Lilac or wisteria?

I get them confused.  Not only that, but I had to search on the Internet to remember the names of either or both of them.  At least, I know how to do THAT.  I love them both and they both smell great.  We had a wisteria bush/tree growing up in what we called the "park".  Not many lilac trees around in domestication...they mostly seem to be in the wild. 

Book review:  Have to return this book today as I got it on Interlibrary loan from the Franklin Township Public Library (F WOLITZER) .  An available man, by Hilma Wolitzer.  I like a book about a "modest and bookish" man who becomes single at age 62 after his second wife dies.  His children put an ad in The New York review of books hoping he will meet someone new.  I can relate, except for the DATING parts.  So, it is about his life, his relatives, his dog, an old girlfriend and various other women who pass through his sphere.

I am trying to become a better library patron.  This is hard for a librarian who is used to "professional courtesy" as far as fines go.  I seem to have finagled a deal at my OWN library, but I notice one of the other libraries in the system is charging me fines!  And a local library I frequent went off and joined a different group so I am just another lousy patron in their book.  So, I am returning a book due today on ILL and also another book I couldn't get into.  Feeling kind of bad about that since the back cover was filled with GLOWING words about it.  I wanted to get a book called Life after life by Jill McCorkle, who went to my college (Hollins University).  There is ANOTHER book of the same name so I got that one, too.  That is the one that I couldn't get into.  Also feel bad because the author, Kate Atkinson, wrote another book that I enjoyed....Started early, took my dog. Isn't that a great title!?   Maybe I will try it another time, but I brought it back because I noticed that someone else had put it on hold and I hadn't gotten very far into it.

And I thought OUR soap operas were bad

Forced to watch Spanish TV during my lunch.  Not fun.  Really bad acting and outfits and over the top everything.  This is one big disadvantage of eating in the little Spanish restaurants....loud and bad TV.  But I DID have some really delicious guacamole. 

Hard to concentrate cause I am listening to Tupac singing Hit em'up while I write. 

Book review:  Circle of quilters (an Elm Creek quilts novel) by Jennifer Chiaverini, narrated by Christina Moore. I borrowed the audiobook on CD from the Cumberland County Library (CDBR F CHI).  First one of these books I have listened to.  Interesting approach.  She follows stories about 4 people who all apply for the same job at Elm Creek quilt camp.   What I liked about the stories is how people just seemed to fall into careers doing what they loved.  What I didn't like about it is that each person had one really annoying person in their life.  You just wanted to shake them and ask how they could put up with it for so long.  This book appears somewhere in the middle or at the end of the series. 

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.