From 1700+ to 2000+ in the standing

I am falling fast in my bracket scoring...I did not get any breaks in the gloom yesterday! But I am sure that some people in Las Vegas are ready to jump from roof tops.

But on a bigger topic - change - not fundamental, but coins. I feel like that VISA commercial when people try to use cash instead of plastic and the world around them starts to crumble. That is what I feel like when I try to take my change to the grocery store for quarters (for doing my wash in the condo laundry room). You would think I was some short change artist. I felt like a homeless person going to my bank yesterday morning to convert a roll of pennies. The lady gave me a look when she asked, "nothing else I can help you with?" - like a job or shopping for new clothes or getting you off the streets? is what I heard her say. I am not going to those change machines in the grocery store because they charge you for converting your coins - that is not right. Obviously, I have had too much time on my hands since our work crunch ended on March 10.

I did start my day yesterday at work. I got a lot of clean up done that I have been putting to one side when we were up against it. I left my boss some notes and some articles from a magazine I enjoy reading and I think has some applications for our school. I finished up there about 12:30 p.m., went for a walk and then headed into the HPL for the Maltese Falcon discussion. I am glad I did. The program that area towns participate in is called "The Big Read" and everyone tries to drum up interest in reading for enjoyment and at the book club yesterday in Hartford we had a living example. Most book club people are all avid readers but yesterday we had a new reader. A young man who said he had not read a book since he left high school, but loved the Maltese Falcon and read it from cover to cover. His input was so much more invigorating than any of the rest of the "old reading ladies" in the group and was a perfect complement for another man in the group who was a mystery genre "expert" - he added depth to all the comments/questions of the young man. I am so glad that I went - it made my day. There is nothing better than seeing someone who "is taken" with something and can't wait to share their passion. It gives me new energy. After the program, I walked over to the Wadsworth Antheneum to see if there were any discount days for the Impressionist exhibit. No discount, but I just might have to pay the full price and go. They are all impressionist paintings that have "by the sea" theme. There is something about water that I "need" to see. It was a reason why Atlantic City was a dream place for me - walk on the beach, walk on the boardwalk by the sea and watching basketball - I could have died and gone to heaven right there. But as a co-worker said, walking around Atlantic City in blue jeans and an LL Bean barn coat...not exactly a new husband magnet look. I really have to look at what I "project" against what I am trying to "attract". I am putting more thought into that, but I am not even sure what that looks like - oh well.

Thinking back to my brackets - St Joes and Garrett Williamson did not take me where I needed to go, Western Kentucky helped me and I picked them because of their historic place in basketball history (but I did not stick with them long enough), West Virginia I love because of the coach (unfortunately, I let Duke override WVA...), Davidson, Duke, UNC for my NC history; Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor for my TX history, Pitt for their coach and his sister who passed away last year, KSU for a friend I have who works there, Vanderbilt because of one of the talk show hosts on ESPN radio - good and bad reasoning leading me to good and bad choices. Oh well.

After the library and Antheneum I was off to the dumpling place. The waiter does not even bring me a menu anymore. It was just what I was craving. And it was early so no one was there so he turned on the games on the big, flat screen TV they have in the restaurant. It was a perfect combination of food and entertainment.

I am not sure what the motivation was except maybe the sunshine, but I went for another walk when I got home last night. After the walk, I watched a bit more basketball and then went to Holy Saturday service. It is one of my favorite nights in a church - a bit long (2 hours) but it is a very uplifting series of events and readings. I walked over and back. I ran into a family friend who asked if it was me walking home from work the other day. It is always humorous to people when I do my walking. I did "do the math" and it is 6.2 miles and I did it in 1 hour, 40 minutes and that time includes a bathroom stop at McDonald's. I do think I will do that once a week beginning in April. It is like doing a 10K each week which I did back in the day when I was training for marathon running. I don't think I will ever turn into a runner again, but I might work on my pacing a bit.

Watched a bit more basketball when I got home from church and went to bed. Now it is Happy Easter and I will be heading into my parents to meet up with sisters #4 & 5 and niece #4. I can't wait to hear about #5's Key Largo trip and get an update on #4's livingroom, front hall floor refinishing to get the renovation done before she goes back to school after her spring break.

I am getting just the response I was hoping for on my beach house rental plan for June. Old college classmates who were at my graduation from college party at the same beach are planning on coming by again - 1975 to 2008, but they still like a good party. My son thinks it is a good idea too. The people I had dinner with on Friday night think it is a good idea too...the cottage only sleeps 8 so I better start setting up a nightly chart. But the good thing is that it is an easy distance from anywhere in Connecticut so people can come and go without staying over.

I feel better having more time now to work on my EDA committee responsibilities. Networking with new people is very important for me on many levels.

Some talking heads shows and then I will hit the road. Have a Happy Easter.