April 2024
The Solar Eclipse
Women's Basketball Rules!!!
Fucking Taxes
PA, NJ, NY
1-M- PA/NJ
It's raining heavily and Tricia and I are going to a new Hindu temple in Robertsville, NJ. The temple is relatively new and it is the largest temple outside of India. I picked her up at 9 AM so that we could get there for some sort of introduction lecture and then a "moving ceremony" at 11:15. I got up early with great effort and no complaining and we got there by 10:30. There was so introductory lecture. We sat in the temple, in slilence, for over an hour and nothing was going on. Finally, around 11:45, a few monks came out and people gathered around them and they went through a few ceremonial gestures and the moment took about seven minutes and then the temple closed at noon and would remain closed until 4. I was underwhelmed but Tricia appreaciated the moment. I noticed that they had two different forms of prostration and I want to look up the meaning of these actions. One form seemed almost comical.
Heather posted photos of the boys in Portugal. They are traveling this week and these kids are so damn beautiful. I wish I was traveling with them as they discover the world.
The March Madness Women's Basketball game was on again and I watched it with Gina. The game was so damn exciting. Now I am hooked on this series.
2- TU- PA
I slept really well. And that makes me so happy. I am sleeping so much better since I found a THC gummy that actually works for me.
It was rain and dreary and cold and this weather makes me miserable. There were things I wanted to do but I didnt feel like getting in and out of my car any more than necessary becasue I didnt want to get wet. So I narrowed my outside options to going to the movies. I went to see Anthony Hopkins in One Life, the story about the man who saved 665 children from fallowing in the hands of the Nazis during WWII.
And then I came home and cleaned a little bit and mopped the floor. I don't know why I view this task as such a burden. If only I would spend 15 minutes a day on cleaning my apartment, it would be much more manageable to keep it clean every day. I hate to house clean.
I finished my book, Capote's Women by Laurence Learner. I didnt particulalry like it as I thought it was filled with too much gossip about rich people. And I dont care about spoiled, rich people.
Twitter: I never realized how narcissistic Christianity can be until I started watching TikTok videos.
3- W- PA
It was another dreadful, rainy, chilly day. I had a few things I wanted to do today but it was raining so damn hard and there was a flash flood warning. So I just ran to the mall, dropped off the underwear I collected for the Wardrobe and came home.
I did stop at Walmart on the way home and I bought another damn denim jacket. I think that brings me to ten jackets. I have to get rid of two of these jackets.
Gina and Keith were in the lounge so we chatted each other up for a bit and then it was 7PM. Where did this day go? Another damn day slipped away from me.
4- TH- PA
It's raining again but I had to get out of the building. So I drove up to Lancaster County and went to the Columbia Kettle Works Brewery (1). Of course, I had a flight and on the way home, I stopped and did some shopping.
I finshed my book, Chasing My Cure by David Fajgenbaum. This young man in medical school became critically ill with an unknown disease. In desperation, he worked to find a way to classify his disease and then to find a cure. His commitment was admirable.
5-F- PA
The sun was out today. I've sort of forgotten what the sun looks like. But it was so damn cold that I had to wear my puff jacket and theta annoys me as it it April and it should be warm.
I went to the movies to see Wicked Little Letters. I loved it. It was so quirky and funny. It reminded me of a Wes Anderson movie. It was filled with lots of ridiculous insults and I've like to go back and write down some of the insults so that I can use them on people.
I'm sucked in to the hype of the Women's March Madness tournament. I'm following Caltlin Clark and her team won tonight. The game was magical as she took shots from the other end of the court and just dunked them in the basket. What a talent.
Twitter: The MAGA budget proposal calls for $1.5 trillion in cuts to Social Security, including raising retirement age, slashing disability benefits, stripping Medicare of its ability to negotiate drug costs, repealing the $35 insulin cap and the $2,000 out-of-pocket limit. They hate us.
6- SA- PA
I drank too much this afternoon. A group of us went to Artillery Brewery (2) to support a findraiser for a manager who had a stroke. We left at 1 PM and drank all afternoon and when I looked at my step tracker, it appears as if I got home around 9ish becasue the was the last time I took steps for the day. I crashed as soon as I got home.
Sally and Stacey joined us. We were at a fundraiser for one of the mangers who recently had a stroke and is now in deep finanical problems. That's the American way. So several local musiians agreed to play all afternoon and the music was just great.
7- SU- PA/NY
I left at noon to head up to Syracuse, NY. The ride took forever as so many people are heading to the path of the eclipse.
My frist stop was the Local 315 Brewery (3)- NY. I had to stop here even before I got to mu hotel becasue I wanted to watch the Iowa Women's basketball game now that I am a fan. Regretfully, they lost but now I can go on with my normal life.
Im listening to Viola Davis' autobiography, Finding Me, and her take on life is powerful.
8- M- NY
It's Solar Eclipse Day and I am in Syracuse, NY to witness the eclipse. It was a bit of a disappointment but there was a moment when everything turned dark as night and the temperature dropped to a noticeable degree and it was a little creepy.
Afterwards, I went to the Prison City Brewery (4) and had a delicious flight.
9- TU- NY/PA
Of course, it was a beautiful, cloudless day. Why couldn't we have had this day yesterday.
I headed home after a dreadful, sleepless night. I didn't take a sleeping aid and I paid the price. I was a little worried that it would be a struggle to drive but I did OK.
I stopped in Scranton to go to the Copper's Family Brewery (5). I couldn't get my usual flight so I got a 9 0z pour of a nitro Irish Stout and a delicious Imperial IPA.
I finsihed my book, Finding Me, by Viola Davis. As much as I read about people who grew up in poverty or I know people who lived in poverty, I just cant get used to it.
10- W- PA
We had an Uptown Celebration for all of the volunteers and I left feeling insignificant.
11- TH- PA
I dropped my fucking taxes off at H7R Block to get done. I hate this task.
It's been 31 years since Christopher died and I had a crybaby day.
12- F- PA
Today is my mother's birthday. She woud be 97.
I ran errands and felt as if I was accomplishing lots of tasks but really, I wasn't and I need to step up my game of life. I am lazy, lathergic and unproductive to a frightening level.
Sue had Kevin and me over for dinner. Bobby was there and I brought desserts and everything was delicious I feel a great senese of comfort at Sue's house.
13- SA- PA
It was a beautiful, sunny, slightly chilly day and a perfect day to be outside and I stayed in my bed too late. I tried to get into my new audio book. It's only two hours. I listened to an hour last night and 1/2 hour today and I have to start over becasue i still dont know the premise of the story. I think I need to confine my audiobook time just to when I am in the car and I am not distracted.
In the last two weeks I have gone back to my photo blogs and resurrected them. And today, I have decided to take the world travel blog and begin to fill it with my AI commentray on my travel advice. I am starting to get some views on this site after about a 4 year hiatus. Let's see if anything becomes of it.
My balcony door is wide open as it has been for the last three days and that makes me so damn happy. But I had to close it in the early evening becasue my hands were so cold, I could have used some gloves. So the door is closed now and I feel a bit annoyed for surrendering to the cold.
It looks as if the Israeli/Hamus conflict just got taken up a notch. Iran is now sending drones to Israel so I am sure it won't be long until we start sending troops over to fuck things up. I am so damn tired of this religious war between israel and Palestine. This battle has been sucking the whole world in for my entire life time and then some. I am sick of religion and the damage it does to the world and I am sick of this conflict.
14- SU- PA
OMG, what a gorgeous day. I love days like today. I wish I liked to hike. This woould have been a perfect day for a hike. Instead, I had drinks with Bill and Pat.
We made our way over to the record shop and stuck up a fun conversation with the guy from the record shop
We stopped for ice cream before they headed back to Havertown.
People were hanging out in the courtyard with the fire going. I brought my new little fire pit outand i love it.
15- M- PA
It's tax day and I didn't file my taxes today. I dropped them off last week but told my accountant to take his time. I am going to owe about $8000 so I am in no hurry to pay.
I struggled all night with a mild sore throat. But as I got up today and moved around the world, I felt lousy. A cold is looming over me. I wanted to go to the movies but I really had no energy at all. So, I went to the grocery store and bought too many perishables and called it a day. I felt lousy so I spend the day in bed and listened to podcasts.
Twitter: As a former high school principal, I heard lots of excuses as to why some dads werent attending graduation. But no student ever used the excuse that his dad is on trial for banging a porn star and then illegally paying her hush money. #TrumpIsACriminal #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace
16- TU- PA
I was up earlier than usual to check in to a zoom meeting to renew my Glocal Entry status. Of course, I couldn't log in to zoom so I had to miss the meeting.
In the afternoon, I went to BMFI to see the movie, The Long Shot. It's the stroy of the first mexican high school golf team to compete in this all white sport. Of course, I loved the movie as I love a story were the underdogs win.
On the way home, I went to La Cabras brewery (6) for a flight and a brisket sandwich which, of course, is just a great way to end a beautiful day.
17/18/19- W, Th, F- PA
These days are a blur as I was sick as a dog and stayed in bed, being miserable and sleepy. I think I slept 22 hours a day. I had a sore throat, runny nose, puffy eyes, a hacking cough, sneezing, irritability, fatigue, aches and pain and I was a miserable bitch.
I kept hoping that I was getting better but I seemed to get deeper in my illness each day. I thought I would sleep all day on Wednesday and be fine. But I had to call Tricia to let her know that I couldnt go with her to a garden tour on Thursday and then I had to cancel my tickets to a music show on Friday night. And I just ached somuch from coughing so much.
20- SA- PA
I decided that today I was going to make a huge effort to get back in the the rythm of life. I got up and still felt dreadful. But I decided to go tothe pharmacy and see if thre was some stronger medicine I could take. I was going to walk to the Rite Aid, just down the street. But I didnt even make it to the end of my halway and realized that I didnt have the energy to walk. So I got in to tme car and drove to the CVS. A pharmacist gave me some high powered liquid and I went home and had my first shot and shortly thereafter began to feel as if I could return form the dead. I stayed up all day and didn't feel any need to sleep and was confident that I was back.
Taylor Swift dropped a new double album today. A local radio station is advertising that they are playing one of her new songs every 13 minutes today. And when I went on line to listen to one song, it had already been played 27,000,000 today.
21- SU-PA
It's West Chester's 225 birthday and there is a parade and the Uptown people are marching in the parade. I signed up to particiapte and when I woke up this morning, I thoguht I could make it. So off I went but I arrived late so I didnt have a prop and I didnt have the same tee shirt that everyone else had. And I was wearing myjacket which covered up the Uptown logo on my teeshirt and that wasnt the look they wanted. So I was a bit of a malcontent. And it was 50F so I was cold and we had to stand and wait for an hour before the parade started. And then we only walked about 15 and the parade was over and it was lame. But it got me out of my funk.
And then I went home and I should have come down to the lounge but I went back to bed to listen to a new book. And then it was 7 PM and I misssed a medicine dose and my productive cough is back and I'm mad at myself.
22-M-PA
As soon as I got out of bed, I called the doctor and left a message with hopes that she would take my diagnostic view of my illness and call a pharmacy and order an antibodic for me. I want to start taking drugs right now.
My world has turned green. I love that moment when the trees are ntociably green and beautiful.
I sat out on my balcony and just let the sun warm me. I wanted to take a nap out there but I am so congested that I was afraid to fall asleep and start snoring and disturb everyone in the courtyard area.
My 2024 garden has started. I went to Produce Junction and picked up six plants.
With much difficulty, I found the tax man and I have an appointment tomorrow to go over my tax return.
I feel like shit.
In the afternoon, I hung in the courtyard with people. We had an Earth Day event. I didn't participate but I joined them just so I could hang with some people. I ahve been so isolated this week.
My doctor sent me a note in my medical portal which I didnt find until the evening. We had a miscommunication and she sent me an elaborate note on how to address my cold sore problem. I made an appointment to see her on Wednesday.
Trump's criminal trial began today. I wonder how many times he is going to fart today.
23-TU-PA
It's Primary Voting Day in PA. Biden is already the presumed winner so I wrote in Hillary Clinton's name. I voted for her in the 2008 primary, the 2016 primary and general election and now today. I'm still with HER.
I had my meeting with the tax man and I fucking hate this moment. I owe almost $10,000 to the federal governemnt and $1000 to the state and I was charged $565 by the tax man. They are all stealing from me.
But once I got through that unpleasant moment, I went home and parked my car on the outside lot and cleaned out the trunk of my car. I needed to take inventory of what I have in there. And I have a lot of shit in there.
The sun was so warm and the temperature was so perfect that I sat out there for a whole and just relaxed mindlessly in the moment. I could have stayed there all afternoon. But, instead, I went off and got me a delicious pastrami hoagie and took it to the courtyard to eat and spent the afternoon out there, going through all of the coins I had stashed away in the trunl of my car. I rolled about $20 and will take the pennies to a coin counter. I found this time to have been the most productive time Ive had in the last week.
24-W- PA
I got to the doctor this morning and she was humiliated by our misunderstanding about my illness. I laughed so hard and she felt so bad becasue she was stunned at how sick I was. And I was thinking that I was a little better today. Anyway, I left with perscritions for four medines and a request to follow up on Friday to see if I need a chest exray. So I guess I was sicker than I thought I was. She gave me the same line that Tricia gave me on Saturday, "You are an old lady now. You don't heal as quickly as you did when you were younger. Dont wait so long to get in to see a doctor." I am fighting this reality.
I walked across the street to the physical trainer busines and signed up to hire a personal trainer. I have my first session next week. I need help and maybe this guy can motivate me to stay with a new physical fitness program.
In the wolrd of music, Taylor Swift's new album has already been streamed over 1 billion times since Saturday.
It's 2:30 AM and I am still in the lounge. I've been here since 10 PM. I have to get to bed.
Twitter: Yet another example of the orange idiot’s delusions. He is slipping away from reality.
Quote
JustDavidinBKK 
The Key to the White House was taken away from him when President Biden was sworn in. This is not his key to give to others. x.com/ronfilipkowski…
25- TH- PA
Today was a good day. Now that I am on some srong medicine, I feel as if I am finally going to return to normal. I slept well. I am not coughing as much. Im not sneezing like crazy. The blockage in my lungs is losening up. Life is good.
I was meeting Sharon, Kathy, Patricia and Joann for dinner in town. I spent the whole damn day waiting to go to dinner. I had intentions of going to the post office, the bank, getting gas, maybe cleaning out my car, walking through town, And I did none of that. I waited for the clock to hit 3:20 to go to pick up Tricia and then drive in to town.
We went to Parc which is a good, upscale resturant in Rittnhouse Square. I had a veal dish that was so damn delicious that I just wanted to go and sit in a corner and savour every bite.
Afterwards, we went across the street to the Curtis Institute of Music to listen to a young woman give her graduation pefromance on her violin. Her perfromance was excellence.
26- F- PA
It's Tricia's birthday. She's 65 and doesn't want to be reminded that she now qualifiies for Medicare.
Sharon, Kathy, Tricia and I went to Longwood Gardens for the day.
27- SA- PA
I feel lousy again. I am lethagric and I have a foggy brain. I cant wake up enough.
In the evening, I had an ushering assignment and I misread the statrt time and showed up 1/2 late. I late being late. Anyway, I ushered for the West Chester Film Festival.
28- SU- PA
In the afternoon of this gorgeous day, I ushed for the West Chester Film Festival. The films were mostly too violent for my taste.
In the evening, Kevin, JoJo and I sat in the courtyard and sampled beers and talked about women's basketball.
29-M-PA
It was a beautiful day. It was 85F, sunny, warm and radiant. And I just couldn't wake up today. I was so groggy. I got up, got dressed and drove to Marsh Creek State Park. I thought I would sit by the lake all afternoon. But I couldn't find the lake and I had trouble staying awake while I was driving so I just came home and slipped back in to bed and listened to my audiobook. I was so lethargic.
30- TU- PA
I just couldn't wake up today and I had my appointment with my personal trainer. I wanted to cancel becasue I felt so lousy but I knew that I would never reschedule if I canceled today. So I went and I went through a series of exercises and the two trainers didn't laugh too much at me. And I think this is what I really need to do even though I do not want to spend this much money on exercising.
Afterwards, I was still sleepy but I went to Workhouse Brewery (7) and got a flight and my beers were mediocre.
I finished my book, Maga Diaries by . I didn't lisnet to it enough but the author went from working to Breit news to reporting for Politico. How does someone make this drmatic transition. And how can she work to get others away from this dangerous cult?
Twitter: Judge Merchan ruled that Trump violated his court gag order 9 times during his trial, ordering him to pay the court $9,000. The gag order bars the orange idiot from attacking witnesses, prosecutors or family members of the judge & the Manhattan district attorney. #FUTrump
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