Errands on Thursday and Friday

Daughter's Inktober Drawings for Week 1

My daughter is, once again, participating in Inktober, where one is given a set of prompts and you are supposed to draw a picture to illustrate the prompt.  The prompts for the first seven days were: gargoyle, scurry, bat, scallop, flame, bouquet, and trip.  

I've had a couple of productive days, yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday)!

Yesterday, I picked up the groceries at noon.  Jennifer was a sweetheart!  There were a couple of items I had wanted which appeared as "available for delivery only" and I had mentioned it to her; she immediately went back to the store and got me those items!  I thanked her and she brushed aside my thanks, but, then, asked me if I baked; I said yes and she said she'd love to try something I've baked and chocolate is her favorite flavor!  LOL.  Yes, I will be baking something chocolaty and taking it over to her!  

On my drive home, I noticed that there was a flex cord type thing hanging down in my car, from under the steering wheel, just above the pedals.  I could feel it brushing against my foot as I moved my foot from the brakes to the accelerator and back.  I didn't know quite what it was, but, I was pretty sure it shouldn't be hanging loose like that!  So, after I put away the groceries, baked the frozen pizza and ate a piece of it, I called the car service people and asked if I could come in to have it checked out.  They said yes and I drove over.  I spoke with Paul, the service consultant I usually deal with and he looked at the dangling flex and even he didn't know what it was!  But, he went in search of a mechanic and then, I remembered what it could be!

Several years ago, when I had first bought the car, the auto insurance company had required me to install a mileage monitoring device - having it installed (free of charge, at a service station of their recommendation) was supposed to give me a discount on my insurance and so, I had it installed.  Needless to say, after a year or so, they gave up on that requirement, but, the device had remained in place until, I guess it came loose on its own accord!  When the mechanic took a look, he confirmed that it was what I thought it was, the auto insurance company's monitoring device, and it was just hanging loose from a zip tie.  We didn't see any reason to keep it there and so, he cut the zip tie and handed me the device.  It has the auto insurance company's logo on it and I am not sure if I am supposed to return it to them or what, but, I doubt it.  I think I'll probably just toss it!

While I was having that tended to, I remembered the dead battery in the key fob!  Even though it sort of "recharged" itself that one time, it has been dead since then!  I mentioned it to Paul and he said their parts shop sells batteries and will install it for me.  The battery cost $6.65 with tax and the guy there installed it for me; he offered me the old battery, but, I didn't know what I'd do with it, so I asked him to recycle it for me (although, I think he just tossed it in the trash can that was under the counter!)  So, that was another task crossed off my To Do List and I was very proud of myself to have remembered the key fob battery!  LOL.  My mind is truly like a sieve, these days, and I don't always remember other related tasks when I am tending to one thing.  

After I came home, I relaxed and watched news, cleaned the litter box, chatted with friend R, called and left a message for neighbor T, chatted with Aunt C, and, later, video chatted with my daughter.  Dinner was a home cooked frozen hamburger patty on a bread ends "bun"!  Mango for dessert and there might have been some chocolate wafers, too!  LOL!

Today, Friday, I had a phone call from cousin V in the morning.  Afterwards, I changed the dust sheets on the family room sofas and did a load of laundry.  I hung the items up to dry.  There was another "weekly bill tracker" email from the gas company - 17 days into the billing period, with 12 days remaining, I have a current bill of $17.17 and an estimated bill of $29.30.  I guess I am using $1.01 worth of gas per day!  No mention of how many therms I've used! They also helpfully mentioned that my bill for the same month, last year, was $22.19 - but, omitted the fact that the price per unit of gas was less, last year!  LOL.  I have saved bill statements which allow me to see the actual therms used and cost per therm, etc.

In the early afternoon, I called CVS pharmacy to book a flu vaccine appointment and was told that I didn't need to make an appointment, they are accepting walk-ins.   Apparently, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, some of their pharmacies have hired an extra pharmacist to administer vaccinations to walk-ins.  I asked if there was a long wait and was told that there was a short wait.  So, I drove over within the half hour and signed up to get not only the flu vaccine, but also the pneumonia shot.  I decided not to get the Covid booster on this visit because I didn't want to overwhelm my system with too many antigens at the same time!  I especially don't want to get a sciatica flare-up as a result!

The pharmacy worker (Irene) who helped me register for the vaccines recognized me from pre-Covid days when I used to go to the pharmacy in person and we chatted a bit.  Then, she handed me the forms to fill out for the vaccines and I walked off to sit near the vaccination booth to fill them out.  About 5 minutes later, Irene walked over and handed me my medical insurance cards!  I had handed them to her when registering and had forgotten to get them back from her!  Did I say that my mind is like a sieve these days?

There were two other people ahead of me in the line to get the vaccinations and my wait time was about 15 minutes.  Afterwards, I took a quick look around one or two store aisles on my way out, but, apparently that urge to shop is only a side effect of the Covid vaccine!  I noticed that daughter's favorite brand of coffee was on sale for $6.99, but, I have several packs of her coffee in the fridge and didn't buy any more.  

There was a non-Sri Lankan Buddhist monk behind me in the line, also waiting for a vaccination; according to one of the Buddhist discourses (the Mangala Sutta), the sight of an observant monk is a blessing, so I took it as a good omen that the vaccination will go well.  I greeted him and spoke with him while we waited in line and, later, offered him a chair so he could sit while he waited for his turn to be called in to the vaccination booth.

After I came home, I had my brunch (a banana and an egg salad sandwich) and relaxed.  M arrived to tend to the garden and we chatted a bit; he watered and tidied the garden a bit.

My arms are starting to feel a bit sore; I plan to take it easy and relax in the evening, too.  

I am grateful for:

- The flex cord that was hanging from the car was not something important
- I was able to get the battery replaced in the key fob
- The availability of vaccines
- M helping with the garden
- Helpful customer service assistants such as Jennifer, Paul, Irene, and many others who help people every day.

Today's joyful activity is relaxing and taking it easy.

Weekend plans will depend very much on how I feel after the double vaccinations.  If I feel up to it, I might do some sewing.

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for the weekend?