On my early morning walk, I checked out the spot where I found the five twenty-dollar bills to see if there was a place where I could post a sign, saying, “If you lost something of value at this spot, call 808-310-9-5923.” I obviously wouldn’t post what I found. I’d have everyone and his brother calling me. I find I am also concerned that I will get some uncomfortable phone calls. Not doing something also makes me uncomfortable. What if this was someone’s food money? These are tough times. Many people are struggling for basic necessities.
The gardeners came this morning. I directed them to plant the hibiscus I bought, sitting in a pot in the front yard. I also asked them to dig a somewhat larger rock out of the hole I had dug to plant the orchid Joe gave me. They planted it. Hopefully, they did it correctly. Orchids need a lot of rocks around them for drainage. Too much water is the greatest threat to their well-being.
I tried to do some work on the article. Yesterday, I printed all I had and took some paragraphs from one copy to include in a second. I started rereading it. I had had it. It felt like I was being forced fed, water-boarded. I had to set it aside. I put and down and headed out to do some chores.
My first stop was the DMV. At my age, I have to renew my driver’s license every two years. It was due in December, on my eightieth birthday; you can get it six months before. I wanted to get it over with. I can only think everything will get worse before it gets better, and I want everything in place that I can get in place.
It was a long, long wait. I had my kindle with me, so it was bearable, except for my nagging hunger. I put all the required documents together a while ago and placed them in a shopping bag and in my car. I used my tax return to show my social security number. Ha! They no longer post the whole number on the W-2 forms, only the last four digits. The accountant had written it somewhere in the document, but it didn’t count because it was a state issue paper. The DMV clerk warned me to get a Social Security card or have trouble next time. I haven’t owned a card in years. I asked if the passport was the only acceptable proof of identity. She said yes, better make sure it stays current. I show them the picture id they issued when I turn in my current driver’s license for my new one, and that’s not acceptable. My photo-id driver’s license is considered proof of identity in all other contexts, but not with the agency that issued it. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Here’s another problem. Passports are expensive. Many people may not be able to afford them. What are they supposed to do?
I headed into town to drop off the Styrofoam that came with the fan Richie installed. I had pulled some more out of the trash barrel from Yvette and Josh. I wouldn’t have fit my garbage in if I hadn’t, and I prefer to recycle than throw things out.
I stopped off at a local building supply company, HPM, to see if they carried homasote. I put Richie to work on improving the acoustic insulation between the guest bedroom and Yvette’s. The store employees were remarkably ignorant of what they are selling. I finally found one at the checkout in the lumber area. They didn’t have anything like that.
Off to Home Depot to return the fan with the broken glass. I asked for help unloading the broken fan. There was an associate at the front door, making sure people had masks and cleaned their hands. When I asked him for help, he wasn’t sure he was strong enough. I said that the two of us could do it together. When I did lift it, I realized that it really wasn’t that heavy. It’s a big box, awkward, but I could manage the weight.
At the return desk, I told them that I think the problem was caused by a manufacturing problem, and it didn’t break in shipping. I went off to see if I could find a sixty-two-inch fan in white. No such animal. I got another fan in the same style as the one already installed.
I went to check if they had any homasote. One associate tried to help me. She couldn’t find anything on her handheld computer and recommended I speak to one of the gentlemen down the aisle. They didn’t know what I was talking about either. I was shown some foam board. I remember seeing this product at Home Depot last year when I first started looking.
When I checked out, I bought myself a Hersey’s Milk Chocolate bar with almonds. I was starving. I had been hungry while I was waiting at the DMV. I was going to start chewing on the car soon.
I headed to Costco, which is right around the corner. I was still munching on the chocolate bar as I went to enter. The employee at the entrance told me I couldn’t walk in eating. I had to put my mask on. I stepped aside, finished the bar, pulled up my mask, and entered. I just wanted to buy blueberries and vinegar. I picked up some of my miso soup and a case of almond milk. As Yvette says, grab it while it’s in. Since everything has to be shipped from the mainland, you never know when the next shipment will be.
I couldn’t find the vinegar. I asked an employee. He pointed me to an end display. There wasn’t much left. He said there was a vinegar shortage. That was the case when Covid first hit. Vinegar was scarce, along with rubbing alcohol and Clorox. They didn’t have the two packs gallon container; they only had the larger bottles, 1.3 gallons. I grabbed four.
I pushed the loaded cart out to the parking lot and loaded my car on my own. I usually ask someone to help me load heavy items, like the case of almond milk. I had to struggle, but I was able to do it.
I headed home to unload the car and nap. I had a hot dog for dinner with a salad. I also took a piece of fish out of the freezer for tomorrow night’s dinner.
I had had enough of Outlander. It is so emotionally intense. The historical facts, political and cultural, are fascinating. The lead actors are gorgeous, a pleasure to watch. Their sex acts, explicit as any soft porn, are very tastefully done. The emphasis is on their feelings for each other rather than sex. Amazingly well done. When acts of malicious violence come on, I fast forward. Despite doing that, the intense emotions of the show were having an impact on me, so I watched something else.
I asked for the Big Lebowski through Amazon prime. I got a list of movies and shows with the word ‘great’ in it, but no Big Lebowski. I found a lovely film, “Two Boys and a Girl from Clare.” Some romance and drama but dialed down. What a relief!
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