The satisfaction of sorting STUFF

Buckled down this morning and went through a box of stuff my sisters gave me shortly after my father passed away. OK, he passed away in 2002. I knew there was some cash in there, but found $900, $200 more than I expected. Also some sweaters, shirts and many wet ones, kleenexes and travel and purse items. Oh, and OOODLES of socks, which I plan to wear. Never enough socks! Next, I will have to get the BOX out of the house, probably containing some things to give away.

Paris from $95 a day, by Haas Mroue. Borrowed through the Overdrive system at the library and read on my Nook. It doesn't matter that I am not planning to go to Paris. I did make a few notes but much will be outdated by the time I ever get back to Paris. It is a good idea to maintain a list of things to do, in any case.

Went to McDonald's today to organize my Monopoly pieces and enjoy at two-for-one Egg McMuffin. Guy at register somewhat baffled by my coupon. Perhaps I am the only one filling out the surveys online? I am gonna get SOMETHING out of this...either a job or a free something. A guy left his car running while he went in. I thought of confronting him about the damage to the environment but not sure how to do that nicely. I was dismayed to see a new sign: NO LOITERING PLEASE - TIME LIMIT - 30 MINUTES WHILE CONSUMING FOOD. Oh dear, there goes my two hour computer session! I was the only white person hanging around in there.

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?

They ol' school

I have been rather fascinated by "Civilian witness #8", later revealed to be Rachel Jeantel, the friend of Trayvon Martin.  I was mesmerized by her bad grammer and then heard an interesting quote from her about the jury - "They ol'.  That's ol' school people.  We in a new school, our generation, my generation..."  I found her rather charming in the interview on late night TV which I watched on the Internet.  I do think her grammer and her inability to express herself did affect the jury in a negative way.  Maybe this is how we can convince people to stay in school...in case they have to testify in court, they need to present well.

Trying to avoid the heat, have spent time at the health club, at the hairdressers and in a library.  The beauty salon is a very pleasant way to spend two hours, looking at the beautiful people, that is, the people who WORK there.  It is an expensive pleasure in which I indulge every couple of months. 

I am secretly eating kettle corn popcorn hoping to not get caught and reprimanded by the librarians.  I won it as a door prize for signing up as a friend of the Cumberland County Library.  Today am planning to have breakfast, lunch and dinner at McDonalds.  I am not proud of it, but it is easy and cheap.  Have a coupon for a free large fries which I plan on cashing in later on tonight.

Never too early for Coke

Guy behind me in line at McDonald's was getting a large Coke at 8:00 AM.  I was getting a small black coffee.  Yes, I AM feeling slightly self-righteous.

Names of people are getting quite creative, especially around MY town. Here are some from the police blotter, May 11, 2013 - Jaymere, Purman, Quamane, and Tonetta.

I think what I miss most about work is the opportunity to be on the computer ALL DAY LONG.
Today am working at my part-time job, which is hardly working in the summer.  I like to keep a hand in and keep my library privileges.  I have been renewing one book for more than 15 years and don't know if I can ever get it back.  I loaned it to a boyfriend when he was writing a play.  He returned a lot of them recently, but not that one.  He is married to someone else now, so it is sort of awkward. 

Wishing I was at the beach, where it is cooler.....

I should have taken a xanax today

Don't know why everything is rubbing me the wrong way this week.  Is it just me?  Or is the world especially aggravating this week?  I DO want everything to go just my way and when it doesn't...

First I had a guy pull in front of me going too slowly and then he immediately slows down and pulls off to the side of the road without a blinker.  I couldn't help myself.  I HONKED at him, which I try not to do, cause I hate when people do it to me.  Then I got to the pool and the gate was still locked.  So I had to traipse back to the desk with all of my crap and ask them to unlock it.  But THEN...me, all alone at an Olympic sized pool.  Is there anything better than that?

But now I have one ear clogged up and feel in somewhat of an other-worldly state. Gliding through the world, 25 pounds less, but my clothes have not become too large!  They must have really been tight before.
It is weird how you lose weight in certain places (my knees) and not in others (my waist).

Thank you for choosing the Bridgeton McDonalds.  I love going to this McDonalds because THREE different people wish for me to have a good day.  You can't help but feel a bit more cheerful after that.

Stressful morning

Was rushing to get to my exercise class.  Got into the line at McDonald's although it was horrendously long.
Noticed in the side view mirror that the guy in front me was SHAVING like he had narry a care in the world.  Finally he drove off without even going through the drive in to get food.  Grrr...Then had to go to get car maintenance done.  Brought an overdue library book.  I forgot that one has to listen to country western music in the office.  That was hard enought for me (not good at multitasking)  Then a guy who was waiting kept getting phone calls and his ringer was gangsta' rap.  I am as fond of gangsta' rap as the next fella but NOT when I am reading AND listening to country western music.  I was missing Paris where people are quiet and well behaved, not IN-YOUR-FACE like people in my town.  I really detest listening to other people on the phone.

How did I run out of time?  Planned to use the computer for an hour and then do other stuff like photocopying and reading the newspaper on a stick (cheap thrills, as was pointed out by Kramer on Seinfeld).  Drove an hour to go to a demo on Windows 8 although not sure why I want to learn about it.  May have to get an ipad or an iphone soon.  But I don't say no to some free education.

Tried to look up my favorite yoghurt from France to see exactly HOW fattening it was.  But the stats are not like ours, so I couldn't figure anything out.  Thought I would post a picture of it anyway.  Yoghurt with chestnuts!  How come WE don't have that?  In fact, the yoghurt selections in Paris were WAY more than we get.  I brought home one of the little glass jars to remember it by.  (We couldn't figure out what to do with all of them anyway).  This is from their collection called Les moments plaisir (pleasurable moments).
I know you can FRIEND my favorite CHEESE on Facebook (Caprice des dieux) but not sure about stuff from La fermière.

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

Who are all these people who are tweeting?

Well, the Pope has started and stopped and I haven't even started yet.  I only know one person who tweets and she is an author.  According to the popular press, EVERYONE is tweeting.  Not sure what I am missing.  One of the blogs I read now is just her tweets and they seemed really BORING.

Got a late start today.  Remembered my exercise instructor is away, so I didn't jump out of bed to make it to the class at 8 AM.  Instead I lolled about until 9:15.  By the time I got organized to leave the house and get to McDonald's and talk to a friend who just happened to be there, it was 11 AM before I got started on my computer chores.  After about two hours, the wireless starts acting up here so then I will be off to the health club.  I decided it is better to go during the day.  It is just too crowded and crazy at night.  Guess I could say that about a lot of things, including the libraries.  So, I guess I will just have to go home and stay there in the upcoming rain and READ.  I shouldn't be out driving around in the dark and the rain anyway.

Have a busy week coming up.  Today, not so busy.  NO events on the calendar.

Internet access

Well, I still haven't bit the bullet and gotten Internet access at home.  Don't know where to start with all of the things I "need"...Do I get a new phone, apps, Internet, wireless, Siruis XM radio, a camera, or what?  Article on Technorati about a lot of students using the Wi-Fi at McDonald's.  I don't see it in Bridgeton.  I am usually the only one using it when I go.  I thought this fact was interesting: " McDonalds have 12,000 Wi-Fi equipped locations across America, with Starbucks adding another 7,000. Combined they provide greater access to the Internet than the 15,000 Wi-Fi enabled public libraries in America."

Driving home from my class last night, I took a wrong turn and ended up in Millville.  That is somewhat disturbing.  I don't seem to recognize where I am in the dark, even when I know the way home.  This is when I venture an hour or more away from home.

"60 apps in 60 minutes" was quite inspiring.  Our instructor was a substitute but he was really knowledgeable and enthusiastic.  If he said "How cool is that" once, he said it 30 times.  Of course, now I "need" and want apps...but will I really use them?  It was inviting in a very librarian-like way.  How could I NOT enjoy all these extra ways to find things out?  Not sure I need a news aggregator or a personal magazine.  I kind of like newspapers and magazines the way they are and the way I am using them.  The music and photo apps were really cool, though.  I can see myself using Shazam or Dropbox.  And the "find your phone" app could come in handy.

A sense of accomplishment

Just tried the new sandwich at McDonald's.  I LIKE it and it only costs $1.  Well, I can't seem to find it on their website.  Seems like a regular cheeseburger but it has caramelized onions on it?  Already ate out ONCE today so now I can only eat out if it is CHEAP.

I only have two stations I like at the Cumberland County Library.  They have the dainty mouse instead of this huge Gateway thing.  Both stations were busy.  So I went into the lab hoping to avoid the noisy, amnoying people.  But I still have to use the ginormous stupid mouse.

Had a handyman come over today.  It makes me anxious as I have a very limited attention span for accomplishing things.  Even though it cost me quite a bit, I enjoyed "puttering around" with another person.  And the weather was quite decent! (sunny and perhaps in the 40's?)  I shouldn't begrudge him the money as I only have help very rarely.  Here is what we accomplished (and I really did feel good after working outside for 2 1/2 hours):
- Replaced broken window pane in garage
- Pulled most of ivy off of garage
- Replaced bulb in front door light
- Replaced two motion detector lights in back
- Replaced two motion detector lights up above
- Pounded in loose boards on fence
- Rewired bird feeder after the squirrels ate through the wire supports
- Took all stuff out of my trunk and sorted through it
- Went through a few boxes of stuff in my garage
- Threw out some of my books from Hollins Abroad in France (1967)
- Realligned fence gates so they latch better
- Clipped some branches touching house and hanging down
- Filled suet feeder
- Filled trash bin up to the top with trash bags

Roofers, car mechanics, and dentists

No, these are not guys I have slept with but I have noticed a similarity amongst them. They all seem to criticize the LAST guy who did work for you.

How does McDonald's keep track of who is who when they have the two different ordering stations? I asked them. They TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR CAR.

The good things about retirement -
- I could go to a concert at 10:30 in the morning
- I could go to a birthday party for twin six year olds at 3 PM
- I could go out to breakfast and not worry about the time
- I can go volunteer for the Performing arts center and have breakfast AND lunch there
- Someone deposits checks into my bank account three times each month

What is wrong with Americans? We haven't finished investigating the crazed shooter in the mall when another crazed shooter hits the elementary school.

Some good news for a change

Pretty happy about the election results. One Democrat I voted for did not get in, but it is next to impossible to overcome Frank LoBiondo. I console myself with the memory that my FATHER liked to vote for him (a Republican) even though my father was an Independent with liberal leanings. And my father has been dead for 10 years, just to give you an idea about how long this guy has been our Congressman. It is just a good feeling when your family and large groups of your friends are on the same page politically. Happily, two Democrats got voted in to the local freeholder board. I think that means that two Republicans are off snd we are back to a Democratic majority. Believe me, it really does make a difference!

But that is the only good news. The weather is horrible, cold, raining, forecast of SNOW and excessive wind gusts. They are calling it a Nor'easter. My choir practice has already been cancelled and that was my big event for the day. Acquaintances have tales of ripping out and rebuilding their seashore homes, some can't even GET to their homes yet. Sad story of a man who died two weeks after his son died. Perhaps of a broken heart, who knows? It is hard enough to lose ONE member of your family, but two is really scary. This cold and dreary winter weather has me missing work or feeling like I do not have enough to do. At least work distracted me from the hideous weather.
It is going to be a LONG winter and I HATE it already.

Things I love:
- Someone asked me to be a volunteer yesterday
- Went shopping and discovered that Peebles has a club where you get 20% off every Tuesday if you are over 50
- Those new roofs they have over the McDonald's ordering lanes
- Flannel sheets
- Warm nightgowns
- Playlist.com when it is working correctly (like recently)

Things I hate:
- Winter
- Dark
- Cold
- Rain
- Sitting in a waiting room and being forced to watch some horrible interview show with everyday Americans discussing their husbands who slept with their sisters or other distasteful topics
- Donald Trump is an idiot

Boy, am I glad that I am retired and that I speak English and Spanish!

In "my" McDonald's, listening to a conversation with some prospective employees. They don't speak English and one of the workers is translating. The prospective worker is balking at the possible schedule because she wants to spend time with her family and doesn't want to get assigned every Saturday and Sunday. Also, it would cost more for a babysitter than she could make at McDonald's. I've been there, baby. I have worked SO MANY Saturdays and Sundays but, of course, I don't have a family to spend time with. And, naturally, the "new kid on the block" does get all of the worst of the schedule. That is why I don't feel like looking for a job, myself.

I said I was over 60 minutes, but now I am into it again. Lasy night learned about the dangers of Chinese computer companies and the monopoly of eyeglass companies. But the one story that made me CRY was about a guy I never heard of (shame!), Rodriguez, who wrote some songs and put out an album about 40 years ago called Cold facts. It went nowhere and he went to work as a day laborer. Somehow, he was a huge star in South Africa but he never knew anything about it. Then there was a connection and a young adorable Swedish guy decided to make a movie about him with a Super 8 app he bought for $1 for his iPhone! The guy and the film are famous now. I really want to find the movie which won at Sundance and is called "Looking for Sugar man".

It is cold and grim today. I dread the coming of winter and having to pay for my own heat all day long. My house expenses are going to put me in the poor house.

Under a time line...after two hours at the new McDonald's things start to happen. I think they are trying to tell me something. Every time you click on a website, the McDonald's welcome page comes up instead.

The "weird family" just came in. They are the ones who come all together in a beat up station wagon to use the library computers. I hope they don't recognize me.

Feeling tired and like I am not accomplishing enough or the right things. I DID get some stuff done today but not all I could/should have. Plus, I am feeling somewhat decrepit and getting tired too early and having foot and leg pain. I could go on and on but I won't. Sometimes I just want to be alone and not even answer the phone. It could be those pesky people who want to save me money on my electric bill or someone to invite me to do something. Why am I so resistant to saving money? Maybe it is a GOOD thing to save money on my electric bill but what is in it for them?

About the invitations....yesterday I had THREE iinvitations to go to breakfast. That just causes me stress!

Hey, the Eagles won today and I didn't even watch it. Feel like I accomplished something good but I had nothing to do with it.

Really pretty sky looking out the "picture windows" at McDonald's. In fact, it was a glorious day with reasonable temperatures (77 degrees) and fantastic Turner clouds.
Maybe I don't mean Turner. I mean the French guy who painted a lot of ladies on swings - Fragonard?

Feeling guilty cause I should be at a church event but here I am using the computer.
I can't take too many events in one day and I went to church already this AM.

Lessons learned: Don't take an anti-anxiety pill and go to Quaker Meeting. I have been feeling SLEEPY as well as tired all day.

Hanging out in our new McDonald's again to use the wireless. The other restaurant I was going to grace with my presence today was closed due to Labor Day (I guess). I see some OTHER wackos have discovered this place. One guy came in clutching his mail (bills?) and yet another has a large table covered with his bible, other books, papers, pen, highlighter and coupons. He is reading aloud from the Bible (to himself). Maybe THEY will be blogging about the weird lady filling up a table for four with her laptop, handiwipes, phone, coffee, file folders, calendar, and a copy of South Jersey Journal, (a newspaper) connecting South Jersey's African-American community.

All the black people in my town seem to know each other. I only know the mayor.

I thought life was going to be less interesting after retirement, but it is INCREDIBLY interesting just listening to NPR all day. Did you know that gas costs $10 a gallon in Norway and 6 cents a gallon in Venezuela?

NPR also did a segment on "end of summer regrets". Don't postpone joy, says Dan Gottlieb. There are some things I did't get to this summmer, but, being retired, I can still do some of those summer things:
- kayaking
- The Bull on the Barn Bayshore Crab House

Things I love:
- NPR
- free coffee

Things I hate:
- rain
- sick people

Ok, the bible-reading man behind me just admitted that he is sick. He called someone on the cell phone to ask to borrow five dollars so he could go to the laundromat.

I sure hope it doesn't rain like THIS for three days. Feel like I am in Louisiana. Had to wade through big puddles to even get to and get into my car.

Gathered with friends in "the gazebo" last night. Nice to be with old friends, sort of new friends and COMPLETELY new people. The rabbi and the intern were new. They were delightful and delicious, respectively.

I started to get HUMID after it got dark. Sometimes I have a creepy crawly feeling, like imaginary insects on my skin. I have had it before and researched it before but eventually it goes away. Could it be some sort of allergy?

Little known things about me:
- fotr a few months around 2001 I typed up a newsletter called SISTER NEWS (an occasional publication for sisters and friends of JBG) I found a copy from June 2001 and was highly amused by it. Sometimes I crack myself up.

I could spend ALL DAY on the computer. It involves sitting. I like sitting. And it is rewarding for people who are into LISTS, also for people suffering from ADD. Trying to figure out this blogging thing. Why don't people offer CLASSES on it? Sitting in a peaceful library is my idea of a good time on a day when the temperature is supposed to top 90 degrees. Yesterday I joined yet ANOTHER library system so I have even more libraries to sit in. I did do more than just that yesterday. I enjoyed the beach, shopped, ate, tried to take a walk on the "promenade" in Cape May (but it was too hot for me). All this gorgeousity...and only one hour from my house. Don't ask me why I have not been down there at all in 2012 until August 30. Here's my new idea - visit every exit on the Garden State Parkway and explore and write about it. Cape May is at exit 0. Now here is my sister's idea - that I should blog from all the different libraries I visit. Reminds me of my visit to the library of Telluride, Colorado. It is in a small building which used to be a jail. They have a notebook and the patrons bring back stories and photographs of libraries they have seen all over the world. Telluride is that kind of place. Thinking of doing reviews....of libraries, restaurants, books, etc. Still sipping my free cup of coffee from our new McDonald's. You can get a free small coffee through September 8th. Why do I seem to be the only person really excited about this? When you are retired, you LIVE for this sort of thing. Did I say this already on another post? How do people keep track of whether they are repeating themselves?