April 2023

 April 2023

PA/DC/DE/MD/NY

1- SA- PA

It was a gorgeous day today and I just couldn't figure out what I wanted to do today.  I wanted to spend some time in the courtyard but when I stepped out on my balcony, I saw S&P hanging there.  So I darted back in to my apartment.

I ran in to Kristen and we made tentative plans to go for a drink.  I was hoping we could sit outside on this beautiful day.

I ran a few errands and on the way home, the skies opened up and hale just pelted my windshield, Then there was an emergency warning about a pending tornado and I didn't feel like leaving my apartment.  I didn't even feel like hanging in the lounge.

Instead, I watched a movie, the Beckoning Silence.  The movie was written by the same guy who wrote Touching the Void.

Twitter poll:

Looking forward to Tuesday. Do you think he is really going to turn himself in?

• Yes, he knows he’s done

  36.8%
• No, he wants more drama

  63.2%

2- SU- PA/DE

At last, after months of trying, we all got to have lunch with Jaye.  Sharon, Tricia, Lauren and I met up with Jaye at Panera's in DE.  None of them have seen Jaye since her cancer diagnosis in December 2021. We had a good time and it was good to catch up with each other. Tricia brought along her photo album of Lauren's wedding. 

Jaye sent us a text when she got home: "This was such a nice treat ladies. Thank you so much for hanging with me and thank you Bridget for footing the bill. You make me feel like family and I am so grateful for that.  Looking forward to other lunches".

In the afternoon, I read a book

3- M- PA

It was another gorgeous day and it was warm.  I think it hit 65 today.  So I took a road trip to a brewery in Berks County.  I had read that they were serving a cherry stout and that was the beer that I had in Ireland that was so damn delicious.  So off I went to the  Copperz  Brewery (1).  I had the cherry stout, a pale ale  hazy IPA,  and an American IPA . All my beers were delicious and I liked the cherry stout but not as much as I did in Ireland.

My ride home was beautiful. I chose not to take the turnpike. The grass is now bright green and there were lots of rolling hills and huge farms.  I really live in a beautiful state.

The whole world is waiting for tomorrow.  Finally, finally Trump is getting arrested and I can't wait.  There will be an additional 3600 police officers on duty.  NYC has hundreds of barricades set up around Trump Towers and the DA's office and the police station.  The mayor warned everyone and Rep MTG, in particular, to be peaceful.  I wish I was up there. I would be celebrating.

4- TU- PA

I slept with my balcony door open all night.  I love this moment when it is warm enough to keep that door open and let all that warmth and sunshine in.

Trump is arraigned on 34 counts of fraud.  AT LAST!  Justice is served and I hope he rots in hell.  There wasn't the protest that he predicted.  There were some people and there will anti-Trump people there as well.  But it seemed as if the media people were the largest group there.

It was another beautiful day so I decided to take on two bday goals: 4th floor balcony and pool courtyard.  I don't remember when was the last time I was up on the 4th floor balcony and now I know why.  I went up there with the intent to read a book.  It was   sunny, the chairs were exceedingly uncomfortable and there is no bathroom up there.  It's just a wasted space.  In the midst of my frustration, I remembered that we also have  a courtyard on the other side of the pool.  No one ever comes to this area.  So I went there and found a comfortable place to read and spent about an hour or more out there.  I am going to start coming here more often.

I need more night time friends.  I asked several people here if they would go to the 10PM drag show at a local bar and they all cried that it would be too late for them to stay up. I need to hang with college kids.  They don't go out until 10 PM.

5- W- PA

I went down to the parking garage to get in my car and I noticed that I had left one of the interior lights on since Monday evening and the battery was still alive and kicking.  That is one tough battery.

I had to go to COSTCO to pick up my custom made eye glass frames.  They will not fit me with new glasses because that think these frames are too exotic. Are they kidding me.  The frames are made out of denim. Damn.

From there, I drove to West Grove where everyone is Latino. High school kids roamed the streets with nothing to do so they just hung on all of the street corners, bored out of their I wanted to go to a new place that just opened up two months ago, the Blonde and Brewnette Brewery (2).  I was first pour of the day and my beers were delicious.

MMA sent me a notice that they have to approve my speech for my award on April 28.  I am offended.  And I can't do it.  How can I accept an award honoring me because  I have spent my entire career empowering women and I can only speak if my speech is pre-approved. I have to cool down before I do anything.  But this is bullshit.

6- TH- PA

I had another reoccurring work dream.  I had to take a group of teachers to a three day professional development conference.

I woke up less angry about my MMA situation but I am still so offended that they expect me to submit my speech before I speak.  

In the afternoon, I went to the movies.  For some reason, I really haven't seen that many movies this year.  I went to see the Quiet Girl and when I read the reviews, it sound just like the story of a book I just read and sure enough, it was the same story.  But there are a few details that I don't remember so I may have to go back and listen to the book again.  And if I do, it will be the third time I listened to this book.  I took it out of the library last month, right before I went to Ireland.  I wanted to get sued to the Irish accent.  So I listened tot he story and then listened again. And I still didn't get used to all of the Irish accents I encountered.

For dinner, I went Blazon J's (bday goal) for a spicy, mediocre chicken sandwich.  I think this will be the last time I eat here.

KF texted me to tell me that Kay Doyle is on hospice and dying of breast cancer.  I don't wish her ill but I will not grieve for her. 

7- F- PA

Bill McRae and I met up at LaCabra Brewery (3) for lunch.  I'v been here several times and mostly their beers are mediocre.  Today they were good.

I went to Artistic Eyewear- bday goal- on High Street.  I ordered eyeglass frames from an artist in England.  The frames are made out of denim and I love them.  I took them to Costco in hopes that they could fill my prescription and they were only going to charge me $200.  But they wouldn't touch this order for fear of possible breaking these expensive frames.  So I went to this local boutique store where everything is so damn expensive.  But he said he would take the risk and fill my order and the glasses are going to cost me anywhere between $500 and $701.  Fuck.  I am going back to Costco for my next order.

For dinner, I went Taco Mar- bday goal.  My burrito was delicious.

8- SA- PA/MD

I'm off to the beach for two days.  It is supposed to be sunny this weekend. And it is easter weekend and I hate Easter so this saves me from having to celebrate this stupid holiday.

I am in Ocean City, MD at a beachfront hotel.  I have an ocean side view of the beach in the 4th floor. If I didn't have to look at the Hooter's Restaurant right outside my window, my view would be perfect.

It's chilly today just as it was yesterday but the day before was 81 so I am cranky with this regression back to the winter weather. I have to wear my heavier leather jacket.

Once I was checked in to my hotel, I headed oui and visited two breweries:

My first stop was the Sinepuxent Brewery (4)-  MD- You could spend the whole damn day here.  There is a huge outdoor space that allows for a band to play music all afternoon.  You could bring a picnic if you wanted.  The indoor bar area is a little tight but the crowd wants to be there. I had a stout, a sour, a DIPA and a harvest IPA.  I liked all of my beers and if I lived near here, I would come often.

The Other One Brewery-(5)- MD. This brewery is right in the heart of Ocean City on the main road. It is small but it has a large, friendly vibe. I had a coffee porter that was not to heavy and light enough to drink all day.  I had three IPAs and all of them had a distinctive taste.

Twitter: Does the GQP have any agenda issues to help the American people? What do they hope to accomplish for the good of the people?

9- SU- MD

It's Easter and I hate Easter.  My siblings were sending us all texted photos of their Easter moments.  I sent them a photo of the Hooter's restaurant across the street from my hotel.  I told them that I was going to an Easter brunch here. Sharon told me to have a good time.  She must not know about Hooter's.

I drove to Assateague National Park.  The wild horses were wandering around everywhere.  And even though there were plenty of signs telling people to keep 40 feet away, people were walking right up to them and that got on my nerves.  I wanted to yell at these idiots but even more, I wanted the horses to charge at them.

I drove to the beach and saw plenty of signs  that people should not be on the dunes.  And there were kids who were climbing all over the dunes and I wanted to yell at them. But I didn't. I am really getting to be a self-righteous old lady.

I drove 30 miles to a brewery and this place no longer makes its own beers.  So I left. Then I looking for another place that was open.  It was 10 miles away but I couldn't find it anywhere.  So I finally found an open place up the road,  Burnish Beer Company (6).  Normally, it closed at 9 PM on Sunday but they were going to close at 5 tonight for Easter and it was only 4 PM so I had plenty of time.  But then, they decided that they were going to close as soon as all of the customers left.  That put pressure on me as I had ordered three stouts and a sour and they were delicious slow sipping beers.  I ordered a milk stout, a coconut stout, a banana stout and a peach sour.  I also tried the molasses and bacon stout and a 14% imperial stout. All of my beers were delicious.  I took a 4 pack of the sour home with me.  It tastes more like a summer cocktail than a beer.

Once I was back at my hotel, I walked the boardwalk for awhile.  It was windy and too chilly for comfort so I came back to sit on my balcony.  But the man across the street was out on his balcony and feeding the damn gulls so I had way too many birds flying around in my comfort zone.  So I went inside. Fuck that man feeding the birds.

10- M- MD/PA

I tossed and turned all night long and these nights just fill me with stress. I have to be out of my hotel room by 11AM and I worried that I would fall asleep at the last hour and be too tired to hear the alarm go off.

I finally finished my book, Call Me By Your Name.  I can't tell if I liked it or not.  It was well written but the story was annoying. It's the story of two men who had a summer affair and never let go of the emotional ties of that summer.

KF sent me a text to tell me that Kaye Doyle died. And I don't care.  I don't want anyone to suffer from cancer but I will not mourn her.  She married my father after my mother died and she was cruel to him.  She took too many opportunities to humiliate him in front of us.  She wanted to bait us in to an argument with her.  But my siblings and I had made a pact that we would not engage her and get my father caught in the middle. It was painful to listen to her rants and I always felt cowardly for not standing up for my father.  But she would have made it so ugly for him. And now she is out of my life for good.

It was too cold and windy to walk on the boardwalk and I really wanted to get home because I was so tired.  So I just packed up my things and headed right home.  I did stop at Dog Fish Head brewery (7) for lunch.  Normally, I really like these beers here.  But my beers were mediocre today.  Nothing wowed me.

11- TU- PA

It's been 30 years since Chris was murdered. And today is the first time I have written about it. As usual, his friend, John, posted something on facebook and his friends are still taking about him.  I sent a photo of Chris and me to my siblings but there was little conversation that followed because it is still to painful.
Jimmy sent us a copy of Kaye's obituary and I really don't care. Sharon sent me a text that read "ding dong, the witch is dead." That summed up my feeling exactly.
Lauren and I went to a performance at WCU.  I had seen these Japanese drummer here five years ago on this day.  I wonder if I will see them again in the next five years.
For dinner, we went to the High Street Cafe- bday goal.  We had planned to go to another place but that was closed and now we were pressed for time. So we only had an appetizer.  But it was tasty and I would like to come here again some time.
Our show was great fun.  My previous show seemed to have more drumming but this show had a balance of drummer and dancing. The performers seemed so happy to be back in the USA since the imposed covid hiatus derailed their program.

Twitter: We aren’t going to have meaningful gun reform until we have term limits in congress. Neither side has the true courage to address this culture cancer because they won’t risk getting re-elected.

12- W- PA

It took me awhile to fall asleep but I slept soundly until 11:30 AM today. I am always stunned when I wake up from a sound sleep that late in the morning.

It's my mother's birthday. She would be 96. It's hard to believe that she's been gone almost 25 years now. That means Jameson is going to be 25 soon. He was born shortly after she died. It bothers me that they never knew each other.

I ordered a teeshirt a few weeks back and it finally came in today. At first , I was so excited because the shirt focused on my mother's influence on me. I want to wear this shirt to my speech on April 28. But then I saw that the shirt is a youth shirt. How the fuck did I order a youth shirt? Now I have to return it. Damn, damn, damn.

I went to see The Lost King at BMFI, starring Sally Hawkins. I like this actress. She always seems so fragile but determined in all of the characters she plays. This movie was no different and it was infuriating to see the reoccuirrng theme of men taking credit for women's work.

13- TH- PA

I spent the afternoon and early evening with Sally, Stacy, and Rose. We started at the Sly Fox (8) Brewery and headed out to another spot. Along the way, I saw a car in front of me with its flashers on. The back tire was flat. I waved the driver over and offered to use my tire pump.

He was a tall, dark, handsome, muscular man. I asked him if he was surprised to see an old, white woman offer to help him. He smartly answered, "no comment." I apologized for my question and told him I was just trying to make a joke.

Thirty minutes later, I caught up with my group and we headed over to the Locust Lane Brewery (9). Of course, I always like to come here because this a a PSU place. The owners met each other on Locust Lane in State College and I lived on Locust Lane and Beaver Avenue in 1977.

14- F- PA/DE

It was a gorgeous day: sunny, warm (81F) and pleasant. I called Jaye to see if she wanted to sit on a tiny beach in Newcastle, DE. I thought it would be soothing to put our feet in the sand. She wanted to go to the movies instead. We went to see Air, the story of Micheal Jordon securing his sneaker deal with Nike. HIs mother was brilliant and got him a contract that paid him millions for life.

For dinner, we went to the 2SP Brewery (10). Our meal and beers were mediocre but expensive. So this place is off my list.

15- SA- PA

Rain was in the forecast for the entire day and I had no plans so I really thought this would be a perfect day to hang in my apartment and clean a little bit. But that didn't happen at all. Kevin texted Pete and me to see if we wanted to go to Artillery Brewery (11) for a few beers. Pete said no and I foolishly said yes and off we went. I only had a flight but that was enough to drain me for the rest of the day.

I came home, laid down and listened to my dreadful book about white supremacy. And then it was dark outside. Another relatively unproductive day.

I called Helen. Her mom is failing fast. It's hard to believe that this vibrant woman is fading away from us.

16-SU-PA

It’s tax day and I don’t even know the status of my tax return. And I don't care. I hate this day.

Today is Aunt Jo’s 92nd birthday. Cindy posted a photo oh her on Facebook. She looked so damn old and I am sadden by this reality. The last time I saw Aunt Jo was four years ago and while she was no longer sprey, she didnt look broken. Today, her stare looks vacant.

Helen Dougherty’s mom is on my mind today. Kathy Flatley and I chatted about how much effort it is to help her mom get through the day. I don't have a sense of what it takes to take care of an old mother.

It was so pleasant to sit in the courtyard all afternoon with Kevin and Joanna. 

While I was on Facebook, one of my former students posted that she didn't have access to a pen. It appears as if she is in some sort of assisted living faculty for people who do not have any money. She frequenctly comments on how destitute she is. So I went on Amazon and sent her pens. How frustrating must it be to be depend on people for your every need.

Kevin told me that Rob is moving out of CS. He’s going to another apartment and saving $1000/month. I am going to miss him. One of the problems of living here is that so many people are just passing through until they move in to a more permanent place. So i become attached to people and then they are gone.

17-M- PA

I went looking for my tax return. I dropped everything off at H& R Block about two weeks ago and I haven't heard anything. I thought they were due today but I have until tomorrow to get them in. I owe $8500 which is less than last year. But I thought I would owe less than that because my portfolio is still not what it was 2 years ago.

In the morning, I finished my dreadful book on white supremacy, White American Youth by Christian supremacy. We have a problem in this country with lost, angry, white, male teenagers who feel put upon by the rest of the world. the violence in this man's stroy is sickening.

Today was day one of my Summer garden 23. I have been aching to get started and I think the cold nights are behind us. So i went to Produce Junction and bought 8 plants. They are all repotted and hanging on my balcony.

I returned MEJ's phone call. She is a kook. She wanted to fill me in on all of her health issues and to let me know that she is well enough to come to our high school reunion.

As I was hanging in the lounge this evening, Kristin came by. I haven't seen her in weeks. So we hung together, tasted some of my beers and caught up. I like hanging in the lounge.

18- TU- PA

I had a 3PM appointment with a dentist to check on the status of my implant. Everything looks good and it appears as if he is only going to charge me the $3000 I gave him in January. The other implant cost closer to $6000. This tooth seems like a good deal.

Afterwards I drove to Philly to find a deserted cemetery. It was hard to find because my damn phone wont charge in my car. So my GPS kept fading away from me. I finally found it but I couldn't find where I could drive through it. So I went home, frustrated and disinterested to trying again to explore this place.

In national news, the Dominium Voting Company and Fox News have settled their law suit. Fox will pay Dominion over 700 million $$$ for Fox's false claims about the 2020 election. Much of the general public is angry because the Fox people will not have to testify under oath and they could still spread their lies about election fraud.

I finally filed my taxes around 11PM, just in time. I used an electronic options and it seemed to challenge me just a bit. Next year, maybe I will go back to mailing in my forms.

19-W- PA

Before I went to bed last night, I mapped out my plans for today. And mid-afternoon, I remembered my plans and it was too late to implement them. And so I just sat in the lounge and engage in mindless activities. But I did do a few loads of laundry so the whole day wasn't compleletly wasted.

20- TH- PA/DE

Sharon, Jaye and I met up for dinner at the Ironhill Brewery (12)- DE and then we went to the book lecture by Mary Roach. I am not familiar with this author but if her books are as engaging as she is, I want to read more of her work. After she finished her interview, Jaye leaned over to me and told me that she thought Mary and I would make good friends. I told Jaye that I didn't need any more friends because I had her as a friend and she just laughed at me.

21- F- PA

I picked up my new sunglasses which cost a fortune and the optician cracked the frames. Fuck. My sunglasses are $1000. When did I become so frivolous with my money. I ordered the frames from England and Costco, my new eyeglass place, wouldn't work in them because they were too exotic and didn't want any potential liability.

I stopped by the chocolate store to get a small gift for Kathy. Damn, $12 for four little pieces of chocolate. bday goal

Then I made my way to Shwarmi (bday goal a pita sandwich. I was annoyed because they have old menus out with old prices but they caharge a different proce. That always seems sneaky to me. My sandwich was too difficult to eat. The guy annoyed me and I dont think I will go back there again.l)

My depression is poking at me today. I have a little urge to cry about nothing. I want to take a nap so I can pass away this time. My speech next week has me worried. I have to go to Larchmont tomorrow and I want to get through that. I think I will have long week ahead of me. But next week at this time, I will be fine. It's going to be a long week.

22- SA- PA/NY

It was an easy drive up to Larchomnt. When I got there, John was waiting for me and he announced that we were going to the Decadent Brewery (13)- NY for lunch. I couldnt beleive it. I never thought Kathy would want to spend the time at a brewery. But we had fun. Keven and Danny and Danielle showed up as well.

We went back to the house and Kevin and Emily and the sweet little girls joined us as well. We orderd tacos for dinner an they were the best I ever had. Now I am noever goingt o enjoy a taco the same way. Jim finally came home from his golf event and we chatted each othre up until it was time to go to bed.

23- SU- NY

Jim was ready with his photos from his recent trip to Spain. Mide- sentence, thre was a noise at the door and we could see that it was the litle girls. Kathy and Jim dropped everything and ran to great them.all elese in the world ceasedto matter to them.Emily was with them. kevin was out fishing. Question joined usand we spent the next few hours cheering on the gilrs as they moved around thier world. We sang and high-fived and clapped as they entertined us with thier mere sweet presence. Quentin and Brielle joined us and it was comforting to be in this world.

When the gilrs went home, Jim set up his photography equipment so that he could take a head photo for me. I think i am goingt o need something more professional for my high school award. Nothing is too much effort form Jim. It took him about 30 miuntes to set up all of his equipment. But we got a good head shot after 10 minutes and as I looked at my photoI was mad that I hadn't gotten a hair cut this week. I look shaggy.

When I got home from NY, I found Pete, Kevin Liz and Paulo hanging at Bar Avalon and they were all drnunk. It was Pete's surpise bday party this afternoon and after al the guest went home, they wandered over here. So I joined them for a quick beer and then slipped out of here and went home.

On Facebook, I posted the notice about my high school award. I was hesitant to do so. But I am so down about this award that I needed people to feed me good vibes. And as expected adn needed, people wrote lovely things about me. I am going to spend the next few days, cleaaring my head so that my conflict with the alumni office doesnt intrefere with my attitide and delivery.

24- M- PA

I have nothing planned today so I was going to spend the day going through all of my mail, looking at my speech, pulling out my outfit for Friday and catching up on social media. I situated myself in the lounge, got a cup of coffee and pluged in all of my electronic devies. I was rummaging through my pile of mail when Pete showed up. Nothing else got done for the res of the day. Pete and I just chatted each other up and then he showed me that he still had beers in the community frig from his party on Sunday. So I had a beer and then Pete joined in when I went for my second beer. And then we were hungry so Pete ran upstairs and broght down leftover food from the party and we sat in the lounge and had dinner. Sharon came down with her dinner as well. And then it was 9PM. where did this damn day go?

In other news, Tucker/Fucker Carlson got fired from Fox News. There is hope that this terrible news station will finally admit that the 2020 election was not stolen. This is probably the closet we are going to get as an apology for their part in spreading lies and iding an insurrection against our country.

25- TU- PA

Damn it is cold today. I had to close my door to the balcony becasue my aprtment was becomig unpleasant. And I had to wear a bulky sweater to keep me warm. I hate when the weather fluctuates so dramatically from one day to another. I am cranky.

Marianna contacted me. She needed info about our classmats. So then I had to gather up my high school stuff and get it to her. I'm looking forward to our reunion and I can't wait until it is over.

I got my hair cut. I asked the woman to take 1/2 off and it looks as if she took 4 inches off. Now I look like a damn nun with a pixie cut.

My speech is ready for Friday. I ran it through KF again and she thinks it is perfect. Now I have to work on my good vibe to deliver.

Helen texted us to tell us that her mother is slipping away. She is on a morphine diet so it could be any day that she dies. Ann Dougherty is 94 years old and this news still comes as a shock to me.

26- W- PA

Today is gorgeous and a perfect day for a road trip and I was up a little earlier than usual. But I didn't go anywhere. I seem to be on a self- imposed restrictiono to limit anything I do in hopes that I thrawth any bad consequences that may come my way beofre I give my damn sppech. Im avoiding the potential of a car accident , a DUI, a bad fall, contacting Covid, or any other maality that could happen.

Finally, late afternoon, I ran over to Walmart and bought 7 more plants for my garden.

Pete texted me around 9 PM to tell me that he was hanging n the lounge, drinking beer. So I went down and hung with him for about an hour.

Trump's rape case started today. Last month he was arrested for his involvement in paying hush money to a porn star. Now he is defending himself against rape. He is such a scumbag.

27- TH- PA/DE

The damn dentist checked my implant status and told me that it wold be another $3000 to finsh the job. My new cap should be availble in three weeks.

I had breakfast at the West Chester diner (bday goal). The service was so poor becasue they were understaffed so I may not go back thre again. But my food was good and reasonable.

I took a big load over to greendrop. I finally got rid of my printer and computer screen. And no matter how much stuff I get rid of, there seems to be junk that just takes up these new open spaces. Where did I get all of this stuff?

I went to the Autumn Arch Beer Project (14)- DE- with Shelia and Joann. I've been to this brewery before and liked it. But today wasnt as fun as I remember it. The beers were mediocre and the food truch came late and I was hungry But it was nice to see these two women.

I found a deer tick on my arm. If I get Lyme's Disease again, I will be so damn angry.

28- F- PA

It's my awards day ceremony and my anxiety is through the roof.. What if i fuck it up.

29- SA- PA

The reuniion continues at the high school We start with a Mass in the chapel and the priest is a boring, out of touch, white man who speaks to us for 27 minutes for his homily. God only knows what is his damn message. He lost he crowd after 5 minutes and Rosina buzzed me with a text message. But I did not look at it or responde ebcause I had too many eyes on my and I didnt want to appear completely, absolutely disinterested in every word that came out of his mouth.

A reception follwed at the school and then a group of us went to Ironhill Brewery (15)- Ardmore, PA for one last night cap.

30- SU- PA

We ended our reunion weekend with a brunch at Kate Hill's house. It was only attended by 7 people so maybe this event is losing energy. But it was nice to end the weekend on a quieter note.

I dropped Paula off at her friend's house just in time for her to pack and get to the airport. She was full of energy and joy right up to the very last second. It was great to see her after 51 years.

Reunion #50 weekend is over and it was joyful and exhausting and I am one lucky bitch to have experienced this much joy and friendship.