Friday, February 17, 2012

Day in the Big City

That’s the big city of Pleasanton, Texas, population of about 10,000 which is about the same size of our home town of Alamosa, ColoradoOne of our friends commented on yesterday’s blog calling me the pioneer woman hitching up the wagon and going into town to go shopping.  Well, I kinda felt that way today as it had been 12 days since I’ve left our gate guarding ranch and I was going a little crazy.

I usually sleep from 6 a.m. to 2-3 p.m. which doesn’t give me much time to go shopping, etc., so Jim volunteered to go to sleep early and wake up at 3:30 a.m. so I could go to sleep early and get up by noon.  Of course, as fate would have it, I didn’t sleep well and got up at 10:30 so off I went.

First I drove to the Gate Guard Services’ yard in Whitsett to pick up our first paycheck.  Oh, that was nice….that was very nice!!! Being independent contractors, we don’t have the option of having direct deposit, so I needed to get the check sent to our bank. 

Off I went for the 35 mile trip to Pleasanton with a stop at the post office first.  Then it was to the laundromat.  The washing isn’t expensive at $1.75 for a top loader and $2.25 for front loaders.  I use the double loaders for $4.00.  The expense is in the !*&% driers…..25 cents for FIVE minutes.  Those jeans and towels are costing me a mint!

Off to Walgreens to buy vitamins on sale for “buy one get one free” and to pick up one of those Orgreenic 10” sauté pans you see advertised on TV.  I “killed” ours so it was time to replace it.

Then to Walmart to buy a rug to use on the steps outside.  We are getting frequent rains and I need to keep as much of the muck outside as I can.

Then off to H.E.B. (I love that place) to refill 8 water jugs one at a time at their outside water dispenser... in a light drizzle….chasing the nickel change from my quarters that jumps out of the return change slot each time…am I getting any pity here folks?

Inside H.E.B. I go to do the grocery shopping mostly fill ins of bread, milk, eggs and my Fage Greek yogurt. They had some good sales on apples, large Haas avocadoes, tangelos and asparagus also.  I run out of fresh veggies shopping only every two weeks, so it was nice to replenish our supply today.

Last stop was to fill up the truck with diesel at $3.779 which is 11 cents cheaper than diesel in Whitsett.  By then I was worn out.  I left the RV at 11 a.m. and got home at 5:20 p.m.  Too much to do in one day, so we decided I’d break it up and do the laundry in Three Rivers (15 miles away) one week and the grocery shopping the next week.  Plus that will get me out of here once a week which will be nice.  Jim’s “get away” time is his once or twice a week trip to the gas station by Highway 37 for ice cream.

Well, it’s 12:20 a.m. and I’m getting tired already.  The last three nights I haven’t had any body come through after 8 p.m.  That makes for a long night for me.  I’ve become very familiar with all the late night TV talk shows.  Any I’m knitting a lot.  Finished up a hat and bootie set for one of the ranch owners who just became a grandfather for the first time.  I knitted a shawl for myself and am finishing up a wool cap for me too.

So good night to you.  I’m going to download and read Arline Chandler’s latest book The Heart of Branson.

Remember, you are loved.

 

5 comments:

  1. Too bad you don't have one of the "Droid" phones and the kind of checking account where all you have to do is take a picture of the check and the money is in your account. That would save a lot of driving maybe. But if your having to go to Pleasanton to do shopping anyways...oh well just a thought. Did you pick up the chicken for dinner?

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    1. No Droid phone and it really isn't a big deal to fill out a deposit slip and mail the check to the band...the old fashioned way. And, yes, I did pick up chicken to dinner. Going to Pleasanton every two weeks will be like a treat for me, I don't mind it.

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  2. Hi Bonnie and Jim. Ken in Yuma. I met you at Mittery lake. Nice Blog. We also know the Mossmans. I would run by the Generator care takers to move the generaror as far away from your rig and they can use 4x8 sheets of plywood to block the noise. The plywood just needs to be between your window not near the genset so as not to affect the operation of it. Also the light tower cac be blocked. I use to be in the biz! Worked on lots of Movie Gensets! I enjoy you blog and will follow. Sorry we could of visited longer. BTW Go to my Face Book and I have a photo of Arline Chandler playing the piano at Lutz Casino in Yuma. Looks like we have lots of the smae friends. Say Hi to the Mossmans for us. While in La. last summer we had a 5ver parked next to us and the coulpe asked me if we wanted to be gate guards? Sounds like a neat workamping trend. Years back we did our share of Workamping. Keep them posts comming! Ken in Yuma!

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  3. Sounds like you have a way to "get out" and once a week sounds perfect! So does Amazon deliver to you or do you have to pick up your stuff/mail at the office? And you only let Jim out once a week for ice cream- hope he brings back some for you.
    Jean

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  4. Just wanted you to know we are keeping an eye on you two. Seeing what sort of schedule you are coming up with, and like going to town every week to get it all done. Yes it is a shame about no direct deposit, but we have to do what we have to do, glad to see you are doing well. Also wanted to let you know that I am trying to teach my self to knit, so that if in case we were to come and do this, I could help keep myself busy, and I just love those knitted dish cloths....so hoping to make a bunch. Any you two are loved too!!!!

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