rattle me bones

The wind is a rattlin outside and it is raining. It is plain miserable outside. At 4:30 it felt like it was 7pm....a gloomy gloomy day. I hear a dog howling somewhere in our building. I have hear the poor creature a few times....he sounds so lonesome. I decided to invigorate myself and bear the rains and walk up to Starbucks to spend my 5.00 gift card that I got as a present. I wore Laura's Old Navy jacket because I felt like wearing something big and comfy, even though it looks terrible on me. I didn't care. So I took my green umbrella and out I went.My first stop was the mailbox at 7-11. Fortunately the homeless man who tends to hang out there wasn't around. I am nervous to be around him ever since the day he caught my eye (no I wasn't staring) and banged on the window at me while I was inside the store. That was a scary feeling. Laura says that he probably doesn't remember me and I'm sure she's right but I'm still a little hesitant. That 7-11 is his turf.Next stop was Curves where I picked my water bottle that I left there earlier today. (ACtually the bottle belongs to Oriana I think -she left it at our old house when Karey was making a bridesmaid dress for her last year...oh well). The lady who got me signed up for Curves was there and smiling and nodding her head kind of nervously like last night.Then it was on to Starbucks. Starbucks is a good 6 blocks away so it is a nice walk. I browsed the windows of the stores on the way and learned that we have many Chinese restaurants and Asian facial / manicure / spa places in this area. At Starbucks I got a 1/2 sweet Caramel apple cider minus the whipped cream. It was alright. I also ordered a cranberry bliss bar which was kind of a disappointment too. It was ok. I then began my journey home. I decided to stop in at King Sushi since I had enough money in my pocket to buy some and so I bought a Green combo which has spinach, avocado and cucumber Sushi in it and it only cost me $6.31. I gave the lady $7.31 and she held up the looney to give me as change and just as I was about to take it she held it over the tip jar and said "in here?" It was an awkward moment. I hadn't planned on giving a dollar tip and I needed that dollar but there were other people around and I didn't know what to say since she was already holding it over the tip jar so I just said "ok" and she put it in and smiled and said thank you. I felt annoyed with myself though for not reacting faster and taking the looney. I wanted to stick my hand in the tip jar and snatch the looney back but that would have been worse - I could just picture customers giving me dirty looks for "stealing" from the tip jar.....sigh....these awkward moments.I feel good because I walked 2 km on my way to and from Starbucks. Yay!!!! I'm trying to stick with my walking program so that I can be prepared for the 10km walk that I am doing in Victoria in April.Archie is thirsty I think. Lately he has been climbing to the top of the white chair and staring up at the ceiling and meowing for no reason. Laura and I can't see anything there...not even a spider or a bug. Maybe he is seeing ghosts or just trying to get our attention. It's kind of weird anyways.I'm going to go and eat my Sushi. I hope it tastes good.