Technology is driving me crazy today!

Cell phone uncharged. Lots of connection problems at work today. And does anyone care about FIXING is on a weekend? Yahoo suddenly has lost a bunch of my contacts....very unnerving. Realized some had been lost a while ago so I do not know if I should attempt a RESTORE. More like a RE-TYPE...thus ruining my plans of printing out my address book today. It is a herculean task anyway. I had almost 700 contacts, now down to 600. Quite a bit for someone who rarely calls anyone.

What to do when there's too much to do (ebook), by Laura Stack. Another one of those books relating to the workplace. Can't really remember much about it except that it was SHORT. That is a benefit to me these days.

The Potter's field (audiobook) : an Inspector Montalbano mystery, by Andrea Camilleri. I really enjoyed this audiobook. Yes, it was kind of confusing with all of the Italian names of people and places, but it didn't bother me like it sometimes does. Takes place in Sicily. Montalbano is an aging detective. He lives by the sea, is a terrible driver, has a girlfriend in another town that you have to fly to. There is a mystery of a chopped up body discovered in the rain and a story of his right hand man who is acting strangely. Also great descriptions of the food, making me quite ravenous. In the book he reads a book by....Andrea Camilleri! I found it quite funny and captivating. I loved the banter between the various employees.

I can mess up any space

My computer space at the library looks like a whirlwind hit it....clipboard, container of wipes, plastic folders bulging with papers, plastic bags containing all of my little essentials, a ring of keys, my cell phone, thing that I keep my headphones in, thick folder of books I want to look up, pile of "New business", big black calendar where I keep a two-page-per-day manual calendar. plastic folder of things-to-be-filed in current file folders that I keep in the car, a large blue purse, a larger brown leather briefcase, ripped papers to go in the trash can. Some of my friends refer to the library as "my office".

Going to a lecture about George Agnew Chamberlain downstairs at 7 PM. Enjoy living in my neighborhood for HISTORY reasons....three of Bridgeton famous historical characters lived or visited at my house or across the street....Mother Bloor, Sylvia Beach, and George Agnew Chamberlain. Unfortunately, there is not much left of the good old days. I guess they weren't so good because Mother Bloor and Sylvia Beach couldn't wait to get away!

I have a sudden need to replace my fence. The only thing uglier than my fences are the neighbors on either side. I have a dumpster on each side. I know, I know, I should be throwing crap in their dumpsters. I want to put in a HIGHER fence so I don't have to look at the neighbors. But who knows what regulations or permits are needed? That is why I fix nothing!

Signs of Spring

Here are some signs of Spring that I have seen:
- brilliant sunsets
- cars on the corner FOR SALE
- people renovating their homes
- robins
- birds making a lot of noise on top of my air conditioners
- me no longer wearing a coat

My dream of you (book), by Nuala O'Faolain. Don't know where I picked this book up. It was a so-so fiction tale of a travel writer who goes to a town to do historical research about things that happened around the time of the potato famine in Ireland.
A woman of the higher classes was vilified for having an affair with a tradesman....true or not?

I am an obsessive list maker. One of my lists is called "Computers to avoid at the Vineland Public Library". I just added THIS computer, number 9. I hate it when those little thingys are broken off, the thingys that hold the keyboard up at an angle. Invariably, ONE of them is broken, rendering the other one useless. Problem number 2 is that the keys are worn away and you have to type from your memory of what the keys are. Also, I hate the mouse. It is a Dell and very "reluctant". The screen is tiny but that does not really bug me so very much.

Where does the time go?

OK, so I was LATE getting to the library. I wanted to get my TWO hours on the computer (the bare daily minimum a person needs, in my book). I was puttering around the house this morning and called my cousin. We only see each other every 5 or ten years and don't communicate all that much, but I love her. She caught me up on most of the family down there in Cajun country and said she would be at Disneyworld during Mardi Gras. That was OK by me since my February is totally overbooked already.

I can't believe the head of the reference department just reprimanded me for having my wet ones next to the computer. She thought it was a beverage and then thought it looked too much LIKE a beverage and asked me to put it away. Yes, I do sometimes expect special privileges since I used to be a librarian. Strange that I get more special privileges at libraries I DIDN'T work at.

The chocolate castle clue (book): a chocoholic mystery, by JoAnna Carl(MYS Carl JoAnna at the Vineland Public Library). I picked this up at a "Cozy mystery" display. That is the kind of mystery I like but I didn't like this one so much. Silly with stupid characters and too many of them. There was the culinary theme, which I sometimes like. I ended up skimming this light-weight book.

Murder at a Vineyard mansion (audiobook), by Philip R. Craig (AUD CD MYS Craig Philip at the Vineland Public Library). This was a find, probably because it was read by Tom Stechschulte. I must get more books narrated by him. A main character, J. W. Jackson, used to work for the police solves crimes within the limited purview of Martha's Vineyard. I have been there and enjoyed hearing about the local landmarks. He has a nice relationship with his wife. So I am also interested in reading more in this series. I guessed who the murderer was.

A rough day at the computer

OK...I should be happy. The sun is out and I am online. Troubles with printing from Microsoft Word. Did learn that I could be doing it better. Haven't learned very many things since I retired. Just getting along with the same old knowledge I had two years ago.

Heads in beds (book), by Jacob Tomsky. a tell-all expose of the hotel business. I probably won't be instituting any of his suggestions for better service because they all involve TIPPING and in a big way. Not really my frugal way.

Grandma Gatewood's walk (book) : the inspiring story of the woman who saved the Appalachian Trail, by Ben Montgomery. If I ever heard of her, I forgot. I liked the way she just set out to walk, alone, when she was 65 years old.

Headphones on.....

Enjoying Youtube....Train and 50 ways to say goodbye. Using the computer at the Millville Public Library. I enjoy the quiet sounds of a library. Had to get out the headphones when I started fixating on woman sniffling, patron with that really annoying bird-like phone cheep, other ignorant, too loud patrons conversing.

Tuck everlasting (audio book), by Natalie Babbitt. Has been on my list a long time, not sure why. Charming tale of a young girl who meets a rather strange family. They tell a tale of living forever and try to convince her it is not a good idea. Who will learn and use the secret?

Yikes! I tried to get into the library before the school kids. Now they are driving me a bit crazy.

It has been four days since I got online. My pile of things to do is growing, as my piles are wont to do.

What was I going to say?

Interesting subjects occur to me, but after sitting here listening to an album, my brain is all afuddle. I had to access Hoopla due to fretting children in the library. (God, don't these people know how ANNOYING cranky children are to the childless?!?!?!)

Enjoying All this bad blood (album), by a group called Bastille. I borrowed it on Hoopla, available at some libraries. Their most famous song is Pompeii, I think. Interesting turns of phrase and a big sound.

Back to my weekday routine of getting online and exercising. Those two goals fall to pieces Friday through Sunday, when there seem to be a lot of conflicting events getting in the way. Was quite happy this morning when I got out my calendar to review it and found NOTHING on it for today other than yoga at 10:30 AM. Now, isn't THAT a good way to start out your week? And tomorrow nothing on the calendar except for a public meeting about CHICKENS. I am not really into that topic but it is sponsored by a group I am interested in....CAWA - Cohansey Area Watershed Association (?) Gee...I should have gone on VACATION this week. But I really do need to go to choir practice on Wednesday night. I hear we are supposed to sing some challenging music in some African languages on Sunday. Haven't been to one practice yet, due to my many conflicts.

What did we do before the Internet?

I should know that. I am a librarian. It has been sad to see the inexorable neglect of our reference collections of books. And, yes, I am guilty myself. When was the last time I actually looked at some of my favorite tomes, such as The statesman's yearbook or The encyclopedia of associations?

So, today, here is some of what I have been looking up:
- What is the name of the symbol that Prince, the musician, used as his name? I drew how I thought it looked and thought maybe it was called Ankara. Well, no, Ankara is a city in Turkey. Prince's symbol is unpronounceable but sometimes known as the LOVE symbol. It is a combination of the male symbol, the female symbol and the symbol for alchemy.
- How to grow poppies like I saw in Italy and are all poppies opium poppies?
- Why do I have a metallic taste in my mouth? There could be many reasons, but if the reason is unknown, it is called IDIOPATHIC DYSGEUSIA.

Finished an audio book, Seeds of hope : wisdom and wonder from the world of plants, by Jane Goodall (from the Millville Public Library - AUBK 580 Goo). Yes, that is the chimpanzee woman. She has many more interests. Talks about our relationships with trees and trees relationships with each other. Also clear cutting, rain forests, herbal remedies, how people ruin everything for greed, and GMO's, to just name a few of the topics covered. She travels most of the year giving talks. I found it interesting but hard to get through. Not exactly scintillating. And she actually reads all of the credits and thanks at the end. That was truly boring, but I stuck with it. I liked best the trees parts.

In my computer haze

My ADD self enjoys getting involved in my computer chores. Stuff spread all around me, sitting in the air conditioned library, listening to Youtube (Anna Kendrick's Cups (Pitch `perfect's when I'm gone). I couldn't be happier!

The search (book), by Nora Roberts: The title refers to the profession of Fiona, who trains search and rescue dogs on Orcas Island. Also to the search for an abductor of women. I enjoyed the clever dialogue between Fiona and her new love interest. The evil parts were almost too evil, though. The audio book is particularly well done.

Off to another day of running around. Arthritis class, BP and RHR good, Vineland Public Library, then time for manicure and pedicure. Picking up a friend later to go see Tammy. Looks and sounds stupid but lots of famous people walking through and we have a good time at not-so-great movies.

Every pose is not for every body

So says my Yoga instructor. It was good to be back at Yoga today. What a good way to start out the week....with a Yoga class at 10:30 AM on a Monday. A co-worker asked me how I get out of bed being retired. I realized I have something to do every day of the week that gets me up and out. Lazing about in pajamas has only been a "problem" a few days.

I am in the cocoon which is the computer lab at the Ocean City Public Library. Good things are nicely behaved people and you can have up to three hours of computer time. I don't mind asking dumb questions since I don't know anybody. I always feel like I am being a PAIN at the local libraries where I know everyone. Hope I don't forget to pick up my book, which is the reason I came down here. For the price of the gas, I could have BOUGHT the book, French women don't get facelifts.

Tried to go for walk on the beach, but it was mighty windy and cold, as I might have expected. Beautiful, nonetheless. Walked for about ten minutes with shoes on. Ankle felt OK, but felt a twinge in the right hip by the end. I don't want to be one of those people who has a hip or knee replaced or has to have a triple bypass. All of that would be HIGHLY inconvenient since I am a single lady living on the second floor.

Am I multitasking?

Trying to listen to an album by David Guetta while writing. Very dance beat and techno. Song is Shot me down. On the album Big beat Miami 2014. As close as I am going to come to nightclubbing in Miami. He is of the DJ era...not sure what he actually DOES.

Enjoying using my own laptop at the Cumberland County Library. Their computers are getting so old, so slow and so undependable, that I can hardly use them.

Hoopla: New library service where you can borrow music, audiobooks, television and movies. I am enjoying the ability to borrow and listen to entire albums....what an old-fashioned concept!

Growing up Amish, by Ira Wagler: Learned a few things but, really, this book just went around in circles and wasn't very compelling. An Amish boy feels like leaving the community, so he does and eventually returns, again and again and again. I selected this from the system Overdrive (also provided through the library) because of all the Amish markets around here.

snowing with the sun out

That is the best kind of snow. Just enough to be pretty.

Learned some stuff today. Went to a class on Word basic II. Maybe I should have taken Word basic I, too?
Every program I use, I only know some of the most basic features. Then there are 999 features that really confuse me. So I learned some about tables and pictures and moving stuff about. Good to have a review and learn something new so that my brain doesn't just turn to mush.

Really must go and get some bird seed as the weather is turning cold again. I need some food, too, but I think the birds should take priority.

Finished audio book of Number 10, by Sue Townsend. She is over the top British funny. And I love the way the reader pronounces those British words such as conTROversy and many others I have forgotten now. The gist of this book is when the prime minister of Great Britian goes on a "vacation" with a policeman to try and see how the real people live. He disguises himself as a woman a la Marilyn Monroe and really enjoys it way too much.

Never say never

One example is, I said, "My computer never came back online unless so and so did a complete reboot of the system". Well, today, I was proved wrong. He always says, "It's your equipment," and I always say. "No, it's not". Anyway, today it seemed to go up and down (or on or off?). Then I unconnected and reconnected the wireless and it came back up. Looking into Instagram (I think you need an app on your PHONE) and Sound cloud. Tomorrow I will probably forgo the computer as it is going to be a nasty day, no matter what it does....rain, sleet or snow. Any of it is really unpleasant when it comes to schlepping your stuff around!

"Are you ready for the storm?" That is what is on everybody's mind. Well, I am OUT of bread and only one roll of toilet paper left. What I REALLY need is rock salt and suet and sunflower seeds for the birds. God, but I HATE winter. THREE oil deliveries last month, although I only have proof for two. The temperature the past few days has been BELOW freezing, which causes me to exclaim unpleasantly each time I go outside. Even when I am INSIDE, the heat can't really get up to the pre-programmed setting when it is that cold outside. Am also becoming very unhappy with my oil provider. Partly because others are complaining about them and partly because I have noticed some changes with their service.

I have been attending a lot of classes lately...photoshop (not so good), music (somewhat overwhelming) and art (cried over Frida Kahlo). Keep thinking that I need to keep my mind in the exercise mode.

Too many computer questions

Am in a library with a lot of complaining and trying to figure things out. Must remember not to use #8 again as headphone jack does not work and keyboard is very worn down. I needed my headphones to block out the annoying OTHERS.

Will have to return The goldfinch. Book is too thick and I have had it already for a month (?) Am really enjoying it as well as The book thief. How fun it is to read books that are pleasing me. Spent one hour reading today. That was a treat. Was home in the sunshine and the neighborhood was nice and quiet. Too damn cold, however. Didn't really want to go outside but I came out to get online and to go to an art film. Or should I say a film about art. Tuesday nights an art film is shown in Millville. Tonight is going to be two different films....one on Diego Rivera and one on Frida Kahlo, his love interest.

Another storm coming this week, going to mess up a few things. Was supposed to sing at a funeral (funerals don't get postponed, do they?)
"Game night for the elderly" will probably be postponed. We were going to get together at 2 PM for games. Then I was going to go to a meeting about helping the homeless. This is the main problem with weather events....having to reschedule the world.

Other people's typing

Time for the headphones? A guy across from me at the Bridgeton Public Library is doing that attack typing thing....LOUD and FAST. Now he is CURSING at the computer.

The other day I was surrounded by people "doing" Facebook. In a way I feel superior in that I have BETTER things to do, but perhaps they have superior skills with relationships and technology than I have. The one woman types fast for HOURS. What can she possibly be doing?

Finished a book on the Nook and wanted to borrow one off of Overdrive. Frustrated in that attempt as Wi-fi is BROKEN at Bridgeton Public Library AND the Cumberland County Library. Anyway, I enjoyed the book I just finished called The grave gourmet by Alexander Campion. I think I chose this "Free Friday" book from Barnes and Noble because it was about Paris and food and detecting. It was a good romp with a female detective trying to figure out who killed a guy and left him to be discovered in a fine restaurant in Paris. Her husband is a food critic. It was full of unfamiliar words and familiar words used in strange ways. The good thing about the Nook is that you can look up words as you go along, but since some of them were of French origin, they weren't in the dictionary. So, I am still looking them up. The question is, what do I do with them after I look them up? Save them in a document with the name of the book or the name of the TV show? (I have started writing down vocabulary words from Downton Abbey, too)

A girl named Semaj

The first baby born in 2014 in Vineland was named SEMAJ. (That is her daddy's name backwards. He is named James)

The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon, is the newest book by Alexander McCall Smith. Well, the newest in the series, the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. He writes so many series simultaneously and I read them all. I like them all. I enjoy reading this series. Yes, the books are all quite similar, but that is what I LIKE about them. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency gets involved in one or two adventures and they get resolved. In this book, Mma. Makutsi has a baby and becomes a partner. Speaking of names, the new baby is called Itumelang Clovis Radiphuti and they use all three names quite frequently.

Me and the great unwashed are using the computers at the Millville Public Library. In fact, some of the unwashed are kind of smelly so I must bring this session to a close soon.

Words, words, words

I am fascinated by words. Went to an exhibition of A day in Pompeii, at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, and all I could think about was all the unfamiliar words that might come in handy while doing crossword puzzles. Seems that words relating to ancient gods are popular in those puzzles. I had the same experience while watching Downton Abbey. I have to keep a paper and a pen handy to write down unfamiliar allusions. Now, where did I put that paper?

A nice calm evening using the computer at the Vineland Public Library. Well, pretty peaceful, except for the guy typing wildly and cursing at his Facebook account.

It was a gorgeous, sort of warmish wintry day today. I was going to take a "Vitamin D" bath in the back yard, but it wasn't really THAT warm, especially when the breeze blew. But it was mighty fine compared to what we have been having.

Life is weird

Strange things which I have noted lately...
- A woman died while doing yoga.
- A young man was shot in Newark. He had recently become a father AT AGE 14.
- It hasn't even started to snow and they have been talking about the coming snow for hours now on the television

Feeling kind of self satisfied since I got online today and also worked out. What more can a person look to accomplish in retirement? I did call and volunteer to staff the homeless shelter which they established after a guy died a few weeks ago. I am sort of worrying about stuff like illnesses and bad behavior and how you get them to LEAVE in the morning. And now a snowstorm and freezing temps during the day adds a new layer of complication to the whole thing.

Really depressing weather day today. Freezing and grey and looking and feeling like snow all day. My heat does not even work when it gets THIS cold (a low of 6 degrees predicted for tomorrow!) At least I have some new, fuzzy bedroom slippers.

BO in the library

And other reasons why most sane people have the Internet in their homes. Also they don't have to come out when the temperature is 28 degrees.

I am KIND OF in my own little world with the earbuds on. The CD, Blurred lines, by Robin Thicke, is starting to grow on me and now am enjoying my Youtube playlist (Queen singing Bohemian Raphsody right now).

Looking up my diseases on the Internet and worrying about doing or not doing anything about them. I will not be specific but suffice it to say, there are reasons why I have become celibate...too many conditions about that people do not know that they even have!

The Holland collection

This week I have nail polish that is pink with silvery overtones. It is called Pedal faster Suzi! Last week I had I don't give a Rotterdam. Half the fun of O.P.I. is the names. Sometimes I pick my color solely based on the name.

EEK! Running out of time on the computer. My favorite thing is doing STUFF on the computer. Of course, it involves SITTING (my favorite activity) and MUSIC (how can that not make you happy) and RESEARCH (it is the librarian in me)and JUMPING around from thing to thing (just what the person with ADD loves). But I am about to be kicked off the computer at the Millville Public Library.