The benefits of small towns

The town I am in today (Greenwich, NJ) is SO small that you can:
- drive really slowly and no one honks at you
- stand in the middle of the street having a conversation
- when you meet a few people you are bound to know some of them
- buy flowers from someone's garden

The downsides are:
- only one restaurant/store and it closes at 2 PM
- cell phone reception is very poor

The apple orchard (book), by Susan Wiggs. I probably put this on my list because it is about sisters? A young woman who discovers provenance of objects finds out that she has relatives she never was aware of. She leaves San Francisco to go to an apple orchard farm in Sonoma County where her grandfather has had an accident and may be dying in the hospital. She learns about family history and the delights of country living, which include a handsome neighbor who makes wine. She also gets to know the half sister she never knew.

Attack of the greenheads

Was invited to go on a cruise of the New Jersey coastline.  My brother-in-law had to sail his son's boat from Greenwich, New Jersey to Queens, New York.  Due to some previously scheduled events, I declined.  They had a bad trip.  Engine broke down and when they were trying to fix it, they were attacked by greenhead flys.  These are large, slow-moving, sharp-biting insects that come upon us "river people" for a few weeks each summer.  My father's philosophical thinking on the matter was as follows, "At least it keeps the TOURISTS away!"  After they fixed the engine a sail ripped.  So they kind of limped into the New York harbor.

Restaurant review:  Tried a new restaurant in Millville, New Jersey the other night.  The megabyte cafe failed and the PC@Nite, internet cafe and natural juice bar opened up at 110 N. High St.  They have a limited menu but, believe it or not, really good crab cakes!  Also we got a salad that was an iceberg lettuce wedge, surrounded by bits of tomato and croutons.  It was actually visually pleasing and quite tasty.  The owner of the restaurant is cheery and her son has been drafted into being a waiter.  He was charmingly confused by the whole thing.  They have only been open 5 days and are still deciding what they want to be/do.  The hours are in flux.  Number is 856-300-5023.  A table and two chairs are in front on the street and Internet access is available.  I recommend it.

A lot of weirdos in the library today.  People talking to themselves, talking on the phone, acting strangely.  Of course, they are probably called me a bizarro bag lady.  I have STUFF all around me, my pile of things to do, my clipboard, my Wet ones, my blue plastic folder of things to do, my pencil holders, my notebook holders, my calendar ("the Bible"), my phone, my trash, my wheeled cart, my green zippered bag full of file folders.

My worst nightmare...

...is that a barking dog will move in RIGHT NEXT DOOR.  I wish this dog would run away.  I really HATE having my peace disturbed by a barking dog.  Not to mention the issues of trash, noise, ambulances, and police with drawn guns.  Other than that, they are just your average Mexican family with North Carolina license plates, a pit bull, and relatives who are going to move in with them.  My general philosophy on neighbors is..."I'll WAIT them out".

Restaurant review: Mi familia pizzeria and ice cream on Burlington Road in Bridgeton, NJ.  Around here you can blink and restaurants are closed or have an entirely new name.  Usual door was locked, but we got in the front door.    Four policeman were out front talking to a lady (some sort of disagreement about a Diet Coke).  I kind of liked it although my friend was not happy with her meatball sandwich.  What I liked:
- waitresses trying really hard to please
- you can get a WHOLE WHEAT pizza crust
- on a salad you get a choice of romaine, spring mix or spinach
- I ordered a small salad and waitress pointed out that by ordering the SPECIAL I could get a large salad for less money

I am starving right now, but I am trying to get more used to it.    Usually, I bring a snack to the historical libary, but I didn't today.  Another guy usually goes to the store to get lunch but he isn't going today.  Someone else usually bakes bread but he didn't today.  Luckily someone produced a bag of almonds and a container of raisins, so this will tide me over.  We are in a small town with NO stores....just a country store with a sign posted that says, "We are doing our best to open as soon as possible".  I am waiting anxiously.  The last people who ran it did not have Diet Coke as they said that no one drinks it in Greenwich.

Bad travel dreams have started

Last night I dreamt that I missed the plane and also that I forgot my suitcase.  Just went to visit a supremely organized friend of mine.  She loaned me some Euros and told me about a few things to do in Paris off the beaten path.  She has many travel purses and a list of what she has done every year in Paris and an ongoing list of THINGS TO DO there.  I am feeling overwhelmed.

It is National Stroke awareness month.  See if the person can SMILE and raise both arms over their head.

I seem to have been catapulted into a position today.  Mostly a figurehead at this point.  Just by hanging around.  Possibility of a part-time temporary job.

Went out for a walk down the street in Greenwich today.  Appreciating the quiet and the lack of traffic.  Soon, the seasons of BUGS will start and I will no longer want to stroll outside.  But, today, great smells and not too hot or cold.

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.

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.

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.

I don't understand what you mean by "ha ha ha"

That Siri, she is a riot.  We were making fun of her and she gave us the above response.  My sister and brother-in-law were trying to show off with Siri, but she wasn't really getting it.  My sister fell in the river from the kayak and got her iPhone all wet.  Luckily, she found that her upgrade had just become available so she got a brand new iPhone 5.

Was awake in the night.  There was a curious beeping noise.  Then a few minutes would pass.  Just as I was about to fall asleep, the beeping would resume.  I was racking my brain for what new source I had brought into the house.  Finally, I got up and walked around waiting for the beep.  Turned out it was my PHONE.  I had entered the birthday of a friend of mine and I guess the alarm had started ringing around about midnight.  Jeez...Can't stand that calendar alarm!  Once I entered my WEIGHT and the alarm started going off.

Was late to my usual hangout today. the Cumberland County Historical Society in Greenwich, NJ.  When I got there, all the chairs were taken. I went before hand to the College to volunteer and also get free breakfast and lunch.  Sat with a few convivial souls and put address labels on postcards.  Now, after a long drive from Vineland to Greenwich, I have a nice view of almost good weather.  It is sunny but still chilly.  Watching a man trimming his bushes on Ye Greate Street..

Having trouble getting online

OK, the weekend was SO busy, no time for Internet OR exercise (the eternal struggle).
Here I am at the Vineland library trying to fit everything into ONE hour....so stingy with the computer time. Not just Vineland, ALL the libraries, except for the Ocean City Library.

Glad about the following things:
- The sun finally came out at 3 PM
- There was an accident on Chestnut Avenue and I was not involved
- It did not actually rain today, just looked threatening and damp
- I brought my interlibrary loan book back and found out that it was WAY overdue
- I got something to eat for my prior co-workers and also supported a friend who is trying to have business selling only candy and art

Sad about the next five things:
- My ceiling started leaking in the middle of the night, exactly where it has been fixed not so many months ago
- Today just felt weighed down with issues about my roof, my teeth, my pills and many other undone things
- Gloomy weather really depresses me
- Can't get in the mood for Christmas. Feel like a real humbug (but I am like this every year)
- There is no number five, but things sound better in fives

Had a good weekend. Reunion with girlfriends of the 70's and saw Lincoln and ate at Coriander (an Indian restaurant in Voorhees). Ate with Breakfast club and volunteered at the symphony on Saturday. Sang in the choir and volunteered as a host for Christmas in Greenwich on Sunday and then had dinner with a friend.

Too much sun

I can't believe I just had to move my whole computer set up due to TOO MUCH SUN. I am constantly harping about my NEED for sun and warmth and then I had too much of it. It is hard to use the computer when there are a lot of reflections. Was reviewing my journal from the summertime and I had to laugh because I wrote that I needed to think about a vacation to somewhere COOLER. Now all I can think about is my need for a vacation to somewhere WARMER. The eternal malcontent, that's me!

So excited that I learned how to share a video yesterday. I kind of miss being FORCED to learn things in the workplace. It is tempting to fall behind when left to my own devices. The other day I couldn't even remember how to make a Word document single spaced. To be fair, I couldn't remember that even when I was working.

Wish I had access to my wreath I made from book pages. Now it is hanging in the Lummis Library in Greenwich. Today I was telling someone about it and wished I had at least a PICTURE to show. I was pleased that one of the fellas down there admired it enough to want to hang it up. I must add CRAFTS to my list of things to do at home.