My Saturday Routine ..................

I may not have mentioned this before but, at times, I can be a creature of habit. I find a certain comfort in routines and I do have a few of those. Don't get me wrong, I can adapt quickly to change - seen or unseen - but I prefer routine.

Today is the first sunny day we've had in a while and it's a Saturday. I have a routine I like to follow on Saturdays and, since I was unable to follow it for the last couple of weeks, I was looking forward to it this morning.

I do almost all of my shopping during the week so I don't have to deal with crowds on the weekend. (This works especially well during the holiday season.) I picked up the paper and headed for Dunkin' Donuts. I go there a lot, but I really like to eat breakfast there on Saturdays. It's usually pretty empty and I can sit be a window and read a book while I eat.

That didn't work out.

There was only one table available and that was between a group of local High School cheerleaders and a group of adults. They were all happily gabbing away about some sports event that was going to take place later. I took my breakfast to go.

I drove up Avenel Street towards Route 1. Along the way I came up on this guy.

Point, press, Flash.

I got to Route 1 and made a right turn. I headed towards the Menlo Park Mall.

This is the part of Saturday's routine that I really like. I take my coffee and the paper into the Mall and pass a quiet hour or so catching up on the news and doing the crossword puzzle. The seating location I like has been converted into Santa's Workshop so I headed for the fountain area and picked out a nice, comfortable chair.

I'd just opened the paper when a young man took the nearby chair. He seemed antsy and was talking softly to himself. I admit that I was tempted to move but I didn't. I'd already lost my Dunkin' Donuts routine, I wasn't about to lose this one.

The young man didn't bother me and left after a few minutes. I noticed that he stepped on and off the rug a few times before he went on his way - some type of obsessive-compulsive thing, maybe. I finished my coffee and the crossword about 45 minutes later.

My Saturday routine now calls for a stop at the Metuchen Library. I was enjoying the sunshine and the car was warm. I slid open the sunroof.

I picked up an historical novel about the Lincoln assassination at the Library and, since it was still early, decided to check out some of the local supermarkets in search of an idea for lunch and supper. While this isn't really a part of my Saturday routine, it did give my a reason to continue driving around.

I drove up to the local A&P.

When I got there, I found this truck in the lot. It took up 2 spaces and was left running, noisily.

There was nothing in the store that appealed to me and, when I came out, the truck was still there. I got in my car.

Point, press, Flash.

As I drove away, I smiled to myself. I would have liked to stay and see the driver's face when he found his truck inoperable, but that's not something I routinely do.

I drove to the FoodTown in Colonia. This was a nice ride down New Dover, up Grove, and down Inman. Along the way, I saw this guy, up ahead, where they were redoing a gas station.

Point, press, Flash.

I picked up some fried chicken at FoodTown. That would be for supper but I still needed lunch.

I drove back to Woods Avenue and turned left. I took this all the way to Thornall then took that to Gill Lane. I turned right and headed up to Wegman's. This is a quiet, winding stretch of road and, as I made one of the turns, I saw this guy coming towards me.

Point, press, Flash.

I picked up some knishes to go with the fried chicken and several can of Progresso French Onion Soup (4 for $5.00). I now had lunch and I headed home.

Like I said, I can be a creature of habit and one of those habits is ....

my Saturday routine.

Downs And Ups .............

Maybe it's because I just passed my Sixth Anniversary as a transplant recipient. Maybe it's because we just passed Thanksgiving - the used-to-be get-together-with-the-family Holiday. Maybe it's because today was one of those cold, overcast days that are harbingers of the coming winter. Whatever the reason, I left my house this morning in a mood.

I wouldn't call it depressed. I'm not one of those people who spend a lot of time questioning things, and I never feel sorry for myself. Still, I guess, everyone must feel down every now and then.

I stopped at the Library a little after 9 and found that they wouldn't be open until 10. Down.

 I stopped at Shoprite and picked up a box of decaffeinated tea bags. I stopped for the paper. I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts and had a toasted cinnamon raisin bagel with butter and a medium decaf coffee. I had a book with me and sat by the window to eat. There was not enough butter on the bagel. Down.

I got back to the Library at 10 to 10 and they'd opened already. I went in to print out my checking account statement but they changed things. You now have to have a Library Card in order to access the system. I have a card. It didn't work. Down.

I waited at the main desk and renewed my card, then logged in, printed my statement, and left. I decided to head towards the Metuchen Library and took Avenel towards Chain-of-Hills. Along the way, I passed this woman.

She's a fixture in this neighborhood. I've seen her walking around here for years. I've heard that she lives in a nearby SRO and that she carries all of her possessions with her because she's afraid to leave anything in her room. A sad story. A Down.

 I drove on. I decided to head up through the Clara Barton section, which would take a little longer, but I now had my radio tuned to CBS-FM and they were playing their traditional Top 500 for the weekend. That always makes me feel good. Up.

Along Amboy Avenue, I passed by this guy sitting on a bench in front of a Senior Citizen's Home.

I'm sure he had a story. I wondered, briefly, what it was. There he was all bundled up and sitting in the cold, all alone. It looked like a sad story. Down.

I pulled up in front of the Library in Metuchen, and saw this man walking towards it.

Another guy, carrying some books, looking all alone. I imagined that he walked up here - maybe weekly - to take out some other books. Another sad story. Down.

I went inside and headed towards the sale books. I noticed the guy from outside was now at the main desk, returning the books. As I browsed, the guy went past me, humming, and went upstairs to the meeting room. I heard voices greeting him. I walked over there and read the sign - there was a meeting of the local Historical Society going on. This guy wasn't alone after all. Up.

That's when I realized that I'd let my own mood color how I saw things. Maybe the guy in the Clara Barton section wasn't alone either. Maybe he was waiting for someone to pick him up. Up.

And, maybe there was more to the story of that old woman in Avenel then the locals knew about. At least now I was willing to entertain that thought. Up.

I went back to the sale books and picked out two. As I left, I held the door for a woman coming in, probably to attend the meeting. She thanked me. Up.

Then, as I headed towards my car, I saw another woman carrying a couple of bags. I offered to help but she said it was OK. Still, I went back and held the door. She thanked me  and said that the bags held some cupcakes that she'd baked for the meeting. Up.

I drove home feeling better. Everybody has moods. Everybody has a story. And we tend to allow our moods to affect those stories. Everybody has ...

Downs and Ups.

No Real Plan For The Day ..............

Yesterday was overcast and foggy, but warmer. Today, we have a cold front starting but it's sunny. I went out early.

I had a few things to do but no real plan for the day.

I stopped at Shoprite and picked up the paper and my lottery tickets. I drove into Avenel to pay my cable bill. I parked on Lord Street and walked over. They weren't open yet but they have a drop-box out front for payments. As I walked up, I noticed this guy down along the side of the building.

I was ready as I walked back.

Point, press, Flash.

I got to my car and drove to the Post Office to mail my electric bill. (I know, I could pay this - and other bills - online but, frankly, I'm leery about doing that. I'm all in favor of modernization but - in some cases - I prefer to stick with what I know.)

I drove back towards St. George's Avenue and Dunkin' Donuts, for breakfast. On the way down Avenel Street, I came up behind this UPS truck.

Here's another annoyance that I come across while driving. These guys stop wherever they want. In this case, he was blocking the through lane. I waited till I could pass then ..

Point, press, Flash.

I realized later that by taking out his engine he'd be blocking traffic for a while but it was satisfying when I did it.

I enjoyed my breakfast and took the rest of my coffee with me. Today being a Thursday, the Thrift Store I like up in South Plainfield had their weekly card-holders-only sale. I'm going to a Brunch Cruise out of Perth Amboy on Sunday to celebrate a family member's birthday and, since it's supposed to be cold, I thought I'd look for a heavy sweater.

I took Chain-of-Hills Road and came up behind this person.

I didn't have a clear view and there was a merge with New Dover Road just ahead. I drove on by.

On a whim, I made a left on Grove and stopped at the North Edison Library. I picked up a mystery that has Mark Twain as the hero. I gotta admit that I'm a sucker for fiction that uses historical people as central characters. I headed back down Grove to Oak Tree when I came across this guy.

I knew he was surveying something and I also knew that he had a partner that he could see but I couldn't. I drove on, made the right on Oak Tree, and stopped at the Thrift Store. I picked up a nice, heavy, green sweater for $6. Feeling good, I decided to swing by the library in Metuchen.

I know the way there but not the street names. Along the way I came across this guy.

These landscape guys are a pet peeve of mine and here was one using a ride-on leaf blower in the street. I looked around but saw no one else.

Point, press, Flash.

I skipped the Metuchen library and just headed home.

I took 27 to Middlesex Turnpike and got back on Chain-of-Hills. Around one of the curves I came up behind this guy.

An isolated stretch of road and another annoyance.

Point, press, Flash.

I continued on, towards home.

Sometimes, the best plan is to have ....

no real plan for the day.

Things Just Don't Work Out .........

I got up early this morning because I was hoping to get something done. I'd gotten this idea over the weekend and, as sometimes happens, I got a little carried away.

After I came into possession of my "new" car, I realized that the radio didn't work. Since then, I've found out that it may work but - because of something that the previous owner had done - I needed a security code (which she didn't have) to get it working. Several frustrating phone calls later, I found out that the only way to get the security code from the car company was to give them the serial number of the unit. That's where I ran into a problem.

In order to get the serial number, I need to have the unit removed from the console. This is not simple on a "99 Honda Civic. I came across an on-line video that shows how to do it but, after watching the guy contort himself to take out some screws, then seeing him pull out the glove compartment to get at some others, I turned it off. There was no way I was gonna do that. Here's when I got my idea.

I know that P. C. Richard's sells car stereos and that they do the installations themselves. I've bought a few things there over the years - and so have some family members of mine - so I thought that I'd ask them to get the serial number for me. I was willing to pay for that, if it wasn't gonna be too much. But you never know, so I looked up a few other car stereo dealers in the area, just in case.
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I left my apartment around 8, which was too early to check any of the shops out, but there were a few other things I wanted to get done. As I sat in my car, warming up, I saw this guy across the street.

The sun was shining brightly which would've hidden the Flash, but it was too close to home. What's that old saying ... you don't shit where you eat, right? I drove away and, since P. C. Richard's is in the same strip mall I decided to stop at Shoprite.

I picked up some soup and some snack food. Richard's wouldn't open till 9 so I had about 1/2 an hour to pass. I drove up through Avenel, making random turns. That's where I saw this guy up ahead, raking leaves.

I was ready but, by the time I'd gotten there, he'd moved to where I didn't have a chance. It was almost time.  I drove back P. C. Richards.

As I was parking in the lot I noticed this guy loading groceries into his car.

I was temped but, since I was going to go to Richard's, I just parked and got out.

I spoke to a salesman and explained my situation. He told me that it would be up to the installer who wouldn't be in until 10. I had another hour to kill. I decided to get breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts and drove up St. George's Avenue. I parked in the back. There was a guy washing the windows.

Again, I was tempted but I was also hungry. I parked and went inside. I had a toasted Blueberry muffin with butter and a medium iced tea, black.

I still had some time so I went into the nearby auto-parts store. They sold car stereos so I waited for the counter-guy to be free. When he was, I told him my story but he said they couldn't do it. Yes, they sold some stereos but they also sold installation kits. It would be up to me.

I drove back to Richard's and spoke with the installer. He couldn't do anything without a purchase order, which meant, basically, I had to buy a radio in order to get the help I was looking for. We did speak about how complicated it would be and I got the feeling that if he could've, he would. I went back to my car.

I decided to call the numbers I'd written down. The first was no longer in service. The second had a long menu to choose from. That led me to believe they wouldn't do it without a purchase, either.

My only option was to make a service appointment at a Honda Dealer and pay the minimum one-hour labor cost. I'm gonna have to think about that.

It was still early and still sunny. I knew that I had some fried chicken at home that I could have for lunch so I thought I'd make a few stops and see what I could come up with for supper.

I didn't find anything interesting at Foodtown and headed for the A&P. I was driving down Inman Avenue when I saw this guy coming towards me.

I passed him by. I just didn't feel like it.

I picked up a Pepperoni and Cheese Calzone at the A&P that had a 50% off coupon attached and it was microwavable. Supper was only gonna cost $2.25. Not bad. When I got back to my car, I noticed that it was starting to cloud up. I decided to head home.

Sometimes things go your way and sometimes ..

things just don't work out.

Assumptions ..............

Yesterday morning, I went back to the plastic surgeon. He said everything was healing normally, including what remains of my left eyebrow which I was concerned about. He said I could stop using the bacitracin ointment and the bandages - which I was assuming - but I should use a moisturizer for a while to deal with the scarring. That I didn't expect and - being a guy who lives alone - I had to stop and buy some.

Last night, I got a text from Doyle. It's funny how our interactions have evolved from face-to-face conversations to quick text messages, but I guess that's the way most of us communicate these days. The gist of the message was that he didn't think the scarring looked too bad.

I had two assumptions here - he was still out-of-state and one of his team must've sent him a picture, so they're still following me, even if it's loosely.

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Did you ever wake up with a song in your head? Or the desire for a particular food? Well, that's what happened to me this morning - both of them. "My Sharona" by the Knack was buzzing around in my head - I don't know why - and I wanted some fried chicken - not for breakfast, of course, but for lunch and/or supper.

I started at Shoprite because I assumed they'd have some out but it was kinda early and they didn't. I decided to head for Pathmark. I drove up through Avenel, where I saw the guy coming towards me.

It's quiet up here and there was no one else around.

Point, press, Flash.

I stopped at Pathmark but they didn't have any fried chicken. I headed to Foodtown in Iselin. I drove up St. George's Avenue to Inman Avenue.

Now, when I drive, I try to obey the rules of the road and I have a set of assumptions that I follow. Several of them now came into play.

One, if the guy in front of me keeps slowing at intersections, he's looking to make a turn and it'll probably be a quick one. I give him plenty of room. Two, whether or not the guy in front of me has his blinker on, he's probably gonna make a turn. I give him plenty of room. And Three, the guy behind me is probably pissed that I leave a lot of room in front of me but I don't care.

Foodtown didn't have any fried chicken, either. Probably still too early. I remembered that there was an A&P in South Plainfield so I headed there. I decided to kill some time by driving through a couple of strip malls, one of which had a Burger King. There was a landscaping crew working. This guy was using a leaf-blower and had on earphones. I always assume that they get wrapped in the silence and will just step out into the street without looking.

I slowed as I passed him.

Point, press, Flash.

I decided to stop at the North Edison Library. I've been here before and don't usually find anything so I assumed that would happen again. I was wrong. I picked up the 4th volume in Dean Koontz' Odd Thomas series and a book called "Myths And Mysteries of New Jersey" -  a cover price total of $25 but out-of-pocket only $.50.

I continued on towards the A&P.  Up ahead I saw this woman walking along the side of the road.

In a situation like this, and in this area, I always assume that the walker - not seeing anything coming towards them - will forget that there is traffic coming up behind them and just cross the street.

Again, I slowed as I passed by.

Point, press, Flash.

The A&P had the fried chicken that I'd been looking for, and I picked out a dozen legs - my favorite part - which should last me for a few days.

When I park in a lot, I tend to leave a lot of space between my car and others. Largely because there are so many SUV's and other large cars that - sometimes - I can't see while pulling out and I wind up inching out, which I find annoying. As I walked back to my car, I noticed a black SUV parked right next to me, on my driver's side.

I assumed it was Doyle or one of his men. As I got closer, I couldn't see anyone in the vehicle because the windows were tinted. I got in to my car, started her up, and lowered the windows a bit. That's when I heard the voice.

Gordon.

"Hello, Denny. I've been meaning to come by and see how you were doing with that squamous cell carcinoma situation but, frankly, I've been quite busy these last few weeks, leading our friend Doyle a merry chase through Delaware and Maryland. But, I've managed to leave him a few red herrings down there and I'm up to see how you are."

He had lowered the passenger side windows in the SUV, but I couldn't see him. I assumed that he was staying out of sight because of Doyle's people.

"I'm fine, Gordon. There's a bit more scarring then I would've liked but they tell me all is well. We'll see."
"Very good. I'm glad to hear that, my friend. ... You do realize that I consider you my friend, don't you Denny?" He started off confident but ended ... I don't know ... desperate?
"Sure, Gordon. I know that. .. I'm doin' good. So ... how's things goin' for you?"

He laughed.

"Everything is falling into place. It shouldn't be too long now before I make my statement. I'm happy to hear that you are well, Denny. Please stay that way."

The windows started to go up on his SUV.

"Please leave the lot now, Denny."

The windows closed completely.

I drove away, heading home. Gordon was up here in New Jersey while - I thought - Doyle assumed he wasn't.

Sometimes we're right and sometimes we're wrong. but we all make ...

assumptions.

A Few Minor Annoyances ............

I was up and out early today, as usual. The change in seasons means that the sun doesn't stream through my bedroom window as early, but it is also the time of year that I am constantly annoyed by the Landscapers/School Bus parade.

When I grew up in The Bronx I knew nothing about School Buses - you either walked or took Mass Transit. Now I live in New Jersey and, although there are several schools close by, the School Buses start stopping out in front - or around the corner - or across the street - as early as 8 AM, honking their horns if the kid(s) aren't waiting. This is added to the last gasp for the local Landscapers who are now adding the sound of leaf blowers to their repertoire.

Now, the noise is bad enough but just try driving anywhere before 9 AM. The Landscaper trucks and trailers are parked everywhere - on both sides of the street - and narrowing down the amount of space we drivers can use. Add the constantly stopping School Buses to this mess and it's almost impossible to get around.

Trying to bypass these annoyances, I drove around the block and took Green Street to St. George. Yes, the nuisances were there but Green is pretty wide and mostly commercial so I only had to deal with a couple of Crossing Guards. (Another annoyance - they need to learn how NOT to swing their Stop signs around indiscriminately).

I headed up towards Pathmark. I live with a cat and the only litter she'll use is from there. On a whim, I took a right onto Avenel Street and found myself coming up behind this woman.

I got to her just as she reached the tree line.

Point, press, Flash.

A couple of quick lefts then a right and I stopped at Pathmark. I picked up the litter and one of those cereal-on-the-go, single bowl units of Special K to eat in the car.

The Pathmark area in across St. George from a Home Depot and there's a traffic light there. Common courtesy dictates that cars leaving from both sides should use their blinkers so that the car across the way knows what you're going to do. I had my left blinker on and so did the car exiting Home Depot. When we got the green light I started to turn left and had to slam on my breaks because the idiot drove straight across. We both stopped in the middle yelling and gesturing but English wasn't even close to his second language and I just drove around him, annoyed again.

I stopped at the Main Library and used one of their copiers. Then, browsing their sales books, I picked up one by Dan Brown and a recent addition to James Patterson's Alex Cross series.

They're doing some road work (another annoying thing) at the Library's entrance so I had to drive out through the back lot. That's where I came across this guy.

He just kept staring at me as he strolled by and, frankly, that annoyed me too.

Point, press, Flash.

I came out in some side streets, made my way back to St. George, and headed for Metuchen. Since I'd had some luck with new books, I thought I'd check out the Library there.

I parked on Library Street and headed for the back entrance - as I always do - only to find that they were replacing the door so I had to walk around to the front. Again, something annoying. I did pick up a novel by Herman Melville that was a fictionalized account of his year on a Man-of-War. I walked around to the back and drove towards South Plainfield.

I stopped at the Thrift Store and picked up 2 button-down flannel shirts for less then $10 total. I headed back.

Along New Dover Road, I saw this guy heading towards me.

I was almost over all my annoyances. Almost.

Point, press, Flash.

I stopped at a Subways and picked up a sandwich.

As I drove home I thought about the morning. I'd had a pretty nice drive. I'd picked up about $28 worth of books for $1.50. I had 2 new flannel shirts for the coming cold weather. I had a 12-inch sub that would be my lunch and supper. All in all, it had been a pretty good day although there had been ..

a few minor annoyances.

Rain ..................

It looked like it was gonna rain when I woke up this morning. They predicted it, but for later in the day. I was kinda hoping it would. I've replaced a front head light and the windshield wipers and I'd like to see how they work.

My morning rituals continue to include bandaging my forehead.

I met with my oncologist and plastic surgeons last week, separately of course. The oncologist said they got everything and it looked clean, but that's what he said the last time and it grew back. (If the radiology people suggest it, I think I'll opt for some this time). The plastic surgeon said my forehead looked good and I could wash it now with soap and water then continue to apply the bacitracin ointment. As far as the bandaging was concerned, I didn't need it at home and he'd be OK with my not wearing them out. To me, my forehead is still "a work in progress" so I decided to continue the bandaging when I go out.

I had a scrip to pick up at my pharmacist's in Walmart but they wouldn't open until 9. I decided to kill some time by running some quick errands. I drove up into Avenel and stopped at the Post Office to mail my electric bill. I took some back streets, heading towards the Wawa's on Route 9 and saw this guy up ahead.

It was quiet back here - no one around.

Point, press, Flash.

I stopped at the Wawa's and had the tank filled up. $3.09 a gallon. Not bad. I decided to swing by Shoprite. It hadn't started raining yet but I could feel the dampness in the air. Turned out they had Campbell's Chunky Soups on sale, 4 for $5. I picked up some New England Clam Chowder, a Sausage and Chicken Gumbo, and some Jambalaya. (The Gumbo and Jambalaya are new and - I'm hoping - as tasty as the pictures on the cans look.)

I drove up to Walmart, picked up my scrip, and stopped at the near-by Dunkin' Donuts. I had a decaf coffee (my first of the season) and a blueberry muffin.

It still hadn't rained so I headed for Metuchen. I drove along Amboy Avenue and saw this guy walking his bike along the sidewalk.

I didn't know why he wasn't riding it, but we were the only ones around.

Point, press, Flash.

I took the next right, cut over to Fords Avenue and, after a couple of turns, took Woodbridge Center Drive to Route 27, still heading towards Metuchen.

It was starting to drip now, but not enough to use the lights or wipers.

Route 27 along here is known as Lincoln Highway. I was still in Edison when I came up behind this guy.

I was tempted but it was just too open. I drove on into Metuchen and stopped at the library. I didn't find anything interesting and, since it was only 11, I decided to just drive around for a while.

I made a few left turns and got on to Main Street and actually stopped to take this picture.

Looks like Autumn is coming on fast.

I decided to head for home and drove up through Colonia and Iselin.

It misted for a while so I did get to try my wipers and lights.

As I sit here now writing this, I look out the window and there it is ...

Rain.