Last night went really well at work. The ride in was crazy but I made it.
We go past apartments, we picked up an old lady in a wheelchair. The driver put her on my side right in front of me. She kept cranking her head trying to look at me (the whole trip to work, which was almost an hour), then began taking pictures of me every few minutes and hunching over the phone, blowing them up. I smiled, I gave her a cheerful wave, but she continued to act like I was some kind of serial killer.
At first I was a little annoyed. I'm the one with serious mental illness; she was obviously not taking her antipsychotic. Of all the people on the bus I was, without a doubt, the least likely to hurt her. I look like what I am, a nice, middle-aged cat lady.
I decided to feel sorry for her. I did think it would be funny if I got up, stood in front of her, and made a big production out of taking her picture but figured she would have a meltdown if I did that. I also thought it would be funny to pretend I was talking on an earpiece but, again, not worth it.
I got off and went to work. I got McDonald's before so I didn't eat anything on my lunch.
I was so tired, when I got home I just opened up a can of seasoned refried beans and ate that with some corn chips. It worked fine for taking my pills, I need to get more.
My hands are very irritated from the hand soap. I need to bring a small bottle of my own soap for a while. I had stopped using my lotion and I can't do that during the winter, either. They are very red, cracked and bleeding.
Next week I work 11-6 several days in a row. Personnel forgot to put in the schedule so I have nothing for the week of Feb 7-14. I don't really care (this has happened before) but it would be nice to know about Valentine's day so I can better plan the Handout.
It's cold out, but clear, and the cats are in last I saw. The little guy is figuring out his place.
I plan to go to the import store and get some spices, then go to the discount grocery and get a few things like potatoes, onions, etc.
That's it for now!
(Later in the afternoon)
I took my "buggy" out to the bus stop. The temperature was in the 30's so I wore long underwear under my "joggers" (sweatpants for my generation). I had a sweatshirt on over a t shirt but you couldn't see the t shirt. It was fairly loose. It was also cold enough I wore a wool beanie and my parka.
My first stop was the Halal market. Now, it's their house. They have a lot of rules (when I look at rules for other religions I'm glad I'm a Presbyterian). That's why I made sure everything was a little loose. That is not the time to show skin or "be a hottie".
To me, that's respect, and that's why I went there first. I did end up buying pork at the grocery store across the street and I wouldn't bring that into their store.. But I have no problem buying pork after.
The pest has my address and it is very easy to look at a map and figure out I catch the bus on Antoine. I was on the "wrong" side of the street. There's construction on one side of the street closest to the subdivision. They have been working for years now. It's just supposed to be a gas station and a few shops.
But if I'm standing on the west side of the street, trying to cross, looking up the road, I can't see more than half a block due to the fence. And, a bus driver made a very good point, the cars can't see me either. Not a good setup and one reason I had such anxiety about going this way.
I will be glad when they finish and we can all see each other.
I got to the curb and saw, to my despair, a bus pulling away from the bus stop, going "my" way. I made a sad noise no one heard and gave them a sad "bye-bye" wave. All of a sudden the bus screeched to a halt and I realized, to my delight, they were going to wait for me. I booked it over there and ran up to the bus.
I can tell my cardio capacity isn't bad because running for buses is not an issue for me.
I got on, delighted, full of thanks and a bag of candy for the driver. She was talking to someone on the bus so I just rode to my stop and got off, I said "I may catch you on the flip side" as she nodded.
I went in the market. It was the owner behind the counter. He's seen me in there before but he's watching me. And I don't blame him.
He sent a lackey over to "sweep" while I perused the little boxes of spices but I didn't mind, it's just asset protection. He doesn't know me. He doesn't know, or care, I'm an evangelist, stealing would completely wreck my witness and destroy my ministry. I'm not doing that.
I got some Basmati rice, a 10 pound bag. That was the smallest size they had and I really like Basmati so I figured I would eat it. It was in the "nice" bag you can reuse, it it even has a zipper and handles. I got the rice, some spice mix packets, some curry, some turmeric, various spices, Dal, tea, etc. He went in the back to do something so I waited patiently for him to come back.
He asked why I was buying Halal candy and I said I like to give candy to my coworkers, I have a new one but she is very devout (unspoken Muslim) "with the hijab and niquab (face covering) so I want to make sure I get something she can eat". He liked that.
I was still wearing my beanie. I paid cheerfully (did not give him the candy/evangelism baggie like I said it's his house and I will respect that. I will pray for them), loaded up "my buggy" and left.
I think asset protection is getting used to me at the grocery but I'm sure they watch me. That's fine I have nothing to hide. I got some spray cleaner with bleach, on a whim. I had gotten a lot of produce recently but I could use some more potatoes and onions. They had the bags of the red potatoes so I got them and probably 6 pounds of onions (red, white, and yellow).
I had gotten some paneer mix. That is an Indian dish, creamed spinach with cheese basically. The spice mix (kind of like a Hamburger helper) said I could use cottage cheese so I got some of that. I found some nice little beef steaks you cook in a skillet (Milanesa) and a 2 pound pork roast. Of course I had to get sage for that. I also got some of the Southwest Spices cumin seed because it is really strong, amazingly fresh and potent. The packet is only 58 cents.
I had already bought lentils at the market. I figured I was OK for cheese and I can get the candy next week. My favorite cashier was coming on duty so I got her a Mountain Dew.
I was going to wait by the checkout for her to start but the (middle) manager came by and told me to go to register 4. He was fairly stern and I did have that suspicious looking hand cart so I went.
The cashier remembered me. She asked about the cats and I told her about the new one. The store was pretty empty and we didn't have any other people in line so I showed her my video.
She showed me a couple videos of her cats and was in the process of showing me "snuggle puddle" photos of her cats sleeping on the dog when the supervisor came by looking at us again!
By this time my friend was on duty, so I went over and gave her the soda, a bag of candy, and the receipt. She gave me a hug.
I went out to the bus stop and she was half a block up the road, headed my way! That never happens! I am always missing the bus there! I guess Monday will be rough. It was the same driver.
She said something about homeless people on the bus so I offered her my bottle of spray cleaner with bleach, she said YES and snatched it up! She said she was leaving the route and I said I understood.
The new bids start tomorrow. All new drivers for me.
It was overcast and moody so I went home, put everything up. I'm going to do some cooking later, and tomorrow.
That's it for now.
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