Came out of my house to go to breakfast and found that someone had been riffling through my car and stealing things. They stole my makeup bag (new), my kleenex, $5, my snacks and sunglasses and tire pressure guage and the worst thing was...my AUDIOBOOKS. They can be really expensive and I will have to pay the libraries I borrowed them from. Since I am a retired librarian, I do not have the nerve to ask them if they have a special rate for victims of crimes. Luckily, they did not go into the trunk. I am into and out of my car a million times a day and 99% of the time I get the locking thing right. BUT: they smashed the window of my new neighbor's car, so perhaps it was lucky I left my car unlocked?! He has only been a resident for three weeks and is probably rueing the day he moved to Bridgeton. I could have told him to expect bad things to happen once or twice a year. I could make quite a list. Each time I call the police although it has never helped me. At least this time, they made a valiant effort of taking fingerprints, but said they thought the guy(s) were wearing gloves. So now I have fingerprint dusting powder all over my car.
The other reason I am out of sorts is that I went to THREE libraries until I found one with good parking spots available. (I know it sounds crazy to not want to walk a few extra hundred feet and then go to the health club to exercise, but....) So the Millville Public Library is good cause there is a lot of room to spread out and I haven't yet been here this week, but THE SEATS ARE HARD.
Finished the book The blind side, by Michael Lewis. The movie was much more engaging. You never hear much about Michael Oher, but he is still on the Baltimore Ravens and they won the Super Bowl so he must be doing something right. After the Super Bowl, I wanted to read the book. I borrowed it from the Bridgeton Public Library (796.332 LEWIS). It is the story of a black guy who gets adopted by a (Republican Evangelical) rich white family in Tennessee and becomes a football star. He has a real shy kind of personality. He came from a family of 13 with a crack addicted mother. He guards the quarterback's side of greatest vulnerability, his "blind side".
On my Nook, I finished a book by Walter Mosley called The man in my basement. It was not one of my favorites. I seem to be obsessed by this writer. This good-for-nothing black guy gets hired by some guilty white guy to keep him a prisoner in his basement and take care of him for a whole lot of money.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
What happened to the day?
It seemed like your average dank and chilly March day when I left the house. In the middle of my exercise class, I turned to the side with the imaginary ball and saw it was SNOWING. Huh?! No wonder a friend of mine is leaving for Florida. The wait for Spring is ENDLESS.
Another stoplight, oh no! My small up-and-coming bank now has a new Shoprite across the street and they are putting a STOPLIGHT at the driveway. Another impediment to progress and speed. Have you ever noticed that they are always putting UP stoplights and never taking them down? So, life and traffic just get slower and slower.
Inspira - the new (stupid) name of the merged health care system. I used to work at Bridgeton Hospital. Then it got merged and became South Jersey Regional Medical Center. My health club has had three names, but I still call it "the center" the name three names ago. Inspira sounds like the name of a drug or that someone wants you to think good things about them like in inspiration. The secret name was just announced today. I have been dreading this moment because I HATE CHANGE.
Another stoplight, oh no! My small up-and-coming bank now has a new Shoprite across the street and they are putting a STOPLIGHT at the driveway. Another impediment to progress and speed. Have you ever noticed that they are always putting UP stoplights and never taking them down? So, life and traffic just get slower and slower.
Inspira - the new (stupid) name of the merged health care system. I used to work at Bridgeton Hospital. Then it got merged and became South Jersey Regional Medical Center. My health club has had three names, but I still call it "the center" the name three names ago. Inspira sounds like the name of a drug or that someone wants you to think good things about them like in inspiration. The secret name was just announced today. I have been dreading this moment because I HATE CHANGE.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Slower by the day
OMG...it took me TWO hours to deal with my email today. I thought one hour was a long time.
Of course, there have been some side trips, like verifying that Ella Reeve Bloor lived in MY HOUSE in 1895-1898. I learned two other interesting facts about this somewhat obscure socialist/communist. She wasn't actually married to Mr. Bloor; they just pretended to be married while researching for Upton Sinclair about the meat yards of Chicago. Sinclair later published a best-selling book on this topic called The jungle. I also learned that she is buried at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden, New Jersey. She grew up in Bridgeton, New Jersey, another one of our moderately famous residents-who-don't-live-here-anymore. Others in that category are Sylvia Beach, Jonathan Adler, and James Galanos. I am one of the obscure people who still live in Bridgeton.
After seeing Paula Poundstone at the Landis Theater in Vineland, New Jersey, I had to listen to the audiobook version of her book, There's nothing in this book that I meant to say, read by the author. It was funny, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, but a lot of jumping around between historical stories and her own life. Celebrities discussed are Charles Dickens, Sitting Bull, Lincoln, Helen Keller and Joan of Arc. Perhaps if she paused at the right times, the jumping around would not seem so glaring, but then again, maybe not. I learned a lot about her, such as that she is not into sex (with anyone), is a recovering alcoholic, adopted three special needs kids, is a compulsive talker and cleaner, bites her nails, and lives in Santa Monica. You can find this audiobook at the Bridgeton Public Library (AUDB BIO POUNDSTO).
Of course, there have been some side trips, like verifying that Ella Reeve Bloor lived in MY HOUSE in 1895-1898. I learned two other interesting facts about this somewhat obscure socialist/communist. She wasn't actually married to Mr. Bloor; they just pretended to be married while researching for Upton Sinclair about the meat yards of Chicago. Sinclair later published a best-selling book on this topic called The jungle. I also learned that she is buried at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden, New Jersey. She grew up in Bridgeton, New Jersey, another one of our moderately famous residents-who-don't-live-here-anymore. Others in that category are Sylvia Beach, Jonathan Adler, and James Galanos. I am one of the obscure people who still live in Bridgeton.
After seeing Paula Poundstone at the Landis Theater in Vineland, New Jersey, I had to listen to the audiobook version of her book, There's nothing in this book that I meant to say, read by the author. It was funny, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, but a lot of jumping around between historical stories and her own life. Celebrities discussed are Charles Dickens, Sitting Bull, Lincoln, Helen Keller and Joan of Arc. Perhaps if she paused at the right times, the jumping around would not seem so glaring, but then again, maybe not. I learned a lot about her, such as that she is not into sex (with anyone), is a recovering alcoholic, adopted three special needs kids, is a compulsive talker and cleaner, bites her nails, and lives in Santa Monica. You can find this audiobook at the Bridgeton Public Library (AUDB BIO POUNDSTO).
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Becoming a new person
I am becoming a new person who exercises daily and is careful about what she eats. So I WELCOME a lecture about getting exercise because I AM that person. AS opposed to the days when I was only wishing I would be that person. It takes time, that is for sure. Time I used to spend WORKING.
Is it totally crazy to want to go down to the casinos to MAKE MONEY? If I took a bunch of twenty dollar bills and visited a machine and walked away either when I WON a bunch or when my $20 went down to $10? You can get a really cheap room right now during the week. I learned this by going on hotels.com.
I did pretty well on the Hot hot super respin penny machine at Resorts. Maybe they just make you win at first to hook you in and build up your confidence.
So I spend my time writing a blog that nobody reads. Is is a good discipline for becoming a writer?
Is it totally crazy to want to go down to the casinos to MAKE MONEY? If I took a bunch of twenty dollar bills and visited a machine and walked away either when I WON a bunch or when my $20 went down to $10? You can get a really cheap room right now during the week. I learned this by going on hotels.com.
I did pretty well on the Hot hot super respin penny machine at Resorts. Maybe they just make you win at first to hook you in and build up your confidence.
So I spend my time writing a blog that nobody reads. Is is a good discipline for becoming a writer?
Monday, March 18, 2013
Forget the weather forecast
I was dreading the weekend as three days of rain was predicted. It is now 12:18 on Monday and it hasn't rained yet. But, it is supposed to rain and snow today! What it is, is damn chilly.
Finished The uncommon appeal of clouds, by Alexander McCall Smith. It is one of my least favorite of his series, the one called the Isabel Dalhousie series. Isabel is an Edinburgh philosopher and amateur sleuth. She married a younger man and has a son. She helps people with "mysteries" but does not get paid. This one is about the theft of an art work by Poussin (he wasn't the thief, the thief was unknown).. It is a "contemporary cozy" verging on the boring. Isabel can be a bit of a prig.
Had a fun day at the Atlantic City casinos yesterday. I am not a gambler, but I COULD be! If I gambled in order to win, I would spend 15 minutes and walk away when my money went up. It is hard to fill many hours there without losing. In the end, I was ahead $15, which paid for my lunch. I only play the penny and nickle machines. I used to take $20 and was ready to go home after 15 minutes. Yesterday, I gambled with $65 and made it last quite a long time. The show was so so.....guys (Andre & Cirell) who did imitations and sang songs of other more famous people. Their interactions with the audience were stale and lame. We went to Resorts, which was the first casino to open in Atlantic City. It was opened by Merv Griffin back in the 70's. It seemed not very crowded down there or in Resorts. And all the people that WERE there were in the line for promotions, thus depriving me of getting a "Get the star treatment" card. OK, the other reason I didn't get the card was because you needed a photo ID and I had downsized my purse to the point where I didn't have any ID.
Finished The uncommon appeal of clouds, by Alexander McCall Smith. It is one of my least favorite of his series, the one called the Isabel Dalhousie series. Isabel is an Edinburgh philosopher and amateur sleuth. She married a younger man and has a son. She helps people with "mysteries" but does not get paid. This one is about the theft of an art work by Poussin (he wasn't the thief, the thief was unknown).. It is a "contemporary cozy" verging on the boring. Isabel can be a bit of a prig.
Had a fun day at the Atlantic City casinos yesterday. I am not a gambler, but I COULD be! If I gambled in order to win, I would spend 15 minutes and walk away when my money went up. It is hard to fill many hours there without losing. In the end, I was ahead $15, which paid for my lunch. I only play the penny and nickle machines. I used to take $20 and was ready to go home after 15 minutes. Yesterday, I gambled with $65 and made it last quite a long time. The show was so so.....guys (Andre & Cirell) who did imitations and sang songs of other more famous people. Their interactions with the audience were stale and lame. We went to Resorts, which was the first casino to open in Atlantic City. It was opened by Merv Griffin back in the 70's. It seemed not very crowded down there or in Resorts. And all the people that WERE there were in the line for promotions, thus depriving me of getting a "Get the star treatment" card. OK, the other reason I didn't get the card was because you needed a photo ID and I had downsized my purse to the point where I didn't have any ID.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Speaking of accomplishing nothing...
My sister complained that her son accomplished nothing over the Spring break from college. I saw a great quote last night at Fibre Arts Cafe at the Village on High, in Millville, NJ. "My goal for today was to accomplish nothing. So far I am ahead of schedule."
Maybe I am missing something, but...here is what I am NOT into:
- Facebook (barely)
- Twitter
- Tumblr
- Pinterest
- Memes
- Avatars
- Video games
How do I have the time when I am reading so much? I don't even have time to watch TV or DVDs. Here is what I am reading:
- Current newspaper
- Old newspapers
- Current magazine
- Old magazine
- The man in my basement, by Walter Mosely
- Eccentric glamour, by Simon Doonan
- My beloved world, by Sonia Sotomayor
- Insane city, by Dave Barry
- The uncommon appeal of clouds, by Alexander McCall Smith
- Beautiful ruins, by Jess Walter
- The importance of being seven, by Alexander McCall Smith
- The blindside, by Michael Lewis
- Luka and the fire of life, by Salman Rushdie
Maybe I am missing something, but...here is what I am NOT into:
- Facebook (barely)
- Tumblr
- Memes
- Avatars
- Video games
How do I have the time when I am reading so much? I don't even have time to watch TV or DVDs. Here is what I am reading:
- Current newspaper
- Old newspapers
- Current magazine
- Old magazine
- The man in my basement, by Walter Mosely
- Eccentric glamour, by Simon Doonan
- My beloved world, by Sonia Sotomayor
- Insane city, by Dave Barry
- The uncommon appeal of clouds, by Alexander McCall Smith
- Beautiful ruins, by Jess Walter
- The importance of being seven, by Alexander McCall Smith
- The blindside, by Michael Lewis
- Luka and the fire of life, by Salman Rushdie
Friday, March 15, 2013
Trying to copy stuff from Youtube
Not successful. Sending the link there is a period where there shouldn't be a period. If I take it out I just go to a white screen. Anyway, I no sooner had listened to this song called The Harlem Shake and decided NOT to add it to my playlist, than I discovered it had become an Internet sensation. I will try again to add the Vineland Public Library version which you can look for on YouTube. Ok, now I am CUTTING and PASTING. Sending through YouTube does not seem to work!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwIyIQTQCnA
Finished an audiobook today. I spent a lot of the time NOT liking it. It all began in Monte Carlo is by Elisabeth Adler. It was narrated by Susan Boyce. I borrowed it from the Vineland Public Library (AUD CD FIC Adler Elizabeth) There were too many characters. The annoying ones were REALLY annoying and I kept saying to myself, "Don't they SEE what is going on !?!?!" There is Sunny, who leaves her boyfriend in Malibu and travels to Paris and ends up in Monte Carlo. Then there is her friend, the ex-movie star and HER friend, the dumpy dumped wife.Anyway, her boyfriend is a respected detective known ALL OVER THE WORLD and there just happens to be a jewel robbery and a blackmail scheme for him to work on. There is a lot of discussion about clothes and shoes. I hate to admit it, but I probaby BOUGHT this audiobook because I used to purchase these at the library.
Another day of sun, but cold and windy. It is my imagination, or am I obsessed with the weather and how my playlist works or does not work? It DOES work nicely here at the Millville public library but not at Vineland. And they just gave me another hour of computer time. Life is good!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwIyIQTQCnA
Finished an audiobook today. I spent a lot of the time NOT liking it. It all began in Monte Carlo is by Elisabeth Adler. It was narrated by Susan Boyce. I borrowed it from the Vineland Public Library (AUD CD FIC Adler Elizabeth) There were too many characters. The annoying ones were REALLY annoying and I kept saying to myself, "Don't they SEE what is going on !?!?!" There is Sunny, who leaves her boyfriend in Malibu and travels to Paris and ends up in Monte Carlo. Then there is her friend, the ex-movie star and HER friend, the dumpy dumped wife.Anyway, her boyfriend is a respected detective known ALL OVER THE WORLD and there just happens to be a jewel robbery and a blackmail scheme for him to work on. There is a lot of discussion about clothes and shoes. I hate to admit it, but I probaby BOUGHT this audiobook because I used to purchase these at the library.
Another day of sun, but cold and windy. It is my imagination, or am I obsessed with the weather and how my playlist works or does not work? It DOES work nicely here at the Millville public library but not at Vineland. And they just gave me another hour of computer time. Life is good!
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