I couldn't sleep at ALL last night

I know that is from a song, but...reasons I couldn't sleep:
1. Was too hot (predicted temp of 57 degrees low last night. I think my PJ's and socks were too warm). Now need a new weather obsession. Looking at low for night could tell me how many BLANKETS to put on bed. I already have COATS that I wear when it is in the 30's, 40's or 50's during the day.
2. Ate too much provolone cheese before bed. I have not overcome my nighttime eating problem. Of course, taking Ambien does not help with that. And I have a provolone addition. One pound of sliced cheese can last me one or two days. I HAVE overcome my ice cream addiction by going cold turkey and probably that is the only reason I have lost weight.
3. Disorderly neighbors. Aggravating newish tenants across the street, including kids, vulgar, loud woman, and angry man. Police are called to the scene at least weekly and loud cursing can be heard from inside my home.

Books recently finished:

1. Leaf man, by Lois Ehlert. This is a children's book called to my intention by a promotional bookmark. A story for young children is illustrated by characters made entirely of leaves. Why didn't I think of that? I might have to BUY this book, it is just so darn clever and made me think of my mommy, who appreciated all beautiful stuff of nature. On the end papers, various leaves are identified and on the flyleaf are examples of leaves found by the author's friends such as "mystery leaf, found on ground in front of folk art museum, San Diego, California." I borrowed this book from the Bridgeton Public Library (E EHLERT).

Every love story is a ghost story : a life of David Foster Wallace, by D. T. Max - Not sure if I have even READ a book by DFW. Had to borrow this biography through the Cumberland County Library. He was a character and had a lot of girlfriends and some mental and drug issues and is considered a genius of a writer. He killed himself when he was in his forties. I ended up having to skim in order to return the book on time, so missed some details near the end. Even the notes looked kind of interesting.

The child's child, by Ruth Rendell writing as Barbara Vine. This book was recommended to me, but I didn't really like it that much. The people were not real sympathetic and were trapped. It treated issues of out-of-wedlock children, homosexuality, and people using people. Some of the users aggravated me. And by the end, I had forgotten the beginning, which treated some of the same issues, but in a more modern time. Again, I had to rush throught the end as book was overdue at the Vineland Public Library (MYS Vine Barbara)

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.

What's wrong with white people?

Another, "Why didn't I think of that?!?!" moment. Heard interview on NPR of Joan Walsh, who wrote a book called What's wrong with white people : why we long for a golden age that never was. SUCH a clever title.

Feeling better now that I am out of the house and ON THE ROAD. Was doing an archeological dig at home this morning, still trying to get to the bottom of my "errands" pile. I threw away some things without examining them. This causes me GREAT anxiety. I also found a gift certificate for Borders books. I think they went out of business (sob). Also a gift certificate for Haars health food store in Vineland, NJ, dated 2001. I am not too proud to go in there and ask them if I can still use it!

Finished Caleb's crossing this AM. It made me cry. Yes, it was sad, but I wondered if should go back on my anti-depressants. The author, Geraldine Brooks, lives on Martha's Vineyard and Caleb was the first Native American to graduate from Harvard in the mid-1600's. The story is really more about the life of the narrator, a woman named Bethia. Life was rough back then, especially for Indians and women and I had no desire to experience it. My sister was reading the SAME book at the SAME time.
But she was doing it as an assignment from her book club. One of the members of her group has a house on Martha's Vineyard and took the girls over there for a weekend. They went out looking for places where Caleb might have hunted or fished. Now, THAT is what I call a book club!

If Joan Rivers can write a book called, "I hate everyone...starting with me", why didn't I think of that? I am always getting these memoir/essay books by "funny" people. Sometimes they are disappointing, but I continue to seek them out.
Here are some quotes I just copied off of Amazon relating to this book. (I hope that is not illegal...)

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1850

“How do I hate thee? How much time do you have?”
—Joan Rivers, today, about two-ish

Sea Isle City Library review:
Pros:
- New, within the year
- Just a few blocks from entrance to Sea Isle City
- Outdoor deck with tables and chairs overlooking the intercoastal waterway bordered by houses and marshes
- 1/2 hour computer use is renewable as long as there is no demand
Cons:
- tiny little cubicle for computer use with barely enough room for a mouse on one side and maybe a slice of bread on the other side. Totally inadequate for MY needs. I like to SPREAD OUT. My calendar alone is much larger than a slice of bread! Plus I have FOLDERS...and CLIPBOARDS...

Thinking about exercise. I am a total wuss. The most I can hope for presently is to do 2 sessions a day. I'll be satisfied with two 10 minute sessions.

Today I did yoga, really easy yoga. Even yoga I have trouble with. When they say, "And now bend forward" my body won't even go anywhere. And I don't find the "Child's pose" relaxing like we are meant to. I have trouble getting into the position.

I do like swimming. Because I do not like to sweat at all. With swimming you are not even aware that you are sweating. The good thing about retirement (I know I keep mentioning that) is that you can go to the pool during the day and to the beach during the week.

- Have been paying $26.66 a month to belong to a health club that I haven't been going to ever since foot injury several years ago. But I CAN go, anytime I want to I can walk right in. I like that feeling.
- Downhill skis in attic
- Roller blades somewhere in garage
- Bike in garage but the tires have turned to dust and I ran into it with my car several years ago.
- Bathing suit in bathroom.
- Cross country skis in entryway
- Tennis raquet, baton and walking shoes in trunk of car
- Bag of yoga stuff in trunk of car
- Hiking boots in bedroom