Start Over

Today's postcard

It's 2:30, and I'm declaring this day a Start Over. I have so much to do today, and I want things to go differently. Nothing's going really badly, no worries, but I just want to start again.

Right about the time the garbage truck took away my yard trash - thank you, there was lots - this digger showed up, along with a concrete saw, and I knew it wouldn't be a quiet day. I'm really glad they are here, because the storm grate needs to be replaced before someone drives over it and it caves in. I just wish they'd come tomorrow when I'm not home. Or Wednesday, or Thursday, or Friday.

I read Sarah Ann Smith's post about her computer traumas and expensive repairs to come - I'm so sorry, Sarah - and decided that today would be the day I would get an external hard drive and back everything up. When I opened the box at home, though, I realized I had gotten an internal drive and will have to go back to the store. This is the second go-round. A couple of weeks ago I picked out and paid for an external hard drive at a different store, only to find that it was out of stock. Oops.

Right around the time I moved into my house, I got two more smoke detectors for my house but never put them up. And I know they do no good in the box. Today was the day. Only thing was, when I was drilling, I ran into something hard and couldn't get one of the screws in. No big deal, but now there's a hole. I'll be so happy to not see those smoke detectors laying on the dryer any more, though.

My toenail polish really needed attention. I stopped at my favorite nail place on Sunday and found that they were closed Sundays, so I noted what time they opened today. When I got there, there was a hand-lettered sign on the door that they wouldn't open until 1 p.m. Rather than drive back a third time, I took off the old polish and painted my nails a light color and saved $30 for today.

Then there were the shoes. Nothing makes me feel quite so much like an old lady than summer shoe shopping. For extended wear, I can't wear a sandal that's too high or that has anything between the toes (yes, I've tried the ones that have fabric instead of plastic.) And I need a back strap and at least a little support. And I want something pretty. I found a pair today that made me really happy, tried on the black ones, and decided I really liked the gray and they were cheaper too. I got the one box with the gray in my size, but when I got to the cash register and the clerk checked, the shoes inside the box were much smaller than the size written on the box. I'm really glad she checked or I would have been going back to that store too, although it is right across the street from the office supply store. But no shoes for me. I know I'm whining.

So, I'm taking a deep breath, picking up my messes, and re-orienting myself in a positive mental direction. It's all fairly amusing, really.