Odd.

     I haven't even looked at the previous post to pick up the semblance of a thread.  I do however want to check in.  Odd, the weather, that is what I mean.  A bleak gray day and I'm enjoying the morning and perhaps the afternoon.
     There is something I enjoy about gray days.  The peculiar nature of them I think.  While some seem to be oppressed by them, I find a little bit of freedom.  Freedom to do absolutely nothing.  Maybe it is why I do look forward to winter.  Is it the old hearkening back to farming in my genes.  The early gloom, crops in, it's okay to do not so much.
     Odd I just don't know.  Other than that, things are as they were.  Payday and I'm still broke and owed money.  They did manage to put some into the house account so I can pay Septembers' bills.  Hmm I should call the local theatre and see if a play is still playing.  Have to love local arts. 
     Cozy place, used to be a very very disgusting movie house back in the days.  I tell you I can remember my sneaker so stuck to the floor that it stayed and my foot and sock only left.  Much better now than then. 
     Tomorrow is a town fair, been a disappointment for years.  If I go I'll probably pass on the lounge.  Am actually thinking of making a pot of vegetable soup.  Haven't done that in a very long time.
     Okay talk to you all later.  You've not been forgotten, just moved aside a little.

13 days later and I lost the thread

     Sorry about that.  Stuff happens and such.  It's been pleasant, rain here and there. 
The job is good.  Home life....well things are financially falling apart.  Let's keep this on a positive note tho.
     Okay I think I've got a semblance of the thread.  If I'm not mistaken, the Monday after the last post was Labor day?  I'll look it up, you wait right there.
     Yes I think it was.  Well that weekend I decided I'd save money on my cigars.  So I hit a site that Sunday that I knew of.  Called Cigars International.  Basically you can get cigars a lot cheaper than what you pay in stores.  Since I like to smoke on the ride home.  It is my relaxing time where the world cannot intrude.  Now figure 3 cigars at a shop with tax would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $24-$27.  I bought 20 cigars for $30.  It was a special.  So I felt good about that.  They would arrive the Thursday of the week.
     This allows me a little wiggle room.  2 cigars at my lounge that I enjoy on Sundays, so you can see the benefits.
     Well I'd agreed to attend a little bbq that day there.  Was 3 of us actually.  Tim, works there and is a good soul.  Paul, smoked with him in the shop that closed down in the beginning of my blogs here.  Was nice.  Had rib eye and some gorgeous lamb chops.  Was fun.  Also found out that Tim was going to ask his girlfriend to marry him the following weekend.  I had a very good time.
     Thursday arrived, I think I had the week off.  Cannot really recall, didn't read previous blogs sorry.  But I was very happy.  In fact a few weeks later I ordered some more specials and am set for the rest of the month.  Next ordering will be in October.  I think the place where I bought weekly on ride home will be fine without me.  I know I'll have a little more free money.
     About the beginning of this blog.  Basically I explained that I no longer had the funds to carry my housemates.  We are strapped for house bills.  It is rough, but there are others that have it rougher. 
     Other than that I'm okay.  I'll re-read some of the last blogs and see if I left out anything I would want to add.  Later.

Saturday

     Nothing much special about Saturday.  I did not go to the lounge.  I did relax and play on the computer.  Had little Saturday errands.  I did treat myself to a treat at a store I like.  All natural stuff.  What was it I had?  Trying to remember, it was on the $7 board.
     It was some sort of southwestern burger thing, no roll, cheddar cheese, sour cream, on top of brown rice and salad.  Quite nice actually.  Then at the checkout I eyeballed some of their unique veggie burgers.  I've had the Ginger Edame burger quite good; their sweet potatoe and something.  But the chicken and sausage burger just caught my eye.  I ordered it.  Figured I'd have that for lunch on Sunday before the lounge.
     Dinner was a usual spot.  I got something called a steak tidbit sandwich with mozzarella and garlic.  Ate half of it and figured it would go well with the chicken sausage burger.  Plus in case I really didn't like the burger.  Also got a nice slice of the berry pie they have.  Only complaint was they put whipped cream on it.  Not much of a fan of the stuff, and by the time I ate it it had all melted into a glop.  And it was a nice slice of pie to boot.  Ate it while catching the season premier of Dr. Who.  Played and went to bed.
     Sunday.  Woke, did bakery run, found out they'd be closed for the week.  Buggers, I've no other bakery close to me.  Or should I say, no bakery that has rolls or doughnuts.  The other bakery near me doesn't have them.  I keep wondering how they stay in business.  Returned home, got shopping list together and went to market.
     Not a fantastic menu planned so we'll see what happens this week.  Had to do a turn about to get my sister a piece of quiches from a deli she adores.I also told them I'd be going to the lounge for a bbq on Monday.  Didn't go over to well.  The lounge was nice, one of the regulars wasn't there.  But had fun. 
     Home.  Dinner woes.  Bought some hot dogs on sale.  Well the quiche didn't sit well with my sister and she got ill.  So it was 30 minutes of what to do about dinner.  We wound up picking up from a local burger joint.  Not terrible.  The night passed.

Let us begin Friday (while drinking Sunday's coffee)

     Friday broke open.  I awoke refreshed, got coffee of course.  Played on the computer, the garage didn't open until 7:30 so had to entertain myself somehow.  I also know that today I had things to do.  Things that I had been putting off.
     I attacked the bills.  The house and my personal bills.  Had a huge one due to a  repair upon my car.  I had put it on the card anticipating not the hardships that would encompass the end of June and all of August.  Smiling I was able to pay the bills; also noted that I would need to stop by the insurance agent to see what was owed, he's on the same street as the garage.  I tackled the household bills.  Tough when I'm not getting proper house payments from brother in law and sister.  I did have to smile, I managed it.
     I was off.  The morning was chillish, the proper way you'd expect maybe an early summer day just before hitting 90 degrees.  Certainly not what one would expect from the last day in August.  The oil change went well.  In the future I am going to need a new front axle and a new battery.  No huge rush, I'm thinking early October personally.
     Funny thing about the battery.  I'd bought it 5 or 6 years ago quickly when I had no money.  Officially it was a 1 year life battery.  Very good battery indeed.  I went home got the bills and off I went.  Bank first, did the machinations that need to be done.  Then post office and at last the insurance agency.  Found I didn't need to make payments until the 18th so I was glad for the extension.
     At home I watched a judge show and played on the computer a rather lot for me.  It was my vacation after all.  I had a very long debate with myself about going to the lounge again.  I won.  Especially since they were having an event that night and it would have cost me money, thus blowing the savings I'd made by buying the cigars.
     Friday night when I'm home, is generally pizza night.  I was home and got 2 Sicilian slices.  I might add that my sister and brother in law buy, don't want to paint them unfairly after all.  And I might add that I had the $50 I just lent them returned as well.  No mention of the near $200 they still owe me on trip to Costco.  May have been my fault there.  I told them to take their time and had money to pay the credit card bill.  Did I think it was going to take this long?  Nope.  Such is life.
     I remember going for a smoke to my beach spot on Friday night, other than that nothing to notable.  OH! wait.
     I discovered that they were doing a Dr. Who marathon on BBC America, watched much of it and thought I might catch the season premier. 

egads we're still on Thursday?

     At some point I felt compelled to check my cell phone.  A call had arrived at 8:30, I was lights out then.  From one of my oldest friends.  I called back, don't remember if phone tag was involved.  Wife and kids were going away for the weekend, he had work, but if I was free we'd do a small BBQ tonight.  Plans were made.
     They live about 20 miles from me, actually closer to work than me.  It's been difficult you see.  The heart surgery, and I can be extremely reclusive.  Was when I was real bad off.  So I made a point last year of being more in touch with friends and valuing their friendship more.  Enough said.
     I was happy to have a chance to even see my pal.  It had been awhile.  I thought it might be nice to buy 3 cigars in case the mood struck after dinner.  Was proud of myself.  I totally wanted to go back to the lounge for the smokes.  Arguing with myself.  That being 20 miles in the opposite direction from where I live. 
     I prevailed.  After all I had cigars that I was sure would be arriving; it would cost gas that I just didn't have the money for until Friday; and I reminded myself of the upcoming oil change and that fact that I was saving money.  I remained local, got 3 smokes at a shop I know in town nearby.  I'm certain I did more that day, just cannot remember it.  So homeward we go.  And wait...what...joy of joy!
     Upon the banister of my stoop is a little cardboard box.  My cigars had arrived indeed!  My humidor was prepared, I opened them and put them in.  Knowing that I would have to smoke wisely.
     The 3 cigars I had bought for dinner for instance, 1 before just for the yard, had come to somewhere near $27 dollars.  Okay got it.  I just bought and received 20 decent ones for something like 52 dollars.  The cost average evens out.  This means I can hang out and buy at the lounge happily.  Not concerning with and evening smoke.  By no means does this mean and end to lounges.  Just a smarter way to save money.  Most people do it.  Anyway.
     I watched television, played on computer, had a smoke in the yard.  Informed sister when she came home I'd be going out.  She did nicely say I didn't have to cook, but I did.  Yes for all my raging there is just a nice guy in me I guess.
     The BBQ was nice.  I arrived, he was still in his basement working on something.  We set up in the backyard.  He offered some Off mosquito repellent and lit some of those citronella candles.  Eventually I did use the spray.  Hell they're even spraying part of Manhattan for that west nile virus, who was I to scoff.
     A couple of burgers and brews and smokes and some good old friend conversation.  The kind that builds easily.  My friend has always been a great one for me in that I find the best conversations, and even competition.  Basically we ran the gauntlet of conversation from family lives to agrarian society impact.  I left at about 11, was very enjoyable.
     Got home, played on computer, and went to bed.  Very glad to have payday be Friday.

Let us start....to be continued

     Good Morning.  Wednesday night, I went to bed interminably early for me.  8.  Not that I was overly tired but there was a wintry feel.  It was already showing dark outside, I was definitely tired, and brother in law was in living room watching the television.  So I thought what the heck.  Got a pretty good nights sleep.
     Thursday broke, got up about normal time.  Got myself out of the door about 7:15.  The morning was light, bright, and dare I say effervescent.  Only thing was that the sun was not quite peeping out yet to its fullest.  Took the walk I did last year on one street.  Was a little disappointed, the yard that had entertained my fancy so much was far less decorated.  I'm hoping all is well in there.
     Walked back on main street, have always loved to do that especially during the week. When the air is somewhat fresh and watching people hustle and bustle for work while I didn't have to.  Saw the brother in law drive by on his errand.  7-11 for buttered roll and coffee.  Then it would be deli for sisters breakfast sandwich.  I was at my destination by the time he got to the deli.  And I was quite pleased with how quickly I was walking. 
     Destination?  The bakery of course.  Spoke with the woman behind the counter a bit, ordered myself a chocolate danish to stay.  Sat by the window nibbling the delicious pastry watching a small part of the world go by.  Got home and played on the computer for hours, was fun.  Saw sister off and did little.  I'd hoped my cigars would arrive.  Pal at the lounge thought maybe next week if I was lucky.
     I decided having no money, I'd have no real plans.  Odd part is I know I went somewhere else and cannot recall where or what.  Oh and I did take the dog for an early walk.  She really seems to enjoy it.  So do I now, I can keep up with her no problem.  And she walks fairly well.  I've trained her to the best I can but let us not digress to talking of the dog eh?
     I also cleaned a good majority of stuff out of my car, getting rid of the 'so you live in your car?' look.  Was nice.  Saw my next door neighbor, we spoke for a bit.  For a fellow in his mid 70's he looks good and is active and sharp as a tack.
     Found out via my cell phone that I had a call returned to me.  Had called best friend the day before, he called me about 8:34, I was asleep.  Okay sorry but I must abandon here, have some stuff to get done this morning, no slouching.  I'll probably continue later.

Well it is now Wednesday

     Mid morning here, sun is pouring through any where it can find an opening.  A gentle cool 70 degrees, and I've finally a day to myself.  What?!?
     No my sister did not make it to work at all yesterday.  Was a little bit of get me this and get me that.  Oh and before you go out for the afternoon secure me lunch.  Of course I had to make dinner last night.  Meatloaf, nothing fancy, was very good along with the potatoes.  Brother in law?  Came home, exhausted.  I think he was born that way.  Puts on his westerns on the television and zones out.  I headed to the beach for a late evening smoke, nice way to end a day.  Came back, sister in bed, he was downstairs.  The spend no time together, very odd people.
     Anyway.  Got off to a running start this morning.  One of the things I wanted to do was return bottles.  Tried yesterday, there was a woman, who looked dressed in nurse scrubs, with a cart filled with Poland Spring bottles.  The other plastic machine was broken. 
     So this morning I hit the road at about 7:30 ish.  Walked in town; grabbed a bagel; ate it obviously; and drove to supermarket.  Stuff in cart and wheeled it up, damned thing was locked.  Another person pulls up gets stuff out and was shocked as well.  The first person came along and said he got someone and they were opening it now.  Long dull story completed, got $11 worth of bottles returned.
     Came home, had a morning dish of ice cream and remembered I had a blog to write.  I'm looking forward to my cigars arriving today.  I've got my humidor prepared.  I'll probably save money in the long run.
     I am going to the lounge today.  It was a year ago today.  I was recovering from surgery, sister had come home, hurricane Irene barreled thru and we were without power for a week
     I loved it, I must say.  Monday I remembered being nice, 1 generator.  By Tuesday night there were more generators on and the crickets were doing their best to be heard.  By that Wednesday the noise was intolerable.  I mean a blackout enjoy it people!  I wanted stars and crickets.  So it was on a Wednesday night one year ago that I had my first cigar in a very long time. 
     Okay I have to pretend to be productive.  Laterz.