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!

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).

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.

The goldfinch

Remembered a little bird I saw in a museum so I tried to find it online. I believe it IS what gave the idea for the book The Goldfinch. It is in the Frick Gallery in New York City. I started the book and only got 1/3 of the way through it before it became overdue. Then started all over again with the 26 CD audiobook. It is quite compelling!

Finished Then again, by Diane Keaton. I love reading autobiographies and finding out who knew whom and such like that. I am eager to read her new book as I enjoyed this one on my Nook. She never married (I like THOSE role models) and adopted two children. She also went through a lot with the decline of her mother.

Someone has been in my yard and it gives me the creeps. Came home and found one of the wooden pieces broken off on my gate. Then we found a SWEATER and a CELL PHONE under the steps. Just what I need, a careless, vandalizing trespasser. I have enough dislike of my neighbors without them invading my space. Called the policeman and he was very polite and took the cell phone although he thought it was broken and useless.

Feelings of impending doom

Torrents of rain and hours of gloom tend to depress me and give me feelings of impending doom. Let me count the ways...
- small ants are back in the kitchen
- tenants have given notice that they are moving
- Ceiling is wet with leaks
- doubting all of my decisions (thank God I didn't have to have jury duty!)
- this is the second day I have not exercised (country western dancing tonight?)
- heat (oil) still needed
- it will be gloomy and rainy for art class tomorrow
- neighbors with annoying barking dog have now gotten a SECOND dog

There must be some reasons to be happy...
- my grandmother is being honored tonight
- I finally got ahold of someone I have been trying to get ahold of for a good long time
- neighbors who had the most annoying barking dog may be moving?
- weight went down overnight

The masochism that is doing your own taxes

Why am I doing this? Is it FUN reading the booklets from cover to cover each year, twice? Am I good at math? No, no and no. Double checking my numbers in order to get the amount down that I owe, I am only finding mistakes that take me in the wrong direction. Certain mind fucks like....why do I have to pay taxes on dividends and gains NOW and then again when I cash them in? It seems wrong, so wrong. Just learned about a new form, 8949, so you can summarize from this one onto schedule D. Why did I ever think that my life would get less complicated after retirement? It still seems to be getting worse every year. I seem to owe over $3000 and that is giving me a royal pain in the ass.

We are water (audiobook), by Wally Lamb: It seemed way too long. Excruciating in spots and I wanted it to be over. Then it got OK again. Story is told from too many viewpoints and jumps around in time. First I liked it as it just went from husband to wife and you saw how they got to be the way they are. Then the kids got into it and the new girlfriend and the evil cousin. The basic theme is family secrets and how they mess up generations of people. I felt a bit more sympathetic when I listened to the interview with the author and found that he teaches writing in a women's prison and has second-hand knowledge of abuse issues with a great proportion of the prison population.

Warm today, too warm. We had guests at breakfast, which was very nice since out breakfast club has been decimated by illness and death. Sat out in the back yard as I ate my lunch and was pleased to hear only birds and cars, no barking dogs or cursing neighbors. My neighbor left me a variety of gorgeous daffoduls in a honey jar. He's a sweetie.

Grumble grumble

Can't find much good about today. It is rainy and gloomy and having difficulty getting over the freezing mark. Called REI and found out that I RUINED my cross country skis by getting them wet and then leaving them in the car overnight while the temperature went down near zero. The base peeled completely off of one of my skis, and, according to the guy at REI, IT CANNOT BE FIXED. The problem with STUFF is that is needs to be cared for and I am terrible at caring for stuff. I have a whole garage full of uncared-for stuff that I let get dusty, dirty, damp, cold and hot.

Finished a book on the Nook, probably a FREE FRIDAY (Barnes and Noble) book. Bring on the blessings, , by Beverly Jenkins, is a heart-warming tale of a town that needs a lift. The townspeople, who are black, agree to take on sponsorship of needy children. I think a rich woman helped them. Various badly behaved orphans came to town and were assigned to single people and married couples. I think some people actually moved to the town to take part in this experiment. The match up of the kids and adults is interesting and the whole town takes part in this project. In addition, there are past lovers and new residents to spice up the story.

Another nonfiction book I borrowed through the Overdrive program through the Vineland Public Library. I gained a few morsels from People can't drive you crazy if you don't give them the keys, by Mike Bechtel. Most of the time I was thinking I don't HAVE any "crazy" people in my life but then I realized my neighbors and people on the roads did aggravate me just as he described in his examples. I was glad when this book was over.

Neighbors, quiet for some time, blew it yesterday

They were getting on my nerves all day. Kids outside making kid noises, being boisterous. People in back yard setting up an outdoor cooking stove. Had a stupid looking small black dog on a leash. Uh-oh, I thought to myself. So I went out for a Downton Abbey viewing party and heard shrieking, laughing, who knows what. Came back to find out there was a bottle fight with police cars, ambulances and street blockages. Sigh.... See what happens when friends get out of hand?
Neighbor said she was taken out "on a chair" with her head lolling back. THAT sounds pretty weird!

Just finished a good book about health, Dr. Melissa Palmer's guide to hepatitis & liver disease. I checked online to see if it has been redone since 2004 and, unfortunately, no. Must return it to the Vineland Public Library today. It gave me a lot of good info about Hepatitis C and various ways to help the liver. I need to find a liver specialist but I don't think there are any around here. I am getting batted around between the family physician and the Internal medicine guy and I think I need better advice.

My eyes are really going. Can't see the choices on those game shows on TV. Even this screen is sort of grayish and not all that clear. Was having problems last summer and said I am going to update my prescriptions for the glasses before I get REALLY worried. Well, now, I am getting really worried.

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)

Conversational snippets

I like feeling invisible as I circulate throughout the world hearing snippets of other people's conversations. Perhaps one could base a novel on such? Today I was at a college campus and overheard a woman telling a friend that she blamed her problems on her "mother being high on acid" when she was conceived.

Snippets I would rather NOT hear are from the house of the tenants across the street. They are LOUD and VULGAR (the tenants) and I can't wait for them to move or get kicked out(this eventually happens to ALL of my neighbors). As I was walking down the street admiring the fall leaves and the pleasant street I live on, I passed their house and from inside the house, I could hear FUCK this and FUCK that. And I fear that this woman has several children. No wonder people grow up strange.

Had a very enjoyable day today even though it was raining. Went up to where I work part time to have a photo shot for the new web page. I am quite pleased with it and the photo session was fun. The campus was beautiful with the fall leaves. Went to lunch with three colleagues and had a delicious salad that was not too expensive.

Aged goods

Spotted this sign on an abandoned bar as I drove through Millville, New Jersey, today. It used to say PACKAGED GOODS but the "pack" got torn off.

So happy whilst walking on the Ocean City boardwalk today. The sun! The breezes! The unseasonably warm weather! The polite and quiet people! I am so hating my town (Bridgeton) these days. I think I could live at the beach or somewhere far, far away from annoying people. So many beach towns within an hour of my house. But it seems more and more people are heading to Ocean City, America's family resort. Maybe because there are so many rentals there? Or because it is a dry town? Last September I was a bit lonely while renting there, but maybe it depends on my mood? I like peace and quiet and I am surrounded by LOUD people with bad grammar and lots of cursing. Also yapping dogs. Even if the dog is houses away from me, it bugs me to no end. I have this week taken to wearing earplugs but they don't help that much. And you can only use them when you AREN'T listening to NPR. Have added earplugs to my really long shopping list.

I guess the other alternative is to be home less. Or travel more. Or sleep elsewhere. Only slept away from home ONE NIGHT the whole summer.

Ding dong, the dog is dead...

Did I tell the tale of the barking pit bull next door?  Went to city council to complain about it and learned that the dog was killed that very same day.  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  Heard on the Oprah channel that she has owned 21 dogs in her adulthood and that she once had 11 dogs at once.  How is this even possible?  Bet there was some barking around THAT mansion!

Have been in a bad mood lately.  Can I blame it on my town?  Would a vacation help?  Do I need to move?  But then we have to deal with the issue of STUFF.  The amount of it that I own impedes me from movement.  I am a peace-loving librarian and Quaker and my neighborhood is getting too noisy and aggravating.  Now that I am retired I have too much time to notice exactly how annoying my neighbors really are.  I try to be patient and wait them out, but I can't take all of the coming and going and screaming kids, people spitting off porch, barking dogs.  We just don't DO that on Commerce St.

My flash drive has started to go.  Now I regret that I do not have it backed up.  Why do I always assume that things are going to last, when I know how many address books and electronic versions I have been through?  So my whole entire life is on this one flash drive and now I can't create files or change any documents.  So far I can still READ them, but not sure I have the skills to copy a flash drive.  And I certainly don't want to copy any bugs if I have any.  I don't remember anyone HAVING problems with flash drives at the library.  But I have been using this same one for a year and a half.

Low productivity today

Can't get focused today.  Day looking increasingly threatening.  I think it may have finally started to rain.  August has been amazingly pleasant, as Augusts go.  It got to 90 degrees the other day for the first time since July.  I have been enjoying the pool.

Book review: Neighbor law, by Cora Jordan (c2006). Read this fascinating book on my Nook.  Actually borrowed it through the Overdrive system at the Vineland Public Library.  Chapters on dogs, fences, boundaries and other topics of interest to me.  Also learned about things that other people could sue ME for, such as my falling down fence.

Book review: Quite enough of Calvin Trillin : forty years of funny stuff, by Calvin Trillin (c2011).  My sister gave me this book for Christmas and I greatly enjoyed it.  Short essays and poems, just right for my attention span.  The offerings are divided up under topic headings, such as "English and some languages I don't speak".  The very first story is called "Chubby" and relates to a story about a collie dog and finding out the real truth about what happened to him later in life.  He didn't really "go to the farm".  I had a very similar tale about Mandy the lamb so I loved this story, which was really about memory.  I also enjoyed the story called "Paper trails" about the difficulties of composing a note to put on your car.  As the essays and poems are dated, it serves as a bit of reminder of our history.

Sittin' on the "group W" bench

I went to Municipal court this week.  I forgot to take a Xanax and I really needed it.  Felt like Arlo Guthrie, sittin' on the" group W" bench, with mother stabbers and father rapers and the like (listen to the song/album called Alice's Restaurant if you don't know what I am talking about).  I sat there for a deadly but entertaining and educational three hours listening to all the other cases.  Finally got called in to the prosecutor and felt like she blew me off (actually I should have had a succinct statement ready).  I had a one page document and a chart of all of my neighborhood annoyances, but a 15 word statement would have been more to the point.  She referred my case to "neighborhood disputes" of which I had never heard.  I guess it is some kind of mediation which I learned about reading a really fascinating book called "Neighbor law", put out by Nolo Press. ( I really should have read the one called "Dog law").  I signed a complaint against my neighbor who insists on having a pit bull live on her steps.  I have lost the use of my yard and the peace and quiet of my home due to the barking.

It was horrible being in court, even though I was the filer of a complaint and not the perpetrator of a crime.  They made everyone, complainer and criminal alike, wait in this tiny vestibule with no chairs for a half an hour before letting anyone enter the court. THAT was awkward, but I got the feeling that lots of these people do this very often.   I was out on the porch listening to a woman and a man talk about their domestic violence history, where one person files a complaint and then the other person turns around and countersues.  When the police come around to serve them with papers they just don't open the door.  When they do get into court they generally say that they aren't going to press charges.  What an unpleasant way to spend your afternoons!  It is just a game and a big waste of time.  The woman talked about just getting an ROR.  What's that, I asked.  Release On Recognizance, she said, (but she didn't pronounce it properly).  Some of the people had multiple "crimes" at once....driving offenses, domestic violence, paraphernalia possession.  One guy didn't know (me either) that on the third paraphernalia offense you get a mandatory 90 days in jail.  He was wearing orange at the time.  A really FAT white woman came up and declined to press charges against him.  Then ANOTHER large white women was there with a black guy and as they walked out, having declined to press charges, I noticed a large hickey on her neck.  Some of the people were polite, some had major attitude and some were snickering.    I did learn of some unsavory individuals who live near me. 

Below you will see a photo of a flower blooming at Giverny in July.  I borrowed this pic from a blog I read called Eye prefer Paris (doesn't everyone?)  He said that July was  REALLY hot in France, just like it was here.  I need to take time out of every day to enjoy beauty and calm and elegance.  Thinking about my vacation in France is quite pleasant.  I need to start thinking about the next stage of my life.  Living in Bridgeton is getting pretty taxing, what with the changing neighborhoods.  Too much coming and going around me and people who think the barking of pit bulls is not annoying.

Laptop day is the best

Wednesday is the day I just play on my laptop ALL DAY (10 til 4) while I hang out at the historical library. I always bring something from a bakery even though I should not be setting foot in a bakery. You could say I am focused but really, it is the perfect activity for someone with ADD as I am jumping from here to there and back at the slightest whim. It is raining out and the weather forecast includes some rain every day for the foreseeable future. Thankful that it is not too hot anyway.

Just listened to a program about Bad neighbors. Guess I am not very tolerant. I remember decades ago when my girlfriend and I attended a workshop on becoming more tolerant. All we could talk about afterwards was our criticisms of the other people at the workshop so I think the whole thing backfired or just plain did not work for us.
I did feel somewhat better as I was reminded of situations that I DON'T have to put up with. Where can I go to escape the annoyances of life? Even at those exclusive retirement places which I cannot afford, there are always new, younger, annoying people moving in and cliques and pecking orders. Saw a painting of a falling down hermit cabin and I wanted it. I know I have plenty of annoying habits but all I can think about are the noise and litter of my new neighbors. Why do they have to have so many family members and friends and dogs and coming and goings? Why can't they just behave and live quietly INSIDE like I do. And I get angry at the landlords who just want to collect the rent. Each tenant situation is worse than the one before. They have no boundaries and are always making noise and causing trash on MY property and then their pit bull BARKS at me when I am picking up their trash.

Wonder where I can get some dental insurance in time to have four wisdom teeth removed in a few weeks? It is not fun getting older. Mommy and daddy had such good teeth. What is the matter with us? I used to think root canals were a rip off, then it was implants, now it is just pull'em out.

It is hard to get ENERGIZED for Monday morning yoga

OK, it DOES work in the lab. For some reason, blogger does not work on SOME library computers. Drat! This is where I DO blogger. So, the tech guy suggested that I try it in the LAB. I told him I had the same problem at the Cumberland County Library and also at the Millville Library but that on my laptop it works.

It is hard to get energized for Monday morning yoga after taking an anti-anxiety pill due to barking pit bull of neighbors. Can't believe that Dan Gottlieb is talking about BAD NEIGHBORS right now on NPR. But it is not being broadcast right now. I love that man. He is in a wheelchair and has the most valuable insights about psychological and spiritual matters. He is also PSYCHIC about my own personal problems! Voices in the family may be on the radio every day at noon. I recommend it!

The weather is so unbelievably perfect, I can't stop thinking about it and talking about it. Also obsessed with the topic of neighbors, but weather is so much more enjoyable. Going down to the shore tonight to see my sister and her family for a few hours. We are all too busy to get together. Actually, I am glad to have a reason to not be home as my home is not an enjoyable destination right now. Passive/aggressive neighbors with obnoxious pit bull and too much noise and trash in general.

Weird Hawaiian music

Trying to fit everything in today. Exercise is getting short shrift. Starbucks not so enjoyable. It was too hot outside even though it is a BEAUTIFUL day. My favorite (big) table became free but it is too sunny in here and they are playing a really weird Hawaiian album. Drinking an unnecessary decaf skinny mocha tall thingy.

Don't really want to go home because of my new-found hatred of the neighbors. They are flaunting their "right" to have a barking pit bull ruin my life. Every day I have to fight the ANTS and the NEIGHBORS. Did start a new obsessive/compulsive system of tracking the events in the neighborhood. Listing time spent at home (not much) and counting the incidents of neighbor aggravation (16 yesterday). Also counting the amount of trash I pick up daily (7 today). This is all fodder for my future letters and court cases (if any). I was happy that the code enforcement made them pick up trash in their yard. I am on anxiety meds and can't sleep for thinking about how unhappy I am living in my town. Most everyone with money and sense has moved out! No wonder I look on FOR RENT signs with trepidation. At least my sister's tenants and myself are united in our hatred of the neighbors. I am supposed to do something each day on that issue to make myself feel a bit better. Was going to make an Excel spreadsheet but I think I have a better plan.

The weather has been great, wonderful, fabulous for over a week. Summer is not so bad after all. Today sat by the lake in the sun or the shade, felt the breezes, talked to friends and ate hot dogs and snacks. Spectacular clouds and crisp air and scenery. It is good to have friends when I am feeling under attack by the pit bull and the inconsiderate neighbors.

Getting behinder

. 

Books by the bed at home - eleven.  Have taken to reading every time I wake up in the night.
Also binged on cereal and fruit last night.  I shouldn't really have cereal in the house, especially the kind I like to buy even though I know I shouldn't.  I buy one healthy cereal and one "fun" (sugary) cereal.  Have "neighbor anxiety" which makes it difficult to sleep.

Yelled at the neighbor kids again yesterday.  The barking dog threw me over the edge and I rushed out in a frenzy of discontent.  Would I have the nerve to do something so rude and aggressive if they weren't defenseless foreigners?  They actually went and told their mother (who we NEVER see) and came over and rang my doorbell.  So I went out and next door and halfway up the steps and talked to A.  She feels we are harassing her by calling the authorities to come and investigate dog situation (I am not the only one who is calling).  I feel she has no concept of being a good neighbor.  When it came down to it, she says she is allowed to have a dog and dogs bark.  P., the pitbull,  barks many times a day and not in a nice way.  She also tears stuff up and spreads it all over their yard and mine and deposits unmentionables on my property.  I gathered up such and placed it on their porch.  I really should be nicer to the kids and may wait a week before taking further action.  I really want them to leave.  Also, a couple of guys were seen arriving with suitcases yesterday.

I did finish two books yesterday.

Book review: The complete potter, by Steve Mattison.  A good overview of making pots.  Each page includes one or two topics/methods with beautiful photos of procedures and finished pieces, giving credit to the potter and explanations of the pieces.  This book is available at the Vineland Public Library (738 Mat)

Book review:  The sweet life in Paris, by David Lebovitz. Started reading this BEFORE I went to Paris in May and was determined to finish it.  According to David, only 20% of Americans have passports and we are used to foreigners on our turf and not so good at dealing with them when they are on their own turf.  "The unspoken rule if you plan to live here - but equally good to adopt even if you're just coming for a visit - is knowing that you're going to be judged on how you look and how you present yourself.  Yes, even if you're just dumping your garbage."  I guess I should have mentioned that David is a chef from New York who moved to Paris.  The book includes several great recipes such as floating island (made by Julia Child and my grandmother) and Gateau Breton (made only one day a week at a bakery near the Pont Neuf where I lived after college).  I didn't copy the recipe for Ile flotant on page 28 because it looks really complicated and takes up three pages and I don't cook.  When people ask him how long it took him to become fluent in French, he points out that even the FRENCH are not fluent in French.  "One of the first words I learned in French class was raleur, which means 'someone who complains'.  Maybe it's la grisaille, the dull, gray skies that hang over Paris, causing la morosite ambiente, the all-encompassing gloom that blankets the city at times."
I learned a lot of good words in this books, like that there is a name for the prized crusty end of a baguette.  It is called le quignon.  This is a valuable introduction to life in Paris and equally fun after you have been there.  I borrowed this book from a friend.

 

 

A woman named Chastity

There are some quite astonishing things in our local paper.  Like this woman named Chastity Brackney who was indicted on charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assualt, aggravated criminal sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.  Now that I read it again, perhaps her name is CHASITY, not Chastity. Another article was about a woman arrested for wearing a very short skirt and no underwear.

It feels like a Saturday, but it isn't.  Invited out to breakfast by one friend and to lunch by another.  Anyway, what does Saturday feel like when you are retired?  I woke up with NO PLANS and that kind of makes me anxious.

Sign downtown..."Laundry mat coming soon". 

What are those spectacular flowers blooming on my neighbor's plants?  I think it is hibiscus.  They are red and quite wonderful...

The death of a tree

This is my license plate because I am opposed to the murder of trees.  This tree was just standing there, minding its own business, and a branch fell down.  So, the owner of the tree decided to KILL the entire tree to avoid any future problems of this nature.  This tree is going to leave a big gap in my view. It offers a lot of protection from the neighbors. Sad.. I have just been glad that not-my-tree fell on not-my-car.  I just drove off like I didn't have a care in the world.

My playlist.com seems to have finally bit the dust.  Can't log in and probably have lost my list of over one hundred songs. I received an email saying that they got in trouble and had to change the format.  Sigh....I liked it because it WASN'T a radio format.  Now have switched to YouTube, though the pictures aren't that important to me.

Yesterday I went to a class on Picasa, which some of the students insisted on calling Picasso. The other annoying thing about the other students was the woman who kept saying, "Gotcha!"  Doesn't she know that I HATE that word?!  I liked the button that said Publish to blogger. Picasa is only one of many photo management programs. It is related to Google.   But since it now is the one which caught my attention, I plan to try it out.  If I am seriously going to get back into photography, I should be able to practice with my LG rumor phone, which is all I have at the moment.