For a day off, a surprisingly busy one.

• Got down to Orchard Supply to look for a bag to cover our swamp cooler. kshandra suggested looking for one of those covers to protect plants from freezing temps.


• Sadly, they don't get those in until the end of November. A big trash bag will have to do until then.


• I'm proud of getting out of OSH with no impulse buys. Because that place is impulse buy central.


• Went to the library. Our library has two parking lots; one above ground in the front, and an underground lot under the building.


• The upper lot was filled, with several cars circling for a space. The parking garage was almost empty.


• Paid my fine for a late book (the librarian was laughing at my expressions of shame and remorse)


• I need to remember to make Wednesday's my library day. Because it is story time at the library. Meaning loads of toddlers and preschoolers (always adorable) going in to hear a story, and then getting armloads of books.


• I shared an elevator with a Hello Kitty princess. I looked at her and said "I like Badtz-Maru."


• She smiled and said "He's a penguin!"


• Grabbed a history of the Mongols, a history of France from Caesar to Charlemagne, and The Fellowship of the Ring.


• Because I've never read The Lord of the Rings.


• Feel free to be aghast, but every time I've tried, Tolkien's dense prose has stopped me cold.


• Maybe this time will be different.


• From there, a trip to my preferred hair place.


• #1 guide on the head. What I love is the attention to detail I get.


• Eyebrows trimmed, straight razor shave, beard trimmed (if needed, today she judged my beard to be under control) rogue hairs on the ears dealt with.


• A whole lot of value for $14. I drop a $20 and leave the change as a tip. For quality like this, it is worth it!


• My particular stylist also asked where Kirsten was. Nice to be remembered.


• After that, a walk down to Smart & Final for some grocery shopping.


• Beer, Italian sausage and rolls, Kiri's smoked sausage, chips and salsa, work soda and Gatorade, breakfast stuff, Rice-a-Roni...


• My "quick stop" ended up being a pretty major trip.


• But we have food now.


• Just waiting for the start of Game 3 of the NLCS. Possible thunderstorms in St. Louis.


• GO GIANTS!!!