Thursday

Today, I called the Sri Lankan store to see if the order my daughter had submitted online was ready for pick up.  The person who answered the phone said the order was ready for pick up, someone had called, but, I hadn't answered the phone.  Well, first of all, they were supposed to email me when it was ready, not call, but, I hadn't received an email.  No one had called and left a message, either (I get so many robocalls that I usually don't pick up the phone unless it is a number I recognize; I expect people to leave me a message on the answering machine, if they really need to let me know they called).  I looked through my list of missed calls and I didn't see a call from the store's phone number, unless someone called from a cell phone number.  Anyway, the order was ready for pick up and I said I'll do so in the afternoon.

Then, I called the Sri Lankan restaurant that is located about six blocks from the store and placed an order for pick up - three stringhopper meals (each containing 10 stringhoppers, coconut sambol, a hard boiled egg in a milk-based gravy, and a choice of fish, chicken, or beef curry; I chose chicken), three individual servings of chocolate biscuit pudding (they didn't have the family sized container), one family sized container of a coconut treacle pudding called vatalappan (also spelled watalappan), and two dozen fish patties (deep fried savory pastries with a fish filling).  I said I will be there around 2:00 p.m. to pick them up.

Next, I called friend R.  I told her I was going to the Sri Lankan store and the restaurant and asked her if she'd like to come along for a ride.  She was happy to.  

Yesterday had been R's birthday and I had called and wished her, but, hadn't gone to see her.  So, today, when I went to pick her up, I gave her the card and gift that I had for her.  

We went to the restaurant, first, and I picked up my order.  R, too, bought an assortment of savory pastries and rolls that were in the display case to take home with her.  It was then that I told her that she was coming home with me to have a late lunch to celebrate her birthday, a day late!  She was so surprised and pleased!  She laughed and asked if I was kidnapping her and I said yes!  Even the restaurant owner was laughing.

Then we went to the Sri Lankan store; I stayed near the doorway and waited for my pick up items to be brought to me, but, R went inside the store to buy a couple of items that she had wanted.  My order included a couple of items she had mentioned she wanted and a few extras I got as treats for her; I was happy to see that what she bought was different from what I had bought for her.  Items I ordered from the Sri Lankan store included several packets of the tea that I like, curry powder, other spices and condiments, frozen grated coconut, cookies to share with R, and savory snacks to share with my daughter.

Afterwards, we came home to my place and had lunch.  My daughter, too, who was working, took her lunch break then and joined us.  After lunch, daughter went back to her room to work and R and I sat in the family room, chatting.  

After daughter finished her work for the day, we dropped R off at her home.  I think she really enjoyed her birthday lunch and outing.  

On the way home, we put gas to the car, as I was down to 1/4 tank.  The last time we put gas to the car was on May 8, when we put $40 worth of gas (then, too, I was down to 1/4 tank of gas).  It was later that night that the sciatica pains started.  Today, too, we put $40 worth of gas (the price of gas has gone up to over $4/gal., even at the cheaper gas station, so $40 bought us less gas, this time).  I hope I won't get any sciatica pains, tonight!  

In the evening, my friend A's daughter stopped by the house with something for my daughter; I sent a jar of zucchini chutney home with her (and a bag of zucchini might have accompanied the jar of chutney, as well!)  LOL.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Having a Sri Lankan grocery store and restaurant, not too far from me
- Being able to give friend R a ride and a surprise birthday lunch
- A safe drive to the store and back
- A pleasant afternoon visiting with R
- Gas being available, even if the price has gone up

Today's joyful activity was celebrating R's birthday with a lunch for her.

Plans for tomorrow include:

- Oncologist appointment in the afternoon
- M's visit to tend to the garden

How was your Thursday?  What are your plans for Friday?