World News World news is mostly stressful. U.K. is "halting Christmas" due to new coronavirus strain and Trump is talking about invoking martial law to overturn election results. But there was some good news on TV today. On this day of Winter Solstice, we were told that we'll be able to view Jupiter and Saturn, overlapping! First time in 800 years! Christmas Star It's being nicknamed the Christmas Star, even though it's 2 planets not one. At 6 pm, Don and I stood out on the patio and stared into the evening sky. We spotted the "double planet", just as a jet appeared to pass it by! I couldn't capture it well with my cell phone, but it was clearly spotted the rare "conjunction"! We've had some fun treats in the sky during the covid months. We've spotted full moons and space stations and Blue Angel flights. It's been fun to spot sky moments with family and friends far away. I so wanted to share the Christmas Star with our kids out on the west coast, but they had clouds in Oregon and California.
Oh well, maybe we'll all catch it together in another 800 years.
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Yesterday It gushed all day long, yesterday. The house felt dark and cozy. I liked that. News Yesterday, the news felt dark and eerie... instead of dark and cozy. So now the U.K. is dealing with a new variant of coronavirus? And some people are having severe reactions to the vaccine? Well, you can always dig up bad news. I'm keeping the news off. Today It was beautiful and cold this morning. There was steam coming off the damp bougainvillea. We set up the new fire pit. Too cold to swim. Just right for a fire. Water and Fire There's something so calming about watching flames. Staring at water is also relaxing. So Don tossed on some logs and before long we were staring at flames. Across the lake, Christmas lights were glowing over the water. Such a treat to have a little of both for our Covid Christmas Countdown.
Pandemic Mail I've sent more letters and cards in the last 9 months, than I have in years. I've mailed off some of these goofy old postcards, that my mom used to collect. (but I'm keeping my favorites!) Tough Cards to Write As if the pandemic isn't heavy enough, many have lost a loved one this year. I've never written so many condolence cards in one year. Only one has been directly related to Covid, but it feels like they all are. It's never easy finding the right words to support someone who has lost a family member. I've struggled over the words and ripped up many notes. "May you find strength in love of family and warm embrace of friends." Those words don't work right now. Sweet Surprises I'm not the only one making use of snail mail, during the pandemic. I got a sweet surprise in the mail in the late fall. My dear friend Margie sent me a handwritten note and some scripture. Miss Margie is in her nineties. For years, she has been a faithful member of my "Around the Quilt" group of seniors. After I stopped volunteering in March I worried when I could no longer reach her by phone. She used to always pass out little prayer notes to her friends. I grinned bit, when I opened up her pack of prayers! Mail Complications Old fashioned mail has been fun... and frustrating. I've had numerous issues with returned mail! I'll admit, my scattered brain made a couple of addressing errors. And there's nothing like pulling up to a mailbox wrapped in caution tape, to make you fret about the safe transport of your mail. This box looked like it had been pried open with a crowbar! Holiday Cards So, what about Christmas cards? I've been sending them for about 35 years. I've a good excuse to skip it this year. But more than ever people of 2020 could use a lift in the mail. So, I ordered up photo cards. And then I worried about sending. I been overthinking everything this year. I looked at this card and I thought. People are going to judge. Bragging? Too happy? Making light of Covid, when some are suffering? I stressed over it, then decided to send regular cards to a few and photo cards to the others. Cards Received Usually I send about 70 cards. We usually receive about half that in the mail. Good enough to give us a card or 2 to open each day. This year, I'm judging along with everyone else. I fumed over one long Christmas letter. They bragged about renovating their vacation home, while entertaining visitors all summer. No Pandemic where they live? Then we got this one! Made my day! It also helps that this card came from a college friend who shares a whacky sense of humor. No judging on this one. It is maybe my favorite card this year!
Help! This photo reflects my stressed and disorganized wrapping. I snapped the pic, before it got twice as cluttered! How did I let myself get behind, when I've had 9+ pandemic months to prepare for Christmas? If I'd been smart, I would have ordered everything online and had it shipped... and skipped this mess. But, I wanted gifts shipped here so I could inspect and personally wrap... and make Christmas more special. But I just made things insanely complicated. Wrapping Distraction So I tried to make things fun by turning the TV to some super corny retro Christmas specials. That of course distracted me a lot and made me slower. I was so totally amused by watching this Andy Williams special. Look at all those Williams and Osmond brothers in their colorful sweaters! Too funny! No social distancing and mask-wearing, when you turn on the oldies. Post Office by 4:30! So I got gifts boxed up and made it to the post office by late afternoon. This was not my first trip to the post office! I was glad to hide behind my mask, as I pushed this huge load inside and joined the long line. A few people glared at me, since there were only 2 windows open at the counter. The Biggest Box It was finally my turn to be helped. After 7 packages, my shipping was up to $124. Then the man lifted the last box onto the scale. First he told me $25., but then he measured the box. "Odd size. That will be $52.20." "What?!" All the bored people in line watched me react. I did some very quick pondering, then paid for those first 7 packages. I asked for 2 flat rate boxes and took my big box over by the corner, where I squatted and went to work. I'm sure many were entertained as they watched me rip off the tape and unload 12 wrapped gifts into 2 boxes. Yay! They all fit and I saved $22!
Every year I do this crazy P.O. routine. When will I learn? This was the most stressful time ever, but it felt extra wonderful when I walked out to my car! I was felt giddy and light. Like I'd lost 30 pounds. Which I sort of did. As I headed home I cringed. Yikes. I hope I didn't get Covid from this post office adventure. Waiting Rooms I don't like waiting rooms, during a pandemic. But there was no one in this room, when I went for my annual check up. I only waited a couple minutes before I was called in, to see my nurse practitioner. I was excited to ask if anyone in the office had gotten the vaccine yet. "Not until next week!" she said. Waiting on Vaccines Nursing homes and extended care facilities are supposed to be getting the vaccine soon. I'm so eager for my 92 year old dad gets his. His assisted living community lost 4 residents, very early on in the pandemic. Right now there are 6 residents in his home that have tested positive. Waiting is a lot harder for those who work or live in more worrisome places.
Dad says he's on the list and he's eager to get it! To Tree or Not to Tree? A lot of people are going overboard with decorating this year. It makes sense, since most of us are doing less and trying to enjoy home more. But live trees are so expensive in Texas and we got rid of our artificial one last year. I stopped by a local nursery to peek. As I wandered, my brain wandered. "I refuse to spend 200 on a big tree when it's just the 2 of us! Maybe we can just do something little and cute. A Charlie Brown tree! We need to keep it simple and stress free." But there was nothing simple and cheap. This 4 foot Fraser Fir was 80 bucks! The Lavender tree behind me was cute, but couldn't hold a thimble-sized ornament. Keeping it Simple I ended up leaving ing with a fluffy little live, Pine Norfolk, for 35-dollars. This year, I'm leaving the 3 huge boxes that hold all my favorite ornaments, in the upstairs closet. I covered the plastic container in wrapping paper and Don put on some tiny lights. I put on a few tiny balls and I am happy as can be. I know. This is what old people do. But, I'm okay with that, this year. Outside I did go ahead and put a wreath on the door. And I growled and grumbled like I do every year, standing on the ladder and putting the lights and garland around the door. But I did something a little different from other years. I used some plastic balls and a dead branch, that came down in a recent storm. I stuffed the Charlie Brown tree/branch, in the mulch and I am the happiest person in the world.
I love this little Covid Christmas Tree! Bells of Mourning What a sobering sound this evening. We heard these bells ringing live, on TV. I love the sound of church bells, but these were so sad. Each ring represented the loss of 1,000 people who have died from covid in the US. A Sad Milestone Yesterday, we passed the 300,000 mark. So much happened yesterday in the news. It was easy to miss this sobering milestone. Happy Bell But today is actually a happy milestone for me. Four years ago today, I rang a bell to celebrate the end of my cancer treatment. This photo was taken at my radiation clinic. I posed with the staff that greeted me each day with smiles and support for 6 weeks. Then I posed with this wonderful guy, who had accompanied me many months earlier to my surgery. He joined me at chemo treatments and shaved my head, when the time came. This was a big day 4 years ago, and how grateful I am that Don was able to go along with me and meet doctors and nurses and laugh with me... and we didn't have to wear masks!
I'm so glad my cancer was in 2016 and not 2020! Thinking About Our Grandbaby When I hear something on the news about Covid and pregnancy, I hold my breath. I'm so excited about our first grandchild arriving in February. But I'm so worried, as the covid numbers climb higher each day. Will we be able to get to Oregon to help, as planned? Can Heidi and Jamie continue to be safe? When will Jamie finally be allowed in the office, to meet his wife's doctor? Vaccine For New Mamas? With all the latest news of vaccines coming out. Will pregnant women be expected or allowed to get a vaccine? I guess no pregnant women were in the trials, so how do we know what is safe? Playmates? For a while we thought our Pandemic Grandbaby would be part of a big baby boom. But maybe not. A lot of couples are worried about having babies for financial and health reasons. Hmm? Will our little granddaughter have fewer kids in her grade in school? I'm actually not that worried at this moment. I'm just getting excited!
Cozy & Cold It's finally cozy and cold. I want to get cards written and some presents wrapped. I want to listen to Christmas music and think ahead to all the good in 2021. First Person! But there's so much going on in the news! I had to watch as the first person (outside of trials) received the vaccine! This is huge! The frontline workers in the medical field are first! I can't imagine the emotions that many of these doctors and nurses felt, after working so closely with Covid patients for nearly a year. Yesterday Yesterday, we learned that the White House would be offered the vaccine right away. Haven't they been ignoring the pandemic with all the huge un-masked Christmas parties? Why do they need a vaccine before others? I'm hoping the longterm care facilities will be vaccinated soon. I learned today that my Dad's assisted living community has 2 more cases... 6 this week. We know good and well that the vulnerable folks in these communities won't be getting the top notch care that Trump and Giuliani got. Electoral College Votes In the evening, I turned on a Christmas movie and wrapped presents. But I got a friend's text saying the votes were all in. I had to turn on the TV. Barr Resigns I'm relieved to think we can finally move ahead. But Trump is not conceding. Just minutes after the electoral college certified Biden as winner, Trump tweeted that Barr was resigning. William Barr was once Trump's staunchest allies and now Trump is furious with him... since Barr claimed no evidence of election fraud. Angry Base I want to just laugh and know this will all be behind us. But I can't. This was the scene in D.C. on Saturday. Trump's base is angry and this is not funny. I'm so worried about months ahead. TV Off I'm excited about the vaccine. But the TV went off. I'm just going to enjoy some simple decorations and feel grateful for my family's good health.
Trial! On Thursday my dear friend and nurse practitioner, became part of the Ensemble Study for the Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine. I have such respect for Janine. She and her husband are both in the medical world and both have participated in trials. They are paving the way! It just baffles me still, how many are not eager to take a vaccine when we get the chance. Today! On the Way! On the news this morning, they showed hospitals in the Houston area that will be receiving the Pfizer vaccine tomorrow! Healthcare workers at Methodist Hospital in Sugar Land will be getting the vaccines very soon! I have my doctor's appointment there on Wednesday, so it's possible my doctor may actually be vaccinated by then. This is mind boggling!
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Not-So-Happy List
Cancer, Covid & Coronary... I started this complaining list/blog, in May 2016. I posted 200 gripes about my breast CANCER and then I was done. On March 13, 2020, I started venting all over again, when another disease (starting with a C) interfered with my life. This time it was the invasion of COVID and it affected every person. I ranted for a year, until I got my COVID vaccine in March 2021. CORONARY Artery Disease was the reason I restarted this blog on September 26, 2021. This time it was my hubby Don, who was dealing with a worry that started with the letter "C". Coronavirus and Cancer, Coronary Artery Disease! All are evil, but none can totally get me down... if I vent! I usually end up feeling a little more positive at the end of each post! Navigating This Mess! The most recent post is at the top, from coronary posts in 2022, back to cancer posts in 2016. To find past posts, look below the "Archives" section, to find "Categories". Archives
January 2022
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