AOL Testing--Testing

     I see that I have received a follow-up service survey e-mail from AOL, so figured before responding to them, I should  test my laptop by making a journal entry this morning. You know, those of us who use our computers daily are really held hostage by these Internet marvels. Those few days I had to use the library computers really made me appreciate the luxury of having my own to use any time of day or night. I have been getting telephone calls from a media rating company, I do not pick up the phone because they have never left a message. I was not sure if the company is real or bogus, but was able to check it out online late last night. They are real--I still will not pick up the telephone, but at least I know that they are who they say they are ;-) 

O.K. I have answered the AOL survey.  AOL dial-up is slow but their tech service people are  excellent. It's like talking to my favorite IST man at UMDNJ.  

 

Belated Happy Thanksgiving Wishes and Blessings

  The person in this pix is not supposed to be me. I have never roasted a turkey.

I had made plans to go to Atlantic City for Thanksgiving so I could catch up with and spend some time with a friend. You can't believe how many people were at the hotel. Wow! We ate dinner in the Sands Buffet room because my friend wanted turkey and neither one of us had thought of making reservations in advance one of the nearby restaurants. I would love to know how much turkey and dressing the Sands served that day. I opted for pot roast--no dressing, I have not had dressing since my mom died. Nothing looks or smells like moms corn bread stuffing. I once ate so much of it that I was sick. I did learn to restrain myself in later years. Thanksgiving in AC is a lovely way to spend the day for those who don't want to do the big dinner thing. This time I did put $15 in the slots. $10 went in the .25 machine and I came out $1.00 ahead. A little later I went to the .5 machine. Did you know that there are penny slots too? How can they make money with a penny slot? By making you put at least a $5 bill in the machine, this gives you 500 chances to win--no kidding. I put a couple of nickels in the .5 slot and won/hit (not sure of term) 310 nickels :-)  That's just $15 but it does buy 2 Grey Goose martinis ;-) I just shoveled them in my purse and kept moving. That's where they are now--so using a different purse.

I do plan to get back to AC soon for my personal spa week. I will use the gym early in the am, walk everyday, eat light and wake up with the sun in my face. In Martha's words "It's a good thing". 

Well, since this is my 'work in the house day', I had better get busy online and do some real work. I promised to finish a book review by the end of the month. Fortunately it's a mystery novel. I love them.

Great Joy--My PC is Behaving Again!

  Why the big smile! I was so lost while working with a laptop that was not running on full. I could type but not always save. I absolutely could not save to this journal--some of my friends wanted to know what happened. It was just a matter of not having time to stop. Instead I used the library's computers. Some of them are at least 10 years old, so I was not able to do everything I needed to. I would prepare copy in beautiful cursive and the printer would give me standard block print (whine)

Finally the day before Thanksgiving (hope yours was happy) I went online with the AOL help desk--don't you know when they signed me in to chat, I could not send a response to them! I finally sent and e-mail to their comment site and they responsed the next day. BUT--I was heading out of the house. Yesterday I called as they suggested and wah-lah! my laptop is good to go. The problem was at AOL's end.  Anyway it is so good to be back and I am smiling big.

  

A Few Weeks Ago -- Not Ill, Just Under the Weather

    I was not ill, I seldom am, but I had been a bit out of it. That did not stop me from doing what I had to do or had planned. It was  my theater day so I went to NY to see Absurb Person Singular as planned. The play was at the Biltmore theater. I had forgotten how much I love sitting in the lounge area before curtain. I usually read or talk to strangers while I have a glass of wine. I had just taken cold medication, so could not have a drink :-(  I was a little embarrassed because I kept making those cat-type tiny sneezes. The woman sitting next to me remarked that I appeared to be "under the weather."  I wondered where the phrase "under the weather" came from, so of course, when I arrived home went to the Internet. I found several sites and explanations, I like this explanation best, cuz it has some color ;-)  

Under the Weather: This popular phrase for "ill" dates back to 1827. It is commonly believed that bad weather can make you sick.

A site visitor gave her opinion:
I believe that "under the weather" is an old sailor phrase. When men were sick, they would rest below deck and thus were literally "under" the weather on deck.

Anyway, I am a bit under the weather but I did pick up my mail, lunch with a friend and came home to nap. It feels so great to have the "nap" option. It is one of the golden  retirement perks :-)   

Mid Week Musings

    Sooo happy the elections are over! The television campaign ads get more personal and uglier. Very tacky.  You know of course, what one candidate says about the other is never really forgotten.  I don't think that it forgiven either.  Not  sure what Corzine did to his wife but she had the best payback ever! So how many "vote for my candidate" telephone calls did you all receive?. Grrrr!

Searching for vending items, I may rent space at a holiday bazaar. Have to make up my mind soon. One of the items I saw and am intrigued by is a man's gift set of a watch, pen and flask. I would love to have the flask myself--it's so Gatsby. Not sure that I would have enough nerve to fill it, I am even less sure that I would have nerve to use it after it filled. I know for sure that I would not drink from the flask (LOL)

We have had some wonderfully warm weather this November. It has been so warm that I have been going out wearing sweaters only. I have seen other people wearing less, some are still wearing sandals. Really hopeful that there will be a chill in the air by Thanksgiving.  For me that is part of the holiday magic. I am looking outside at the neighborhood trees as I type; each tree has slightly different bold colored leaves. Mother Nature continues to be awesome, doesn't she? I don't see a tree that qualifies in color as the "rain tree". Anyone who saw the old Liz Taylor movie, Raintree County, will know what I mean.  Speaking of Thanksgiving, I just realized that I have not seen any decorations for that holiday, I guess they are only in supermarkets. However, Christmas decorations everywhere you look.

I am working from home today. Don't believe the 'work in your flannel pajamas and fuzzy bunny slippers' hype. If you are like me you won't be able to do that. Fortunately I bought several long sweat shirt type garments that you see women wearing while on vacation. My shirts have Atlantic City and big dice or large decks of cards across the chest. Not something I would wear outside, but they are comfortable and I feel like I am dressed, albeit, not my usual style but it works for me.

Yesterday I went to NJ Transit to check out a discount travel card for, dare I sayit?seniors.  A friend told me about this. So anyway, I go to the counter and say I'd like to get a senior discount card and one sweet young woman says, "Is it for your mother?".  I was so delighted that had it not appeared very weird and gotten me in a lot of trouble, I would have went behind the counter and hugged her.  Thank goodness for small things that make your day.

Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul

     I just received the e-mail below from the Chicken Soup people. I wanted to share with you. I have bolded the subject. If you have a story or know of someone who may have a story please pass this on.

"Hi Everyone!
Lisa and I just want to remind you that we are in the final month for receiving stories for Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul. Please help us make this final push and TELL EVERYONE you know that if they have a story to share, now is the time to do it! The story guidelines are below, but if you have ANY doubt about what we consider an inspiring, uplifting "Chicken Soupy" story, please read Chicken Soup for the African American Soul. Thank you all for your participation, interest, encouragement and PATIENCE with us as we put the last final UMPFF into this wonderful project!

Sincerely, Lisa and Eve www.AfricanAmericanSoul.com"

________________________________________________________________________

 We are EXCITED to invite you or a friend to submit your stories for Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul! You will find submission guidelines and sample stories at http://www.AfricanAmericanSoul.com. The stories should be approx.1200 words and either make the reader laugh, cry or get goose bumps and leave the reader uplifted and inspired!  We highly suggest that you go to a bookstore and READ CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SOUL before you start writing, as there is a definite "type" of story that qualifies for a Chicken Soup book-heartwarming, inspiring, uplifting, written with EMOTION-and this already released book has nearly 85 examples in it of the types of stories that make it through the selection process.  PLEASE submit your stories as either an attached Word Document THAT ALSO CONTAINS ALL OF YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION or in the body of an email to Stories@AfricanAmericanSoul.com

Sincerely, Eve Hogan, senior editor
Lisa Nichols, co-author

________________________________________________________________________

Life's Changes

    I just received some sad news from a dear friend. She told me that her mom has died. She didn't say much just that--I knew it was bad news when I heard her terse message. "Van, I need you to call me right away." I had just missed the called by minutes. I am happy that I did, it gave me time to be able to accept whatever news it was with dignity instead of the dread and anxiety I was feeling, to help her keep her own dignity. I have found the each friend has her or his own self-measure line. It's so hard when your mom dies. You think you are all grown up, but that's the moment of truth.  

There has been so much talk about Prince Charles and his wife. I think it is about time someone in the Queen's family has found happiness. I wish them the best. I may be  in the minority, but when I hear talk of Diana, I can only think that surely she knew that he did not love her, or more to the point, did she love him?  So many lives damaged. Money, status and propriety still rules, but at what cost??   I guess this shows that happiness can come at any time and any age when you stand up and speak out.

I saw the movie North Country yesterday. I am supposed to write a review. It is going to be difficult for me to do--what a dark, gray movie. A single mother (aren't they always??) trying to make a living for her two boys and herself finds work in a coal mine. Ugly things happen to her and the few other woman who work in the mines. The opinion is that these women  have "taken jobs from men". The movie shows sexual harassment you won't believe; you know this is a script, but it call still make you sick to watch. Anita Hill is mentioned a couple of times. In one scene, Hill is seen on television, the woman turns up the sound and her mother says "Turn that filth off--oh that poor man and his family."  Earlier when the woman to returns to her parents home with her children and her face beaten, her father asks if husband beat her because he found her with another man. Not much nurturing going on here. It is a good movie, well worth seeing.  Sometimes all it takes is one voice tobe heard above the rest.   Then and Now: Anita Hill  http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/03/cnn25.tan.anita.hill/

Some things don't change. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is shown every Halloween. It is hard to believe that it was firstshown in 1966. 39 years ago? WOW!! Vince Guaraldi's music still sounds good. Another thing that has not changed is musician Carlos Santana's talent. I heard his guitar on morning television and came running in just to see a few seconds of this fabulous man.  Yep. He still blows me away ;-) 

Goodbye Rosa Parks 1913-2005

     There have been countless stories about Rosa Parks and her famous (or infamous) riding the bus story. I have read that there were other's who at some point did the same thing (refuse to give up a seat on the bus) that Parks did. I have always thought that history-making events happen exactly when they are supposed to. I think those who earlier refused to follow an age-old segregation law are to be commended. However, when Parks refused to move, it was the right time, she was the chosen one, the catalyst. If this had happened earlier, perhaps Martin Luther King would not have been ready to do what he had to do; perhaps the townspeople would have not been ready to walk, beg rides, do whatever it took to get to work, to church,  to visit the sick, etc., for over one year. It's ironic that a woman who was arrested because she would not move to the rear of a bus, was given the highest honor by the White House. Rosa Parks coffin was in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for viewing.  

Yep! I think history-making events happen exactly when they are supposed to.  We thank you  Ms. Parks.  

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051031/ap_on_re_us/rosa_parks

http://teacher.scholastic.com/rosa/    http://www.grandtimes.com/rosa.html

The Color Purple and Donald Byrd

     I know that a lot of people are aware that The Color Purple is coming to the Broadway stage. Information is here www.colorpurple.com  I just received  information that Donald Byrd (for me his is a name from "the days in NYC". Very good times :-)), has written "The Sleeping Beauty Notebook", it will be performed and danced at the Dance Theater Workshop in New York  until November 12. The DTW is located at 219 W. 19th Street. The tickets are cheapies $15 to $25. Call 212-924-0077 .

Mmmm very odd--I had a hard time finding the DWT site, was able to locate actual url on a site titled Jim's Deli??? Anyway here is the DWT url http://www.dtw.org/ and Jim's Deli also. I won't guess how the title came about but there is some good info there, no food though. http://www.jimsdeli.com/