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.