A Midweek Errand Run and Some Catch Up Calls

I had a list of small things to handle yesterday morning before my first client call. Nothing major, just mailing off some fabric samples for a project and picking up a couple household items I kept forgetting about. Ren offered to come along but had an early meeting, so I went on my own.

The post office near work was crowded as usual, the line snaking past the counter where a woman in a bright red jacket kept shifting a heavy box from one arm to the other while her phone buzzed every few minutes. I waited about twenty minutes to drop off the packages, the air inside thick with the smell of paper and someone’s strong cologne. While I was there I grabbed a book of stamps too, since ours at home were running low, and I added a couple extra just in case the ones in the kitchen drawer had already been used up for Ren’s last batch of thank-you notes. From there I drove over to the store in Crestview Commons to get some cleaning supplies and a new pack of batteries. The traffic was light for once, which helped, though I still had to circle the lot once to find a spot near the entrance because someone had parked their cart right in the middle of the lane. Inside the store the floors were freshly waxed and a little slick near the cleaning aisle, so I moved slowly while picking out the usual spray and a box of trash bags. The battery display was tucked behind a tower of paper towels, and I stood there longer than I meant to comparing sizes before grabbing the right pack.

On the way back I stopped for coffee at the place on the corner. I got an iced latte and sat outside for a bit to return a couple calls, the condensation on the cup leaving a small ring on the metal table. One was from my grandmother checking in about plans for next month. She mentioned she still had some cloudberry jam left from the batch she made last summer and asked if I wanted her to send a jar. I told her to save it for when we visit instead, listening to the faint sound of her radio playing in the background while a delivery truck idled at the curb nearby. The second call was shorter, just confirming a time for a quick chat later in the week, and by then the ice in my drink had mostly melted.

Work has been steady but not overwhelming. I spent the afternoon reviewing notes for a small office refresh project, the catalog pages spread across the dining table next to a half-empty glass of water. The client wants to keep most of the existing furniture but update the lighting and add a couple plants. I pulled a few options from a catalog and sent them over, pausing once to watch a squirrel run along the fence outside the window.

In the evening Ren and I made pasta with whatever was in the fridge. We used up some leftover vegetables and added a can of chickpeas, the kitchen filling with the smell of garlic as the pan sizzled. It turned out better than expected, and we ate at the small table by the window while the evening light faded. After dinner I watered the plants on the windowsill and noticed one of the leaves on the pothos had started to yellow. I trimmed it off and moved the pot a little closer to the light, brushing a bit of soil from the sill afterward.

This morning the temperature felt cooler than it has been lately, the air carrying a faint dampness from the grass that made my sweater feel just right. I took a short walk before opening my laptop, passing the usual route past the park where the benches were still empty and a single jogger moved along the path with headphones in. I got back in time to join a quick team check-in and then spent the rest of the day sorting through emails, the inbox slowly shrinking as I answered the ones that needed quick replies. Nothing too exciting overall, but it felt good to cross a few things off the list. I still need to schedule that oil change for the car, but it can wait until next week.