Every Sunny Day ..........

This week, I had two days "off". By that I mean that I wasn't needed to babysit my Granddaughter and, outside of a doctor's appointment, I had no real plans.

I started Wednesday having breakfast with my Daughter and Granddaughter at 8:00. It was early enough that we were seated and served pretty quickly and were done a little before 9:00. They went home so the baby could have a nap and I drove up to the Walmart shopping area. In the Dollar Tree I picked up some toothpaste and soap. You can't beat name brand products for $1.00. I walked up to Walmart and picked up a prescription that they had ready for me. When I got back to my car, I saw this guy loading up.

It was a bright morning and I thought that we were pretty isolated but, as I was getting ready, I caught something out of the corner of my eye. Someone was coming up on us from my left. I started my engine instead and watched as a woman pushed up another cart next to the hatchback. I drove away.

It was 9:30 and I my doctor's appointment wasn't until 2:00.

I drove back down through Woodbridge, stopping at my apartment long enough to drop off my purchases. I was going to be out for a while and didn't want them to be sitting around in a hot car that long. I drove up into Avenel and stopped at the Wawa's. Gas was now $1.81.

I stopped at the Menlo Park Mall and read the paper. I did the crossword puzzles. I took the long way to Metuchen and stopped at the library. As I parked,  I saw this older man heading towards me.

It was too nice a day and I watched him walk by. I went into the library but didn't find anything interesting. I drove up into South Plainfield and stopped at my favorite Thrift Shop. I didn't find anything there, either. I drove up into Iselin and stopped at a Burger King. It was Whopper Wednesday and I ate lunch.

I got to the doctor's at 1:30. He's an ENT. I've been having trouble with my throat for months now and my voice has been very raspy. I'd gone to a GP in July and got an antibiotic and a throat culture test, which turned out negative, but I was still having a problem. Given my personal history, I decided to go to a specialist. He threaded this camera-on-a-wire thing up my nose and down my throat - and, yes, it's as uncomfortable as it sounds. I'd been told by a couple of medical people that my problem was caused by post-nasal drip but it turns out  that there's a growth on my right vocal cord. It could be nothing, it could be something. I agreed to a biopsy and they'll call me next week to schedule it.

I headed for home and, driving through Iselin, came up behind this guy riding a bike.

I wasn't in too good a mood anymore.

Point, press, Flash.

I continued on home.

This morning I was hoping to sleep in but that didn't happen. Starting around 7:00 there were loud, crashing noises coming from the side of my building. I went out into the living room and looked out the window. Someone was throwing things out of an upstairs window. I rushed through my morning routine, went outside, and got into my car. That's when I saw Rick.

He does odd jobs for the landlord. Apparently, someone on the 3rd floor had moved out and he was hired to clean out the apartment. Instead of carrying this stuff down 3 flights of stairs, he threw it out the window. When I got out there, he was moving this stuff to the nearby dumpsters. I was annoyed but I can't say I blamed him. I drove away.

It was a nice day and I decided to drive down into Monmouth County. I stopped at Shoprite first. I got my usual lottery tickets and I bought an Everything Bagel. I'd read somewhere that the really good bagel makers make sure that the topping is on both sides. Shoprite does this. They also have a Dunkin' Donuts counter in the store and I ordered a medium Iced Tea, black, to go.

I broke up the bagel into small chunks and headed down Route 9, South. I didn't eat or drink anything until I'd reached Lawrence Harbor. The bagel was good, the Iced Tea wasn't. It was Iced Coffee. Oh well, I was stuck with it.

I stopped at the library in Hazlet. I picked up a book by Alistair Maclean for $.25. I headed down Middle Road. Along the way, I saw this guy.

I was still annoyed about the coffee.

Point, press, Flash.

I continued down Middle Road, turned right on Laurel, left on Route 35, then took the jug handle for New Monmouth Road. I stopped at the library in Middletown. I picked up two books - one by Erik Larson and one by Jonathan Kellerman - at $.50 apiece. On my way out, driving around the back of the library, I saw this guy sitting at one of the tables.

I was in a better mood now so I passed him by.

I drove back up Route 35 and, on a whim, took the turn off to South Amboy. I stopped at the library there. I haven't been here in over a year. I picked up another two books - one by James Patterson and one by Truman Capote - again, for $.50 each.

I headed home. I was in a very good mood.

On my way up Through Perth Amboy, I noticed this guy walking up ahead.

Sometimes, I can't resist.

Point, press, Flash.

On my way home, I couldn't help thinking how I'd just had two good days. They would've been really good days except for a couple of snags. It seemed to me that something has to happen every day in order for you to really enjoy it. It may be as small as a wrong drink order or as big as an unexpected diagnosis.

There's an old saying about every cloud having a silver lining. I'm not too sure about that. What I do think is true is that there's always some kind of cloud that affects every sunny day.

More Changes To Come..........

I just started baby-sitting my 5-month old Granddaughter. I'll be there every weekday that my Daughter and Son-in-law are working, from about 7:15 AM to about 3:45 PM. That was Tuesday and Wednesday of last week and each day was different from the other. It's going to be interesting going forward.

What this means for me is that I now have to make some changes in my routine. I now have to plan ahead for my meals on the days I'm baby-sitting and bring my breakfast and lunch with me. I also have to make sure that all my doctor's appointments are on my "free" days and that I get my errands done as well.

Last Thursday, I headed out early. It was still pretty warm out. I stopped at the Post Office on Main Street and mailed my bills. I took Main to Amboy and drove into Metuchen. I had an 8 AM appointment for a chest x-ray. Afterwards, I headed back into Woodbridge and stopped at my bank to make a deposit (they have great hours). When I came out, this car was parked right next to me.

I had taken the second slot and he'd parked in the first - even though the rest of the parking lot was empty. I hate that. I know that it's stupid to feel that way and I should probably change but I won't.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove away feeling calmer. He'll be there until the tow truck shows up.

Friday it was cooler. I decided to get my haircut. I usually wait until it's a little longer but I had the time. Afterwards, I drove up St. George, cut through a development, and stopped at the Wawa's for gas.

The prices just dropped below $2. That's a change I liked.

I knew that the libraries that I usually drop in on will be closed all weekend so I decided to drive into Metuchen. I took a meandering kind of route through Colonia, Iselin, and Edison. As I drew closer to Metuchen, I saw this guy standing out on the sidewalk.

I figured that he was probably waiting for a ride and I was in a good mood. I drove by.

Saturday, I drove up Rahway then took Freeman towards St. George. Along the way I saw this older guy tending to his front lawn.

I've passed by here a lot, and he's always out there mowing, trimming, or tending to his rose bushes. I stopped at Shoprite for the paper, Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast, and spend a relaxing hour or so at the Menlo Park Mall. Some things never change.

Sunday, I went to Mass. I've recently registered in a different parish. It's the one that my Granddaughter was Baptized in and it's actually closer to where I live. The church has changed but I still get a sense of comfort out of going.

I stopped for my usual lottery tickets and got a free"sample" of New Jersey's new Free Play Tickets.

It's a computer-generated attempt to simulate scratch-off tickets. I'm all for change but this I don't like. I prefer the suspense of scratching off each section slowly. I like the anticipation. Where's the fun in seeing it laid out already? Thankfully, we had a larger-then-usual family BBQ that afternoon and that definitely made the day better.

Today, I had to prep for my next two days because I'll be baby-sitting. I know, I could have done some of this over the last 4 days but I tend to wait until the last minute to do anything. I guess that's something else I may have to change.

I stopped at Shoprite. Since I still have some rye bread from last week I bought some liverwurst. I picked up a box of Mini-Muffins that will cover my breakfast. I couldn't find anything for supper so I headed up towards Iselin to stop at some other supermarkets. I was driving through Iselin when I saw this guy.

There was a nice breeze and he seemed happy just plugging away. I drove on by.

 I stopped at the Stop N Shop and picked up some precooked chicken legs. I was set now. I headed home. On my way back through Edison, I saw this guy riding towards me.

I don't like bike riders, especially those coming at me. It's a childhood thing and I'd probably need therapy to change that. I'm not gonna do that.

Point, press, Flash.

I continued on home. I have a few things to do in order to be ready for tomorrow. There's a lot of things coming up and I'm pretty sure there are more changes to come.