Holiday Travels, Part 5

Today's been a "down" day for us, so we could actually catch up on some things. I'm trying to set up iTunes for Derek right now. "Santa" brought him an iPod and an iTunes gift card, and I'm trying to help him figure it out, but, boy! This new stuff is another language for me! LOL!

Also figured out how to use Derek’s movie camera, and went downstairs and took a few minutes of film of Derek and his friend playing “hall hockey”.

And then I went and found a gas station to fill up the car, and figured out how to enter the underground parking structure for the local grocery store that I walked to the other day. It was interesting to see how the parking tickets worked. Take a ticket (thin paper type), take it in to get validated. The validation was done by the clerk at the register taking the ticket to a machine and punching in the numbers from my ticket. Then when I left the parking structure, I had to manually punch in the code that was now on my ticket. Interesting! (is anyone else fascinated by these little differences like I am?)

FINALLY connected with Mom! My cell phone is iffy at best in getting through to anyone. Mom called here at the hotel (and I happened to be here!). She’s at the river for New Year’s, but had to leave early because the heater went out at the house. *sigh* What else will happen? LOL! …my camera also quit, so it doesn’t look like this “dark cloud” that’s been hanging over us has moved on yet. :( Both Mom and I are just flabbergasted at all the stuff, so we just have to kind of chuckle in spite of the irritations and sadness.

Our last errand was to walk to the bakery and pick up some goodies for our night time TV tonight. I told Derek he needed to bundle up because it was really cold outside (about 17 degrees F.) He poo-pooed it, of course, but I finally got him to wear his heavy coat and big hat we got him before we left. When we stepped outside and started walking, he said to me “it IS cold out here!” LOL! Yup, maybe now he’ll bundle up a bit more before going out, huh?