Why Would a Person Do This?

Oh goodness, it has been years since I mentioned this phenomenon .  But I got anther shining example of this strange behavior this morning in the Wally World parking lot. I used to see it at work in the huge parking lots.  But let's go back to Wally World.

I had come out with a  full cart that had some large things in it...some groceries, and miscellaneous other things.  I opened my rear passenger car door and started loading things in.  Now I had a LOT of things..just telling you.

I heard a motor running.  I moved my eyes, not my head, and saw a woman in a vehicle right at the rear passenger side of my car.  There was a parking space just 2 up from me.   I continued with what I was doing and though I thought for a second to slow down a bit..I overcame that ill spirited  thought and just kept loading things into the car,  Many were heavy as was, for example the very large bottled water. Still, the engine idled as she continued sitting there waiting for me to be done. The rest of the spaces were available, and she'd only have to go one car past me to get one.  But no.  She  idled on.  I was still dragging the heavy stuff out, arranging it on the floor and the seat.  (I never load stuff into the trunk for another reason I'll get to on down the road).  Minutes passed, still she sat there.  I was finished after 5 minutes I would say and pushed my cart back to the rack.  I walked back up and got in the car. I admit finding my phone and checking to see if there were urgent messages for me from Congress or the Air National Guard or the Tooth Fairy.  I clicked mail to see if Katie had meowed wanting more foods or a new toy.  None of the messages I checked for arrived.

Grandiflora Magnolia blossom just tarting to unfold.  Big as a salad plate fully open. 

SO...I backed up and left.  The poor woman slid right on into my place, eschewing the space one up from mine.  

She could have parked one space up...gone in  and started shopping having made her way more than 2/3's  up the main aisle of the superstore but... she chose to wait on me.  Just can't understand it, but as long as she was happy.  Is it that much easier to not walk one car's width?  Bless your heart.

Phones of the Ages :-)

I was thinking awhile ago when we all started becoming fascinated with cell phones.  I recall my own experience of course.  It was in the early 90's that I decided to go to what was then called Cellular One and get myself a phone.  Did I need one?  Nope.  It was going to be decoration and make me feel like a big girl!  All important and stuff...I had a CELL PHONE!

I used to see the bag phones when that started,  and couldn't imagine having to carry all that but I would have if I could have afforded it just so I could feel all important and grown up and 'look at ME'.

Then, as I said, in the early 90's I took the plunge!  That cell phone was as large as the Princess phones in the home and way heavier.  It was so heavy it was like carrying a brick in my purse.  It looked like one too.   I could only afford 30 minutes a month.  So I had to be super careful of minutes when showing off by calling someone on it.  Trying to make a long distance call required number sequences and all sorts of pain in the neck stuff and cell towers were not that plentiful then.

I thought I had arrived then the smaller flip phones came out.   Not long afterward, the really smaller, fit in one hand flip phones came out and gosh, everyone had one.  I have a picture here for you of one of the old  but somewhat smaller big cell phones, and my small( old) next generation flip phone together.

I saw a Charlie's Angels  show yesterday and the girls and their boss have portable cell phones in their cars. They looked like the regular hand set in your home with those receivers.  It was funny but too, it was a good time table of cell phone progression.  And all of the ones I just spoke of got the job done.

I can only  find this big heavy Nokia and a flip phone pic right now.  The really huge brick sized one is gone.

Did you have one of the first ones or a bag phone?

It the "Never There When Needed" Syndrome

I have literally been in all the stores that are likely to carry potting soil.  I need some for repotting my mother's cactus.  It has been in my possession since the late 70's.  So I try to take care of it.  I would prefer succulent soil but to find it is impossible now.  I have looked everywhere.  I decided I had no choice but to get regular potting soil.  All I can find is the potting soil with miracle grow in it, and I sure don't need that!  All I need is regular soil, no enhanced soil. But succulent soil would be best.   It doesn't compact like the other does.

And there are few mom and pop stores in the Country nowadays.  All the places you go seem to be offshoots of a huge corporation, and their hierarchy is the one who controls inventory and the individual places have no say in what they stock. That's sad.

Someone is coming to lay the ground paper down and put mulch out.  I'm waiting for that now...they didn't get here yet.  I'm also waiting on whatever entity it is that is supposed to call me about a privacy fence installation.  I went to one of the big box hardware stores yesterday to see if they sold fencing and installed it.  They use outside contractors and took my name to be contacted by one of them.  So far (of course) that hasn't happened.  Guess I'll have to go all the way there to try again. Of course.

I'm presently...or for about six months so far, on a reading binge.  I always love reading but I swear, I have sat in the evening reading when there are other things to do.  I prefer paper books.  I only use ebooks when I'm desperate or have run out of my preferred reading material.

What's for lunch?  If yours is better than mine, more tasty, may I come over?  I'm tired of my same old same old.

Anyone ever eat fried taters and onions?

Here's my iPhone pics yesterday of my Dogwoods.

Time, to Coin a Phrase, Flies

Guys, blink twice and it will be the 4th of July.  Here it is mid April.  Easter is a week away and summer will be on us, hot and heavy.  Wonder if the Christmas stuff will be out in the stores next Tuesday?  Oh wait.  Thanksgiving stuff first...then, Christmas things and music in the first week of May. They'll need to get those artificial trees out in their garden sections.

One of my boys, who left the Country yesterday, is a Fulbright Scholar again and is presently in Central America.  Katie's other favorite brother over the Mountains is the one I mean.  This is for a short stay this time.  I am so proud of his accomplishments.  All three of Katie's favorite brothers have made good lives for themselves in thankfulness for the life -gifts they were blessed with.

Saturday, I did my larger volume housecleaning. I love that job.  And I actually look forward to it.  I will do all that I must during the week- and a few of the small jobs you don't always think of such as dusting over the doorways, do all the pictures, get a few sets of mini-blinds dusted...change furnace filters, wash doo-dads and put them back... and then, I can dig in Saturday.  More vacuuming, cleaning and shining up the kitchen wood floor, dusting, waxing,  shining the Counters, sweeping, cleaning the whole bathroom, emptying trashes, changing linens where there are any.  I've mentioned before I love sitting in the chair, looking over my little domain and seeing vacuum marks on the carpet, shining wood, and so on.  Been that way since I can remember.  

Found out the hard way that all that you hear and read about keeping hydrated is very true, and it is crucial to your health and well being.  Now I am drinking water as if it was something just invented!  Consequences will happen if you habitually don't get enough liquid.  As active as I am...I am amazed I didn't treat myself better.  But I am now.  So, drink up!

I found some freestone peaches and I think I will make a peach cobbler but not until I decide who in the family is going to eat it.  I will have one serving only even if it kills me.  I'm fluffy enough.

Here it is again, from the top view.

It was hard NOT to buy this. 

One of my tulips 

This and That

(Almost called you Kitties!)

Well, my day got made!  The sun was there after I got up and fed us both.  I left the bed unmade, dishes not done and even the litterbox unscooped, while I rushed into my clothing and shot off down the street to the park.  Every truck the city owns I swear, was in that park today.  Torqued my jaw.  BUT... that is not what made my day.

What did was...after I got two errands done, three that is, I headed home and took some pictures of my new petunia.  I had to buy it.  I have never seen one like it ever.  I think it's new.  After I took those, I asked the fading and tired tulips if I could have one more go at them before they were gone for the year.  Upon permission, I went for them as well.

 Then. I saw some Dandy little lions squiring three lovely Violet ladies out and about for a picnic in the brilliant warm sun.  I acted as the roving photographer as in a nite club and took their picture.  They looked So good.  I won't change the usual fee.  I may even give it to them for nothing other than the pleasure of looking at them.  Not a macro.  Just saw them smiling up at me and I stopped a moment to chat.

What made my day was finally getting to take a few pictures of the available things right now so early in the season and stopping to chat with the violets.  They know as does everyone else who knows me, they are my MOST favorite in the world.

What also made my day was going through all these pictures, choosing one for Flickr and the  rest are for here.  I haven't been this happy since last Summer and Fall when I got to see my favorites outside and capture their portraits.  Truly, and no kidding...this is the activity to completely makes me happy. I love landscapes and Katie pics, but macros of plants is my thing.  People..meh...could not care less. Just don't do much of that- except for James.  👦

Here's the new petunia.

Cold Again...

We had a couple of warm days and 29 the night before last and still below freezing last night.  The poor daffs and tulips are suffering some.  Smaller than normal and somewhat shrunken looking.  They bloomed way too early.  Right in the dead of winter and have suffered below freezing temps save a few days, since.

My gosh.  I've had company here quite often and now none.  While I am getting things done and doing things for me when I want to, still...I miss some of the activity.  I go out and make my own activity but it is nice having another person here to take care of sometimes.

I'm hoping that the earthy that Katie is showing even though it is 24 hours since her two shots, is brought about by her shots.  She's been in bed a great deal.  I expected that last night but not today.  She did get up of course- but back to bed.  And not very long on my lap these past 5 or 6 days. She didn't get a senior profile after all.  The Vet deemed it too soon I gather.

Nothing really to say.  I thought something would occur to me once I got started but, my well seems to have run dry.

I will say I have been reading so much these last months that it has cut into my constant state of movement somewhat.  I am trying to save reading till evening. I like paper books.  I only get ebooks when I am desperate to read and that's the only way t get it.  I like the sensation of holding the book...turning pages, the scent of the paper, the feel of the paper in my hands...laying it down..picking it up...the feel of the covers and the weight.  Ebooks are convenient but not enough to make me want to have them much at all. If they are of a genre I like and free...I'm there.

Well, I am making plans to bother the cat and see if I can get something out of her.  I may offer a brushie. All I have to do is go get her mat. She hears it and comes trotting...at least she has.  I hope that continues.

Looking up in my side yard