Petunia rambles on and on….

When I got my Kindle Fire (and his Kindle, too), I subscribed to Amazon Prime. It gives me free 2-day shipping. It’s not just to my address either! I ordered gifts at the holidays, and they went free to various destinations, and a highchair went south to the new grandson. Prime prices are a little less on some books/e-books so there’s a savings there, too. I figured I would save in the long run or order a shitload of stuff I don’t need. I also get extra books to read on my kindle, with a loaner program that is part of the deal. (I would read more if I knit less) (and if the laundry did itself).

While I was at it, I also got an Amazon Visa card – even though I already have a Visa through another company and this one does have a higher interest rate than the old one. So why did I get another? SHE told me that SHE gets points and uses them for her Amazon purchases. SHE, that daughter of mine, the one that buys books and stuff and other stuff, told me about it. Amazon purchases give me 3 points per dollar spent, some stuff gives me 2 points, maybe groceries and gas? – and all the rest is 1 point per dollar spent. These points then translate back into dollars to be used against future Amazon purchase amounts. Now clearly, it’s not cost-effective to run a balance on this card and if something comes up that I have to charge and know up-front that I won’t be paying it off during this month like my transmission falls out, it would be smarter to use the other card. But for purchases that I would have  ordinarily used my debit card, where the money is in my checking account and already budgeted for, I’m now using this card. When I get home, I just transfer the funds and pay off the balance. And the points build up.

I wasn’t sure how to actually use them, apply them against my purchase, but again, helpful daughter explained the process! She’s a smart one, that one.

And I was surfing the net, or reading someone’s web page, or somehow landed on photography reference books, some really neat ones! The author’s name, Scott Kelby, sounded familiar and the more I looked and read, the more I wanted one of the books I saw. The book was originally about $25 but Amazon was selling it for less – and then, I saw the set, three books by the same author.

Well, this was starting to get pricey!! But the set was reduced, not 3 times the price of only one. Cheaper to buy the set, right, then to buy them each separately?

And then, I remembered those points!

So I got the Amazon discount, the quantity discount for buying the boxed set of 3, and then my POINTS were applied. I ended up paying $11.80 for the set, and got free shipping!

I’m reading the first book now, and I’m liking what I chose! I’ve read how-to books that, well, you really already needed to know how-to in order to understand what the hell they’re talking about! This man knows how to teach and does it in a way that makes sense to someone that doesn’t already know the subject matter at his level! And he is knowledgeable, upbeat, and I’m enjoying the read.

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Now I need to go rack up some more points.

Here’s one more thing that I love and many folks don’t. 

I love Daylight Saving Time!!

Well, actually, the truth of it is that I love DAYLIGHT, and I dislike getting up early! Daylight that comes early is wasted on me – I’m not an early-bird and never will be! I’m kind of grouchy at the start of the day, unless there’s really something special going on. Perhaps it comes from chronic sleep issues, perhaps it’s just my surly temperament. Now I’ll get up early to start out on a trip, or to catch the early light in my camera; that beautiful morning light is worth it.

But just to get up early and look around at the chores to be done? Dust to be dusted? I’ll pass. Rather stay in bed! And early daylight on a day I’ve got to work is sad. I can’t take advantage of it and still be at work on time. I can’t do much unless I get up long before the crack of dawn and that just isn’t me. Lately, I’ve looked out my kitchen window, first cup of coffee in my hand and the day all new and fresh and bright and thought, “Hell, I want to go out and play in the sun, take a camera and find water somewhere, or trees, or birds, or flowers, or anything!” Alas, not to be.

And at the end of the day, well, it’s been getting better, but I don’t get out of work until 530p, and all winter, that’s pitch dark. I don’t like driving in the dark so much anymore, and it limits what I can do after work and where I can go. Now, at least, it’s light when I get off, but still, I’ve got a time limit on me, and hate always having to watch the clock and the darkness coming in. And that time limit doesn’t allow for a lot. Stop for gas, run into the grocery store for milk, pick up a few extra things and by the time I stand in line and pay for it all, it’s dark when I get back on the road.

So on Sunday, the time changes. I’ll have another hour after work to do what I want, and that’s just for starters! Each day it’ll get better. I’ll start carrying a camera with me every day, in case the mood strikes and I just head out after work to someplace pretty. I never know what will strike my fancy or where I’ll end up.

So, Daylight Saving Time, old friend, I’m so very glad to see you back!

Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.

We learned this as kids, living near the water. Just as we knew to read the tides and plan our day, our fishing or boating or swimming, with high tide in mind. I still enjoy going down to the bay and watching the tide come in, or seeing it calm or stormy.

And when I see the red sky, I know tomorrow’s the day I ought to be outside, near the water.