The strawberries are a tiny bit of retail therapy. We are still locked up, so I had them delivered.
Gratitude
Grateful that I can afford grocery delivery anytime I get to hankering for just barely in-season strawberries. Even more grateful that my brain still works well enough to navigate online grocery shopping.
Very little going on in my world today. Laundry, online strawberry quest, visit with friends, lunch, walk, nap, some origami most of which ended up in recycling, nap, and tee-shirt culling. Looking forward to in-person wine and snacks with friends soon. As I said, just trying to hang on until whatever happens next. I think that cold and snow is what is going to happen next.
Happy to report that the 11th floor continues keeping spirits up during COVID with spirits.
life and coronavirus #249 – I showed up for my duties as “question asking person”.
Also happy to report that I don’t think that I embarrassed myself at the Brent Scowcroft Memorial Series Zoom. Except for the speaker, I may well have been the only person who had ever played an actual video game. Or read a graphic novel. And, I had to wear a t-shirt. The Arpanet one. And, it was noticed and commented upon. Fashion is my life!
Gratitude
Grateful that everyone I know who had Covid recently has recovered. And 2 of these were serious cases involving hospital or nursing floor stays. Also grateful that my friends will be getting their 2nd Covid vaccine next week.
Not loving what I am seeing here on the weather forecast. But, living in the moment, today was lovely, sunny, and “warm”. I kept the window open for a couple of hours to let in some nice fresh germ-free air. Also, went for a nice walk. All good, too nice to count as friluftsliv
Wild child garden box was not shoveled out, but, I tromped over and checked it out. Really cold weather is scheduled for late next week. If it happens, Ray the Rosemary bush might not make it. Nobody is promised tomorrow. Not even plants.
Studied up some more on Data and Defeat – How FICINT Can Prepare You For Future Conflict. 10 AM tomorrow. Just hope that my housekeeper in and out on time. The other person on the panel is a former member of the Joint Chiefs (USAF). That is seriously out of my league. Guess I shouldn’t wear my Captain Marvel T-Shirt. Or any t-shirt for that matter. Well, maybe my Arpanet t-shirt? NO, be a grown-up.
Years, decades, ago, I was writing code for a simulation of “Total Global Nuclear War”. I was young and worried about things like “what if our assumptions are wrong”? My boss said; “In the event of a nuclear war our assumptions will not matter because we will be dead and if there isn’t a nuclear war they still won’t matter. So, shut up and write code.”
Gratitude
Grateful for a wonderful long sunny winter warm walk this afternoon. Even sat in the sun for 15minutes.
It is starting to look a bit more promising outside. Even made it out for a real walk. Also detailed my toys. Q-tips, isopropyl alcohol, microfiber cloth, etc. I was never a believer in canned air. Figured it could just a well blow crap in as well as out. And, I cleaned out my spice and condiment shelf. And, obviously, I decided not to stop doing the blog. Just because it isn’t interesting. Because I am not interesting. There isn’t anything more boring than an old woman who has been on house arrest for eleven months.
Gratitude
Grateful to have DINNER PLANS. Some of the Asylum Sisters are getting takeout from 5-Guys and we are going to meet and eat together. We did it at Thanksgiving. (I am not a fan of takeout burgers and fries – so I will greenbag it.)
looking for the light – looks familiar. like yesterday. or the day before. Groundhog Day.
It’s not Groundhog Day, it’s Groundhog Year.
The workday didn’t end gracefully today. But, everything was successfully wrapped up. Today was very busy. Work, zoom yoga, in-person barre class. None of that on the agenda for tomorrow. So, I wonder what to do.
You know what I really need? I need to have all of my electronic gear detailed. Everything has gotten downright grubby. Forbin the Mac Book Pro, the Kindle, both iPads, and Shamu the Phone. All pig dirty. Maybe that’s what I’ll do tomorrow. Clean all the gear. Too bad I can not just pop it all in the dishwasher!
Gratitude
The gratitude section has been going on for over a year now. Is it time to stop? I don’t know.
Grateful for a nice cozy little apartment. A maintenance-free apartment.
Is it time to stop the whole blog thing? It is coming up on 20 years.
Looking for my friend Paul’s light. When I am in my comfy chair, I can see sky out my “living room” windows and out my “bedroom” window I can Paul’s living room window and lamp. Everyone else keeps their blinds down. It makes me happy to see his light on and know that I am not the only person left in the Asylum. After almost a year of this shit, it doesn’t take much to make me happy.
I am supposed to be on a panel to ask questions of a speaker on Friday morning. I would normally say “I don’t do that anymore.” But, the guy who was in charge seemed to be rather desperate. The topic is: Data and Defeat – How FICINT Can Prepare You For Future Conflict. Now, seriously folks, this is an Asylum for the Aged. Think I am going to need to take my game to the next level to even stay awake during the thing.
Gratitude
Grateful for slightly longer days.
Today’s weather was a repeat of yesterday’s. More little icy snow. And gray. Plus cold. But, the kids are still loving it.
OK, today was different. It snowed. Not great wonderful fluffy flakey snow. More small gritty snow. Only a couple of inches I am guessing. But the kids across the street, who are blessed with an outstanding sledding hill enjoyed every last flake. That’s another of my handheld 600mm images. Through the double-pane window.
Trying to accept the fact the this is not the end of the pandemic. Or even the beginning of the end. It might be more like the middle. And, that really sucks. It’s like being pecked to death by ducks.
Gratitude
Grateful for that wonderful feeling I get when getting into my bed, snuggling down into the covers.
I also love saying “Computer, Goodnight”. All the lights get turned off. As does the coffee pot and heating pad if they were left on and a couple of the lights go into gradual dim out mode. She who dies with the most toys wins!
The day got off to a nice sunny start. It was sunny all day. I even braved the frigid weather for a nice walk. I don’t actually have winter clothes. So, I just wear a lot of layers. Been getting alerts on the phone etc about “Winter Storm” coming tomorrow. Or is it tonight?
Anyhow – after getting this on your phone:
8:08 AM Jan 13, 2018
It takes more than a “winter weather” warning to get my attention.
Pau hana – that’s Hawaiian pidgin for “Miller time”. Finished up my work (except for shipping the data off) until Tuesday. I finished up noonish and celebrated with a walk in the cold and a nap followed by another nap. Think I’ll package up my data and send it off in case this “winter storm” takes out the power. Maybe I’ll charge up all the toys. That is kinda my version of running to the store to buy toilet paper and milk.
Gratitude
Grateful to be an old woman. I for sure never intended to be old. I am from the sex, drugs, and rock and roll don’t trust anyone over thirty crowd. And here I am. I still have rock and roll.
Took a much-needed break from wrangling data to go to a wine pairing. Whatever that is. It involved booze, cheese, and other people. One real-life person and some zoom people. All good. Regular readers will recall that the last time I went I was almost too drunk to walk home. This time, moderation prevailed.
Serious data wrangling will be over at noon tomorrow.
The Wolf Moon(s).
Still hand holding my 600mm lens looking out double pane glass. the one on the right is the real moon.
Gratitude
Grateful for sheep who give us wool sox. Grateful for the occasional “wine pairing” too.
Preview of coming attractions. This does not look good.
looking for the light
Not my brightest photography idea ever. 600mm, handheld with old shakey hands, through double pane glass. But, last night I was really happy to see the Wolf Moon peeking out from the clouds. I will try a little harder tonight. When the Wolf Moon will be full.
Yesterday, work was long and tedious. Everything is going smooth as glass today. So far. Three more hours to go. The last hour is really hard for the nurses, that is when they have to find takers for their doses that have to be used up. No one wants to waste a single dose. By next Monday night, we will be out of the mass vaccination business because we will be out of vaccine. And there is no more on the horizon. The hospital had to cancel some 10,000 appointments for vaccinations. Now we are sort of wondering if these vaccines will really work against the new-improved Covid virus.
Anyhow, glad for a light day. Looking forward to toddling off to bed with coffee and chocolate and an audiobook as soon as they give the last shots sometime after 8PM tonight.
Gratitude
Grateful that I could do something more than wash my hands, wear a mask, and socially distance in the Covid Wars.
That’s today’s view out the windows. I did not venture out. Did barre and yoga classes this morning before starting to work at 1PM. I am savoring this last week of constant work. It is saving what little is left of my sanity.
Yesterday’s propaganda memo concluded with: We have all learned so much about new ways to live, thrive and stay safe this past year. Our commitment to you is that Goodwin House will build on these new levels of safety for your health and wellness going forward, and we will retain the new ways of engagement as we restore the old ways to enable the highest levels of participation and connection with family and friends.
Well, I don’t want that anymore. I want to be responsible for myself. I don’t want to “stay safe” anymore. Well actually, I do want to be safe. But, I want to decide for myself what is “safe” for me. I never liked anyone telling me what to do. Just ask my husbands. Or my mother. Or my bosses. Or my teachers.
Today I realized that if I do what I think is “safe” I might die. On the other hand, if I do what management decides is safe for me I might die. The destination is the same. The journey is different. And no one gets out of the Asylum alive anyhow.
I am having an increasingly difficult time reconciling living in the Asylum and living a real life. Real-life. You know. riding the bus. going to trader joes. getting your teeth cleaned w/o punitive quarantine. maybe going to the actual office.
But, my friends live here. Do friends surpass self-determination? Of course, they do. Get a grip, old girl. Get a grip.
Gratitude
Time to round up my “universal covid gratitude list”. (I haven’t needed my universal trip list in a very long time.) The weather is great.
Biden is in the White House.
My health is good.
I have had 2 Covid vaccines.
My weight is under control.
I have a nice cozy apartment.
I have lots of Kindle books to read.
And audiobooks to listen to.
There are lots of online resources that I have yet to tap into.
I have friends. Good friends.
So I will try to follow the rules. At least some of them. Some of the time Just for today.
Mālama Pono
