I left my house at 9:00, needed to get gas before I left town. The cardlock was down. Went to the Scenic to pay for my gas (with some of my precious and limited cash designated for Regina). Person in front of me at the cash register was an idiot and couldn't pick out a chocolate bar and a Leader Post without holding up the line for 5 minutes. (Yes both have gone up in price, yes that is a shame).
Hwy 10 out of town is blocked off. Need to take the detour around. Person in farm truck in front of me is an idiot and is going less that 20km/hr because he does not have his foot on the gas and has plenty of time. I pass on the straight stretch, as do the 30 people behind me. I stop and look both ways, which is stupid as Hwy 10 is blocked off and nobody can go past me. 30 people behind me blow horns and give obscene gestures. I am off, finally, at 9:40 to get to my 10:30 appointment in downtown Regina.
I hit Broad and Vic at 10:30 exactly - so now if I can just find some place to park. I twist and turn though a maze of 2 way streets that are blocked off for construction, and 1 way streets that are now 2-way and past city parking lots that you have to enter from the other side of the block, keeping to my stern rule of right turns only! (It often takes hours, but I can get to anywhere I want to in the city without having to make a left turn.) Anyway, reduced to obscenities and tears I finally find a parking lot that has an opening on the street that I am on, and I really don't know where I am anymore but park there anyway. I pay $3.00 for 1 and a half hours of parking. It is 10:50. I boot it through puddles and back alleys to Avord Towers and head for the 17th floor in the SLOWEST ELEVATOR ON EARTH. I expect to be seriously chastised for being 25 minutes late for my half hour appointment, and am prepared to be humble and apologetic. And to find an optomitrist on the East end of the city.
However, all is hustle and bustle in the office, smiles and welcomes, no mention of seriously late for appointment. I think, wow, that was sure some day. Glad the worse part is over now. Fool!! I hand my glasses over to the young woman who made my appointment and realize things are not going to go as smoothly as hoped when she says "oh oh. Just a minute. I have to check on this". My half hour appointment is now a full day appointment. She assures me the glasses will be ready by 4:00. Okay, so I do have my perscription sunglasses so I can still get around and do the rest of my stuff, and just get back here at 4:00. Its all do-able. /:) I return to the van, having used up about 15 of the 90 minutes I paid for. Obscenity.
I head back out to the east end. I am hungry and I need to get stuff. Yes, yes indeed I know it is a foolish waste of time and resources to go all the way back out to the east end instead of trekking around downtown Regina for food and the stuff I need to get. But, I know that I will be able to find a place to park out there, and that far out weighs any global warming concerns I may have. I pull into the Costco parking lot and have the same secure safe sense of that of a sailor pulling into home port after sailing through a hurricane. There is a space. There is a cart. There are smiling consumers and Costco employees all around me. I am home. I have a hot dog and a drink for $1.99. All is well. I do notice some of my Costco family looking at me strangely, and I do wish that they would turn on more lights, when I realize that I am wearing my sunglasses. Once removed, it is much brighter and people no longer stare, but I have to climb up onto the piles of items to get close enough read the special price tags. Obscenity. I replace my sunglasses and decide to get my stuff done and out of there. I find my birthday present. I find some food items I need. I head to the till and then, obscenity, I realize that my frozen waffles and shepherds pie and really good priced pork chops will have to sit in the van all afternoon. Too late now. I pay and I get out of there.
I head to Michaels. Michaels the superior. Michaels the "even though I work here I am far too superior to you and far too busy to help you find squat". I love the stuff Michaels sells. It is a Love/Hate relationship. Today, primarily hate as most of the items on my extensive painting class list seem to be sold out. Many of the items for the rubber stamping weekend getaway are not available. I ask one clerk for one item and she shakes her head sadly and says she always buys hers when she is in Alberta. I smile and think "obscenity you". I pay for what I have found and just because I am having such a great day I make conversation with the checkout person, and ask if she knows where I might find Art supplies? She gives me the name of a store on Winnipeg St. Wow. That is so helpful. Thank you.
I go BACK into the downtown area, well almost, just as far as Winnipeg st., and start to look for the store called Colours. I find it on the corner of Winnipeg and Eighth, but think that it must be closed. It is a dump. The faded "parking in back sign" is crooked and faded. Oh, well, I have 3 hours to kill so I will go around back. Yeah, there is a parking spot, yeah there is a door, but can this be the building of a business in operation? It certainly is. Anything that I would ever need in terms of Art Supplies is found within this falling down, deserted looking, cluttered, very likely in contrevention of every fire law, place. It is a gloriously confused mess, but a friendly smiling knowledgeable clerk greets you as you walk in the door and guides you through the mess and confusion of items to fulfill your list, offer you a discount because you are taking a class, and never mentions Alberta even one time. OMG. OMG again. I am done within minutes. I have money left "of my precious and limited cash designated for Regina".
I have 21/2 hours to kill. I go to Sears bargain centre. What a bunch of expensive crap there. Keep my money, but buy a coffee. That whole adventure killed 20 minutes. I pick up a flyer on my way out of the building, and sit in the car sipping coffee and reading a flyer about a bunch of expensive crap. Another 10 minutes has flown by. Okay. I will head back to the optomitrist. I find the same parking lot. I pay $3.00 for another hour and a half, as I am about that much early. I slog my way back to the building, get in the elevator which fairly ZOOMS to the 17th floor. And arrive at the office only to find that they are still really glad to see me. And that my glasses are ready. I return to the van, having used 10 minutes of the 90 that I paid for.
I decide that 1) I will look into opening a parking lot in Regina and that 2) I will get the van washed. I have 11/2 hours until my NEXT appointment (aquacize class) at 5:00. Bet you didn't see that coming did you!
You never realize how stupid you really are until you are forced to speak with the pimply faced punk sitting behind the glass at a gas station/car wash. "Ahhh, the best car was would be the Ultimate" he snears in a tone that would rival a clerk at Michaels. "Its $13.95" he replies when asked, and is so clearly done with me and my stupid questions it fairly drips off him. I just hand him the cash and go get a touchless car wash. One should not have to feel humilated to get a clean van, in my humble opinion.
This is the first aquacize class of the year and my instructor has become sadistic and mean over the summer as she pushes us plump aging women further and further into muscle spasm and leg cramps. But, when its over, it feels so good. This just has to be good for you. I will be back next week for more.
Now, you think, my day is coming to an end. But, no. I still have a library meeting to attend. I sprint from the pool soaking wet at 5:55 and proceed to race to my meeting, which starts in Fort QuAppelle at 7:00. I think I can make it. I am wrong. I am 10 minutes late for the meeting and have to POUND on the door to get someone to let me in. I try to slink in quietly but various other board members say "oh its Janet" and "hi Janet" in loud whispers so everyone notices me. They likely would have anyway, as my hair is soaking wet and I smell of chlorine.
The meeting is long, as it is the first one since spring. It finally winds to an end - and I have volunteered for only one job this time. I head home for peace and quiet and supper at 8:30, almost 12 hours since I left in the morning.
Has the crappiness of this day ended? You guessed it, no it has not. Jackie Evancho did NOT win America's Got Talent. As one wise man has said "the Americans never get it right".
/bye
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