There's more than one way to skin a cat

Or is it "kill a cat"?  Actually, it has been both, although I can't figure out why anyone would WANT to skin or kill a cat!  Anyway, this phrase just popped into my mind when I went to Google and the usual choices were not at the top.  So I typed in the address for www.blogspot.com and achieved my aim of finding my blog.

Went to a pretty good restaurant last night, Barcelona bistro in Pitman, New Jersey.  The view was nice, big windows overlooking a park and a city building, with occasional passersby and their leftovers.  The service could have been better.  We weren't immediately served with the bread we were craving, but the bread was warm and came with oil finally.  First we got water with no ice but they brought ice later.  Now for the FOOD.  I had trout with almond sauce.  It was FABULOUS.  Also green beans and carrots and a potato croquette that was so good I immediately ate the whole thing.  In fact, I had trouble stopping the eating in order to get the leftovers.  On the way out we noticed that the restaurant had been voted one of 25 best restaurants in South Jersey for 2013.  And my DISH (Truta almendras) had been voted one of the 50 best in South Jersey.  Boy, do I know how to pick'em.  Actually, my friend picked it because she had a Groupon coupon.  This really complicates the bill.  Is it my responsibility to pay for half of what she paid for the coupon?

Did yoga already this morning.  What with getting enough sleep, getting exercise and getting on the computer, I barely have enough time for any other activities.

Small business Saturday

Sitting in the window of Little Mama's cafe in Bridgeton, NJ, trying to be supportive.  Eating a sandwich which is WAY over my diet limits but it is delicious.  Sad how few people stop in to Bridgeton shops...like this one and the art gallery where I volunteer.  If it was New York City these cupcakes would be selling like hotcakes.  Prices not bad...I got a large sandwich, a bottle of Dasani water and a free Hershey's kiss all for $6.43.

Finally an absolutely fabulous weather day!  Sun is out, wind is less and cold is fading.  Tomorrow the forecast is similar.  I need Spring badly.  I am indoors right now but at least I have a very nice view of the outdoors.  Table is too wobbly and there is no electrical outlet but I am making concessions for the view.  Perhaps they should pay ME for sitting in the window.

Tonight going to a fundraiser for someone who was in a bad car accident.  Seem to have misplaced my ticket.  Beef and beer, two foods I don't/should not eat.  Looking forward to the silent auction.  Just what I need, more STUFF.

Pleasures and pains

Pleasures of the day:
- A very light snow, just enough for viewing.  It all melted in a few hours.
- Took a pain pill.
- Read for one hour
- Went back to bed
- Got on to the computer with my new library card
- Watching immense pine tree and my favorite overgrown bush out the window with snow on them

Pains of the day:
- Only two phone calls...one to remind me to pick up pills at Walgreens and one from the NRDC wanting me to donate $25 a month
-  No time for exercise what with all of my lazing around
- I just tried to add an article about lists but I don't know where it went
- Someone wants me to save the newspaper for her.  But I like to CUT THINGS OUT.  I am not going to stop doing that just for her.  I will just try to cut more carefully.

Just finished a short and delightful book.....The art of procrastination : a guide to effective dawdling, lollygagging and postponing ( or, getting things done by putting them off) , by John Perry.

I liked the book because he provides a justification for procrastination.  This was refreshing, because everybody else just tells you how to change yourself and become a non-procrastinator.  My favorite chapter is called, A plea for the horizontally organized.  His idea is to get a VERY LARGE lazy susan for all of the piles (say, 15 feet in diameter).  I know I have been instructed to get everything verticle, but like the author of this book, I don't think I could cope with having all of my projects in file folders.  Afriend loaned me this book because she thought I would enjoy it and I did.

Why the Internet Loves Lists | Smart News

Why the Internet Loves Lists | Smart News

Black people have more fun

Just finished a fun romp of an audiobook...Baggage claim, by David E. Talbert (never heard of him).  Performed by Kim Fields.  "She's got thirty days and thirty-thousand miles to find a husband".  Book was quite silly in spots and I am not really into chasing men in order to marry them, but I learned a lot of black lore and the book was laugh out loud funny at times.   Montana Moore is a flight attendant with best friends at work, a black woman and a gay man.  Due to family pressures she finally caves to the idea of getting a husband and travels the country to "try out" five former beaus, who couldn't be more different.  They all have their stumbling blocks and the book keeps you glued to your seat waiting to see WHO she will end up with.

I am a creature of habit.  Thinking about the fact that I live in the same house where I came as an infant.  Of course, I haven't lived there the whole time, but I am back there.  Saw an old friend today in an art gallery.  Remembering back decades ago when we got friendly at the art opening for a show in which we were both participants at this very same gallery.

Started another audiobook which won't be as good, but the previous one ended up on Christmas eve in Baltimore and this one starts on Christmas eve in Malibu.  They both involve airplanes.  Life is full of coincidences.  Using the computer at the Bridgeton Public Library.  Going to look for an audiobook of Paula Poundstone's book.  Still laughing about HER performance the other night.  This is my SECOND library of the day.  Spent 15 minutes at the Vineland Public Library in between errands today.

Got this nail polish today from my favorite nail person.  Road house blues by O.P.I.

Unwelcome mail

Sometimes the mail is just FULL of bad news:
- Got a certified letter notice from the City of Bridgeton.  Now I have a whole day to ponder what form of bad news this will be.
- Note from the post person that perhaps I should change ALL of my addresses to say that I live on the second floor now that someone has moved into the first floor.  Does she realize how many people send me mail??
- Notice from Comcast that I am receiving some stations to which I am not entitled (why can't they tell me WHICH?) and saying that they will be taking them away on April 3rd.  Grrrr... And I think the bill went UP last month.  Now paying $73 each month and I don't even watch TV!
- Notice from my drug plan that they are not going to cover/provide my Clarinex any more

Logged into Playlist.com.  Something started playing.  I think I had better just listen to whatever it is.  When I try to search, add, or other stuff, I get all messed up.  Had to get out the headphones because I can't stand the sound of the rain.  Also shut the window blinds so I don't have to LOOK at the horrible weather outside.  Rain and wind on the way to snow?

I have a terrible feeling that my laptop is not charging.

My home away from home

It used to be my CAR but now it is the Fitness Connection in Vineland, New Jersey.  It was hard getting through the workout today.  Now I am on to the FUN part of the day, computer time at the Millville Public Library.  Unfortunately, Playlist.com is acting up again, thus impacting my happiness.  Listened to some snippets from the movie Silver linings playbook and realized that the song I liked is called Unsquare dance, by Dave Brubeck.

Each day I look at NEXT BLOG on Google for a couple of blogs.  Seem to be a lot of religious people blogging and a lot of families.  I don't know what I am, but not those.  I also have blogs under my favorites on my computer and some on my blog reader on Google.  I try to delete ones that are not up to date, no matter how intresting they are.  A lot of abandoned blogs, too.

Happy National foreign language week (March 4-10) and National nutrition month...two of my interests.  Speaking of nutrition, made a vow to start eating more (some) vegetables.  They just happened to have a display on this topic at the health club so I picked up some handouts.  Feeling somewhat proud of myself for my lunch - grapefruit and avocado and pecans and salad dressing.  Trying mightily to not eat the OTHER cookie in the bag I cracked open.  ONE of them is 100 calories and that is my self-imposed limit for snacks.
Why do they put TWO of them in the packet?  Temptation.....