Wasted Day

Such a waste of a day! It all started at noon. I had a nice cup of tea. It's finally not raining and the sun even peeks out behind some clouds on occasion.

So I decide to go out. It's 1:30pm and I really need to get my taxes done... I desperately need the money (who doesn't). Granted, they should've been done last month, but as long as you don't owe them money, Revenue Canada really doesn't care when you actually do your taxes. I was given certificates to get mine and my son's done for free at H&R Block, so I figured I'd head there to get them done there.

I time it so I can hop on the once an hour bus to go the several blocks down the road to where the income tax place is. I know it's not that far to walk, but with my hip and back not working like it used to, I can't walk even a block anymore without something spasming. Very annoying. Anyhoo. My son came with me so he could get his taxes done at the same time. We get off the bus, walk the half block to the small mall where the tax place is to find... it's closed!! And according to the sign, it's only open on Tuesdays... for 3 hours only!! That's it! WTF?

My son remembers seeing another H&R Block near his old high school. So we wait the 25 minutes for the next bus, hop on it to go check out that area. But as we're riding the bus we don't see it! My son asks the driver if he's ever seen one around this area, but like most bus drivers in this town he's oblivious to anything. However, a nice lady on the bus tells us there is "definitely" one near the Glebe area (which is a half hour bus ride from where we are). I'm debating about going there, but my son is now bored and annoyed. So he hops off to head back home (he can walk, I can't) so I stay on the bus to continue on to the area this woman mentioned.

50 some-odd minutes later (due to bumper to bumper traffic) I finally see the H&R Block sign literally right where the bus stops! But as I'm just about to get off I note that the place is empty of any furnishings and locked up tight and looks as though it's been that way for a long time. So I turn to the driver and let him know the shop is no longer there. He tells me "so what" and barks at me asking if I'm getting off or not. I sit back down. I figure I'll stay on just a bit longer as I know there is a LYS not too far from here. I had been wanting to go there for a while but never had the chance to. 3 blocks later I finally hop off and walk the half block up to the shop.

The shop is lovely... I wander around looking at all the petties and resist the urge to smoosh my face into the soft bamboos and cottons. But yikes.. the prices! One teeny skein of just cotton was $16 (plus tax)!! Sadly I leave without purchasing a thing (and received such a dirty glare of the woman tending the shop). Not going to go back there for a while unless I win a lotto or something.

I wait 20 minutes for the bus to go back home. Another looooong ride home, this time filled with the driver braking to a screeching halt at each and every stop along the way. This is on top of the still heavy rush hour traffic which again is a jerking motion. I'm very much in pain now from my back being flung back and forth so much! And there is a small child screaming at the top of it's lungs the whoooooole time. I finally get to my stop where I now have to wait yet another 30 minutes for the once an hour bus to take me to my home... to find that small child and it's mother are getting off and waiting there too. And they also get on the same bus to go home!!! Now my head is aching on top of everything else.

I stop about 2 blocks before my place to the library thinking I can at least pick up the few books on hold for me (and avoid small child, who is still screaming). I go in... and find someone has taken 2 of the 4 books I placed on hold!! Apparently some inconsiderate buffoon decided they didn't have to wait like everyone else and simply yoinked my books off the waiting shelf without caring that these were for someone else!! I'm fuming now... I'd been waiting a month for these 2 specifically as the hold line for both of them was long (I was number 38 on the list when I put the holds on). All the librarian could do was hope the idiot brought them back soon. She marked a note on the computer about this incident, so I do hope they get held again and don't just go to the next holder on the list. I did get 2 other books so it wasn't a complete loss. I then walk the 2 blocks home.

It's 6pm when I finally get in. No taxes done, not a single thing crocheted (I decided not to bring my crocheting with me since I thought I'd be quick - HA), I ache all over from all my walking, my head is pounding, and I'm hungry as a bear (I also skipped breakfast and lunch for the same reason not to bring my crocheting).

Time to sit, have a cup of tea, take some aspirins, and loving son is even making rice pilaf for dinner. He's such a good boy!