Woof-woof-woof woof woof woof

Aaurgh!  Up in the night with that damn dog barking.  I actually got up and got dressed and went out at 1:11 PM to find out where it was.  Turns out it was the Mexicans right in back of me.  Now whenever I hear it, I have to time it and call the police after 15 minutes.  Why would you put a loudly barking dog outside in the middle of the night when respectable people are sleeping?!?!?  Neighbors...I hate'em.




Azeleas blooming and lilacs!  How wonderful.

I think I have accomplished the important planning for my upcoming trip.  My God, but it is time consuming.
I think I can rest easy now.  Have the airplane, the excursion AND the hotel.  As for what I am doing day to day, that can wait.

Three book reviews

The art of living single, by Michael Broder: I picked this up at a used book sale.  Even though it was published in 1988 and written by a man, I found it helpful.  It offers a positive take on deciding how you want to live.  How to meet people if that is what you want to do or how to live on your own instead.  I think I will redonate this book back to the library.

Everyday paleo, by Sarah Fragoso. Borrowed from the Vineland Public Library (613.282 Fra). I looked at all the recipes which are nicely illustrated with large photos.  The author provides exercises for individuals, couples and parent and child.  I don't think I am going to follow this cave man diet. It seems that you just eat meat, vegetables and fruits.   The shopping list for one week included a list of 81 ingredients!  I have no food in the house and have more demands for my cash other than grocery shopping.

Brain on fire : my month of madness, by Susannah Cahalan. Borrowed from the Vineland Public Library (616.832 Cah).  The author deteriorated into a person with strange and inexplicable symptoms, such as facial twitching,  drooling, and paranoia.  Finally one doctor diagnosed her rare autoimmune disease, possibly anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis, and administered appropriate treatment.  She makes the point that possibly others now and in history have suffered from this disease and been misdiagnosed and thought to be crazy or possessed by demons.

Tulip time!

I love it.  Went for a walk down the street and sat on a bench.  I needed a break from a day on the computer.  The breezes were wafting and the trees were rustling and there is not much traffic in Greenwich, New Jersey.  The weather is finally perfect enough to go with the constant sunshine.



Hanging out at a historical society today.  My guilty secret is that I am not even thinking about history.  Just being with a convivial group and using my laptop.
Actually I am thinking about Paris.  Taking notes from Fodor's Paris 2011 to remind myself what I want to do when I get there next.

Last week was a crazy week.  Personally, with the taxes undone, losing my passport, my neighbor chopping down a beautiful tree and then there was Boston and the Ricin and Texas.  Of course, then there was also the FINDING of the passport and getting to spend an entire day with an old friend, so it wasn't ALL bad.

Headphone emergency

Headphones going bad.  Have been enjoying the $2 headphones I bought on Virgin air flight.  I guess they don't owe me anything.  One ear working only.  And seem to have misplaced or lost tiny earbuds.

Help!  It is Tuesday and I was supposed to start counting my steps on Monday.  So much for THAT contest.  Must find my pedometer anyway and get it going.  Not getting a lot of steps in.  After exercising  I came to the library where I am sitting and using the computer.  Then I am going to go home and sit and read.

Still waiting for the weather to warm up.  At least it is not raining but I am sorry I vowed to never again wear a coat.  It is COLD.  Wow, this is a really boring blog post.

What did I do for Earth day?

- I sent an ecard to someone who has a birthday today wishing her a happy Earth Day AND birthday.
- I picked up trash around the outside of my house.  None of it mine. Cigarette butts and other disgusting stuff.
- Going to a free film about the problems of the horseshoe crab and the redknot.  It is called Crash and will be showing at 6 PM at the Levoy theater in Millville.

My wish list has once again disappeared from Overdrive.  This is very aggravating as this is where I go when I need a new book for my Nook.  I have a theory and will investigate it.  Not that I don't already have enough books to read.

Feeling overwhelmed with my computer chores.  My folder of stuff to look up is getting thicker.  And my old emails more than a year old are looking too interesting to delete.  Seems like the past few days I have just been trying to fit in an hour here, and hour there and getting nowhere.

You and tequila make me crazy

Had to spend a lot of time in my car mechanic's place this morning.  That means listening to a lot of country western music, including this song by Kenny Chesney.  I was sorta shocked to find out that replacing a lightbulb is a really complicated and expensive procedure.  Had to get a friend to come out of her way to pick me up for lunch and then bring me back.  Poor planning on my part.  It all worked out even though when we got to the luncheon they had run out of food!  But my friend was able to have TWO desserts instead of a main course, so she was happy.

I am still wearing my exercise clothes but running out of time to exercise.  I an going on a trip soon to a fashionable city and am going to have to overcome my habit of dressing like a slob.  Shopping for attractive outfits is not a priority so I am wearing all my old exercise clothes to death.

Audiobook review - Second grave on the left (Charley Davidson, book 2), by Darynda Jones.  It was way too long, with too many subplots.  Paranormal stuff on top of a mystery.  I thought it was a combination of Stephanie Plum and Sookie Stackhouse.  In the author interview, she said it was a combination of Stephanie Plum, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and someone from the Gilmore girls.  For me, it heavily leaned towards Janet Evanovich as the reader is the same person who reads her books (Lorelei King).  Charley (called Juicy by some people and called Dutch by others) is really the Grim Reaper and she is kind of in love with an other-worldly guy who comes and goes, usually with bloody wounds which can miraculously heal.  She can see dead people.  I found it confusing and complicated and kept wishing it would be over.  And now it is.

I gotta get out o'this town, if it's the last thing I ever do

Mexican doorbell at 6:30 AM.  Car horns honking, then loud Spanish rap coming from car waiting for whoever (whomever?).  Then more honking.  People are really inconsiderate around here.  I just try and WAIT them out.

The good news is I finally made a plane reservation.  The bad news is that I can't find my passport!  And there is a possibility that it has expired.  Was gonna go home and tear apart my house tonight but going out to dinner instead.  Which of the 52 piles is it at the bottom of?  Between the taxes not done and the passport not found, I am feeling somewhat frazzled.  But I could have worse problems....like no legs.

I hate, hate, hate our tax system.  Totally convoluted and confusing.  Called up an accountant hoping that she would know what I need to declare for my pension, but she didn't seem to have a clue.  I am sure if I contact my employer they will just say they can't give tax advice.  I am probably one of the few people who read the booklets cover to cover.  Did you know that you MUST declare all of your income from:
- bribes
- kickbacks
- illegal drug sales