Compulsion ...............

The only thing I wanted to get done today was to stop at the library and print out my monthly checking account statement. I do this every month. I've been criticized for doing this since I can see it online but I like to balance my account and printing my statement helps me to do that. I guess you could call it a compulsion.

I left my house around 8:40 so I'd be at the library when they open at 9. I took Rahway to Freeman. Along the way I came up behind this woman.

It was tempting but the High School is just behind those trees and there was a lot of traffic. I drove on to the library.

I printed out my statement and, on my way out, stopped at their sales table. I picked up "Dune: House Atreides" and "Dune: House Corrino" by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson for $.50 a piece.  I've always liked the original "Dune" series by Frank Herbert and these were part of a prequel co-written by his son. There was just one problem.

These are part of a trilogy - actually, they are parts 1 and 3. Part 2 is missing.

Now, I haven't read either of the books I'd just bought but I knew that I needed to find a copy of part 2. I'm a collector. It's a compulsion.

I headed up St. George but got stuck at the railroad crossing.

This gave me some time to leaf through part 1. This reinforced my need for part 2.

There were 2 stores I could get to that might have what I was looking for but they wouldn't be open until 10. I stopped for my lottery tickets, picked up the paper, and had breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts. I got back on St. George and drove up to Inman where I turned left and saw this woman coming towards me.

 

I didn't even consider it. I was focused on a used book store that I've been to before.

I stopped at the Book Trader but they didn't have what I was looking for.

Next stop - the used book store on Main Street in Metuchen. I drove down Inman to Grove. Just before I turned off to park behind the library I saw this guy.

He's kind of a regular around here and I've seen him in the library a couple of times. But I'm on a mission right now so I passed him by.

The used book store didn't have what I was looking for. I headed home. As I crossed the Edison/Woodbridge border I saw this guy.

So far, I've been frustrated in my search. I took it out now.

Point, press, Flash.

I got the parking spot right outside of my living room.

I logged on to my laptop, accessed my account with Better World Books, and ordered part 2 - "Dune: House Harkonnen".

I would have preferred to have the book in my hand but I settled for ordering it at a discount price. What can I say.

It's a compulsion.

The Little Things ..............

Over the last couple of weeks I've been thinking a lot about the little things. You know, how sometimes they can annoy us and at others they can make our day.
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Late last week, I was on my way home and stopped at the red light on Amboy and Main. A State Police SUV pulled up on my driver's side and lowered his passenger window. I had no choice but to lower my window, too.

"Do you know that your brake lights are out?" Of course, I had no idea.
"No, sir, I didn't."
"The right side and the center. Fix them." He raised his window. He was done.
If it had been a local cop, I might've gotten a ticket.

The next morning, I got up early to get the lights replaced. I had the manual and checked out how to do it, but I didn't have the right tools. I'd need to buy them and have them installed.

I stopped first at the Auto Zone near Shoprite. There was a young woman working inside who made no attempt to help me. I tried to figure out the parts book, but it was Greek to me. I left and drove up St. George's to the Advanced Auto near Dunkin' Donuts. One of the guys came right over and helped me find the bulbs. He couldn't install them - store policy - but he sent me to a garage who would.

Customer Service is such a small thing.

I turned right onto New Brunswick and then right onto East Inman. I saw this guy coming my way.

I passed him by as I headed for the garage.

There were two guys inside just sort of hanging around. It took one of them less then 10 minutes to put the bulbs in. When I asked how much I owed him, he told me to forget it - it wasn't any trouble. Maybe, he suggested, I'd remember them the next time I needed some work done. I drove away. Another small thing that made my day.

I stopped at a Hess Station and filled up. $2.09.

Saturday, I passed the same Hess Station. They were now $2.19. $.10 a gallon is a small thing but it was in my favor.

I picked up the paper, stopped at Dunkin' Donuts, and drove to the Menlo Park Mall to enjoy my ritual. I then drove through Edison into Iselin, heading for the Foodtown. I picked up something for supper and was walking back to my car when I heard this guy.

He was wearing headphones, walking around beside his minivan, and carrying on a loud, animated conversation with someone. I know, it's a small thing, but it annoys me. I drove away.

Sunday, I went to mass, had a nice breakfast, and just decided to drive around for a while since it was such a nice day. I was on New Dover Road when I came up on this guy.

Since we were just outside of St. Helen's Church I passed him by. Going to mass is a small thing  that gives comfort to a lot of people.

I stopped at a Wendy's for lunch. I'd been carrying around a gift card I'd gotten last year and I finally got a chance to use it. A small thing, but tasty.

Monday it rained. I was out for about an hour and a half. Nothing happened except that when I passed the Hess Station, they were up to $2.29.

Today, I had a couple of things I wanted to do. First on the agenda, an oil change at 8 Minute Oil on St. George's. From there, I stopped at Shoprite for my lottery tickets (as usual) and went to the nearby Taco Bell's for breakfast. This was because of another gift card I'd been carrying around. I had their new Bacon and Egg wrap meal. It wasn't bad but the bits of bacon kept falling out.

As I left, traffic at the exit was slowed due to the landscapers working there. I finally got to the exit and had to wait while this guy stood in the street to take pictures of their work.

I would have used the Flasher, but it was too open.

I stopped at my favorite Thrift Shop but didn't find anything. I stopped at the library in Metuchen and picked up copies of Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon" and Chandler's "The Big Sleep" for $.50 each. Small things that make me happy.

I headed Down Route 27 and then right on Gill Lane. This passes through a cemetery. I saw this young man up ahead.

I just kept going. It was a cemetery after all.

I stopped at the Verizon Store near the Woodbridge Center Mall. My phone is pretty old and I wanted to see what my options were. I've had some problems here in the past having to do with the plan I'm on and I was anticipating the same thing. It started out that way, but the young man quickly turned things around and showed me what I could do. I'll be going back next month.

Customer Service - just saying.

I stopped at Wegman's and got a prepackaged salad and a small container of chopped onions and celery. I cut through one of the business complexes to get back to Main Street, heading home.

I parked by my house and checked my emails before going in. I had one from my daughter. Another picture.

You see, the reason that little things have been on my mind recently is that back on April 5th ( Easter Sunday ) she gave birth to her first child - my first grandchild. She was born at 11:39 P. M., weighed 8 lbs., 9 oz., and measured 20 inches.

Since then, Doyle has called to congratulate me and I found a card from Gordon slipped under my door (although I'm not sure how he knew so quickly).

It's been 6 1/2 years since my transplant and things keep happening.

And the best ones have been the little things.

People Are Strange ......

It looks like my interrupted sleep pattern will continue for a few more days at least. My daughter says that the baby will probably hold out until her due date - which is Tuesday the 7th. This gives me some time to get one more thing taken care of.
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Today is Saturday and I was looking forward to my routine. I stopped at ShopRite to pick up a few things - mostly cleaning stuff, it is Spring, after all. On the way in, I passed their Dunkin' Donut outlet and thought that I'd get my breakfast to go.

I bought what I needed, took it out to my car, and went back in for a medium iced tea and a bagel with cream cheese. There was a woman with her daughter at the counter placing an order. The young girl was wearing pajama pants which has been the style for a number of years. I think that pajama pants are cute when kids wear them; okay when women wear them; and totally unacceptable for men. (I don't even like to wear sweat pants outside.)

This kid, however, was also wearing a robe with a combination of colors that clashed dramatically with the pants. It looked to me that the mother had things to do and dragged her daughter out of the house before she could get changed. Strange.

I left and wound up at the Dunkin' Donut shop on Avenel where I ate my breakfast at one of the tables. I then drove towards the Menlo Park Mall. I stopped at the light by the Metro Park train station and noticed that the car next to me was rocking. I looked over and saw the driver shaking her hands and nodding her head, obviously to whatever music she was listening to. Now, I sing along with the radio, too, and I like to bang on the steering wheel to the beat but this was just strange.

When the light changed, she went right and I went straight ahead.

I spent a very pleasant hour or so at the Mall, reading the paper and doing the crossword puzzle and browsing through Barnes & Noble's. Now it was time to take care of that one more thing.

I drove up towards JFK Hospital.

My daughter is going to be here for the delivery and, since that's coming up, I wanted to sort of map out my way there. I like to know where things are and how to get to them.

Of course, I've been to JFK before. I spent a week here when I was first diagnosed, and I had to come back weekly for out-patient testing for several months afterwards. I already knew about the parking situation but I wanted to find out where the Maternity Ward was. It didn't take me long.

I stopped at a Hess Station on 35 and filled up. $2.03 a gallon.

It was coming up on noon and I was getting hungry. I stopped at the Pathmark in Avenel. As I walked in I remembered that there was a Subway's inside.

They have a special going on - any 12-inch sub for $6. That's not a bad price. I went in, and there was 1 woman waiting and a young man being served.

He was having a turkey and parmesan on herb bread. He added lettuce and onions. When it came to condiments, he asked for mustard and then oil-and-vinegar. Mustard and oil-and-vinegar? That's too strange for me.

I left, stopped at a local deli for Boar's Head Bologna and a kaiser roll, and went home. I got a good spot right out in front of my living room window.

As I sat there finishing my iced tea, I thought back on the morning. Some people might think that my checking out the hospital was strange but it's something I do. It's a part of who I am. That's when I realized that I'd misjudged some people today. That every one else has things that are a part of them.

The mustard and oil-and-vinegar combination is a part of who that young man is.

"Car dancing" is a part of who that woman in the car is.

I was beginning to think that wearing a robe outside instead of a coat is a part of who that young girl is. And that she was lucky to have a mother who didn't stifle her creativity.

We all do things that we like to do - that we consider normal, but that others might think of as strange. We're all different. Every one of us has a quirk, an idiosyncrasy. They are what makes us "us".

And that's OK.

Like Morrison sings ... "People Are Strange".

Road Trip ............

When I checked my outdoor thermometer before I left my apartment this morning it was already 49, and the sun was shining brightly. Today, I decided, I was going to take a drive down into Monmouth County.  I haven't been down there in months and I was looking forward to this.

I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts and picked up some breakfast for the ride. I chose a medium, unsweetened iced tea instead of a decaf coffee, and I was wearing sneakers instead of my waterproof boots.

Today was my own, personal "First Day of Spring".

I had the radio on CBS-FM as I drove down Route 9 onto Route 35 and turned onto Middle Road in Hazlet. I stopped at the library, but didn't find anything interesting. I got back onto Middle Road and headed towards Middletown. I went to make a right turn when this bike rider shot past me. If I'd made the turn I would've hit him.

I didn't turn. I followed him and when I passed him ..

Point, press, Flash.

I took the next right and continued on towards Middletown. Along here, I passed the set of offices where the real estate agent who sold us our first house used to work. He got us a good deal, but I'm pretty sure he cut a lot of corners. I didn't see his name among the signs.

I stopped at the Middletown Library and picked up a couple of books. I was still thinking about our old house and I decided - spur of the moment - to take a drive past it.

I made a right on Thompson, by the Target, and headed towards Route 36. I passed the office where my daughter's pediatrician used to work - it's a dental office now. Up ahead I saw this guy walking on the opposite side of the street.

There was no one else around.

Point, press, Flash.

I made a left onto Route 36 and headed towards Union Beach. I passed the building where our real estate lawyer used to work. It's still there but he isn't.

I made a right onto Anderson Street. The house is still there and still looks the same. Except we didn't have the mailbox, they've taken out the bushes that were in front of the kitchen windows, the fence is gone, and the front steps are missing.

By now, I was getting kind of nostalgic. Maybe because this is where my daughter was born and raised and now she's going to have a baby of her own.

Oh well, someone once compared life to a river - you either go with the flow or you drown. I headed back.

It was starting to cloud over now, and was feeling cooler.

They're still doing construction work on Route 35 North, but there was very little traffic so it didn't cause me much of a delay. Just as I was coming up on Lawrence Harbor I saw this guy.

Sometimes, I just can't resist it.

Point, press, Flash.

I stayed on 35 instead of getting back on 9. This took me up through Perth Amboy. I came up on this guy waiting on a corner.

And sometimes I can resist. The area was just too open.

I stopped at Wegman's and picked up some things.

I headed home.

It turned out to be a bit more nostalgic then I had expected but I enjoyed the ride.

There's nothing like a road trip.

A Good Day ............

I haven't slept well the last few nights. There's nothing really wrong, it's just a touch of anxiety. My daughter is expecting her first child - my first grandchild - any day now so I keep waking up every hour or so to check my phone. I'm afraid I might sleep through the call. I'm tired, but it's a good thing.

This morning I got up at my usual time (between 6:30 and 6:45) to check my vitals and take some pills. I then went back to bed for another 1 1/2 hours. Around then, the kids upstairs are stomping around getting ready for school. I got washed up, dressed, and was out the door by about 8:45. It was a bit chilly, but it wasn't raining. I had some errands to run, and a plan on how to do them.

I forgot to mention this before but - a couple of weeks ago - I finally had a radio installed in my car.

It was a belated Christmas present from some family members and I still forget to turn it on right away. I'm getting better with it though and, one of these days, I'll check the manual for how to use the CD Player. Still, having music and news in stereo instead of through a single ear bud is a good thing.

My first stop was ShopRite. I go there a lot but on Mondays and Thursdays I also pick up my lottery tickets. Today, there was no line. And I picked up some Ritz Crackers that were on sale - 2 boxes for $3. Those were good things.

I headed up St. George and then realized that I meant to stop for gas. I cut through some back streets and then through a Krauser's parking lot. That's where I saw this guy smoking a cigarette.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove back to the Wawa's on Routes 1 & 9 and filled up. $2.01 a gallon. That's a good price.

I stopped for the paper then had breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts - a medium decaf coffee and a toasted blueberry muffin with butter. I sat down with my book but didn't get much reading done. I could hear the conversation that these two guys nearby were having. They were in the middle of agreeing that we were probably being observed by aliens and that the government knew about it. By the time I'd finished eating, they were discussing why no one could get a clear picture of Big Foot and whether it would be legal or not to shoot him.

Breakfast and a comedy show. That's a good thing.

Next stop, WalMart - they have a prescription ready for me. Because of where I was parked, I couldn't just turn up Avenel. I had to cut through some back streets to Prospect and come out there. When I stopped at the sign to make the left I saw the checkpoint.

My inspection sticker is up-to-date, I was wearing my seat belt, and all my documents were good. Still, they had traffic backed up and they'd pulled a bunch of cars over already. I made my turn without getting involved .That's definitely a good thing

WalMart had my prescription ready and there was no line at the Pharmacy counter. It was still early so I decided to drive down Amboy Avenue through the Clara Barton section and then make the right turn onto Main Street into Metuchen.

It was overcast out but it was warm in the car and I was enjoying the music. The only problem was the potholes.

The winter had been so bad that there isn't one street that I've been on that doesn't have at least a couple of them. The main roads aren't too bad because the townships have been trying to keep them filled. I've seen the work crews out - here and there - for the last couple of weeks. But the side streets and back roads look like a war zone. There are some streets that are so bad that they've had to close sections of them completely while they redo them.

This took me out of my way and I wound up driving up James Street to get around one of these. Along there, I saw this woman heading my way.

I was too busy watching out for the potholes to pay too much attention to her. I made it to New Dover and turned right.

The road along here was in much better shape, probably due to the upscale nature of the neighborhood, and I was able to look around a bit more. Up ahead, I saw this guy preparing to do some line work.

These guys always kinda bothered me. They have different size trucks that do the same thing but they always seem to use the really big ones on these narrow two-way streets. I had to slow as I passed him.

Point, press,Flash.

I drove around him and headed home.

I stopped at Subways and picked up a 12-inch tuna on Italian with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sweet pepper, and mayo.

I was home in time to watch "The Price Is Right".

It was a good day.

Found It.............

Spring is here! Well, not officially. That won't happen until next week. But it sure feels like it.

We got slammed last Thursday with about 5 inches of snow. Thankfully, it was powdery so it only took me about 1/2 an hour to clean off the car on Friday. While I was out there, the young people who were parked in front of me - who had cleared off their SUV the night before - drove off. I pulled into that spot and then was able to push the plowed snow over towards the curb, opening up the spot I'd been in. I didn't move it again until Saturday.

Sunday, we turned the clocks ahead an hour. When I went to change the one in the living room, I found that the battery had died. Kind of ironic, don't you think?

Monday, I was out and about - running some errands that had piled up. I'm still looking for a new, microwavable bowl for soup and now I needed a battery for the living room clock. No luck but there was a definite warming trend happening.

Tuesday, I did a friend a favor - which took a bit longer then I expected - but I got a free breakfast out of it. A little warmer again.

Today was for me. Another warm day, though the sun was only able to break through a couple of times. I stopped at Shoprite first. I picked up some cat food and then checked out the batteries. I remembered to bring the dead one from the clock and - although the numbers didn't match - I was able to compare the size and picked one out.

I stopped at KMart and checked out the cookware. I was hoping for something lighter but wound up buying a microwavable, Pyrex bowl that was on sale for half-price.

I drove out of the lot feeling good. As I turned right, I noticed this guy.

I couldn't tell if he was on his phone or not. It didn't matter. I passed him by.

I took the next right onto New Brunswick and then a left onto Inman. I was just listening to the radio and enjoying the day. That's when I saw this guy.

He looked like he was doing what I was doing. I drove by.

I made the left on Grove. There's a strip mall with a Stop-N-Shop on the right and a senior citizen's development on the left so the road has several sets of rumble strips to slow cars down. This woman was crossing there.

I stopped. She waved at me. I waved back, smiling. When she got on the sidewalk, I drove on. Feeling even better.

I stopped at the library in Metuchen but didn't find anything. I headed back home along Rout 27.

I was coming up on the right turn on Parsonage when I noticed this person coming in my direction.

I didn't know where he was coming from or where he was going but he was out there walking. I took the right and then the next left.

I stopped at Subway's for a tuna on Italian bread with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, sweet peppers, and mayonnaise. I drove home.

I went out to get a microwavable bowl and I found it.

I went out to get a battery and I found it.

I went out to enjoy the warmth of the coming Spring and I found it.

It Makes Me Happy .............

Like the song says .."Sunshine came softly through my window today." There it was, peeping through my bedroom blinds, for the first time in days. Sunshine at last.

It made me feel happy.

It was cold out when I left my apartment, of course, and the wind made it feel colder, but that sunlight made up for any discomfort I was feeling. I only had one place to go today but I was gonna take my time getting there.

I stopped at the Dunkin' Donuts on St. George and ate my breakfast at a table by the junction of two windows. I could feel the warmth of the sun through them. I was happy eating there.

I drove up into Rahway and stopped at the library. Because of the snow piles, I parked closer to the back then I usually do so I went into that entrance. There was a woman just ahead of me.

We were too close to the door and I couldn't see if anyone was in the foyer. I followed her in. She took the elevator and I took the stairs. I didn't get anything.

On the way out, I passed this guy.

I looked around, then turned back towards him.

Point, press, Flash.

I got back in my car and headed towards Inman Avenue feeling happy.

I stopped at the Colonia Branch of the Woodbridge Library. I didn't find anything interesting. I got back on Inman and headed towards Edison. I took a left on Grove. Up ahead,  I saw this woman.

When I got closer, I noticed that she was on the phone. I never bother people on their phones - it's one of the few rules I follow. I continued on Grove and stopped at the North Edison Library. I was happy to find a copy of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" for $.25.

I took Grove to Route 27 and stopped at the Metuchen Library. Again, nothing there caught my eye.
I headed up Main Street and made a left on Amboy. This took me from Metuchen into the Clara Barton section of Ford's. This is a quiet area full of tree-lined streets. I was coming to a stop at a street light when I saw this guy coming up on my driver's side.

As the light turned green .....

Point, press, Flash.

It happens that way, every now and then. I was happy with it.

I headed towards Walmart. That was the only place I needed to go today.( Now, I know that a lot of my friends and family refuse to shop there but that's where my pharmacy is. They've been extremely helpful with all of my prescriptions since the transplant 6 years ago and I like their automated system for renewals and notifications.)

I pulled into their lot and, again, had to deal with the huge mounds of snow there. I parked a little further away then I usually do. That's where I saw this guy getting into his car.

The sun was still shining brightly and the wind had died down. I went inside and chatted with the counter girl as she got my refill for me.

To get out of the lot, I had to drive around to the side of the building. That's where I saw this guy.

I had no idea why he was walking there. It was such a nice day out and yet there he was - all alone. He looked cold. Maybe he felt miserable.

Point, press, Flash.

Sometimes, I get a chance to help someone out.

It makes me happy.