I get them confused. Not only that, but I had to search on the Internet to remember the names of either or both of them. At least, I know how to do THAT. I love them both and they both smell great. We had a wisteria bush/tree growing up in what we called the "park". Not many lilac trees around in domestication...they mostly seem to be in the wild.
Book review: Have to return this book today as I got it on Interlibrary loan from the Franklin Township Public Library (F WOLITZER) . An available man, by Hilma Wolitzer. I like a book about a "modest and bookish" man who becomes single at age 62 after his second wife dies. His children put an ad in The New York review of books hoping he will meet someone new. I can relate, except for the DATING parts. So, it is about his life, his relatives, his dog, an old girlfriend and various other women who pass through his sphere.
I am trying to become a better library patron. This is hard for a librarian who is used to "professional courtesy" as far as fines go. I seem to have finagled a deal at my OWN library, but I notice one of the other libraries in the system is charging me fines! And a local library I frequent went off and joined a different group so I am just another lousy patron in their book. So, I am returning a book due today on ILL and also another book I couldn't get into. Feeling kind of bad about that since the back cover was filled with GLOWING words about it. I wanted to get a book called Life after life by Jill McCorkle, who went to my college (Hollins University). There is ANOTHER book of the same name so I got that one, too. That is the one that I couldn't get into. Also feel bad because the author, Kate Atkinson, wrote another book that I enjoyed....Started early, took my dog. Isn't that a great title!? Maybe I will try it another time, but I brought it back because I noticed that someone else had put it on hold and I hadn't gotten very far into it.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
And I thought OUR soap operas were bad
Forced to watch Spanish TV during my lunch. Not fun. Really bad acting and outfits and over the top everything. This is one big disadvantage of eating in the little Spanish restaurants....loud and bad TV. But I DID have some really delicious guacamole.
Hard to concentrate cause I am listening to Tupac singing Hit em'up while I write.
Book review: Circle of quilters (an Elm Creek quilts novel) by Jennifer Chiaverini, narrated by Christina Moore. I borrowed the audiobook on CD from the Cumberland County Library (CDBR F CHI). First one of these books I have listened to. Interesting approach. She follows stories about 4 people who all apply for the same job at Elm Creek quilt camp. What I liked about the stories is how people just seemed to fall into careers doing what they loved. What I didn't like about it is that each person had one really annoying person in their life. You just wanted to shake them and ask how they could put up with it for so long. This book appears somewhere in the middle or at the end of the series.
Hard to concentrate cause I am listening to Tupac singing Hit em'up while I write.
Book review: Circle of quilters (an Elm Creek quilts novel) by Jennifer Chiaverini, narrated by Christina Moore. I borrowed the audiobook on CD from the Cumberland County Library (CDBR F CHI). First one of these books I have listened to. Interesting approach. She follows stories about 4 people who all apply for the same job at Elm Creek quilt camp. What I liked about the stories is how people just seemed to fall into careers doing what they loved. What I didn't like about it is that each person had one really annoying person in their life. You just wanted to shake them and ask how they could put up with it for so long. This book appears somewhere in the middle or at the end of the series.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Woof-woof-woof woof woof woof
Aaurgh! Up in the night with that damn dog barking. I actually got up and got dressed and went out at 1:11 PM to find out where it was. Turns out it was the Mexicans right in back of me. Now whenever I hear it, I have to time it and call the police after 15 minutes. Why would you put a loudly barking dog outside in the middle of the night when respectable people are sleeping?!?!? Neighbors...I hate'em.
Azeleas blooming and lilacs! How wonderful.
I think I have accomplished the important planning for my upcoming trip. My God, but it is time consuming.
I think I can rest easy now. Have the airplane, the excursion AND the hotel. As for what I am doing day to day, that can wait.
Azeleas blooming and lilacs! How wonderful.
I think I have accomplished the important planning for my upcoming trip. My God, but it is time consuming.
I think I can rest easy now. Have the airplane, the excursion AND the hotel. As for what I am doing day to day, that can wait.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Three book reviews
The art of living single, by Michael Broder: I picked this up at a used book sale. Even though it was published in 1988 and written by a man, I found it helpful. It offers a positive take on deciding how you want to live. How to meet people if that is what you want to do or how to live on your own instead. I think I will redonate this book back to the library.
Everyday paleo, by Sarah Fragoso. Borrowed from the Vineland Public Library (613.282 Fra). I looked at all the recipes which are nicely illustrated with large photos. The author provides exercises for individuals, couples and parent and child. I don't think I am going to follow this cave man diet. It seems that you just eat meat, vegetables and fruits. The shopping list for one week included a list of 81 ingredients! I have no food in the house and have more demands for my cash other than grocery shopping.
Brain on fire : my month of madness, by Susannah Cahalan. Borrowed from the Vineland Public Library (616.832 Cah). The author deteriorated into a person with strange and inexplicable symptoms, such as facial twitching, drooling, and paranoia. Finally one doctor diagnosed her rare autoimmune disease, possibly anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis, and administered appropriate treatment. She makes the point that possibly others now and in history have suffered from this disease and been misdiagnosed and thought to be crazy or possessed by demons.
Everyday paleo, by Sarah Fragoso. Borrowed from the Vineland Public Library (613.282 Fra). I looked at all the recipes which are nicely illustrated with large photos. The author provides exercises for individuals, couples and parent and child. I don't think I am going to follow this cave man diet. It seems that you just eat meat, vegetables and fruits. The shopping list for one week included a list of 81 ingredients! I have no food in the house and have more demands for my cash other than grocery shopping.
Brain on fire : my month of madness, by Susannah Cahalan. Borrowed from the Vineland Public Library (616.832 Cah). The author deteriorated into a person with strange and inexplicable symptoms, such as facial twitching, drooling, and paranoia. Finally one doctor diagnosed her rare autoimmune disease, possibly anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis, and administered appropriate treatment. She makes the point that possibly others now and in history have suffered from this disease and been misdiagnosed and thought to be crazy or possessed by demons.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tulip time!
I love it. Went for a walk down the street and sat on a bench. I needed a break from a day on the computer. The breezes were wafting and the trees were rustling and there is not much traffic in Greenwich, New Jersey. The weather is finally perfect enough to go with the constant sunshine.
Hanging out at a historical society today. My guilty secret is that I am not even thinking about history. Just being with a convivial group and using my laptop.
Actually I am thinking about Paris. Taking notes from Fodor's Paris 2011 to remind myself what I want to do when I get there next.
Last week was a crazy week. Personally, with the taxes undone, losing my passport, my neighbor chopping down a beautiful tree and then there was Boston and the Ricin and Texas. Of course, then there was also the FINDING of the passport and getting to spend an entire day with an old friend, so it wasn't ALL bad.
Hanging out at a historical society today. My guilty secret is that I am not even thinking about history. Just being with a convivial group and using my laptop.
Actually I am thinking about Paris. Taking notes from Fodor's Paris 2011 to remind myself what I want to do when I get there next.
Last week was a crazy week. Personally, with the taxes undone, losing my passport, my neighbor chopping down a beautiful tree and then there was Boston and the Ricin and Texas. Of course, then there was also the FINDING of the passport and getting to spend an entire day with an old friend, so it wasn't ALL bad.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Headphone emergency
Headphones going bad. Have been enjoying the $2 headphones I bought on Virgin air flight. I guess they don't owe me anything. One ear working only. And seem to have misplaced or lost tiny earbuds.
Help! It is Tuesday and I was supposed to start counting my steps on Monday. So much for THAT contest. Must find my pedometer anyway and get it going. Not getting a lot of steps in. After exercising I came to the library where I am sitting and using the computer. Then I am going to go home and sit and read.
Still waiting for the weather to warm up. At least it is not raining but I am sorry I vowed to never again wear a coat. It is COLD. Wow, this is a really boring blog post.
Help! It is Tuesday and I was supposed to start counting my steps on Monday. So much for THAT contest. Must find my pedometer anyway and get it going. Not getting a lot of steps in. After exercising I came to the library where I am sitting and using the computer. Then I am going to go home and sit and read.
Still waiting for the weather to warm up. At least it is not raining but I am sorry I vowed to never again wear a coat. It is COLD. Wow, this is a really boring blog post.
Monday, April 22, 2013
What did I do for Earth day?
- I sent an ecard to someone who has a birthday today wishing her a happy Earth Day AND birthday.
- I picked up trash around the outside of my house. None of it mine. Cigarette butts and other disgusting stuff.
- Going to a free film about the problems of the horseshoe crab and the redknot. It is called Crash and will be showing at 6 PM at the Levoy theater in Millville.
My wish list has once again disappeared from Overdrive. This is very aggravating as this is where I go when I need a new book for my Nook. I have a theory and will investigate it. Not that I don't already have enough books to read.
Feeling overwhelmed with my computer chores. My folder of stuff to look up is getting thicker. And my old emails more than a year old are looking too interesting to delete. Seems like the past few days I have just been trying to fit in an hour here, and hour there and getting nowhere.
- I picked up trash around the outside of my house. None of it mine. Cigarette butts and other disgusting stuff.
- Going to a free film about the problems of the horseshoe crab and the redknot. It is called Crash and will be showing at 6 PM at the Levoy theater in Millville.
My wish list has once again disappeared from Overdrive. This is very aggravating as this is where I go when I need a new book for my Nook. I have a theory and will investigate it. Not that I don't already have enough books to read.
Feeling overwhelmed with my computer chores. My folder of stuff to look up is getting thicker. And my old emails more than a year old are looking too interesting to delete. Seems like the past few days I have just been trying to fit in an hour here, and hour there and getting nowhere.
Friday, April 19, 2013
You and tequila make me crazy
Had to spend a lot of time in my car mechanic's place this morning. That means listening to a lot of country western music, including this song by Kenny Chesney. I was sorta shocked to find out that replacing a lightbulb is a really complicated and expensive procedure. Had to get a friend to come out of her way to pick me up for lunch and then bring me back. Poor planning on my part. It all worked out even though when we got to the luncheon they had run out of food! But my friend was able to have TWO desserts instead of a main course, so she was happy.
I am still wearing my exercise clothes but running out of time to exercise. I an going on a trip soon to a fashionable city and am going to have to overcome my habit of dressing like a slob. Shopping for attractive outfits is not a priority so I am wearing all my old exercise clothes to death.
Audiobook review - Second grave on the left (Charley Davidson, book 2), by Darynda Jones. It was way too long, with too many subplots. Paranormal stuff on top of a mystery. I thought it was a combination of Stephanie Plum and Sookie Stackhouse. In the author interview, she said it was a combination of Stephanie Plum, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and someone from the Gilmore girls. For me, it heavily leaned towards Janet Evanovich as the reader is the same person who reads her books (Lorelei King). Charley (called Juicy by some people and called Dutch by others) is really the Grim Reaper and she is kind of in love with an other-worldly guy who comes and goes, usually with bloody wounds which can miraculously heal. She can see dead people. I found it confusing and complicated and kept wishing it would be over. And now it is.
I am still wearing my exercise clothes but running out of time to exercise. I an going on a trip soon to a fashionable city and am going to have to overcome my habit of dressing like a slob. Shopping for attractive outfits is not a priority so I am wearing all my old exercise clothes to death.
Audiobook review - Second grave on the left (Charley Davidson, book 2), by Darynda Jones. It was way too long, with too many subplots. Paranormal stuff on top of a mystery. I thought it was a combination of Stephanie Plum and Sookie Stackhouse. In the author interview, she said it was a combination of Stephanie Plum, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and someone from the Gilmore girls. For me, it heavily leaned towards Janet Evanovich as the reader is the same person who reads her books (Lorelei King). Charley (called Juicy by some people and called Dutch by others) is really the Grim Reaper and she is kind of in love with an other-worldly guy who comes and goes, usually with bloody wounds which can miraculously heal. She can see dead people. I found it confusing and complicated and kept wishing it would be over. And now it is.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
I gotta get out o'this town, if it's the last thing I ever do
Mexican doorbell at 6:30 AM. Car horns honking, then loud Spanish rap coming from car waiting for whoever (whomever?). Then more honking. People are really inconsiderate around here. I just try and WAIT them out.
The good news is I finally made a plane reservation. The bad news is that I can't find my passport! And there is a possibility that it has expired. Was gonna go home and tear apart my house tonight but going out to dinner instead. Which of the 52 piles is it at the bottom of? Between the taxes not done and the passport not found, I am feeling somewhat frazzled. But I could have worse problems....like no legs.
I hate, hate, hate our tax system. Totally convoluted and confusing. Called up an accountant hoping that she would know what I need to declare for my pension, but she didn't seem to have a clue. I am sure if I contact my employer they will just say they can't give tax advice. I am probably one of the few people who read the booklets cover to cover. Did you know that you MUST declare all of your income from:
- bribes
- kickbacks
- illegal drug sales
The good news is I finally made a plane reservation. The bad news is that I can't find my passport! And there is a possibility that it has expired. Was gonna go home and tear apart my house tonight but going out to dinner instead. Which of the 52 piles is it at the bottom of? Between the taxes not done and the passport not found, I am feeling somewhat frazzled. But I could have worse problems....like no legs.
I hate, hate, hate our tax system. Totally convoluted and confusing. Called up an accountant hoping that she would know what I need to declare for my pension, but she didn't seem to have a clue. I am sure if I contact my employer they will just say they can't give tax advice. I am probably one of the few people who read the booklets cover to cover. Did you know that you MUST declare all of your income from:
- bribes
- kickbacks
- illegal drug sales
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
A pit bull named Precious
Why are my neighbors so predictable? Looking out the window, I thought I saw them with a small black and white terrier-type dog. Yesterday I was introduced to the pit bull named Precious (no leash).
On my bucket list is to travel using frequent-flyer miles. Trouble is, you have to GO somewhere in order to earn them. I can't bring myself to spend money on travel. Each day that I procrastinate about upcoming trip, the prices go UP. I keep looking for a nice little $1000 vacation and not finding it. I have said NO to quite a few $3000-$4000 trips. Should I just bite the bullet and go?
Nice to arrive in Greenwich today. Nice and peaceful. I stopped the car and opened the window.
Delightful boisterous sounds of many birds with some chicken clucking in the background.
On my bucket list is to travel using frequent-flyer miles. Trouble is, you have to GO somewhere in order to earn them. I can't bring myself to spend money on travel. Each day that I procrastinate about upcoming trip, the prices go UP. I keep looking for a nice little $1000 vacation and not finding it. I have said NO to quite a few $3000-$4000 trips. Should I just bite the bullet and go?
Nice to arrive in Greenwich today. Nice and peaceful. I stopped the car and opened the window.
Delightful boisterous sounds of many birds with some chicken clucking in the background.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Anonymous blogs
Wrote to a guy who HAD a blog to ask some questions. I liked his sense of humor and his self revelations. He immediately responded with a long email which helped me. He started off with an anonymous blog. The more his friends discovered it, the more he had to censor himself. This is my problem. So, I am going to make my blog public again but STOP TALKING ABOUT IT. I have learned that I really don't want criticism. That is why I don't work!
According to statistics, most people abandon their blogs after 2 or 3 months. I still feel like writing, despite my recent crisis of purpose.
It was so great to see so many friends over the weekend. Since Monday things not going so well. Spent an entire afternoon struggling with the tax stuff at the library and they didn't have a calculator to lend me. Finally had to send off an extension form even though I do not believe in extensions. Now that the post offices all close at 5, that was my deadline. After spending 5 hours on it, I ended up brain dead, pissed off, confused, and a bunch of other negative emotions. Then I went to my book club and couldn't think of much to say about the book, Zuka and the fire of life, by Salman Rushdie. Today I woke up with noises of butchering of trees. Went outside and found out it is MY neighbors with three types of heavy equipment going a bit overboard, if you ask me. They proceeded to destroy a quite lovely fir tree because the owner wants to put a DUMPSTER back there, so he can renovate the downstairs apartment (and thus give me DOUBLE the trouble). I had to take an anti-anxiety pill and leave home to get away from the noise and the thinking about it.
According to statistics, most people abandon their blogs after 2 or 3 months. I still feel like writing, despite my recent crisis of purpose.
It was so great to see so many friends over the weekend. Since Monday things not going so well. Spent an entire afternoon struggling with the tax stuff at the library and they didn't have a calculator to lend me. Finally had to send off an extension form even though I do not believe in extensions. Now that the post offices all close at 5, that was my deadline. After spending 5 hours on it, I ended up brain dead, pissed off, confused, and a bunch of other negative emotions. Then I went to my book club and couldn't think of much to say about the book, Zuka and the fire of life, by Salman Rushdie. Today I woke up with noises of butchering of trees. Went outside and found out it is MY neighbors with three types of heavy equipment going a bit overboard, if you ask me. They proceeded to destroy a quite lovely fir tree because the owner wants to put a DUMPSTER back there, so he can renovate the downstairs apartment (and thus give me DOUBLE the trouble). I had to take an anti-anxiety pill and leave home to get away from the noise and the thinking about it.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Millville, the next best thing to Washington, DC?
I am referring to the cherry blossoms I saw everywhere on the way to the Millville Public Library today. It is grey and raining but they still looked beautiful. Never in my life have I planned a trip or gotten to DC at the right time for the cherry blossoms.
Paris, here I come? I am seriously "vacation planning impaired" but now I have a goal, albeit a bit late. Some friends are going to be in Paris and have invited me to stay with them for a few days. Can I do it? Can I overcome my terror of any price over $1000 and actually commit?
In a rush today. If I devote ENOUGH time to exercise and online activities, there is practically no time left over. Thus, I find myself in a fix with my taxes incomplete. Now, this is not uncommon as the earliest I have EVER filed is April 14th. I used to say I was doing it so as to have compassion for the library patrons who would be rushing into the library at 8:45 PM on April 15th yelling, "What form do I need?" It makes me anxious to realize that I will have limited time for my OTHER important activities from now until I am finished. I don't believe in extensions, because I know myself well enough to know that I would need an extension to the extension. Unfotunately, I have MANY plans for activities in the next few days.
Paris, here I come? I am seriously "vacation planning impaired" but now I have a goal, albeit a bit late. Some friends are going to be in Paris and have invited me to stay with them for a few days. Can I do it? Can I overcome my terror of any price over $1000 and actually commit?
In a rush today. If I devote ENOUGH time to exercise and online activities, there is practically no time left over. Thus, I find myself in a fix with my taxes incomplete. Now, this is not uncommon as the earliest I have EVER filed is April 14th. I used to say I was doing it so as to have compassion for the library patrons who would be rushing into the library at 8:45 PM on April 15th yelling, "What form do I need?" It makes me anxious to realize that I will have limited time for my OTHER important activities from now until I am finished. I don't believe in extensions, because I know myself well enough to know that I would need an extension to the extension. Unfotunately, I have MANY plans for activities in the next few days.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The fish McBites diet
By the time I got around to writing about The fish McBites diet, McDonald's has done away with them! I know that they weren't really good for me (fried and with tartar sauce) but the snack size fitted (fat?) my budget and my calorie limits (almost). I did read an article about how they weren't such a great success, but boy did they come and go fast. I called it a meal. So when they gave me the bad news (I had to drive to the first window to get it) I just ordered my "fall back" food, a cheeseburger and small fries. Combined with the Tastykakes (chocolate peanut butter patties) and the cereal for a bedtime snack, it wasn't such a great diet day yesterday. But somehow the scale was down this morning.
Shall I change this blog since it is now PRIVATE? Could be just ideas for future writing projects, if I ever get around to that. Perhaps I will feel less pressure to write as often? (It IS very time-consuming and for what?) Now it can be my personal, private diary/journal. Other ideas for blogs:
- a real fake identity with a name and all
- less mentioning of places and people?
- a better focus - reviews?
I think the problem is that I don't want to be read and critized. It only took one criticism for me to take my blog private. And I never really got compliments. (or readers, for that matter). I think I have the blog idea backwards. Most people write it so that their FRIENDS can see what they are up to. I wish my friends would NOT see what I am up to. I don't mind if STRANGERS know.
Here at the Vineland Public Library. I am HOT (the prespiring kind of hot). But it is nice to be retired and know that at any moment I can go outside and admire the flowers.
PROS :
- can get two hours on computer (although today it is too crowded)
- chairs are comfortable with padding and good back support
- mice are nice
- only 15 cents a page to print
CONS:
- screens are small
- playlist.com will not work
- room to spread out can be limited
- have to wait one hour in between sessions if it is crowded (actually, that has never happened to me)
- sitting here with previous patrons
Shall I change this blog since it is now PRIVATE? Could be just ideas for future writing projects, if I ever get around to that. Perhaps I will feel less pressure to write as often? (It IS very time-consuming and for what?) Now it can be my personal, private diary/journal. Other ideas for blogs:
- a real fake identity with a name and all
- less mentioning of places and people?
- a better focus - reviews?
I think the problem is that I don't want to be read and critized. It only took one criticism for me to take my blog private. And I never really got compliments. (or readers, for that matter). I think I have the blog idea backwards. Most people write it so that their FRIENDS can see what they are up to. I wish my friends would NOT see what I am up to. I don't mind if STRANGERS know.
Here at the Vineland Public Library. I am HOT (the prespiring kind of hot). But it is nice to be retired and know that at any moment I can go outside and admire the flowers.
PROS :
- can get two hours on computer (although today it is too crowded)
- chairs are comfortable with padding and good back support
- mice are nice
- only 15 cents a page to print
CONS:
- screens are small
- playlist.com will not work
- room to spread out can be limited
- have to wait one hour in between sessions if it is crowded (actually, that has never happened to me)
- sitting here with previous patrons
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Going private
Trying to figure out how to take this blog private. I am sure I saw it go by once but HELP is not helping me.
Saw my first azalea blooming today. What a riotous week of exploding colors and hot weather. My audiobook talked about "the wafting scent of the forsythia". I stopped by the side of the road and I sniffed. Just as I suspected, forsythia HAS no scent.
No luck trying to copy photos from phone over to here. My phone automatically sends it to Yahoo email. Copy and paste does not work. Wanted to show some photos from Victorian house art tour I went on last night. My friend has 3 story home and yard FULL of whimsy and beauty...art from Africa, Australia, Japan and Cumberland County, New Jersey. Her home is in Newport, a quaint, quiet little town.
Saw my first azalea blooming today. What a riotous week of exploding colors and hot weather. My audiobook talked about "the wafting scent of the forsythia". I stopped by the side of the road and I sniffed. Just as I suspected, forsythia HAS no scent.
No luck trying to copy photos from phone over to here. My phone automatically sends it to Yahoo email. Copy and paste does not work. Wanted to show some photos from Victorian house art tour I went on last night. My friend has 3 story home and yard FULL of whimsy and beauty...art from Africa, Australia, Japan and Cumberland County, New Jersey. Her home is in Newport, a quaint, quiet little town.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Mahogany, Marquise and Makiah
This goes against my blog policy of never NAMING NAMES. But I found this piece of paper that I wrote on while I was working and I didn't know where to file it and I couldn't bear to throw it out. So I am writing it down here so I CAN throw it out. I just love these creative names that a library patron named her children, especially Mahogany.
Measures of popularity - Everything is measured now in number of friends on Facebook and number of Twitter followers. You can't argue with the hard cold facts! These poor late night hosts have to compare their numbers of Twitter followers to see who comes out at the top of the pack. I guess my only measure of popularity is whether anyone comments on my blog, so please do. I don't even know how to ASK for "followers". And I cannot understand why anyone would want to be friends with someone on Facebook that they don't even know!? I guess I don't get it.
Where does the time go? I have spent two hours just organizing my computer and dealing with my email! Went to get my new glasses and they were closed for lunch. (There oughta be a law...why can't they take staggered lunches like we do (did) at the library)? So I had to come in to Larry's II to use the computer. Practically every table was taken up by some card playing group so I couldn't sit where I usually do. It is ALMOST perfect here except there is no PLUG. Sigh. I wish I was in Portland (Oregon) in some cool cafe.
This is the nail polish I got today. I'm such a GIRL. I really enjoy my Vietnamese nail technician and trying to explain the names of the O.P.I. polishes to her. Usually they are PUNS which are hard to explain to someone whose language is not English. This is Charged Up Cherry.
Measures of popularity - Everything is measured now in number of friends on Facebook and number of Twitter followers. You can't argue with the hard cold facts! These poor late night hosts have to compare their numbers of Twitter followers to see who comes out at the top of the pack. I guess my only measure of popularity is whether anyone comments on my blog, so please do. I don't even know how to ASK for "followers". And I cannot understand why anyone would want to be friends with someone on Facebook that they don't even know!? I guess I don't get it.
Where does the time go? I have spent two hours just organizing my computer and dealing with my email! Went to get my new glasses and they were closed for lunch. (There oughta be a law...why can't they take staggered lunches like we do (did) at the library)? So I had to come in to Larry's II to use the computer. Practically every table was taken up by some card playing group so I couldn't sit where I usually do. It is ALMOST perfect here except there is no PLUG. Sigh. I wish I was in Portland (Oregon) in some cool cafe.
This is the nail polish I got today. I'm such a GIRL. I really enjoy my Vietnamese nail technician and trying to explain the names of the O.P.I. polishes to her. Usually they are PUNS which are hard to explain to someone whose language is not English. This is Charged Up Cherry.
Monday, April 8, 2013
I love this New Yorker cartoon
Trying to remember to post a picture every day. A teenager reminded me that even if you aren't TAKING pictures, you can always steal them off of the Internet to make your Power Point presentation.
It is just so hard to remember to do the things I have to do to get more fit, like exercise (almost) every day and spend many hours NOT eating. Scary going to events such as I went to this weekend: a British tea, church refreshments and a girlfriend reunion with LOTS of yummy things to eat, many of which are not on my eating plan. Combine that with the fact that I had no time to exercise over the weekend due to too many events. And like the guy above, I spend too much time sitting. I think that is why my favorite activities are driving around and reading (not at the same time.) I like to SIT!
Audiobook review: The ten year nap, by Meg Wolitzer, narrated by Alyssa Breshahan. Perhaps the first book by this author that I have read. Four fortyish women living in the New York City area find that their lives have not really turned out the way they thought they would. They meet, they talk, their lives change, they move, they get new friends, they get disillusioned with the new friends. I always find myself criticizing the readers of these books. For instance, one of the women's daughters sings the song, Greensleeves. The reader pronounces it like Greens-leaves.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
At least there's no zombie apocalypse
There is a Zombie run in Philadelphia on Sunday. 250 zombie spots have been filled. I think they are going to CHASE the runners? The woman on NPR said that no matter what problems we may all have, we can at least feel good about the fact that there is no zombie apocalypse!
The birds are enjoying the back yard. Even more than usual due to my neighbor's "tarting up" of the back yard? Or maybe just because it is Spring? I am enjoying the back yard more too. My yard energy only goes so far as my one window box. (I have three pansies planted there that I got for free at the recent SICC dinner). We have a taller, better water container, some suet I got for free from the Amish Market (!), bare sticks that my neighbor thinks will bloom and become hydrangeas, lots of statues, benches, empty pots and stuff planted here and there. Don't know how my yard guy will mow what with all that STUFF. But, anyway, I read first that my yard guy was arrested for having a stun gun and just a few days ago, he was PUT IN JAIL for filing a false police report. What are these guys UP TO? They are very polite and religious when talking to me.
Going to a British tea today. There seems to be some difference of opinion about how to dress. A man friend told me they wear dresses and hats and then he gave me a book about teas and two teacups to take along. Then we saw someone going in wearing a pants suit. I am so reluctant to dress up. In fact, I seem to be going around all the time wearing my exercise clothes. Today it was with false hopes about fitting in some exercise. Too busy going out to breakfast, shopping for stuff to make fruit sticks for a reunion tomorrow, dealing with phone messages and now using the computer at the Cumberland County Library. All out of time!
The birds are enjoying the back yard. Even more than usual due to my neighbor's "tarting up" of the back yard? Or maybe just because it is Spring? I am enjoying the back yard more too. My yard energy only goes so far as my one window box. (I have three pansies planted there that I got for free at the recent SICC dinner). We have a taller, better water container, some suet I got for free from the Amish Market (!), bare sticks that my neighbor thinks will bloom and become hydrangeas, lots of statues, benches, empty pots and stuff planted here and there. Don't know how my yard guy will mow what with all that STUFF. But, anyway, I read first that my yard guy was arrested for having a stun gun and just a few days ago, he was PUT IN JAIL for filing a false police report. What are these guys UP TO? They are very polite and religious when talking to me.
Going to a British tea today. There seems to be some difference of opinion about how to dress. A man friend told me they wear dresses and hats and then he gave me a book about teas and two teacups to take along. Then we saw someone going in wearing a pants suit. I am so reluctant to dress up. In fact, I seem to be going around all the time wearing my exercise clothes. Today it was with false hopes about fitting in some exercise. Too busy going out to breakfast, shopping for stuff to make fruit sticks for a reunion tomorrow, dealing with phone messages and now using the computer at the Cumberland County Library. All out of time!
Friday, April 5, 2013
I prefer to labor in obscurity
I guess Facebook is where it's at...and it is fun in it's own way. Kind of interesting to find out what all my old boyfriends are doing. But I prefer blogs. You get MORE info from fewer people and I'm kind of scared to say anything on Facebook And I don't really WANT my old boyfriends to know what I am doing or NOT doing nor do I want them to know what I look like. Where in the world will my remarks be going? At least now I know when I write my thoughts down in "my blog that no one reads". I didn't check that out as a blog name, but I DID check out quite a few names and they were all taken, including ALL THE GOOD NAMES WERE ALREADY TAKEN. I did decide to investigate Twitter yesterday, but when it came time to choose a name, I got stymied. To listen to the news, you would think that everybody in the world EXCEPT for me is tweeting. But, really, do I know ANYONE who tweets? Don't think so.
Sick of hearing about:
- Twitter
- Immigration
- Celebrities and their bad dress choices
- Marriage (especially GAY marriage)
It is almost a full time job listening to my music. Playlist.com has a lot of problems. Some days it does not save, some days it gets jammed up, sometimes the songs change and sometimes the links go bad. So then I move over to YouTube. But YouTube has problems, too. Now I am back to playlist because the Beyonce videos to two songs were stupid. I like some gansta' rap songs and when I have to watch the videos, I realize how distasteful they really are! I don't really want to watch Rihanna in black leather and chains.
Sick of hearing about:
- Immigration
- Celebrities and their bad dress choices
- Marriage (especially GAY marriage)
It is almost a full time job listening to my music. Playlist.com has a lot of problems. Some days it does not save, some days it gets jammed up, sometimes the songs change and sometimes the links go bad. So then I move over to YouTube. But YouTube has problems, too. Now I am back to playlist because the Beyonce videos to two songs were stupid. I like some gansta' rap songs and when I have to watch the videos, I realize how distasteful they really are! I don't really want to watch Rihanna in black leather and chains.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
And that's why we sent you to private school all them years
Said a mother to her son. Overheard at the counter at the Vineland Amish market this morning. She was criticizing the public school system of Vineland New Jersey. (He didn't look like he turned out all that great).
I am having a relaxing day, killing time in Vineland. Made it to my 8 AM Exercise for arthritis class (my goal is to get to one of the two weekly classes). Then I head for the baked oatmeal breakfast at the Amish market. Oatmeal started off as a diet food. By the time I get done with it it is NOT a diet food. I load it up with bananas, raisins, hot milk, and brown sugar. And I have a sneaking suspicion that "baked" oatmeal already has eggs, flour and sugar already added to it. Then I stopped by to make a hair appointment. Next I went to my previous place of employment and visited a few people. Now I am using the computer at the Vineland Public Library. Already had to ask my neighbor to stop cursing at the computer. Those old librarian habits die hard!
It is such a struggle trying to lose weight. Unwanted (unnecessary) pounds are part of my excess STUFF. Maybe if I eat sensibly and exercise EVERY day for a VERY long time, I could lose some weight? I was rather pleased today, though, when I had my body fat percentage checked. Maybe there was an equipment malfunction but, according to the stats, my body fat declined from somewhere in the 40's in January to somewhere in the 20's in April. (Strangely enough, they measure this in the middle of the top part of your arm instead of pinching your midriff). I guess it was in January when my self improvement campaign started. When my "home away from home" became the Fitness Connection instead of my CAR. Possible diet plans:
- Eat one meal a day and have 100 calorie snacks at intervals the rest of the day?
- Behave myself all the time and only have one "treat" after the weight goes down five pounds?
- Paleo diet?
- Gluten-free diet?
- Spend an entire day at the Fitness Connection?
- Curb the nightime eating? (I may have to wean myself off of the Ambien to accomplish this)
I am having a relaxing day, killing time in Vineland. Made it to my 8 AM Exercise for arthritis class (my goal is to get to one of the two weekly classes). Then I head for the baked oatmeal breakfast at the Amish market. Oatmeal started off as a diet food. By the time I get done with it it is NOT a diet food. I load it up with bananas, raisins, hot milk, and brown sugar. And I have a sneaking suspicion that "baked" oatmeal already has eggs, flour and sugar already added to it. Then I stopped by to make a hair appointment. Next I went to my previous place of employment and visited a few people. Now I am using the computer at the Vineland Public Library. Already had to ask my neighbor to stop cursing at the computer. Those old librarian habits die hard!
It is such a struggle trying to lose weight. Unwanted (unnecessary) pounds are part of my excess STUFF. Maybe if I eat sensibly and exercise EVERY day for a VERY long time, I could lose some weight? I was rather pleased today, though, when I had my body fat percentage checked. Maybe there was an equipment malfunction but, according to the stats, my body fat declined from somewhere in the 40's in January to somewhere in the 20's in April. (Strangely enough, they measure this in the middle of the top part of your arm instead of pinching your midriff). I guess it was in January when my self improvement campaign started. When my "home away from home" became the Fitness Connection instead of my CAR. Possible diet plans:
- Eat one meal a day and have 100 calorie snacks at intervals the rest of the day?
- Behave myself all the time and only have one "treat" after the weight goes down five pounds?
- Paleo diet?
- Gluten-free diet?
- Spend an entire day at the Fitness Connection?
- Curb the nightime eating? (I may have to wean myself off of the Ambien to accomplish this)
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Maybe they don't WANT us to know
Had to go to the Post Office and get another letter filled with gobbledy-gook from the City of Bridgeton. They had been charged $6.11 to mail it and it came "postage due". The last time they sent one it cost half that amount. I HATE certified mail. Just makes me worry unnecessarily. And then you have to get to the Post Office and wait in a big long line to get it and then it is incomprehensible and you wish you had never gotten it. I called the city to complain and ask why they couldn't just give us a few "bullet points" about what it really means to ME, the man on the street. We went around and around and I really learned nothing except that they mailed these change in zoning letters to 700 people. "It's the LAW'", the head of Planning told me. What a waste of time and money! I guess I SHOULD have said, "What are you trying to ENABLE and what are you trying to PREVENT?" Of course, there is another possibility and that is that they REALLY DON'T WANT US TO KNOW! All he really said was that it is so complicated that it would take en entire huge volume to explain it.
Had a mouse emergency today. First time my wireless mouse has failed. It has been working perfectly for 9 months. Thus, I don't know what to do. I don't have the instructions with me and even if I did there is no phone service down here in Greenwich. Thank goodness one of my gentlemen friends down here at the Cumberland County Historical Society came up with a mouse which I could plug in. (The first one he gave me could not be plugged into my laptop due to no compatible hole). But at least I didn't have to face a DAY WITH NO COMPUTER (it's like a day with no sunshine). Yesterday I was online for THREE hours and I thought THAT was not enough time.
Saw a bound book of the Dollar weekly news lying on the table. So I checked out what was happening on April 8th, 1938. The was a humorous debate at a grange meeting on this topic: Resolved - that a wife is more useful than a wheelbarrow on a farm.
Had a mouse emergency today. First time my wireless mouse has failed. It has been working perfectly for 9 months. Thus, I don't know what to do. I don't have the instructions with me and even if I did there is no phone service down here in Greenwich. Thank goodness one of my gentlemen friends down here at the Cumberland County Historical Society came up with a mouse which I could plug in. (The first one he gave me could not be plugged into my laptop due to no compatible hole). But at least I didn't have to face a DAY WITH NO COMPUTER (it's like a day with no sunshine). Yesterday I was online for THREE hours and I thought THAT was not enough time.
Saw a bound book of the Dollar weekly news lying on the table. So I checked out what was happening on April 8th, 1938. The was a humorous debate at a grange meeting on this topic: Resolved - that a wife is more useful than a wheelbarrow on a farm.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Evaporating ice cubes
It is kind of creepy, but every time I go to use some ice cubes, I find that they have evaporated in my freezer. Is it some side effect of a "frost-free" freezer? Does it suck up moisture?
Finished My beloved world, by Sonia Sotomayor. I thought she meant Brooklyn or New York or her life in general. At the end of the book she prints out in English and Spanish a poem by Jose Gautier Benitez. Puerto Rico is referred to as "my beloved world". I loved the book. She is a successful single woman who came from a poor family and ended up on the Supreme Court. I cried at one point when she had to take several forms of public transportation to get to Radcliffe to decide on a college. She didn't like it at all. It made me cry remembering how my mother took me around to all the colleges. When she was at Princeton as a student, a friend said, "You must feel like Alice in Wonderland!" Sonia replied, "Who's that?" So, she had a lot of cultural and class differences to overcome. And yes, she did go to college under Affirmative action but look what she made of herself.
I never do anything with my yard. If I cut off the dead stuff, my yard energy is done. Now some people moved in downstairs and I said he could do as he wished in the yard. Everytime I come home now, I say to myself, "What in the ?#?#?#??" We have pots, we have rims around things, we have Italian figures, we have driftwood.... I did have to say something about the totem pole (?) I said I couldn't stand looking at that horrifying image unless he wanted to put it up to scare the neighborhood children.
Finished My beloved world, by Sonia Sotomayor. I thought she meant Brooklyn or New York or her life in general. At the end of the book she prints out in English and Spanish a poem by Jose Gautier Benitez. Puerto Rico is referred to as "my beloved world". I loved the book. She is a successful single woman who came from a poor family and ended up on the Supreme Court. I cried at one point when she had to take several forms of public transportation to get to Radcliffe to decide on a college. She didn't like it at all. It made me cry remembering how my mother took me around to all the colleges. When she was at Princeton as a student, a friend said, "You must feel like Alice in Wonderland!" Sonia replied, "Who's that?" So, she had a lot of cultural and class differences to overcome. And yes, she did go to college under Affirmative action but look what she made of herself.
I never do anything with my yard. If I cut off the dead stuff, my yard energy is done. Now some people moved in downstairs and I said he could do as he wished in the yard. Everytime I come home now, I say to myself, "What in the ?#?#?#??" We have pots, we have rims around things, we have Italian figures, we have driftwood.... I did have to say something about the totem pole (?) I said I couldn't stand looking at that horrifying image unless he wanted to put it up to scare the neighborhood children.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Lessons learned about food
Was invited to lunch yesterday at the Centerton Golf Club. When we got there I found that the cost was $38! Gulp... So, even though I am on a diet (I mean life long eating plan) I HAD to get my money's worth!
That is the problem with the BUFFET. I should have just eaten from the hors d'oeuvres table....they had gigantic, delicious shrimp, roasted vegetables, cheese (my favorite food) and grapes. The hot buffet was ho hum compared to that. I ignored most of the desserts because I eat there once a month and am overly familiar with all of their offerings. Was quite captivated by the three tiered chocolate fountain. And, naturally, I had to completely cover my strawberries, pineapple and pretzel sticks with chocolate. I think it would have been better (and more sensible) to just put a BIT of chocolate on those things.
Insane city, a novel by Dave Barry. I love Dave Barry but I prefer his humerous essays. This novel was way over-the-top Florida insanity. There are a few Florida authors who take it too far. And I know that Florida CAN be crazy. It involved some madcap adventures with a family preparing for a wedding and running into lost luggage, marihuana brownies (medically approved), an escaped orangutan, Haitian refugees, hired henchmen, snake wranglers, Russian gansters, drug dogs, angry strippers and more. There is an overemphasis on coversations.
Now, TODAY would have been a good Easter day. Yesterday, it was somewhat cloudy and cool. At least, the rain held off until after the egg hunts were done. Got to see some kids, dye some eggs, eat some chocolate, sing some songs in church, receive some compliments about the singing. I wore my same Easter dress from last year. Luckily, no one seemed to notice. Two shades of purple, with pink kneesocks.
Someone gave me some eggs, someone STOLE my eggs, someone gave me some daffodils. Found out my neighbor stole my eggs because a friend of his said go outside and look for the eggs I left for you. He said they were delicious.
That is the problem with the BUFFET. I should have just eaten from the hors d'oeuvres table....they had gigantic, delicious shrimp, roasted vegetables, cheese (my favorite food) and grapes. The hot buffet was ho hum compared to that. I ignored most of the desserts because I eat there once a month and am overly familiar with all of their offerings. Was quite captivated by the three tiered chocolate fountain. And, naturally, I had to completely cover my strawberries, pineapple and pretzel sticks with chocolate. I think it would have been better (and more sensible) to just put a BIT of chocolate on those things.
Insane city, a novel by Dave Barry. I love Dave Barry but I prefer his humerous essays. This novel was way over-the-top Florida insanity. There are a few Florida authors who take it too far. And I know that Florida CAN be crazy. It involved some madcap adventures with a family preparing for a wedding and running into lost luggage, marihuana brownies (medically approved), an escaped orangutan, Haitian refugees, hired henchmen, snake wranglers, Russian gansters, drug dogs, angry strippers and more. There is an overemphasis on coversations.
Now, TODAY would have been a good Easter day. Yesterday, it was somewhat cloudy and cool. At least, the rain held off until after the egg hunts were done. Got to see some kids, dye some eggs, eat some chocolate, sing some songs in church, receive some compliments about the singing. I wore my same Easter dress from last year. Luckily, no one seemed to notice. Two shades of purple, with pink kneesocks.
Someone gave me some eggs, someone STOLE my eggs, someone gave me some daffodils. Found out my neighbor stole my eggs because a friend of his said go outside and look for the eggs I left for you. He said they were delicious.
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