September 2019

September 2019

PA, DE, NY, DC, NJ

1- SU- PA- It's Labor Day weekend which means the end of the summer.  This weekend always depresses me.  It's the end of warm afternoons, water ice, long days, my garden, beach opportunities, the swimming pool, grilling, 4th of July parades, street fairs and all other fun summer things.  It's now the official start of shorter days, sweaters in the evenings, closing up the windows, and complaining about the cold. The only redeeming thing about this moment is that next weekend starts the release of pumpkin beers.  I cant wait.  This afternoon, I went to the movies to see Where'd You Go Bernadette. It was quirky, unbelievable and fun and I love it.  Afterwords, Debbie and Jeff and I went to the Stone Bar for dinner.  We came back to the apartment building and watched a David Capella comedy special, Sticks and Stones.  He has a sharp mind and a cutting wit.


2- M- PA- it's Labor Day and the end of the summer as I know it.  There was a slight chill in the air today.  everyone is talking about school and no one was at the pool today.  The afternoon rain storm did its best to confirm that summer days are gone.  I went to Longwood Gardens, the last of my 12 museum pass that I bought for the summer.  There was a fun water fountain show but I spent most of my time at the conservatory and photographed the orchids, all of which were beautiful.

3- TU- PA- I held what is becoming my yearly faculty meeting fro retired teachers.  We met in Media, PA at Quotations and Wanda Sykes, the comedian was sitting at the bar.  It was fun to get tighter with these people.  We spent so many years of our lives together and now we hardly see each other.

4- W- PA- I had to take a woman to her cancer treatment today.  I've taken her before.  She's 90 and determined to beat this second bout of cancer.  However, she isn't giving up her smoking habit.  I don't have that much will to live.  Maybe I should take up smoking.  Afterwords I headed to Bald Birds Brewery in Audobon. My first shipment of menstrual cups came in today.  I'm taking them to my students in Bangladesh in November.  I hope they like them.  I came home and watched a movie on my damn phone: Dirt Bag, the story of Fred Beckly, one of the all time great mountain climbers of all times.

5- TH- PA- I am determined to write all afternoon.  I've gotten away from my writing.  When I went to Israel in February, I got out of the habit of writing every day and I just can't get back in to this routine.  Consequently, I have stopped publishing a daily story on the Internet.  And while I know no one is crying over this fact, it was just about the only disciplined thing I did in my life.  I have to get back to writing every damn day. In the evening,  The Secret Life of Pets was shown on a big screen by the pool.  It was chilly.  I had to put on a sweater which annoyed me.

6- F- PA- I wandered up to Lancaster today.  What a nice little town.  I went to two breweries: Rumspringa Brewery and VooDoo Brewery.  I enjoyed both of them.  Then I came back and sat in the lounge with Ginny and complained about my health insurance problems. I have to start looking at medicare supplement options.  How did I get to be so damn old?

7- SA- PA/DE-  I spent the day trying to find someone/anyone to go to Locust Lane Brewery to watch the PSU game.  But I had no luck. So I went to Dom and Jaye's house and watched it with them.  We won and it was a fun evening.

8- SU- PA- I wanted to go out and about on this beautiful day.  Instead, I stayed inside and watched the Eagles win.

9- M- PA- I had to go to the dentist to have him check on my damn broken tooth.  He said all is healing well.  And he wants to put an implant in around late November.  But I am going to Bangladesh around that time and I do not want anything to go wrong and then I am in Bangladesh with a mouth infection.  So I will wait until my return in January.  But I am also considering going to Costa Rico because the dental care there is so much cheaper. I watched the movie Late Night on my tiny, little cell phone screen.

10- TU- PA- OMG, it's a beautiful day. Shelia came over for lunch.  And she wanted to talk to me about medical marijuana and THC.  It was comical to listen to her as she attempted to help her critically ill friend who's in pain and who's drug connection just got arrested.  Now Shelia wants her relieve her pain but she is afraid of any potential illegal behaviors and consequences.

11- W- PA- Kathy Flatley called me and asked if I could go to a last minute movie with her.  I was up fro it and so we saw Brittany Runs a Marathon which was poignant and relatable to all of us who have had toxic friends.  Afterwords we went to her sushi restaurant which I just love.  We had waygu beef on a hot, hot rock.

12- TH- PA- Debbie and I went to a double-header matinee movie event and it was great fun.  We went to see Peanut Butter Falcon and loved, loved, loved it.  I want to see it again.  Then we ran tot he bar and had a quick beer and then came back and watched Luce which was not as good as I thought it would be.  I packed rotisserie chicken which I ate during the movie and I had a fun, fun day.

13- F- PA- It's Friday the 13th with a full moon looming over us.  I finally got some of my old artwork pieces together and took them to get framed at Kent Studio.  It's an old place where I used to go with my mother years ago.  They are still in business and still a great deal.  I took 5 pieces to be framed and it is less than $300.  That's a deal.  Then I headed to 2SP Brewery, in Aston, and I am mad at them. I wanted a flight.  They had a deal for 6 beers that they picked but I wanted to pick my own so they gave me 4 (8oz) beers.  That's too much damn beer.

14- SA- PA- Penn State won the football game but it was a hard game to watch.  The last two weeks, we had blowout games and this game was shaken until the last play.  afterwords, Sharon, Glenn, Tricia, Bill and I went out to an Italian restaurant for dinner and then we went to the Colonial Theatre to watch the movie Big Night.  I've seen this movie as least four times and I love it.

15- SU- PA- its a gorgeous day and it's Restaurant Festival in West Chester. Jaye, Dom and Lauren joined me as we wandered around town and tried out a few treats. I had the Hawaiian barbecue chicken. They left and I joined Debbie and Jeff at the Square Bar for an outdoor concert.  Then I went home for a quick nap before the Eagles' game but I never made it up for the rest of the night.  I just can't nosing bastards.drink beer in the afternoon and then function in the evening.

16- M- PA- it's a cloudy day and so is my mood.  I have no energy.  The big high of the day was when I discovered that my soupy water trap has 4 dead lantern flies in it.  I'm making progress in destroying those annoying flies .  I booked my trip to Bangladesh.  I leave Nov 24 and come back on Dec. 30.  I am hoping to get a quick trip in to Burma while I am there.

17- TU- PA/ NYC- I drove up to the Staudts' house in West Chester County, NY and Kathy and I took the train in to NYC to hear an interview with Ralph Rucci.  It was great fun.  Ralph spoke for about 1 1/2 hours and gave us all of the gossip about his business and its demise. I was impressed with his drive to become a fashion icon and he certainly is the most talents, under valued designer we have in the USA.

18- W- NYC/NJ/PA--  When I got up and going, I found that Jim had waited around fro me so we had breakfast and I got to see a slide show of his trip to Japan.  I left NY and went to one of my favorite stores, Campmor, in NJ.  I then found a brewery, Gentle Giant Brewery in what I thought was in NJ and on my way home.  But I was back in NY for this short stop.  I got home just in time to get ready to go to dinner with some Springfield friends.

19- TH- PA-  I was supposed to take someone for his cancer treatment today but he called and cancelled so now I have the whole day to myself.  The jewel service in at my apartment today so I am getting my diamond earrings fixed. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon in the business center, catching up on delinquent emails, obligations and tasks.  I was not as successful as I should have been.

20- F- PA- It was a beautiful, beautiful day so I went to a matinee movie: The Goldfinch. I haven't read the book but those who have, loved it.  I think I might have to read the book now.

21- SA- PA- It's another beautiful day.  These are the days that can cure depression.  I took five pieces of art to be framed last week and they are ready to be picked up.  They all looked great.  Now I have to find wall space for them.  I have 30 pieces hanging on my walls now.  On the way home, I stopped at the Aston Abbey Brewing  Company and I did not like their beers.

22- SU- PA- I went to the theatre with Sue Descano.  We went to see Young Frankenstein and it was so damn funny.  I loved it.  We had dinner with Tom afterwards and, as always, I enjoyed his company.

23- M- PA- I started out cleaning my apartment but I never finished as this task is of no interest to me. So I went to the movies with Phyliss to see Downton Abbey.  She loved it and I liked it.  She watched the entire 9 years of the TV series and I watched one show in 2010.  I guess that says a lot.

24- TU- PA- OMG, I was a lazy ass today.  I didn't sleep well and I was tired.  I came down to the lounge for a cup of coffee and Diane showed up.  She parked herself right next to me.  And then Debbie showed up and then Jon and then Phyliss and then Jeff.  And then three hours passed. And the afternoon was shot.  I ran a few errands, made a few phone calls and then came back to the lounge to catch up with the evening crew.

25- W- DC- OMG, today was a fucking waste of time.  I got up early and drove to DC to go to the Bangladesh Embassy.  I needed to get my visa for my November trip.  I coolant get it.  I got annoyed with the people at the embassy and I drove 5 hours for nothing.  On the way home, I stopped by the Union Brewing Company in Baltimore, MD.  I've wanted to go to this place for a number of years.  The beers were delicious and the food was great.  But then I had to rush to get home as I was meeting Tricia at PSU Great Valley campus for a lecture on an author who was related to a multi-millionaire.

26- TH- NJ- two years ago today, I met Elliot and today I am going to see this adorable, little boy. in NJ.  I can't wait. I love that little boy.  We played all afternoon and he has reached an age where he wants to have a relationship with me.  He is adorable.

27- F- NJ- Heather, Elliot and I went to his ballet class and it was hysterical.  While the other kids danced, he laid down on the mat and was having none of it while Heahter did her best to convince him in to participating.  Afterwards we went to brunch and then I headed to Hoboken to pick up one of my chinese students, Many, who just finished some work at the UN in NYC.  We drove off to the beach and stayed at the  Dunes by the Ocean hotel.  We had an early dinner at the Last Wave brewing Company. 

28- SA- NJ- It was a beautiful, windy day and Mandy and I spent six hours just sitting on the beach.  We each had a very comfortable chair and we flopped ourselves down and just sat there, doing nothing, saying nothing, just relaxing.  Occasionally we would check in with each other to see if there was anything we could do for the other.  But mostly, we just say and daydreamed and listened to the gulls.  Mandy went up to our hotel to get us some blankets as it was a little chilly.  So I just cocooned myself and rested.  It was a lovely day.

29- SU- NJ/PA- I had to drop Mandy off at the Newark Airport.  She is off to see friends in NC and in FL.  I got back on the highway and stopped at the Third State Brewery and then at the Broken Goblet Brewery.  Then I made the mistake at stopping at the Ollie's Discount Store and bought too many little, shit things.

30- M- PA- I had a lot of stupid errands and bills to pay.  I had work done on my car and then I was off to dinner with my high school friends.  Afterwards, I went to the airport to catch an early morning flight to Mississippi.