Hot Weather and Frustrations

Today has been another roaster! I met middle son Bob for lunch at the Mooselook Diner in Concord today and that was great fun. Good food, too! The place has been completely redone since I was there last, which was about a dozen years ago, but it has a great menu and we were able to be on the "porch" which is enclosed but at the back of the building overlooking the Moose River (of course!) It's right on busy Route 2 and sort of in the wilderness without any other business in sight, and it was very pleasant. The service was great - friendly and efficient. I will definitely go there again. 

I hadn't been on that section of Route 2 for a long time and it was nice to see the changes along the way. There were new houses and several new businesses along the way, but also some places were gone - the used furniture barn across the road from a restaurant (both gone), and lots of new signage for roads I don't remember and businesses I never knew existed. I had a friend I grew up with, Esther Foster Bona, who lived on that road, just outside of Concord village - but she's gone now, too.  

I did a few necessary errands in St. J. and then decided to put my car through the car wash. I like the one on Western Ave. - no frills, cheap, and handy for just a quick wash as I'm leaving town. Today was different. There was an older gentleman ahead of me and I could appreciate his frustration as he struggled at the card machine that wouldn't seem to take his credit card (I've been there), and finally when it did and he headed into the wash bay, he was off center and the sign told him to back up, which he did, but then when he went back in, nothing happened. He tried several times, backing up and driving forward. I had backed away so he could navigate and finally he came to my car and asked if I'd used the place before and could I help him. I suggested trying one more time dead center, which he did with a little guidance from me, but still nothing. There was no attendant there, but a number to call, and he told me someone would come right away. I knew he was really upset and decided I'd stay rather than leave without getting my car washed. So we chatted for a bit - he knew Joe's Pond and said his wife "used to love going there." I didn't have time to learn much more because the attendant came very quickly, reset the machine and then everything worked flawlessly. I took a chance and followed after he was done, no problems. I was glad the attendant was there just in case, though.

I used to go to the car wash on Railroad Street, but talk about frustration! Sometimes no matter how I put my card into the darned slot, it wouldn't  accept it. I even tried a different card, but one time there were people waiting behind me so I simply drove through and didn't go back until I learned they had installed new credit card machines. I've been there since and all went well.

I was very happy to get home where it was cool. I had a glass of cold lemonade, watched the noon news on TV, and maybe had a little nap. I know the mail came, but it was too hot to go down to get it - I'll go later, or maybe tomorrow. I have the online notification so I know what pieces of mail are being delivered each day and sometimes it's just advertising, so why bother.

As promised, there are clouds overhead now, and it looks as if a storm is definitely brewing. Tomorrow will be cooler, and that will be a welcome break. I hate to complain about the heat, but I really don't do well at all when it's this hot. I always feel sorry for those people who have to work in the heat, no matter how hot it gets. It seems very quiet outside right now - the calm before the storm, perhaps. It could be an interesting evening! Thundering now!

Here is the obituary for Andy LaPrade, from the Barre Times Argus.