At Random in Packrat

I’m working on a couple of articles for our newspaper but unable to move forward at the moment because I’m waiting for questions to be answered by some outside sources.

I guess this means I’ll stop in and let you know I’m still here!

Thoughts flitting through my head or stuff I’ve done:

…I opened a savings account for my niece, starting with $50, since I was 50 when she arrived. When she’s 18 the account will transfer to her, but I have my doubts. A smart 18-year-old kid is still a kid. I’d rather that she not get the money until she’s 25, at least, although that’s still very young and, in some cases, still immature. Well, I have 17 years and some months to think it over and revisit it.

…I accompanied my mom and sister to the city for shopping last Saturday; I had need of only a few items, none of them baby related. They wanted to get her a high chair. Well, I ended up getting a diaper pail, refills, a blanket, a bib (My 1st Halloween), several outfits (in my defense, she really did need winter clothes), shoes, and a soft, stuffed horse (yeah, I got one for me, too). And that’s just what I got. My brother thinks too many clothes are a waste since she’ll quickly outgrow them…but obviously no one is paying any attention to him.

…I’ve made a mountain out of a molehill. Ever since I started keeping a journal, I’ve used 200-page, college ruled notebooks. They were always easily obtained - and still are but now they come with perforated edges. I want notebooks without that, and those have become a rarity. There are other options out there but none suit. I likes what I likes. I went to Staples in the hope of finding one and ended up getting notebook paper, a sheet of stationary (a pastel of the ocean) for the cover, and having it spiral bound. When it was ready I refrained from exclaiming, “It’s beautiful!” - but I did keep blubbering, “Thank you! Thank you!”

…S and I finally had dinner out when I had to go to the city for a meeting (and get a stroller, which meant I had to get some footie pajamas, but I digress). After hearing about my trip and talking about the War of 1812 he said, “You have such an interesting job!” I agree! Sometimes I can’t believe I get paid to do what I do. I loved that I could share it with him. He started coughing and sneezing and not feeling well, but we’d had a good visit of at least a couple of hours before that. He said recently we need “a do-over” - I’m not going to argue, because although I thought it all went well and I enjoyed myself, a do-over means I get to do it again. :)

…He stopped in to see me the other day. After all this time, he actually seemed nervous! He fidgeted, couldn’t stand still, said he had to leave and then would find something else to ask about. I, on the other hand, was quite calm (I’d given up on him). I’m not wired to pick up signals, but even I noticed this, and I wondered, “Is this for me?!”

…I’ve always loved watermelon but this summer I’ve been addicted.

…The dried snake carcass finally blew or got swept away. Now I am free to park wherever I want.

…Made a faux pas recently. I stopped in at a local convenience store where one of the cashiers looked familiar to me. As she bustled around I recognized her as the older sister of a girl I hung around and graduated with. In fact the first time I ever drove a car - or tried to - was this sister’s (it was a manual, which made me swear off them at the time but since then all my cars have been manual). I went to the counter to pay and tell my story. “Older sister?” I asked - and she snapped, “No, Sister you graduated with!” I always thought she favored her older sister…who’s about ten years older! Oops…

Last updated September 16, 2014