I had planned to drive to town on Wednesday. Got up early without much sleep. Felt more dead than alive. The more I visualized piloting those winding mountain roads, shopping at Walmart, and facing the prospect of getting stuck in the mud again on my way home, the more despondent I became.
Like the coward I am, I got undressed and crawled back into bed.
The trauma of driving to town unnerves me so much that I find myself using any excuse to avoid it.
I'd rather be hung upside down by my toes, naked, in the public square.
Don't try to visualize this. You'll traumatize yourself.
So, I finally drove to town yesterday - which was probably Thursday. It was a lovely day (for a rare change) with no rain (for an extremely rare change) and........the very best part of all.....I didn't get stuck in the mud!
Good thing I went yesterday, because today (which could be Friday) is suddenly freezing cold with strong winds.
The temperatures are annoyingly inconsistent: 60 degrees one day and 30 the next.
I always strategically plan my drives to town on days when it's not raining - which is nearly an impossibility - since it rains in Tennessee about 340 days a year.
Very slight exaggeration.
I think I was the only person in Walmart who wasn't talking on a cell phone. It looked like a bookie convention.
Cell phone talkers in public places annoy the living jeeters out of me.
While I was standing in the (hopelessly long) line at the check-out counter, the woman behind me had a cell phone that started making alarmingly loud buzzing noises. She was so close to me that the buzzer made me jump three feet.
I thought she zapped me in the ass.
For the second time in a month, I forgot to buy lithium batteries for my El Cheapo camera.
And I also forgot to buy light bulbs.
Buying light bulbs nowadays is a traumatic experience. Gone are my favorite old-fashioned "regular" bulbs. Now I have to contend with mysterious LED bulbs (which I never figured out).
And those bizarre spiral bulbs - which look exactly like a Carvel ice cream cone. They cast an eerie yellow-greenish glow. But they're supposed to last like 300 years (slight exaggeration).
This blog post wouldn't be complete without some uninteresting photos.
After weeks of gloomy weather, my cats were more than eager to bask in the sunlight yesterday (as seen from a dirty, rain-drenched window).
I took the following photos in my "back yard" today. It's amazing how completely colorless everything looks.
Looking north toward the neighboring cow meadow
Some of the massive evergreens
Cold, bleak afternoon
I LOVE the shopping stories, they are my very favorites! Still laughing that the cell phone users looked like they were at a bookie convention.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your blog Jon!
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️Susan
You've made my day, Susan! There are many times when I feel like I'm boring and humorless. Your appreciation of my efforts are an inspiration. Thanks for being there!
DeleteYou sound like me. I too like the old bulbs, which came four or six in a pack. I do use LED now for energy saving...and I found a brand with good SOFT normal lighting. I haven't replaced one since I put them in two years ago.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note my cousin and friend are fine in Nashville, thank goodness. Now you and them are all fine and accounted for...carry on.
First of all, it's good to know your cousin and friend are safe. That was such a terrifying and tragic ordeal for so many people.
DeleteI'll probably eventually try the LED lights. When I first moved here the previous owners left some of those spiral-type lights, and - after five years - they are still working.
Agree with the Cell phone talkers and Light bulbs. Cheryl says you need to buy them from IKEA. Though I'm not sure how "Swedish engineering" is superior.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know IKEA made light bulbs - but, then, I'm about a century behind the times.
DeleteI wonder what people would do without cell phones, like you it makes me mad to be in a store and people always talking on their phones. Last night my granddaughter and I were going to pick up something to eat and a guy walked right out in front of her talking on his phone he didn't even look luck that she seen him. Love your pictures your cats are enjoying the window. Take care, Jean.
ReplyDeleteWhat I hate most about cell phone users is that many of them seem annoyed if you go anywhere near them. They make shopping more unpleasant and difficult. I would never want to talk on a phone in a public place.
DeleteMy cats really love those rare sunny days. I hope everything is going well for you, Jean.
Cell phone talkers in public places annoy the living jeeters out of me.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
Reading this post made me (once again) pleased that I order groceries and stuff on line and have it all delivered. I know exactly what you mean about cell phone users. They do always look as if looks could kill if you happen to stand next to them. Have a great weekend.
Valerie, those annoying cell phone addicts seem to have overtaken every public place. They have a rude way of making me feel uncomfortable.
DeleteAnd I always wonder - - who the heck are they constantly talking to??
Anyway, take care...and big hugs.
Jon, I adore your humour, thanks for making me laugh. Enjoy your mountain home, you are safe from Virus.Dr from the local practice, just around the corner from my home in Melbourne has been infected,my neighbour was his patient,now she is in self isolation.On the brighter side she told me she enjoys solitude no bloody relatives visiting her( she is wealthy and family are after her money). Saffron
ReplyDeleteI'm always delighted when my humor is appreciated. Strangely enough, I never purposely try to be funny - - it just comes naturally.
DeleteIf I had a lot of money and my relatives were after it, I'd pretend to have a virus in order to keep them away.
How'd I miss this post?
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you on "which day of the week is this?" Thank goodness for my 'assigned' (M,Tu,W,Th,F,Sa,Su) coffee mugs to keep me straight. And, I loathe those gawd-awful light bulbs, too. Ugly! They remind me of the 60's Danish-modern décor.
Hey! The sun's shining over Alabama today; hope it makes it way to Tennessee!
Well, Myra, you didn't miss much....My blog posts are starting to bore me - which isn't a good sign. I really hate the new light bulbs, and they are being forced upon us.
DeleteI wanted to buy a desk lamp in Walmart, and all of them have built-in LED lights which can't be removed. When the LED light goes bad, you have to throw out the lamp.
BTW the sun is shining here today, too!
DeleteFreaks me out when people suddenly start talking and you think they're talking to you but they're on their cell phone. Everyone in the waiting rooms at the doctor's office are on their cell phones, too, but usually not talking--just doing stuff. I finally joined them my last visit by reading a book on my phone. :)
ReplyDeleteGoing when it's 30 degrees will prevent you getting stuck in the mud, though, by the way--LOL! ;)
Reading a book on your phone in the waiting room is a good idea. At least you're not annoying everyone with a loud conversation. I couldn't possibly go shopping and talk on a phone at the same time.
DeleteIf I go when it's under 30 degrees I'll slide on the ice....LOL
A bookie convention . . . Bahahaha, that's the truth! I'm driven to distraction by those who insist upon subjecting me to their conversations.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the light bulbs. My husband bought up most of the normal bulbs we could find 10 years ago. They are stockpiled in our basement and will be willed to our children!
I'm not fond of talking on the phone even when I'm home. The last thing I want to do is have a phone conversation in a store.
DeleteI sure wish I would have stockpiled those old light bulbs. They are getting very difficult to find.
Shopping is one of my least favorite things in the world, especially now, with shortages of TP and hand sanitizer everywhere. People are crazy. I'm tired of their silliness. I have no control over this virus, and am taking precautions, but not to the hoarding extent. Glad you made it to the store though. Hello from Cincinnati, soon to be New York!
ReplyDeleteThe older I get the more I hate shopping. Every aspect of it is annoying. And now we have the threat of the virus.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to New York in many years. Hope you have a great time there.
I'm not actually in NYC, although I did come through there. (JFK-Grand Central-then the Metro North). My daughter and her husband live in the Hudson River Valley, about 1 1/2 hours north of NYC.
DeleteFirst, Jon, glad to see you survived the nasty weather and outages and are back to posting. Agreed that cell phone users have not only become so numerous and annoying and I too wonder WHO they can be talking too ALL the time and everywhere, grocery stores, restaurants, walking downtown. Sure, I have a mobile and usually remember to take it with me when out and about, but most times I turn the ringer to mute, even though I don't get an overwhelming no. of text or calls, still there are some and I do check and reply to them, but on my time...not when the annoying sound tells me there's a message or call. We use those Carvel-shaped bulbs because as you said, it's becoming harder to get the old-fashioned bulb-shaped ones, but we still have a few. Glad you were able to make the shopping run and maybe next time you can get the camera batteries. Thanks for posting more of the backyard pics and the kitties too. Glad to see they were enjoying the sunlight!
ReplyDeleteCell phones really come in handy at times - especially for emergencies. But I don't understand why people would want to have long phone conversations in the middle of a crowded Walmart.It is extremely annoying.
DeleteWhen I bought this house over five years ago, the previous owners left some of those ugly spiral light bulbs. I've been using them all this time and so far only one of them burned out. But I still prefer the less-expensive old-fashioned bulbs.
This weekend the weather has been beautiful and mild. I'm ready for spring.
happy to hear you didn't get stuck in the mud. temps here are swinging from high to low too. going to rain here all week. should probably build an ark. i know what you mean about cellphones. they have all those ridiculous loud ringtones. i actually heard a guy answer an old fashioned ringing phone the other day. did my heart good to know that was his ringtone. take care. hope you get your batteries next trip down the mountain.
ReplyDelete