A woman with style

Have been looking for a wheeled contraption so I can lug my stuff around between the car and other places. A woman came in with, essentially, a briefcase on wheels. But she was stepping lively, dressed fashionably and wearing high heels and managed to look cool and effortless. Somehow, I only end up looking like a bag lady.

Meant to be early to work today but I ended up being late and had to speed. I HATE that. I like to be early as I only work one day a month and there are bound to be some rude surprises at the workplace. Better to figure them out BEFORE the rush. By now, I have figured it all out. The main surprises today were passwords that had been changed. But I managed a work-around and got it all straightened out eventually.

The sun has disappeared. There won't be any "Vitamin D bathing" today. Milder, though. I don't really care since I am stuck inside all day.

A heavenly day

Perhaps, maybe, Spring will actually SPRING some day soon?!?!? It is actually the first day of Spring. The Google doodle had to remind me of that. It seems that it is also National Happiness day. They seem to be creating more days at a rapid rate.

Sadly, the only three movies that I would be willing to see at our local theater are cartoons......Mr. Peabody and Sherman, The Lego movie and Muppets most wanted. All the others involve speed or violence or other distasteful topics.
Would like to get back to my one-movie-a-week policy but nothing really calls to me, except for $2 popcorn day which is Tuesday.

Returning some books today and picking up a book I had reserved at the Vineland Public Library. Getting organized with projects such as filling out questionnaire for jury duty and other stuff. Not real enthusiastic about jury duty. One of my issues is DECISION MAKING and that is what jury duty is all about. It is always educational as well as depressing so I guess I will go forward with it and not try to think up some excuse. Luckily, I can walk to the courthouse so I don't have to deal with the impossible parking situation. I COULD walk to a lot of places, I just DON'T.

Feeling parsimonious

This is a word I learned in the audio book I just finished. When I looked it up in a dictionary which just happened to be in my path, I saw that it means excessively frugal. Hmmm, that could be me. Yes, I just lost $40 at the casino (but I didn't feel good about it)! And am spending $175 to take an art class. But on a daily basis, I am really quite parsimonious. It is all part of my getting-ready-to-retire strategy. The plan was to keep the daily expenditures down by only spending over $20 at one place. Of course, this requires another LIST and a great deal of just-say-no. I HAVE been accused by at least one friend of being CHEAP.

Audiobook review: Please ignore Vera Dietz, by A. S. King. Found in Young adult section at the Vineland Public Library (AUD CD YA FIC King. A.) All the teenage angst got annoying and there was too much "Are you OK?" and "What are YOU doing here?". Endless bullying gets really tiresome. Also the father/daughter repartee. So, I was sort of glad when it was over. A young boy and his neighbor are good friends. Then things and people intervene and he goes off with the cool/dumb/bullying crowd. Unhappiness ensues. Sometimes with young adults, you just want to shake them and say, "STOP IT!" The jerks are not quite innocent but only the reader seems to know it. I did enjoy the words Vera was studying for her vocabulary quizzes, like parsimonious.

Finally went up into my scary and depressing attic and found the origin of the leak. There were already buckets there (!) so, obviously I had already had a leak on a prior occasion. Guess I need to leave a note on the wall with the relevant info for future reference. The ominous sky threatens another rainstorm which only fills me with dread. It means that I have to go up in the attic on a regular basis, dump the buckets into a traveling bucket and take it down two floors to dump it outside. If it rains too hard or I wait too long, the overflow will drip down through my hall ceiling. SIGH...it is so hard being me. On the plus side, I have already called a roof guy and he is planning to do something about it as soon as it dries out.

Noise and other pollution

Got out of my car at my favorite deli today and heard rude, cursing talk. Looked around to find the annoyance and a guy had left his car running while he went into the store. Not only that, he had left his MUSIC running, which was loud, rude, rap music, cursing out bitches, etc.

Frommer's Florence, Tuscany and Umbria, 5th ed, by John Moretti, (C2006) - Read most of this on my Nook. 1st edition Nook does not do well with nonfiction books. I think pictures were ommited, at least there were some captions that did not seem to sit well with the other text. I don't mind old travel books. I was trying to get myself excited about my upcoming trip to a house in Tuscany. (Isn't that every American's dream?) It was particularly MY dream, but, hey, I need an excuse to go on a trip. I took some notes and then had to type them up, along with some Italian vocabulary. Most of it I will forget, but maybe something will stick.

The invention of wings, by Sue Monk Kidd - The book was engaging in varying degrees. Glad I stuck with it! Sad and upsetting stuff about slavery. Fictional treatment of Sarah and Angelina Grimke, who grew up in slave-holding Charleston in the Mid 1800's. They were inclined to be against it. The book details the problems the sisters had in trying to stand up for their beliefs. Their parents were really unhelpful. Even the QUAKERS were unhelpful, although I guess they came along eventually. In alternating chapters, the story is told from the viewpoint of Sarah and her slave, Handful. The portrayal of slave culture in a city was unusual and appalling. Making their views more unwelcome were the fact that they were women. I laughed, I cried and was delighted to learn more about the Grimkes. I had heard some of this information in a play I went to see at the Painted Bride in Philadelphia (If she stood). The author learned of these women from The dinner party art work by Judy Chicago.

Sitting with the great unwashed

Sorry to sound so classist, but the person who just sat down next to me has an aura of old smoke and BO extending for several feet.

Is it ever going to warm up? Promises of 52 degrees seem hard pressed. I just can't seem to warm up. Got up at 4 AM and it was dark and cold. So, I got back in bed after reading for an hour, but just couldn't seem to warm up. Felt like I must be getting the flu....but I pride myself on my ability to not get sick. I am not sick but AM one of the worried well.

Not doing a whole lot today. Breakfasted with two friends I hadn't seen in awhile. Volunteered at the art gallery and had a good time talking with interesting workmen. Went to the car mechanic and arranged to spend lots of money there next week. Am glad I came to the library, though. It is nice and peaceful today. AND I found a new Janet Evanovich audiobook. What could be better? Oh, I DID accomplish a long undone project...buying windshield wiper fluid and putting it in the car all by myself.

People watching

Otherwise known as....sitting on a bench and being judgmental. OK, my exercise teacher heard that on the radio but it is oh so true. Especially when you are down at the boardwalk, as I was a few days ago. I drew a picture of a woman I saw, but it was too complimentary. For two days now I have drawn a picture. Today, what? I wanted to draw an Amish person but I'd have to do it from memory or with them scurrying by. Had a not-very-satisfying breakfast at the Amish Market in Vineland. Frankly, I think they lost a lot of the "counter character" by moving upstairs. And my favorite waitress was not there.

Weather is disgusting out. Extremely windy and cold. At least it is sunny but you wouldn't want to spend any time out there.

Hanging out where I used to work. Can overhear them dealing with one of the many relabeling, totally redoing projects we used to do interminably. I guess it fills up the time and keeps you guessing. One thing about working, it gives you daily access to some "friends". Don't have that now. That is why I am always OUT and ABOUT. Feeling a bit self-righteous as have already completed my exercise and my Internet chores and it is only noon. The rest of the day is FREE (?). Signed up for a class tonight for which I have to drive 1/2 hour. Think I can handle it. Am LOVING this light longer stuff with the time change! Taking a class on making a memory box. Casting about for my artistic (or not) bent. Here is what I like the idea of....photography, beach glass jewelry, pottery, drawing, pastels, collage.

Looks like forsythia but isn't

These are the kind of things I have to look up on the Internet and through a series of extrapolations, I came up with the possible name for the plant down the street - witch hazel. Took a little ten minute walk at the end of a few computer chores and saw witch hazel, crocuses, and snow drops and heard a TON of birds. It was great. Sky is clouding up but it is still warm. I did not wear my coat, just a sweater.

Finished an autobiography I got onto from a reference question. The story of a musical life, was written by George F. Root and originally published in 1891. He passed through our town in 1856 when he participated in three-day musical conventions to encourage the betterment of church music. He wrote songs during the Civil War, such as The battle cry of freedom and Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! Not much info about the Bridgeton convention, but I found the few sentences I found in other sources quite fascinating. So, I sent away for this book from the Wm. Patterson College library and dutifully read it. It wasn't as good as the book written ABOUT him.

Adding to my daily list of things to do:
- Take a photograph (even if just by crappy cell phone)
- Draw a picture in little book
One or the other MIGHT help me to be more creative. Started my little book by sketching a woman I saw on the Ocean City boardwalk carrying a baby on her front.

I've decided that ALL guacamole is good

Having guacamole and birthday cake today. My ability to resist sweets has disappeared. These are the snack choices at work today.

It is a beautiful BRIGHT sunny day. Sun shining on snow makes BRIGHT. Wanted to go for a walk in my snow boots with my ski poles. But I want even more to sit here on my ass working on the computer. Cross country skis broke. Have two pairs of cross country boots and two pairs of skis but not compatible. Was going to use my ski poles as walking sticks but have not as yet.

My mood improves when the temperature approaches the freezing mark (on the way UP that is). We feel like survivors of a horrible experience that is WINTER. OK, it is not over yet, but more reasonable temps coming along. I like it when it freezes only because my ceiling stops leaking. Must go up in the attic and face (or find out about) the facts as it warms up.

Loved the movie Philomena. Had to get to the Mall this week as the slow, thoughtful movies do not last long around here. I keep thinking about it and the slow releasing of details which completed the circle. Very touching. I can still cry thinking about it. Then, last night, saw a film about Gaudi and a film about Louis Nevelson. The Gaudi film was narrated much too rapidly and we didn't even get a picture of him. The Nevelson film was much better as mostly was her talking and creating.