The local climate continues to bounce up and down as should be expected. After a rather cold second week for March, the third week turned out to be quite warm with temps in the 50s and 60s all week. Winds were down for the most part and there was zero precipitation for the last several days and beyond. Sunshine was mixed in with cloudy days. I was able to keep the heat off all week and be comfortable. I even opened the door for prolonged periods on a couple of the days. There is a change forecast for next week starting on Sunday night 3/23 as unsettled weather is expected to be the trend for most of next week with even some moisture will fall, both in the form of rain and snow, and it may be sufficient enough to result in road closures and an inhospitable environment outdoors until next weekend.
There is still about three weeks to a month, perhaps more depending on the weather in April before we get to see any real visible signs of spring such as blooming trees and shrubs, flowers, and luxurious verdant green lawns. And this waiting is the hardest part, as one really wants to experience the explosion of life as soon as possible after about six months of nothing but dead and dormant vegetation being all around us.
I got out on a couple of occasions, once primarily to get groceries at the Wal-mart. I got about a months worth of product for about $75, but any savings was offset by having to take a taxi to and from with a pitstop on the way back to the post office. It added up to $26, so I do not think I will be taking that approach again. Hopefully I can use Todd when I need to do this again in early to mid April.
But getting back and forth to work will be tough once I get called back and restart, hopefully in the next few weeks. I will have to rely on getting a ride for about month to two months until I am able to purchase another vehicle. I had thought about renting a car to get through this period but the rates were substantially higher than I had anticipated, at around $200 per week from Enterprise; but I have yet to investigate other alternatives. I suspect they will not be much different and the advertisements for less than $100 per week rentals I have seen are not available here. Walking to the job is out as it is about nine miles from where I live and there is no public transportation option that exists. When I do get called back to work, its going to be an inconvenience for some time. I just have to keep telling myself that its a means to an end...
Other than going to the store, I walked down to the park on Tuesday. It is a nice old big park with century old trees towering throughout it with ample grassland and things for children to take part in. Holliday Park is about six blocks due south of me and its a relaxing walk to make. I wish I could have someone else to share in the activity, but thats not an option for me at this time and place. I hope when I get to Colorado Springs there is a park within a relatively short distance of where I end up. I also went to the drugstore across the street for a newspaper and a bottle of pop on Monday, but did not return there again until this morning where I would strike out on getting the Saturday Post as it was delivered there for some unknown reason.
Much of the week I watched college basketball, college hockey, MLB, and NHL. I also caught my favorite programs for the most part ( I am figuring out better what is the whole story on Lost). I also talked with family and friends including my brother H, my sisters M & K, and my friend Matt. Todd should be back in this hemisphere after about three weeks away early next week and I anticipate him visiting me to see the tournament's second weekend. I also spent much time working on the net as I usually do as well as do some limited work with my blogs as I took some time off away from them.
I awoke Sunday around dawn and looked out to see a gorgeous day in the making. After a breakfast of Quaker Cinnamon Oatmeal Squares and some surfing, I got out around 10am to get the Sunday papers and a Hershey with Almonds candy bar. I watched the Flyers / Penguins game and some of the Arizona St / Syracuse game. As morning turned into afternoon I puttered around on a minimal level as I shook the indoor rugs outside in the fresh air of their months of dust and debris; swept and mopped the kitchen and entryway floors; wiped down the outside of the refrigerator; and cleaned up the vacuum but was unsuccessful in finding the bags -- they must be in a box in the storage garage and I wasn't motivated enough to search for them. The day turned out splendidly as promised as I had the front door open and the window up for all of the day. It is hard to believe a Spring Great Plains Blizzard is just hours away, but thats the way the weather works around here sometimes in March and April. After a nice stretch it is back to a more winter like pattern for the rest of this week. I caught the first telecast of the Rockies in Spring Training and kept up on the final games of the afternoon in NCAA hoops.
Sunday supper consisted of minute rice with gravy, and after changing out a light bulb in the overhead lamp, I relaxed through the evening, watching 60 Minutes, the WBC game between the US and Japan, the Avalanche / Sharks game, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, and the 10pm KMGH-7 news before calling it a day.
The forecast is now for a blizzard on Monday into Tuesday morning, so I will probably be home bound the next two days; but the allure of getting some ice cream may embolden me to venture out to the DQ to meet that desire.
*****
The executives, management, and greedy bonus takers of AIG, as well as many other greedy overpaid corporate types should be put into a large crypt with many of these spiders to deal with. An appropriate punishment for the greed, arrogance, and foolishness of the worst of greedy corporate types. AIG must go and be carved up and be terminated. It is one of numerous corporations, often banks, but many other types, that have committed crimes against mankind and humanity.
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