Thursday, May 7, 2009

Yesterday's Trip Out Into The World


Despite the before and after pictures, yesterday went very well. I think what wore me out was all the gadding about before the therapy, and the trip to the bank and the grocery store after. But the therapy itself was very productive and helpful. However the journey to and fro was almost more interesting then the therapy itself.

I am a notorious recluse. So any outing where I bump up against other humans is sometimes a mine field for me. I don't like people much in the abstract, but I do run into people I like instantly, like the three sisters who run the gas station where I got my fill-up. These are three of the funniest, warmest women I've ever met at a gas station. I will now never get my gas anywhere else. They have made a loyal customer.

I was washing the 8 yards of thick fabric I cover my couch with at the laundry across the street from the gas station. So while my fabric was washing I went next door to fill my gas tank. I pulled up to the pump I wanted and discovered my tank was on the other side of the car. I repositioned the car and found the pump was out of order. So after three tries I got pulled up to a working pump, then I couldn't find the release for the cover of my gas cap. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I bought this vehicle last summer from a neighbor and I drive so little (and even then don't go very far) I have only put gas in the car twice before, and each time had to get some guy to show me where the gas cover release is. It's embarrassing. After about five minutes of searching I finally figured that out. Then I put the chosen nozzle in the tank and couldn't figure out how to start the pump. I spent five minutes trying, then headed into the store thinking that maybe I had to pay before I could pump. I usually hate to ask men to help me since I don't like to see myself as an idiot woman who can't do anything for herself, so I was expecting some young man to be manning the cash register who would give me that look that says, "idiot old woman", but instead I was greeted by three women who were in the midst of a jocular banter with one another. Turns out they are the women who run the place and were cheerful about giving me the gas pumping tutorial. Then while I was pumping gas, two of the sisters were leaning against the building smoking. So when I finished filling the tank and washing the filthy windows, and emptying the ashtray, I walked over to thank them and ask if I could take their picture. They cheerfully agreed. The photo above is of me and one of the smiling jocular sisters. I'll never buy gas at another station. That's what cheerful customer service gets you--loyal customers.

This is the first time I've taken my camera with me on an outing. I have a fairly large digital camera and it's not like whipping out a cellphone with a built-in camera. And then I have to carry its case slung over my shoulder along with my purse. But yesterday I wanted to take pictures of the Valley Mental Health facility where the Masters Program (for bipolar patients over fifty) is located. But carrying your camera around with you makes you want to take pictures of almost everything. I'll link to Picasa and post these photos of the commercial district in my area called Sugarhouse and then south to Valley Mental Health. Later when my head clears and I've had my second cup of coffee, I'll tell you all about the hour and a half session with my therapist and the half hour with my psychiatrist. All good. No medication changes.

Here are the photos I took of my trip to get my head shrunk.

24 comments:

Laura said...

I HATE pumping gas!!!!! (I know that more than .. 2.. exclimation points is just silly but that how much I hate it).
Lucky you, finding such a cool place.
You look almost exactly as I imagined you. Lovely lady! :)
Now I'm off to check out the photos that you linked.
((Hugs))
Laura

Laura said...

Wow! Those crazy Mormons sure now how to do it up right!
Nice place. ;)

Utah Savage said...

Hi sweetheart. Yeah, I'm with you on the pumping gas thing, but if I have to do it, it's nice to get directions from a funny woman and not a grumpy, chauvinistic man.

darkblack said...

Million dollar smile, kid.

;>)

Utah Savage said...

Darblack, you make my heart sing, you wild thing.

Life As I Know It Now said...

glad everything went swell for you. it's nice to get out of the house and into the sun!
:~)

Utah Savage said...

Yes, sister darling. You're like my own Jewish Mother telling me to get out in the sunshine instead of the usual "eat, dawlink eat!" Have you noticed that almost every time I report getting out in the sunshine at the end of saying it I say "Lib"?

themom said...

Love the pics and the "ladies" are cool. Amazing how you can find a soul to relate to and "like" in the strangest of places. Looking good there Peggy!!!

Neither Here Nor There said...

Glad you are feeling much better. And you look fabulous.

Commander Zaius said...

Truth be told we bought a new car, a Toyota Corolla, just two days ago and I went to find the button to open the gas cap cover and it took me several minutes.

Utah Savage said...

Bless your heart Beach. Now I feel much better about my inability to find that release, but keep in mind that I've had the Caravan for a year.

Suzi Riot said...

It IS good to see you smiling in the sun! What you said to Lib is so very true. All three of my Jewish mothers AND my non-Jewish doctor father believe strongly in the healing power of sunlight. :)

Utah Savage said...

Susi! Good to see you. Yea, even my internist is nagging me to spend some time in the sun every day. In the winter when it's too cold and snowy to go outside to take the sun I can sit in the greenhouse and read or play backgammon or just soak up the warmth. Now I have a garden that's never had quite this much rain in a long cold Spring--the garden is so lush and wild looking I tend to see all the work I need to do and quick. I said I was going to clean house a couple of days ago or so, and still haven't done more than move the unplugged vacuum around making my dog nervous and on edge.

yellowdoggranny said...

I like to pump my own gas..but there is a station in west that will not only pump the gas for you, wash your windows, check your water/oil and tires but give you a big ass smile while doing it..i swear to goddess...
great photos...

gfid said...

i like these ladies, just looking at them! you are, indeed, very photogenic yourself, o lovely one. add me to your list of Jewish mamas. what are you, a mushroom, you can't go out in the sunshine? oi! it's good for you. don't forget your sunscreen. and where's your hat? did you remember to turn off the stove before you left? stand up straight... you want you should get scoliosis?

seriously, though. i think we evolved from plants, and we still need sunlight to photosynthesize. so soak it up while you have it. Utah may not have the brutal winters we get in northern alberta, but winter is winter, and it's hard on everyone. Blessings.

La Belette Rouge said...

As a person who is a cave dweller I do think that there is something about being out among em that is good for me beyond the vitamin D. I think being out gets me out of myself and that is almost always a good thing.

I hate pumping gas too and that is why we got the Prius. I love that I an go two to three weeks without getting gas.

giggles said...

Real women DO pump gas!! (And at least you're smiling!!) ;-)

Kulkuri said...

Yellowdog Granny ain't the only one who would like the list of things being over fifty is good for.
There are two states where it is illegal to pump your own gas, New Jersey is one, but would you want to live there??
There must be a lot of sick Mormons for them to build such a nice place for treatment.

susan said...

We learned Oregon is the other state where it's illegal to pump your own gas when we drove across the country and arrived in the small town of Ontario. We both hopped out to take care of the window washing, oil level checking, ashtray emptying and of course, pumping. We'd been doing it for nearly 3000 miles. A young guy came dashing out of the garage yelling NoNoNo! We looked at each other then back at him as he arrived breathless to say, 'That's my job'. It was. It was nice and we've never pumped gas since.

That is one magnificent picture of you and one of your new friends, my friend. As I've said before, you're beautiful!

Sherry Pasquarello said...

hiya, i love the pictures. i'm glad you got out a bit.

i am scared to pump gas. you are braver than i am.

Randal Graves said...

If your head was shrunk, are you now an official practitioner of voodoo?

Utah Savage said...

Hi Sherry. Do not fear the gas pump, unless someone is smoking while handling one.

Randal, Well, yes, why do you ask? Are your worried? Afraid of me yet? Muahahaha!

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

you DO know you are drop dead gorgeous, right?

anita said...

utah, i can't believe i missed this post! you look MAHHVELOUS!! so nice to see you smiling.

and it looks like the program you are in is quite legit and doing well by you. i love the pictures of the snacks at the front desk. that was the best part of my radiation therapy, the lorna doones and great coffee in the waiting room.

i have a new doctor (psychiatrist -- i still have the same great therapist) who has identified some kind of "cycling" i'm going through and put me on a new medication for that. i think it's helping but only time will tell.

but seriously, so happy to see you out enjoying yourself with the gas station ladies (and others, of course).