Geting to know my new phone

Very slowly, that is. Especially enjoying the camera. Took a picture Friday night at a fundraiser and was told by the subject that it was the best photo he had from that night.

Youtube pleasing me. Haven't figured out how to do music on my phone. Have been very conservative on usage until I see how much is one gigabyte. That is all I have. Keep seeing better phone deals, but, oh well. I will now have two years of lusting after better deals. Have found that Verizon in NOT the answer to all of my problems....does not work at the Cohansey Café or at Gallery 50 and people sometimes tell me that I am BREAKING UP. Maybe I will give AT & T a try next.

VERY busy weekend. Thank goodness for a quiet Monday and Tuesday to catch up with myself. Fundraiser Friday night. Lunch with Santa Saturday morning (another fundraiser). Bridgeton House tour Saturday afternoon. Only went to one house but it was warm and cozy, with 20 fireplaces. Then a Prairie Home Companion evening (my favorite thing to do). Sunday was church, Christmas shopping, grocery shopping, football (Eagles lost) and singing at a church service for the Journey to the manger. Luckily, I live right across the street from church so left the football game to practice our song, then 15 minute service, and back home to catch the depressing end of the game. So I switched to 60 minutes, my other favorite thing.

Way too late to go home early now

I thought this was a clever tune title by the Grassy Knoll Boys. They sang it on Prairie Home Companion, my favorite Saturday night radio show. It SEEMED like a new show, but I'm not really sure. My favorite singer was on (Jearlyn Steele) but I have heard him talk about her grandchildren and her degrees previously. I worry about Garrison Keillor retiring as I recently learned he turned 71. But, I suppose I could go on happily listening to reruns and not even notice. I am allowed to retire but my doctor and my radio show hosts are NOT.

I was the first customer at my sister's coffee shop today. Conveniently located several blocks from my house, it provided me with coffee and a croissant, neither of which I have currently at home. Perhaps I should start a new list for a person (or persons) I tell about it every day. Not sure how they are really going to commit to a schedule nor what hassles are involved in getting permits for this, but fun to dream.

Physically not up to par lately. Today did yoga which helped not hindered. But now I just feel like taking a NAP.
Conditions and pains in several locations.

The reminiscence bump

I heard about it on NPR...that time period between age 18 and 25 when events are indelibly etched into your brain and psyche even if you are high a lot of the time.  Studies have shown that music heard, books read, loves experienced during those years tend to stay in your memory and be preferred even into your dotage.  Having just had events of that time period written about in a newspaper, I tend to agree.

Am sitting in the Cumberland County library using my own laptop.  Can't print but CAN blog.  One must make one's compromises.

Woke up feeling like I had been run over by a tractor trailer.  I think it is hay fever time.  I used to take three different meds year round for allergies but gave them up in my retirement due to the expense.  But this is my historical time for hay fever before I got deluded into thinking that I had constant allergies.  I took a Claritin.

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)

I don't watch TV

I just listen to radio shows ABOUT TV! NPR seems to be obsessed with all of these shows on HBO. I know they are all the rage, but I am one of the many HBO-deprived amongst us. My TV watching consists of moving around the dial and watching 5 minutes of a few shows or until the commercial comes on. I prefer old 1/2 hour sit-coms. (Yeah...I'm just an old fuddy duddy!) Here is what I like:
- Seinfeld
- Everybody loves Raymond
- Mind TV - 5 minute self produced videos
- The big bang theory
- The golden girls
That said, I rarely watch anything on purpose, other than 60 minutes. I am SO behind the curve. Heard about a new book called Difficult men, featuring the new anti-hero in television series, such as The sopranos, Breaking bad, etc. All the heros now seem to be gangsters, meth makers, prisoners. Thought about getting that book for my sister as she has watched all of these shows enthusiastically.

Book review: The Lumby lines, by Gail Fraser. This was recommended by a friend. I was not able to finish it as it became overdue at the Cape May Court house Library (F Fra). It was the first in a series. Lumby is a small fictional town in the Northwest. Two out-of-towners buy an old abbey and renovate it to be an Inn. They get to know people from this small town, some supportive and some not so. Some of the obstructionists are powerful people in the town. I found the book a bit too cutesy or maybe I just wasn't in the mood. Interestingly, the cover art is by the husband of the author and depicts the town in a primitive style.

Book review: Here, there, elsewhere: stories from the road, by William Least Heat-Moon. I have sort of forgotten about this author since his seminal work, Blue highways. He was quoted in an article somewhere so I decided to give him another look. This is a collection of short essays from throughout his career. While he does visit interesting places, and provides maps and black & white images, I found it hard to stick with. I wished that some of the images were in color. He does have a knack for getting around. Very helpful indeed is the index of places at the end. I got this book on interlibrary loan from the Woodbury Library. Unfortunately, now that I have retired, I have to PAY if my books are late so I am returning this one not completely read. (910.4 Hea)

You want weapons?

On NPR this AM I learned that there have been 12 guys who have played Dr. Who and that Dr. Who is the hero of the millenial generation. He is a pacifist and a cerebral guy. Not really familiar, myself, but I liked this quote:
"You want weapons? We're in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!"

Just ate a peach. A white peach from a local farm market. It was pretty delicious. Cantalopes rumoured to be mostly tasteless this year. And I paid $3.50 for one.

Things I would like at the moment:
- a vacation (but I have too many appointments)
- to live on a cliff alone overlooking the water
- more classical music in my life (finding it very restful)
- to be surrounded by well-spoken, informed people
- some new and more friends

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.

I want to eat something right now

An apt phrase for me....learning in the car with Pimsleur.  It is a good thing I already KNOW French.  Don't know how I could do this audio lesson if I DIDN'T know French!  I have noticed that proper pronunciation gives your face and neck a workout.  The conversations are sort of stupid...stopping someone on the street and then asking her how she is.  I am trying to get ready for all of that helloing and goodbyeing and politeness that the French go in for.  It is hard to be on a diet when you are constantly having to say in French....Do you want to eat something?  Yes.  What do you want to eat?  I don't know.  Very good. (see what I mean about stupid conversations?)  WHEN do you want to eat something?  Je voudrai manger quelque chose maintenant! (I want to eat something RIGHT NOW).

Hearing loud drunk people on the streets of Bridgeton.  Maybe every downtown has loud drunk people?  There were some hanging outside of the Millville Public Library the other day.

Heard an oldies station on the radio today.  WIBG?  I thought that was defunct...or maybe it was just on AM and moved to FM?  So, I looked it up.  It seems to be broadcasting out of Ocean City now..... I guess they weren't OLDIES the first time.  WIBG is pronounced WIBBAGE.

About

Wibbage 99 was Philadelphia's original rock and roll radio station, introducing millions of Delaware Valley teenagers to the sounds of Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Motown and much more.

Wibbage FM 94.3 is our tribute to the great Philly station of our youth.  You'll hear retro commercials, jingles and airchecks, but you'll also hear local news, weather and events.  Plus, that great music you know and love!

Your favorite songs from...
The Beatles, Beach Boys, Four Tops, Billy Joel, Herman's Hermits, The Association, Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Elton John, Van Morrison, Roy Orbison, Rolling Stones, America, Buckinghams, Martha & the Vandellas, Doobie Brothers and so many more!!!

The Bible is HOT

Heard this on the radio today.  After the success of The Bible mini-series, producers are falling all over themselves to design Bible-related shows.  I could have told them that, just from the requests we got at the reference desk at the Vineland Public Library.

So many helpless people!  Guy with a cane at the Wawa today couldn't find the newspaper he wanted.  Probably because all of the names have changed due to REGIONALIZATION (hate it).
Anyway, I do not want to become one of the helpless people.  That is a struggle as you age.  That is why I am exercising.

Little known things about me: I punched a time clock for 37 years.  Three different jobs.  In fact, I punched a clock today.  But do not feel sorry for me, because THIS job I only do once a month (and not EVERY month).

Not totally prepared

Just driving by....stopped into my brother-in-law's new shop to use the wireless.  Some of my supplies were in the car but not all.  Looking forward to a day of NO PLANS.  OK, computer and exercise and going out to breakfast, but, other than that no plans.  Tired of being out late the last two nights.  I feel a nice listening to Prairie Home Companion night coming on.  That is my favorite Saturday night activity 6 - 8 PM.  What will I do if Garrison Keillor ever retires?!?!?  And he is of the age (around my age I do believe).

Bingo, is it worth it?  Did my yearly bingo last night.  6 hours, $50 and NO prizes.  Felt like such a loser by the end.  Most of my friends had won something.  Not that I need any more CRAP to find a place for.  But 6 hours is much longer than my attention span.  In fact, one game is longer than my attention span, especially the one where you have to completely fill in the sheet.

Attended a Sweet honey in the rock concert Thursday night in Philadelphia,  I have heard them once  (or twice).  My friend got in a funk cause they were sort of different.  Two new members, instruments in the background (they are known as an acapella group) and they sang songs from the "canon" of Odetta, Nina Simone, Miriam Makeba and Abbey Lincoln.  They did a lot of individual performing rather than all together.  One of them sang Another man done gone while playing the violin.  Other instruments were involved and a tape of thunder and lightning.  I wish I could find a video to post for you.  Forgot to mention the really nice part of the evening when my friend cooked dinner for us all before the concert.  African peanut stew (vegetarian version) was yummy.  We all brought something.
So we drove to Philly in one person's car.  Came back and got in yet another person's car to drive to MY car.  Miles to go before I sleep.