19 January 2019: 'Running' Errands
Tomorrow is my sister Debbie's 74th birthday and my son Alan's NA anniversary. Debbie, Alan, Alan's partner, Olga, and I are supposed to go out to dinner. The weather forecast is making that problematical. This morning when I got up at dawn (a.k.a., 9:45 a.m.), it sounded like we would be knee-deep in snow by now (8:15 p.m.); not a flake has fallen. The latest forecast now says that the snow will pass to the north of us; we in Philadelphia will only get rain...a lot of rain.
Based on this forecast, when I got up this morning, I decided to get dressed immediately and go right out and run errands...which had not been on my radar at all. I cannot now remember what I planned to do today, but I know it did not include leaving my apartment complex. Also, just to clear up any possible misconceptions, when I say I am "running errands," that is just a figure of speech. I am actually walking errands; it's been a decade since I ran anywhere.
One of the minor reasons I chose this apartment when I moved in last summer was because, within a three block radius, I have a Whole Foods, a CVS, a Rite Aid, two Starbucks, a Target, two Chinese restaurants, a big gym, a vet, and two banks. Also, at the furthest reach of the three block radius is the main branch of the FLP (Free Library of Philadelphia, organized by Benj. Franklin himself). That was my first stop. I had two paperbacks I purchased in error; I already had both as e-books. They were in pristine condition, and the FLP circulates paperbacks. I was also donating Linda Yang's "The City Gardener's Handbook," since I no longer have a garden.
The FLP is a straight shot two long blocks down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from me, and I was pleased that I managed it with no back pain at all. That's probably because the two blocks are flat as well as straight. I'm not so good on the hills anymore.
From the FLP, I went up one long block to Starbuck's and had breakfast: oatmeal with the fixin's and coffee; still pain-free. Next stop, the PNC bank. While walking up one more long block, I realized I no longer know what the P, N & C stand for. The bank used to be, back in the dawn of time, PNB bank which stood for Pittsburgh National Bank; now? who knows? Not I.
By the time I got to the bank, my back was twinging me. At the bank I withdrew cash to put in Debbie's birthday card and more cash so that Debbie can pay our cleaning woman on Tuesday, provided the streets are clear enough to Amanda to get to her. New Jersey is supposed to get more snow and more freezing rain than Philadelphia.
Almost done, thank goodness, as my back was really aching. I didn't need to go to Whole Foods, but to get from the PNC Bank to my home, I had to go right past it. I did need more of my usual cold cereal, and I wanted more 1 tsp. sugar packets since I can't find mine. Somewhere in my 722 sq. ft. apartment, I have 1.5 lbs. of sugar packets but I'll be damned if I know where. I've looked everywhere I can think of.
Whole Foods, in it's snobby little way, does not carry individual sugar packets; I already had loose sugar at home and didn't need to buy more of that. I did buy my Nature's Path Multigrain Flakes in the recyclable bag, so I'm set in that department for a couple of months. I eat cooked cereal...steel-cut oats...four mornings out of five; I only need my flakes for the fifth. For dinner tonight, I bought sushi and a container of pineapple chunks. (This is why stopping at Whole Foods is dangerous.) I also bought a cookie to eat while I sat down and rested my back before the last leg of my walk.
From Whole Foods to my building is another straight shot, all down hill or on the flat, but my back was still acting up. Annoying.
If I could map out my walk for you, it would resemble an acute trapezoid, laid out on the side of a hill, with it's longest side being the first blocks along the Parkway. Altogether, including wandering around Whole Foods looking for sugar packets, I walked 4,000 steps. FanSee
Based on this forecast, when I got up this morning, I decided to get dressed immediately and go right out and run errands...which had not been on my radar at all. I cannot now remember what I planned to do today, but I know it did not include leaving my apartment complex. Also, just to clear up any possible misconceptions, when I say I am "running errands," that is just a figure of speech. I am actually walking errands; it's been a decade since I ran anywhere.
One of the minor reasons I chose this apartment when I moved in last summer was because, within a three block radius, I have a Whole Foods, a CVS, a Rite Aid, two Starbucks, a Target, two Chinese restaurants, a big gym, a vet, and two banks. Also, at the furthest reach of the three block radius is the main branch of the FLP (Free Library of Philadelphia, organized by Benj. Franklin himself). That was my first stop. I had two paperbacks I purchased in error; I already had both as e-books. They were in pristine condition, and the FLP circulates paperbacks. I was also donating Linda Yang's "The City Gardener's Handbook," since I no longer have a garden.
The FLP is a straight shot two long blocks down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from me, and I was pleased that I managed it with no back pain at all. That's probably because the two blocks are flat as well as straight. I'm not so good on the hills anymore.
From the FLP, I went up one long block to Starbuck's and had breakfast: oatmeal with the fixin's and coffee; still pain-free. Next stop, the PNC bank. While walking up one more long block, I realized I no longer know what the P, N & C stand for. The bank used to be, back in the dawn of time, PNB bank which stood for Pittsburgh National Bank; now? who knows? Not I.
By the time I got to the bank, my back was twinging me. At the bank I withdrew cash to put in Debbie's birthday card and more cash so that Debbie can pay our cleaning woman on Tuesday, provided the streets are clear enough to Amanda to get to her. New Jersey is supposed to get more snow and more freezing rain than Philadelphia.
Almost done, thank goodness, as my back was really aching. I didn't need to go to Whole Foods, but to get from the PNC Bank to my home, I had to go right past it. I did need more of my usual cold cereal, and I wanted more 1 tsp. sugar packets since I can't find mine. Somewhere in my 722 sq. ft. apartment, I have 1.5 lbs. of sugar packets but I'll be damned if I know where. I've looked everywhere I can think of.
Whole Foods, in it's snobby little way, does not carry individual sugar packets; I already had loose sugar at home and didn't need to buy more of that. I did buy my Nature's Path Multigrain Flakes in the recyclable bag, so I'm set in that department for a couple of months. I eat cooked cereal...steel-cut oats...four mornings out of five; I only need my flakes for the fifth. For dinner tonight, I bought sushi and a container of pineapple chunks. (This is why stopping at Whole Foods is dangerous.) I also bought a cookie to eat while I sat down and rested my back before the last leg of my walk.
From Whole Foods to my building is another straight shot, all down hill or on the flat, but my back was still acting up. Annoying.
If I could map out my walk for you, it would resemble an acute trapezoid, laid out on the side of a hill, with it's longest side being the first blocks along the Parkway. Altogether, including wandering around Whole Foods looking for sugar packets, I walked 4,000 steps. FanSee