. . . the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia. — Charles M. Schulz

I don’t consider myself a worrywart, but like anything, I worry about some things. Often things in the future. And usually, when all is said and done, there wasn’t really anything to worry about. But first, I’m  Thinking Out Loud about parking.

You’ve got to park where?
I go to the park last week. It’s a gray, very windy, rather cool day. There’s almost no one there. And I get back to my car after my run to find someone in a mini SUV has decided to park right next to my little Honda Civic.

Seriously — there are empty spaces everywhere. Was it really necessary to park right next to my car?

And speaking of parking . . . 
I’ve spent a lot of time driving back and forth to my parents’ new home. There is a white stretch limo parked on the side of the road along the way. It never moves. Tuesday, a snowy day, it was covered in snow.

I often wonder what the story on the limo is, but I guess I’ll never know. Since the trips are solo and I don’t have a dashcam, there are no photos of said limo. It would be kind of interesting (to me, probably not anyone else) to see a time lapse of the limo throughout the year.

A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work. — John Lubbock

I wasn’t really looking forward to helping my parents
I took them to the doctor on Tuesday. That’s a half hour to the petsitter, drop off dogs, small chichat. 75 minutes to my parents. Another 30 minutes to the docot, only to find out that we were in the wrong place and they weren’t sure the right place could still take them. Thankfully, they could.

Stop at the bank so they could deposit a check. Stop at the drugstore to pick up new medication.

Did I mention it was snowing for 90% of this? And that at every stop, I had to get out and put back my Dad’s walker? Or that one time he wanted to walk unaided  — just several steps, mind you — while it was snowing? I refused to let him, of course.

And then 30 minutes back to their home. A quick snack, then 75 minutes back to the petsitter. Struggling to get a coat on an excited Lola, who was so not cooperating. 30 minutes back home. And of course my day wasn’t over with that!

Of course it was tiring, but it wasn’t horrible. You know what helped? The affirmation on my tea bag (remember I wrote about them in last week’s TOLT?). Seriously, that is the affirmation that was presented to me Tuesday morning and it so helped.

And if you’re wondering why it’s taking so long for me to get to the many comments on Tuesday’s post, now you know why.

You know what else helped?
Meditation. Specifically, guided meditation. I got back on the bandwagon this month. In case you’ve missed it, I use the Calm App — while some of the meditations are free, you need to subscribe to use them all.

I think it’s well worth the price. It’s always there waiting, even if I fall off the bandwagon. I notice that when I’ve been meditating regularly, I am a calmer person. It is just one tool in my destressing arsenal (which includes yoga, swimming, baking, and, of course, running).

Y’all surprised me
I really didn’t think my monthly “report card” was going to garner much interest. Seriously, it’s hard enough to write about your own stuff, why would you want to wade through someone’s elses?

You really never know what will get people talking. I appreciate each and every comment!

Honesty is the best policy
I was never called for jury duty the 7 years we lived in VT, although there no doubt I would have welcomed or at least tolerated it — towards the end, I was not so fond of my job.

I have a long history of being called every 3 years like clockwork the 17 years I lived in TX. I was chosen twice; one case settled, and the other was a week long trial (at a time when I owned my own business).

I really seem to have a stamp on my head saying “Pick Her!” even though I don’t want to be picked. This was my first time in NY. They actually put your cards into a bin and then draw out random numbers. And wouldn’t you know I was the third one called?

For once in my life, though, I was released. It was a DUI case. The defendant wasn’t going to testify in his own defense, and apparently there was no breathalzyer test (they intimated that he refused it).

Even though I know that is his right, I said that I would have trouble believing in his innocence if he refused to testify. It’s truly how I felt. Sayonara, jury duty!

Bandit update
Remember a few weeks ago I mentioned Bandit growled at Mr. Judy when he tried to get him off his cozy bed at night and go downstairs with him? That we weren’t sure he was actually growling at Mr. Judy, or something else we may have heard?

Welp, now we’re sure, because it happened again. I’m not worried that he will do anything to Mr. Judy, but I just cautioned him that when it happens, he has to make sure that Bandit does get off his comfy bed. Luring with a treat is fine. Being stern about it — no. But it’s also not something you can let him get away with — because as I said to Mr. Judy, next thing you know you’re sleeping on the floor.

That’s a little bit of oversimplification, of course, and since Bandit isn’t allowed on the bed anyway it’s not going to happen, but people — and animals — repeat what they’re rewarded for. I growl at you and you leave me alone? Rewarding! I got what I wanted!

We do train off a lot. Most of it comes from me, though. Mr. Judy does some training, but not as much as I do — for the obvious reason that I am the one that has more “free” time (except when taking my parents to the doctor, obviously).

Talk to me. Tell me in the comments:

Don’t you hate it when cars have to pick the spot right next to you?

Do your furkids ever growl/snarl/whatever at you?

Do you see something on your commute that makes you go “hmmm”?

I’m linking up with Amanda at Running with Spoons for her: