KILLING TIME

 You know those days when you have several appointments during the day but find yourself with an hour or so between them ?  Like when you are at an airport with a couple of hours between flights . . . What do you do with that "spare" time ?   

Airport time is actually easy to deal with.  If you're traveling you probably have your lap top, phone, magazines and/or a good book to wile away the time.  If that's not enough there are always all the "fine dining" establishments that are found in airport terminals. That can waste at least an hour just trying to find one that hopefully won't kill you with saturated fats.  After that there is the adventure of trying to find a bathroom, (thank you saturated fats). I never have trouble killing time in an airport.

It's that hour and a half between doctor appointments that is a problem. You really can't plan ahead because you never know when you're going to get "hung up" at the first doctor's office.  That's why, when you schedule multipal visits on the same day, you allow enough time between them. If your first appointment goes well and all the stars are in alignment and the God's are smiling on you it is possible that you end up with time to kill before you are due at the next office.

This is not a problem when I am in Florida.  I have all sorts of options down there.  I have friends and my daughter who I can call to see if they're home and would like a quick visit. If I am hungry I can stop at any number of places where I can get a quick bite of something more than a greasy burger.  Maybe I'm in need of some retail therapy . . . the shopping choices are endless. Within a 5 mile radius I have Kohl's, TJ Max, Marshals, Walmart, Target, Home Goods, The Home Store, Burlington, Hobby Lobby, Michaels just to name a few.  If its Monday I will go to one or two of the Bealls Outlets so I can get my 10% discount.  If it's Tuesday you will find me at one of the two Ross' stores.  I ALWAYS find something at both of those. Still not interested in any of those options . . . there is always a quick trip to the beach to Zen out.  Life is good and in Florida I have many many choices of how I want to kill time. 

Not so much here in the Upper Peninsula  of Michigan.  On Wednesday I found myself in the position of having some time to kill between appointments.  Let me first say that the probability of having TWO doctor appointments in the same town on the same day is nothing short of miraculous !!  It is more common to have to schedule one appointment a day/week because you are probably going to be traveling at least an hour to find a doctor if you have anything more than a cold.  Any specialized doctors are NOT residing in Gladstone or Escanaba, MI.  ( The Man has to see a cardiologist next week so we will travel FOUR hours to Milwaukee, WI. )

But there I was . . . out of one doctor with time to spare before I had to head to appointment number 2.  As I walked out of the first office I started to wonder what I should do with the extra time I had for myself.  I had left The Man at home so I was FREE  . . .    What to do? What to do ???   Well,   I could stop at Starbucks and treat myself to a coffee.  But then I would have to pee.   I could go shopping at Walmart in Escanaba or the dollar store but I really didn't need anything from either of those places.   

It was when I found myself considering stopping at Tractor Supply that I knew I was in big trouble.  

I realized that I have evolved  from shopping for new clothes in Florida to going to Tractor Supply to get bird seed and tomato plants.  But then I came to my senses . . .    The birds have plenty of seed left in the barn and it is too soon to plant tomatoes or anything in the garden.  We STILL have a chance of frost at night. 

In the end I did go to Starbucks after which I drove down to the lake shore to watch a momma and daddy goose take their 7 little babies for a swim. The coffee was delicious and the geese were more than entertaining.  And it didn't cost me a thing because I had a Starbucks gift card!

This killing time thing is actually a lot easier up here. Not so many choices and much more relaxing.