Primary Runoff Early voting started last week in Texas. I wish we had mail-in voting, especially in pandemic times. But we don't. On Friday, I made a new sign for my porch and Don and I headed off for the polls. This is just a runoff election. Is it really worth putting myself at risk? I half wondered. But voting has become more and more important, in recent months. Actually it has always been, but some of us need a pandemic to remind us. We arrived at the new tech center a couple miles from home. Oops! I forgot to check the schedule. Friday was the official July 4th holiday. No voting on July 3. We headed home. Sunday July 5 There were a few people lined up before the doors opened at noon. It seemed very odd to be voting on a Sunday. I was glad to see people spaced out in line. I noticed the sign said "Mask Recommended" Hmmm? Masks are required in Texas now. They only let a few people in at a time. The brand new machines were easy. They even gave us Q-tips, so we didn't have to touch the screen. We were out in 5 minutes. I feel grateful that voting was so easy for us. I have to remind myself that for many, there are bus rides involved and hours standing in line. There are troublesome issues that make it impossibly difficult. Fall elections are just over 100 days away. I need to start thinking more about this.
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...as other 4ths In yesterday's post, I talked about the odd feel to this holiday. Independence Day 2020, will not go down as my all time favorite July 4th. That's why I've been just going back in time, a lot. I've been thinking about my grandmother, who was born on the 4th of July 1898. I loved celebrating Daw! I still love putting out her Uncle Sam doll each year. This year, I added my own whimsical dolls to the decor. I love all these sweet characters. Food! Don and I stayed away from national news and started focussing on food yesterday. I pulled out all the corny red, white and blue tableware. I refuse to ignore any holidays. We had 2 days of feasting. Fried chicken and cake yesterday. Hotdogs and peanuts and summer fruits, today! Playtime We dressed in parade-worthy colors and cranked up some John Phillips Sousa marches. Neither one of us can march and juggle at the same time, but our skills are improving! Pool & Games Don and I have spent many a July 4th around the pool, in the past 22 years. No kiddos playing volleyball this year, but Don and I put on our suits and dipped in and out. We nibbled and drank and played some Yahtzee, before Don lit up the grill. Fireworks Usually we can see our community fireworks from the yard, but they were cancelled this year. So, we turned on the TV and watched national celebrations starting in the east. We kept our focus on the fireworks and the musical artists, who performed from their homes. (I can't believe I'm almost used to this weird, distanced televised entertainment!) Don and I didn't watch the White House coverage. We heard later that the president assured the country that "99% of COVID-19 cases are harmless." Hmmm. Full Buck Moon We had no fireworks in our area, but there was a gorgeous full buck moon in the sky! I returned to the yard a number of times to look and listen. At one point, I could hear some distant fireworks and I actually saw a few quick splashes of color, thanks to a few neighbor kids. Mostly it was quiet and I was happy for the dogs, who are stressing less this year. But then I worried when the sound of sirens began to fill the eerie night. I learned a short while later that a house in our neighborhood community was on fire. Oh dear...
Right now I'm thinking about July 4, 2021. What will it be like? Very different, I hope. Independence Day 2020 We've had a number of holidays during this pandemic. All have felt odd and changed, by pandemic isolation. But I've decorated for every holiday and I try to enjoy. I don't mind celebrating at home. We usually do. I don't mind that the fireworks are cancelled. Because I understand why. I do mind knowing that tonight, our president will be greeting crowds at Mount Rushmore for a celebration and that S. Dakota's governor, isn't requiring masks or social distancing. These reminders of the division in our country are disturbing on this holiday. Oh well. We'll just be staying at home with all our red, white and blue decor. I'm very grateful that I was born in this country. But I am not celebrating my country's leadership at the moment. Happy Birthday Daw! This weekend, I'm celebrating my grandmother, who would have been 124 on this 4th of July. Her birthday is tomorrow and I've already made a cake. It's just as funny looking as the one in this photo! My decorations and my cheers are for Daw! How fun our celebrations used to be!
Risk Index Here's a new one. I've seen so many different lists and charts that help us determine what activities are safest and most at risk. This one has colors and pictures. Thank you. Yikes. I haven't done anything in the red zone yet, but I've had my hair cut. That's in the Medium/High zone. Fingers are crossed that I show no symptoms. It's been over a week.
I'm not tempted by any of the red zone activities, but I'm itching to travel. Where is "staying in a hotel" on this list? . Summer Records When I was a kid, I loved the idea of breaking records. I especially loved breaking records in the summer, when the days were long. How many minutes can I stand on my head? How long can I stay underwater? How many poems can I write in a day? (they were 4-liners) And how many fish can I catch compared to my siblings? Records in 2020 I don't like the kinds of records that the U.S. is breaking. I'm also getting tired of the records my own state is breaking. Texas set a daily record of 8,076 new covid cases, yesterday. That's more than double the numbers, from two weeks ago. Yesterday in the Houston area, 2,142 cases were reported.
Texas is a state that likes to brag. This is not a fun thing to brag about. |
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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