life in the old lane

By my calculations today is March 141, 2020.

I gotta get outta this place. If its the last thing I’ll very do. AND. Since no one gets out alive – that is most likely what will happen.

At exactly 11:00 AM I bounce out of my door all squeaky clean buffed and polished. Four of my friends were hiding and they scared the shit out of me. It was great!

After taking out the trash, and a visit with my friends, picking up the mail, etc. I took a walk around outside. It was over 90°. Then, I did laundry. If you don’t have a washer/dryer and you are locked in your room, well you don’t get clean clothes. It’s not like you actually need clean clothes. And, since Covid, we have been assigned laundry days. My laundry day is Thursday. Fortunately, Saturday is my “makeup day”.

Gratitude

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“Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” – John Lewis 2018.

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Had a nice end to the day visiting and drinking for a friend outside on a 95° evening. We both like it hot. As long as we are lounging in the shade. And, we had the entire space to ourselves. No surprise.

Mālama pono

Waiting for me, with a coffee chaser. If I make it to 8PM without becoming a raging assholebitch.

Since nothing is happening in the Old Bat Cave. I decided to look back at some other July 17th’s in my photo archives.

I love that photograph. It just so perfectly illustrates the difference between Carlton’s youth and mine. Notice the sword. Who wears a sword to a dance. Wouldn’t that be dangerous?

And what about all those roses? Did she just win a horse race? If Carlton had given me that many roses, I would have known he got them from his buddies the grave diggers at Columbia Cemetery.

Gratitude

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Grateful for chocolate. And coffee.

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And about those copyright dates. I meant to just say ©Peg Bethany. But I am too lazy to go find the images and export them again.

Mālama pono

Ever since a friend gave me 3 pounds of oatmeal I have been eating oatmeal for breakfast.  Honestly, there is some oatmeal under the blueberries and yogurt and cinnamon.

Last night I got an email that said “Your photo is in USA Today!”.  So, I scuttle off and look at a long article with lots of photos. I don’t see any of my photos. Figure my friend was mistaken. I sure hadn’t given them permission to use any of my images.

Well, this morning I got another email worded differently – I went back and looked again. There was a photo of me. Back when I could still fit in my jeans.

It was in an article about helping your elderly parents stay mentally alert in isolation. At least Susan, Sally and I are all looking pretty good for “elderly”.  In fact, Susan and Sally just brought a 6-month-old kitten home yesterday. Curbside pickup from the Shelter.

Gratitude

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Grateful for blueberries. And grateful to have made it through another day of solitary with my sanity mostly intact.

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Mālama pono

My beloved MacBook Pro suited out in Windows livery. Normally that wouldn’t make me happy. But I am absolutely ecstatic to be able to help my friends at the hospital out again. Tomorrow I am going to set up my big iPad as a secondary monitor and see if I can have Mac-OS on one and Windows on the other.

Before Covid: Breakfast Sandwich at The Asylum.

Covid Time: Breakfast Sandwich at The Asylum

This was advertised as Croissant Egg Sandwich with Sausage and Cheese. Not exactly your ideal diet lunch. But, hey, I am in solitary. I deserve a nice lunch.

Well, maybe it was the presentation that was lacking. Nope. The croissant was hard, the egg cold, the sausage lacking and the cheese MIA. Toss that lunch. Not worth the calories. I am on a diet and I am in solitary and I do deserve a nice lunch.

Covid Time: Lunch at The Old Bat Cave

So, small cheese omelet with avocado and salsa and The Asylum’s grapefruit.

Gratitude

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Grateful for Bear Number 399. She has cheered up my confinement greatly since coming out of hibernation in mid-May.. A great advertisement for grizzlies and mothers everywhere. If you haven’t heard about her – Check her out.

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Mālama pono

Sun coming online this morning. It is now safely south of the Monument. So, the earth still seems to be in her proper orbit. I really like to catch the sun exactly behind the Monument. But, the clouds didn’t cooperate this year. Or maybe I overslept.

Today’s big event was getting reconnected to the hospital computers. Since I have been offline they have increased security (excellent) and upgraded to Windows 10 or something like that. (not  so excellent). And my office folks even updated our system. From 7.5 or 7.6 to 7.8. All by themselves. I feel like a mother bird whose chicks all fledged. They really don’t need me. They are just trying to keep me sane. And I appreciated it.

Gratitude

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Lots to be grateful for: No Asylum residents have Covid. Only one staff member has Covid. That could change in a wink. And this is amazing: No resident has died since June 2. Died of anything. Also grateful for Zoom Yoga.

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Mālama pono

Yep, back in solitary. Until 11 AM Saturday.  But, I did it once, so I can do it again. I hope.

I walked home from the dentist today. It wasn’t as hot as the last time I went to the dentist and the walk was GREAT. Just like normal Before Covid time. A good chunk of the walk was a gentle downhill wander alongside a friendly stream or “run” as they are called in this part of the country. Even young boys playing in the water. I wanted to join them.

I did not come directly home from the dentist. I stopped off at a GROCERY STORE. Everything seemed pretty normal. I bought a cauliflower, some fresh pasta, bacon, a little good bread, and a pint of blueberries. That was about all that I could carry. I didn’t actually have to have any of that stuff. I just liked feeling “normal”. (Well, maybe I had to have bacon.)

You get 5 days in solitary for going to the dentist. And 5 days for going to the grocery. Also 5 days for sneaking off to visit the grandkids. Or getting a haircut. But, the sentences are served concurrently – so – you should get your money’s worth.

Gratitude

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Very grateful that my dentist could see me this morning and that he was able to patch it up “good enough” for now, so I don’t have to go back again soon.

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Tomorrow’s adventure – try to get setup so I can do a little remote job or two for my former office. They have gotten along great without me for 8+ months. But, I need something to do. And they are throwing me a lifeline.

Mālama pono

The day started off fine for the new normal. I discovered a baby bunny. I hope that it gets real smart real fast. Or it will not make it to big bunny. But it was too cute.

Went for a nice walk. Watered my garden boxes. visited outside a bit. Came back inside. Had an apple. Decided to Water Pic apple fragments out of my teeth – when what would show up getting ready to run down the drain –

What should show up but a gold fragment from one of my teeth. Damn. Crap. Shit. This entails at least one trip to the dentist. Most likely two. At the cost of 5 days in Solitary. Each time.

I am really tired of this. It is really hard to see that it is actually worth trying to stay alive by doing nothing. Going nowhere. For what. Another birthday? BFD. The only thing that is keeping me between the navigational beacons is: I don’t want to make anyone else sick.

Gratitude

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Grateful for beer delivery from New District Brewing Co

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So, today has been a downer. Hoping for a better tomorrow. For now, think I’ll hit the shower and have one of those fine new brews.

Mālama pono

Not exactly a diet dessert – but most excellent.  (raspberry sherbet, chocolate brownie, black coffee).

I just ordered a delivery of beer from my local craft brewery. Now, I will have to stay awake and dressed until it arrives. Not exactly the best ever diet move. But, if I am going to spend calories on beer I might as well have a fine beer and help some small business try to survive.

I have been thinking more and more along those lines of late. For a couple of months it didn’t seem “right” to get stuff delivered when in truth I have everything that I need to sustain life provided by The Asylum and delivered directly to my door. So, why would I “bother” someone by having delivery. Well, I am actually providing income to the delivery person. As well as trying to help keep a small business in business. Plus, in this case – I get good beer.

Because I still see no end in sight. This is a  “the light at the end of the tunnel is a train” scenario. But, I am trying to adapt. It isn’t easy.

That was one year ago BC – Before Covid.

Today – food trucks waiting for better days – a couple of blocks from The Asylum.

Gratitude

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Grateful for books that can take me away from all of this if I just let them.

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I was reminded today that one of my bachelor floormates is supposed to get married next month. Last I heard, he and his lady had not decided which retirement home to live in his or hers.

Mālama pono

Any day with a dragonfly is a good day. And today has been another almost normal day. I guess the “new” normal. After over 100 days of this shit, it should be getting to normal.

I didn’t sleep well last night and then instead of a nap, I took a hot walk in the park this afternoon. So, I am looking for early to bed.

One of those things that made urban life so good was food trucks. I understand that some have made the change to a new service model. But many are mothballed. Waiting for a future that may not come. Or a past that will not return. There is a lesson here. For me.

Gratitude

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Grateful that raspberry sherbet, a brownie, and a nice cup of coffee are waiting for me to take off to bed.

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Mālama pono

The flower arrangers’ fridge was stuffed early this morning. They make arrangements on Friday morning. That is one way to know that it is Friday. New flowers in the public spaces.

Even the scooters are social distancing. I think these are a little far from the mothership. Maybe they are hoping to be rescued before their beacons run down.

Big event today was: an ice cream delivery from Toby’s.  Since I was suddenly taken fat over the last 100 days, I exercised extreme moderation and got raspberry sherbet. Only half as caloric as ice cream and in the summer, just as good.

Kicking the walking back into what passes for high gear at my age again after 5 days of forced rest.

Gratitude

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Grateful for every single delivery person on the planet.

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Went out butterfly hunting this afternoon. And, captured this gray hairstreak, one of my favorite small butterflies.

Mālama pono

Crappy picture. The phone really didn’t hack this one. But… I love the image. So, I am going to use it.

Day 100 in lockdown. No end in sight. “Busy” day. Had an outdoor meeting with my Asylum Sisters this morning. We are all fine. And that is great.  With social distancing – even the 18mm lens doesn’t get everyone

And, I got my picture at 4PM this afternoon. The goddess was on my team. A cloud came over and not too many people showed up. So, I did not have to use my 18mm lens.

And after that busy day. It was time to hit the bar.  Tom Collins, a blast from the past, was today’s special. Note to reader: If you ever consider an old folks home for yourself or your mother – I recommend one owned by the Episcopalians. They run a good saloon. That’s important.

Gratitude

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Grateful for a day that seemed almost normal.

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Mālama pono

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My first trip outside of my room was to go out and scout up a location for a photoshoot at 4PM tomorrow afternoon.  An unknown number of elderly women with various mobility issues.  And, it is summertime in the DC area. And, there are masks and social distancing. Even outdoor when you are elderly. I hate shooting people with my wide-angle lens. But, I might have to.  Gotta hope that very few old women show up!

Promptly at 11AM, I opened my door. And Surprise! Three of my friends were standing outside the door. It was just like getting out of prison! Well, I have never been in prison. Or even jail. YET. There is still time.

Gratitude

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Grateful to be able to step outside of my room. Even outside of my building. Fresh air without sticking my head out the window.

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OK, time for proud GrandMother pictures.

Hau trees are monster hibiscus trees and are frequently home to ants and other such critters. Not sure about putting them on ones head.

Got a note from the younger grand today. She is 17 and noted that “time sure flies”. Oh, baby girl. Just wait until you are 77.

Mālama pono