random thoughts – Day 2,064 (Monday) – shopping and fog

My sister had the day off from work, so she, Mom, and I had an early-afternoon retail therapy outing. The first stop was Ollie’s in Fitchburg. It’s located in the former Big Lots building. As a Big Lots substitute, it’s okay. My favorite department today was Books. The variety of genres was good, with graphic novels, kids books, novels, puzzle books, and coffee table books including one that was so big it could serve as an actual coffee table with some legs attached or maybe stacked on piles of other books. 

New book acquired.

During the moving in days, there was a vow to not buy any more books, and since moving in, a bunch of books have been donated. Walking into the book department was tempting fate. During my meanderings of the book racks I spotted the name “David Sedaris.” It was The Best of Me, a title I wasn’t familiar with, for the crazy price of $3.99. Despite the self-imposed ban on acquiring more books, of course I bought it.

Attempting to exit the shopping plaza was a trip. The driver ahead of us was pulled to the right side of the two car wide exit, with a signal on to turn left. Points for using a signal, but demerits for being a dipshit. Then, because half the population (including this dunce) seems unaware of how a turning lane works, they sat there for an unnecessary and insane length of time. Meanwhile, the traffic piled up behind us. I expressed some harsh commentary, and I wasn't even the driver. 

Once we finally got out of Ollie’s, we went to Dollar Tree. We were living large in retail today. The Tree had some surprises. For example, there were five-brick ramen packs for $1.50. As a frequent brick ramen buyer, I knew that it usually costs 50-cents a brick in the grocery store and recognizing the bargain price, I bought a pack.

Trees softened by fog.

Back at home, there was a walk to the mailbox, which I hadn’t visited since last Wednesday. The daily notifications showed there wasn’t a lot of mail in recent days and nothing really important, so I hadn’t worried about it. During the walk in the chilly, foggy air, there was time to notice the trees. It had been raining on and off all day, and foggy most of the day. It was soft and pretty, and looking out the windows of the house, the world looked like a watercolor painting or soft charcoal drawing.