Autumn's Bookshelves

When I was at Autumn's in May I snapped a photo of her books. I love knowing what books people buy and read and keep on their shelves. 

The Corners of My Mind

Here is another post from my original, and now defunct blog, dating back to 2 October 2007:

Often I find myself left to my own quiet thoughts. In those moments, I tend to look back. To reminisce. Lately I have remembered some simple and insignificant glimpses from the past and have decided to share them. Here goes:

That first day I worked with Peter Parker in the café those many years back. He was so shy and I knew that I needed to be extra nice because that is what I needed when I first started. We immediately clicked and I will never forget how years later, he told me that he liked me from the start because I was wearing my Ferris Bueller shirt. He remembered what I wore the day we met. Now that is cool.

Cerpts. All I did was buy him an orange juice six years ago and my life was changed forever. He repaid my juice purchase with two cassettes of Rollins' Boxed Life. Each track hand written in a different vibrant color. Over the next six years he would randomly bestow a CD with his radio broadcast, The Dark Forest. The highlight of those broadcasts? His singing Tom Waits' "Alice" on the Henrietta Hudson birthday edition of The Dark Forest. One of my favorite fellas singing one of my favorite songs. What could be better?

Earlier this year, Pax was laid up at the Utopian estate for well over a month. On my days off I would drive over and we would watch The Departed and After Hours. We'd order in pizza, hang on the sofa, dissect the movies we watched and just chat about whatever. Mostly I would listen wide eyed while he'd spin me one of his stories. Next week I am crossing my fingers that we can get together and throw in a noir film. Maybe Sweet Smell of Success or Gun Crazy.....

Y'know, it's hard to think about Bishop without thinking about his great big laugh, which is always followed by using his hand to try and muffle said laugh, and finally ending with a delightful hiss. Never was this laugh displayed louder or with as much verve then after the infamous Voldemort incident of 2002. Also known as the laugh heard round the world. Man, I have never seen anyone laugh that hard in my life. I thought he would have a coronary. It was good to see him happy. Even if it was merely fleeting.

These are the little moments that stick in those corners of my mind and creak out whenever I need a smile. For that I am grateful. Thanks you guys.

The Place in Newport

The Airbnb rental in Newport, Rhode Island was really nice, even if the host was less than wonderful. Not a full-on jerkface, just not friendly or welcoming and never left me a review. So yeah, now that I think about it, he was a jerkface. But Bella and I had a fantastic time together and snuggled up under some blankies and watched holiday films, like The Gathering, and did puzzles at the table while gabbing. I'd do it all over again!

Tom Waits Playlist

Alice 

Little Drop of Poison

Get Behind the Mule

The Earth Died Screaming

Somewhere

Coney Island Baby

Romeo Is Bleeding

Nirvana

Tom Traubert's Blues

16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought Six

I'm Still Here

The Piano Has Been Drinking

Knife Chase

Good Old World

Innocent When You Dream

Johnsburg, Illinois

Jersey Girl

Hoist That Rag

Time

Misery Is The River of The World

Poor Edward

Step Right Up

Dead and Lovely

Jockey Full of Bourbon

Sea of Love

Starving in the Belly of a Whale

Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards)

Take It With Me

Hang Down Your Head

Bone Chain

God's Away on Business

Calliope

Hang on St. Christopher

No One Knows I'm Gone

I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You

Bad Liver and a Broken Heart

The One That Got Away

Redrum

Children's Story

Blue Valentine's

Kiss Me

Down There by the Train

Whistlin' Past the Graveyard

Rains on Me

Hold On

Lost in the Harbour

Watch Her Disappear

What's He Building?

I Want You

Ol' 55

Never Let Go

Lullaby

Cold, Cold Ground

Clap Hands

Bad As Me

Hell Broke Luce

Reeperbahn

Don't Go Into That Barn

Kentucky Avenue

Halloween Has Come to Occasionette!

Today I met Wayne in Collingswood at Healthy Garden for lunch. We stopped in to Bespoke to meander about and give Griffin some belly rubs then walked down to Occasionette. They were ready for Fall with all of the Halloweenie stuff out front and I loved everything I saw! But I showed great restraint and only got salt and pepper shakers and a couple little plates. 

Alone in the Crowd

-Side A-

Summer Wind - Sinatra and Julio Iglesias

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths

No More Lonely Nights - Paul McCartney

Heartattack Man - Beastie Boys

Ants Marching - Dave Matthews Band*

Loved By Women - Luis Bacalov

Change - Lightning Seeds

Sabotage - Beastie Boys

You Learn - Alanis Morissette

True - Spandau Ballet

Separate Ways - Journey

-Side B-

A Wink and a Smile - Harry Connick, Jr.

Sabrosa - Beastie Boys

Please Don't Make Me Cry - UB40

Morning Glory - Oasis

Hey Man, Nice Shot - Filter

Love Me Two Times - The Doors

Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead

Blue Gardenia - Dinah Washington

Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder

The Update - Beastie Boys

Band of Gold - Freda Payne

The Cadillac Song - The Playmates

Dope Hat - Marilyn Manson

Mar. 7th 1996

#11 of the Idaho Potato Mixes

* This is the only song by this band that was even remotely tolerable.

Crafting with Lucy

Wednesday night I stopped over to see Lucy after work. We made rubber loomie bracelets (she taught me and I caught on quick) and Lucy worked on creating some fashions. The best part of the night was when Lucy caught sight of my nearly completed bracelet and said, "I'm not trying to be mean, but why did you do that?" "Because I wanted it to look weird." "Oh. Okay. It does." Ha!

August 2023 Donations

United24

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE FULL-SCALE INVASION, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HAS BEEN ASKED HUNDREDS OF TIMES: “WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP UKRAINE?”

THAT’S EXACTLY WHY WE LAUNCHED UNITED24, THE OFFICIAL FUNDRAISING PLATFORM OF UKRAINE

THE IDEA IS SIMPLE:

TO UNITE THE WORLD AROUND SUPPORTING UKRAINE; TO PROTECT, SAVE AND REBUILD

The platform allows one-click donations to Ukraine from anywhere. Why is this so important? Because Ukraine itself knows best what is needed and can deliver aid directly.

No one was ready for a full-scale war in the heart of Europe. Charitable foundations, no matter how well-organized, cannot meet the needs of a country as large as Ukraine. We can, however, do it together.

UNITED24 is designed for collaboration with charities, partners, donors, and public figures worldwide.

Our goal is to establish an efficient work process that brings Ukraine’s victory closer.

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

Time for Tick Talk!

Last night I attended a Zoom meeting hosted by bestie Amy where she spilled her guts on all things tick and Lyme. She was funny and interesting and held the audience in the palm of her hand. I hope she gives more talks in the future because this one was super informative.

Bay Ridge Roller Rink

When Natalia and I were in Concord we stopped in to Thoreauly Antiques for some shopping. I, of course, picked up some old postcards and this was one of them! It wasn't addressed to anyone and kind of seems like it might have been handed out directly to people in the hopes of drumming up business. The penmanship is unbelievable.

Hello there,

    What a surprise is in store for you if you have not visited the Bay Ridge Roller Rink recently. The new acousticly treated ceiling decorated in old rose and blue, really allows hearing every bar of music. The sound of skating is so slight that you can almost talk to someone across the floor. As a finishing touch the walls are covered with an acoustical plaster and knotty pine and the lighting system is flourescent. I'll be watching the expressions on your face when you drop in. Do make it soon. 

Bay Ridge Roller Skating Rink

62nd St. and 7th Ave. - Brooklyn, N.Y.

Jaeden Turns 22

Hard to believe that this fella is already twenty-two. Kayla keeps me in the loop and apparently he's seeing a lovely new gal, Heaven, and is really happy. Just wish he was happy closer to Philly! I miss our lunches together...

Untitled Imation

Al Jarreau - We're In This Love Together

Ani - Rock, Paper, Scissors

Saliva - Always

Bob Seger - Night Moves

Teena Marie - Déjà Vu

Jo Stafford - You Belong to Me

Billy Idol - Eyes Without a Face

Lyrics Born - Callin' Out

Sufjan Stevens - They are Night Zombies

Clint Black - Like the Rain

Motörhead - You Better Swim

The Sundays - Here's Where the Story Ends

Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock - It Takes Two

Wheetus - Teenage Dirtbag

Radiohead - Nice Dream

Dolly Parton - Stairway to Heaven

16 January 2007

Grub and More with Jax

Today I picked up my favourite eleven year old and we went to Collingswood for lunch at Healthy Garden. He got a big ole burger and I got my usual, the Aloha Salad. We chatted and stuffed our gobs then I took him down to Bespoke to meet Griffin. He, of course, fell instantly in love. Then we drove around Cwood and Haddonfield to hit as many Little Free Library boxes as we could find. Then on the way to Bryn Mawr he read to me from the Would You Rather book he picked up. It was a blast! We hit up Main Point Books in Wayne and the place looks incredible since the renovation. We hung out in the basement with the kids books and toys, I bought a puzzle and then upstairs Jax found a cool adult colouring book. We dashed down to MOM's for a bit then it was the long ride back to MeMom and Pop's where we pondered and discussed more Would You Rathers while listening to the latest Depeche Mode album. It was a day full of hum drum, usual stuff that was, merely because of the company I was keeping, a truly fantastic day. 

The seven dollar lemonade - highway robbery!!!