What I like about yoga

I like that yoga is SLOW. That is me. If I had to identify with an animal, it would be a turtle, hesitant, sluggish, and prone to hide.

Here at the library with the great unwashed and the I-don't-know-enough-to-not-use-my-cell-phone-constantly-in-a-library crowd. Unpleasant sights and smells, which I am trying to overcome by listening to Joni Mitchell real loud on Youtube. One of my five things to accomplish this week is to figure out how to get the Internet at home. There is just too much to do, watch, or listen to online! Two hours a days (and not every day) is just not cutting it. My piles of papers and things to investigate just keep on getting bigger. But, then again, this has been my life-long problem!

The PMS outlaws (audiobook), by Sharyn McCrumb. A few too many characters who went by their initials. I am easily confused these days. I liked the mental institution patients the best. The plot involved college friends, brothers and sisters, interior decorating, lawyers becoming criminals, mistaken identity, long held grudges, home-made alcohol and other fun stuff.

A fucking bitch?

That's what I was called today by a woman at the nail salon. I asked her if she had headphones to use with her phone cause the video she was watching was annoying. She had been on the phone the entire time she was getting a pedicure so I already thought she was rude. When she left she started off with "Have a nice day" and soon progressed to calling me "a fucking bitch". It seems that the video she was watching was of her nephew who had died yesterday. That didn't stop her from getting her nails done. I should have known I was in trouble when she called someone from the dryer station and asked if the person hadn't received her text. Then she said over the phone, "I'm not going over there, cause if I open my mouth, I'm gonna punch her in the fucking face". Such a high class of person we have in Vineland, New Jersey. How can I escape? I should have just ignored her or put in ear plugs.
It just occurred to me that she was probably talking about ME!

Discovered a new author, about whom I am wildly enthusiastic. Unfortunately, none of my local libraries have any of his works, other than this audio book, Let me be Frank with you, by Richard Ford. It is the fictional meanderings in the mind of Frank Bascombe, age 68, living in New Jersey. These stories almost sound like a novel which takes place the Christmas after Hurricane Sandy. I enjoyed his cynicism and social satire. I am going to have to work to find his 3 or 4 previous novels.

Noisy people in the library. Trying to keep my mouth shut, although I feel like giving them a librarian-like shusshing. Also trying to block them out with my Youtube. Finally discovered that Youtube problems can be overcome by using CHROME to get on the Internet. Crafty little devils, aren't they? (Google) Shall I make a separate French and Spanish list on Google? Then I could more easily share with lovers of the language.

You are not going to believe this

Heard on the radio today that the most popular name for boys in Britain is MUHAMMED. Next is Oliver.

Thoughts about the sign "Black lives matter". If that is the case, please stop shooting each other.

Finished The handsome man's De Luxe café, by Alexander McCall Smith. The newest in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective agency series. Satisfyingly comforting in spite of things going wrong. Mme. Makutsi starts a new business venture without a whole lot of thought. Charlie becomes a detective and then a secretary. A cup of red bush tea helps with most problems, as usual.

Not a role model

I always pay attention to the messages on people's T-shirts. There is a trend for BIG BLOCK LETTERS. A young black guy in my town was sporting NOT A ROLE MODEL.

Have spent too much time at home since after church yesterday. Ignored a classical concert and a Jersey fresh fundraising dinner to stay home and watch FOOTBALL and then 60 minutes. Football was quite engaging, despite the brutality and fights and injuries. We won! (The Philadelphia Eagles, that is).

Just finished up a lot of books, which gives me a sense of accomplishment and allows space for some new books to enter my life (not today, though)

Paris in love : a memoir (book), by Eloisa James. Borrowed on my Nook through the library Overdrive program. She is a historical romance writer who spent one year in Paris with her Italian husband, two children, and dog. I like the stories and especially the list of her favorite stores, museums, etc. at the end.

The secret history (book), by Donna Tartt. An earlier book by the author of The goldfinch. I got a bit impatient with it and ended up kind of skimming. It was the story of a group of friends attending a college in Vermont and studying the classics. Their adventures and who knew what about whom and when.

Carsick (book), John Waters. John Waters hitchhiked from his home in Baltimore, Maryland to his apartment in San Francisco. The book has an interesting set up. First, he writes about the "good rides" and then the "bad rides". These are purely imaginary and almost made me abandon the book, they are so crazy. Then come the "real rides". I particularly liked the list in the back for his playlist of hitchhiking songs mentioned in the stories.

Letters to a fellow seeker : a short introduction to the Quaker way (book), by Steve Chase. The story from a young man from Vermont who discovered the Quaker religion. It is a slight book with 7 letters to a friend about various topics of belief.

Advice from the cleaning lady

We were discussing how hard it is to walk up and down the steps and she mentioned a home remedy that has helped some friends of hers. Take one quarter teaspoon of borax in a glass of water and it makes your joint pain go away. I looked at her a bit quizzically and thought to myself, "Isn't that what I have at home to kill ants?" So, I looked it up on the Internet and yes, borax has MANY uses, just like coconut oil and apple cider vinegar.

Finished an interesting book on the Nook, Catherine the Great, by Robert K. Massie. She was quite a gal, with many lovers and children all fathered by different lovers and not by her husband. Got it from the Overdrive system, through the Vineland Public Library.

Was going to address "the law of unintended consequences" but now have forgotten the issue!

My town

Just some random notes about disturbing things that go on in my town:

- There was an armed home invasion by several people including a pregnant woman.

- A 14 year old boy was killed. He recently became a father.

- Statement by cursing guy in library, "They are harassing my girlfriend. If they'd like, she could wup their ass!"

Trying to drown out the sound of losers

Sade video of Soldier of love on Youtube helping to drown out the sound of losers cursing and carousing in the computer area. Sadly, there is nothing to be done about the odor of stale smoke emanating from an old man near me.

Peaceful day...hot and quiet in the neighborhood. Nothing I like more than watering the back yard and the bird waterer with NO NEIGHBORS. I did a few things in the back yard today in spite of the hideous temps. Tied a string around the fence, had someone put up lights that didn't work, tested lights. Garage door broke but I got it down manually.

I think I must return home. Can't take the unwashed public. Spend most of my life recently trying to AVOID irritating people and places.

A feeling of well-being

Is it thanks to recent trip or summer or what? Or perhaps as was quoted in a New Yorker story..."He had worked as a carpenter and landscaper for years and was happy, as he often said, to have no other responsibilities but to watch the sun rise and set."

Approaching the ATM machine, I am appalled at the litter of all of the receipts people leave around. I feel sort of lucky when I see so many that say "insufficient funds" or have a balance of $8.94.

Getting more emails and enjoying them less.
- Yahoo: 20535
- Google: Hundreds
- work: thousands
- left at my previous job: thousands

Things I noticed in Atlantic City yesterday

- quite an intercultural mix - gorgeous bikini clad white folks - ethnic families - tattooed and pregnant folk - elderly casino lovers
- Hispanic woman wearing a silver revealing bathing suit covered with chains and necklaces
- Hispanic woman wearing a skimpy t-shirt that said "I (heart) black guys"
- Indians taking pictures of themselves in front of Trump Taj Mahal
- Italian woman participating in the World series of sand sculpting

Tuscany (book), photographs by Sonja Bullaty & Angelo Lomeo, text by Marie-Ange Guillaume. Since I did not take pictures in Italy, I enjoyed reading this large nonfiction book with many photographs of Tuscany. Siena was the only city I was in and I loved it. There were a lot of photographs of other cities and beautiful countryside much like what I saw.
- "The old haystacks, true works of art, can still be found but are gradually giving way to more efficient methods of storing hay." I think I only saw the big round bales of hay and not the old haystacks.
- "There are in blocks of marble images that are sumptuous and essential, if only we have sufficient genius to extract them. - Michelangelo"

The Keillor reader (book), by Garrison Keillor: I say I don't appreciate him as much in the written form as I do in the talking form, but some of these essays make me want to own the book. I especially like the final essay on Cheerfulness.
- From the introduction: "There is nothing like good material. You only had to say NEW YORK and there was an awestruck silence. You went, you saw, and now you tell the others." and: "The living wander away, we don't hear from them for months, years - but the dead move in with us to stay"

"The Villages"

Imagine over 107,000 people over 55 living within 5 square miles. It is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country! I don't think I would like it. Too crowded with wealthy retired people. It was founded by a billionaire and is known as "Disneyland for adults". It is in Florida, not sure exactly where.

A job has become available in my area of expertise. However, it is a "starter" job, downsized to 20 hours in order to save money on benefits. While it would be nice to have some extra money, the thought of having to commit myself to a schedule is not appealing and I would rather escape from some of the people who hang out at his place rather than help them. I am not proud of that sentiment, but there it is. I was there yesterday and some people came in and sat at the adjoining table. I couldn't wait to leave. Two people, one handicapped, curse words every other word, and a rank odor of cat piss. I am very sensitive to the smell of urine and unwashed bodies and stale smoke. (Hmmm...maybe I WOULD like the Villages?!)

Nice to wake up today with only the prospect of my usual research haunt and choir practice. Sometimes I wear myself out running around to all of my various activities. Like tomorrow, when I have arthritis exercise class at 8 AM, followed by art class from 9:30 - 12:30. Then I have to run down to Ocean City to return a library book. I tried to renew it, but someone had put it on hold. French women don't get facelifts talks about aging gracefully without too much intervention.

A woman with style

Have been looking for a wheeled contraption so I can lug my stuff around between the car and other places. A woman came in with, essentially, a briefcase on wheels. But she was stepping lively, dressed fashionably and wearing high heels and managed to look cool and effortless. Somehow, I only end up looking like a bag lady.

Meant to be early to work today but I ended up being late and had to speed. I HATE that. I like to be early as I only work one day a month and there are bound to be some rude surprises at the workplace. Better to figure them out BEFORE the rush. By now, I have figured it all out. The main surprises today were passwords that had been changed. But I managed a work-around and got it all straightened out eventually.

The sun has disappeared. There won't be any "Vitamin D bathing" today. Milder, though. I don't really care since I am stuck inside all day.

Sitting with the great unwashed

Sorry to sound so classist, but the person who just sat down next to me has an aura of old smoke and BO extending for several feet.

Is it ever going to warm up? Promises of 52 degrees seem hard pressed. I just can't seem to warm up. Got up at 4 AM and it was dark and cold. So, I got back in bed after reading for an hour, but just couldn't seem to warm up. Felt like I must be getting the flu....but I pride myself on my ability to not get sick. I am not sick but AM one of the worried well.

Not doing a whole lot today. Breakfasted with two friends I hadn't seen in awhile. Volunteered at the art gallery and had a good time talking with interesting workmen. Went to the car mechanic and arranged to spend lots of money there next week. Am glad I came to the library, though. It is nice and peaceful today. AND I found a new Janet Evanovich audiobook. What could be better? Oh, I DID accomplish a long undone project...buying windshield wiper fluid and putting it in the car all by myself.

Things I hate right now

People and their habits - snorting, snuffling, making a mess in the bathroom, throwing plastic stuff into the toilet, singing out loud when they have headphones on (in the library), body odor, smoking odor. Right now the sniffling and body odor are going to chase me out of the Millville Public Library.

Things I love right now - Youtube, The story of my life, by One Direction, sunshine.

Can't figure out how to print or cut and paste from books on Google. Perhaps I should join Goodle play although the thought of PAYING for stuff bothers me. Doing historical research about a composer names Root who hosted a three day musical convention in Bridgeton, New Jersey, in March of 1856. Even though there is very limited info (sentences or paragraphs), I get very excited about it.

I'm fascinated by names

Must enter this thought so I can tear up a piece of paper and get it out of my life. Getting lighter, one item at a time.

Has anyone else noticed the penchant for making up names in our African American community? So, a guy named Jermarl died (I think perhaps he was shot). He had four children, named Jermarl, Jr., Jermiara, Jershuna and Jernasia. Can't you just imagine the mother yelling at them? He had ten brothers, of which the names Keontray and Tyehiem jumbed out at me, three sisters, including a Tonoa and a fiance named Tira.

This morning I went out with two goals to accomplish before I got in my car. Sprinkle salt on my outrageously icy front steps so that I don't accidentally kill myself and so that the mail woman doesn't do the same and fill up the bird feeder so that the murder of crows can devour it. That is what a group of crows is called, a MURDER. They are going through one feeder full every day because it is SO cold and snowy. I really want to help out the pretty, normal birds, but the blackbirds and the squirrels are dominating the back yard. My hands almost froze up as I didn't want to get my gloves all soiled with bird poop and salt. When I got into the car, it said it was two degrees below zero. That must be some kind of a record. Still and all, I made it to the exercise class almost on time (8 AM).

Systems falling apart

Don't think I mentioned a good book I just finished. My systems are falling apart as I put it in my "library" bag, not my "Internet" pile. Deceived : a Hannah Smith novel, is by Randy Wayne White. I guess he is tired of his Doc Ford series, so he has created a tangential series featuring a woman detective who DATES Marion Ford. He was absent for most of the book, giving her ample time to interact with several new characters, including her mother perhaps suffering from Dementia, a new imprudent girlfriend, and a forward District Attorney. Other themes were the destruction of the FLorida coast by developers and tourists, elder scams, and the past raising its ugly head.

It is still snowy and cold, cold, cold. But, we are realizing that we can't cancel EVERYTHING until the snow melts. So, life must go on. Happy that I am able to ignore the weather by going to exercise class and the library. At home, I just am conscious of how drafty my house is. It is like living on a SAILBOAT. When the wind blows or when the temperature goes below freezing, my house can't cope. Plus, I am spending a FORTUNE on oil to be not-so-comfy. Book club tonight to discuss Barefoot in Baghdad. Guess I will have to go, although I would much rather stay home on an icy night. It is supposed to go down to 2 degrees tonight. That is just UNHEARD OF in Southern New Jersey. Why do I live in Bridgeton?? Why do I live in New Jersey??? I HATE winter.

Oh no, here comes the "Facebook lady"...the one that types constantly on Facebook for hours.

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.

When you are a retired disciplinarian

A retired police officer shot a guy in the movie theater who wouldn't stop texting when asked to. Yikes! I know the feeling. When you are a retired disciplinarian (like a librarian or a police officer) it is hard to stop telling people what to do in public spaces. I have to use the computer in libraries and I see quite a bit of misbehavior. The movies is another annoying place to be. But I don't think I would go so far as to SHOOT someone, mainly cause I don't have a gun. I would be more likely to get SHOT.

It was a real dismal rainy day today. Had NOTHING on the calendar so I read for an hour and then got back in bed to finish a book. I borrowed this book from the Gloucester City Library on the recommendation of someone. I found it quite irritating. Wings of glass, by Gina Holmes, is the story of a woman coming to the realization that her husband is an abusive, alcoholic jackass. OK, he is cute, but I got really tired of her rationalizations about his behavior. The good part of the book is her friendship with two women from church and work, who try to help her. One is from the Sudan. With these women, she learns to laugh and question. Having never been in an abusive relationship, I get real impatient that the woman can't just get up and go.

Had a good time perusing the recipes in Joel Fuhrman's book, Eat to live cookbook. But, can I actually EAT this way? I am a fast food junkie, masquarading as a vegetarian. First of all, I would need to get a blender or a juicer to even accomplish any of these recipes. The subtitle is "200 delicious nutrient-rich recipes for fast and sustained weight loss, reversing disease, and lifelong health". Come to think of it, I DO need to reverse a few diseases.

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.

I'm his guardian angel?

I meet some characters at the car mechanics. I like the car mechanic as they are honest and down home. They scribble what to do on a piece of printer paper smudged with oily fingerprints. Then they put your car keys on top. Calendar seems to be day by day and hand written. I brought stuff to do but I forgot about the loud country music they play. A guy came in, looking for a left hand mirror that he had ordered "a long time ago". He had left the country and his brother took over the truck and then kept it for awhile. When he finally got it back, the left hand mirror was STILL broken. He said if the mirror was still in the back room, he was going to call ME his guardian angel. It was. I am. He counsels prisoners as a labor of love for 40 years and his work is never done.

The weather is hideous. I can't stand it much longer. Two days of dank, damp and dreary. The only good news is that my roof didn't leak (yet).

I am busy organizing nuts and delivering them. Due to the horrible weather, I have not lugged the four boxes of nuts upstairs into my house. I am organizing them IN THE CAR. Soon, I will commence to binge on nuts every night until they are gone. I sort of overbought, if that is possible.

Volunteered for something I really don't feel like doing. I gotta stop that.