Went over to D&L’s to help them unload the pallet-load of wood pellets they brought back from the big town about 35 miles away. L invited me in for a sandwich, and we got to talking about logistics. I’m about out of glaucoma meds, and asked if I could tag along on their next trip to the big(ger) town about 50 miles away, which contains an actual Wal-Mart whose pharmacy honors my discount card.
“We could just pick it up for you,” L said. “Like last time. I know you don’t like to go.”
“Yeah, it’s true,” I said, “But I need a few other things I can only get there. I’m running low on my favorite firestarters, for one. And anyway, sometimes I think I’m overdoing the hermit thing, getting to be too much of a homebody. In a year or two I could be one of those pathetic characters who can’t ever leave home or his dogs will die. Not quite ready to go there.”
So Thursday I’m taking a road trip, the first in several months. Got kind of used to it while I was having all those eye appointments a couple of years ago, and now I’ve gotten used to not doing it again. Not is better, in my opinion, but either can be overdone.
Too bad it’s Mal-Wart. I drive past them frequently and have zero desire to enter one. They’re always out of 9mm, too…
Now that we live in town, with Wal-Mart only about 3 miles away, I still only go there about once every 6 weeks or so for the few items that no one else in town carries. It just annoys me that the 3 quick things I want are in the 3 far catty corners of the store and there’s only 1 checkout open with 8-10 people in line, so a quick trip is never really quick.
Wood pellets in egg cartons with melted wax poured over make the best fire starters ever.
Have you tried WalMart before noon, coloradohermit? Here in Central Florida, they are rarely crowded then, and if you use self-checkout there is rarely any waiting at that time. But then maybe our civilization is different down here…
Strips of coarse cotton cloth like burlap from sacks tied in a large knot with a end hanging out and soaked with layers of canning type wax are also good but probably take longer to make because the coats of wax have to dry. FL guy is right, anything in a cardboard egg carton coated with melted wax is the best, and cheap too. Love ’em.