LOL, all by myself

Got up at my usual time, 9 AM. Made breakfast and was not happy with the $2.97 coffee I bought yesterday at the C-town.
Like most every day, I sat in front of the TV to eat, even though I know that is a big NO-NO. Jon Stewart making fun of John Boehner and other Republicans and Tea party people during the President's speech was HILARIOUS and Oh-so-right-on!
Then I read two pages of a David Sedaris article in The New Yorker. My day was off to a good start!

Returning this book to the library today. It was a bit ridiculous. The tapping solution for weight loss and body confidence (book), by Jessica Ortner. There were some helpful suggestions in there but the idea of tapping various parts of your head and neck while you recite affirmations is just too dumb.

Today is my "self-indulgent" day. On Thursday, I come to Vineland and get a manicure and a massage and use the best library in Cumberland County. Heard a good story the other day. My doctor said that her father wanted her mother to move to the Friends Village in Woodstown. Her mother wouldn't go because the libraries over there are limited.

Slowly but surely

I am making a bit of progress on cleaning up the house and getting rid of stuff. My philosophy is, if it fell on the floor and got bent or dirty, out it goes. I am sure I cut it out or saved it for some good reason, but I know I can't deal with everything in that category.

Read a book called Pillow talk (book) on the Nook. It might have been a "free Friday" book, by Freya North. A woman is a jewelry designer in London. She runs into a man that she had a brief infatuation for many years ago when he was a guitarist in a rock band. He is now a teacher in an exclusive boys school sort of far from London. After a chance encounter, they get back together. There is also a theme of sleep walking and not very good parents. Her main influence was a woman she was visiting for a service project. They became very close and the woman left her a beautiful stone which she finally uses to make a fabulous bracelet which starts her career on its way.

Feel like I have no life except through literature and film. Cried over the last in the series of Call the midwife last night. Today was all caught up in a new audio book called Two boys kissing that I heard about when I witnessed two guys getting married recently. The minister who married them quoted something from this book and I just happened to see it at the Vineland Public library so I got it.

A lot of things on my mind

Trying to THINK while listening to Moves like Jagger on Youtube. Couldn't get a CD to play on this computer so I switched to Youtube just to see if it was the sound? (It isn't) I LOVE Youtube, except for the fact that you can't find any Prince old music videos on it. Wonder if I still have that VHS tape from the early days of MTV when it was all videos all day. I know I had him singing Little red Corvette.

Started the day with Yoga, trying to forget that I didn't get up early enough to shovel the snow or feed the birds. The snow wasn't very deep and the birds will just have to wait until tomorrow. Also had a one-hour massage. Living the life of Riley. Commented on Facebook and now my email is filled with junk mail about all the people who commented after me. Sigh....I really don't get (or like) Facebook. Anyway, Yoga was great except that she made us do the Cobra THREE times. I don't like the Cobra...I only like the Sphinx. But she switched it up today with a few surprises and the music was on "shuffle" which created some more interest. We did the 4th chakra which is about the heart. Good timing with Valentine's day. Forgot the great quote we repeated 6 times....but we created a lotus flower with our hands and this chakra focusses on compassion and self-love, two things I really need more of.

Was supposed to go out to a Downton Abbey viewing party last night but it started snowing. So we all stayed home and watched it and had a conference call afterwards to discuss it.

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.

Losing the battle against sloth

I learned last week that every hour of sitting takes 22 minutes off of your life. That has made me more interested in exercise IN THEORY but not in practice. All of my favorite activities involve SITTING...reading, driving, computer work. Notice that I have been skipping more days of exercise and justifying it. This has got to stop! Just wrote a short article about the benefits of physical activity. Now I just need to PRACTICE what I preach.

So, the only guy who actually talks to me in the gym makes me nervous. I guess I like being a hermit and not knowing anyone's name. I always feel so defensive around him. Like I always want to trash myself and my efforts. He keeps trying to get me to be positive and I persist in being negative.

Watched Doc Martin last night. It is on Tuesday night at 8 PM on Channel 23. Thought I had seen them all but I seem to have missed series 3. Or else I FORGOT that I saw it. But I DO remember the Ballykissangels that come on next. One hour of TV is my limit for one day. And that is at least 1/2 hour longer than my attention span. I love Doc Martin because it has great scenery, it is about a small town, and he is such a curmudgeon. He is a surgeon who develops a fear of blood. I am always BEHIND on things. I only seem to enjoy repeats or shows that are not even produced any more. I was a few years LATE getting into Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra and The big bang theory. Just not a cutting edge kind of gal.

Diet Coke has an expiration date??!

That is a scary thought. You mean to tell me there are FRESH ingredients in Diet Coke? Yesterday I was drinking one that had an expiration date of the previous day. Not too worried about it. Anyway, recent thinking is that the expiration dates are just a suggestion.

I can't believe they are cancelling the show called Hoarders. Although I guess once you have seen one hoarders you have seen them all....chubby, low-class, unsmiling people with lots of crap. I enjoy watching it from time to time for a few minutes and hope that they are worse than me. I don't think I have animal excrement in my home. But I DO need to keep a trash bag in each room.

Having an ongoing struggle with Yahoo mail. Who are all of their customers? I don't know many people who still have Yahoo. I was fine with it until they started "upgrading" and trying to be like Google. Their customer service SUCKS. They have all kinds of online forms and aids but you can't get to a real person unless you have an account access issue.
That is what is the most frustrating thing. I have sent off at least 8 pissed off complaints just today. It is bad when the help instructions are just plain WRONG. I am losing emails (especially ones I have forwarded) and cannot change my signature, which I like to do once a week.

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'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.

Suddenly humid

Wow, it is going to be over 80 degrees today.  Having a hot flash just thinking about it.  That is getting a bit over my limit of comfort.

I only watch a few minutes of TV each day.  Happened to catch Matt Lauer at the top of One world trade center at the moment the top spire was raised, lowered and attached.  1776 feet tall - is that a historical date or how many people died on 9/11?  We now have the tallest strictly office building in the western hemisphere.  Ain't America great!?!?  Other interesting facts were that it takes the workers 40 minutes just to get to the top to do their jobs each day!  And that the first businesses will get their keys in 2014.  I happen to be going to New York next Saturday.  Must add this to the list of things to do (it is short, so far).  Feel kind of bad that I haven't visited the site at all in ten years.

Book review: Winter journal, by Paul Auster.  I didn't/don't even know who Paul Auster is, but according to a Henry Holt & Co. ad I saw in the New Yorker, he is "one of the great writers of our time".  I did enjoy this memoir...which detailed all the places he has lived (in order) and traveled and the decline and death of his mother.  Also there is a New Jersey connection, which I always like to know about.  And he wrote this when he was 64, about the same age as I am.  I liked the first paragraph - "You think it will never happen to you, that it cannot happen to you, that you are the only person in the world to whom none of these things will ever happen, and then, one by one, they all begin to happen to you, in the same way they happen to everyone else."  I recommend this book.  You can borrow the large type edition from the Millville Public Library (LT 92 AUS).

Book review: Peaches for Father Francis, by Joanne Harris.  In which the characters from a previous book called Chocolat come back to Lansquenet, a small village in France.  There is an interesting addition of an Islamic theme and the push and pull between the cultures.  There is a bit of a mystery about who caused a fire and who is the covered up woman and why has she come to town.    Our heroine, Vianne, returns to the small town to straighten out some things. She gets very involved and has trouble getting back to her life in Paris.   I borrowed this book from the Vineland Public Library (FIC Harris Joanne)

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).

My life doesn't interest me

Lately, when I make the bed, I just want to get back in it.  I did get back in it today and lounged around for several hours listening to NPR.  I have a daily routine, but am losing interest in it. 
- one hour of chores
- exercise
- computer work
I know I am retired, but I can't spend the day in bed without feeling highly guilty.  I am falling behinder and behinder.

Valentine's day is this week.  Not one of my favorite holidays.  Liked the words heard in a song on the Lawrence Welk show last night..."somebody soon will love you, if no one loves you now."  One can always hope. I really miss those old sing alongs we used to have at the Quadrangle where my mother was incarcerated

So, why was I watching The Lawrence Welk show?  Trying to get ready for Downton Abbey.  We watched if for three hours....very satisfying.  A one hour show is never enough.  Watched the repeat from last week and the two hour show from last night.  I am already experiencing withdrawal symptoms as next week is the season finale.  There are people I LOVE on that show (Matthew, Mary, Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Carson, Mrs. Patmore) and people I HATE (Miss O'Brien, Mr. Barrow).

Not much to say

I think I am losing interest in this blog, along with many other things.  Is it the winter blues?

Dedicating a large part of today to reading the Sunday New York times.  I usually only do that when I am visiting my sister in North Jersey as she has a subscription.  I find the actual paper so much more enjoyable than the online version.

Managed to fit everything in this weekend.  Friday night I volunteered at a concert of Ben Williams and the sound machine.  It was jazzy and very compelling and exciting.  I should go to more concerts, even if I don't know what I am going to hear, like with this group.  Out to breakfast Saturday morning at Dodge's Market in Elmer.  A tasteful array of healthy foods.  Joined some woman friends for a lunch at a friend's house and then up to North Jersey for a family reunion of sorts.  The highlights of the evening were watching Downton Abbey (unfortunately a segment I had already seen TWICE), watching one episode of The killers and going out into the hot tub while it was snowing.

Blogging and exercising

Two things I think I should do DAILY but it does get a bit tiresome, day after day.  Plus, I have to leave home to accomplish both of these things and sometimes I just run out of energy. Or it is too cold outside.  Didn't get to it this weekend at all.

Trying to stay healthy, but it is hard.  Woke up early while it was still dark and I didn't like the sound of my breathing.  When I exhaled, there was a weird sound, like a little tiny person very far away screaming.  So, I went back to sleep somehow and it seemed to be better when I woke up.

Every time I go into my bathroom, I get excited, as the hole in my window finally got fixed.  When I say FINALLY....Not sure HOW many years ago someone threw a jar of spaghetti sauce through my window.  I was taking a shower at the time.  Someone threw a jar which went through the second floor storm window, through the window, under the shower curtain and landed in the tub behind me.  Luckily, this was not a FULL jar of spaghetti sauce.  That would have REALLY been a mess.  I think I still have some glass in the tub.  Of course, I have no idea who did it and if it was random or personal.  The cops were no help.  All that was left of the bottle was the label and they said they couldn't take fingerprints off of it.

Missed the Golden Globes last night.  OK, I didn't even know it was ON until I sat down to read the paper at 11 PM and saw it listed in the TV section.  I was busy watching 60 minutes and Downton Abbey.  I am committed to Downton Abbey.  Realized there are certain types of segments that I hate on 60 minutes:
- extreme sports
- terrorists
- egotistical, rich men

Guilty pleasures

Some of my "guilty pleasures" ( I know it is a cliche)...Walmart, Eminem, L'il Wayne.  Forced to go to Walmart to save money on drugs.  Even though I am "anti-Walmart:, sometimes I look around when I am there.  Did find some things I really needed today for a really good price.  They do have some good ideas.  I like the way the bathrooms are right near the front door and that they are well maintained.  In fact, if Walmart had a drive-through it would be just about perfect!

Note to self - things to look up - duties of the footman, Google play, Google phone (?), dates of the upcoming Downton Abbey episodes....

Just took a look at Facebook.  Couldn't even figure out how to logout of it.  Perhaps there is some happy medium between this blog which no one reads and Facebook, which is filled with messages from people I don't really care about.  There are some nice photographs on there, though.  I would like to copy them for my desktop.  Right now I have a photo of Matthew and Lady Mary on there. 

Downton Abbey is back

Woke up excited about the start of Season 3 of Downton Abbey.  Rarely do I stay home in order to watch TV but tonight yes, attending a Downton Abbey viewing party.  My philosophy of TV is, if I am HOME and it is on, I might watch it for 5 minutes.

Saw a good play today, Assistance, at the Wilma in Philadelphia.  We have season tickets and this year, the weather has greatly cooperated.  Last year it rained or snowed every day our seats came up.
This was a rapid fire comedy involving the office of a really bad boss, who we never meet.  Some of the assistants manage to get promoted and some get fired or burned out.

I had to stop listening to The ruins, the book by Scott Smith.  Things were going from bad to worse and when two guys decided to amputate the legs of the guy who had fallen down the mine shaft and then been eaten by the man-eating plant, I couldn't stand it another minute.  They were never going to be rescued anyway.  Some story lines are just too horrible for me to even cope with.  That is how I feel about going to see that new movie called Django unchained. I can't imagine why anyone would want to see a movie about slaves fighting each other to the death.  What is WRONG with Americans?

Feeling irritable

Don't know why I am feeling so irritable this afternoon. Had a nice morning at our annual Christmas fund raising event; helping, buying and admiring cute children. But now I feel rushed and unhealthy. "NEED" to exercise but feel incapable of doing it. Always struggling to fit in computer and exercise and appreciation of the limited daylight hours. Drove by McDonald's but there was no handy parking and people were sitting at my favorite laptop table. So, I rushed over to the library and was confronted by NOISY, obnoxious child. With "caretakers" who seem oblivious to the commotion. Stopped at a deli on the way and THEY HAD NO DIET COKE. Had to go to Shoprite to purchase something for dinner but I didn't really WANT to be there, nor did I have the time for it.

Recently had a haircut and color. Not sure where I want to go with my hair. Somewhat disappointed that I lost my highlights to which I was quite attached. Have been jumping around from hairdresser to hairdresser since mine up and moved to Arizona (the bum!) It WAS, however, a really enjoyable day (Friday) as I had a lot of attention from hairdresser and then got a manicure and a pedicure. Boy, am I SPOILED!

Saw a good show on TV the other night. It was just a serendipitous discovery going around the dial as this is how I watch TV. It was called Park Avenue : money, power and the American dream. As the New York Post described it, "Channel 13's rich bash".
I believe it was based on the book 740 Park Avenue about some of the residents of this building who are not particularly nice, in addition to being billionaires. It talked about how the Koch brothers are behind the "grass roots" movement known as the Tea party.

The newspapers for reading for free are located at the library

Sign over newspaper rack at The incredible bulk, in Millville last night. Walked around for "Third Friday" with some friends. Festive lights, music, food, and gifts. The only problem was the COLD. We had a yummy dinner at a vegan restaurant. Very healthy food but they use takeout containers and plastic forks, which somewhat spoils the effect. I guess that helps to keep the prices down. Wildflower is the name of this restaurant which has been in business over a year. In our area, that is saying something. It was funny, though. We were sitting there eating our raw veggies and talking about all of our dental problems.

They had the DUMBEST segment on the morning show yesterday. They had five babies in high chairs. The Cake Boss baked a huge round cake for each of them. They were each a different solid pastel color. The baby was supposed to get down with the cake and after a timer went off, there was supposed to be an award for the messiest baby. I asked myself, WHY?!?!?! The babies didn't look like they even wanted to BE there or DO it. They forced one baby's hand into the cake and he started wiping his hands together, like why are you making me get so dirty? The cakes were so BIG that they totally obscured the babies. Boy, we are really desparate for entertainment.

I think I felt some endorphins

Just went to exercise, second time this week. The Arthritis Foundation exercise program is done mostly sitting down. I love the teacher. We do a little bit of Tai Chi too. I am a paying member of this health club, but have only been twice this year. Let's see...at $26.66 per month, that is $319.92 per year and $159.96 per visit. I have been meaning to get back to exercising for several years now. I was afraid if I stopped paying, I wouldn't get back in with the deal. (One of the many things I do which don't make much sense!) But I like the feeling that, anytime I want to, I can walk right in.

Now I am visiting The Megabyte cafe, a newish business in Millville, New Jersey. The cafe is at 110 N. High St. in Millville. Killing time til the library opens and I can make a couple of printouts. Due to budget cuts, most of the libraries don't open until 10 AM now and they close at 8 PM. Have a nice table by the window, having my morning coffee, using the wireless with my laptop, and enjoying a delicious English muffin, heavily buttered, with strawberry jelly on top. Life is good. We didn't get too much snow down here...just enough to make an attractive dusting.

Ran across Rachel Maddow on TV last night. Boy she is great! She is a political columnist on CNBC. Her show is called TRMS, I guess? She showed a chart with pictures of all the nine white men who made rude comments about rape and abortion and pointed out that they ALL lost. It is so easy for liberals to "gloat" right now, but she gave it a very humorous skewering. I only watch TV going around the dial, I never hardly ever watch anything on purpose. If it is on and I am home I may watch it. OK, I take it back, I do watch 60 minutes on purpose.