Phuc Dat Bich

Learned from my Vietnamese nail technicians...there are some names in Vietnamese which become BAD words in English. Of course, the pronunciation is different in Vietnam, but. For example, the name Phuc means happiness or good luck but comes across kind of dirty in English. The word Bich refers to a kind of gem (jade). They actually knew somebody named Phuc Dat Bich. But mostly, people with these names change them. They witnessed one guy at the Motor Vehicle agency who didn't change his name and the lady had to SPELL his name instead of call it out loud.

Tried to read the book Alan Turing : the enigma (book), by Andrew Hodges. This is the book that inspired the film The imitation game. I found the book totally dense and full of mathematical jargon. I gave it my best effort because I really enjoyed the movie and because Alan Turing is everywhere these days.
He makes the analogy that gay people are always playing "the imitation game" when they try to appear heterosexual. Another comment was the irony of the war (WW II) being won by a gay, atheist, British mathematician. I was glad to learn that he did have a number of friends and relationships. The movie made him seem like a bit of a loner.

It is a very gray, gloomy day. I don't enjoy being home of such grim days. It is DEPRESSING. Starting my plan of getting myself together and getting ON TRACK. That means eating right and exercising every day. I have to get myself under control as a 50th high school reunion is coming up. That is a daunting thought.
I am not calling it being on a diet, I am calling it ON TRACK. I have been extremely OFF TRACK lately.

Things you think about in the shower

I don't have time to think of ANYTHING in the shower, other than getting myself clean and the rituals that accompany this goal. Plus, I am a very fast showerer. When I was in Paris, you had to buy a JETON to put in the shower. It was only good for 5 minutes. I was quite proud of the fact that I came in UNDER 5 minutes.
Where I think of a lot of things is during Senior stretch class. We sit in front of the DVD and I am so accustomed to the routine that my mind can wander all over the place.

Lately, I have been obsessed with LISTS, made and unmade. Here are some lists and charts that I would like to make:
1. a chart where I can keep track of the cleaning of coats and scarves. Each year, I say I am going to clean them ALL at the end of each season, but then I don't.
2. a chart listing physical symptoms and their relationship to foods eaten and drugs taken. Trying to self-diagnose.
3. I can't think of them NOW

Disocvered a new website called Bookbub. Actually someone at Yoga class told me about it. You learn of cheap or free ebooks. I already downloaded one from Barnes and Noble for my Nook!

If this doesn't feel good, you don't have to do it

I wish more exercise instructors would say this. I go to the senior center each Wednesday to do Senior stretch sitting in a chair.

The book of unknown Americans (book), by Cristina Henriquez. I liked it, although I had to skim near the end because this book was only a two week loan. An immigrant family comes (legally) from Mexico. (They gloss over it like it was so simple). They end up in Delaware in an area with other immigrants. They have a special needs daughter who becomes friendly with a young man from a Panamanian family. Deals with the difficulties of finding and keeping jobs and other challenges for people new to the US.

The Charles Schwab guide to finances after fifty (book), by Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz. I didn't read it all, but I did learn a few useful things such as when taking your minimum distributions at age 70 and 1/2, you have to do it with each account. Sounds kind of complicated. I am going to copy page 2 which tells you how to determine your net worth.

And another week begins

Pleasures and annoyances already on this Monday morning.
Pleasures:
- yoga
- getting up at usual time of 8:45 AM
- Sam Smith CD, In the lonely night, on Hoopla sharing service at library
- sound is really good today through my phone headphones
Annoyances:
- loud people at library disturbing my peace
- had to get outfit out of dirty laundry basket and I am noticing clothes have been worn too long
- hungry but have to stay on computer to get my two hours
- rain

Not much on calendar today....just yoga and helping the homeless tonight. Spent the weekend running around so it is OK with me.

Tried to watch a DVD on my computer this week. DVD was acting up. Will return it and get another before I start complaining about the DVDs. Having worked in Technical Services in a library, I know all about people who complain about the DVDs when the problem is really due to their equipment. We used to WATCH videos and DVDs looking for the problems.

Easing on into the weekend

Don't know how I am going to fit exercise back into my life. Now that I have lapsed. Not too much time left over after I get enough sleep, get online and be with my friends.

Listening to Into the woods and a Joe Cocker album on Hoopla, the library borrowing database. Just saw the movie of Into the woods yesterday and Joe Cocker died this week. There is no connection between the two.

It is a rainy, gray, dreary day in January. I MUST plan a getaway...maybe drive my home-away-from-home? Need sun and warmth and blue skies.

Monday update

Rose Gold (book) : an Easy Rawlins mystery, by Walter Mosley. Was glad when this book was over. He gets a bit carried away with all of the characters...so many to keep track of.

Enjoyed starting off the week with yoga at 10:30 AM. Gained a pound of two so I was feeling quite sluggish. Also no exercise over the weekend. I would like to count the dancing I did at a wedding Friday.

Did get a few things done staying home all afternoon and evening on Sunday. I needed to be home since I have something to do every night until Saturday. And I don't really LIKE to go out at night. But not reading anything really engrossing now and that is primarily what I do after dark. It is getting unpleasantly cold. But the winter nightgown and socks and the two blankets were a bit much. Woke up HOT in the middle of the night.

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.

Life is good

Got to my 8 AM arthritis exercise class but it was a bit of a rush to get there. Traffic pretty horrible as it seems to be the first day of school around here. Only two of us in the class but I am trying to appreciate the teacher before she moves to another state.

Listening to T.I on Youtube. Live your life, featuring Rihanna. Love it, but can hardly take the video. It involves blood. I just have a thing for these gangster rappers. I know T.I. was in prison but I still listen to him. Yeah, I got no standards at all.

Picked up an audio book that I already listened to, but I didn't notice that until I got sort of far along. Selected shorts : a celebration of the short story is the series. The title is Are we there yet? (audio book) Bridgeton Public Library - AUDB F ARE). My favorite stories are James Thurber's A ride with Olympy, read by David Rakoff and Edward P Jones' An orange line train to Ballston.

Start of another week

Started off the week well...with yoga class at 10:30 AM.

Have a nice guilt trip, by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella: I enjoy humorous essays and that is what Lisa and her daughter write. Lisa is more funny and writes of the single life in rural Pennsylvania. Francesca lives in New York City so it is a good balance of viewpoints. The paragraphs and the essays are short. so easy to read.

I can relate to that! : a toolbox for life's journey, by Linda Burd Howard. A self-help book written by a psychologist with ample examples from her life to illustrate the points. She has a good sense of humor. She includes sections on Finding yourself, On your journey, On responsibility, On control, and On love.
She talks about CCMD (choice making deficiency disorder). I've got that!

A contest I can really get behind

Enjoying this summer's contest more than last summer's:
- last year had to log in miles riden or walked at the health club
- this year have to READ BOOKS (one of my favorite activities)

Prairie silence (book), by Melanie Hoffert. A woman living in Minneapolis goes back home to North Dakota and muses about whether she could live there. She talks to some people about her life and loves (women) and finds that it can be done. The image of the old barn evokes thoughts of change and place. She rescues some boards and takes them home to make a bookcase. Her father burns down the barn with no feelings about loss. She learns a new appreciation of roots but does go back to the city to pick up her life where she left off.

Newcomb's wildflower guide (book), by Larence Newcomb: This book was recommended for a workshop. Line drawings are easier to identify plants. There is a system, which makes it easier (it is still hard). Good for Northeast USA including Pine Barrens.

My Amalfi coast (Book), by Amanda Tabberer: Woman visits lovely place in Italy, falls in love with a gorgeous young man and lives there for 18 years. She shares many photos and tales of various towns, restaurants, people and their specialities. I wish I had read this book BEFORE I went to Positano. So much more to discover. A beautiful coffee table kind of book.

The billionnaire's curse (Archer legacy, book 1), by Richard Newsome: Young man inherits great wealth from aunt he never even knew about. His useless parents go off inspecting his properties and he is left to his own devices at mansions with servants. He meets some twins and they have adventures trying to find out who killed the aunt and what happened to her diamond.

Exercised...then ate

Felt good about getting back to aqua zumba class which just started up TODAY. I love exercising in the water - no sweat! Then met a friend for lunch and ate like a horse.
Lox and bagels and onions and tomatoes and capers and cole slaw.

South wind (book), Norman Douglas. No idea how, where or when I got this book for my Nook. It was a bit confusing with many characters living (when?) on some island (where?) talking about a lot of things. There was a volcano nearby. It seemed to be an island somewhere in the Mediterranean (Greece or Italy?) When in Italy, heard about one of the winds called a Sirroco. That wind figured in my book. Looked up Nepenthe when I got home and found that it is another name for the island of CAPRI - which I just visited! Norman Douglas lived from 1868 - 1952. He wrote this book in 1917 and it was very popular around the time of World war I. It has been described as "a conversation novel without a plot".

Inferno (book), by Dan Brown. Also read on the Nook, borrowed through the Overdrive system. Greatly enjoyed this fast moving thriller tracking down a virus before it can be released. All over Italy and then to Turkey. Many events happen in a 24 hour day and they are all life and death events and there is a lot of confusion about who is working for whom.

So ready for shavasana

That is the time in yoga at the end when we relax. I am SO happy when we get to it. Am in the mood for it RIGHT NOW!

Picture, with Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow, is one of my favorite songs and I am listening to it on Youtube right now. Funny, though, when my Mexican neighbors were playing it the other night, I couldn't even enjoy it. Something about the fact that they are just plain DOMINATING the entire neighborhood with their loud parties gets me all bent out of shape. I first heard the loud music as I was leaving my house at 3 PM. Got home at 9 PM and it was still going on. So, I called the police. Enough, already! So inconsiderate.

The opposite of loneliness : essays and stories, by Marina Keegan. Poignant stuff by a young woman. full of promise, who was killed in a car crash a few days after she graduated from Yale in 2012. Questions, musings, hopefulness, all made more intense by knowing what happened to her and her plans. Borrowed it from the Vineland Public Library (818.609 Kee).

Things I learned about birds

There are 426 species of birds in Cape May, New Jersey. In the month of May is when songs of birds are most heard. In the Spring a lot of birds are colorful. Their plumage becomes duller in the fall. I saw a bunch of birds in Heislerville, East Point Lighthouse and Thompson's beach. The best named bird is the Ruddy Stoneturn. The cutest bird was a barn swallow. Yesterday was a great day for bird watching and rescuing horseshoe crabs. Today it was rainy and windy but the hardcore birders kept at it.

Cape May was a bit sad today in the rain. It is only limping into the summer season anyway. Saw a jogger and two women riding bikes like it wasn't even raining, but generally speaking, not much is going on. Nice and quiet in Cape May Point, just the way I like it. The body of water across from our rented house got very active later in the afternoon. It was enjoyable to watch and listen. But the very BEST part of the day was waking up and seeing the sun rise over the pond out the window while I was still lying in bed. I am looking out of a window right now and seeing the beam of the lighthouse. It is nicely framed by the window.

Read the current edition of the newspaper called Exit zero. That is the exit off of the Garden State Parkway for Cape May. It is a rag filled with advertisements and pictures of people posing and posed. You get a good idea of what goes on around here.

Which is worse, high blood pressure or slow resting heart rate?

So, I stopped taking my blood pressure pill as it was making my heart rate too slow. Now my blood pressure is too high. Darn, I thought maybe I was overcoming HBP with my modicum of weight loss and my pathetic, half-hearted efforts to exercise. Jeez...when you get to be 66 you just think about all of the things that can go wrong. And you see them happening to many of the people around you, even the ones YOUNGER than 66.

Taking an art class. I guess I like it. It is nice to get involved in something for three hours and I have noticed that I don't think about EATING during this time. I do, however, have a lot of competition anxiety. I don't think I am very good at it and have already mentally moved on to the next project. That is one reason I don't want to go out and spend a lot of money on fancy art supplies. Yes, my materials are possibly limiting what I am able to accomplish. Today I painted a sunset that I took a picture of down at Bivalve the other night. Now, I need to think of a project for NEXT week. Every week that I have been there the day has been sunny and gorgeous. And today a woman who fell down with a stroke a couple of weeks ago was BACK and none the worse for the wear. The nurse who had guided the rescue crew went home and painted her a picture and presented it to her in a frame today. After the class, I went out in back of the barn and relaxed by the pond. Was taking my "Vitamin D bath" and waiting for my watercolor to dry. Enjoyed greatly the sounds....wind chimes in the trees, waterfall fountain in the pond, wind blowing through the bamboo trees. Add to that the heavenly odors and another artist painting a fabulous pink flowered tree. It was rather heavenly!

On my way home soon. It is a struggle to get to spend time at home so I can read and organize (ha ha) and look out the windows at the sunny day. I was supposed to have a French club meeting tonight but one and then another dropped out so we ended up rescheduling it. I am just as glad as I had too many activities today. Started off with arthritis class at 8 AM, then art class, then a substantial lunch at the Olympia Greek restaurant, then chiropractor and massage, and now computer time at the Millville Public Library. It is a difficult life (not). I guess I should feel guilty about all of my self-indulgence, but, hey, don't I deserve it?

Bollywood dance class

Went to a one hour class on Bollywood dancing at the Vineland Public Library. The teacher was in casual clothes and taught us the steps slowly. I had the usual problems of remembering all of the moves and doing some of them. I am not too good at jumping and doing things fast. The class seemed lost on the really young and the really old. The teacher kept giving us positive reinforcement ("Good job!") even though she wasn't really watching us. Some little girls were acting crazy (what did THEY have to eat?) and I couldn't keep myself from speaking to them..."Girls...we are TRYING to concentrate here". The teacher thanked me, but the mother was oblivious to their distracting behavior. One little plump boy tumbled to the ground, more than once. His explanation was, "I am not used to standing on my tip toes."

Don't know much about mythology : everything you need to know about the greatest stories in human history but never learned (book), by Kenneth C. Davis: This was a fascinating book. In the end, too many gods for me to remember, but interesting to see the similarities between various myths and religions. I was interested also to learn things that might come in handy while doing crossword puzzles. And there were some good quotes.

People around me are trashing Ancestry.com. Woman can't find name of her family in the newspaper database...she has found the names using newsbank which is supposed to be linked to Ancestry. Very frustrating interaction with customer support. She thought the woman was an idiot. My experience with Ancestry was to find my grandmother linked to the wrong parents! They even included a photograph of her gravestone, which I have visited. THAT is scary!

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.

Crossing three things off of my list

Got online - a daily need (like sunshine). Completed arthritis class this AM. The good thing about an 8 AM exercise class is that you can cross it off the list. A friend took me out to breakfast and then we went to see the Muppets most wanted movie. Seeing a movie is a weekly goal of mine.

Big beat Miami 2014 (album), by David Guetta and a lot of friends. Enjoyable as techno background but no songs that really speak to me and say SAVE ME on Youtube.

Muppets most wanted (movie): Funny with lots of famous people on for about 3 minutes each and good songs. Then I went to Hoopla and was able to borrow the album, which made me very happy. Nice seeing the Muppets travel around the world as I like seeing the world. Went with a friend to the early show (11:35 AM) and we were the only people in there so we could laugh as loudly as we wanted to without bothering anyone. It is very disorienting to come out of the movie theater and it is only the middle of the afternoon. Particularly enjoyed Tina Fey. Usher was....an usher. We had to get the popcorn, even though we had just had breakfast, because it was $2 popcorn Tuesday.

Where does the time go?

No time to exercise today. Getting worried due to upcoming trip to Italy. Will I be able to keep up, handle it? Old, charming stuff....I love it. BUT...hard to be away from my car...walking, walking, walking and lots of hills. I can hardly walk up the steps to the second floor without getting winded. Must lose some weight and go into training. (Also getting nervous about spending, spending, spending)

Well, I WAS "busy" all day. Stopped by my doctor's office to get tested for thyroid level. Then got some cheap gas, only $3.25 a gallon. COuldn't resist! A bit late to my art class. I did a nice drawing of a glass pitcher of daffodils and a plate of fruit (apples and pears). The watercolor I did was less successful. Tried to do another glass pitcher with tulips. Teacher complimented me but then wanted me to "complete" the background. I think I ruined it. I am a very hesistant painter. Working small and constrained. When I went to paint, I had lost my paints...left them there last week. So then I stopped by the Bagel place and had an onion bagel sandwich with shrimp salad. Not that great and quite expensive. Next, to the chiropractor where I had a substitute massage person. She did it so slowly, I wasn't sure she was going to accomplish much in 1/2 hour. Also music was dirge-like. Then stopped by the new Shoprite for something different. This resulted in my being lost. And ran into an old patron who used to sing to me in Spanish and ask me out in the library. Then was tired and could not resist driving through the McDonalds to get a chocolate milkshake. Next home to rest for an hour. Listening to the radio (NPR) was not so restful so I had to turn it off. Rather difficult to get up out of the bed to come to the library but now that I am listening to Youtube and printing out some essential paperwork, I am glad I did. Really came out to be supportive of cinema series. GOing to the basement to sit in a hard chair and watch El mariachi, which I already saw many years ago at the Philadelphia film festival.

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.

Stan with ? subtitles

Looking up the Stan performance at the Grammys with Eminem and Elton John. First one I chose was really poor quality with some kind of Asian language subtitles. How can I like Eminem? The words are abominable!

Finished The Daniel plan : 40 days to a healthier life, by Rick Warren, Daniel Amen and Mark Hyman. A few too many rules for me, but good quotes, good nutrition information, some new exercises and a good quiz, The toxicity and screening questionnaire that I am going to copy. Three health, spiritual gurus got together and developed this plan to lose weight by eating certain foods and exercising and getting together with a group to follow progress.

A difficult day, just with stupid annoyances, nothing major. Was late to yoga (as usual) and found a sign saying it was in ANOTHER building. Then I was REALLY late and when I found it, it was QUITE crowded. Glad I went though. Teacher is so calm and accepting of changes (unlike me). Then got to chiropractor and found appointment was for one half hour later than I thought. Massage therapist was running one half hour behind so I spent hour and a half in there. Oh well, what other urgent stuff do I have to do?