I'm fascinated by names

Must enter this thought so I can tear up a piece of paper and get it out of my life. Getting lighter, one item at a time.

Has anyone else noticed the penchant for making up names in our African American community? So, a guy named Jermarl died (I think perhaps he was shot). He had four children, named Jermarl, Jr., Jermiara, Jershuna and Jernasia. Can't you just imagine the mother yelling at them? He had ten brothers, of which the names Keontray and Tyehiem jumbed out at me, three sisters, including a Tonoa and a fiance named Tira.

This morning I went out with two goals to accomplish before I got in my car. Sprinkle salt on my outrageously icy front steps so that I don't accidentally kill myself and so that the mail woman doesn't do the same and fill up the bird feeder so that the murder of crows can devour it. That is what a group of crows is called, a MURDER. They are going through one feeder full every day because it is SO cold and snowy. I really want to help out the pretty, normal birds, but the blackbirds and the squirrels are dominating the back yard. My hands almost froze up as I didn't want to get my gloves all soiled with bird poop and salt. When I got into the car, it said it was two degrees below zero. That must be some kind of a record. Still and all, I made it to the exercise class almost on time (8 AM).

The weather is somewhat traumatizing

It was a gloomy day. I HATE being home when it is cold and not sunny. Here I am, out and volunteering. If I had not made a commitment, the tendency would be to stay home. It snowed today and it was cold and windy. The sun did try to come out once or twice. I DID see a couple of people sliding and swerving on the roads, reinforcing my thought that I should be at home. But I am getting bored out of my gourd at home and it is not so warm there. The other night I went out I was GLAD as it was to a cozy house of people talking about a book, as opposed to me all alone reading and watching TV. So, tonight will be good, as I get to hear the Bay Atlantic symphony along with volunteering. Also I stopped by the local art gallery to volunteer for January, too. The only thing I haven't gotten around to doing is volunteering to supervise the homeless.

I did my good deed for the day, driving an older person around, to breakfast and back. Also spent over $20 on birdseed. There is quite a gourmet guzzling going on at my house.

I should go AWAY next week but managing to get every day scheduled up with one thing or another. Am absolutely hating this weather. I think I have said that ad nauseum.

Thank God for the sunlight

Not much else good to say about today. Still frigid (was 18 degrees around lunchtime). Ice and snow galore.

Sittin' in a warm library with a view out the windows. Listening to Neil Young on Youtube. Harvest, the entire album.

I work in an academic library and it is hard to find a FUN book in there. Just finished Books and travel : inspiration, quests and transformation, by Jennifer Laing and Warwick Frost. It was somewhat stiltily written. I could have written it. I did get a few good quotes and reading suggestions, but, frankly, I am glad it is over. The influence of books on travels and travels on writers is explored. A great deal of it is just an explanation of the various books discussed.

All alone in a snowstorm with no Internet!

Need to get home to weather the storm. The suet is put out for the birds (read squirrels), the recycling bin is taken upstairs, the laundry for the day is done, the snow boots are bought. OK, I DIDN'T get to the Shoprite to buy bread and milk but I can't stand crowds.

Systems falling apart

Don't think I mentioned a good book I just finished. My systems are falling apart as I put it in my "library" bag, not my "Internet" pile. Deceived : a Hannah Smith novel, is by Randy Wayne White. I guess he is tired of his Doc Ford series, so he has created a tangential series featuring a woman detective who DATES Marion Ford. He was absent for most of the book, giving her ample time to interact with several new characters, including her mother perhaps suffering from Dementia, a new imprudent girlfriend, and a forward District Attorney. Other themes were the destruction of the FLorida coast by developers and tourists, elder scams, and the past raising its ugly head.

It is still snowy and cold, cold, cold. But, we are realizing that we can't cancel EVERYTHING until the snow melts. So, life must go on. Happy that I am able to ignore the weather by going to exercise class and the library. At home, I just am conscious of how drafty my house is. It is like living on a SAILBOAT. When the wind blows or when the temperature goes below freezing, my house can't cope. Plus, I am spending a FORTUNE on oil to be not-so-comfy. Book club tonight to discuss Barefoot in Baghdad. Guess I will have to go, although I would much rather stay home on an icy night. It is supposed to go down to 2 degrees tonight. That is just UNHEARD OF in Southern New Jersey. Why do I live in Bridgeton?? Why do I live in New Jersey??? I HATE winter.

Oh no, here comes the "Facebook lady"...the one that types constantly on Facebook for hours.

Dubstep Violin Original- Lindsey Stirling- Crystallize FUUL HD

Sitting inside on a perfectly beautiful day

Had to come to the only library open on Martin Luther King Day. Happy in my little corner listening to Youtube (Nina Simone playing piano and singing love me or leave me). Read "Why we went, letter from a St. Augustine jail" in honor of the day. My sister is down in St. Augustine marking the birth (?) of the Civil Rights movement.

Dastardly weather in the forecast. COLD and 6-10 inches of snow predicted for tomorrow. I am ready, I guess. Bought some snow boots today without a whole lot of consideration. A family shoe store is closing after MANY years so perhaps that is my good deed for the day? I bought three expensive pairs of shoes (they were on sale). I usually buy one or two pair a year. It was kind of fun visiting with the owner and spending time with some other indecisive customers. One lady had a $500 gift certificate to the store! Hope my heater is ready. A guy came and spent 4 1/2 hours cleaning and fixing it and afterwards he said, "THAT was an adventure!" It was a mess...clogged, full of soot, rusty. Can I hope and pray that it is now improved? At least he didn't throw up his hands in disgust and demand that I buy a new system or switch to gas. It seems everyone is doing that. But then do I have to be for FRACKING? I ruined my cross country skis but then a friend gave me a pair that her ex-boyfriend left at her house. I need to get all my supplies ready and in the right place for staying home tomorrow. Is it time to scour the stores for bread and milk?

Feeling almost sick from eating a Tasty-cake product. I used to eat them all the time when I worked here, so it was sort of like "the madeleine of Proust" when I went to look in the snack machine. Butterscotch crimpets is what I used to be addicted to.