If this doesn't feel good, you don't have to do it

I wish more exercise instructors would say this. I go to the senior center each Wednesday to do Senior stretch sitting in a chair.

The book of unknown Americans (book), by Cristina Henriquez. I liked it, although I had to skim near the end because this book was only a two week loan. An immigrant family comes (legally) from Mexico. (They gloss over it like it was so simple). They end up in Delaware in an area with other immigrants. They have a special needs daughter who becomes friendly with a young man from a Panamanian family. Deals with the difficulties of finding and keeping jobs and other challenges for people new to the US.

The Charles Schwab guide to finances after fifty (book), by Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz. I didn't read it all, but I did learn a few useful things such as when taking your minimum distributions at age 70 and 1/2, you have to do it with each account. Sounds kind of complicated. I am going to copy page 2 which tells you how to determine your net worth.

And another week begins

Pleasures and annoyances already on this Monday morning.
Pleasures:
- yoga
- getting up at usual time of 8:45 AM
- Sam Smith CD, In the lonely night, on Hoopla sharing service at library
- sound is really good today through my phone headphones
Annoyances:
- loud people at library disturbing my peace
- had to get outfit out of dirty laundry basket and I am noticing clothes have been worn too long
- hungry but have to stay on computer to get my two hours
- rain

Not much on calendar today....just yoga and helping the homeless tonight. Spent the weekend running around so it is OK with me.

Tried to watch a DVD on my computer this week. DVD was acting up. Will return it and get another before I start complaining about the DVDs. Having worked in Technical Services in a library, I know all about people who complain about the DVDs when the problem is really due to their equipment. We used to WATCH videos and DVDs looking for the problems.

A fucking bitch?

That's what I was called today by a woman at the nail salon. I asked her if she had headphones to use with her phone cause the video she was watching was annoying. She had been on the phone the entire time she was getting a pedicure so I already thought she was rude. When she left she started off with "Have a nice day" and soon progressed to calling me "a fucking bitch". It seems that the video she was watching was of her nephew who had died yesterday. That didn't stop her from getting her nails done. I should have known I was in trouble when she called someone from the dryer station and asked if the person hadn't received her text. Then she said over the phone, "I'm not going over there, cause if I open my mouth, I'm gonna punch her in the fucking face". Such a high class of person we have in Vineland, New Jersey. How can I escape? I should have just ignored her or put in ear plugs.
It just occurred to me that she was probably talking about ME!

Discovered a new author, about whom I am wildly enthusiastic. Unfortunately, none of my local libraries have any of his works, other than this audio book, Let me be Frank with you, by Richard Ford. It is the fictional meanderings in the mind of Frank Bascombe, age 68, living in New Jersey. These stories almost sound like a novel which takes place the Christmas after Hurricane Sandy. I enjoyed his cynicism and social satire. I am going to have to work to find his 3 or 4 previous novels.

Noisy people in the library. Trying to keep my mouth shut, although I feel like giving them a librarian-like shusshing. Also trying to block them out with my Youtube. Finally discovered that Youtube problems can be overcome by using CHROME to get on the Internet. Crafty little devils, aren't they? (Google) Shall I make a separate French and Spanish list on Google? Then I could more easily share with lovers of the language.

A rough day at the computer

OK...I should be happy. The sun is out and I am online. Troubles with printing from Microsoft Word. Did learn that I could be doing it better. Haven't learned very many things since I retired. Just getting along with the same old knowledge I had two years ago.

Heads in beds (book), by Jacob Tomsky. a tell-all expose of the hotel business. I probably won't be instituting any of his suggestions for better service because they all involve TIPPING and in a big way. Not really my frugal way.

Grandma Gatewood's walk (book) : the inspiring story of the woman who saved the Appalachian Trail, by Ben Montgomery. If I ever heard of her, I forgot. I liked the way she just set out to walk, alone, when she was 65 years old.

Easing on into the weekend

Don't know how I am going to fit exercise back into my life. Now that I have lapsed. Not too much time left over after I get enough sleep, get online and be with my friends.

Listening to Into the woods and a Joe Cocker album on Hoopla, the library borrowing database. Just saw the movie of Into the woods yesterday and Joe Cocker died this week. There is no connection between the two.

It is a rainy, gray, dreary day in January. I MUST plan a getaway...maybe drive my home-away-from-home? Need sun and warmth and blue skies.

Resolutions or to do list?

So, it is January 2nd and I haven't organized my January calendar pages. Nor have I made any New Year's resolutions. Maybe I should list ACCOMPLISHMENTS of 2014 first.

Lucky us (audio book), by Amy Bloom. Didn't really like this book much or was it the reader? A lot of weird stuff goes on during the era of the second World War. Not much thinking or describing, just stuff happening.

Sunny today, but a bit cold. Listening to the soundtrack of the new movie, Into the woods, which I plan to see later today.

Sunshine isn't all it is cracked up to be

I miss, miss, miss the sun....but when it came out, I realized that it blinds me when I am driving home near sunset, and reflects off of the shiny bits in my car and blinds me. So, maybe clouds aren't so bad! If we ever get sun in the winter, it doesn't last so long, anyway.

The man who mistook his wife for a hat (book): and other clinical tales, by Oliver Sacks. I read everything by this author, even though his themes are very wide-reaching. This is a book of essays, featuring stories involving the mind. So, I am glad I read it, but am going to give it away at our New Year's day book exchange.

Haunted (book) : a Hannah Smith novel, by Randy Wayne White. This is the third book in this series, by one of my favorite Florida writers. The character gets involved with quite fantastical people, confusing, I could say. Old deserted houses, far from civilization, witches and fortunetellers, strange druggie animal trainers, etc. A bit over-the-top.