Little April Showers

This will have to be quick. My internet's acting screwy, probably because of the storms in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area tonight. (It's raining hard as I write this; people across the way at the VFW are freaking out because they got caught in the storm. Morons. It's just a little water!)

I did my laundry this morning. Uncle Ken was packing for a month-long cross-country trip he's taking with Dolores. Dad's already gone - he had a work trip. I'm a little disappointed that neither will be around for my birthday on Monday, but that's life. I did pilates and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on The Disney Channel and an old childhood favorite, Chip and Dale's Rescue Rangers, on Toon Disney. Not a whole lot else on - and everyone wonders why I don't have cable?

Work was steady, with no real problems - I even got off at the right time. I'm not going to do much else besides work next week. Apparently, half the cashiers in the Acme decided to take their vacation time next week. The extra hours are nice, but a bit surprising, especially since business hasn't exactly been booming lately.

Skipping Spring and Going Directly To Summer

I spent most of the morning finishing my spring cleaning. The dust wasn't TOO bad, but I needed to dust under my collectible doll and bear collection on the top of the closets, the Beanie Babies and mini-Pokemon on the Beanie Baby display shelf, and the Star Wars action figures on the hanging wood display case. I only do that every couple of months. It was warm in my apartment the whole day. I didn't realize why until I opened the front door to let some air in. It was HOT! At least 70 degrees or more. I opened the windows as well; might as well air the whole house.

It was so nice, I went for a walk after I finished my chores. I wandered around on the streets behind West Clinton Avenue, between West Clinton and Manor, and wound up at the Oaklyn Public School just as it was let out. The elementary and junior-high school kids were smarter than me. While some of them did sport long sleeves and jeans, many girls wore the shortest skirts permitted or capris, and some boys wore t-shirts and lighter pants. (They're lucky, too. The rule at Cape May Elementary in the 80s was no shorts allowed until early June, and no capris at all. Girls got around this by wearing skirts during warm days in April and May, but boys had to literally and figuratively sweat it out.)

Getting to and from work was a breeze, thanks to the sunny weather and lack of wind. Work itself was quiet-to-steady for most of the night. Who wants to go shopping on a 70-degree day in April? (I did end up getting out late. I don't know why someone scheduled two people to leave at the same time and then scheduled a new cashier who is "mandatory" - has to have their register counted at the end of the day and thus, cannot change registers. I really wish people would be more careful with the schedules.)

(Oh, and this finishes my indoor spring cleaning. I'm going to wait until we get past the pollen and fuzzies before I start cleaning the porch furniture.)

And I just found out from Lauren that she didn't get her week off this year until September 8th, which means I won't be getting my vacation until September. I understand she wants more time to plan and to settle into her new home with her folks (they're moving the 17th), but it's sooo long to wait!

Speaking of waiting, don't expect to see the new Monkees role-play story for a while. We're about half-way done, but Lauren's busy with moving and a college online class and has limited time this month to work on it.

A River With A View

I spent a fairly quiet morning messing around online, until I got bored later in the afternoon and decided to go for a walk in Veteran's Park next-door. It was cloudy but not too cold or windy. I walked around the small park, past the edge of the cliff where there's a tree with outstretched limbs that are popular for climbing, and headed for the wooded area in back of the WFW. Last year, I discovered several little paths winding around and through the woods, leading out to the train tracks, where one can take in an impressive view of the river and the surrounding area from the train bridge over the river. (One of these days, I WILL remember to bring my camera on these jaunts!)

Somewhere around December and January, I began to see people in the back of the VFW, cutting loads of wood into mulch. I thought they were recycling Christmas trees, but alas, it seems they were demolishing the woods. Though a few paths remained and I did still get my walk in, it had lost the sense of quiet privacy and peace it had last year. I debated walking across the train tracks just to see what was on the other side, but I finally decided I didn't have the time and headed home.

Work was quiet initially, but we got the usual crowds around 4PM, which wasn't aided by a lack of help. Other than that and a few mildly annoying customers, no problems tonight. My ride to and from work was windless and mild both ways.

Fashion Forward

Did the usual library volunteering and Westmont errands this morning. I organized the cookbooks and home-improvement books at the library and took out a book on bread-baking basics, complete with huge pictures. One of the more annoying things about the Haddon Township Library is the checkpoint. People actually check your bags on entering. They don't always do this when they recognize people, but some folks are pushier than others about it. I'm assuming they do it because the library is on a bus route from Camden and occasionally gets city visitors.

There was some clouds and dampness held over from yesterday when I headed to the library, but by the time I went home, it was sunny, breezy, and about 60. Since I couldn't find a big bag of sponges at Dollar Tree, I walked to the Family Dollar on the White Horse Pike and bought them there instead, along with cheap Fig Newtons. I got out at the same time most of the local kids did. Older children walked home together, playing baseball and catch in their front yards, while younger ones walked with parents or grandparents. I even saw one of the boys from the Acme on his way to work.

I finished The Illusionist when I got in. Rose called shortly after that, and we headed to the Deptford Mall. She needed a suit and I need t-shirts, blouses, and capris. (All of my capris but one brown pair were too big for me, and the brown pair are getting there.) I got two shirts at buy one, get one 50% at New York & Company, and Rose bought an attractive gray suit and two silk blouses, one yellow, one white. I also got a pair of denim capris at Layne Bryant. (Whatever else you can say about them, they do make comfy jeans.) We had a quick dinner at the food court before heading home.

(By the way, the jeans were a good indication that, at least by Layne Bryant's estimation, I've dropped two pants sizes since our last shopping trip in November. I needed a 4 then; this time, I only needed a 2, the smallest jeans size they have.)

We had a long talk on the way to Deptford and back about joining classes, the possibility of my having Aspberger's, and our therapists. Rose suggested looking for forums for people with Asberger's and more first-hand accounts like the article Tina sent me and Look Me In The Eye. It's just a matter of getting past the total panic I feel when I look up groups, on or offline.

That's why I haven't joined anything. Every time I look up a writing group or a reading group online, I end up thinking "What am I doing? Who are these people? I don't know them. I'm so weird. They'll probably laugh at me or think I'm crazy. They'll stare at me like I'm some kind of odd creature."

She also suggested something else I have problems with - random bike rides. When I walk or ride my bike, it's because I have places to go. Oh, I love doing it, but I usually have a destination in mind. I really need to do more random just-walking or just-biking trips. I need to revive throwing my frisbee and hitting my field hockey ball around the park next-door, too. I'm looking forward to when Uncle Ken opens the pool in probably May or June; I love swimming, now that I don't have obnoxious childhood gym teachers in my head anymore.

On one hand, the thought of joining a group filled with total strangers terrifies me. I'm not sure about the Asberger's, either. I suspect Rose is right and it is more than sheer social anxiety,

Vive La France (And England, Too)!

Shortly after I finished my breakfast and was gathering cleaners and the bucket to scrub the bathroom and hall floor, I saw the mailman drop a package on my porch. I brought it in and opened it as well as I could (it was VERY well taped). I pulled away the paper to discover an adorable polar bear with big brown eyes and a sweet smile, wearing a red velvet collar. His tag said his name is Marshmallow. I absolutely loved him the moment I saw him.

The second gift verified who sent it. Linda Young mentioned on her blog that she made a friend a present, but couldn't tell what it was on her blog because that friend read her blog. I was wondering whom it could be. The second gift gave me my answer. It was a large wooden E painted with shimmery copper paint, topped with three matching little Es and gold glitter. Linda did a wonderful job on it! Now, I just need to find a great place to put it...

Linda's package wasn't the only birthday gift that arrived today. My sister Anny, her son Skylar, and her current boyfriend Mike sent me a nifty "Star Wars"/Darth Vader-themed Hallmark card that plays "The Imperial March" when you open it.

It took me less than 20 minutes to scrub the bathroom and hall floors. As I've mentioned, my bathroom is very small, and the "hall" is even smaller, a rectangle of linoleum between the living room and bedroom, with the door leading to the bathroom in the middle. It took a long time to dry, thanks to a damp and gloomy day, so I began a simple wheat flour yeast bread recipe I found in a British baking book. While it rose, I ate lunch. I began a vegetable soup recipe last night, but began it too late to have it for dinner, so I had some with lunch today, along with a Peanut Butter and Apricot Preserves Sandwich. The recipe for the veggie soup came out of the French Women Don't Get Fat cookbook...and now I can understand WHY they don't get fat. The soup was delicious, a perfect blend of winter and spring veggies (and a little leftover chicken from the Wine-Marinated Chicken the other night).

I punched down the bread and put it back to let it rise again, then ran to Collingswood for a walk and a few short errands. I met Erica in her car on my way through the neighborhood. She gave me a ride to the thrift shop so I could give them the last of my spring cleaning donations, which I did. Unfortunately, I forgot that, for some strange reason, half the shops in Collingswood are closed on Monday. I was able to pick up some wrapping paper and a pack of WebKinz Cards at the Variety Store, but there were no good records at the Library and the Tree House Cafe was closed. By the time I peeked in Yogawood, they were almost closed for the day, too. I'll call them tomorrow. I bought a Chai Tea Latte from GrooveGround and walked home.

After I got home, put the bread in the oven and did more spring cleaning - vacuumed the house, swept the porch, and took out the recycling (the recycling truck comes tomorrow). The bread smelled so good when it came out, I cut myself a slice immediately and added a bit of butter. It was soooo good, crusty and soft and nutty. I'm never going back to plain-old-bread-on-a-shelf again. I'll either make my own, or when it gets too hot for bread baking, buy it from a bakery or the Farm Market.

Dinner was simple-but-tasty, too, a recipe for Pork Chops and Apples that also came out of French Women Don't Get Fat. I've made Pork Chops and Apples before, but they never came out as good as this, sweet and salty (from the wine used in the sauce) at the same time.

It's A Family Thing

I had a long talk with Mom this morning while the Beatles show was on. She wants me to seek group therapy for Asberger's. I'm not so sure, and neither is Scott, but I will talk to him about it when I next see him at the end of April. She also supported Scott and Rose's suggestion that I seek out a yoga or dance class, and encouraged me to look into Weight Watchers groups. She seems to be fine, other than the rain this weekend left her new yard soupy.

I called my sister Rose after I got off with her. Tomorrow is Rose's birthday, and since I have the day off, I thought she might like to do something to celebrate it. She actually picked up for once - I caught her in the middle of shopping in Wal-Mart. She said she's busy tomorrow, but we might be able to do Tuesday afternoon.

Work was insanely busy all day, the busiest it's been since before Easter. There were long lines and annoying people the whole day, even after I got off. (And for the second day in a row, I had no relief on a busy day when we needed all the help we can get, which is weird.)

Underneath It All

I had my second dentist appointment today. It was spent getting x-rayed and having my teeth cleaned as well as the ladies could without the spraying machine that wouldn't work - they did it by hand with a pick.

It turns out my teeth are in worse shape than I thought, probably thanks to not having been to a dentist in 8 years. There were copious calcium deposits under my teeth that were causing the gums to bleed. The tooth that was filled last time is still sensitive and sore, and there's still the chipped tooth and at least three other cavities. One of the dentists cleared the calcium deposits off, but I'll have to go back in another month for the rest and for a more thorough cleaning. In the meantime, I'll be brushing with a toothpaste and toothbrush made for sensitive teeth and using a gel for hypersensitivity. I stopped really quick at the bank after I left the dentist (the bank is less than a block from the dentist's office), then went home, had a quick lunch, and went back out to work.

Work was on-and-off busy, nothing major other than some obnoxious beginning-of-the-month people and we just didn't have enough help assigned later in the day. (For some reason, I finished my shift at 5:45 and there wasn't help coming in until 6.)

I picked up yogurt (on sale), ant bait (I've been seeing them around the kitchen and bathroom sinks again), light bulbs (the big light in my bedroom blew out - again), and milk, then made a quick stop at FYE to pick up The Illusionist. This month's Monkees role-play is based after the idea of the boys going up against a magician with real powers. Lauren saw the movie and liked it, so I bought it to get some ideas.

Ooh Lah Lah!

Despite the rain early this morning, I headed over to Dad and Uncle Ken's house to get my laundry done. Dad seems to be feeling better. At the very least, he was up and moving around. I did some pilates and read French Women Don't Get Fat.

While some of the things listed I've already been doing (like giving up processed foods), others (eat more fresh and local veggies) will be easier to do once the Collingswood Farm Market opens next month. Some of the recipes look good, too, especially the soups. I actually bought some leeks tonight at work so I can try the vegetable soups in the book sometime this week.

Work was annoying (lots of obnoxious beginning-of-the-month people), but it was busier tonight and the night went faster. I did some grocery shopping after work, mostly restocking fruits and vegetables. (In a way, it's a good thing I am on a bike. I can only carry so much home, which is why I buy what I need for a few days to a week and get whatever else I need the next day or in a few days.)

Think Pink!

Spent the morning going through my spring and summer clothes. It's still too early for shorts and tank-tops, but I wanted to see what I need and what can be donated. I also wanted to put away any very heavy sweaters and shirts, turtlenecks, and my corduroy pants and skirt. The weather's been consistently 50-60 degrees here since the middle of last month, and if we do get a radical change in temperature, I can just go a few steps into the back room and fish a turtleneck out of the containers. (That's one of the reasons I took this apartment. Unlike most people, I don't keep things store my things in a musty attic or garage. There's a big, unheated room in the very back of my apartment that's perfect for keeping anything I don't need in the main rooms.)

I also got around to calling Mom. She seemed pretty happy. She was cleaning the windows around the house. Dad was talking to his boss on the other phone. They're both getting ready to add grass seed to their new, mostly dirt backyard.

I had two big bags of clothes to donate for the thrift shop, mostly T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, and tank tops that were too big. I picked up some shorts on sale towards the end of last summer, so what I really need now are capris, t-shirts, and tank tops. I didn't see anything I liked at the thrift shop, so I went across the street to the Collingswood Variety Store and bought a new WebKinz, then went down the street and had lunch at Saladworks. Saladworks is pretty much the only out-and-out "fast food" joint in Collingswood. As you can tell from the name, it specializes in salads, wraps, and fancy sandwiches with only the freshest ingredients. It was about 12:30 when I hit there, and the place was packed with college students and professional people seeking a quick but healthful lunch. I had a tasty Mandarin Chicken Salad Wrap (spring greens, chicken, orange sections, dried cranberries, Asian sesame dressing) and a diet soda.

I went to counseling after lunch. Scott and I discussed the possibility of my having Asberger's and what else may have caused my problems. While I do have many of the traits of Asberger's, I think Scott may be right that a lot of it is heavy social anxiety caused by years of frustration. He backed my sister's suggestion that I join a yoga class or gym and agreed with me that I need to push harder for finding a job, whether I end up going to college or not.

I stopped at the TreeHouse Cafe for a quick hot chocolate, then went home. I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning my kitchen, doing windows, and reading the books Mom and Lauren sent me in the past few days. (Lauren sent the What Color Is Your Parachute? books for 2001 and 2002 yesterday.)

Oh, and meet Rouge, my Pink Poodle! A star dancer of the ParisKinz Ballet, this diva now makes her home in the new Pink Ribbon Condo (using the Pretty In Pink theme and other pink-and/or-white items). Large Pink Poodles are the WebKinz Pet of the Month, so she came with extra goodies in the form of a Wish Token (my third) and a Lurking Lagoon.

I'm having a few problems with my site. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to call Ganz, but my Cozy Lodge Living Room keeps freezing when I try to go in it. When I can get in it, I can't turn anything around in there. I bought a second Barrel Chest for the corner a few days ago, and I can't turn it the way I want it. The Lodge is the only room having this problem. The others are all fine.

I Can't Be Bothered Now

I was supposed to spend the morning beginning my spring cleaning with the kitchen and the bathroom. I only got to the bathroom. I slept late, then spent a lot of time reading Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Aspberger's, by John Elder Robison. It was the only book on Aspberger's I could find at the Haddon Township Library. (If nothing else, it makes me appreciate how much less dysfunctional my family is compared to John's, whose father was a raging alcoholic and whose mother was clinically insane.) I also received two job-hunting books from Lauren, What Color Is Your Parachute?.

Work was a monumental bore. Except for around 4-5PM it was dead, and even then it wasn't terribly busy. With many people recovering from an early Easter, there isn't much money to go around right now, even by people who get money and funds in the beginning of the month. At least it was a gorgeous spring day, in the mid-upper 50s, sunny and windless. I had a great ride to and from work. One of the boys who stock produce was able to fix my back bike breaks, too - apparently, they just popped off.

Lighting Is Striking Again

Damn it. The weather's been crazy all day, on-and-off showers, and now it sounds like there's a thunderstorm out there and more on-and-off rain. I wish Mother Nature would make up her mind.

I woke up late and spent most of the afternoon at the library. After I organized the children's DVDs, I looked up books on Asberger's Syndrome and on yoga and workouts. Took out one memoir on Aspberger's and one book on yoga that looked helpful. I also took out two Disney Comic Books. (Haven't had my Donald Duck fix in a while.) Mom sent me a book on changing eating habits and lifestyles called French Women Don't Get Fat by a real French woman who has lived and worked in America for many years.

I made a quick stop at the Super Fresh, but by the time I finally dragged myself out of the library, it was almost 4:30, and much too late for the spring cleaning I'd planned on beginning today. Since it ended up being a lovely, sunny afternoon after the clouds passed, I went for a late walk over to Audubon. None of my favorite little stores were open by the time I finally got out there, around 6PM (much to my dismay - I was hoping to get a WebKinz Pink Poodle, April's Pet of the Month, from the Willie the Woodsman Gift Shop), but I did have a lovely walk. The world smelled fresh and new, and it seemed like every flower and blooming thing was open and as bright and sparkling as a rainbow. There were lots of people out and about, too, walking their children or their dogs.

I'll just start the cleaning tomorrow morning, since I don't work until 3. I hope it doesn't rain again. Half the people I know are going away for most of April, and there won't be too many people to give me rides this month.