Martin Luther King day

Trying to figure out whether trash is being collected on a regular schedule today. Could not determine this from the website of the city. I was going to volunteer for the code blue program as my volunteer activity for the day, but they are not having it (though I think it is going to just about cold enough). Perhaps I will pick up some trash? And I did help the lady next to me on the computer. I showed her how to make her viewable screen bigger. We are encouraged to have a "day of service" on MLK's b-day. Could go to see Selma, but saving it for a friend who is out of town this week.

Don't even think about it (audiobook), Sarah Mlynowski. An interesting premise. A home room gets the flu shot and it causes them to be able to hear thoughts. This causes a variety of happenings, some good and some awful. Then, their eyes start turning purple. Quite a few relationships come and go due to this ability. Then they are offered an antidote and have to decide if they want it. This is a young adult title that I borrowed from the Vineland Public Library.

Have to go to lunch now, which is good, cause hunger is making me shaky!

A dreary dismal day missing one tooth

My only consolation is pain pills, some really good ones. Plus I got my nails done. New color is by OPI - called "Color to diner for". It is a sparkly red.

Full planets, empty plates : the new geopolitics of food scarcity (book), by Lester R. Brown. Given to me by his brother-in-law, it is a nice thin book, detailing many of his thoughts which I have heard before. How the balance of the planet is off, how eating up the food chain contributes to food scarcity, how the increasing population numbers put a strain on our food resources, how political unrest contributes to food insecurity, how water shortages make it difficult to grow crops in the places where the food is needed. Food is the new oil, land is the new gold. One of our best environmental theorists comes from our area.

OK, so it is ONLY December 1st. But I have missed Black Friday, Small business Saturday, Cyber Monday AND Giving Tuesday. The fact of the matter is, I am totally uninspired as far as Christmas gifts go. On my list of things to do today was to make my Christmas list, both what I want, and all the names of all the people I should/want to get gifts for. Shopping isn't much fun for me. Deciding isn't much fun for me.

I finally finished The goldfinch

Didn't get tired of it and kind of sorry it is over. Finished the 26th CD after reading only one third of the book and starting all over. A coming of age story about a few friends, all with very unusual circumstances. A fictional story about a real painting, which I saw at the Frick Gallery in New York City. A great tale of dissipation, lying, neglect and many surprises. The goldfinch, by Donna Tartt, received the Pulitzer prize for fiction.

A somewhat nice Mother's day, even though I am not a mother and I no longer have a mother (living). Whiled away the morning at church and then went out to eat with two women and their son. Discovered saffron mussles at the Green Olive. May have to replace my usual item which is a feta and spinach omelet. Of course, the BEST thing was the warm really delicious bread and the butter which helped to sop up some of the creamiest sauce I have ever had on mussles.

The day was marred by my Mexican neighbors on Oak Street who think they OWN the block. Many loud parties in the back yard. Laughing, yelling, music, two barking dogs and many friends and relatives cluttering up the place. Once in awhile I wouldn't mind....but all night THursday and now all day on Sunday. I can't even enjoy my yard and have to turn on music and TV and air conditioners to even enjoy the inside of my home. I did call the police about the extremely loud Mexican music, but I am not sure if they turned it down. I am determined to call the police once a day every day they are bothering me. It could be worse, at least they are not cursing or fighting, but still.

Spring has sprung

Such a delight to walk outside and see sprouts on the trees. Even on my dogwood about that I suspected of being dead the other day. OK, I only have ONE daffodil on all of those green sprouts in the back yard, but now I know they ARE supposed to be daffodils.

Under the Tuscan sun (book), by Frances Mayes - I REread this book in anticipation of trip to Italy this May. Getting in the mood for something old and charming. About a couple who buys an old house in Tuscany (wasn't it a SINGLE woman in the movie?) They spend a fortune on renovations and are back at work in California much of the time. Goes into detail about construction gone wrong and wonderful meals and exploring trips.

Tomorrow is Easter. Playing the chimes and singing three songs with the choir. Gotta come up with something pastel-like to wear. Looking forward to the flowers and perhaps a taste of Easter candy? Not so much fun since our local candy store went out of business.

Bacon cupcakes?

Someone offered me a bacon cupcake, but I declined. Am trying to get back to my sensible eating because.....a woman I used to work with looks and feels FANTASTIC....I am going on a trip with much walking and MOUNTAINS.

I'm not much into April fool's pranks but here is what they did at my health club to the boss...put yellow crime tape across his door. When he opens the door to his office he will find it FULL of pink balloons. They were blowing up the balloons when I was there for exercise this AM.

Book of ages : the life and opinions of Jane Franklin, by Jill Lepore: A biography of the youngest sister of Benjamin Franklin. She lived a life quite in contrast to her brother and they did not spend much time together but did correspond throughout their lives. She was not very literate. She loved to read but had limited access to books. Her spelling was a bit iffy as she was never schooled. She spent her life bearing children, many of whom died young. She kept a Book of ages, wherein she recorded the births and deaths of family members.

Get rich carefully, by James J. Cramer: I like Jim Cramer and the way he yells his advice on the TV. The book is much more serious and I just scanned it for ideas about companies. There is no way I am going to take the time and energy required to be as careful as he is figuring out where to invest. I think that I would rather just follow his advice! He recommends listening to conference calls of CEO's and doing complicated charting.

The burglary : the discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's secret FBI, by Betty Medsger: This book was recommended by a friend and it all happened 40 years ago in Media, Pa. Really near me, but I didn't know any of the people. I was involved in the peace movement and the anti-war movement and these were the groups targeted by the FBI. The burglary brought to light the actions of the FBI quite reminiscent of the NSA revelations of today. The identity of the people involved in the burglary has remained secret for many years, but is exposed in this book. I still don't know any of them. Ended up skimming a bit near the end. I think I am more of a fiction person.

A heavenly day

Perhaps, maybe, Spring will actually SPRING some day soon?!?!? It is actually the first day of Spring. The Google doodle had to remind me of that. It seems that it is also National Happiness day. They seem to be creating more days at a rapid rate.

Sadly, the only three movies that I would be willing to see at our local theater are cartoons......Mr. Peabody and Sherman, The Lego movie and Muppets most wanted. All the others involve speed or violence or other distasteful topics.
Would like to get back to my one-movie-a-week policy but nothing really calls to me, except for $2 popcorn day which is Tuesday.

Returning some books today and picking up a book I had reserved at the Vineland Public Library. Getting organized with projects such as filling out questionnaire for jury duty and other stuff. Not real enthusiastic about jury duty. One of my issues is DECISION MAKING and that is what jury duty is all about. It is always educational as well as depressing so I guess I will go forward with it and not try to think up some excuse. Luckily, I can walk to the courthouse so I don't have to deal with the impossible parking situation. I COULD walk to a lot of places, I just DON'T.

A memorable Valentine's day?

Really only because the temperature got into the upper 40's and the sun was shining. Got the predictable Valentines from my nephew and my girlfriend (but they were really GOOD ones). A friend bought me breakfast and my sister gave me two elegant chocolate bars from Bolivia. My neighbor swept up some of my snow, but he does that many days. Just going home to stay there and read tonight. Ho hum.

Had a nice day volunteering at a local art gallery. People came in, had some good conversations and sold some stuff. I bought a photograph. I always like to buy something when I am working in the non-profit art gallery.

Today getting online. Tomorrow I must make more of a priority EXERCISE. Am starting to feel like a SAUSAGE again.

Sitting inside on a perfectly beautiful day

Had to come to the only library open on Martin Luther King Day. Happy in my little corner listening to Youtube (Nina Simone playing piano and singing love me or leave me). Read "Why we went, letter from a St. Augustine jail" in honor of the day. My sister is down in St. Augustine marking the birth (?) of the Civil Rights movement.

Dastardly weather in the forecast. COLD and 6-10 inches of snow predicted for tomorrow. I am ready, I guess. Bought some snow boots today without a whole lot of consideration. A family shoe store is closing after MANY years so perhaps that is my good deed for the day? I bought three expensive pairs of shoes (they were on sale). I usually buy one or two pair a year. It was kind of fun visiting with the owner and spending time with some other indecisive customers. One lady had a $500 gift certificate to the store! Hope my heater is ready. A guy came and spent 4 1/2 hours cleaning and fixing it and afterwards he said, "THAT was an adventure!" It was a mess...clogged, full of soot, rusty. Can I hope and pray that it is now improved? At least he didn't throw up his hands in disgust and demand that I buy a new system or switch to gas. It seems everyone is doing that. But then do I have to be for FRACKING? I ruined my cross country skis but then a friend gave me a pair that her ex-boyfriend left at her house. I need to get all my supplies ready and in the right place for staying home tomorrow. Is it time to scour the stores for bread and milk?

Feeling almost sick from eating a Tasty-cake product. I used to eat them all the time when I worked here, so it was sort of like "the madeleine of Proust" when I went to look in the snack machine. Butterscotch crimpets is what I used to be addicted to.

Christmas is now officially over

It is the 7th, even past three kings day. Saw a Christmas movie today (Madea). Time to put away the Christmas-themed return address labels and stickers. I think the last presents were exchanged today as well. Time to start dieting and exercising.

The cold is horrific - only consulation is that the sun is shining. Looking forward to getting home since I have been running around a lot. NOT looking forward to it, as my heat can't deal with the extreme cold. I turned the heat way down to give the heater a rest. A bill approaching $700 was delivered along with my oil yesterday. The wind is making it a bitterly cold day. Had to come out, however, for exercise class and Christmas breakfast date and movie and library visit. I guess it could be worse....I could live in Minnesota.

The good news is that I cross country skiied. The bad news is that my skis fell apart while traveling in my car. Read something on the Internet about the base peeling off of older skis that had not been properly cared for. Certainly my skis have not been cared for at all. There they sit, at the base of my steps, waiting for winter to roll around so I can try them out. This year, it worked, but now my skis are broken. Seems like much in my life has been ignored for so long that it disappears into dust. Sigh.....

Erasers that don't work

This is one of my pet peeves. Can't think of any others at the moment. I am also very unhappy when the temperature goes below freezing as it did today. Plus there was wind. It is really HAT weather.

Was asked to work this weekend. I said yes since I only work one day a month and I didn't have one scheduled for the month of December. Yes, it will inconvenience me, as I was supposed to go to a funeral. (It is amazing how working only ONE day a month can still feel incommodious when it rolls around). But I am barely employed and so want to be agreeable and able to be counted upon.

Feeling kind of busy over the holidays but not with parties. Just with scheduled events that are distracting me from getting ready for gift shopping and wrapping. I am very bad at all that anyway. I don't shop for myself so it is not so fun to shop for others.

The only thing I ever bought on Black Friday

It was a car. I detest Black Friday. Am more fond of Small Business Saturday. Cyber-Monday is Ok too. Now there is Charitable giving Tuesday. Just realized I have given something each month all year. Perhaps I should not be content with that, however. That could be my minimum, not necessarily my maximum.

Shoprite was a madhouse today. Too many people! The poor cashier was complaining about all the people, some of them being rude. I think they were all trying to get points so they could get a free turkey. It seemed like Thanksgiving was going to be TOMORROW, not 9 days away. I prefer going to Acme and paying more just for some peace and quiet. It is so confusing to have the Salvation army people out there ringing bells already. I gave last night at Boscov's. Can't give EVERY day from now until Christmas! Homes are starting to be all lit up already, too. Maybe this is the year I will just ignore the holidays. Thanksgiving traditions already messed up.

I meant to return the book, Barefoot in Baghdad to the Vineland Public Library yesterday. I can't believe how far down in the pile it got! The subtitle is : a story of identity - my own - and what it means to be a woman in chaos, by Manal M. Omar. At first I enjoyed the book, but then I got sort of annoyed at her blindness to danger. Horrible things occured in Iraq. Her goal was to help women. Some of the women were aggravating. There were no good options for them. So many of her friends got killed or kidnapped. None of the kidnapped people ever came back. This was an eye-opening book.

A cold and dreary day

It is only cold INSIDE...weather outside is rather temperate. But raining. I can't stand this kind of weather. Plus my office at home has sprung a leak. It has leaked twice and this time was much worse than last time. If I don't put something under it it will wreck my answering machine. So far, just leaked on some scrap paper. Who do I call? The guy who replaced much of my roof and now I am getting the sneaking suspicion that that was not the problem. The Gutter guys? My brother-in-law who is getting ready to go off sailing and has no time?

I totally ignored Halloween yesterday in my curmudgeonly way. Got home at 5 PM and went into hiding since I had no candy. I had no candy because no one ever finds my door and I know what would happen to that candy.

Alternating between depressed and hopeful on the diet front. I know I feel better in so many ways but sometimes wonder if it is worth all of the nay saying. That being said, I still had about an inch of mayonnaise on my sandwich at lunch time, even though I have vowed to go back to 300 calorie meals and 100 calorie snacks. I happen to be addicted to mayonnaise. Took a brave leap the other day. I purchased BURUMAN's mayo at Aldi's. Container designed to look like Hellmans and name scarily similar. Close but no cigar. Have not noticed anything objectionable about the taste and the price was right.

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.

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?

I miss bumper stickers

I saw two good bumper stickers today. There were quite a few on this car and you don't see THAT any more either! 

- "I listened to NPR before it was cool".
- "Are you hearing voices of crazy people?  Turn off FOX news".

Holiday weekend approaches.  I don't like holidays.  Nothing is ever happening due to the holiday.  I never have any plans.  I emailed my sisters and none of them have any plans either.

Torrential rains yesterday.  Ceiling leaking again.  I guess a leaking ceiling never gets any better, only worse.  (One can always HOPE, can't one?)  So here are my main problems today...

- a leaking ceiling (roof)
- a dead bat somewhere in my house
- a barking pit bull next door
- cell phone battery is inexplicably dying and I need to make some phone calls
- rash on my leg is starting to itch again

Other than that, life is just hunky dory.  I will try and think of some GOOD things now...

- the competition at the health club is almost over so I can stop feeling inadequate
- I am starting to walk better due to losing weight
- everybody is very well behaved over here at the Vineland Public Library
- I rebooted my laptop and overcame the nonfunctioning
- Serena Williams is one hunk of a woman (I just perused Tennis magazine)

Blogging humor

    
I should give credit to the New Yorker.  I have been carrying this page around since February 6, 2006.  I come from a family of New Yorker readers.  My father used to get all of us a subscription each Christmas, my mom, himself, and his four daughters.  Now that he is gone, we keep up the tradition, on a rotating basis.

Lovely morning listening to NPR and trying to get the humidity out of my house.  I even left the air conditioner on while I'm out.  Can't really justify that now that I don't have pets.  I love the sunshine but hate the humidity.

Yesterday I had a delightful birthday.  Breakfast at my sister's, gifts, flowers, dinner with my "girlfriends of the '70's" (aren't those the best kind?), phone calls, email messages, Facebook remembrances, singing.  Couldn't have asked for a better day except that the weather could have been better.  Torrential rain and drizzles with occasional brightening.

It's MY day

I am getting lots of attention today.  Facebook notices, breakfast, gifts, yoga class singing Happy birthday to me.  And here I sit doing my favorite activity...getting online.  Lousy weather forecast today but it is a bit brighter out than one would have expected.  Oh well, you can't have EVERYTHING on your birthday.

Book review: Hardly knew her : stories, by Laura Lippman, audio book performed by Linda Emond and Francois Battiste.  I wanted to listen to this because I noticed that Laura Lippman was speaking at the recent New Jersey Library Association conference in Atlantiic City.  She writes about Baltimore a lot and I was going there last Saturday.  I did not enjoy this audio book much until the end.  Then my CD player in the car broke and I couldn't listen to the last disc.  I liked the part featuring stories about her detective from Baltimore, Tess Monaghen, which provided me with details I may have forgotten about this character.  My lack of appreciation stems from the fact that most of the stories are about using and abusing people and a lot of sex and murder.  The audio on this CD seemed a bit dim and did not jibe with my radio volume.

Having a lot of trouble pasting pics today.  Here again I try to feature one of three great stores right across from my hotel in Paris....La petite chaloupe.  Artisinal sardines in gorgeous containers.  Then the wine store, La p'tite cave.  Then a wonderful bread and pastry store.  One day I bought a bagette and some butter and ate the whole thing by myself.

It's a gorgeous Mother's day

Except for the crowds and the large lady covered with tatoos.  Made the mistake of going to Bob Evans and Starbucks on Mother's day.  God...the crowds!  The health club was relatively quiet but I was forced to watch CNN, which is really getting on my nerves.  They announce all of this stuff that you heard about two days ago like it is this fabulous new discovery.  They also give wrong info and pronounce things badly.  It is almost more than I can take to listen to the "news" these days.  After you listen to the latest hostage crises and murders, you wonder how there can be any Americans left living.

Yahoo is acting up, yet I am fearful of "upgrading" to the new Yahoo.  Upgrades usually get rid of several features that I liked before.  Upgrades are one of my many fears.  Here are some more:
- fear of getting a new phone
- fear of getting a new camera
- fear of plans going awry
- fear of being awakened in the night
- fear of going on a trip without a phone or computer

Felt better AFTER my workout than I did before.  Went to work out right after eating too much at Bob Evans.  Now I sit at Starbucks being sorely tempted to get a large mocha cookie crumble drink with chocolate whipped cream on top.  I can only imagine the amount of calories in that one.  Was driven inexorably last night to eat stuff I shouldn't and of course, gained a pound this AM.  Feel kind of hopeless about getting my weight down.  Really hard being here in Starbucks constantly confronted with beverages that our populace consumes with narry a thought about it.

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.

Neighbors from hell

  Looking forward to a trip to PARIS.  Trying to get all of my ducks in a row.
Not sure how I am going to handle all of that WALKING.  I am used to car to house to car to library to car to store to house.  Also I have to resort to WHEELS to lug all of my crap around.  It will have to be a new and lighter me to get around Paris.

Not so light today though.  Gained weight overnight.  Probably cause I ate hors d'oeuvres all day.  Need a new approach for that.  Can't eat everything in sight just cause it is going to be my "meal".  Next time I should try one of everything and only have seconds if it is something HEALTHY.  We had Cinco de Mayo snacks after church and more delicious food offerings after an author lecture.

Boy, do I need a change of scene.  The scene directly around my house is really getting on my nerves.  I have a letter I wish I could send to the landlord of my neighbors.  I haven't written it yet but it details about 10 things they have done to annoy me in the month that they have been there.  Now, I know they are not doing it specifically to annoy ME, but how can people like or not notice trash all over the place and loud dog barking?  I was only home for two hours on Saturday and that d*&^ pitbull was barking for at least one of those hours.