Random Thoughts for Mid-Week/ Mid-October

I was out walking this morning and the following things just popped in my head. So I thought I'd share. It’s just the randomness of my brain bubbling over again.

1. The weather this year is completely wacky. Every single Sunday for the past 3 weeks we’ve had rain. (Including this past Sunday when my son came to visit us in the Poconos.  We were supposed to go see the train arrive at the historic depot in our town.  It’s a big deal with music, food, vendors, the museum is open…you get it.  And guess what?  Due to the torrential rainfall it was cancelled.  Ugh!)  This week we're not supposed to have rain not on Sunday but we ARE  supposed to have rain on Saturday. I don't take that as a win. I noticed when I looked at our rain gauge outside on Monday that we had nearly five inches. Of course one inch in that was from the previous week but still.. Of course  this is October and it has been cool during the days. As I noted we've turned the heat on. For a couple of days, it has gotten really warm during the day, so the heat has only kicked on for a short time.  (THANK YOU!)  Today it is supposed to get up to almost 80? And the humidity!  (Trust me I’m a sweaty mess and it’s only 60 or something outside as I’m walking.) I'm all for  Indian summer , but this is pretty wacky. 

2. My morning walk was in NJ and was later than usual as I'm returning my son to college later this morning. I noticed how it was still dark outside. This morning’s walk time would normally be the time that I wait for the bus. I'm afraid I'm going to have problems catching the bus due to the fact that sometimes the bus drivers don't see me at the stop. It's not totally their fault.  (Although I think it mostly is.)  The stop is right at the corner where they need to immediately get into the left lane. So they are picking me up on the right, and then immediately have to get over to the left to make a turn just a few hundred feet away. I am thrilled that there is a traffic light at the corner now, but if traffic backs up at the light and there are  trucks, sometimes the bus driver doesn't see me. (Even when it is light out.) WIth it being darker in the morning I think this is going to be even more of an issue. I have all sorts of blinking light items to try and draw their attention. For example I have a slap wristband that blinks neon green. I also have a pin that blinks green. A previous bus driver told me that that's the best way for me to be seen. Not a solid light but a flashing light. So I guess starting next week when I go into the office I need to wear the wristband and pray. It's not going to get better over the coming weeks.  (The change back to standard time might help a little, but not enough!)

3. I really do love the serenity of the Poconos. Every time I come back to New Jersey the amount of traffic is overwhelming for me. Of course it doesn't help that they're doing construction everywhere and in my town that are replacing all the gas lines on every street. Every day a notice comes out alerting the township as to what streets are being closed that day. While I was out walking I noticed they were starting on one of the streets already!  It wasn’t even seven o’clock. I can't wait till they start on our street! Our street is a little dead but some people want to believe it is not a dead end and race down it in the attempt to get the main thoroughfare below. Plus, even though we are a little street there are a lot of cars on the block. That means a lot of cars parked on either side of the road during any part of the day.  (Including the overnight hours when people are not supposed to be parked on the street. You know that if I did it I would get a ticket. Anyone else it’s okay) And while I admit I go to bed early at night, the noise! We have always lived close to a commercial zone, it wasn't quite so commercial when my grandparents bought the house back in 1924, at that point the yard just went on and on with trees. I'm not even sure if route 23 had been put in yet, (probably not) however now there is constant noise not just from traffic but from the businesses, even when they are closed!  And when the garbage truck comes to pick up the dumpsters well… Fun!  And don't get me started on the car dealership and the car alarms going off in the middle of the night for no reason.. Makes me appreciate the Poconos even more. (Where if I even hear a car I wonder what is going on.)

4. Finally, I’m hoping traffic won’t be too bad when I drive my son back.  If it’s good it will “only” take me about 3 hours round trip.  (NJ to NY and then NY to PA.)  I will be glad when he graduates so that we don’t have to do this drive as often.  (There are other reasons why I will be glad, but I’m not going to discuss all that until after he has that diploma in his hands.)  I’m hoping that I will be able to get back to the Poconos in the early part of the afternoon.  As I said it’s going to be pretty warm and I’d like to take advantage of that, as I know what is coming.  The foliage has also hit its peak and I’m trying to take as much in as possible!  (You know that.  You’ve seen all the photos!)

   
   
   

And so my walk has ended, thus does this rambling post.  Have a great day!