Threshold amnesia?

I was told this is an actual condition, but maybe he was kidding? Whereby upon going from one room to another, you forget why you came in there.

Had great fun at an antiques appraisal yesterday. Had never been to something like that, but plenty of people came lugging their treasures. I was helping to organize the people waiting. We were there for 4 hours, had 54 people with over 100 items. The man doing it was very entertaining and I learned a lot. Of course, it is very hard for me to part with anything, but it is fun to dream about the possible value of your possessions. I vowed to start taking better care of my STUFF. I brought a Hummel figure of a kid playing doctor. While Hummels are too plentiful to be very valuable, it seems things like doctors could be worth more. Must research online. There are websites devoted to Hummel figurines. Then I had a tin lantern with a candle in it. My great aunt told me that she had a darkroom and made postcards. The appraiser suggested researching photographic collectibles for that one. Also, I should see if I can find any of her postcards for sale online. I know, it is a longshot.

The weather has been so phenomenal this fall! Every day I wake up to the same gorgeous sunny weather as the day before.

Job titles I would like to have

Wouldn't it be nice to tell someone at a party that you were an "Equine portrait photographer"?

One of my pet peeves is people who talk on their cell phones WHILE THEY ARE WORKING, especially when they aren't even speaking English. I think it was a Cambodian nail technician that brought on THIS rant. Then one of the other workers turned on his MAC and started blaring some program in another language even though the TV was on. Grrrr.... The manicure was OK but the ambiance was terrible. Won't be going back there soon or ever.

I fear I am getting early-onset Alzheimer's. (Also have been unable to resolve the issue that once I heard that there was no longer an apostrophe in Alzheimer's but that seems to have been a DREAM). I went to get my haircut and couldn't remember which side I parted my hair on. Can I blame it on the mirror effect? A few days ago I went to pick up a friend at the bus station and had trouble remembering exactly what exit and which road to turn around on. Is it NORMAL aging or ABNORMAL aging? I do feel somewhat foggy even when I am NOT taking a pain pill or a Xanax.

Living like hobos in their own home

Strikes too close to home. Finished a book called Coming clean, by Kimberly Rae Miller, about growing up with parents who were hoarders. She wasn't ever able to cure them.

Things I like:
- Driving slowly through the country
- Xanax
- perfectly gorgeous weather
- leftovers

Things I don't like:
- Four-way stops
- library computers getting too old
- big fat mice
= traffic and confusion

A lot of work going on. Seems like everywhere I look there are people sawing, trash containers being delivered, hammering, etc. Even I had some work done. I had people trim some trees. I think I should do it every year instead of every ten years. Can actually sunbathe now.

Got rid of some stuff today

Had some trees trimmed in the back yard. Workmen and change make me nervous so I couldn't relax until they were done. I also took a Xanax to help forget about the stress. The guy came with about 8 helpers (he promised me 3). They were all over the place and making one heck of a racket. I do like the final result and will consider having a trim every year instead of once every ten years. Of course, the LAST time my father owned the property and paid for the trim.

Going to court tomorrow and am totally unprepared. It is really the mediation ordered by the court. I am sure it will be just as big a waste of time as the court was. Embarrassing, too, since I am complaining about the barking pit bull next door and the dog DIED. I called and they said you can't cancel the appointment even if the dog is dead.

Brought my own computer to the library today as the computers here are getting really old and sluggish and most of them have big fat mice. I am just so hard to please.

You ain't prejudiced, is you?

This question was followed by a request for money, making me doubt the veracity of my NOT being prejudiced. The other thing that happened as I was hanging around in downtown Bridgeton, was observing a very Black woman crossing the street and muttering, "Fuckin' white people!" Was I the cause of this muttering? Just made me realize why no one likes to come downtown.

I should be thankful for being ALIVE today, as I took a very nasty tumble last night. You think that you are going to be careful and that nothing bad is going to happen to you and the next thing you know you are one step from the bottom of a flight of stairs, upside down and wedged in. If I hadn't recently lost some weight, I would STILL be there. It was rather a feat to get myself extricated from that situation but I was all alone and it was dark. What other choice did I have? AM starting to feel a bit better, but don't know WHAT or WHO to thank....my doctor? the ice? the Naproxen? the pain pill? my massage therapist? my chiropractor? All I can say is THANK GOD. I do not need a broken hip. This is why I like to get home before dark and STAY THERE. I took a step, it was dark, I misjudged the step and suddenly was flying through the air.

Before this occurred, I drove over to the local high school stadium to take a walk/jog. All along both sides of the street there were signs posted "No parking this side". This is what is wrong with America. NO ONE is allowed to park in a convenient location!

"Something smells like it is burning.....

Oh, it's sawdust". My sister's partner has a wood shop and they are serving coffee in the front part. This is the third day of regular hours and they are already thinking of what else to do. I tried to look up business licenses in the code of the City of Bridgeton, but I couldn't get anywhere.

I had a good experience yesterday. Well, first a BAD experience. Unbeknownst to me, my credit card fell out of my pocket and was laying on the street downtown. A kind, honest lady picked it up and called the bank. They called me and I walked downtown to get it from an employee of the WIC office. The buildings were very poorly marked. Crazy numbers and old names of organizations. I guess you have to KNOW about it to find it. A lot of security. Can't get into any buildings without ringing a buzzer. I snuck into a preschool along with a lady and her tiny daughter. They rang the buzzer and when questioned, she said (in Spanish), "I'm here to pick up my baby". Had to ask various people and be personally led by a person I remembered from my old job. Along the way to the very-well-hidden WIC office, I discovered a fruit and vegetable market. I think it is for poor people but I am going to go. It is sort of hidden halfway down a parking lot and is there Tuesdays - Fridays (not sure of the hours). All this within a few blocks of my house!

Not feeling really great. Allergies for one thing. A variety of rashes, digestive difficulties and general tiredness round out the picture. Seems like I am slowing down every day. Weather went from HOT to COLD. I guess it is just the usual shock to the system that another season is coming upon us. I thought I would be so happy when the heat ended. A friend was very jealous when I told her I couldn't remember the last time I set the alarm.

Way too late to go home early now

I thought this was a clever tune title by the Grassy Knoll Boys. They sang it on Prairie Home Companion, my favorite Saturday night radio show. It SEEMED like a new show, but I'm not really sure. My favorite singer was on (Jearlyn Steele) but I have heard him talk about her grandchildren and her degrees previously. I worry about Garrison Keillor retiring as I recently learned he turned 71. But, I suppose I could go on happily listening to reruns and not even notice. I am allowed to retire but my doctor and my radio show hosts are NOT.

I was the first customer at my sister's coffee shop today. Conveniently located several blocks from my house, it provided me with coffee and a croissant, neither of which I have currently at home. Perhaps I should start a new list for a person (or persons) I tell about it every day. Not sure how they are really going to commit to a schedule nor what hassles are involved in getting permits for this, but fun to dream.

Physically not up to par lately. Today did yoga which helped not hindered. But now I just feel like taking a NAP.
Conditions and pains in several locations.

If only I had a window

Feeling good, having taken a few pain killers due to feeling bad. Also listening to Youtube (Goyte) which makes me happy. Am at my favorite library computer lab (Ocean City). It could only be more perfect if there was a WINDOW as it is a beautiful day. Sunny, breezy, cool clouds and not too hot. I did my obligatory "Vitamin D bath" on the porch of the Port-o-Call hotel at 1501 Boardwalk. The sun was really HOT. Then I tried to visit an older person but was told she was resting.

A terrible fire yesterday on the Seaside heights boardwalk. These businesses had not all recovered yet from Hurricane Sandy. Maybe that is why I feel so drawn to the beach recently. Not sure if the world/shore as I know it will survive. The new homes look really weird. They are way up high and look very handicap INaccessible. I welcome any excuse to come down to the shore. Today it was our annual breakfast in Ocean City. Ate overlooking the ocean in the Parrot bird grill at the Port-O-Call hotel.

A friend is going to the Miss America parade today. It IS kind of exciting to have it back in Atlantic City. But I can't take too much walking and standing around so I am not going. One new activity per day is enough for me.

Eighth from the bottom

Having a lot of trouble with this blog. Clicked on HTML...will see if it works.

Contest over at health club. I am just not competitive, I guess because I LOSE. This time I was number 8 from the bottom. We were supposed to earn miles and get to Sea Isle City or Maryland. I think I only got to Mays Landing. Only completed 13 miles. Well, in addition to not being competitive, I have a lot of distractions, such as yoga, arthritis exercise class, aqua aerobics, swimming, and today, I just plain overslept and did not have time for ANY exercise.

I just don't GET computer stuff. For instance, I saw that this was showing the time as Pacific time. I don't really WANT that but was unable to figure out how to change it. Grumble, grumble.....

What was that thought

I had a good thought today and was going to blog it.  But now I have forgotten what it was.  Perhaps I SHOULD get a phone upon which I can blog.  Still procrastinating about the phone upgrade.  Too many decisions involved.  "Need" a new phone, perhaps a new provider and am reluctant to get into any two year contract.

Summer's last gasp today and tomorrow.  Supposed to be over 93 degrees today.  My comfort zone is under 80 degrees. 

Went to the beach yesterday.  Not so pleasant due to blowing sand.  No bugs at least.  Almost got too much sun, not quite.  Had a delicious lunch at Yanni's.  This was their third location, which I have never visited.  I have lunched at the other two locations, one on the boardwalk and one in the library.  The new 9th Street bridge is quite something but I do not enjoy driving that way due to the Beasley Point Bridge being out.  The Ocean City bridge is full of walkers and bikers.

The reminiscence bump

I heard about it on NPR...that time period between age 18 and 25 when events are indelibly etched into your brain and psyche even if you are high a lot of the time.  Studies have shown that music heard, books read, loves experienced during those years tend to stay in your memory and be preferred even into your dotage.  Having just had events of that time period written about in a newspaper, I tend to agree.

Am sitting in the Cumberland County library using my own laptop.  Can't print but CAN blog.  One must make one's compromises.

Woke up feeling like I had been run over by a tractor trailer.  I think it is hay fever time.  I used to take three different meds year round for allergies but gave them up in my retirement due to the expense.  But this is my historical time for hay fever before I got deluded into thinking that I had constant allergies.  I took a Claritin.

Bridgeton noise complaint ends in dead silence

I went to the City Council to complain about the neighbors and a reporter there put it into a NEWS article in the paper!  The online title was better.  The title in the paper was "Dog complaint ends in tragedy".  I am not used to being so OUT.  In the papers twice in one week.  Time to go back under my rock.

Hate rushing around to get my Internet in and my exercise in on the weekends.  Everything closes early....libraries, the pool and the health club.  Sunday is even worse.  There are NO libraries, pool closes at 4 and health club at 3.  Barely enough time to get to church and lunch and have time for anything else.  Sigh...

Flash drive is a mess. Can't open and save to a new place.  Have to copy and paste each document into a new document and then save it.  I bought a new flash drive and it has STUFF on it which I do not understand.  Better leave it there.  It is a Cruzer something.  Doesn't even come up as a flash drive.  I HATE progress.

Ding dong, the dog is dead...

Did I tell the tale of the barking pit bull next door?  Went to city council to complain about it and learned that the dog was killed that very same day.  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  Heard on the Oprah channel that she has owned 21 dogs in her adulthood and that she once had 11 dogs at once.  How is this even possible?  Bet there was some barking around THAT mansion!

Have been in a bad mood lately.  Can I blame it on my town?  Would a vacation help?  Do I need to move?  But then we have to deal with the issue of STUFF.  The amount of it that I own impedes me from movement.  I am a peace-loving librarian and Quaker and my neighborhood is getting too noisy and aggravating.  Now that I am retired I have too much time to notice exactly how annoying my neighbors really are.  I try to be patient and wait them out, but I can't take all of the coming and going and screaming kids, people spitting off porch, barking dogs.  We just don't DO that on Commerce St.

My flash drive has started to go.  Now I regret that I do not have it backed up.  Why do I always assume that things are going to last, when I know how many address books and electronic versions I have been through?  So my whole entire life is on this one flash drive and now I can't create files or change any documents.  So far I can still READ them, but not sure I have the skills to copy a flash drive.  And I certainly don't want to copy any bugs if I have any.  I don't remember anyone HAVING problems with flash drives at the library.  But I have been using this same one for a year and a half.

Do I have a "negative dispositional attitude"

Although I do see a lot of LIKES and DISLIKES in the world, I probably tend more to the DISLIKES.  Want to read the academic article which lies behind the popular press articles (one of which I posted) on this topic. 

Then again, I take pleasure in positive comments, even if made by an older, blacker, flirtacious man in McDonald's....."I keep track of everything around here, especially the young and pretty girls".  I didn't really respond but I think he meant ME!

Really need to do some stuff at home but it is grey and humid and too quiet.  So I came out to McDonald's to get some breakfast and some coffee and to use the Internet.
Summer's over...what is the plan for my life?