I just about caught up on personal financial stuff, reconciling the checkbook with the bank statement from online, and then going and ordering some stuff. One thing was a tree from some place in Michigan. It's supposed to grow fairly tall, give shade, and produce gorgeous flowers. (Well, don't all the nursery ads promise that?) I yielded to temptation, since total cost was under $10, and sent off an order.

Another item was address labels, which I need like a hole in the head. I get more free ones than I can ever possibly use, even after I delete the ones that are just too "cute" for words. But these will have just my name and address. And they come in a rainbow of colors.

You may think I am a bit "strange" but I like things to match or blend. I put an address label on my cane(s) for two reasons. The obvious, and to mark the proper hole for the unfolded cane. Look at most of the canes in a store--they fold up, or slide together. (Mine slide together.) I quickly got tired of counting up six (or however many) holes to get the proper length.

At any rate, I have a subtly mottled blue cane, and I just don't feel like using my freebie white labels on it. Hence, the set of address labels, one color of which is a subdued blue.

So, the day definitely was IU--until I headed out to the Post Office to mail off the bills I'd paid and the orders for the tree and labels. The street I (and a LOT) of other go down was blocked by a freight train. The only reason freight trains ever stop is if someone loses in the beat-the-train race. I took a back way down several blocks, and the train was blocking there too. I thought for a minute and remembered the post office a little further out from me. And, I could probably get over to Big Lots and see if they had any of the 45 gallon wheeled trash cans that were advertised for only $15.

I found those--or what was left--and grabbed one. Hoisting it into the basket was interesting. Luckily I had snagged an oversized basket as I went in.

By the time I'd finished at Big Lots the train was gone and the traffic unsnarled. It was easier to go to the Slidell post office than the one nearer to me (Slidell West), but the one near me is on a road that has very heavy traffic, especially in the latter part of the afternoon.

My giant cat is sleeping on the papsan nearby--and snoring. He must also be dreaming because his paws are twitching.

Back to work tomorrow. The library has been REALLY quiet even though school has back in session for about a week. Our student workers are back though, which is good. It's supposed to be cold, but then it's January.

Two weeks till the final football game---except for the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, the Saints have relatively high draft pick numbers. I'm not sure if they have anyone going to the Pro Bowl this year.

I grew up following the Brooklyn Dodgers, and so I am good at saying "wait till next year!"