try them on. She'll open the door for you. Well, no she won't because she can't find the right key, because all the doors are locked. Eventually she finds the key. Annoyance #4
We head down the street and try to remember which way to go to find this out of the way hardware store to get this special thing hubby needs to work on the remodeling project. Of course we didn't bring the city map. Our car doesn't have GPS and we don't use a cell phone. But we found our way - look for the railroad track. So we avoid annoyance #5, but barely.
Then we go to the office supply place, buy some note cards, look at alarm clocks because hubby hates ours. We decide to walk to Target and look there for alarm clocks, don't like those either. But look! Let's walk to Baskin Robbins and get some ice cream, we've been good soldiers today and we're almost done, we need a treat. So we walk to Baskin Robbins. Across the hot parking lot, in the sun, uphill both ways, just kidding a short walk. Did us good. So we walk in and see all the tables and chairs pushed out of the way. "Can we sit and eat inside?" And there are no tables outside.
"No, you can't. Take out only." Annoyance #5
We have one more errand, wood for the remodeling project. We pick it up, we head for the gas station. I figure it's a long drive home. I'll use the bath room. You know, just in case. And you can guess - closed for cleaning. I wait for a few minutes. It's getting late. We have to head home. Things in the car are not getting any colder, and it's an hour to get home. Annoyance #6
On the way home, I doze a little while hubby drives, and I try to remember all the annoyances so I can list them here. Then I think, once I list them, they will no longer bother me. They will be given over to God. Good riddance. And we make a deal that we will unload the car, put the groceries away, and walk to the ice cream place on the corner downtown. A little walk after riding in the car will do us good. Can you guess what happens next?
We walk the few blocks, and there is a family outside. They are on their phone, calling this place. The door is locked, but the sign outside says "open". The owner opens the door, "My cook went home early, I can do ice cream but no food." The family is from out of town, they are camping down at the free campground, and need supper. I convince them to walk another block to a restaurant I am sure is open. They tell this guy "Sorry, but we are going somewhere else." He understands as he dishes up our ice cream. Oy. Annoyance #7

If I still drank, I would be drinking a big glass of wine right now.

But the night is warm, the porch is quiet, no fireworks yet. We are tired. I think I will sleep tonight, for a change.

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