Productive Thursday

Prompt: Snacks
("Panda Cookies and Donuts")

I set my alarm for 9:00 a.m., today, although the plumber was not scheduled to arrive until after 12:00 noon.  I stayed in bed for another 30 minutes or so after the alarm went off, then got up and got going.  After my morning cup of tea and prayers, etc., I did the vacuuming I had been planning to do all week!  Then, tidied up the family room.  I didn't put everything away, but, sorted the paperwork and tidied up the sewing supplies.  Then, I scrubbed my toilet (a task I usually do on Fridays, but, I wanted the bathrooms clean before the plumber arrived!)  I cleaned Dancer's litter box, too, and mopped the bathroom floor (I knew the plumber would probably mess it up, but, I wanted it to be clean when he arrived and he cleaned up after himself before he left!)  

I took a short break and then, tidied the kitchen a bit (Thursday's task) and emptied the dishwasher.  I had cut the thumb on my right hand on a can that I was rinsing out before putting it in the recycling bin, yesterday; it wasn't a very deep cut, but it was about half an inch long.  I had put a plaster/bandaid on it and it was healing, but it hampered me a bit as I did my housework.  However, I got most of the housekeeping tasks I had set for myself for this week done!  I had to tell myself that it didn't have to be done perfectly!  

The plumbing company called me around 12:30 p.m. to say that the plumber was on his way.  He was here a few minutes later.  I wore my N95 mask; he wasn't wearing a mask.  I didn't insist that he wore a mask because I knew that it is hard to do jobs like plumbing with a mask on.  But, I had opened the windows and the front door (the metal security door was closed because I didn't want Dancer to run out, but, it has open mesh which allows air flow) and I felt there was enough ventilation in the house.  The plumber who was here, last year, wore a mask, but, we were still under a mask mandate then.  This is one of the main reasons why I am dragging my feet on having workmen in the house, unless I absolutely have to!

Anyway, he was a pleasant young man named George.  He cleared the clog in the bathtub (showed me the clump of hair he pulled out), replaced the flapper in my toilet so it wouldn't leak anymore, changed the faucets in both bathtubs (they both have overhead showers) because both faucets were leaking when the shower was turned on, and fixed the broken knob/handle in the sink in daughter's bathroom.  He also mentioned that I might need to replace the knob/handle in the tub/shower in her bathroom sometime in the future, but, not right now.  When it was time to pay, I told him to give me a discount since I was a repeat customer and he said he'll mention it to the company, but, it was not up to him.  I paid $225.75 for parts and labor, which I thought was reasonable.  I'm glad that I managed to get the plumbing maintenance projects crossed off my list.

After he left, I boiled more pasta and had it with some of the sausage mixture for my brunch.  Then, I went outside to walk a bit.  I only walked for a few minutes because I was feeling a bit tired, but, I sat on the low stone wall between my driveway and T's front yard and enjoyed the warmth of the sun for about 10-15 minutes.  I was inspecting the plants in the front yard a few minutes later, when the letter carrier delivered the mail.  I thanked him and he said they were all ads, but, I said as long as they are not bills it's fine with me and he laughed.  Then, I took the mail and went inside; he was right, they were all political ads for the upcoming mid-term elections.  

I took it easy in the evening.  I started the car, watched the news, had a cup of tea, reheated a frozen burrito for dinner, had a piece of mango for dessert, did today's dishes, chatted with friend R, and video chatted with my daughter.  She had gone into the office, today, and then, gone out to lunch.     

Today, I'm grateful for:
- Plumbers!
- Getting the plumbing issues taken care of 
- Sunny, warm afternoon
- Daily mail deliveries (except on Sundays)
- Accomplishing most of my housekeeping tasks

Today's joyful activity was getting the plumbing tasks crossed off my to do list!

Plans for tomorrow include the regular check up with the oncology nurse practitioner in the early afternoon and tending to the garden in the evening with M.  

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