The Tide Is VERY High

The weather was a mess when I got up this morning. It was pouring rain and lashing wind, the rain beating on my roof like it wanted to come in. I was going to try to get to the bank this morning. I never did. I worked on my DVD and video inventories instead.

Needless to say, I called Dad for a ride to work. When I got there, I found out that I was working until 5:30 instead of 5, like I'd originally thought. No problem. Dad had said to call him when I was done. I'd just be done a little later.

Work was on-and-off all day...but unlike the last week, it was more off than on. Even when we were busy, we were never overwhelming and we had plenty of help. I actually shut down a little early to finish putting candy away. Was even able to buy unbleached flour, rye flour, and chocolate chips (all on sale) on my break and had plenty of time left for my apple.

Called Dad when I finally finished, after seeing that he'd called me. I thought he'd come at 5 and was there waiting for me. He wasn't. I left him a message, then checked my voice mail. He had to run Uncle Ken to a doctor's appointment and didn't know when he'd be there. I didn't feel like waiting all day, and the rain had slowed, so I decided to walk.

That was not smart. The rain picked up again while I was on the White Horse Pike and wouldn't let up again until long after I arrived home dripping wet. I got quite a shock going home, too, when I was passing the creek going across the ramp to Oaklyn and noticed how close to the sidewalk the water was. My jaw nearly hit the ground when I saw that it was nearly overflowing the steps-like cliff-side on the end of Kendall Boulevard near the Pike...and was even more scared to see how far it had come up to our back yard when I finally got in. I've NEVER seen the water get this high in the five years I've lived here. It must be the rain we've had coupled with the last of the melting snow.

Spring Rain

Spent most of today working. It was raining a little when I went to work, but not hard enough to be a problem. I rode the bike. The chain held out, and I made it to the Acme on time and in one piece.

Work was pretty much steady the whole day, neither overwhelmingly busy nor really dead. I was a little tired and hard on myself early on, but I felt better after break. My last one was one of those Camden families who take forever bagging and pay for eighteen different orders, but at least they were pleasant about the whole thing. I just made it off in time.

Good thing, too. I had a lot of my own grocery shopping to do. Not only did I need to restock my fruits and vegetables, but I needed meat, too. I bought cabbage (which is on sale this week for St. Patrick's Day), brown sugar, oranges, granola bars, dried cranberries (the only thing I bought that wasn't on sale, but I like them in my cereal), yogurt (Acme and Yoplait were on sale this week), three packs of fish fillets, chicken legs, beef stew cubes, cubed steak, mushrooms, bananas, celery, red potatoes (also for St. Patrick's Day), grapefruit, and something the Acme's finally started carrying - bunches of carrots. I find them to be far more flavorful than bagged ones.

My schedule was quite nice, too. All morning and afternoon work this week - the latest I work is 6 on Thursday. In addition to Saturday off (which I asked for to help with my sister Rose's huge baby shower), I got Tuesday off again. The early hours will mean that I should be able to get yoga class in, but may have to skip the Collingswood Library again. Oh well. I should have vacation the week after next - I'll get it in then.

Riding home was a bit messier than riding to work. Not only was I overloaded, but the raindrops were a bit fatter and a little heavier. It still wasn't pouring at that point, though, which means that I was damp but not soaked when I finally made it home.

Bicycling Balance

Got up just in time this morning to make it to Yogawood. Good thing, too. It was a pretty big class this week, 12 counting the teacher Karin. We did a lot of work on twisting and stretching moves, many of them sitting down. Nothing too hard. In fact, the worst of it was when I had to take a yoga "p-lock" on my big toes (you grab your big toes between your thumbs and forefingers) and forgot that while the left big toe is no longer black and blue, it's still pretty sore. Ouch.

The thrift shop wasn't open when I made my way back around to Haddon Avenue. Instead of going to the Collingswood Library, I headed back towards Oaklyn and went to the library there instead. I didn't get them in last week, and I'm not going to have the time this weekend to volunteer anywhere. I'm glad I did. The childresn' books were in fair disarray when I arrived, especially the non-fiction. (Does anyone every bother putting things away when they've finished reading them? There were books stacked on top of books instead of put away neatly.)

After I finished at the library, I came home and edited the rest of this month's Monkees role play. It came out very well, considering the limited time at our disposal in the last few weeks, very action-packed. Look for it later tonight!

Had the last of the chicken stew and a banana for lunch, then changed into my uniform and headed for work. I ran into trouble just a block from the Acme. The blasted chain came off again! I was able to walk the remaining block and not be late, but it was frustrating.

Work, on the other hand, was generally fine. There were a few obnoxious holdovers from last week, especially later in the night. However, there were no really major problems, and my relief was on time.

I didn't have as much luck getting home. Some of the Acme employees were able to help me get the chain back on the bike, but it just came off again on my way home. After much crying and yelling, I pulled in on the blacktop next to the Audubon Park side of the river and pulled it back on again. This time, I made it home with no fuss. I even pumped my tires when I got in.

Sweeping the Winter Away

Got up late and had just enough time to make the bed, vacuum, and shake out my rag rug before I went to work. It was relatively warm again, probably in the upper 40s-lower 50s, but not quite as much as yesterday. It also wasn't as sunny. It started out partly cloudy and just kept getting cloudier as the day went on.

I really needed to vacuum. The kitchen in particular was really horrible, probably since I ate at home a lot last month. (And Miss Ellie has never told me why the kitchen floor is covered with a rug, anyway.)

Though it was cloudy and somewhat cooler, it still wasn't windy. I had no problems getting to and from work at all.

Work was on-and-off busy again, though not nearly as bad as over the weekend. I did have a few obnoxious customers. One huge guy refused to help me bag his groceries and kept giving me six hundred instructions on how to do it, even though he looked big enough to bag his groceries and the orders for the two women behind him. I was about ready to smack him silly when he finally left, and the remaining customers in the line even said he was being rude and lazy.

I also did something a little gross myself earlier in the day. I broke a nail while doing an order. I tried to pull the nail off, since it was getting caught on things, but I pulled too hard and too deep...and hit blood. I eventually got a bandage from one of the customer service managers.

My relief was on time, and after picking up a cheap bottle of on-sale Goya White Cooking Wine, I headed home. It was even cloudier than before, though it wasn't raining like some customers claimed it was. Wasn't even wet.

Spent the rest of the evening continuing the cleaning. I haven't washed the windows since November. They've had cardboard snowflakes taped to them for months. They really badly needed to be done, especially the windows on the sides overlooking the park and my neighbors' house.

Smile A Sunny Day

Started out a gorgeous day with my DVD of the first two Strawberry Shortcake 80s specials and cereal and dried cranberries for breakfast. It was so stunning, I was able to leave the windows wide open in my apartment all day with no problems. Also wore my demi capris and wasn't a bit cold.

I reversed the usual procedure for a day off and started with volunteering at the Haddon Township Library. The DVDs I had out were due, and I returned the just-finished Dial H For Hitchcock. Despite it being busy (the kids' story hour was beginning as I arrived), there wasn't a whole lot for me to do. I returned some DVDs and shelved a stack of kids' books.

Just as well that the library didn't have a whole lot going on. I had other things to do today. I stopped at JoAnn Fabric and bought a book on crocheting. It's intended for children; I thought the directions were clearer than most adult books. Went to Super Fresh next and bought vanilla, yeast, and bananas. Headed over to Dollar Tree for gel cleaner and sponges.

Had lunch at my favorite little bagel shop in the Westmont Plaza. It was 12:30 by then, and the place was mobbed to the gills. Between the nurses and secretaries on their lunch break and the kids from Haddon Township and Paul VI Catholic High School having their lunches, I just barely squeezed into a back booth next to the Flyers, golfing, and boxing memorabilia. Thankfully, the place had more-or-less cleared out by the time my vegetable quesadila arrived, and by the time I left, it was just me, the staff, and The Days of Our Lives on the TV.

It was such a nice day, I rode through Newton River Park, avoiding the perpetual traffic on Cuthbert Road. The park was pretty busy, too. I had to stop to allow two toddler girls to rush over to the playground with their mother. I'm glad I went that way, though. The snow is completely gone from the park now. Even the river has finally defrosted. It was a really lovely ride.

After I got home, I put away my groceries and book, grabbed my laundry, and headed right back out again. Uncle Ken was the only person home when I got into his and Dad's house, and he's recovering from surgery. I read On the Wrong Track and, after the laundry was in the dryer, went back home to clean the kitchen.

I was going to wait until tomorrow, but the kitchen really needed to be done. The ring around the sink was ugly. I accidentally spilled the last three Cranberry-Chocolate Chip Cookies while dusting the top of the fridge, which meant the end of my cookie stash. Needless to say, I wasn't happy.

The kitchen took longer than I thought to do...and when I got back to Dad and Uncle Ken's and got my laundry rounded up, Dad, Jodie, and my sister Rose and her boyfriend Craig were all there. Rose and Craig had dropped by to say "hi" and discuss details about their big baby shower on the 20th. Apparently, they're planning on having as many as 50 people there, though not all at once. Many of the guests are working that day or have kids who won't last for very long, so they'll probably only be in and out. I finally left when Rose and Craig did; Uncle Ken needs his rest.

Spent the rest of the evening at home. I was going to volunteer at the Oaklyn Library, but it was too late by the time I finally got in. I baked brownies to refill the cookie tin and made Spicy Chicken Cutlets with collard greens and mushrooms sauteed in tomato sauce and steamed broccoli for dinner. I was in an 80s mood after Strawberry Shortcake, so I watched The Goonies during baking and dinner.

(I think I'll move the Oaklyn Library volunteering to Thursday and cut the Collingswood Library this week all together. I only have so much time this week, and it makes sense to volunteer at the libraries closer to home that I actually have cards for.)

It Happened One Day

Started off the day by finishing It Happened One Night, a super-cute Frank Capra comedy from 1934. This was the first film to sweep all of the major Oscars, and the first comedy to win an Oscar...and I can understand why. Claudette Colbert is a spoiled heiress on the run from Miami to New York to meet her new playboy husband, whom her father disapproves of. Clark Gable is the out-of-work reporter who meets her on the night bus to Jacksonville. He smells a story and joins her for the ride. They both learn how the "other side of the tracks" lives as they make their way to the East Coast...and more than the Walls of Jerico come tumbling down during the wedding finale!

This was a heck of a lot of fun, and unlike a lot of Capra's movies, doesn't try to shove it's love and money don't mix message down your throat. In fact, as much as I liked Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, I enjoyed this one even more. I especially appreciated the scenes on the bus. As someone who's taken long bus trips since she was 12, I can relate to many of the things that happen to Ellie and Peter between Miami and New York, from lost tickets to getting stuck next to that annoying guy talking a mile a minute who won't leave you alone.

Work was on-and-off busy all day. Unlike yesterday, we had plenty of help, and other than some annoying customers, there were no problems. My relief was on-time, and I thankfully left just as the 4PM rush hour was getting heavy.

I came out to an utterly gorgeous day, the nicest we've had since at least October. It was in the upper 50s, breezy, and sunny as could be. It was so nice, I didn't need to wear my heavy coat to work for the first time in ages. I was fine in my high school field hockey jacket.

Went straight home after work. The first thing I did when I got in was throw open the windows. My apartment was actually too warm! I changed into a turquoise faux-layered shirt and capris, then pulled out the cleaning supplies and did the bathroom. I meant to do it last week, but I kept running out of time and getting called in!

I debated going out for a while, but I really wanted to get the bathroom done. I'll go out tomorrow. I need to get to the Haddon Township Library anyway, and it's supposed to stay gorgeous through Friday.

Busy Sunday

I was still in bed when I heard the phone ringing. I couldn't bring myself to pick it up, because I knew who it was. Yes, it was the Acme. Could I come in at 11:30? Two people had already called out, and it was really busy. No. I'd just opened my eyes at 9:30! I didn't feel like rushing on a Sunday.

Got dressed and switched on Brunch With the Beatles after I got out of bed. The theme today was "Just Good Ol' Rock and Roll," i.e, purely rock Beatles music. This covered a much broader spectrum than you might think. We heard everything from "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" (and the original versions that inspired them) to one of my favorite Beatles songs, "Revolution."

Had Cranberry-Sunflower Seed-Oat Pancakes with home-made Cranberry Syrup, then chatted with Mom for a while. Poor Mom wasn't feeling well at all. She's apparently allergic to some of the natural oils on the plants at Michael's, accidentally touched them, and got a very nasty rash. Good thing Keefe was babysitting for my sister, Dad's out fishing, and she'd had no plans for the day anyway besides working on baby blankets for my sister Rose and her close friend Sheila, both of whom are pregnant and due within days of each other in May. (That seems to happen a lot in this family. Anny and her best friend Jenny got pregnant around the same time when they had their first children, too.)

Good thing all I planned on having for dinner was stock-pot chicken stew. I tossed cut-up chicken pieces, water, the last of the white cooking wine, canned low-salt, low-fat chicken broth, celery, carrots, and onion in the stock pot, grabbed my coat and my lunch, and headed to work around 12:30.

Work was a mob scene all day long, with lines going out the door. I can't figure out why for the life of me. Nothing's going on right now. It's too early for March Madness to really heat up. Baseball doesn't officially start until next month. The Olympics ended last week. The only major holidays in March are St. Patrick's Day and Passover. Not only are they not celebrated by everyone, but they're not until later in the month. We're not even supposed to have bad weather. Today was utterly gorgeous, in the lower 50s and sunny as can be. Even if we did get precipitation, it's too warm for it to be anything but rain or very slushy snow.

It wasn't helped by the fact that yes, we were very low on help. Two more people called out over the course of the day, in addition to the two who'd called out in the morning. I heard some managers complaining that no one wanted to come in or stay late, either. I guess everyone would rather enjoy the weather.

I didn't have that pleasure. I did stay a half-hour late. It was still busy at my original ending time of 5:30, but by 6, it was starting to slow down. I was able to shut down with no relief, grab a can of chicken broth to replace the one I just used on my dinner, and headed home.

I arrived to the delicious smell of chicken stew. I watched It Happened One Night for a while, then listened to The Dress Circle. "The Shows of March" was the theme tonight, and there were some good ones. My favorites were "The Sweetest Sounds," performed by Dianne Carroll and Richard Kiley in the original cast of the 1962 hit No Strings, the very funny "Suppertime" from the original Off-Broadway cast of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and the creative bilingual version of "A Boy Like That" from the currently-on-Broadway revival of West Side Story. (And what on did the hosts have against the gorgeous ballad "A Step Too Far," from the 2000 Elton John version of Aida?)

We're In the Money

I'm glad I got up with enough time to run to the bank today. It was absolutely gorgeous this morning, sunny and in the upper 40s, with no wind this time. Most of the snow is gone, too. The only snow I saw as I walked to the bank and the dentist's office were the few remaining piles of ice left in parking lots and on the side of the road.

I got quite a bit done on and after that little jaunt. I finally paid off the last of that dentist's bill - it only took me over a year to do so. I deposited money from the Union check in my checking account and most of my paycheck in my savings account. I swept the last of the broken sticks and winter sticker balls off my porch when I got home, now that I can SEE my porch.

Had a quick lunch after I got in, then changed into my work uniform and headed for work. I had another long shift, six hours. Thankfully, there were no problems whatsoever, not even missing people. The cashiers who were out yesterday were there, including the girl who was in a car accident. (She told me she's perfectly fine, just a little sore.) I had a relief, and he was right on time. I just needed milk before heading home.

All-Day Work

I can't believe I overslept this morning. I thought I set the alarm for 7:30, but when I woke up, the clock said quarter of 9...and I had work at 10! I rushed my breakfast of leftover brown rice pudding and half a grapefruit and just barely made it to work on time.

It's a good thing I did. Work was on-and-off busy again. It's the first Friday of the month. In addition to all the usual annoying beginning-of-the-month people, we're get people who reguarly get paid today or are looking for the great sales (Friday is the first day of this week's sales).

I don't really mind working eight hours, which is why I agreed to come in early. It's easier than working six hours. When you work eight hours, you get two breaks. Six hours only gets you one break. It can be a real pain in the rear. (I get to do six hours tomorrow. Oh joy.)

Got my vacation requests in this morning when I arrived. I asked for the week of March 19th-March 25th for the last of this year's vacation time. I had thought of asking for around April 14th which is my birthday, but everyone asks for April off. Besides, there's a lot going on that week. Rose's huge baby shower is the 20th, and I have counseling on the 25th.

Lauren wants to get together early this year, around Memorial Day week. She says it's the only time she can get. The head front-end manager seemed a little skeptical, but hey, they did give me not only Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but a day earlier that week off (not to mention New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and a day before that). Besides, I'd work the Fourth of July and Labor Day, and it's not like I haven't worked every Memorial Day since 1999 anyway.

Not only that, but Lauren is finally going to come visit here. She's put it off because she's (understandably) afraid to drive through the traffic in New York and Philadelphia. Last year, however, I found a way around the traffic in both cities...or more specifically, under and over it. My train trips to Albany and back were wonderful. The trains were large, clean, well-appointed, and generally on-time. The Albany train station was brand-new and gorgeous. The 30th Street Station in Philadelphia is a National Historic Landmark. Penn Station in (or under) New York isn't quite as nice, but it's at least clean and staffed with friendly people.

Most of the things I've planned - riding around the small towns, hitting the Deptford Mall, seeing Independence Hall and Market Street in Philadelphia, a stroll on the Boardwalk and the outlets in Atlantic City - should be open at any time of the year. They wouldn't even be effected by bad weather, not even the flooding we hit at Pittsfield on my second day there last year.

Today was also Employee Appreciation Day at the Acme. We didn't have an elaborate spread like last year, but one of the managers did give me a plate of goodies - donuts, candy, and a mini apple strudel from the bakery.

Most of work actually went pretty well...until it was time for me to leave. We were short on help all day. Two cashiers (including the one I replaced) called out to attend funerals. Another one was in a car accident. Her father actually called to say she wouldn't be in! (Poor kid. She's one of our best teenage workers, too. I seriously hope she's ok.) I still had a line when I shut down. A manager finally came in for me.

Stopped at FYE first after work. I wanted to see if they had the present I wanted for Rose's baby shower. They did, indeed. I grabbed that and renewed my membership card, too.

Went to Tu Se Bella Pizzeria for dinner. That may not have been a good idea. It was 6:30 by then, prime dinner time, and the place was packed to the gills. I finally took my slices of vegetable and mushroom pizza into the main dining room to get away from the crowds at the counter!

Headed back to the Acme to do grocery shopping next. I didn't have nearly as much as I did last week, but it was still a pretty good-sized order. I restocked my fruit and packs of fish, bought Smart Balance 50/50 butter on sale and with a coupon. Land o' Lakes Brown Eggs were on sale, too. The Oteker Mousse Mixes and Keebler Graham Cracker Crusts were also on sale. I grabbed the Acme Light Cool Whip and decided to make a pudding pie for dessert.

And good news/bad news on my schedule. Good news - lots of hours, and most of them are early. I think there's once again only one 7PM day. Bad news - only one day off, on a week where I have a LOT to do. I wish they'd load up my hours on weeks when I actually need the money.

Balancing Blues

Started out a lovely, sunny, windy day with this week's yoga class. I've been feeling a little down lately, and it carried over to the class and most of the day. I don't know if it's the weather, or if there's something wrong with me. I'm gaining weight like crazy - I'm back over 200 pounds again - and I just can't seem to get into anything. I normally don't have a problem getting into things, but nothing seems to have caught my interest.

Class helped a little. There were probably about 10 people, along with the teacher Karin. We worked on standing and twisting poses. I got confused with a lot of the standing poses, though I generally did better than I thought I would. I still can't hold bridge for very long or do shoulder stands, though.

I still felt glum after class. Browsing through the thrift shop didn't really help. I saw some records of mild interest, but nothing I absolutely needed to have. Volunteering at the Collingswood Library didn't really help, either. I once again shelved and put away DVDs, and the place was too busy for me to talk to anyone. (I also cleared out the book drop. I couldn't figure out how to open the one for the DVDs.)

Stopped at Doria's Deli on the way home from work for a Diet 7-Up, a roll for to make an Italian Cubed Beef Hoagie for lunch, and some chat with Mrs. Doria. I know she's right that I'm being negative about things, but I just can't help myself. It's hard to look on the bright side when nothing seems all that bright. I'm never going to lose weight. How could I have gained it all back? I'm so ashamed of and disappointed with myself.

I went online for a little while after I got home to try to cheer myself up, then made the Italian Beef Hoagie and celery sticks for lunch. It look longer than I thought to make, though, and I was almost late for work!

That wasn't a good thing. It wasn't too busy when I got in, but we had lines half-way across the aisles by the usual 4-6 rush hour. Not to mention, it's still the beginning of the month, and I had quite a few close encounters with grumpy old ladies who must have everything bagged EXACTLY the way they want it...or else. I'm really getting sick of that. They make such a fuss over nothing. Bag it the way you want, if you don't like what I'm doing. No one really wants my help, anyway.

On the other hand, I made a few interesting discoveries regarding work today. First of all, I got a call from the head front end manager Donna this morning. She wanted me to come in early tomorrow (which I can do)...and told me I have a second week of vacation that I haven't taken yet! I had no idea. Our vacation cycle ends in early May. I'm going to see if I can take the last full week of March off; that's when Rose's baby shower and my next counseling appointment is. If that's too soon for them to schedule it, I'll take it on the week of my birthday. This means I may be able to take two weeks this summer instead of the usual one, too.

The union was also giving out checks from the now-aborted strike fund. They'd finally made their peace with the company last night, so the extra money's no longer necessary. I figured it would be about $50 or so. It was $730. Wow! I'll do what I did at Christmas - put the check in my checking account and whatever I get from this week's paycheck in my saving's account.

Blowing In the Spring

I slept in this morning and ended up spending most of the day at work. It wasn't even really that exciting. It was on-and-off all day, sometimes busy but never overwhelming. The worst of it was some annoying beginning-of-the-month customers. I had one of those groups of people who buy cartloads of items (three cartloads, in this case) ...then realize, "oops, we don't have enough money to buy all of this, we have to put one cart-full back!" And a quarter of their order was very expensive items like bagged breaded chicken and seafood! Can't they add? Three cartloads of food isn't going to come out to $530! (I think they had more like $700.)

Went straight home after work. It was cloudy, damp, and very windy, the same as yesterday. My porch was wet this morning, but other than a few tiny drops, we never saw either rain or snow. While it was a little colder than yesterday, it's still a lot warmer than it was for most of last month...too warm for snow to stick anywhere but the ground, and maybe even too warm for that.

Watched an animated film I hadn't run in a while, Cats Don't Dance, while eating Poached Flounder with Onions and Mushrooms, broccoli, and brown rice pudding for dinner. Cats is an unusual entry in the "Disney imitation" race of the late 90s. We're in Hollywood in 1939, and talking animated animals face a problem similar to most minorities of the time...i.e, they're ignored, abused, and treated like, well, animals.

Enter Danny, an energetic song-and-dance cat from Indiana who wants to star in the movies. Fat chance, as he discovers the hard way. Most of the animals in town are currently reduced to doing walk-ons for Darla Dimple's newest picture. Darla, despite her reputation as "America's sweetheart, lover of children and animals," hates anything that will take the spotlight from her...animals included. When she sets Danny and the other animals up to tall a fall in front of studio chief LB Mammoth, Danny almost leaves Hollywood in despair...until he comes up with a plan to show off his and his friends' talents at the premiere of Darla's newest movie!

I'm not exactly sure whom Warners/Turner intended the audience for this to be. The music is pure 90s (Randy Newman wrote it), but the setting is 1939. The main villain is a kid...and so downright bizarre, she makes some adult animated villains look like marshmallows by comparison. (Heck, she makes some adult live-action villains look normal.) There's tons of references, to the era and to classic Hollywood films in general, that'll go right over the heads of all but devoted movie buffs.

On the other hand, this is one of my favorite "cult" animated films. Darla Dimple may be a weird character, but you sure as heck can't say she isn't original. She also gets the film's best song and best musical number, the must-be-seen-to-be-believed "Big and Loud." A name vocal cast (including Scott Bakula, Jasmine Guy, Kathy Najimy, and Don Knotts) has a lot of fun with the material. It's also nice to see an animated musical from this time period that tries to blaze it's own path. While there is music, the romance is really a side-plot, and there's no annoying comic sidekicks - all the characters handle the comedy equally, including Darla.