I'm finally getting a handle on how to get personal stuff done in the small amount of personal time I actually have now. I've been trying to eliminate doing anything after I've finished babysitting for the day because, frankly, by then I just want to go home.
We had a good Thanksgiving and I was "off" on the Friday, so I did the bulk of my Christmas shopping on Amazon. (I got everything by the 11th - although I had to reorder it all because I wasn't home when they attempted to deliver it so they marked it as "refused" and issued credits.) I finished my shopping on that Saturday in one store.
Thursday, December 3rd, I had a 1:00 appointment at the Radiologist in Rahway. It was a sort of trial run of the actual process. It was a gloomy kind of day and I did some food shopping and ate lunch. I headed up there about 12:15. As I was driving through the back streets I saw this guy up ahead, raking leaves.
I had to make that turn anyway.
Point, press, Flash.
I got to the office at 12:30 and was called in a little bit later. After the testing and some x-rays, we had a discussion about the timing of the process. They made arrangements so that I would be on the table by 7:00 AM.
My schedule will now require me to get up and out by 6:30 AM, Monday through Friday, for a total of 34 sessions (with exceptions for Holidays and bad weather.)
Tuesday, December 8th, was an "extra" day for me because my daughter stayed home. I had a late breakfast, ran some errands, stopped at a couple of libraries, and decided to gas up the car. I drove to the Wawa station in Avenel. $1.79. I drove out the back and saw this guy behind one of the small apartment buildings.
The angle was bad. I passed him by.
Thursday, December 10th, I had blood work scheduled for 8:00 down in New Brunswick so I was out early. I got one of the "2-hour only" spots in the connected parking garage and was out in 1/2 an hour. Being in and out that quick means that I didn't have to pay for the spot.
I stopped at a Dunkin' Donuts on Woodbridge Avenue for breakfast. I stopped at Walmart to pick up a prescription. That's where I saw a truck that had taken up too many spaces. That's a pet peeve of mine. I went in, picked up my prescription, and came back out. I saw the driver standing in his doorway.
I started my car and drove forward.
Point, press, Flash.
I headed for home.
Yesterday, December 12th, started out warm but cloudy. I had a few things to do so I headed up to the Dunkin' Donuts in Avenel. When I got to the corner of Green Street, I saw this guy painting the side of a store.
I was tempted but I figured that he was probably annoyed that he had to work so early on a Saturday. I drove on.
Sunshine broke through about mid-day and I just rode around for a while with the radio on just enjoying it all. As I was passing through Colonia, I saw this guy heading towards me.
There was no one else around.
Point, press, Flash.
Sometimes, I can't resist.
Today, I went out for just an hour or so. I ate breakfast at Denny's. I stopped at Shoprite for the paper, my lottery tickets, some lunch meat for the next few days, and something to eat for dinner. They're working on the parking lot - again - so I had parked to the left of the store rather then my usual right side. When I got back to my car, I saw this workman just standing around.
No temptation this time. It was too open and too crowded. Besides, he was just another guy who got stuck working on the weekend.
Before I could start my car, I got a text message. It was from Doyle. He's been busy with a lot of stuff he couldn't talk about (probably related to recent terrorist activity, I thought) but he'd had my Radiation Oncologist checked out - and my test results as well - and everything looked good. I texted back my thanks.
As I drove home, I thought about the upcoming week. Every day would start with radiation at 7:00. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, I'll be babysitting from 7:30 to 3:30. Thursday, after radiation, I have to drive down to New Brunswick for more blood work at 8:30 and a cardiologist's appointment at 1:00. I'm busy but I think Doyle may be busier.
Everyone has things they have to do on their schedule.
