random thoughts - Day 2,026 (Friday) - prime time

Cheese and cracker  inferior snack.

It was hard getting out of a nice warm bed this morning. The house was at a chilly 56 degrees due to the mysterious furnace failure of Thursday. Thank goodness for base layers, cashmere sweaters, and fashion scarves. Clad in one of my cold season casual Friday outfits, I felt like I should get in the car and drive to the old office. Briefly, there was a temptation to bake, mostly to enjoy the 350 or 400 degree oven, but laziness won out  and no baking was done. 

Hours later, there were pangs of regret that no baking had been done. American cheese and saltines with a glass of wine were the evening snack instead. Not quite the same satisfaction as a brownie or apple crisp. 

Hopefully, the wine will result in some relaxation before my shoulder region completely shatters like brittle ice. The Tuesday appointment feels like forever away. 

The massive shopping monolith that offers everything from A to Z with a smile is gearing up for the celebrated fall season "Prime Days," (October 7-8) and there are already advance "deals" and pricing shenanigans in effect. In the past two days, several items in my "save for later" shopping cart have increased in price, some by as much as $15 and $25. Come Prime Days, they will likely be available "on sale" for the same price they were two days ago. I used to work in retail. I know some of these tricks. I'm willing to play the long game and wait out Prime Days.

It's not the first time I've noticed this. One time I had been loading up items so when Prime Day discounts hit I (and likely everyone else) would be ready to check out at discounted prices. And just like now, shortly before the big "deals," the alerts about price changes in the cart (mostly increases) began rolling in daily. So no, dominant purveyor of stuff, where Prime Days deliveries take twice as long as usual, I'm not falling for it. Probably. Maybe.

Alternate providers for some items have already been located. Wayfair and Overstock carry a lot of the same home furnishings stuff as big A -- and if you are willing to wait a few days longer for delivery, the price is sometimes significantly lower. That discovery was made during my pandemic search for a desk and office chair. The exact same items were less costly at the other websites, and with the way big A extends delivery dates during Prime Days and bumps them out a day or two after the order is placed on regular days, the timeline isn't all that different. 

In other news, the heating problem of Thursday was resolved today. The furnace was diagnosed this morning. It needed a replacement part, which was replaced later today.  Calm was restored, shivering reduced, and the mood is much better. 

Afternoon yard work crew.

Outside, my Fairy GodFarmer arrived on a riding mower and cut my grass. Later, the neighborhood turkey team was busy with the afternoon shift of yard work, quietly pecking away at whatever it is they eat from the lawn. The team of the limping adult female and the five smaller birds was in the yard for a morning feast, went elsewhere, then returned for the afternoon feast. I like the yard crew.