Laughter yoga

Just took my first laughter yoga class.  I couldn't imagine what that could possibly entail!  Also, I was feeling very grumpy and resisting the idea of laughing.  We did do some fun and interesting little exercises and even worked up a sweat!  I like the laughter pill exercise, where you take a pretend pill and it sends you off into laughter and silliness.  Each pill that you take causes MORE hilarity.  I could really use a pill (pretend or otherwise).  So, we did stuff for one half hour and I called it exercise.  Laughter meditation, done with the eyes closed, almost made me want to cry, not laugh.  I was thinking about my mother at the time.

Americans are exercise maniacs, at least the ones who are bothering.  Read an article about somewhere in California where the outdoor classes are annoying to other people.  The oceanside park is filled with mats, equipment, emoting and sweating people and the cries of instructors.  They are obstructing running traffic, messing up the grass and being noisy.  So, they are thinking about charging more money for instructors to use the outdoor space or limiting the number of people per instructor.

Playlist working TOO well today.  Playing songs in order.  Usually I have to select each one, but I am used to that method now.

Another close call

So I missed a step and my computer and myself came crashing down in the dark entryway.  My life is so full of booby traps.  Once again I have emerged unscathed (OK, maybe my finger is black and blue) but my computer is definitely working.  I really have to get the Internet at home.  Don't like coming out in the freezing cold wind.  Although once I reached the local McDonald's, it is pleasant enough. 

Have been exercising and waiting to feel better.  I still feel like crap and hate most every minute of it. Every week I add five minutes to my requirements.  This week I should be exercising for 50 minutes each day. Today was the third day in a row.  Tomorrow I think I have "laughter yoga".  I can't imagine what that is all about.  At least I don't have to drive so far to get to it.

Finished an audiobook, Back to blood, by Tom Wolfe.  It was read by Lou Diamond Phillips.  It was way over the top.  Taking place in Miami, a Cuban cop and his Latina girlfriend were  in most of it.  Very intense racial relations between WASPs, Cubans, Russians, Haitians.  He points out how little anyone is into religion any more and that we are all going back to our blood lines and our ethnic and racial prejudices and preferences.  Where he went too far was in naming famous people CLOSE to their actual names and one woman was actually called Miss Titsapoppin.  "Tom Wolfe is off and running headlong into the only city in the world where people from a different country with a different language and a different culture have taken over at the ballot box".

The end of your life book club

I need to return this overdue library book.  My sister gave it to me for Christmas so I will take my notes to that copy to peruse.  I love books ABOUT books.  This is about the books Will Schwalbe and his mom read and discussed as she was dealing with pancreatic cancer.  He is gay and has a cooking website and his mom was involved in many good works, schools for Afghanistan being one.  There is a list at the end of all the books they read.  Of course, I am going to copy it.  I wanted to read this book because I had a very good friend who died of pancreatic cancer and I love the title of the book.  I didn't read books with my friend but I have very poignant memories of movies and plays we attended during his illness.  He was wild to LIVE and to SHARE.

The other book I finished was NW, by Zadie Smith.  I enjoyed it in spots, but it was somewhat confusing.  Lots of London geographic references and switching of characters with no notice.  Even the format is odd, going from single space to double space and choosing not to indent the beginning of paragraphs.  It gave me an odd feeling of vertigo.  (It probably doesn't help that I am reading 10 books at one time!)  Someone (I forget who) voted this one of the top ten fiction books of 2012).  Just sayin'....  NW stands for Northwest London and four characters are followed, 2 women and 2 men.  They all grew up on a council estate called Caldwell and are now trying to make their adult lives.   It is about "people who live somewhere special and others who live nowhere at all.  And many people in between".

Thrift shop

Just added this song to my playlist.com.  Most of my email is SOOOO boring.  I did come across this gem on Philly.com called Spotify's top 10 most streamed tracks.  I am listening to each of these songs.  Not that I don't have enough songs on my playlist.  Almost one hundred.  More than I have time to listen to.  To get back to my email, mostly I get requests for money.  Plus I get email for another person with my same name who lives in Bradenton, Florida.  I called her up once or twice to discuss the matter and her daughter told me she never had an email even slightly like mine.  It is really irritating to get things from the wrong school and the wrong politcal spectrum.  Even the RIGHT schools or political parties are bothersome!

Have been spending a lot of time with various groups of friends or family lately.  Of course, it IS Christmas.
This morning I learned that they have a senior roller skating session on Monday mornings.  Too bad I have a yoga date then.  I should try skating again.  It has been over a decade since my last visit, whereupon I broke my wrist.  Prior to that I was very "devil may care" and went by myself a lot.

The longest year of my life has been the year I turned 65.  And the year is only half over.  The longest TWO years of my life have been my contract with Sprint.  It is over the end of December and I think I will enjoy the sense of FREEDOM for awhile.  Don't enjoy the need to make a DECISION, however.  What phone, what company?  I have to come to a (happy?) medium between the two realities:  1. I am FRUGAL, and 2. I want more features on my phone.

No body drying with hair dryers

This sign is posted in the women's changing room at the health club.  Does not this bring up a lovely image?

Made a date to meet a friend at the Megabyte cafe.  When I got there (loaded up with all of my computer stuff, naturally), it said "Closed until further notice".  Dang!  News from the world of small business.  I am getting a bit tired of schlepping my STUFF all over and finding no room in the inn, as it were.

Always feel like I am rushing and overwhelmed with too much to do.  What the heck did I do when I was actually WORKING?  I was laying in bed pondering the day and which direction to go in when my girlfriend called and said she was going to be in the area.  So, all I got done today was about an hour of home essentials, 45 mins of walking alternating with lifting, lunch, and now about an hour of computer stuff.  Then only enough time to get picked up to go look at a friend's 9 foot tall Christmas tree.

Just noticed that there IS spell check on Blogger.  Only became aware as I was using a friend's computer the other night and she had it turned on.  Thank goodness for friends!

You can't make this stuff up

Comment when I told the tale of my sister, who dropped her keys down the slit in the elevator on the way to her apartment in Soho on Christmas eve.  The next night she left her car unlocked and running.  No one noticed until we woke up in the morning.  Luckily, that was in someone's back driveway in New Jersey and not in Soho.

Returning this book to the library.  I didn't really enjoy Drift, by Rachel Maddow.  The subtitle is: the unmooring of American military power.  OK, so not too inviting.  I had gotten enthralled with her on TV around election time so I checked her book out of the library.  According to a blurb on the back, "she tells the epic story of how American warfare came to be both never-ending and practically invisible."

Had a nice trip (my annual) to the Reading Terminal market in Philadelphia today.  Got really busy and crowded.  Nice that it is all indoors, once you get there.  A panoply of mostly food stands...cheese, honey, spices, teas, breads, restaurants, meats, ice cream.  It was quite bright and festive.  Bought a few things until. I couldn't carry anything more.  Buying spices in bulk reminds me of when I lived in Barcelona and went to the market every day.

"educe"

The roadside sign was impaired.  Had a not-very-pleasant drive home from Christmas at my sisters.  First there was horrendous traffic..."Reduce speed (har-dee-har) congestion ahead". So, I was forced to go 5 miles per hour and the LOW FUEL message came up.   Then I got hungry and thirsty and bored and it began to SNOW.  What more can happen?  It is only a three hour drive but it seemed like it took ALL DAY.

Spent a techy time with my my nephews.  They all got new Galaxy droids phones for the holidays.  They all had iphones and now, suddenly, not.  So, I try to listen and learn.  Also watched a difficult movie called The hunter and discovered a fun TV show called Archer.  It is an outrageous cartoon James Bond spoof.

Kind of depressing coming home in such disgusting weather.  My ceiling was leaking and I couldn't stay home.  Schlepped all of my stuff over to the library to spend the evening on the computer and was appalled to discover that they were going to CLOSE at 5 PM cause it's Christmas!  Grrr.  So I dropped in on a friend and wangled a dinner invitation in addition to getting to use the computer.

I heard the patter of tiny feet

My nephew's feet are not so tiny any more. He wears size ten. But I heard someone walking around so I thought I had better get up. Don't want to miss Christmas. It is 8 AM and he is the only one up.

We had a white Christmas. Well it snowed for awhile last night! We drove around looking for the luminaries which they put out all over Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Interesting and beautiful Christmas Eve custom. The more people you can talk into doing it, the more lovely it is. Take a white paper bag, fill it with two trowels full of sand. There should be enough sand to get a white teac candle to stand up. Place the bags every three feet in the street or on the curb or the grass. Light the tea candle when darkness falls. The lights will burn for hours, even in the snow!

Learned about another interesting Holiday custom last night.  In Oaxaca, Mexico, they have a festival called Noche de Rábanos (Night of the radishes), held on the 23rd of December.  This is one of the rare sculptures where you can actually identify a radish.  And these radishes are GIGANTIC.

In, out, nobody gets hurt

That is my philosophy of Christmas shopping. I only deal with the stores that are on the EDGE of the mall. What am I, NUTS, to be out at the mall today? Tried to go to BJ's but it was too overwhelming. So I went to my "predictable" stores, the bookstore and Marshalls and Starbucks, where I am now. Of course, the little red bag I came here to get is all sold out, thus reminding me that you need to BUY it when you SEE it.

So, I have gifts with no people and people with no gifts. The whole thing is approaching insanity. I put $20 in the Salvation Army kettle to make myself feel a LITTLE better about all of this conspicuous consumption. My God, even Starbucks is a madhouse today. And the traffic jams!

Finished up a book called My mother was nuts, by Penny Marshall. Was only vaguely familiar with her. I was really attracted to the book because of the title. I like reading memoirs because it reminds me of the history of MY life. She has sort of a deadpan presentation without much self reflection. She knew a lot of famous people and just fell into a lot of her activites. From starring in a TV show, Laverne and Shirley, to directing several movies, to getting cancer, she explained it all. She is good friends with Carrie Fisher, whose biographies I have also read.

Bacon is the candy bar of meats

Things I am going to miss after I cancel the "local" paper on January 8th:
- cartoons, especially Pickles, where I got the quote above
- crossword puzzle
- Sukoku puzzle
- Having a paper to read as part of my repertoire of reading items each night before bed
- Having a paper delivered to my front door (gosh, I finally trained him....)

Things I am NOT going to miss:
- the daily historical fact about Salem
- news of Elk Township, Salem, Logan Township and other places I have never heard of or don't care about
- the pile of unread papers next to my chair
- lugging all of the papers down to the recycling

Don't get me wrong, I am NOT going electronic. I will just have to make more of an effort to read a paper when I am in the local library or purchase one when I am out.
This way perhaps I can read more of a VARIETY of papers. I got a really good deal on the paper last year, now it is more expensive. Not real wild about the whole REGIONALIZATION thing. What used to cover my town (Bridgeton) now covers Salem County, Cumberland County and Gloucester County. I am still calling it the Bridgeton Evening news but that was several titles ago. Now it is called the South Jersey times.

I want you to be my sex slave

These were the lyrics that caused me to turn the dial on the radio in the car. Power 99 out of Philly played this song. Too much. Reminds me of the time I met a guy on a cruise ship. It was a cruise ship where we only spoke Spanish or Portuguese. I met a guy in the club who whispered to me, "Quiero ser tu esclavo" (I want to be your slave). Kind of more romantic sounding in Spanish, don't ya think?
Not to mention that it is the total opposite kind of request.

Better late than never? Was "balancing" my checkbook this AM, reviewing a statement from July 7, 2007. I don't really call what I do balancing, because I can't keep a checkbook balanced for more than a month. I have to keep a big balance in there in case of problems. I DO try to add and subtract various things but it never comes out exactly right. That is why I tell them to not count on me in church to count the money. I count everything three times and if it comes out the same twice, I consider that to be reality.

So much on my mind these days....shopping, wrapping, computers, exercising, appointments. Don't know which way to go first. So much to do at home, but so much to do OUT. Currently OUT and probably will STAY out til bedtime. Don't really enjoy being home in the DARK, cold night. I want to be HOME when it is sunny and nice but I want to be out then, too. See what a quandery my life is? It is so hard being me.

Barihunks

Couldn't think of anything to write about today so I clicked on the NEXT BLOG link. I always look at two of those plus one I have in my "favorites" list. Yes, I like READING blogs as well as writing blogs. It always amazes me the focus of some of these blogs. This one is Barihunks : the sexiest baritone hunks from opera...http://www.barihunks.blogspot.com. Another one was reviews of concerts in Paris called We left at the interval...http://npw-opera-concerts.blogspot.it. Don't think I will add either of these to my favorites list because it gets out of hand.

Volunteered today. The job was to put mailing labels on postcards. A rather mindless task but hard on the shoulders. It was fun talking to the other volunteers and they fed us breakfast AND lunch. Also put on some Christmas music for us, which I wouldn't be caught dead listening to otherwise.

Only got one phone call today and it was a wrong number. Sometimes I wonder why I bother with a cell phone. Plus this whole UPGRADE thing has me quite anxious. I do not wish to sign any more two year contracts. My two year contract with Sprint will be up at the end of the month. It has been the longest two years of my life.

I DID wrap one gift this morning and FIND one gift as well, but am generally procrastinating about this whole Christmas thing. Did make my list of stores I would like to stop at before the holiday (there were only four). I'll be busy the rest of today getting a massage, exercising and practicing choir music.

Everybody wants to be a cat

I watched this movie TWICE this weekend with some six year olds. The aristocats is an old-fashioned cartoon with some really interesting music including this jazzy piece, Everybody wants to be a cat. It was produced by Walt Disney in 1970. I don't even watch videos ONCE, much less twice.

The sun came out today and the clouds were GORGEOUS. Forgot to call my roofer, darn it. Probably won't have a day this fabulous for awhile. At least, the ceiling didn't noticeably leak during these last few days of rain. So I guess I will procrastinate some more.

Must send out my Christmas requests. Nothing like waiting til it is too late. I just feel weird asking for stuff. It conflicts with my unacquisitive standards. Christmas is in only one week and I am not very prepared. But that is the norm for me. I do not get into the mood until December 24th.

How electronic things work

This is ironic, but I checked out a book on my Nook. It is called How electronic things work....and what to do if they don't. The weird thing is, this book caused a problem I have never before had on my Nook! I can't figure out how to make the page advance. A strange message came up that I have never seen before. So I went back to another book that DOES work. Is that stupid or what?

Spent a lot of time with friends over the weekend. Also a lot of time with some six year old twins who seem to love me right now. I know that these stages are very temporary so I am taking advantage of it. They tore my sister's whole house up and made pretend houses out of chairs and blankets and cutlery and pillows and wall decorations and snacks. We had some playing cards and we were pretending that they were cell phones and video games. My sister and her boyfriend were just too tired to be disciplining so things got pretty wild. They are like whirling dervishes and love machines. It is so very upsetting to know that kids of that adorable age were murdered in Connecticut. Later Sunday night I was crying as Obama gave his speech at the memorial service in Newtown. It came on right after 60 minutes, which is the only TV show I actually watch ON PURPOSE.

I am kind of starving, waiting for a Christmas party to start. Using the computers at Rutgers Camden where I have staff privileges. Unfortunately, I no longer have parking privileges so I had to put over $4 in the street meter. Just got out a wheeled cart I knew I had to practice wheeling my "crap" around. My purse and my traveling folders and other bags full of business stuff are really wearing me down. I was surprised at how well this thing works. It is designed for one suitcase (back in the days before they thought of putting the wheels ON the suitcases) and is more lightweight than I had remembered. Guess I won't ask Santa for that, after all. It "kind of" works if I pile my stuff up and don't go over any uneven surfaces.

I am half-sick of shadows

Kind of a silly title and kind of a silly book. I did enjoy it although the audiobook kept skipping in my car. I think it is my player. The book is by a man, Alan Bradley and is about a young girl, who is part sleuth, part alchemist. She lives in a house that is almost a castle with her father, her two aggravating sisters and some servants.
Her mother has died and they have fallen on hard times. Her father decides to rent out the house to a movie crew around Christmas time. Trouble ensues and includes snowstorms and fireworks and a murder. This is considered the author's second "Flavia de Luce mystery". I enjoyed it for the descriptions and the very British witticisms.

Hung out with some really fun six year olds last night. We watched an old fashioned cartoon called The aristocats. I was amazed that modern children could enjoy such a thing. The kids were delightful, so loving, delivering occasional kisses, "just because"... So sad to think that children this age were murdered by another crazy American. Although I guess it is not just Americans who are crazy. Japanese and Vietnamese people knife each other as they do not have our easy access to guns. But what is going on? Do they just get the idea from TV and other events? But why?

Working today. Went to the cafeteria for lunch. I love it over there. Except for the fact that this is a PEPSI campus. Thinking of all the trees and all the seasons I have witnessed here and also thinking about a coworker who retired and died too soon.
I like this one tree out there. The leaves turn all brown but they do not fall off. It is juxtaposed next to an evergreen. I have been working here part time going on twenty five years! They already had a goodbye party for me several years ago but I keep on hanging on. Now I work only once a month, and not every month.

Roofers, car mechanics, and dentists

No, these are not guys I have slept with but I have noticed a similarity amongst them. They all seem to criticize the LAST guy who did work for you.

How does McDonald's keep track of who is who when they have the two different ordering stations? I asked them. They TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR CAR.

The good things about retirement -
- I could go to a concert at 10:30 in the morning
- I could go to a birthday party for twin six year olds at 3 PM
- I could go out to breakfast and not worry about the time
- I can go volunteer for the Performing arts center and have breakfast AND lunch there
- Someone deposits checks into my bank account three times each month

What is wrong with Americans? We haven't finished investigating the crazed shooter in the mall when another crazed shooter hits the elementary school.

Turn off your watch alarms

Was ordered to do this before the open rehearsal of the Philadelphia Orchestra today. Don't know how to do this. My watch beeps once every hour and the alarm goes off at midnight, 5 after, 10 after and 15 mins after. I don't know how it GOT that way and I don't know how to make it stop! So I took off my watch and put it in the pocket of my coat.

All the things one thinks about during a classical music performance. For some reason, I started thinking about past lovers. Professions of cello players, urologists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, cameramen, art directors of movies, I could go on. Countries of origin, US, France, Tunisia, Columbia, Guatamala, to name a few.

Today I had my first experience of the Kimmel Center. OK, I am a few years behind the curve. Walking in is a WOW...wood, wood, wood, and beautiful rose colored seats. Nice that you can park underneath for only $10 if you arrive before 10 AM. But, no parking attendant, they make you use this machine which was confusing to the elderly. There was a big long line of people trying to get their tickets before 10 AM. The machine did not give change, to make it REALLY user friendly. Someone put in a twenty dollar bill before they discovered this unpleasant fact. When we left, no one checked our ticket. How necessary IS this ticket? Do I want to find out? Anyway, this gorgeous wood symphony hall is inside an ultra modern glass building. The Verizon Symphony hall wood reminds me of a boat or a cello. In fact, the ceiling is shaped like a cello. Highly recommended is the TOUR of the building. My friend said she took the tour THREE times and it was different stuff every time. it is given every day except Monday at 1 pm.

Laboring in obscurity

Is it kind of silly to be writing a blog that no one reads? I write stuff down here and forget to tell it to anyone I actually KNOW. Went out to lunch today and felt rather underdressed. The Coach Room is where all of the lawyers and judges go and also many office Christmas parties are held there. I went with some friends who wanted to eat the chicken pot pie. I went against my principle of "only eat out one meal per day". Today I will be eating out for THREE meals. The menu? Oatmeal, chicken pot pie and beef stroganoff. Not exactly the diet menu. I did walk for 30 minutes in the neighborhood. Chicken pot pie I can take it or leave it. Once a year will suffice. Some people get really excited about it.

Just participated in the census for the Current Population survey. That is that boring book which arrived at my library, was a pain to catalog, and that no one ever looked at. I had to answer questions about my health, my eating, my spending on food, my hunger, my education, etc. Realized all of my spending is based on my own little rules of frugality and not on actual running out of money. In reality, I spend a lot more money eating out than I do on groceries. They said they are going to visit me once a month for four months and then again in a year. I felt kind of special being one of only 55,000 people, but then I read it again and saw that they ask 55,000 people every month to get the official government figures on total employment and unemployment. I guess I am now one of those people who are NOT LOOKING FOR WORK.

Ravi Shankar died. I heard on NPR that when he played at Carnegie Hall, he was warming up his sitar playing. When he stopped after 3 1/2 minutes, the audience gave him a standing ovation. This was only cited to say how little Americans understand Indian music.

The key is not to let go

Highly enjoyed this audiobook by Anderson Cooper. Dispatches from the edge : a memoir of war, disasters, and survival talks about how he got his start in television reporting, chasing difficult situations around the world. I guess he doesn't do that anymore and has settled down with his own TV show. The book was published in 2006. Anderson Cooper narrates the book. His mother is Gloria Vanderbilt. His father died when he was 10, "that slap of silence that reset the clock". His brother was two years older and committed suicide when Anderson was away at college by jumping from the ledge of Anderson's bedroom while his mother pleaded with him to not let go. The author goes to many war-torn countries...Somalia, Niger, and New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. He has trouble relaxing and vacationing, always wanting to be on the go and on the way to the next bad thing. Many good quotes... This one is from the epilogue..."The world has many edges and all of us dangle from them by only a thread. The key is not to let go." I really admire him and his charming good looks. A friend spends a lot of time on Fire Island in the summertime and says he sees him walking on the beach. Another good quote is..."I never understand people who are obsessed about the weather. One of the great joys of living in New York is that I can forget about the small piece of sky that I can actually see".

Drinking my daily Diet Coke. I limit myself to only one. And one cup of coffee. However, I was reading something which detailed at least three benefits of drinking coffee. Don't think I have seen any benefits of drinking Diet Coke.

Feeling very stiff around the shoulders. Even my weekly massage does not seem to have any lasting benefit in this area. Trying to get back to exercise but it is a struggle. Also trying to figure out how to add WHEELS to my lugging stuff around experience.

A man is admiring my ability to type. He asked me if I would type his resume.
I guess that is one thing I got better at working all those years.

Having trouble getting online

OK, the weekend was SO busy, no time for Internet OR exercise (the eternal struggle).
Here I am at the Vineland library trying to fit everything into ONE hour....so stingy with the computer time. Not just Vineland, ALL the libraries, except for the Ocean City Library.

Glad about the following things:
- The sun finally came out at 3 PM
- There was an accident on Chestnut Avenue and I was not involved
- It did not actually rain today, just looked threatening and damp
- I brought my interlibrary loan book back and found out that it was WAY overdue
- I got something to eat for my prior co-workers and also supported a friend who is trying to have business selling only candy and art

Sad about the next five things:
- My ceiling started leaking in the middle of the night, exactly where it has been fixed not so many months ago
- Today just felt weighed down with issues about my roof, my teeth, my pills and many other undone things
- Gloomy weather really depresses me
- Can't get in the mood for Christmas. Feel like a real humbug (but I am like this every year)
- There is no number five, but things sound better in fives

Had a good weekend. Reunion with girlfriends of the 70's and saw Lincoln and ate at Coriander (an Indian restaurant in Voorhees). Ate with Breakfast club and volunteered at the symphony on Saturday. Sang in the choir and volunteered as a host for Christmas in Greenwich on Sunday and then had dinner with a friend.

I know why they have hand blow dryers in libraries

Blow dryers are annoying, especially when they are not WARM. And I DO like to have a wet paper towel to wipe down my computer area. But, having worked in a library, I have to tell you paper towels are often misused by the public, who seem to have an endless variety of mischiefmaking in mind when they are using free services. Why don't we jam some down the toilet or leave them balled up all over the bathroom?

I just finished a BIG boook by John Irving called Last night in twisted river. I don't really like his books. First of all, they are way too long. This was an audiobook and I slogged my way through the whole entire thing despite the violence and weirdness and cursing of the characters. Yes, there were some colorful characters that came and went. The subject was an author and his father and his son and their best friend and their loves and moves and murders, etc. He got down and dirty with murderous frying pans, farting dogs, odd ways of committing suicide, hideous weather, naked sky divers and more. I'm glad it is over with and I am not looking to read any more of his books. Sometimes the language seemed stilted or self-conscious. I jotted down several of his adjectives...the hippie carpenter, the blubbering sous chef, the dumb Canuck, the snoring logger.

Last night I attended a delightful event at the Bridgeton Public Library. Books were donated by the Willits Foundation, set up by a Quaker in the 1880's to provide "tracts" on peace in the South and in Liberia (talk about limited and specific). Since my town is SOUTH of the Mason/Dixon line and since my sister is involved with this foundation, she coordinated a group who chose a bunch of books on diversity which were then donated to the library. Our lovely evening encompassed introductions, distribution of quotes about libraries, books and reading, a reading of the quotes and lighting of candles, presentations on specific books by teenagers, reading of a poem, singing of a revised version of This little light of mine and then snacks. It was quite heart warming. I realized that I used that library when I was a little girl and then I grew up and became a librarian.

Today I am using my laptop at the Camden County Library in Voorhees. It is named after someone but I am ignoring that name. I cannot believe the great number of people in this room all sitting quitely and behaving themselves! I am not used to this degree of attentiveness. Didn't really find a perfect place but am sitting at a table where there is a plug. The outdoor view is rather grim today so I am avoiding thinking about the weather.

You don't work here no more?

Sat down at the library and was looking at my neighbor, who was watching a L'il Wayne video on Youtube instead of doing his history homework. The guy looked over at me and said, "You don't work here no more?" Nope, I am just a customer, like you, now. Nice to be remembered, anyway....

Someone came to look at my window today. He was rattling off all of this stuff about windows and managed to OBFUSCATE rather than ELUCIDATE. I like a handyman who leaves you with advice and not with confusion. I am easily confounded. My window has been broken for several years now, but the cold is starting to get to me. OK, I am a procrastinator. One day I was taking a shower and a glass bottle crashed into the shower with me. Someone had thrown a pretty-much-empty bottle of spaghetti sauce through my storm window, through my window and into the shower with me. This is on the second floor! I did get a little glass cut on my foot but it could have been much worse. Especially if there was spaghetti sauce in the bottle. No, I don't know who, why or how. But I suddenly got the desire to get a whole new window, since so much of it is broken. I dread the cost, though, as it is a huge and weirdly sized structure. Guy claims they just throw the old ones out as it is too much trouble to get the panes out.

So I am retired. But why do I feel like I am always rushing around and that I don't have enough time for anything? I guess I should say I don't have enough time for EVERYTHING. I forget that I am GLAD that I DO have time for work parties at my old jobs, appointments galore, presentations at 5 PM, and exercise classes whenever.

A committed underacquirer

In other words, I am FRUGAL. Decided to get a new window in my house. I love the big old wooden windows, but really, I have to admit that they do not function! A pane broke out, the storm window is broken and the pulley broke so that the window does not even open. Still, it is very hard for me to part with it. Maybe I will replace them one at a time? The storm windows rattle when the wind blows and some of them don't work well anymore. Costs about $500 for one, I fear. I have 13 windows.

I have love/hate relationships with many things. BRIDGETON, the town that I live in, lacks interesting stores and restaurants, but it is quiet. Our local NEWSPAPER just became "regionalized" and now incorporates Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester Counties. I love having a paper delivered that I can read at night but many articles are now about places I don't care about. Did I mention they also changed their name (I hate that) to South Jersey times? The DENTIST causes me pain and stress and breaks my teeth but I love the feeling AFTER I get my teeth cleaned. And some of them give me free stuff.

Went to an author lecture last night at the Cumberland County College. Heard Joyce Carol Oates. She read a short story called San Quentin. She shared with us the difficulties of teaching writing in a prison in that the prisoners don't really want any criticism of their work. Then she read a story called Ugly out of her anthology which was the One book, one college selection this year (Faithless : tales of transgression). She has quite a range of topics in her writings. She teaches at Princeton and tells her students she doesn't care if they like or don't like a book. The important thing is how did it make you feel. Someone asked her what does she like to read for pleasure. She said that she is a masochist and does not read for pleasure! She reads for review.

The trash fairy

Haven't figured out new neighbors yet, but I LIKE one older, white, bearded, odd guy. Because he takes my trash container out to the curb and brings it back. Just being nice? I call him my "trash fairy" since it started happening and I didn't know why. I still don't know why, I just know WHO. That is the NICE kind of neighbor surprise.
I have had some bad surprises lately, too, which is mostly what I expect. On the back of the corner are a bunch of loud white people who curse a lot outdoors. Hate that.

Went to my exercise class this AM. I LOVE the teacher. She just came back from workshops in Arizona. Learned about "brain gym". She will be springing that and other stuff on us in the upcoming weeks. She is adorable and is always saying inspiring stuff, like, when you are thinking "no", make it into "ON".

Took a pill for my dental appointment today. I think it gave me a positive outlook on a lot of things. Unfortunately, I was told I have to get my wisdom tooth pulled out. I have had nothing but BAD news about my teeth ever since I retired and stopped having dental insurance. I don't get it. I was supposed to have inherited very good teeth from my mother and father.

The weather is too perfect. Went up to 68 degrees today. And it is winter.

I need a headline

Went to listen to my Playlist as library patrons are annoying me. Adults are either drunk, stoned or stupid and kids are cute or wild, depending on your mood. Couldn't get my music to work (this is a very common occurrence). Oh, but then, I realized I hadn't plugged in my headphones!

Just got a phone call from "Anonymous". Pretty sure that is no one I want to talk to. And phone doesn't really work when in the library.

Drove past Angie's Diner today and realized the GRAND OPENING sign hadn't even been removed before they had a suspicious fire that burned up their kitchen. It was bought out by new owners who promptly fired all of the help and started all over with their own family members. There was an article promoting them in the newspaper but I hadn't heard really good things about'em. It is really sad, because it was a cute old fashioned red diner right on the river and now it has an ugly fence around it and is all burned out.

Cacophony

Time for the headphones again. Stopped into McDonald's to use the computer and they have the TV AND the radio going.

Had a "handyman" stop by today. Makes me nervous due to mess at my house. We just talked about stuff that needs doing and then he went away. Odd sense of accomplishment. Enjoyed getting ADVICE about what to do about certain things.

Good reunion last night of women friends from, oh, 40 or so years ago. Amazingly good turn out, more than 10. Woman from Oakland, CA and one from Cape Cod. Almost felt guilty that I only had to travel a number of BLOCKS to get to the gathering. We were supposed to report on what we had been doing since our days of rabble rousing in Bridgeton area. Here are some of the current occupations of our group...artist, unemployed lawyer, retired librarian, psychotherapist, trophy wife. It was warm and cozy and delicious. I showed some slides of Women of the Sticks activities and we couldn't even remember who all of the people were in the pictures.

Feeling irritable

Don't know why I am feeling so irritable this afternoon. Had a nice morning at our annual Christmas fund raising event; helping, buying and admiring cute children. But now I feel rushed and unhealthy. "NEED" to exercise but feel incapable of doing it. Always struggling to fit in computer and exercise and appreciation of the limited daylight hours. Drove by McDonald's but there was no handy parking and people were sitting at my favorite laptop table. So, I rushed over to the library and was confronted by NOISY, obnoxious child. With "caretakers" who seem oblivious to the commotion. Stopped at a deli on the way and THEY HAD NO DIET COKE. Had to go to Shoprite to purchase something for dinner but I didn't really WANT to be there, nor did I have the time for it.

Recently had a haircut and color. Not sure where I want to go with my hair. Somewhat disappointed that I lost my highlights to which I was quite attached. Have been jumping around from hairdresser to hairdresser since mine up and moved to Arizona (the bum!) It WAS, however, a really enjoyable day (Friday) as I had a lot of attention from hairdresser and then got a manicure and a pedicure. Boy, am I SPOILED!

Saw a good show on TV the other night. It was just a serendipitous discovery going around the dial as this is how I watch TV. It was called Park Avenue : money, power and the American dream. As the New York Post described it, "Channel 13's rich bash".
I believe it was based on the book 740 Park Avenue about some of the residents of this building who are not particularly nice, in addition to being billionaires. It talked about how the Koch brothers are behind the "grass roots" movement known as the Tea party.

Too much sun

I can't believe I just had to move my whole computer set up due to TOO MUCH SUN. I am constantly harping about my NEED for sun and warmth and then I had too much of it. It is hard to use the computer when there are a lot of reflections. Was reviewing my journal from the summertime and I had to laugh because I wrote that I needed to think about a vacation to somewhere COOLER. Now all I can think about is my need for a vacation to somewhere WARMER. The eternal malcontent, that's me!

So excited that I learned how to share a video yesterday. I kind of miss being FORCED to learn things in the workplace. It is tempting to fall behind when left to my own devices. The other day I couldn't even remember how to make a Word document single spaced. To be fair, I couldn't remember that even when I was working.

Wish I had access to my wreath I made from book pages. Now it is hanging in the Lummis Library in Greenwich. Today I was telling someone about it and wished I had at least a PICTURE to show. I was pleased that one of the fellas down there admired it enough to want to hang it up. I must add CRAFTS to my list of things to do at home.

Mitt Romney Style (Gangnam Style Parody)

A warming trend

I am so happy and excited because the temperature will be increasing (slowly) each day until it reaches 60 degrees at the beginning of next week. Yesterday was really gloomy and raining most of the day although it didn't always feel like the dreadful mid thirties it was supposed to be. I think I need to get one of those S.A.D. lights (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Just one of my many disorders.

Last night's Book club was fun, even though there were only four of us. The heat in the pipes in the basement of the church was making nice music. Our next book is ANOTHER big biography type book. Wish we could alternate with something light and frothy, but that is what I get for giving no suggestions for books.

Today came to my usual Wednesday haunt, the Cumberland County historical society. I can use my laptop as long as I want to and hang out with a few convivial gentlemen, although most of them seem to be sick today. I hate going to libraries that are STINGY with the computer time. The Ocean City public library wins the prize, they let you use the computer for THREE hours, as long as it is not too busy. Next, I like the Cumberland County Library because you can log with back in to get a second hour and then you can PAY a small fee to continue using the computers against the wall. Then comes Vineland Public Library, except that you have to WAIT one hour in between your hours. At the Millville Public Library you have to BEG for more time and they are really stingy with it. Why can't they just give me an hour? But, noooooo, they can only give me twenty minutes. At the bottom of the heap comes the Brigeton Public Library. They only give you one hour a day. I "need" 3-4 hours a day.

Paper cuts are killing me

It is going to be a long winter. I am currently in a library trying to forget about the drizzly weather. That is a good function of WORKING which I am starting to miss. You were trapped inside a pleasant, warm, cool place all day long so you didn't have to think about the weather, nor did you have to PAY for heat or air conditioning.

Finished a book for my book club tonight. I didn't highlight any good quotes but I did enjoy the book, as much as you CAN enjoy nonfiction or biography, that is. The mighty & the almighty : reflections on America, God, and world affairs, was written by Madeleine Albright. I never really paid her much attention when she was the Secretary of State but I found myself agreeing with most of her thoughts. From the back of the cover..."She argues that, to be effective, U.S. policy-makers must understand the power and place of religion in motivating others and in coloring how American actions are perceived". She talked about how provocative it was when George Bush gave his speech and brought up the "axis of evil" countries.

Attended an interesting workshop last night since my French club was postponed. Drove up to the Woodbury Library, even though I was not really familiar with where it was, to make a holiday wreath from book pages. This is somewhat of a sacrilege to a librarian but I have seen how many books actually get THROWN AWAY in this day and age, by people and by libraries, and I have been interested in recycling projects. I made a wreath using a book about Queen Victoria. Of course, I wanted to pay attention to the subject and author of the book and included that info in my wreath, with limited success. I'm not really a "crafty" person, but it was fun.

The shittiest cell phone in the world is a miracle

Louis C.K. seems to be the new George Carlin. Listened to his riffs on Tweeting and people who hate their cell phones. I wish I knew how to post it here.

I feel like a sausage today. Still wearing my exercise clothes in which I attended yoga this AM. Seem to have gained three pounds since last week. That is not the direction I am intending to be going in.

It is a headphone kind of day. I have run into obnoxious people at the Broad Street deli and also at the library. Putting on the headphones can help sometimes with this problem.

I was born to be a vampire

So says Bella, in the final movie of the Twilight series, Breaking dawn, part 2. She and Edward talk about the great sex life of vampires....they never get tired, don't have to sleep or eat, never get any older and they live forever. There was, of course, a ferocious battle scene, but luckily it turned out to be just a vision of a possible future scenario if they didn't work out their troubles amicably. Thank good ness it didn't REALLY happen, cause the good guys were losing their heads! So, I helped with a record breaking weekend of money earning. I had to go see it, even though my usual Twilight-loving companion has passed away. I am not really into vampires and stuff, but I make an exception for this series. I read all of the books, too. The previews at this movie were more than I could stand. Every single movie had to do with horror, or the undead or other grisly topics.

I watched the Christmas parade today in Bridgeton, as it went right by my house. I am not into STANDING around, but I just think it is so cool to live on the parade route. Yes, it was mighty cold, even at 2 PM. The parade was somewhat lame, but then I went over and hung out with the young Mexican kids next door and it was more fun. We were speaking some English and some Spanish. They were wildly running after candy thrown by the parade participants and they were telling me what they wanted from Santa Claus....a nintendo and a WII.

Using the wifi at my sister's house and eating some Thanksgiving leftovers. Someone has to do it.

Desperate for daylight

Seems like everything needs to be done in the daylight....exercise, stuff at home, errands. I am always rushing around trying to figure out what to do before it gets dark. Oh happy day, the librarian just gave me another hour on the computer. Don't know why I "insist" upon being so technologically deficient (like not having the Internet at home and having a lame phone).

America...the only country where we gather to be thankful for all that we have and then the next day go out and try to kill each other in order to get "deals" on more STUFF! I wouldn't be caught DEAD at Black Friday shopping. Of course, this is because I am a very "under control" (cheap) consumer and have no ideas for gifts for anyone else. Today is "Small business Saturday". I think I can get behind that and do have some plans for stopping by a few stores in Millville. No box stores for me today. Already spent my daily allowance on gas for a great price of $1.37 a gallon in Bridgeton.

Had a good day yesterday with family. And the weather was delightful and warm and gorgeous. We didn't actually WALK as much as stroll and hang out in Greenwich, admiring roof handiwork and boats and riverfront property. Then I spent some time at home, which I love to do when it is sunny. Next drove to Parvins State Park for a walk around the small lake. It should be about a twenty minute walk, which is my current goal for daily exercise ("BABY STEPS...") I hadn't been to Parvins since the derecho struck on June 30th (killing two young boys who were in a tent). The only people killed in New Jersey were there. Anyway, it was amazing the trees that were down, even now, four months later. The park was entirely closed for several months due to the extreme damage to the trees. It still looked pretty shockingly different. I took a bag to collect trash (my new idea for helping the world) but I only saw an occasional cigarette butt. About halfway around the pond, I looked in my bag and it was EMPTY. Then I decided to carry it more securely. I guess my trash blew right on out!

You can get anything you want...at Alice's Restaurant

Great serendipity...I got in the car just as WMMR was playing Alice's Restaurant, the 25 year annniversary version. I don't like it as much as the original and it is longer, but it does include some interesting additional material claiming that President Nixon owned the album. Arlo finds it a very strange coincidence that the gap on the Nixon tapes was 18 minutes and 20 seconds long and the song Alice's Restaurant was 18 minutes long. He's just sayin'...

A lot of people working today. At the deli, the gas station, Verizon guy out on the street, McDonald's. I heard on the radio that Thanksgiving is the BEST day for plumbers! I'm not working...just taking a vacation from my usual routines. Made some cranberry sauce, went for a walk, some more grocery shopping for last minute essentials, now using the wireless at my sister's house, waiting for that big Thanksgiving dinner.

Just looking through my list of bookmarked blogs. Let me see if I can attach a link to this one which is still updated and hilarious. How does Jen Lancaster have the time to keep up this blog and crank out so many books?

http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylvania/

Hanging out naked

Just can't picture it, but some men are abusing the open-minded spirit of San Francisco by hanging out NAKED in the Castro District. Just another thing I don't GET. Are they flirting or what? So, of course, as I have noticed before, LAWS ARE GOING TO BE CHANGED to try and put a stop to it. There were actually people on the radio today debating the PROS and cons of hanging out naked. A woman was FOR it.

Being naked in itself is not always so erotic. I worked for awhile at printing press where we published a magazine for nudists. I forget the actual title, but it was billed as "a scientific, educational and cultural publication for the advancement of nudism". I just remember photos of people playing tennis wearing only socks and shoes and nothing else. The people weren't particularly attractive, either.

Hurricane Sandy losses were great. The statistics which come to mind are 10,000 trees in New York City and 100,000 cars. Not a good time to buy a used car. The prices are going to be high and how can you be sure you aren't getting a car that has been FLOODED?

Unnecessary car inspection

I went to get my car inspected today. It had a sticker on it that said 1 year extension. Somehow I didn't really get it and it seemed like I hadn't been to the car inspection in forever. But after I got into the building (after waiting in a short line) I found out that I did not NEED to come there until NEXT year. But since I was already in the building, I had to wait my turn.

Went to pick up some drugs and saw new parking signs. 11 spaces are now reserved for the Bridgeton Tourist center parking. That is a laugh. We don't have much tourism going on in our town and the thought of needing all of those parking spots boggles the mind. Two were occupied today. Another example of how the rules of the world keep changing in more strict and annoying ways every time something happens.
I dread all the new rules insurance companies are going to make after Hurricane Sandy.

Oh dear, I logged onto my work email and it was something new. It is called Roundcube - free webmail for the masses. Now, if the masses can just figure it out!
I knew they were threatening to close down the access point I use in December....I just hadn't figured out where else to go or how to proceed. I need to be dragged kicking and screaming into the future, that is just how I am. I relate to the poster of the cat falling down the wall that says, I never left anything that didn't have scratch marks all over it.

Small business Saturday

I think this is my favorite. I wouldn't be caught DEAD shopping on Black Friday. That is cause I am not much of a shopper and usually my family is hanging out and going for a walk on that day. Article on Yahoo today discussed a boycott of Cyber Monday due to sweat shop conditions in some of the online warehouses.

Happy National toilet day. It is also National peanut butter month.

I am sleeping later and later in the AM. Took a nap after church yesterday. Am getting slower and slower. Perhaps I am grinding to a halt? To inpspire myself, here is my quote of the week....Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. - M. K. Gandhi

The newspapers for reading for free are located at the library

Sign over newspaper rack at The incredible bulk, in Millville last night. Walked around for "Third Friday" with some friends. Festive lights, music, food, and gifts. The only problem was the COLD. We had a yummy dinner at a vegan restaurant. Very healthy food but they use takeout containers and plastic forks, which somewhat spoils the effect. I guess that helps to keep the prices down. Wildflower is the name of this restaurant which has been in business over a year. In our area, that is saying something. It was funny, though. We were sitting there eating our raw veggies and talking about all of our dental problems.

They had the DUMBEST segment on the morning show yesterday. They had five babies in high chairs. The Cake Boss baked a huge round cake for each of them. They were each a different solid pastel color. The baby was supposed to get down with the cake and after a timer went off, there was supposed to be an award for the messiest baby. I asked myself, WHY?!?!?! The babies didn't look like they even wanted to BE there or DO it. They forced one baby's hand into the cake and he started wiping his hands together, like why are you making me get so dirty? The cakes were so BIG that they totally obscured the babies. Boy, we are really desparate for entertainment.

Zoom zoom zoom, boom boom boom, the end

This is what my visually impaired friend thought about the new 007 movie, Skyfall, which we saw last night. She has trouble following the action, and there was a lot of it. It was grim. It didn't make me want to go to Scotland. Very minimal sex.

I never saw so many people at the movie theater. There was a Twilight marathon including the new one. I am planning to see it, but I do not like crowds. They even had those ski lift dividers for the snack area! It was quite a festive atmosphere.

Just had to get out the headphones. Annoying patrons in the library. I remember it well. People show up and demand that you make copies for them due to their lack of knowledge about the equipment and their disabilities. Then a loud litany of all their problems. The security guard was participating in the conversation about the government and how some people can get disability even though they never pay into it but this guy can't get it. He does not seem to be aware that his job is to SHUSH people, not to encourage them in their rants. (Alright, I realize, I am not very compassionate.)

"If Pepe hadna' gone bankrupt,

I'd probably be workin' 'til the day I died". Quoted by a retired gentleman I ran into at the Fibre Arts cafe this year. He was a very hard worker and appreciated by his employer, but his employer ran into hard times.

I am sad that this local meeting spot/coffee/fibre arts store and bookstore has left Bridgeton. The bookstore moved to Vineland and the Fibre arts shop to Millville. I enjoyed stopping down for a cheap cup of Community coffee and conversation.

Just finished listening to an audiobook, Just for laughs, for the second time. About 18 comedians which had been interviewed by Terry Gross for her NPR program, Fresh air, were featured. Perhaps Terry Gross is heard all over the nation but I am happy that she lives in the Philadelphia area and is always on NPR. I will just list my FAVORITE ones (perhaps a few names of celebrities will bring traffic to my blog?) Sarah Silverman, Will Ferrell, Denis Leary, Sacha Baron Cohen, George Carlin, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Steve Martin and Woody Allen.

Splash park and other travesties

They are finishing up the new "Splash park" in my local zoo. Just in time for winter?
My only problem with this splash park is that they ripped up a perfectly lovely section of azaleas to replace it with concrete things. And isn't it awfully close to the animals? They keep messing up the zoo. We had a charming little white bridge in the park. Some politician drove across it and thought it was too curvy and dangerous so they replaced it with an ugly rusty metal rail thing, totally spoiling the only charming thing in my town.

Just watched America's heart and soul, directed by Louis Schwartzberg in 2004. I am not very good about watching movies or DVDs at home, but I drove all the way to Ocean City to watch this documentary with about 10 women as part of a series at the library. There wasn't much of a plan to it...showed a bunch of interesting characters, real Americans, and some great scenery. I have been to a lot of the places, but I wish he had been more clear about exactly where we were. It seemed to start off with some regular working folk, then some really odd characters, then some extreme athletic types and finished up with some heart warming tales of people helping others. I think I may have met the cowboy named Roudy in Telluride, CO. I remember we went riding past the Elk which, amazingly, do not bolt when horses come by. The most interesting segment was zooming along with the bicycle messenger in New York City. I wish Ben, of Ben and Jerry, had more time. Then we saw a blind man climbing icy peaks (why?) and people dancing while dangling over cliffs. I cried when the guy with cerebral palsy was pushed by his father running in the Boston Marathon.

Someone loaned me the book Puritan Boston and Quaker Philadephia, by E. Digby Baltzell.
In theory, I was interested in this topic, but this was one nonfiction book that I just couldn't stick with. I am trying to get interested in history but sometimes it is just in one eye and out the other.

High times, the Playboy of the pot world

Not that I would know. I just thought this was an amusing comment. Very interesting program on the legalization of marihuana in Colorado. This was on NPR today with Terry Gross. I thought the segment on 60 minutes on medical marihuana a few weeks ago equally fascinating. Today there was a description of the dedicated, devoted indoor growers, some shirtless and shoeless and playing rock or classical, depending on the what the plants want. The growers even SLEEP with the plants. It is all very controlled and measured and I wish it would come to New Jersey.

Drove all the way down to the shore today. Not a very pretty day. But the weather was varied on the way down and beautiful in spots. Don't think I could live down here in the winter. It plays on my feelings of loneliness. Kind of sad right now. Only a few signs of the recent tragedy of Hurricane Sandy, but I only perused a few blocks. There were some piles of brush, some uprooted trees and sidewalks, and some sofas out on the street. I came down here to renew my library membership and see a film. Don't really like being home on these long, cold evenings. Of course, I don't really like driving around in the dark, either. Oh well.

How can people talk on the phone so much? Many times I see these people in the library with headphones on and they seem to be carrying on a constant conversation with someone. I don't get it.

Don't let's go to the dogs tonight

Returning some library books today. I really need something new to read. Got too much nonfiction going. That is more difficult to deal with.

I read The confession, by Beverly Lewis. It is book number two in a series called The heritage of Lancaster County. Kind of schmalzy. I think Lewis was in the forefront of the Amish romance craze. or "bonnet books" as I used to call them when I worked in a library. All of them have a picture of an Amish girl on the cover wearing a lace cap. Actually, this one doesn't, but... I read the book cause a friend of mine has something to do with The confession, a musical put on in Bird in Hand, PA. So this is a story of a girl who finds out in the first book that she has really been adopted and she is not really Amish. She feels different and just can't bring herself to marry the bishop so in the first book, she gets shunned. The second book involves her search for her birth mother and a case of mistaken identity.
Her birth mother (rich) is searching for her, but others are trying to keep them apart for their own nefarious gains.

Don't let's go the the dogs tonight : an African childhood, by Alexander Fuller, is a coming of age story that is quite unusual. I listened to the audiobook and was intriqued (and sometimes put off) by the variety of unpleasant things she had to put up with. A mother who was often drunk or crazy, dust, heat, sweat and cigarette ash falling into her food, rats, snakes, civil wars, terrorists, and on and on. Glad it was HER and not me. She seemed to love it, though. She lived in many different African countries with her family farming tobacco, raising cattle, etc.

I was just feeling good about my day but then found myself rushing, trying to visit a friend, put in an appearance at a funeral and then get to an appointment in another town. My day plummeted between the funeral in Woodstown and the appointment in Vineland. I rushed through the receiving line, traffic was slow, I took a wrong turn, I underestimated how long it would take, there was construction, a light refused to turn green, my hives were itching. I was highly stressed by the time I got to Vineland. In spite of all of that, the weather today is beautiful and seasonably or unseasonably warm.

1-800-GOT-JUNK?

You bet I do. Saw this roadside sign just as I was pondering the plethora of signs by the road and the fact that they always arrive, but they never leave. I think someone should take responsibility for removing the signs for craft fairs that happened over a month ago and candidates who tried unsuccesfully to unseat longserving politicians. Even Hurricane Sandy didn't seem to make a dent in them. I think I saw an art project at earth911.com for re-using these roadside signs.

Gas prices going DOWN in Vineland and going up in Bridgeton. What is with that? Nothing gives me more of a thrill than finding the cheapest gas price in the neighborhood.

Still have hives. Antihistamines did nothing, anti-fungal pills did nothing. I consulted my alternate health book which I keep at home for those diseases in the middle of the night and NO INTERNET occasions. It said if you still have hives after 6 WEEKS go see the doctor. I went after 24 hours cause I am a bit of a hypochondriac. I don't know why, I just love going to see my doctor. She says don't come back for three months, but I am always looking for a reason to come back sooner. Actually. hives are pretty unpleasant. Now I have a REASON for that creepy crawly feeling, I just don't know what it is. I want to scratch but I am trying not to.

You've got non-compliant written all over you

What the Physician's assistant told me today. Having some skin problems and was attempting to treat myself with over-the-counter medications, but it wasn't working.
She told me I wasted my $27.00 I spent last night at Walgreens. Realize I have not been careful about spreading germs around on my own body and also I know that my diet is awful. Days go by and I do not eat a fruit or a vegetable. So now I got a bunch more medicines prescribed and was told unpleasant things such as take only brief COLD showers with no soap and don't scratch the itch. Are you trying to torture me, or what? I am already freezing with this weather.

"The election was not a murder....it was an auto NON-erotic asphyxiation". So said John Stewart the night of the election. I thought the comment oh so clever but then I repeated it to someone who had no idea what auto-erotic asphyxiation even was. I think he is very funny. Stephen Colbert I do not get. I keep thinking, whose side is he on? No ones, I guess.

I have been spending so many nights at home that my battery ran out on my Nook. Yes, I do lead quite the exciting life. I have a basic disconnect between not wanting to be home all evening and not wanting to be out driving around in the dark.

I think I felt some endorphins

Just went to exercise, second time this week. The Arthritis Foundation exercise program is done mostly sitting down. I love the teacher. We do a little bit of Tai Chi too. I am a paying member of this health club, but have only been twice this year. Let's see...at $26.66 per month, that is $319.92 per year and $159.96 per visit. I have been meaning to get back to exercising for several years now. I was afraid if I stopped paying, I wouldn't get back in with the deal. (One of the many things I do which don't make much sense!) But I like the feeling that, anytime I want to, I can walk right in.

Now I am visiting The Megabyte cafe, a newish business in Millville, New Jersey. The cafe is at 110 N. High St. in Millville. Killing time til the library opens and I can make a couple of printouts. Due to budget cuts, most of the libraries don't open until 10 AM now and they close at 8 PM. Have a nice table by the window, having my morning coffee, using the wireless with my laptop, and enjoying a delicious English muffin, heavily buttered, with strawberry jelly on top. Life is good. We didn't get too much snow down here...just enough to make an attractive dusting.

Ran across Rachel Maddow on TV last night. Boy she is great! She is a political columnist on CNBC. Her show is called TRMS, I guess? She showed a chart with pictures of all the nine white men who made rude comments about rape and abortion and pointed out that they ALL lost. It is so easy for liberals to "gloat" right now, but she gave it a very humorous skewering. I only watch TV going around the dial, I never hardly ever watch anything on purpose. If it is on and I am home I may watch it. OK, I take it back, I do watch 60 minutes on purpose.

Some good news for a change

Pretty happy about the election results. One Democrat I voted for did not get in, but it is next to impossible to overcome Frank LoBiondo. I console myself with the memory that my FATHER liked to vote for him (a Republican) even though my father was an Independent with liberal leanings. And my father has been dead for 10 years, just to give you an idea about how long this guy has been our Congressman. It is just a good feeling when your family and large groups of your friends are on the same page politically. Happily, two Democrats got voted in to the local freeholder board. I think that means that two Republicans are off snd we are back to a Democratic majority. Believe me, it really does make a difference!

But that is the only good news. The weather is horrible, cold, raining, forecast of SNOW and excessive wind gusts. They are calling it a Nor'easter. My choir practice has already been cancelled and that was my big event for the day. Acquaintances have tales of ripping out and rebuilding their seashore homes, some can't even GET to their homes yet. Sad story of a man who died two weeks after his son died. Perhaps of a broken heart, who knows? It is hard enough to lose ONE member of your family, but two is really scary. This cold and dreary winter weather has me missing work or feeling like I do not have enough to do. At least work distracted me from the hideous weather.
It is going to be a LONG winter and I HATE it already.

Things I love:
- Someone asked me to be a volunteer yesterday
- Went shopping and discovered that Peebles has a club where you get 20% off every Tuesday if you are over 50
- Those new roofs they have over the McDonald's ordering lanes
- Flannel sheets
- Warm nightgowns
- Playlist.com when it is working correctly (like recently)

Things I hate:
- Winter
- Dark
- Cold
- Rain
- Sitting in a waiting room and being forced to watch some horrible interview show with everyday Americans discussing their husbands who slept with their sisters or other distasteful topics
- Donald Trump is an idiot

Tried to watch football last night

I tried to watch the Eagles play the Saints last night, but it was too painful. Such a brutal game. I couldn't stand watching Michael Vick get sacked so many times. All in all, it was a rather COLD and lonely evening. And this is just the BEGINNING of winter. And I even have heat and electricity, unlike many New Jersey people right now.

Finally, I just went to bed. As long as I stayed near the middle of the bed, it was OK. Kind of cold near the edges though. I put another blanket on top of my blanket and my comforter. Yes, it seemed like a "three dog night".

Election today. When I got there, I saw that there were TWO questions on the ballot. I thought there was only going to be one. Seemed to be a bit of confusion amongst the other people, too. They would spend a very long time in the booth and then come out without pressing the final button. Multiply that times millions of people and you will see why there will be many questions about the results and methods of the election. I actually had to wait in line for a few minutes. Usually, there is NOTHING going on at my voting place. My nephew voted for the first time today. I hope he will carry on the family tradition of voting.

Playlist suddenly working

Keep developing systems so I can continue to use Playlist.com, no matter how frustrating it gets. So, I was listening to every tenth song, chosing each one individually as I have learned I have to do and suddenly, they started playing in order again, like perfection. Don't know why or wherefore!

Yesterday yet another reason to not be home. Went on an excursion to hear a reading of a play. Actually, it was more like a reading and a singing. A quite intimate affair held at Eastern State University, a Christian college over on the Main Line in Pennsylvania. The people performing outnumbered the audience, which is why I say it was intimate. Holy spirit has been in the works for about 13 years. The subject is Nashville, orphans, politicians, interracial dating, love, drugs, deception, religious fundraising...it was a pretty complicated plot. The first half lasted two hours. Lots of original songs and humor and pathos. I thoroughly enjoyed it despite the length and the unfamiliarity of it all. We were all in a big rectangular room looking out on the fall trees. Performing ("reading") were about 30 people. It was a long afternoon and all the cookies got devoured (I didn't get one). I liked the fact that the audience (friends and family) used the same bathrooms as the "stars".

Tomorrow, the election. Got to get the Democrats back into the majority on our local freeholder board. I just remember the HORROR of events when the Republicans gained the power. They promptly "fired" a bunch of people who were doing their jobs just fine and put "their" people in. Also they screwed up our local library system in a feeble attempt to save money, They essentially ruined a shared system which had been developed over twenty years and was working nicely. Now the county library system is in a shambles and different subgroups are going in different directions. This is a real pain the the ass for the library user, which is what I am now.

Just finished a book called One last thing before I go, by Jonathan Tropper. About a divorced man dealing with his mistakes in life and deciding whether his life is worth saving. He had a hit song once, a wife, a daughter, and some guy friends in similar circumstances. it is an easy, humorous read.

Things I miss

- I miss that phone number you used to be able to call to find out what the ACTUAL time is when you go to change the clocks
- my parents
- summer
- Seabreeze tavern
- the intersections formerly known as circles

Delaware Bay towns are decimated by Hurricane Sandy. We are kind of blessed around here with very little storm damage, Except for our little towns...Gandy's Beach, Fortescue, Money Island. It has been on my "bucket list" to spend the night at the Hotel Charlesworth in Fortescue. I may have missed my chance. I am sure that restaurant is just hanging on by a thread on a GOOD day and this is not a good day.
A friend with a house in Gandy's Beach was one of 13 people permitted to go back yesterday only for 2 hours to survey the damage. They have no roads, electric, decks, porches, bulkheads, fronts. Entire town blocked off and forbidden entry. Similar little town of Seabreeze already abandoned by order of the state of New Jersey. I fear the fate of our other towns is going to follow. Or the state will enact new laws which are impossible for the home owners to obey and thus, they will be forced to leave. New Jersey's "other shore" is a bit downtrodden and full of various runs of bugs, but we love it. The greenheads, the horseshoe crabs, the full moon, etc.

Out and about again today. I really need to stay home and pay my bills and call some people but, when you are retired, you always think there is tomorrow. But then tomorrow is all booked up.

Desk-in-a-box

Came to work today. I have a job which is only one day a month. And not every month.
I have no desk, no office, no mailbox. But I DO have a business card and a name badge and a pay check. All of my belongings are now in a box which is kept in the supply closet. Bingo! Instant desk! After I borrow a key, get a cart and traipse up to the second floor on the elevator, go through several doors, unlock the door to the supply closet and viola there is my stuff. At the end of the day, I pack it up and put it back.

Fruit makes me hungry. And Diet Coke, too. I eat it or drink it and suddenly, I am ravenous.

I bought three Amish pretzels the other day. I bought them because THEY WERE ON SALE.
I don't really even LIKE pretzels....clammy white flour and salt, yeuch. I can't believe there are whole businesses which only serve/sell pretzels.

Tailgating, the sport of idiots

Funny thought posted on the back of a pickup truck. Reminds me of all the times I wish I could put up some signs out the back window of my vehicle telling off the jerks that are the other drivers.

Voting morass. Every day wondering, are they going to postpone the election? Good when Christie and Obama shake hands. Bad when residents are desparate and complaining already about FEMA (or the lack thereof). Good when Obama takes charge. But states in Hurricane area were already "blue" states. People are going to be too distracted to vote. Some polling places were washed away. My mind is a mess hearing all of this.

So many fortunate (me) and unfortunate (you) hurricane stories. Feeling sort of superficial. All I care about is, "Will my Vietnamese nail technician be able to get back from Vietnam?"

My excursion for the day

I can build a whole day around an appointment. Today had a chiropractic/massage appointment in Vineland, the town I used to work in. Did many errands on the way there and stopped in to visit the old gang for break time. Now, a day with NO appointment causes me some anxiety, but I can fill up a whole day with just one.

It is very peaceful here today. And quiet, like a library is SUPPOSED to be but so seldom is, these days. And the teak colors of the furniture go nicely with the fall colors out the picture windows. In addition to the whole library system going into freefall and changing, Verizon lines have been out since the storm.

Going to WORK on Saturday. I have a job. It is only ONE day a month. And not EVERY month. Now, that is MY idea of a job.

Reasons to be happy

1. Family relatively unscathed in Hurricane Sandy
2. Took two pain pills
3. Listening to Rachmaninoff piano concerto #2 in car
4. Gorgeous clouds and sun and fall leaves on ride down to Greenwich
5. There is no five, but things sound better in fives

Actually, that was Ellen's joke which I heard last night as she got Mark Twain award at John F. Kennedy center in DC. I adore Ellen DeGeneris. I would love to go to her show, even. I think I tried to enter a contest to get tickets but you had to submit a picture of yourself and that stymied me. She just gets more adorable as the years go by.

I have always hated our Governor, Chris Christie. Have never been able to watch him complete a sentence on TV, even. But, now, I have been obsessively watching Hurricane coverage for five days and I am glued to his every word. He really does seem to CARE about New Jersey.

Fishing in the firehouse

Two feet of water in the Avalon, New Jersey, firehouse and they were FISHING in there! I am taking the lazy man's approach to storm investigation...watching it on TV. My sister and her boyfriend went out in the car to check on status of boats which were pulled into dry dock in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy. 10,000 Atlantic City Electric customers are without power in Cumberland County. 7.4 million people woke up in the dark this AM, Tuesday. Luckily, not us. I am looking out the window onto Clark's Pond which is relatively calm and drizzly. We might even see the sun tomorrow.

Worried about the beach. My worries about Sea Isle seem to have been well founded. Bridges are out or closed between Avalon and Ocean City and Avalon and Sea Isle City. That means if anyone wants to travel between the towns, they have to go inland to get on the Parkway. And all of the lovely libraries I hung out in this summer. I spent more time at the beach this year than any other summer, because I was retired and had time during the week. Between the death of a young man last week and the storm this week, I am very struck by the fragility of everything.

Have never been able to watch our Governor Christie even complete a sentence prior to now. I must admit I was glued to his every word during the crisis and he seemed to be doing a good job.

Things to do when the electric goes off

Just trying to get my lists together:
- Things to do while the electricity is on: watch DVDs, cook, enjoy the heat
- Things to do when the electricity goes off: read, eat the ice cream

Went down to my sister's to try and distract myself from Hurricane Sandy. We have been watching the approach on TV and getting ready for DAYS. If it is going to leak at home, it is going to leak and there is not much I can do about it. I'll just have to clean it up when the storm is over. I just got BORED with my home activities and thought I would come down to where there is a fireplace and they live on top of a hill. We watched a really great DVD called Page eight, a British spy caper that I missed on Masterpiece theater.

I'd like life to get back to normal, but I don't really know what normal is any more.

Dazed and confused

Life somewhat crazy lately, what with a friend from out of town around. Maybe the storm is telling me it is time to stay home for a few days? Did get to the grocery store today. I was running around doing NON-essential preparations for the storm such as going to the movies and getting a manicure. We have several days of anxiety-building news to get us all worked up about the storm. I detest rain, especially a hard rain and don't like the fact that I have no Internet at home.

I am lagging behind. Now I have a laptop but I can't live off my phone like many people and I still pay my bills the old fashioned way, by writing a check and mailing it. My friends look at me like I am a dinosaur, but they send me incomprehensible texts such as, "Matchwood is on". He meant Marshwood, which is some town in a British series called Midsomer murders. He texted me from the sun room, I was in the kitchen.
Earlier, I had texted another friend to say it was gorgeous at the beach and to ask if it was sunny. The message I got back was, "It is dark and sample". I STILL don't know what she really meant. There seems to be an awaful lot of sloppy texting about.

It appears to be the night for walking around for Trick or treat. I seem to have missed that whole scheduling, costumy experience. No one comes to my house anyway cause they can't find my door. I'm not good at costumes and only party was tonight. I am going to the Symphony instead. Killing time in Starbucks cause tired of driving all over the county for this and that.

He was far from being gruntled

I love P.G. Wodehouse. I know his politics are doubtful, but I enjoy the clever repartee between Bertram Wooster, gentleman, and his manservant, Jeeves. Just started reading "The code of the Woosters" since I am spending the night with a friend and forgot my "travel" book. Luckily, "the green room" was well supplied with books and I found a few Jeeves books in there. I laugh when I read sentences such as," He spoke with a certain what-is-it in his voice, and I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled, so I tactfully changed the subject."

My friend just handed me a cup of coffee in a cup from Bob's Bunz in Islamorado in the Floriday Keys. A reminder of a fun vaction we took in a big house on "The gold coast". It was sort of a 1950's affair, with many outbuildings, right on the Ocean. We had our own osprey, peacocks (mating), parrot and quite a few more creatures.
They really did have delicious sticky buns. Their slogan is "Bite my bunz" and you can find them at www.bobsbunz.com. We "won" this house at an auction to benefit something or other. A delightful excuse to investigate yet another part of Florida.

Yesterday attended a very sad funeral for a 19 year old. One of two unrelated adopted Brazilian boys, he and his brother had many wonderful opportunities growing up. Hundreds of students were there dressed in black and weeping. He was taken, suddenly, tragicly, in a motorcycle accident on his way to college. He was an adventurous, happy, energetic, daredevil, smiling, friendly, lovely, old soul, according to his dads and many other friends. I knew him hardly at all, but it was one of those services where you get to know him, love him and miss him all in one day.

So many books, so little time

Starting to collect more papers about books I would like to read. I was forced to clean up my office a few months ago and I had to let go of four Princeton file boxes full of papers and one big box piled full of paper....more books than anyone could POSSIBLY read in ONE lifetime. And those were all books which were available in the library where I was working. I threw them all away and went to a list system, losing most of them in the process. Ran across a good quote about reading this AM, will try to paste it in here: Norman Rush (1933- ) wrote, "The main effort of arranging your life should be to progressively reduce the amount of time required to decently maintain yourself so that you can have all the time you want for reading."

Finshed State of wonder, by Ann Patchett. It was an ebook I borrowed from the library on the Overdrive program, so it has just vanished into thin air. Usually I keep the hard copy of the item to remind myself to write a "review". Maybe I didn't quite yet finish it. Perhaps 6 pages to go. I liked it, but it was weird. A lot of physical discomforts, like bugs, snakes, malaria, etc. About medical research in the far off Amazon with strange tribes and rituals. Her new book has been recommended to me.

Must return my other book to a library about an hour away from me. I would like to go through it page by page, cause it is full of gems. I probably mentioned it already, Blogging for creatives : how designers, artists, crafters, and writers can blog to make contacts, win business, and build success, by Robin Houghton. Evan Williams had something to do with the founding of Twitter and also Blogger. In an interview with the author of my book in 2001, he said, "To me, the blog concept is about three things: Frequency, Brevity and Personality". Well, I've got the first two...not sure about the third.

A mistress of the sedentary arts

I just breathe a sigh of relief when it is time to SIT DOWN...and use the computer, drive the car, watch a play, read, etc. OK, I guess I am just lazy...but I have a lot of pain and discomfort moving around, climbing stairs, lugging all of my stuff around. I really should carve out a comfortable space at home and get the Internet, but then maybe I would never leave!

My calendar for 2013 is getting out of hand. Feeling the yearly anxiety...what kind of calendar should I get for the upcoming year? Of course, this decision should have been made in JULY but I am a procrastinator of the first degree. Shall I go electronic, get a bigger paper one or a smaller paper one, go back to the one-page-a-day or the two-page-a-day. I have a lot of things to record...all the possible events, things I should do, things I accomplished, good and bad things that happened to me.

Yesterday I came across a lot of people trying to apply for jobs online. They all looked frustrated as hell. One young woman had been having trouble with the phone giving her all these choices, none of them the appropriate one. Someone had told her she had to go online to apply for a job up at Carll's Corner for Bank of America but wherever she went online, she just went around in circles. Another woman I overheard at the library said, "When I ask for a job near Vineland, New Jersey, they give me jobs in Pennsylvania". The guy to the right of me was being quiet about it, but I could see from the red sentences on his application form that he was having trouble advancing to the next page. The new online application process is just nature's way of weeding out 90% of the people.

I admire your ability to nap

I don't get it. How can people fall asleep at the drop of a hat? I hear them snoring in yoga during the relaxation (which I don't know how to spell), I see them looking oh-so-comfortable on airplanes, I am watching a DVD with someone and he falls right off. I have been retired for almost four months and I haven't taken a nap yet.

I'm tired of getting home after dark. Tonight again, but I won't be so far away. It befuddles me at times remembering how to get home! Just spending too much time ON THE ROAD. Drove over an hour Saturday AND Sunday for my various excursions. Think I need to go back to my alternate-day-stay-near-home plan. It is a gas-saving plan and a sanity-saving plan.

Course now there are GUYS working on my house, so am maybe not so anxious to be home. I came out this morning and one of them said to me, "La casa es muy vieja!" (the house is very old)

Finished up a book, which was a bit of a disappointment. I keep wanting to read memoirs. Well, they are SHORT, which is one good thing. Memoirs by funny people are not always so funny. This one I read is of the genre, "non-famous people with diseases". It just irritated me, more than anything. It is called Monkey mind : a memoir of aneity, by Daniel Smith. It has some positive things said about it on the back and it apparently was a New York Times bestseller, but it didn't do much for me.

It's a jungle out there

Just finished a class on DRIVING for senior citizens. It was enough to make one paranoid. Even if I don't DO any of those things, there are a lot of people out there who are not yielding when they are supposed to and who are making crazy left hand turns. Those are the two biggest causes of accidents with the aged. We learned about how it becomes more difficult to SURVIVE an accident after age 75. I'm not there yet, but it was somewhat depressing to contemplate. Also learned a bunch of curious facts, such as you can be booked for a D.U.I. if you take your medication wrong. I know I drive other people crazy by driving too slow (the speed limit) but they drive me bonkers by turning out in front of me when they are going 10 miles an hour and I am going 50. So which is greater...the people who HONK at me, or the people at whom I would like to honk? I try not to honk, as much as I may want to. Teacher advised us not to encourage ROAD RAGE but to avoid it at all costs.

I tried to COOK the other day. It was pretty much a failure. I tried to make tuna casserole with a recipe with no measurements, just a list of ingredients. I may try it again with some adjustments. Or, maybe I will just rip up the recipe and forget about it. I had just suddenly gotten an urge for an old fashioned casserole with potato chips on top. I don't have the patience for cooking. Although, as the driving instructor pointed out, we have all EARNED the right to be patient.

My local paper is going to regionalize. I HATE that. It started out being the Bridgeton Evening news. I still call it that even though they changed the name to The news of Cumberland County. Now, any day it is going to become The South Jersey times. Libraries and newspapers and social service organizations do not IMPROVE when they regionalize. They just get more out of touch with the local needs. But of course freeholders and politicians LOVE regionalization. My paper drove me nuts the other day. A guy got murdered. Instead of James Penn III, they wrote James Penn!!! on the caption. Lame!

Feeling kinda rushed

Don't have the Internet at home yet, and am having trouble getting my work (and play) done at our local public libraries, including the one I used to work at! They all have different rules....some of them only allow ONE hour per day online. Now, how in the world do they expect a person to function with THOSE rules? Guess I should investigate how to get online at home. A friend kindly pointed out that I am probably spending as much on GAS to get to all of my hangouts as it would cost me to get online at home. Not to mention the shoulder pain I have what with lugging all of my folders, binders, file boxes, calendars everywhere with me. That comes to MORE than one bag per shoulder.

Hmmm...just imformed that the SWAT team is in the neighborhood. What a day! Bad accident this AM forced me to go way out of my way to get where I was going. Road was entirely shut down. Had to get the heaphones going. Annoying patron chatter around me. Playlist not working, as is often the case, so fell back on Youtube.

Really enjoyed this book, Blogging for creatives : how designers, artists, crafters, and writers can blog to make contacts, win business, and build success, by Robin Houghton. I need to examine it page by page but can't really due to FEELING KINDA RUSHED. I could actually spend four hours a day on the computer to feel fulfilled.
The book is a good how to do it but also lists a lot of cool blogs I would like to look up. I am equally passionate about READING blogs and WRITING blogs.

I hate neck tattoos

Chris Brown got another one. Facial jewelry is a pretty disgusting second, in my book.

I saw a funny sign in a library yesterday. "Persons engaging in inappropriate restroom behavior may be denied restroom privileges". There was also a limit of ten minutes in the restroom. I got it. I have worked in a library and there is no limit to the wacky things which can occur when you are working with the public. Every time something happens, a new rule/policy is devised. Then they do something ELSE you have never seen before.

"The GOOD news: the library got the DVDs I requested
The BAD news: They were stolen"

"Do not CHEW on the headphone cords. These headphones are provided as a courtesy so your child can play the games with sound. If they are damaged, they will no longer be provided".

I wrote a note to myself: "The mother load blog". But when I looked it up, there were several such blogs and spellings and I do not remember WHY I wrote that note to myself! And WHY would I be interested in a blog about motherhood, anyway? I am single and childless. Not sure why SOME family blogs are entertaining and some just plain boring. So, I just added one of them to my read list and tore up the note.

The market's gonna do what it's gonna do in spite of the victor on November 6th

Someone (?) said this this morning on CNBC (?) I am very worried about the election. I am not a safety investor and thought one should be very concerned if the president changes. I am not buying any more stocks. I have my own little mutual fund but the losers always equal the winners and I never get anywhere.

I love rice pudding. When we were at Indian Chaat and sweets in Berkeley, California, I got all excited cause it seemed they were serving rice pudding WITH RAISINS. Raisins in your rice pudding are very hard to come by. Now, this rice pudding WAS really delicious, but when I bit down on the raisin, it turned out to be a cardoman pod. According to the Internet, they are edible, but you should have seen the look on my face.

Got in a panic this morning cause I thought I lost my water bottle. Who cares, you may ask? Well, I haven't had a new water bottle since the dangerous stuff was discovered. And my sister had bought it for me, I think for last Christmas. I just got it when I was at her wedding. But I had to go all the way to the top of the Berkeley Hills to get it. So, I even called the airport cause I thought it had rolled out of my bag on the plane. I know, I know, it was a long shot, but hope springs eternal. After called the 800 number for Virgin Air, I was referred to Philadelphia airport lost and found and thence to the "local" Virgin America number where I had to leave a message. Then I found the gosh darn water bottle. I was very heppy. I also brought home another water bottle cause it had touristic information on it about the San Francisco Bay. And a really cool Diet Coke container that we don't have in New Jersey. This is why I have a problem with STUFF.

Other people's TVs

Just returned from 12 hours of traveling to get back from San Francisco. Traveled by car and then train and then plane and then bus and back to car again. Finally broke down and bought the headphones to fully appreciate the interactive screen on Virgin Air. I enjoyed listening to songs by Bob Dylan and Jay Z. Strange juxtapositions of artists on the list...Bach or B.o.B., Brahms or Bo Diddley? Catching a glimpse of all the other people's screens, I also wanted to be watching Seinfeld, Everybody loves Raymond, Sex in the city and Vanguard, this (illegal) American life.

I have a new brother-in-law. He does a good demonstration of someone trying to use a computer while sitting in those cramped airline seats. The trip home was a bit better than the trip out in some ways. There were more noisy kids, but the trip is an hour shorter coming East and I think the headphones helped.

I was also intrigued by the books people brought on the trip:
- Me: Monkey mind : a memoir of anxiety, by Daniel Smith
- My sister: Parallel communities, the Underground Railroad in South Jersey, by Dennis Rizzo
- Her boyfriend: The nautical chart, by Arturo Perez-Reverte
- Guy behind me - Beyond the wall, exploring George R.R. Martin's A song of fire and ice, edited by James Lowder
- Woman beside me - The men they will become : the nature and nurture of male character, by Eli Newberger

Stuff people ask the concierge

Lady wants to know why there is a discrepency between two different weather sites and what is the weather really going to do? Cripes!

Had a decent little breakfast at the Super 8 Berkeley. Found out it is reunion weekend at U.C. Berkeley. Ear plugs tonight! Am having a SECOND breakfast at the Hotel Shattuck Plaza where my sister is staying. Walked from my hotel to her hotel admiring the variety of stores and restaurants. Even the homeless people seem to have something "deep" to say when you are away from home.

All of my pills fell out of their containers in the airplane. I may or may not have gotten them back in the right places.

People and their phones

Really, MUST you talk on the phone when you are in a stall at the Philadelphia airport!?!?!

Am really enjoying being out of town. I hate packing but once I get going...look out.
Getting up before the crack of dawn is not my idea of a good time, either. When I went into the tiny cubicle they call a bathroom on the airplane, I discovered that I had my blouse on INSIDE OUT. That is what happens when you get dressed in the dark.

Had a great time flying Virgin Air. Now I LOVE Virgin as much as I HATE Spirit. They leave on time, the seats are somewhat roomy, they serve Diet Coke, they have a cool interactive screen you can play with, and the stewards are friendly. I am fortunate to be DRIVEN for a change, TO the Philadelphia airport and FROM the San Francisco airport by my sister. We drove over the University Avenue Bridge into Berkeley and almost slammed on the brakes to stop at the first Indian restaurant we came upon. I think I deserve an extra meal today due to the three hour time difference, don't I?