New Normal 4 #Coronalife

My sister made me a steak hoagie and delivered it to my doorstep! Day made! After a gloomy start the sun came out. It was still cold but I managed to get both a morning and afternoon walk in. Happy Saturday!

New Normal 3 #coronalife

Day 14: It’s warm and sunny! Being outside and seeing neighbors (6 feet apart) is uplifting! I spent a very sleepless night waking abruptly over and over as I dreamt that I touched my face! The warnings about not touching our faces is obviously getting to me. 😱

Day 15: Watching online church in my pjs and missing my Bell choir. At least it’s still sunny! 😎 My disposition...no so much.

Day 16: My brother, Jack, is taken to the hospital by ambulance. Much anxiety as Pam can’t go in with him, and we must all just wait for news. Still spring weather so I uncovered my deck furniture and gas grill. Ordered new cushions because my old ones are in storage. Sunshine makes everything a little better! The only news we have about Jack is that he has blood clots in his lungs & will have a procedure tomorrow. He was also tested for Covid.

Day 17: Not sorry to see March end! Jack is having his procedure but there’s no real news. I finally get to talk with him in the evening. He’s doing well considering. What.A.Month! My morning decision involves whether/when to change from pjs to yoga pants. In the afternoon I start thinking about what to have for dinner. My evening decision is only white or red? I am still brushing teeth, washing hands and exercising. Yay me! 🤪 Doorstep delivery...a canvas painting from Cara! 🎨

Day 18: I keep reminding myself, “God is in His heaven. All is right in the world.” 🌺🌸🌼🌻🥀 I gave my Gal Pal zoom a tidbit of info from my grandson, Tyler, regarding the governor requiring all students to repeat their grade next year. So i was pranked! It’s April Fools Day, but I forgot. I didn’t discover this until long after the zoom session ended. 🙄😂 Jack’s Covid test is negative, and he’s being released!

Day 19: Trent has successfully used ApplePay in Walgreens and touched nothing. Yay! I need to try that. Started doing Disney photo books with Drew. The trips were 2017 and 2018...it’s time! 🏰🎢🎆🎇

Day 20: And it’s Friday again and nothing memorable is happening. I get bakery cookies and do a doorstep drop off for my Morgantown families. 🍪🍪

Day 21:  It’s the weekend, but there’s really no discernible difference anymore. I miss watching the kids sports! After leaving for the grocery store at 6:30 am, masking and gloving up like a surgeon (or bank robber) , shopping while trying to maintain a 6 foot distance, coming home to Lysol my credit card, car keys, groceries and disinfect myself, I have decided eating is highly overrated!

Day 22:  Another online service...Palm Sunday. Making my mom’s spaghetti sauce virtually with Ryan. It’s a process. We nailed it though!
🍝 Take a break to walk and enjoy the sunshine! 🌞

Day 23:  It’s Monday. We’re beginning our 4th week of quarantine! I’ve pretty much hit a wall today. Thank God for my neighbors and our daily walks! Take some spaghetti sauce to Trent’s family and get to have a sidewalk visit.

Day 24:  Deliver sauce to Adam’s family and have a sidewalk visit. More walking...

Day 25: What a miserable rainy Wednesday! I did enjoy a movie produced by Adam’s 3 kids...lots of laughs as i watched it!

Day 26:  Going through photos today and cherishing the memories. Tonight isolation reached a whole new level...no power in our neighborhood for hours. I was woefully unprepared with 31% cell phone battery, one flashlight and a Yankee candle!

Day 27:  Power came back! Josh mixed my hair color and did a door drop. I successfully touch up my roots! Yay!

Day 28:  Today I pick up cupcakes for my Morgantown families and go to CVS for my allergy medicine. They have toilet paper which has been out of stock everywhere! I snag two 4 packs! Woohoo! I email a gift card to grandson, Owen, in Ohio.

Day 29: Easter Sunday worship online plus delivering the cupcakes and gift cards to the Morgantown families. A driveway Easter dinner with a few neighbors...all of us social distancing. A FaceTime with Adam’s family and a zoom with Ryan’s family. First Easter ever without any family. 😢

Day 30:  We lost power again due to high winds! And a cold front has swept in! Freeze warnings have been issued...seriously! My daily walks are becoming increasingly challenging! 🥶 Drew and I are reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” separately and discussing chapter by chapter. I’m enjoying this so much and am touched that this was his idea!

Day 31: Looking for my sense of humor...still cold, windy, rainy, miserable...holy crap it’s snowing!
Gal Pal zoom happy hour was fun however. For the first time since quarantine it was just too awful outside to walk at 5 so I did an exercise video.

Day 32: Hump day but hump of what...week days and weekends all blur together! It’s freezing, but we walk anyway. I’ve become obsessed with “All American” on Netflix and have finished the entire first season in three days!

Day 33: More cold, more rain, more wind...brrr! I almost get online soup but Saladworks has run out. I can pick up tomorrow however.

Day 34: I pick up my curbside soup and stop for cat food. The kittens have a well visit Monday but my doctor’s appointment is via telemedicine...lol! I toyed with stopping at Kroger but, after seeing the enormous amount of cars in the parking lot, I decided to pass. We walked while being pelted with rain...it was that or nothing! Funny game via FaceTime with Adam’s crew! Bad news about Ryan’s family dog, Lucie. Her tumor is cancerous and there is no treatment. So sad!

New Normal Diary 2 #Coronalife

New Normal Day 13

I just realized I published the first 12 days of #coronalife together. Since the weren’t lengthy I doubt that it matters. Today I realized I’m losing the distinction between pajamas and athletic wear...one just seems to meld into the other. Now I’m sleeping in my t-shirts & wearing a pj top with my yoga pants. Haven’t worn real pants (or real clothes fo that matter) in at least 3 weeks!

New Normal Diary 1 #Coronalife

With so many feelings swirling in my head all day and unfortunately all night as well, I need an outlet! My last post in this blog was years ago. So I’m going to try to catch up a little from my social distancing/self quarantine/home confinement and then do a daily blog. Here goes...

Day 1 (Saturday, March 14th)
After spending much the end of this week with with my son, daughter-in-law and grandson who had traveled here for a swim meet that didn’t happen, I hugged them goodbye and decided to just stay in the rest of the day. We had been at the swimming facility the day before and had gone to lunch. There was a little feeling or normalcy in an otherwise weird day. I presumed I could just run my errands the following day after church. There was a lot of back and forth emailing with my Gal Pal group of 10 regarding the inevitable  cancellation of our spring trip. I received notices that choir and church were being cancelled for the following day. At the time I didn’t realize this was Day 1. 🙁
Sleep: 5 hrs 27 minutes
Exercise: 64.01 minutes

Day 2
Our pastor quickly pulled together some music, scripture and sermon from some past services for a broadcast at our usual church time on Sunday morning. Watching online with my church family gave me a little sense of community and peace if only for an hour. My sister FaceTimed me for the first time ever (typically an activity we only do with our grandkids) to see if I looked as scroungy as she did...the answer was a resounding YES! 😳
Sleep: 6 hrs
Exercise: 82 minutes


Day 3
After much agonizing I keep my 8 am appointment with my trainer at the gym. I’m trying to find a way to make good use of this time but find it hard to concentrate on a book or tv show and I’m unmotivated to do household chores. So I gather my information for my income taxes assuming that my Wednesday appointment with the accountant will still happen. I elect to skip my evening Zumba class since it’s usually crowded. My daughter-in-law sends me her user name and password for her online dance fitness subscription...a Godsend! I have of leftovers from having family here last week. It’s becoming monotonous to eat the same leftovers for consecutive days however. At least it wasn’t urgent to go to the grocery store! I reach out to an organization I belong to and suggest we communicate daily by responding to an assignment each day. We started with book recommendations. My friends and I decide we should cancel our tap dance class for Tuesday morning. 😢
Sleep: 5 hrs 50 minutes
Exercise: 121 minutes

Day 4
I’m talking to myself and the cats more and continuing to get my tax information together. My printer has stopped communicating with my computer. This problem would typically be solved with a house call from my son, my personal Apple genius, but I sigh and go online for help. Two hours later it’s working. I’m starting to see a pattern in how I deal with anxiety...exercising (or perhaps over exercising) more! And no a great sleeper anyway, but I’m sleeping less! Met a friend to walk outside in the rain...desperate times call for desperate measures...I’d rather have some human interaction even if it means being cold and wet! 💪🏻
Sleep: 5 hrs 13 minutes
Exercise: 143 minutes

Day 5
Took my tax information to the accountant’s office. They are offering curbside service. Indulge myself with a Starbucks (I consider matcha green tea latte a health food) and drop one off to my son who works in healthcare and has been swamped. The exchange is in the parking lot of his office. We stay 6 feet apart. I want to cry. Later I indulge myself when I listen to my nephew playing hymns on the organ of his empty church. I sob! 😭
Sleep: 4 hrs 43 minutes
Exercise: 99 minutes

Day 6
I look out my window and see an array of empty trash cans. I had only one job for today...take the trash to the curb...and I totally blew it! More and more time in my pjs. Long walk at the trail with a friend. Also walked later with my another friend. Trying to stay positive...praying meditating...but my mind races! 😔
Sleep: 4 hrs 37 minutes
Exercise: 153 minutes (Holy crap...that’s over 2 1/2 hours!)

Day 7
My laundry today consisted of socks, underwear, pjs, yoga pants and t-shirts...not a single piece of real clothes!
Get busy/Stay healthy
Get busy/Stay healthy
Get busy/Stay healthy
Sleep: 4 hrs 56 minutes
Exercise: 90 minutes

Day 8
An absolute highlight...playing a game via FaceTime with Adam, Kelly and the kids...and sharing lots of laughs! One of my sons was MIA via text and phone for a couple of hours. I lost it and let my anxiety overtake me for a bit. He’s fine and was playing a video game with his son. 😂
Sleep: 4 hrs 46 minutes
Exercise: 90 minutes

Day 9
Sunday service online again and “God of the Sparrow” hymn made me cry, but it was so beautiful and meaningful! Sunshine!!! Walking outside with a neighborhood friend and seeing others out walking too is magnificent! I do find some joy in how innovative and adaptable we are becoming. Living with only my kittens, I don’t feel too alone since friends and family are never digitally far away. Social isolation is definitely not for me however!  🙏🏻😎
Sleep: 5 hrs 51 minutes
Exercise: 107 minutes

Day 10
Holy crap! I’m starting to realize how long we may need to do this as they are in talks to postpone the Olympics. The state is shut down to all but essential businesses. Fortunately the liquor store at the BFS will remain open. My happy hour is extending way beyond an hour these days! 🍷🥂🍸🍹🍻
Sleep: 4 hrs 34 minutes
Exercise: 77 minutes

Day 11
I’m excited about remembering to take out my recycling and appalled that this is what I now consider an actual accomplishment. My disposal clogs up with spinach, and I have standing water in both sinks! I google and try the home remedy of baking soda and vinegar multiple times to no avail. I purchase Liquid Plummer Max...doesn’t help at all. I confine the kittens and take a picture of the pipe configuration under my sink before taking the entire thing apart. I clean it out and reassemble the pipe system. Three hours later I run the dishwasher with cautious optimism...it works! In the process I become really pissy though. My tolerance level is pretty much zero. Treat myself to a glass of wine  after patting myself on the back. 🍷
Sleep: 4 hours 59 minutes
Exercise: 184 minutes (OMG over 3 hours!)

Day 12
If I’d adjust my sleep goal to 4 1/2 hours I wouldn’t be so disappointed every morning. I don’t sleep well anyway as a rule, but this is ridiculous! 11:30 am and still in pajamas. I’m going to make a bold move, put some clothes on and attempt to accomplish something. Don’t get dressed till 2 pm...totally hit a wall today. A FaceTime from grandson, Ethan, playing guitar (he’s learned during the quarantine) and later from granddaughter, Cara, who is talking friends, fashion & and showing off 4 consecutive back handsprings provide a much needed connection. So does a late day walk with a friend and a check in with my son in a Ohio. Started Schitt’s Creek on Netflix for a humorous distraction. I’ve learned today of people I know who have the disease and my niece someone has been exposed by a coworker who tested positive. Prayers, prayers, prayers! Dealing with the sacrifice of this is one thing; dealing with the fear is something else entirely. 😰
Sleep: 5 hrs 2 minutes
Exercise: 121 minutes

Not all superheroes wear capes...

Last Father’s Day I was looking for just the right card when I found one I thought was perfect. It simply said “not all superheroes wear capes.” That one line absolutely sums up my sentiment about my dad. He has been my hero every day of my life! From the magic words than would erase my childhood bumps & bruises to the more serious task of seeing me through some very difficult times as an adult, he has always been there & is the one person I have always believed could make just about anything okay. Superpowers? Maybe not, but no one will ever convince me otherwise! It could be said that raising me definitely provided my parents with a challenge. I can only guess how frustrating it was for Dad to attempt to call home for hours & find the line perpetually busy. I was only allowed to talk for ten minutes, but I talked for ten minutes to at least ten people a night. Far be it for me to end a conversation with a boy I liked just because my dad might be trying to call! I pushed the envelope with clothes, hairstyles, money & curfews as well. Only when I became a parent myself did I fully understand how I must have driven mine crazy! But through it all, the one thing I could always count on was my parents’ unconditional love. My dad’s advice was sound, I didn't always follow it. I can still hear him telling me “if you don’t need boots on a day like this, you might as well not own any” as I was leaving for school. Fashionista that I was, I refused to substitute the ugly snow boots for the cute shoes. “There’s not much future in dancing, you may want to open a book.” Maybe I did study a little more, but I would not give up my dance classes, going to dances or practicing my dance moves in front of a mirror at home. Instead, I ditched the more practical activity of piano lessons much to my parents' chagrin. “If you’re too sick to go to church, you’re too sick to leave the house.” Well, both of my parents said this & meant it so I only played hooky once…lesson learned! There were times I thought I’d be in big trouble & was pleasantly surprised to discover I was in no trouble whatsoever. Once my friends & I added a blonde streak in our hair. My mother was horrified & warned me to just wait until my father got home. My siblings were salivating as they waited for the big reveal & my impending punishment. Dad came home & absolutely did not notice that night or all the nights that followed. (Or maybe he did notice & just thought it was not a battle he cared to wage with me.) When I became a licensed driver I had three wrecks within a very short period of time. A case can be made for two of these not being my fault, but the third clearly was. I inadvertenly pulled out in front of an oncoming car & had all my siblings with me. I fully expected to lose my driving priviledges for an extended period of time. Dad arrived & very calmly told me that any time no one was injured, it was just a money issue & that money issues could be fixed. I was definitely hesitant to get behind the wheel again, but Dad encouraged me to do so. I’ve thought on these events often as I dealt with my sons’ ear piercings, shaved heads & their own auto accidents. Dad always understood that some lessons are just learned by living. Dad believed in family togetherness, especially on vacations. I am still amazed that every summer we were able to cram our family of six plus luggage into a station wagon & take off pulling the trailer that would be our home for the next couple of weeks. To say we were in close quarters both in the car & the trailer (where every possible surface turned into a bed) is a complete understatement, but it was fun & definitely an adventure! Dad often has nicknames for people. I have always been "Dewey" to him which has been rather embarrassing when he has used that nickname in public. One he called the orthodontic office where I worked & asked for Dewey...my coworkers never let me live it down! Of course Dewey is preferable to the nicknames he had for my cousins, Anne & Pam, who were "Slimy Lizard" & "Chicken Gizzard!" Several years ago Dad & I were sitting on my deck. I was distraught & frightened about my very uncertain future. He told me "you don't have a problem; we have a problem. Indeed he knew a burden shared would be far easier for me to manage. It was with a genuine sense of relief that I realized I was not navigating the waters alone. Oprah would say, “10 things I know for sure.” David Letterman would create a top 10 list. Here are 10 absolutes about my Dad: 1) He loves his family & would absolutely do anything at any time to help any one of us. 2) He is a great role model for how to be a wonderful parent. With noteable exceptions...yes, Dad still laughs at the time I told Ryan he would never be allowed to read again after he had torn up his Dr. Seuss book in his crib…I have tried to follow his example with my sons. 3) He sacrificed for his country by serving in the US Navy in World War II. When we’d go to the beach I was always amazed at how Dad could float on his back in the ocean for huge periods of time & swim so strongly against the current. Years later I realized that he had been in a number of perilous situations during wartime & these were part of his survival skills. 4) He lives his faith; loves the Lord; loves his church & his church family. 5) He will fall asleep at inappropriate times & in inappropriate places. My mother used to have to nudge him awake in church & he has definitely fallen asleep while entertaining company at the house. For guests who have over-stayed, his famous line is “I’d better go to bed now. These people may want to go home.” 6) He will unfailingly get someone’s name or the name of a place wrong. We all know him so well though that we know exactly what he means. So when he asks me if I want to go to “Ipod” for breakfast, I drive straight to “IHop.” 7) He can talk his way into places no one else is allowed. Although I’ve always found this an intriguing & admirable skill, it was never more important to me than on the night Trent was born. It was determined by the doctors that there may be a problem with Trent’s heart & that an emergency C-section was necessary. I was overwhelmed with fear & worry. Dad came into see me right before surgery & assured me that he would check on Trent as soon as they brought him out & would report back to me. True to his word Dad chased the isolette down the hallway & finegled his way into the nursery where he stayed while Trent was tested. Then he came down & somehow talked his way into the authorized-personel-only surgery recovery room to let me know Trent was fine. And there was never a doubt in my mind that he would figure out a way to do it! 8)He is a great & loyal friend. Dad collects people & whether it's a handyman or the CEO of a company, he treats everyone with kindness & respect. He has given friends who disappointed him or let him down second, third & even fourth chances; however, anyone who hurts one of us falls completely off his radar screen. 9)He loves sports...especially Mountaineer sports & has passed this on to all four of his children, many of his grandchildren & even a great-grandchild. As a child Adam would crawl up into the recliner with Dad & watch sports on tv for hours. Last year little Drew crawled up into his lap & said "Jack, let's talk about football." 10)He is funny. He can tell a joke well & is great with a funny story. His antics can be inadvertently hilarious! And he has a great sense of humor! And the comments he makes in his stage whisper (that usually can be heard across the room!)...funny, but sometimes embarrassing! No, superheroes don't always wear capes...sometimes they just take their daughter fishing or ice skating or teach her how to ski or how to plant tomatoes...or fix her cuts & scrapes...or comfort her when they can't fix her broken heart...or insist that she goes to church so that she will have a foundation of faith & a set of values...or tease her when she takes herself too seriously...or show her how to be a good parent by example...or love her even when she's pretty unlovable! In my heart my superhero will always be my dad. Happy Birthday, Daddy! Thanks for always being there for me...for teaching me the joys of love & laughter& the value of faith, family & friends...I love you!!!

Dewey

(Mis)adventures with Dad

Today I was to take my dad to Morgantown for a dental appointment...actually, just a cleaning appointment. Because my dad can get in & out of his own car more easily & also hates to see us use our gas, he had his car out & ready. I traded places with him & pulled out onto the highway. As soon as I accelerated over 20 MPH, the car began to shake violently. I noticed that the brake light was on as well. At this point my dad tells me that this happens a lot to him & that I need to come to a complete stop, then quickly release the brake. However, this is easier said than done because we are shaking down a busy highway. I find a side street & pull in, but his trick of hitting the brake & releasing it fails to stop the shaking. I quickly decide we need to return to his house & get his other car, but it had a dead battery. I certainly didn't mind driving him in my car so we transferred everything & took off. By now I had some concerns about being late for his appointment.

We arrive at the parking lot behind the dental office in the nick of time when we discover that neither of us has any change for the meter. I encourage him to go on into the office & let me deal with the meter issue. As he is getting out of the car he shows me a lid to something & asks if I have seen his teeth (a partial) which were in a container that was now just a lid. I put the brake on & help him look around. He suggests I look in my purse since he seems to think that's where he put the container...ewwww! Fortunately (for me anyway), we found it on the floor of my car. He goes on into the office, & I cruise for a parking spot with some remaining minutes on the meter. I find one with 19 minutes & after dumping everything out of my purse come up with two dimes & a nickel to add to it. (When will I learn to carry a little money with me!)

As soon as I was seated the hygienist came out to let me know there was a problem. My dad had not taken his pre-medication. I asked her what our options were. She explained to me the pros & cons of doing it anyway. So I go back & ask Dad what he wants to do...stay or reschedule. He wants to stay so we do.

After the appointment, they need to schedule a procedure, but this has to be coordinated with an appointment he already has with an oral surgeon. When they contact the oral surgeon's office, they have no record of my dad's appointment. Yikes! We finally figured out that he has given the oral surgeon his nickname, "Jack," while the dental office is asking about "John" (his given name). The 1/2 hour in Morgantown is now well over an hour.

To top off my day I realize that my low fuel light is on the entire way home & am definitely running on fumes. As I am getting out of my car at work, I realize he has left me a parting gift...his toothbrush & toothpaste are in my console...never a dull moment with Dad!

Now What!?!

Before..............................& After

Last Sunday afternoon I was faced with a dilemma. I had the time & weather to clean out my garage, but I knew I would have to have trash at the edge of my driveway until Thursday unless I scheduled a special pickup. Obviously, I opted to go ahead with the garage clean-up & let the chips fall where they may with the trash. I actually did call the trash service on Monday & failed to reach anyone who could help me. On Tuesday I tried again & was told that they would pick up some of the trash on Thursday but the rest would have to wait until the "bulky goods day" pickup on the second Thursday in May. Yikes! I have been trying to hide from the neighbors for the past few days as I fully realize this is an eyesore, but there's no way I can make myself scarce until the second week in May. Now I'm not quite sure how to proceed. I need to get this stuff out of here but in my sedan that would be lots of trips. And I'm not quite sure where to take this stuff anyway. I've had two suggestions: to call freecycle to pick the stuff up (if there's one in our area I am so onboard for this) or throw a tarp over everything until the second Thursday in May. So check out the pictures above to see just how overwhelmingly helpful my trash service was today in picking through this trash & taking a couple of bags...Geez!!!

TMI? Oversharing? Moi?

One of my earliest recollections is a time when I was 3 or 4 years old & the grocery delivery man asked me how I was. I promptly told him I was just fine, but my brother had diarrhea. My mother was mortified & remprimanded me soundly. Apparently she thought the discussion of bodily functions was inappropriate. I'm sure this was one of many times she wished I had had a filter. My mom had very definite ideas about what she felt were polite terms & what she considered crude. For my mom "tinkle" was fine (if whispered), but "pee" was not. She would cringe if I told her I was "sweating" & remind me that ladies don't sweat, they "perspire." "Poop?" I bet she never said that word in her entire lifetime! Needless to say, my sharing of personal information with complete strangers probably drove my mom crazy on more than one occasion.

Yes, put me in a line at the grocery store or Disney World, & I will reveal way too much about myself & my life. So when I read a couple of facebook comments about me from my sons last night, I wanted to fire off a rebuttal; however, I realized they are probably right. While I think I'm just being friendly, I realize that some people may consider my conversations to be TMI or oversharing. Oh, to be shy!!!