Covid Baby Shower Drive-By Celebrations are odd. But I was actually thrilled to be invited to Leigh Anne's Drive-By Shower, in Austin. Don and I headed off this morning, with some wrapped gifts and a sign to hang out the window. We pulled up to the obvious yard and rolled down the window... grinning behind our masks. Lauren spotted us in the window and got the attention of her pregnant sister. We've know these sisters since they were 2 and 4 and lived across the street and played with our kids. There were lots of emotions shared through that window. Leigh Anne hadn't expected to see us and she began to cry... which got me crying and laughing. We talked about how excited we were that Leigh and Heidi were both expecting baby girls. Zoom There was a ZOOM present opening later. It was fun to see Heidi joining the Zoom celebration from Oregon. I had dropped off gifts from her as well, but she missed out on the yummy cookies, that I got to eat. I so wish the 2 girls were still living in the same town and could enjoy their pregnancies together. But in some ways the pandemic has at least made the distance closer. There would have been no Baby-Shower-Zooming, without Covid. Zooms and Drive-bys can be odd and awkward, but I'm glad we have them.
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Half Mast For RGB On our drive from Sugar Land to the cabin, I kept an eye out for flags. Most were at the top of the pole. I'm always a little unclear about the rules for lowering flags. I was glad to see 2 lowered in Bastrop, TX.
Justice Ginsberg is worthy of a lowered flag. I was hope to see more in the next few days. Sad News Today I learned from a text, that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died. I turned on the TV and stared. My cell phone lit up with texts from the kids and my siblings. We all seemed equally stunned by the sudden news. I think all of us have been in denial about her cancer. She seemed too strong to ever leave us. Only in this last year have I truly begun to appreciate this remarkable icon. We need her now more than ever. She's gone and the news seems so heavy. This feels so heavy right now. Why do we keep losing good people? My mood lifted for a moment, when my sister-in-law texted some photos of my brother, with RBG. I've never seen these! I never knew my brother spent time in recent years, with Justice Ginsberg. These photos make me smile.
Oncologist Appointment Today I headed off for my doc appointment. I don't mind getting blood work done every 4 months. It's nice to be reassured that all is good, when I get my results. I was a lot more relaxed heading into the building than I was 4+ months ago. There were so many unknowns in April. Back then, I wasn't sure if I was actually safe, going inside. But this time, it all seemed easy. Rolling Veins I joked with the new nurse when she struggled with my "rolling veins". She apologized when she had to start over and poke me again. I just have difficult veins. It was good to see the doctor in person. He stayed away from me, even in his mask and face shield. He laughed at my paperwork and asked how I'd managed to lose weight during a pandemic. Then he decided he wanted to do more blood work since my potassium is sometimes elevated. Dang. The poor nurse cringed when she saw me walk back in the door. She gave me a new color bandage. This Morning My arm looked fine this morning. No big bruise like I expected. But my upper arm is still sore from my flu shot. I decided I would treat myself with a yummy breakfast. While my drop biscuits baked, I went out in the front to see any bees were still in our yard. Ed the Bee Wrangler, took them away yesterday, but a few were still buzzing around. I reach to pick up a twig and got a zapping sting on my middle finger! I was insulted! That really hurt!
I pulled out the stinger and iced my finger. I grumbled about my battered left arm... 4 needle pokes and a bee sting, all on the left. Then I opened the jar of honey that our evil bees had created and I felt much better! Front Yard Yesterday, I talked about the guy in the backyard, putting his life at risk to trim our palm fronds. Today, Ed the Bee Wrangler, got on a ladder in the front yard. He put his own life at risk, tackling a huge bee issue under the roof. Bee Protection Ed was making me pretty nervous at first. High ladder. Cowboy hat and no netting or gloves. He came down and told me that our bees were the most aggressive, feistiest bees he'd dealt with in a long time! After a couple stings, he put on some gear. 9.5 Hours It took Ed nearly 10 hours to remove the bees and seal up the part of our house, that bees love. I dared to take a few photos, but I was quick. The whole front yard was swarming. I still can't believe how long and hard Ed worked out there. I can't relax when people are on ladders in my yard... when it's swarming with bees.
Ed was exhausted, but chatty when he finished. I'm so glad the bees are moving to his bee farm and I'm thrilled that he gave us a jar of the honey, made right here at the house! Palm Trimmers Every year, these palms grow taller and the job gets higher. Every year we hire this team to trim the fronds. It's always very entertaining... and worrisome. I'm not sure how that bandana was helping this guy, but I know the rope offered no protection, when as he climbed up! I have become such a worrier in these past months. Today I didn't worry about masks and pandemics and fires. I worried about these guys without helmets and gloves.
But as far as pandemic window entertainment, this show rated pretty high up there. Social Time in the Yard Today we invited our dear friends over, for a little pool time. This was the first time, Don and I have socialized, except with our adult kids. It's easier in many ways to just continue in our safe bubble with no socializing at all. But this is a family we trust and care about. When they arrived in back, we all greeted with elbow bumps... no hugs this time. Good For All The kids were so enthused and appreciative. They must have thanked us 10 times for having them over. It felt good to watch kids having fun in the pool... and out of the pool! Reading with a cookie, waiting! It was fun for our friends to have a pool break. But it was pretty great for Don and me, to enjoy others for a change. I guess I didn't realize how much we needed this ourselves, until they were here. What a treat!
Shopping Season It's September and I have fall birthdays coming up... then Christmas. I'm so sick of online shopping. I'm tired of the problems and glitches from shopping without actually seeing and touching items. Santa Fe Shopping I'm not a huge shopper, actually. But Santa Fe is the kind of town that makes people like me, enjoy shopping. We stopped there on the way back from Oregon. Oh how I wish I could have felt comfortable meandering through shops. I did enjoy a little window shopping, though. Don took one look at the cowgirl in the window and said, "This is how we Santa Fe!" She certainly was rockin' her mask and jewelry! Ashland, OR A week earlier, we missed an opportunity to shop in another good shopping town. We were spending a week with our kids at an Airbnb, outside of Ashland. We decided to venture in, to see the town. After months of staying out of stores, it was tempting to step inside a few boutique shops, but kept our wandering outside. We were attempting the safest "reunion" possible and that meant no shopping and dining out. Sadly, Ashland is now in the midst of fighting fires. It's sad to think how much worse off these businesses will soon be. Dreaming of Santa Fe Now, I'm sitting at my computer, sending emails to Amazon to get my money back from the seller who sent a counterfeit item. The frustration makes me dream of strolling through these artsy towns and buying unique gifts from creative artists and vendors. The shops inside our Santa Fe hotel, could have used our business. They were so quiet. Palace of the Governors The saddest part of our visit, was seeing the empty market place. It was a Friday afternoon and the streets were quiet. Just a year ago, I bought earrings from these talented vendors, sitting along that very building.
Maybe I need to go back to the computer and do some online shopping that benefits these vendors. Sad 19th Anniversary 19 years ago, I rushed to turn on the TV, after Mom called me from St. Louis. Today, I stared once again, at the very same spot in my family room. It was a different TV and different kind of sad. This is not an anniversary that anyone looks forward to. It's sad, every single year. This year it seemed heavier. The masks and the distancing, couldn't be ignored.
So many of us are remembering how our country came together after 9/11. Oh how I wish we could all come together again. Maybe we did, for just a moment during the moment of silence today. Worries in the West Just over a week ago, Don and I enjoyed a long and safe visit with our kids in California and Oregon. Now we study the TV and text the kids for updates. More than 3 million acres have burned in California. Wildfires are destroying hundreds of homes in Oregon. The house that our daughter and husband just bought, is very near one of the worst fires. Smoke I study the air quality on the weather app. The air got worse in both places after I took these screen shots. "Hazardous" air in both places. On the news, they said Portland had the worst air quality in the entire world. Calm... I spend a lot of time worrying over things I can't fix. These fires are out of control... which means they are totally out of my control. I feel like we're back in March, finding ways to calm nerves and be positive. Don and I took coffee up to the porch. We haven't done that in a while.
I was not happy to see the Prayer Flags, hanging by a thread. I put them up months ago. I know the fading and weathering is supposed to be a positive thing. But if they fly away, I'm going to have to get worried about what that means! |
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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