Can I sit next to you when I come back so I can listen to your music?

Overheard from a patron at the computers at the Vineland Public library. Of course, he wasn't saying that to ME. Guess I do not know the secrets of meeting men.

New book about assassination of JFK. Kind of shocked to read that over 40,000 books have been written on this topic? How is that even possible? I must say the details do sound MIGHTY suspicious.

Amusing comment from some guy about the new curved phones...."a solution looking for a problem". Why didn't I think of that? Still procrastinating about getting a new phone. A friend just switched to Sprint and got a new LG phone. She also got a FREE tablet!
I wouldn't mind having one of those. I was so looking forward to becoming eligible for an upgrade (it has been a YEAR now) and ending my servitude to Sprint (it has been 10 months now). Yet, here I sit, having NOT taken any action on the subject. I liked the comment I read in the Sunday New York times that marriage should be like cell phones, with a two year contract and an option to upgrade!

Listening to one of my favorite L'il Wayne songs on Youtube. Oh yeah, No love involves Eminem, too.

Losing the battle against sloth

I learned last week that every hour of sitting takes 22 minutes off of your life. That has made me more interested in exercise IN THEORY but not in practice. All of my favorite activities involve SITTING...reading, driving, computer work. Notice that I have been skipping more days of exercise and justifying it. This has got to stop! Just wrote a short article about the benefits of physical activity. Now I just need to PRACTICE what I preach.

So, the only guy who actually talks to me in the gym makes me nervous. I guess I like being a hermit and not knowing anyone's name. I always feel so defensive around him. Like I always want to trash myself and my efforts. He keeps trying to get me to be positive and I persist in being negative.

Watched Doc Martin last night. It is on Tuesday night at 8 PM on Channel 23. Thought I had seen them all but I seem to have missed series 3. Or else I FORGOT that I saw it. But I DO remember the Ballykissangels that come on next. One hour of TV is my limit for one day. And that is at least 1/2 hour longer than my attention span. I love Doc Martin because it has great scenery, it is about a small town, and he is such a curmudgeon. He is a surgeon who develops a fear of blood. I am always BEHIND on things. I only seem to enjoy repeats or shows that are not even produced any more. I was a few years LATE getting into Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra and The big bang theory. Just not a cutting edge kind of gal.

Is there a mouse in the house?

I think that would be a good title for a children's book. I don't want to admit it, but I think that there is a mouse in my house. Weird when you live alone. First the bat and now the mouse. So, I have added mouse trap to my list for shopping. I used to set the mouse traps for my mother. Now I need someone to set them for ME! Here are the clues:
- Once while up in the night I thought I saw something run and hide near the refrigerator.
- My bag of crunchies near the fridge got a hole in it
- I found ONE fingerless glove and the side of it was totally unraveled

Finished two books. The round house by Louis Erdrich was full of Native American lore. Nicely evoked milieu of unpleasant events on the reservation, including rape and murder. I think that is what put me a bit off from reading it, but mostly enjoyed the writing. Also finished a surprisingly interesting nonfiction book about exercising (The first 20 minutes : surprising science reveals how we can exercise better, train smarter, live longer, by Gretchen Reynolds). It convinced me that I need to make more of an effort to exercise DAILY. I am too fond of sitting. It is better to be fat and fit than fat and not fit, said the author. I am hovering around this spot with my weight, balancing out my lack of interest in exercising and my desire to binge and eat all of the wrong foods with activity and restraint. Feel like I am on a teeter totter.

Not very comfortable today. Am using my laptop at the Cohansey Café. Furniture not real commodious and no electrical outlet today. But, the sun is shining and Royals by Lorde is on Youtube. Also belly full of buttered blueberry muffin and coffee. An example of how my eating has slipped....I used to say I could eat something "bad" only once a week and only if I had lost weight. Then it was once a week, no matter what the weight. Soon I was eating unacceptable items once a day and now MORE than once a day. Oh my.

Reading a book about a song

There is a new book about a BOOK (The Koran of Thomas Jefferson). I thought THAT was amazing, but then I found myself reading a book about a SONG...The holy or the broken : Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley and the unlikely ascent of "Hallelujah", by Alan Light, traces the history and phenomenal explosion of this song. After being around already for decades, the song ended up TWICE on a top ten list by two different artists. This song has been interpreted by over 100 artists. I already have the Rufus Wainwright version and the Leonard Cohen version in my Youtube playlist. Must make sure I listen to the Jeff Buckley and Cale versions.

Listening to Mr. Brightside by The Killers.

My regular deli must cringe when they see me coming. I actually LOOK at date on the Diet Coke and demand one that has not expired. They are not removing the old ones, hoping someone will buy them who does not look at the date. I would go elsewhere but they have the cheapest ones. Also the idea of Diet Coke having some ingredients that expire is rather hilarious!

Things I am NOT interested in....

Don't have room in my brain for:
- candy
- wine
- college football
- horror
- violence

There are some weird names in the world. Not the time to be a teacher, what with all of the apostrophes and made-up names. Here are some I came across in the Police report of New York, Millville and Vineland. (These are an exception to my rule of using no names):
- Daquan
- Antiq
- Quanderia
- Sharmaine
- Alshamar

Listening to a CD: Mechanical bull, by Kings of Leon. Perhaps if I listen to it again, it will grow on me.

Dumb things I have done today

First dumb thing was I texted the WRONG man with this message...."I'm dressed. What is your schedule? Did you get enough sleep last night?"
The wrong man kindly texted me back with his schedule. Then I texted the RIGHT man, forgetting that he lives in GREENWICH, where cell phones do not work! Went to the health club only to find out that they were going to turn off the electric. Happily, I completed my workout before the switch went off. Also, it was good to find that the soap and paper towel dispensers and toilet still worked even though I had to do it all in the dark.

So, I am running around trying to get all of my STUFF done before 5 PM. It is Friday and libraries inconveniently close at 5. So nice to have sunlight and get my Vitamin D bath in.

Youtube is making me happy. Had to put in the headphones to drown out the sound leaking out from someone else's earbuds. Listening to James Blunt singing, "You're beautiful".

Benefits of using the library computers

They are more old-fashioned and the new features of Yahoo and Google don't work right. I am so much more happy with the old familiar features! Now My Coke rewards is in a new BETA version and they are sure I am going to be very excited about it. All I can think of is, "OH NO!"

Read a great children's book today. I became aware of it due to a lovely bookmark. It is called Leaf man, by Lois Ehlert. The story is told with glorious leaves made into shapes of things. I am going to take it home and show it to my sister for her grandchildren.

Oh dear, computer time is just about up. Must pay attention to my email so I can delete my daily quota.

Diet Coke has an expiration date??!

That is a scary thought. You mean to tell me there are FRESH ingredients in Diet Coke? Yesterday I was drinking one that had an expiration date of the previous day. Not too worried about it. Anyway, recent thinking is that the expiration dates are just a suggestion.

I can't believe they are cancelling the show called Hoarders. Although I guess once you have seen one hoarders you have seen them all....chubby, low-class, unsmiling people with lots of crap. I enjoy watching it from time to time for a few minutes and hope that they are worse than me. I don't think I have animal excrement in my home. But I DO need to keep a trash bag in each room.

Having an ongoing struggle with Yahoo mail. Who are all of their customers? I don't know many people who still have Yahoo. I was fine with it until they started "upgrading" and trying to be like Google. Their customer service SUCKS. They have all kinds of online forms and aids but you can't get to a real person unless you have an account access issue.
That is what is the most frustrating thing. I have sent off at least 8 pissed off complaints just today. It is bad when the help instructions are just plain WRONG. I am losing emails (especially ones I have forwarded) and cannot change my signature, which I like to do once a week.

How do you spell United States?

This is only one of the questions put to me by a young girl who was sitting next to me on the computers at the Bridgeton Public Library last night. She was watching some kind of bloody surgery that I commented negatively on. Isn't it enough that I have to wear HEADPHONES to block out the other people? Now I am going to need BLINDERS too. Then she was trying to register for something she probably shouldn't have been registering for but I answered a few of her questions anyway.

It is such an unbelievably gorgeous day. I can't believe I am sitting here facing AWAY from the windows. But all the good tables were taken, thus impeding me from using my laptop. Can't wait to get outside again to appreciate the fantastic weather. So many reasons to be glad I am retired today. Breakfast at 8:30 AM at the Amish restaurant. Two extra people showed up. Then manicure and pedicure with my favorite nail tech. Did bask in the sun for a few minutes.

Glad about: Google seems to be faster and the stock price went up to $1000. I am the happy owner of TWO shares.

Sad about: Yahoo suggested that I change my password and now I can't get into my email on my phone.

All things shall pass, even the bad ones

Usually, if I could be more patient, the neighbors will move and Yahoo will get around to fixing the things that are broken. Every time they "upgrade" I go crazy looking for things that I could do before. Just in case they aren't paying attention, I submit at least one complaining support ticket each day.

Started off with a good reunion of the French group. Now that we have had a meeting in the daytime, more hours have opened up as possible gathering times. It is absolutely amazing how difficult it is to get 5 people together, even though we are all RETIRED! Then the sun came out when it was not forecast. I LIKE those kinds of surprises. Brought leftovers down to my Wednesday hangout. My sister made some yummy quiche - one was watercress and spinach and the other was CAULIFLOWER and pepper jack cheese. How creative!

Today is election day. Even thinking about our government makes me sick. I would like to strangle some Tea Party Republicans. I can take some comfort in the fact that I live in a BLUE town in a BLUE state.

Reasons to go to the beach

Love the deserted beach. I had to run down to Ocean City as my book is due today. Read The love affairs of Nathanial P., by Adelle Waldman. From the perspective of Nate, a male writer living in Brooklyn in 1999. It's fiction.

Anyway, the beach was amazing. Tide coming in, waves roiling all which ways. Foam was blowing across the beach, it was so windy. I was enjoying all of the tracks, footprints, tire prints, shells, etc. Just took a ten minute walk. It was a bit too cold for sunbathing. I look over and there is a woman coming out of the ocean in her bathing suit!

So I came over to get my three hours of computer time at the library. Am cold and hungry right now. Should stick around to read a newspaper and a magazine. Inconsistencies of myself: I am too cheap to buy a book for the Nook, yet I will shell out $1 a day for an actual newspaper.

Heartist in resonance

No, I didn't think that up. It was on a business card of two inspiring people I met this AM in a coffee shop. Interesting take-off on Artist in residence. So, the morning was very interesting, spent with 3 friends, my sisters and various other drop-ins. Some far out and thought provoking conversation. I'm so rigid, they are so free. They are traveling around the country doing whatever comes up between visits and events, spreading their message of peace and many additional new agey kinds of ideas. They are obviously very taken with each other and their message, so I got a bit of a high off of them. But I know I need structure in my life. I can make a prison out of being retired. I liked that the man asked me what is my passion instead of what do I do. Of course, I did not have a good answer to that query, but I liked it. Possible answer thought of later...."the gathering and spreading of information".

Happy American archives month. Forwarded a page of ideas to some history people that I hang out with. Learned about this celebration through the Rock and Roll museum in Cleveland.

I must be getting USED to this weather...drizzle and rain and gloom. I thought on my way to Millville today that the dripping sky looked somewhat BRIGHTER. Upon reviewing my calendar I noticed that last weekend I was complaining that the weather was too HOT and HUMID! Never happy, that is MOI.

Sitting here with my earbuds in and I forgot to dial up Youtube. Trying to block out the sounds of other people's music dribbling out around their headphones. Also the sound of TYPING can get annoying.

The "new hot" 107.9

Came across this radio station and stayed awhile. Two women were talking ghetto trash and I was mesmerized. The music was rap, including Biggie. They played a good song I had forgotten about and can't name.

Returned a book to the Millville Library....Dad is fat, by Jim Gaffigan. He is a comedian with which I am not familiar who has 5 kids and lives in a small Brooklyn apartment. Apparently he has a famous rag on hot pockets which I must look for on Youtube.

Excursion for the day cancelled due to rain, wind, chill, dank and damp. I was supposed to be the driver for 5 women so am just as glad we didn't go. I don't like driving FAST, particularly in the rain. You are not supposed to use cruise control and that is hard for me. Of course, now it is not raining, but the forecast for the next few days is dismal. Boy, did we get spoiled with the seemingly endless run of sunny days! Instead we all got together at a newly opened restaurant called Lucy's Mexican restaurant. Lots of MEN came in, cops and I don't know who all. Might be a good place to meet men except that they were all playing with their phones. So we had our few hours of talking which we like to do monthly. Only one other woman was in the place. The waitress was cool and gave us free stuff and good advice about what to eat.

I can't take all of these changes

What is it with October and changes? Google now makes you go to a bunch of little squares, Yahoo has been revamped (again), Windows 8.1 comes out on October 18, our government is shut down, it is time to change your Medicare backup plan and your drug plan. I am really behind the times as I prefer WORDS to icons or pictures. Words seem to be on the way out.

I'd like to add a spot on this blog for books finished and songs listened to, but not quite sure how to do that. Just finished Bad monkey by Carl Hiaasen. He has really gone over the top with craziness in this novel. I heard him speak once and he does get his ideas sometimes from actual news events. And life does tend to be nuts in South Florida.

Have frittered away the day hanging at the historical library with a group of convivial people. Weather dreary. Even worse weather forecast for tomorrow when I have an excursion planned to Grounds for sculpture in North Jersey.

The best thing about today

was a great sunset which I admired through the windows of the Cumberland County Library. Otherwise quite a boring day. Absolutely no events on the calendar and so the day just got frittered away. I did read for an hour.

On the turntable, I mean YouTube....I don't care by Icona Pop.

Had an excursion planned for Thursday. That is one reason I just vegged out today. But now the weather looks dismal and plans are getting cancelled. I guess that is for the best since I was driving and the Grounds for sculpture is two hours away. Seems like this happens a lot with our planned events and it is so HARD to get 5 or 6 people to agree on a date and a plan. RATS! And that is the name of the very expensive country French restaurant we could have eaten at.

I almost went swimming today

August in October they are calling it. The longest run of over 80 degree weather since 1990.

Just had to come to the library for a soothing air-conditioned computer fix. OK, I DID exercise.... I rode a bike to get the tires filled up with air. Then on the way home, I got a flat tire and had to walk the bike the rest of the way. And a high of 89 degrees was predicted today. Plus, it is humid. Trying to get ready for a bike and brunch next week. Have not enjoyed my last few bike rides. Admiring the nice new bikes downtown. But me and big ticket items do not get along. Looked at a recumbant bike today and can't see myself in it. Tiny little wheels!

Going to a dinner. A lot of schmoozing and overeating and perhaps boredom.

On the turntable

In my case, it is on YouTube....Listening to the top songs on iTunes to see if any of them are worth adding to my playlist on YouTube (I am too FRUGAL for iTunes). So far have only added Royals by Lorde. Enjoying my two hour stint on the public computers at the Cumberland County Library. Had to turn on the headphones due to the incessant re-dialing of the FAX machine. They put it on automatic redial and it redials immediately after it finishes dialing.
And it is REALLY loud.

Have accomplished yoga and getting online already. Can coast for the rest of the day. Even had a sociable coffee with friends down at the Cohansey Cafe in Bridgeton before yoga. Almost hesitate to buy coffee cause then I won't have an excuse to patronize my sister's cafe every weekday.

Rain today causing me great shock. We have been waking up to sunshine every day for weeks now. I even forgot about the fact that my roof leaks. Am too frugal to get new gutters and new windows. Can I get through another winter? Dreading it. Uncomfortable at home when it is real cold. Must plan some trips?

I was on my way to Morocco once

but I got waylaid in Barcelona (LAID being the operative word). I met a man in the park and ended up living with him for sixth months. Never did get to Morocco.

Another great story about people meeting online. I am listening to it. Not sure if I want to meet someone. I have gotten so unadventurous in my old age.

Today was going to be my EXCURSION day. I even have a FOLDER called excursions. I looked at the first 10 papers but could not decide. Have run out of energy, ideas and money. So am doing the same old, same old. Breakfast date, laptop hoboing, art opening tonight. There is something comforting about my routines.

I dread picking up the phone these days

Usually it is a machine, or a salesman, or a butt-dial, or a dead space. I don't really want to exert myself to get it, but then, when I call people, they never answer either. Life is one big game of phone tag.

Spent a goodly number of hours in my own home this afternoon. A rare event, for moi. Enjoyed it, for the most part. I puttered, I read, I listened to NPR, I almost took a nap. Had to leave in the middle to do a couple of errands. Luckily, the neighborhood was pretty quiet. Only the sounds of home maintenance projects were in the air. Well, there were a few echos of distant yapping dogs, but I chose to ignore. I will be taking a walk soon to find out where these dogs live so that I can sic the dog catcher on them.

Thinking about my doctor visit yesterday and pondering whether I should write some online reviews. I have dermatologists figured out....they insist upon chopping you up, then they give you more than one prescription which may hurt more than it helps. I liked the way I got to see the actual doctor and it was nice that she had two people in the room with her, but when I look at the report it is totally confusing and contradictory. I give up on thoughts of obtaining clarification from the snotty office staff. The doctor said to come back in two weeks, but the office staff said she has no availability for two months! This is just plain aggravating! Then she has me applying two different creams, vaseline, AND an $85 saran-wrap kind of thing. How, I would like to ask her, is all of this supposed to work together? Oh, what the heck. I may as well call the dreadful office staff and give them an earful.

Government by tantrum

Yes, that is what we have in the United States of America. The Republicans all strike me as hard-edged, white, too thin, uptight, tight-lipped, tight-assed whiners. Get over it, please, and let's just TRY the Affordable health act. I refuse to call it OBAMACARE any more. I think that just encourages them and discourages the American public. What is so bad about socialized medicine, after all? Medicare is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. At least one thing in life just occurs and it is a good thing. No decisions needed, not much paperwork involved and it saves you money.

Sitting on the porch of the New Dodge's market in Elmer. It was on my list of places to use the wireless. However, it is on a REALLY busy and noisy intersection of Route 40 and some other street and it is very unpleasant. The weather is great, however, and unseasonably warm. Had a delicious salad with a fabulous salad dressing.

Time to get back to Bridgeton and buy my new and old prescriptions. Ready for a rest. Had a biopsy even though I went into the dermatologist determined to not get cut. This is practically impossible when you visit this (or any) dermatologist as we all know. I vow to try harder to not scratch. I felt the visit was worth it and perhaps there is HOPE for the future. Hard to be positive when you have had a skin disorder for 16 months! (Can't believe how time flies). She wanted to know if I was anxious (just about the neighbors) or depressed, (no, but I AM highly medicated). Scratching is related to OCD (OK< I admit it, I do have that).

Aged goods

Spotted this sign on an abandoned bar as I drove through Millville, New Jersey, today. It used to say PACKAGED GOODS but the "pack" got torn off.

So happy whilst walking on the Ocean City boardwalk today. The sun! The breezes! The unseasonably warm weather! The polite and quiet people! I am so hating my town (Bridgeton) these days. I think I could live at the beach or somewhere far, far away from annoying people. So many beach towns within an hour of my house. But it seems more and more people are heading to Ocean City, America's family resort. Maybe because there are so many rentals there? Or because it is a dry town? Last September I was a bit lonely while renting there, but maybe it depends on my mood? I like peace and quiet and I am surrounded by LOUD people with bad grammar and lots of cursing. Also yapping dogs. Even if the dog is houses away from me, it bugs me to no end. I have this week taken to wearing earplugs but they don't help that much. And you can only use them when you AREN'T listening to NPR. Have added earplugs to my really long shopping list.

I guess the other alternative is to be home less. Or travel more. Or sleep elsewhere. Only slept away from home ONE NIGHT the whole summer.