One Week into July

Lois Lane Kent Mango

The newly transplanted Lois Lane Kent Mango doesn't look too good, does she?  Her leaves feel dry to the touch.  We watered it when we transplanted it on Wednesday, I watered it yesterday (Thursday) and M will water it again, today, too, so I hope it will survive.  It's been a survivor, so far, while the others (Clark Kent SuperMango and Conner Kent Mango both died).  In case anyone is wondering about the names, the variety of mango is called Kent Mango and it seemed appropriate to name the first mango seedling Clark and the rest sort of fell into place!

Yesterday (Thursday), the pharmacy called to let me know that Dancer's new medication was ready for pick up.  I drove there in the early afternoon and collected the medication (the dosage is twice the strength of the previous one).  Then, I gave into temptation and went into the doughnut shop next door to the pharmacy and bought myself two doughnuts - a glazed doughnut and one with a chocolate glaze.  This is the first time I've been in a doughnut shop and bought doughnuts since before the initial lockdown.  Neighbor S had given me some doughnuts a couple of times, but, I have not bought any myself in over three years.  As I mentioned to one of my friends, last night, when did a regular doughnut go up to $1.65 each?  The fancier ones like bars and twists were $1.85 and higher!  I was not surprised, exactly, as I had expected prices to have increased, but, at the same time, I was a bit taken aback!  I wonder if the prices are the same at my local doughnut shop, up the road from me?  (I am in a less upscale neighborhood than where I was, yesterday, when I bought the doughnuts).  The doughnuts, however, were delicious.  I enjoyed them after I had eaten a slightly healthier egg salad sandwich for brunch.  

I spent the rest of the afternoon, yesterday, doing some paperwork, renewing my car registration, and paying bills, including the monthly gas bill.

Feel free to skip this next section about the gas bill - unless you are Debra, in which case, it is required reading for her!  LOL!

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I am fascinated by how the gas bill breaks down: 

The gas bill for the billing period 5/18 - 6/19 (32 days) was $43.23.
I had used 22 therms, which was 8 therms above the baseline of 14 therms (probably due to those couple of cold mornings in June when I turned the big heater on!).  The rate per therm for the baseline was $0.86390; the rate for over the baseline was $1.30922.  The charges for the gas used (called Gas Transportation on the bill) was $22.56.
But, in addition, there was a "Customer charge" of $5.26  ($0.16438 per day for 32 days); a Gas Commodity fee of $8.67 (22 therms x $0.39403), which brought the total gas charges to $36.48 ($5.26 + $22.56 + $8.67).
Then, there were the various taxes and fees on the gas charges, based on the number of therms used, amounting to $6.74.  Those fees and taxes are the State Regulatory Fee of $0.07, the Public Purpose Surcharge of $2.49 (part of which goes to help low income customers pay reduced rates), the City Users Tax of $2.90, and the Local Franchise Fee Surcharge of  $1.29.
Add them all up and the total bill comes to $43.23.  

This gas bill was higher than the previous one of $29.61, which was a bit disappointing.  The next gas bill is estimated to be $29.63.  I'm not using the heater, now, of course.  

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Resuming regular blog post...

After I paid the bills, I took a nap!  Later, I watered most of the fruit trees and vegetables in the garden.  

I had a long conversation with Aunt C, yesterday, in the evening, and another long chat with friend R.  Later, I video chatted with my daughter.  She had been on-call for jury duty this week, but, she was not required to report for jury duty in person; she has now been released from jury duty for this time.   

Today, Friday, has been a relatively relaxed day.  It was sunny and warm, but, with a high of only 79F not exactly hot.  I did a bit of weeding in the garden, clearing one of the planting beds where we had snow peas and lettuce growing.  M finished clearing it, added some manure, and planted some really, really old vegetable seeds I had with me - some of which had been packed for 2010 planting! Four varieties of tomatoes, two varieties of squash, and (gasp!) zucchini! We both doubt if any of them will grow, but, I didn't want to continue to keep the packets of seeds.  We'll see if anything grows, if not, seven packets of seeds have been decluttered!  I still have a few more packets of old seeds - we might plant them next week and see what happens.  

In other news, neighbor T's house has a real estate agent's sign out in the front yard.  It doesn't actually say, "For Sale" on it, but, it is implied.  I took a photo of it for the summer photo scavenger hunt, but, I might hold out for a sign that actually says "For Sale" or "Sold".

Thursday's brunch was an egg salad sandwich and doughnuts.  Dinner was rice, chicken curry, lentil curry, and green beans.

Friday's brunch was a tuna salad sandwich; dinner will be leftover rice and curries.

At the end of the first week in July, I am grateful for:

- Dancer's new medication was available
- Being able to pay my bills online
- Chats with family and friends
- M's help with the garden
- Sunny, warm days

Joyful activities have included enjoying some doughnuts and tending to the garden.

I don't have any specific plans for the weekend.  I would, however, like to do some sewing, decluttering, and sort out the kitchen.

Do you have any plans for the weekend?