Not Much

Finally got back to exercise; I had been slacking off for several weeks, what with this, that, and the other thing.  Went to Shop-Rite for stuff, stopping here and there for errands.  Got an e-mail from a former co-worker at Rider I've known for years, telling me her husband has died.  He had been very sick for years and also had lost his job.  No children or other close relatives.  Called Kathy to express my condolences.  Funeral will be private.
Finished up the Ollie article, plus "Neighborly News" and another piece and sent them off.
Other than that, not a hell of a lot going on.

Plays, Lighthouses, And Ice Cream

Early on, went into Facebook and saw that Tonya had listed the cast for You Can't Take It With You.  I got the part of drunken actress Gay Wellington, a very small one in the second act: I have nine lines, then fall asleep on the couch.  I confess I was disappointed, as I wanted the part of the grand duchess, which Kathy D. got.  Then I reflected that I would have been crushed not to have been picked at all (neither Ellen V. nor Jeanne Sutton, also mature women got a part), so was okay with it.  I'm just thrilled to contemplate being on stage again.
At 10, went a few streets over to Reef Lane to interview Ollie C. about his lighthouses (and other woodworking items).  He's a remarkably young-looking (and trim and handsome) 74 and very soft-spoken and pleasant.  Chatted with his wife, Amy, whom I've known for some time.
After, I drove to the cemetery to water, then to Produce Junction.  Couldn't resist a big pot of white mums and a lovely earthen bowl of various succulents, not to mention a hanging bunch of inpatients, which I actually have cascading down the front door.  Got veggies, too, of course.
Wrote up the piece on Ollie and did some household chores.  Picked up Aline after dinner and went down to Jeffreeze (get it: "Jeff-Freeze--Jeffries?) and treated her to ice cream; had a big cone myself.  After, we took a drive and talked and talked.  She asked if I wanted to attend a Buddy Holly concert at the library, but I begged off.  Not crazy about that kind of music and it was almost 8:00 so I was ready to wind down.
Nothing scheduled for today, but I'll

Car Back

Got my lil'l darlin' back!  Jessica, from Mastercraft, knocked on my door about 11:00, having brought my car.  I drove her back (it's only about 2 miles), and happily drove away. 
Went home and made a salad for lunch, then drove--drove!--to pick up various and sundry at Shop-Rite.  Stopped at Lowe's and found "bird netting."  Figuring there's no reason it wouldn't work for other critters, I bought some, along with metal stakes to anchor it.  Home, I put the two patio pots with the planted tomatoes and covered all with the netting.  That'll show 'em!
Got a call from Lee S.  She and Mary S. are taking photos of lighthouses on lawns for the August Breeze cover.  She said they were at Amy and Ollie C.'s and were invited in.  There, in Ollie's "man cave" (odious expression), they saw more lighthouses--he makes them.  Lee thought he'd be an interesting topic for one of my profile article.  I agreed, called him, and we made a date for me to stop over this morning.
Betty called and we had a nice chat.  Her company is gone--she had one or the other of her children, with families, there for a month.
Called Aline for her birthday.  She was going out for dinner with her sister and friends, but we made a date for tonight, when I'll treat her to an ice cream for her birthday.
WIDER:  "It has often been claimed that the Vietnam War finally ended when the reaction to the sight of thousands of coffins containing dead American soldiers reached a politically unsustainable level. The Pentagon learned a lesson and subsequently used massive firepower and high-tech weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan to reduce the number of U.S. dead even if it meant significantly increasing the collateral damage inflicted on civilians. Pursuing that logic led to the drone."
From: http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/07/11/drones-overseas-lead-to-drones-at-home/ at AntiWar.com.

Atlantic City

I continue carless--woe is me...
But I had a nice full day.  Walked to the clubhouse for the 11:00  Red Hats meeting, which was short.  Eight of us then drove to Gardener's Basin in Atlantic City.  Had lunch at Scales (used to be The Flying Cloud) before dropping in at the aquarium.  I've been there before (when P. and N. were here) and am not a fish fan, but it was mildly enjoyable.
Got home by 3:30 to find Mike had Skyped me with darling little Violet, whose fourth birthday it was.  Tried to get them back, but they were no longer online--darn.  He wrote he'd try to get me on the weekend.
Heard from Mastercraft to the effect that he'd get me a loaner, as he still wasn't finished with the car.  Told him he might as well wait for today, as I was going out later.  Called Susan, who was going to line-dancing, but Walter drove me over to the library for the second night of auditions.
Lots of people there, including some who weren't on Monday.  I read for Duchess Olga, the part I really want, and think I did pretty well.  However, so did several others and I'm not at all sure I'll be selected.
Lily McB. drove Aline and me home.
Note: I called my bank, Ocean First, asking why my debit card was rejected when I know I could cover the $933 for the car.  Was told they don't let people use the debit card for more than $900.  Incomprehensible.

Car Still A Hostage

Moped around in the morning.  Called Mastercraft at noon; no, he's still working on it.  Mopey, mope, mope.  Got a number of calls and thought each one was it, but it wasn't.  Passed the time reading, doing computer stuff, and not much else. 
Finally, at 4:15, I got the call--yay!  Walter dropped me off, and I settled up to the tune of $933.  Gave Jessica, the office person, my debit card and was annoyed when it was rejected; now I have to go to Ocean First to find out why.  Paid with another credit card and waited; my little darlin' was being taken for a test drive. 
When the guy driving returned, he pulled into the back and Jessica went out to investigate; he said he wouldn't let me drive it before putting oil in.  I waited some more, then got the news that the car had developed a knock and he wanted to keep it longer.
DAMN! Jessica drove me home, but I still don't have a car!  Aagh!  I'm at their mercy, so what can I do?  Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Well, guess I'll live through it.  Had a bite, then prepared for the audition.  Aline's sister, Susan, picked me up and we went to the Tuckerton Seaport; we were to meet in the fishing shanty.  We then found that the quilt group of the other Susan, the one I walk with every morning, was meeting there.  Mix up in scheduling--story of our lives--so we sat outside to "read."  (Actually, it was very pleasant, with a nice breeze.)  I have no idea how well--or not well--I did and plan to go again to tonight's rehearsal.
As I walked in the door, the phone was ringing with a call from my dear cousin, my "Cincinnati Sis," Marifran K.  Now this was the high point of the day and we had a wonderful time catching up with each other.  What a pleasure to hear her voice!
I have RedHats today and we're going to the Atlantic City Aquarium.  Well, I ain't gonna drive, that's a cinch.
WIDER:  Confused about the LIBOR thing?  So was I until I read this by Robert Reich:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/07/09-5
Too big to fail.  Too big to jail.  Too big to do anything but screw the common people--but that, they do with enthusiasm.

Pool

The rain held off, thank heavens, and Betty, Carolyn, Dana, Finn, and Claire got here before 1:00.  Because I had no car, I had to improvise a lunch: put together Harvestland chicken pieces from the freezer with still-crisp celery and mayo for chicken salad; added sliced tomatoes on a bed of Romaine, plus crystal pickles that I keep for just such occasions (must make another batch).  Along with cranberry bread, whole wheat, and multi-grain that I borrowed from Susan, that was the meal,  With the addition of dessert in the form of Italian ice I had just happened to pick up a few days ago, everybody seemed to enjoy it.
We walked to the pool and had a fine time there.  Hot, hot, hot, and overcast, but no rain.  Stayed in until the kids had to get out at 3:00, then Betty, Carolyn, Claire and I sat for a bit and talked while Dana and Finn went back to the house.  (They didn't realize that children are not supposed to be in the pool area after 3:00 and since the lifeguard didn't say anything, neither did I.)
Got home to find Dana had fixed my long-ailing garbage disposal--yay!--and we continued visiting while the kids played.  They left about 5:00 after an enjoyable day.  Ellen called and we had a good chat--can't wait to see her!
Audition tonight for You Can't Take It With You.

Car Gone

A day that will live in...if not infamy, certainly annoyance.  Car had been overheating, so took my Chevy to the levy--to Mastercraft--and was told it has a hole in the manifold or something and will cost me roughly $900 to fix.  Had no choice, so agreed to the highway robbery.  Mechanic said it wasn't a good idea to continue to drive it, so I called Barbara D. and she picked me up and took me home.
...where I stayed all day, bored out of my mind.  Read a lot, went on the computer, made a salad for today, cooked the kale and string beans I had gotten from the northern dweller, and took a nap.  Sounds pleasant and peaceful, doesn't it?  Hated it.  Thought I'd walk to the pool, but even for me, it was a bit warm--99 degrees--so I decided against it.  Of course, Mastercraft isn't open today, so can't ransom my little darlin' until tomorrow.
Talked to Betty and Carolyn, who are coming for lunch, then the pool, if thunderstorms don't change our plans.