A Day Mostly in Traffic!

I had an appointment to get my hair trimmed today, so I started out early and drove first to a different Costco, not far from the hairdresser.  The parking lot was so crowded I parked across the street in the REI lot.  Costco was very crowded but the checkout lanes were all open and it seemed they moved pretty fast.  I had two things to look for there (that I can't get at my local Costco) but didn't find what I wanted.

I arrived at the hairdresser's about 20 minutes early, so I went into the Starbucks next door and got a coffee and "Cranberry Delight".  They sure are correct about this dessert being a delight.   I'm not crazy about Starbucks coffee so fortunately I got the smallest size.  Found a lounge chair with a small table next to it, set my things down and went a few steps to pour 1/2 & 1/2 into the coffee, which made the cup pretty full.  I should have known to sip some of the coffee before trying to get it over to the table.

I spilled little bits of coffee on the table, on the floor, and on myself.  I went to grab some napkins and got the last in the dispenser.  Every time I picked up the cup to try to mop up the coffee around it  some more spilled out on the table and splashing down to the floor.  I thought it was getting to be comical, or at least hysterical, but the the woman sitting in the chair on the other side of the small table obviously didn't think so.  She glared at me while I was trying unsuccessfully to clean it up.  No coffee spilled anywhere near her by the way.

I went back to the counter to ask for some help and a guy came and got most of it, although I still had to get some of it with napkins which they brought to fill the dispenser in the meantime.  I sat with my head held high and ate my cranberry delight, and carefully sipped my coffee.  When the delight was finished I carried about half a cup of the coffee back to a bench outside the hairdresser's salon - took a few more sips, dumped the rest of it into the ornamental plants behind me, and tossed the cup into the trash.  I hope I'm never tempted to go into another Starbucks, although their desserts are superb.

On my way home I stopped at AAA and picked up maps for every state across my northern route to NY.   Do you know how happy I am, and how the thought of looking at those maps is causing the excitement to mount?  They are no doubt  exactly the same as the maps I already have, but they will be such a joy to open up one by one.  My old maps are so well worn that they are tearing in the creases.  I have a humdinger of a trip planned, although I always plan a humdinger and then reality and my bank account step in to temper my enthusiasm.   

From there I went to Bel Air and got started on the ingredients needed for the tamales.  I couldn't find everything, but it's a start.

The day has been slightly on the cool side with a chilly wind blowing, but the sunshine has been magnificent!  It's now starting to get cloudy, and we're likely to get a few days of rain.

The hummingbirds are so happy with the two feeders on the porch, and it's a treat for me to have the pleasure of watching them again.

I am worn out completely from the traffic.  I don't remember it being this heavy in past years, but maybe it was and I was more up to driving in it.  I think I'll sit and watch the hummers for a while, maybe even open a locally brewed golden ale!