Well, dd1 is technically in a city - she's inside the beltway and the city limits, and her neighborhood school is a magnet, but the city is stretched out funny and if you made it rounder she would be in one if the first neighborhoods ejected. Her street is really nice, but you can walk down it one way and hit heavy industry at the end and the other way and hit public housing and store fronts That are empty or pawn shops and payday loans. It's an old neighborhood.

Ds is legally in the city but he's functionally in the suburbs - he has a yard, no public transit, and no sidewalk, but he can easily ride his bike into downtown.

Dd2 is right in it.

I planted squash and pulled weeds. Time to start evaluations.

SubC I am so grateful for your kids being safe!!!!! I didn't fully realize they are in cities! Cm yay for good sewer news! Okay enough from me.

This is so great to have you as friends! And trust me, Boston's damage is a mere blip. Other cities are faring much worse.

We know that our neighbors and friends are scared. We worry for our current and former employees and our neighbors and friends because they could be the next George Floyd. And they've always known that, we are now having it sink in deeply and permanently into our consciousness.

I was glad mom wasn't scared.

We will all come out better in the end. It has to be a better world.

Quick check in. Was long asleep once the looters hit the Prudential Center and Copley Place (the malls I walked at night pre-COVID. As soon as the National Guard we're going down my street, I went to the back.

All is well. I never even heard the goings-on. Nothing happening on my street. I heard this AM that Lord & Taylor was looted. Now this is personal.

Honestly, I can understand some of the violence.

I support tearing down confederate statues. I think the street fires around the White House are probably making a point.

I would even support burning failing infrastructure - is your school in bad shape because of poor funding? Go ahead, burn it down, the kids aren't using it right now anyway and I hope that we come to our senses and replace it with something good!

Our library is accepting book returns today as well. I'm not sure about due dates.

The crib took an interesting turn. Without asking anyone, mil decided that she and Dh sister and brother should buy it for the baby and had it delivered. Dd was a little stressed out, but it is ok now. We are going to wait until after the shower and buy them things they need. I have no emotional attachment to being able to point to some "significant" item and say "we bought that".

I also wish this was not happening during a pandemic. I was supposed to be at their house with their dog to welcome my grandson home. Now I will be at my house with their dog and I don't know when I will see my grandson not through a glass door.

Yes, please everyone stay safe.

There is nothing wrong with peaceful protest. There is everything wrong with violence, vengefulness, and looting. With terrorizing and traumatizing people who had nothing to do with the tragedy that happened. Who would most of them wish to help if they could. It's just sickening.

Then there's the endless sad and angry posts on social media. I closed the tab to Facebook finally after I angry-reacted to something from a stranger in my hometown (I removed the angry react emoji a few seconds after I put it there, taking that as a sign that I'm in no state to handle this stuff.)

Thinking of you Tatoulia and hoping you will be protected from danger and also from anxiety. {{{HUGS}}}

Wichita had some protests that were said to be "mostly nonviolent," whatever that means. I said to my roommate that even though we aren't going many places, we should be careful to avoid downtown and other areas that might have activity that could turn in a heartbeat to something ugly.

It probably isn't that bad here, but I strategize out of an overabundance of caution. Taking my van to get the brakes done tomorrow should be safe provided we take a route through residential neighborhood streets. Her dog needs to go to the vet to be up to date on his shots because she's going to board him when she's radioactive. That is even closer to home, so okay.

I have some library books that are finally due tomorrow, after many Covid-19 extensions the library automatically applied. Of the two likely branches I'll probably take them to the one in the 'burbs. Not going to the main library downtown, and the other branch may be fine but I'm not sure.

Other than that, it has been a good day. In answer to the question about the sewer repair, yes, it is done! :) And my brake pads are still under warranty, so that's good. The caliper seems to be stuck though, so dunno what that entails. But I think I'll survive.

I've heard we may all get a 2nd stimulus payment? Since the automotive repairs have made a dent in the first one, if we got another, it'd give me more seed money for a place of my own if I could hang onto it. Not till after roommate's health is okay and the quarantine is over in any case, though. Too early to tell about all that. I'm just glad these past 24 hours ended on a much happier note. Now if the world could just get some better news...

Hi Subclinical

I completely and wholeheartedly support the peaceful demonstrators.
It's the anarchists, looters and vandals that are ruining the entire message.
They are there only to destroy all that is good.

We will all be watching the virus numbers closely in these cities.
Along with all the places where people decided pool parties and other gatherings were ok to do too.

Very relieved your kids are in safe areas of the big cities (((((HUGS)))))

They better keep updating you with any changes even the quiet things.

WAY TO GO! for evaluations, weeds, dishwasher and a plate!!!

Did you get the crib?
You must have cake or something special when the virtual baby shower is happening.
Such an exciting time!
Wishing it wasn't during a pandemic quarantine ((((HUGS))))


Stay safe everybody
these are interesting times
Love, Tillie

YES Tatoulia

Sleep in the back tonight away from the street view windows.

Glad Mom is not fretting ((((HUGS))))

Very relieved BF is home safe and you are at home safe too.

I saw Boston on TV and it looks like the police are making good strides in keeping it contained.


(((((HUGS)))))

CM, I did not mean to leave you out! I am happy for your sewer miracle and hope you get a brake miracle to go with it!

Tatoulia, be careful and stay safe!

All my children live in protest cities, but in "safe" areas. They keep messaging me that the rioting is not near them.

Dsil was on call to potentially go bail a friend out of jail last night, but fortunately things did not go that direction.

I am very angry at the anarchists and opportunists who are just using this as a chance to destroy things and steal. Especially when they destroy small businesses that support the communities that are already suffering. I also worry about the protestors getting sick.

Tillie, it sounds like your house is getting very nice.

I did my minimum evaluations today. Pulled a few weeds. Ran the dishwasher. And got a plate ready to go in the kiln. Also talked with dd1 for a long while. We are having a virtual baby shower on Saturday and she will be showing off her nursery and wanted to show me how they were setting it up.

The "school" room is slowly getting neater as I do evaluations and recycle notes.

Things have taken a turn here. I understand. My mother doesn't sound worried and feels very supportive of the pain and rage. It's not up by us yet but it's taken a bit of a turn. I may sleep in the back. My couch folds out. I live on a main thoroughfare and not sure if it will head up here or not. Bf made it safely home.

Been thinking seriously that I should go grocery shopping this week.

Really missing FRESH produce. :(

If I do decide to go I will go on Thursday when from 7am to 8am only old people are allowed inside.
Last 2 times I went then and the store was practically deserted and the few people in there were courteous.

Good Afternoon Everybody

YEA!!! CriticalMass
So relieved the sewer line was so much less than feared!!!
So, is it fixed yet? If not when will it be fixed?

My fingers are crossed your brake noise will be as easy to fix and hopefully still under warranty.

Have a great restful nap. ;D


Hi Tatoulia
Yes, I must admit that little booger Cowgirl Cat has me trained.
But in my defense she is just so darned cute!

Glad you have such a lovely day.
1pm here & 70 degrees with a very pleasant little breeze.

I used to always brew black tea for iced tea but have been enjoying the change to the herbal raspberry.

Detroit had some horrible riots in the 1960s.
So depressing to ride the busses and see all the rubble where there once were family owned businesses.
The people on the bus said "leave it" as a reminder of what has been lost.
The people on the bus also told me it was their own family members, young men who rioted and destroyed the businesses that had housed and fed them all their lives.
So heartbreaking.
I was living with my Granma in Detroit when Martin Luther King was assassinated.
There was a curfew and a lot of tension but fortunately no rioting.


Decided to draw a line through one more item on my June cleaning list.
I washed and ironed curtains.
These aren't window curtains but curtains for shelves and my tiny cubby hole closet.
Just looks so much better with a curtain rather than seeing what is stored on the shelves.
Plus I made a curtain/cover for my mesh hanging shoe holder because I don't like looking at the soles of my shoes hanging there.

A miracle on the sewer line! 😀 It turned out to be not nearly what had been thought. Only $250 instead of $5-10k. Hallelujah!

I couldn't help that I woke at 3:00 a.m. and had a doozy of a worry session, though. Just had to pray and ride it through. My brain was like a dog with a bone but it finally lost interest in the bone.

Still I only got a little over 3 hours of sleep, so will nap this afternoon. First will call mechanic re brakes. Hope that is easier than expected too.

I actually found when he worked on them last by checking my past posts here! It was October 2019 and it was the front brakes then. Wonder if there's any chance something is still under warranty to reduce the cost.

Keep fingers crossed...

Tatoulia, stay safe...

SubC-congratulations on your progress. And your donut!!!! You are doing a great job with your evaluations and your post it notes! Great system!!
Cm I am so sorry about the sewer line. And the brakes. I'm just so sorry.
Tillie I love how Cowgirl cat has you trained. It's so sweet. WTG on your drapery project. Take good care of your spine today.

I feel like myself today. It's beautiful and cool (not your nice 40F overnight drop, Tillie). It's beautiful and sunny and no humidity. Lovely. I've been enjoying coffee since I can. My iced tea is generally black tea although sometimes I work in a little bit of other tea, too.

I will get dressed soon enough. I watched live on YouTube last night, too, Tillie. Right on my tv. So far things are calm here. I don't know what will happen but so far we are seeing fairly good leadership. I love Atlanta's Mayor. She's so strong.

Well I must now figure out my next steps for the day.

I need to keep moving forward.

Good Morning

Hello CriticalMass
I'm really hoping the repairs on the sewer line and van brakes are quick, easy and relatively inexpensive.

Unfortunately those two things are so very important and can't be put off.

Try not to see too much news.
It is very distressing and makes our souls weary. :(


Hello Subclinical
Glad you have nice weather and hoping you can get away from evaluations enough to enjoy being out in it.

Nice you had a video visit with your friends.
Worth staying up late for. ;D

WTG! for planting basil, evaluations and eliminating 3 post its!

Did you enjoy your properly socially distanced donut? ;)


Hello Tatoulia
You are heavy on my mind, living in the big city with so much unrest going on.
Take care, stay safe (((((HUGS)))))


Temps went down into the 40s over night.
I'm cold, the cats are cold. ;p

So much going on!

Yesterday I planted basil, did my minimum evaluations, got rid of three Post it notes, and added one.

Dh played golf, and this time he brought me donuts.

He also brought me a picture of the donut shop with masked employees and the one other man in the shop at the same time and the Xs on the floor.

I got a slow start this morning because we stayed up late last night video chatting with another couple. It was good to catch up.

The weather has been nice and I have been feeling sad because I am tied to the computer trying to crunch through evaluations.

It's me

Has this week felt a month long or what. So much terrible news. I pray about it all, and feel sad.

Tillie, I hope you get moderate weather - I know I'm not ready for triple digits.

Tatoulia, happy for you getting to see your mom, and SubC, your family.

There had been an ominous smell in the laundry room. Roommate had been already thinking sewer line was overdue for cleaning. And it's imperative it get done before her radioactive treatment because it wouldn't do to put repair people in danger of having to work on it with the radioactive stuff in the pipes.

Our guy came today and started to snake it, then discovered the line has collapsed. Big job, how big depending upon how much is collapsed. It may be costly. We just don't know.

Then this afternoon a grinding sound came from the brakes in my van. I'm like, really?

We are both pretty mind blown, weary, dismayed, and stressed. Keep us in your thoughts, please?

It sprinkled a little!

Just enough to get Cowgirl Cat a little wet as she sat on the front porch begging for her supper but not enough to bother her.

She sits by the front porch watching the window looking to see me.
When I see her there she runs around to the back porch and waits for me to bring her the food.

Ok
Decided what I will challenge myself with for June.

Doing the dining area drapes today has motivated me to actually do the Spring cleaning.
Since some things really hurt my back I will slowly chip away at it.
And I won't allow the constantly blowing dust to discourage me.

I need to vacuum and wash the baseboards & up the wall "cat height" to remove dust and cat boogers.
Wash ceiling fan and dining area light fixtures with all it's fussy little crystal dangles.
Finish washing all drapes & curtains that haven't been washed yet.
Wash rugs and wash floors that they lay on.
Wash all wooden furniture with Murphy's oil soap and polish with Pledge or something similar.
Wash refrigerator inside & out.
Wipe, wash & dust everything because it's all dusty.
Also do general house cleaning like bathroom and dishes and such.

I think that's enough to keep me busy. ;D

Good Afternoon Everybody
4pm

The wind is very boisterous blustery today
making it a high wildfire danger day.

Got the trees and Lilacs watered.
Decided to take down and wash diningroom area drapes.
Washed all the hardware.
Washed the windchime I have hanging at that window.
Got the drapes all fresh & clean & rehung.

That kind of work is very taxing on my spine.
I still need to do the livingroom area drapes but not today.

Had to clean up a scarf & barf on the carpet so went around and did a little spot cleaning on the carpet since I already had a bucket of soapy water.

The wind has blown in cloud cover that is helping keep it cooler today.
An early high of only 80 degrees and now it's 77 degrees.

Not much chance of rain because I never get much rain. :(

Steven went to the grocery store AND the barber shop today. >:(

The testing of non symptomatic people has not done many tests to date.
But a little over 200 are negative with no reported positives.
The symptomatic testing has not been doing many tests either and not reporting any positives.
I believe they are not reporting positives so that businesses can reopen without anybody protesting.

I plan to keep doing everything I have been doing even though self quarantining has been lifted.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
Happy you got Mom's banking things all sorted out without a big hassle. :)

WAY TO GO! washing dishes and brewing ice tea!!!
Always nice to wake up to a clean kitchen.

I've been drinking iced raspberry zinger with fresh lemon, make up a whole gallon and it only last 3 days at the most.

I watched some protests last night on youtube on the tv with the Roku.

Good luck with all your plans for today.
That is so sweet of you to send kids the "care" packages. (((HUG)))


Have the hose very slowly watering trees this morning.
The wind has already picked up.
The Honeysuckle smells so beautiful in the yard.
A large deep red Rose has bloomed.
My allergies are driving me crazy today.

Finished watching "Dark Shadows" and have started watching "Dark Shadows, The Beginning".
It has been a lot of fun. ;)

Yay SubC!!! Great to have your family around!!! I'm so happy for you!!!

Tillie, mineral oil mixed into the lotions sounds so soothing! Great idea!

There was a fence between mom and me but it made no difference. She sat in a chair and looked very comfortable. She wore a dress and a pink sweater. Adorable.

I'm up. I streamed some of the protests last night. I'd been watching them and hit up fir a glass of water when I decided to do my dishes and brew iced tea. So I woke up to a clean sink and fresh iced tea. First of the season abs it is delicious.

Today I have to run up to mom's; she gave one of the workers her new debit card so I'll pick it up. I've been paying for everything since March 13. I'm pretty sure I'm the one who has her debit card but it's hard to say so she ordered a new one and then her banker was very kind and helped me choose a new pin since mom couldn't read it. Im lucky that there are good people in my life and mom's life and I can just solve problems without a lot of rigamarole.

I'll ttyl. Want to get to PO today. Mail some office paperwork and mail a package to our friends' kids. Sunglasses, seed packets, little care package.

HOW WONDERFUL! Subclinical :D

So happy you got to have a nice visit with your Family!

WTG! Dd2 for finding all that paper to recycle!!!

YEA! for plastic recycling on it's way to being recycled!

It's perfectly alright to neglect eating strictly property.
This was a special occasion for you. (((HUG)))

Oh Tatoulia! I am so glad you got to see your mom!

My family had a nice spread out campfire in the yard yesterday. Dd and dsil brought their own food and drink, but Dd let dsil accept a piece of pie.

Ds's "other mom" came over for a little while today and stood in the yard talking. Then the kids headed off for the wedding stuff.

Ds put a couple of boxes of plastic containers that I had been saving because I can't recycle them in the back of his car because he had room. He can recycle them in his curbside bin when he gets home. So, those are out of my basement.

Dd2 is spending the night again.

She looked through some of her left behind stuff and put a three inch stack of papers in the recycling.

I've been eating badly again with the kids here.

HOW WONDERFUL! :D

Will you be able to arrange another visit from the bushes?
So happy you got to see her with no barriers between the two of you!

I get it, some people just generate the wrong "vibes" somehow.

I do drink a lot of water and constantly apply lip balm.
Since I restrict all salt consumption except that found naturally in some food/food products
There are time I must eat some salty things and also watch potassium in order to stay hydrated and alive. LOL

You can never apply too much lotion. We all get flaky and itchy.
I fortify my lotions with some mineral oil to help make them better, longer lasting on the skin.
I vividly remember the humidity in Michigan and think arid air is so much easier to live with.
We can add moisture to our homes and use lotions.
Your humidity is just constantly pressing on you. (((HUG)))


Got ALL my Winter weight items all clean and safely stored!!!
I store off season bedding and window coverings in eight plastic totes that I stack in the corner of a closet in Steven's room.
Also all the little cat quilts & blankets.
I put my homemade sachets in each bin.
The stuff has remained clean, fresh smelling and bug/rodent free in there, so far.
Absolutely no place else to keep them.

I got to see mom today! She sat on the patio and I stood in the bushes!!!! Great fun.

Very humid here. I will put the ac on and lay down as soon as the end of the workday. I'm skipping today's happy hour. I just don't feel like it. The topic doesn't interest me and the person leading it is not a favorite, either. Smart person and competent and all, he just rubs me the wrong way. For no discernible reason.

Tillie that is amazing about the weather and laundry. I have never lived without humidity. Do you just drink water constantly? Is it hard to keep your skin nice? The humidity makes me very tired.

Good Morning Everybody

Going to be another 100 degree day today but tomorrow is supposed to be ten degrees cooler.

Plan to water grass & garden this evening.
Lilacs & Ash trees tomorrow.

Last evening I washed my comforter and will pack it away today.
Also washed table cloths and table top protectors and rags.
It all dried before it was totally dark outside because it was like living inside a clothes dryer. ;p

This time of year it's either get up early to get things done before it's too hot or stay up late after the sun has set.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for a cute dress at such a great price and it will make a cute nightgown too.
I wear some dresses as nightgowns too. :)

WAY TO GO! for eating better and avoiding sugar and fat!!!

Good luck getting Summer clothes all out and freshened.

Keeping two Winter throws is good.
I like being able to swap them out for a change and also having more than one if one gets messy.

Sometimes, many times closets and dressers seem to be too full.
But sometimes it's just because the storage area is not large enough to accommodate the well curated items.
I have no hanging closet space so I must fold and put stuff in drawers.
I have two dressers with three drawers each.
Also a 4 drawer chest of drawers.
All these drawers are not all that roomy and two in the chest of drawers have sewing notions in one and kitchen linens in the other.
I put shelves in my tiny cubby hole closet where I store all my bed linens, table cloths, towels/washcloths, etc. plus a stack of jeans.

It all looks like way to much stuff but when I count the individual items, I really don't have much, just very limited storage space.

So I can't have excessive things that I don't need and use like blouses, dresses or linens unless I keep strict to the "one in one out rule".
Rather than buying more dressers I just keep only the best and most useful.

Thank you for the advice and understanding, Tillie. I think I need to look through the shelves in my bedroom closet for a bit. Try to get a handle on what is taking up so much room. I also need to find my summer clothes and freshen them up.

I ran a few errands with BF tonight. I told him, I'm as dressed as I'll ever be. I'm in a casual dress that I bought at Lord and Taylor end of season for about $11. It's cute. Casual little dress that will eventually be a nightie.

Yes my little friend is so happy to have cotton to sleep on! I'll wash her bed over the weekend. I'll have dealt with part of my closet by then, so I will have space for her bed.

I'm going to go do the dishes. I'm still off sugar and fatty foods. I still drink some juice, diluted with seltzer, but off the heavy stuff. No brownies a la mode. Of course now that I've written that, it's all I can think of. Darn it!

SubC and CM I'll go back and read your posts. It looks like you've been doing a lot and that is terrific! I also am curious as to CM's roommate and any schedule for the treatment.

Hi Tatoulia
That's a good idea to take a break from the papers.
In a week when you get back at it you will be refreshed and have a clear mind.

Figured she'd sleep on whatever you put down for her. :)

Still 100 degrees here and the cooler is on putting cool moist in the house.
Makes my sinuses feel better too.

Not surprised you are a bit lazy today.
That work project must have taken a lot out of you.
It's OK to take time to regroup. (((HUG)))

Yes, the way things are going cancelling the marathon is for the best.
Next year!

Can you take a drive out and Eagle watch?
Here they keep the nest locations secret because of cruel inhumane humans.

Today I washed my lightweight coat and will pack it away when dry.
If it gets cold again I will just deal with it.

Keep adding to those donation bags.
I find it as cathartic as doing laundry to fill a bag. ;D

Tillie, I just heard the news to the Marathon. It's for the best, and I guess I never believed it would be held in September so it hasn't hit me hard. Obviously it was a real disappointment and shock when it was canceled in April.

Yes very good news on the eagle front!!!

Tillie I will make more bags to go out. I have one now. I'll just keep reducing. It's all I can do. I have two winter throws, both very nice, both in excellent condition. So I'll be keeping them. But it's two. So I have to look at other things to get rid of. I'm still working on my dining room closet too. I'll just keep forging ahead but I think I'll skip the papers this weekend. Too many little bits of paper that I can't control. So I'll give myself a week off from that so I can work on other things and not deal with the aggravation.

WTG Tillie! Getting your feet in order!!!!

It's humid here today so I've kept the windows shut. I have the ceiling fan on. I found kitty's white table cloth and folded it on her chair. And now she's sound asleep on it.

I don't know if I'm going to leave the house today. I'm a bit slower today than I've been. I did catch up with a girlfriend. We worked together many years ago and I cane across her address while shredding papers, so I sent her a note. We talked for just over an hour today. It was great fun.

Okay I'll need to figure out what I'm doing here. I'm a bit lazy today.

The bad news is The Boston Marathon has been cancelled.

The great news is that Massachusetts has a large nesting Eagle population this year.

I love driving out around the farms & fields where the huge old Oak trees are and seeing the Golden Eagles perched in the trees.

Good Afternoon

Yep, 100 degrees out there.

Since I'm stuck in the house I hot glued the sisal back onto the cat perch scratch posts.
Scooter test drove by scratching and said it was better now.

Watching Stephen King's "Desperation".
Loved the book mainly because the location of the fictional town of "Desperation" with all the supernatural spookiness would be located just down the road from me.
Unfortunately the movie was not filmed up here but rather down in the Sonoran desert by Tucson.

The Honeysuckle blooms have the whole garden sweetly scented and at times the scent comes inside. :)

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical
WTG! for those better food choices! :D

YEA! for getting that food garden almost caught up!

Relieved your Mom says they have good preventative procedures in place where your Dad needs to go.

Enjoy today getting things ready for your family visit.
Oh YES! YUMMM PIE! (((HUG)))


Hi Tatoulia
Be as selfish as you need about using this board. :)

We were all confident you would do a great job on that work project.
WAY TO GO!!!

Good luck finding whatever will please Miss Kitty.
Here, if I lay it down somebody lays on it. ;p


Going to be 100 degrees today.
Was not garden watering day but I went out early and gave everything a nice little drink so it's not all shocked & wilted by evening.

Brought in all my linens from the line, folded & put away.
Hung them out last night.

Using the swamp cooler has added much needed moisture to the air in here.
No longer constantly getting ZAPPED with painful static electricity.
My hair doesn't stand up on end when I try to brush it.

So nice to have my feet look human again.
The nails were too long and from walking outside in bare feet or sandals there was so much dirt under and around them.
They needed a good soak and brushing, something the shower just doesn't do.

Have no To-Do list for today...
Already done did what I needed to do. ;)

Thank you all for supporting me yesterday. The meeting went very well. My mgr called me afterward and is still amazed at my lack of confidence in the project. He says that I underestimate my data analysis skills.

I only have a few minutes and am not up to date. It is miserably hot here. I turned my AC on last night and it was so comfy and so great I have ceiling fan in living room on but not AC.

Cat is now sleeping on my chair where I work (dining room table work, not my desk chair). She's on a tiny pink gingham quilt that my mother made for her back when the kitty was new (to me). I think it's time to wash her bed and put out something cotton for her to sleep on. I have a white table cloth that she seems to like in the summer. I'll put that on her chair and see if we get anywhere with it.

Sorry I haven't read. I know I am being selfish. I lived through yesterday and my team is great. Very smart cookies. I saw an orange kitty in the background so that was great fun. I emailed the woman later to get the details.

How did it go Tatoulia?

Tillie, you sound like you are doing well with your soup and your fancy toes. :)

CM, it is goid to get outside when the weather is nice. I'm sorry about the phasing out zoom appointments. That was something I was hoping would stay. It is a good thing for so many people.

My dad has another eye appointment coming up. (He gets treatment for macular degeneration every 6-10 weeks.) Mom says their procedures are good.

Yesterday Dh and I did yoga. I pulled some more weeds - almost caught up on the food garden. I did my minimum number of evaluations, and I picked up feed. I didn't take a shower, but I was up to three days in a row. I made better food choices.

This morning I need to finish getting the second room ready for my kids and make pie. And take a shower.

Hi CriticalMass
Looking forward to seeing your dolls posing with the posies. ;)

It's always good to be able to sit back at the end of the day and know that we have gotten some things done that day.
Even if it's just a list of tiny little things, it all counts.

WAY TO GO! Breaking in the new loppers!


I got my mending done and am going to start my pedicure at 3pm.
Have a list of five main things I wanted to do today and it feels so good to draw a line through the done ones.
Also ate a large bowl of my soup so I have eaten properly so far today.

Taking a break - I'd gone out to pick up sticks and weeds because I'll be gathering the trash tomorrow for Friday pickup. I was only going to put the existing cut sticks in bags, but then I got ambitious and started trimming branches with my new loppers.

So now I guess that's my big project for today. It was going to be sewing on several pairs of shorts a friend gave me - putting in drawstrings and extending the puny "ladies'" size pockets so they will actually hold my stuff!

It's okay, though, as long as I'm getting something from my list done, and I am. My roommate really appreciates it.

I've been taking lots of pictures of our pretty new flowers and at some point will get them on Instagram. Discovered my new phone has a "square" format setting with the camera - that will save time when I'm taking a picture with IG in mind, and result in better compositions than cropping afterward.

Some of my dolls want to be part of the pictures too. ;)

I like to tweak cakes and other dishes. I'm not a foodie, in fact I'm a picky, but still it's fun to have variety within my rather narrow parameters.

Thought it was going to be more sunny today but it's overcast. Rain tomorrow then sun for several days.

Called my psych doctor to make an appointment and was told they will be phasing out Zoom appointments but I got a choice so I chose Zoom. Hoping I will get to wait 3 months before the next one, instead of 1 which is unusual. I guess it was because of Covid and because I'm decreasing a medication - I'm happy to be doing the latter so whatever hoop, I'll jump through it.

Guess that's all for now. I feel like I'm getting some things accomplished. Always want to do more but am happy to be doing something rather than feeling draggy and NOT doing anything!

Hello Everybody
Just noon here now

Hi CriticalMass
What a lovely long post filling us in on all your goings ons. :D

WAY TO GO!!!
You did get a lot of miscellaneous but important things done!

Wishing you all kinds of perseverance in clearing off your bed. (((HUG)))


Hi Subclinical
Yes, sad to say your facts and figures are correct concerning achieving herd immunity.

LOL :D YEA! for seeing your buzzcut Boy's grown out hair!! :D
I haven't seen Nate's for about 20 years now.

WTG! for evaluations, weeds and general tidying up around the place!

Very happy you and Dh took that relaxing country drive on a lovely evening. (((HUG)))

I understand your feelings about the evaluations, having to judge people and critique their performances.

I learned cooking/baking from Granma, a woman who didn't use many written down recipes and measured ingredients by eye.
She would often add what she wanted or had on hand to things.
Her mince meat recipe is an insane amount of things to add if you happen to have gathered and saved them over the months. LOL :D


Hi Tatoulia
The cake is delicious and all the dates make it very moist and sweet.

Wishing you all the best figuring out what you are doing at work and that you have an Ace team to help get you through it!

YEA! for Cleaning Fairies!

You have decluttered so much, remember that.
Yes, like pealing an onion layer by layer the decluttering goes on until we get it to just the right amount. (((HUG)))


Got up and got busy doing chores before it got hot.
Vacuumed the carpet and the coils under the fridge and the cat perch/scratch posts.
Swept floors and scooped litter boxes.
Took out the trash & brought in the mail.
Fed 3 cats canned cat food.
Now I want to do some mending and do a pedicure. Then later shower & shampoo once the day starts to cool off.
Might do some laundry this evening and hang it out over night.

Quick good morning. Thank you for the encouragement, SubC.

My cleaners will be here in a few minutes. I own too much stuff. I need to reduce my stuff. I'm still overgrown here.

Going to be hot today. Have a bunch of stuff before my meeting. I'm nervous and ill-prepared.

I think (I hope) the people who are pushing "herd immunity" don't understand the concept. So far about half of one percent of the US population has been infected. Say we are missing cases by a factor of ten - that would be a 5% infection rate. Say we actually reach herd immunity around 60% (A low estimate) - 12x as many people will need to be infected. If the death rate holds steady, that means over a million Americans die.

Nice job with your planting and vacuuming and pictures CM! I am rooting for you to find your bed soon.

Tatoulia, good luck with your project today. I hope it goes well.

Tillie, people who can just make up cakes impress me. My ds used to make cakes. One year he just decided he was going to learn to make cakes and he started deconstructing recipes and investigating ingredients and replacing things and he got really good! One of his friends invited him to his birthday party and asked "and for my gift, will you make the cake?"

He sent me a picture last night. Talk about hair! My buzz cut boy has sideswept bangs! Apparently his hair grows really fast. It will be good to see him tomorrow.

Yesterday Dh and I did yoga. I pulled some weeds - the garden is almost not awful, and I did my minimum number of evaluations for the day. I also ran the dishwasher and took out the compost. It was a gorgeous evening, so Dh and I took a drive out to the apple orchard - the apple orchard is closed, it's just a nice drive. I think about a third of the farmers have corn coming up. Most of it isn't planted yet because it's been so wet. The tallest we saw was maybe 6".

Dh picked up groceries again yesterday. He ordered me a lot of nice fruit!

More evaluations today. How I hate them.

Hi Tillie! *wave*
And Tatoulia and SubC!

I'm on my laptop. It's getting so annoying to type on touchscreens, I make so many typos. But the laptop still needs some tweaking, as it tends to freeze. Someday I'll get it looked at. Right now I just can only do so much and then it balks. And I have to shut it down, so then I hate to reboot it until I'm going to have enough time to make doing so worth my while. It's all a big Catch-22.

Tatoulia, so sorry about the loss of your friend's sister. And for your family member and friend's dad, SubC.

I haven't actually checked where KS is re the reopening. There was some kerfluffle with the governor the other day changing her mind about how to proceed, and I didn't follow up. I already know I'm going to want to continue to take precautions, and am going to be observing what other people do and not hanging around those doing stupid things.

I was six during the Hong Kong Flu, remember it being mentioned though nobody my family knew got it. I do believe those of us who've ever had one of the really bad influenzas remember the experience vividly, as I do my bout with Beijing in '93. Which is why I stay away from people who reduce Covid-19 to an abstraction.

Won't say much about the "herd immunity" concept or the protestors, as I'm trying to keep my cussing in check these days, LOL. Don't get CM started! :P

Never thought I'd say I'm fortunate to be a poor churchmouse on Social Security Disability, but I'm glad I have more options about where and when I go. My roommate and I have gone a few places, cautiously, doing social distancing and wearing our masks.

Yesterday we went by Braum's which is an ice cream burger joint that has a small grocery area. I just wanted some of their non-hormone butter. And it was lunchtime, so seeing one could order takeout at the counter, we thought okay. But then they put it on a tray. I was surprised, though I had wondered why the tables were not roped off although no one was sitting down right at that time.. Asked for our food to go. The gal seemed slightly nonplussed.

I bought two Sudoku books at the Dollar Tree when the lockdown was first starting. I do Sudoku in the bathroom. Crossword puzzles stump me; I'm not up on all the cultural references. But I can call out answers when I occasionally watch "Jeopardy" all right. Used to amaze my mom. Their clues tend to contain more hints than crossword clues do.

Yesterday I got my bedding plants planted. Two shades of pink geranium in one pot, vincas, rose moss, petunias, and ageratum. We've had a rainy spell that is breaking up over the next couple days. It was a really nice evening for the dog walk.

Today I did the vacuuming since my roommate still can't lift >10 lbs. for another couple of weeks. I realized I'd meant to clean off the ceiling fan in the kitchen. I've been keeping a to-do list of these random chores and gotten some of them done.

Also took that one painting that my friend had had out of the frame I didn't want it to be in. She has a new boyfriend and is going to be moving to where he lives next year, and I doubt she'll ever have a moment to wonder about the painting. Even if she does, I'll explain my aesthetic regarding frames with my artwork, how I prefer gallery mount, etc.

I bundled the frame, mat, and glass so I can paint a watercolor-ish picture (using thinned fluid acrylics) of a bunny in some grass and flowers. Then it can be auctioned online, or later on in person depending on the quarantine situation, to benefit the bunny club.

It felt good to check even those small items off the list.

My bedroom remains a disaster, unfortunately. The other night when I posted was after a day when I'd had a nap and caffeinated tea. I ended up staying awake till 5:00 a.m. before coming in to sleep on the living room sofa, just to get away from my bed that (sadly to say) has STUFF in it again. I so wanted that not to happen after the last time I got it cleared. :(

Last night, the girl kitty came flying in to escape boy kitty's pestering, and was walking around and I thought she was going to come up to lie on the bed with me. But she wasn't sure, and then she started to sit on some books that I knew were stacked precariously. More mess, sigh.

Well, it is what it is, and I do intend to fix it, it will just take time. Some of these household and garden things just need to be done, in the run-up till the radioactive iodine treatment for roommate. Some are one-time tasks, others repeats. When I do get the bed cleared again, we will have to have a celebration here. I know I'll feel terrific!

Green iced tea clinks!

Fun to hear about everyone's hair. This time is perfect for me to see what's really going on with my hair. Also, since I haven't been using a blow dryer, my hair is just so soft right now.

Tillie your cake sounds delicious!

Today I had a good day at work. I worked hard. I'm not exactly where I want to be on the papers and I have a big project to lead tomorrow that is confusing to be and far beyond any comfort zone I've ever had. I finally looked at what it is I'm supposed to be doing but I still don't understand. I'm hoping my team will be much smarter than I am.

Ok I'm going to do a few things. Hope everyone is hanging in there.

SubC what is going on in the courts is terrible. I don't know when or how they are going to be able to accommodate jurors. Maybe do the selection on line? This way only the 12 plus alternates need appear in court? Hard to imagine how costly this will be. But of course, the true cost is the time for people awaiting trial.

Good Afternoon Everyone

HI CRITICALMASS :D


Since I had such a good time yesterday using up random ingredients making the soup
Today I decided to use up the other random ingredients.
I made a cake.
Had 2 over ripe bananas I'd put in the freezer so decided to make the banana cake recipe.
But I added a LOT of diced up dates and some dried cranberries that I'd added some lemon zest to and let marinade a while.
Chopped up a whole bunch of pecans.
Added some cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg and a touch of clove.
Have lightly dusted the top with powdered sugar.
It weighs a ton and smells heavenly.
Plan to cut it up into small squares, wrap and freeze.
Figured it would be a healthier snack whenever I really need a snack than something else.

Good Morning Everyone

Dark brown with white at the temples is a good look. :)

Your poor Friend, my sympathies go out to her. (((HUG)))

Good luck getting through your evaluations.

In 1968 at the age of 14 I had the Hong Kong flu and almost died.
My friends said I looked like a Holocausts survivor.
One big reason I really do not want this new virus.


Woke up at 4am but managed to eventually get back to sleep.
The rest of this week the temps are to be upper 90s.
Planning to just putter around inside today.

My hair is dark brown with almost white at the temples. I like it.

I was reading about the influenza pandemic of 68 that killed 100, 000 Americans. I asked my mom about it because I was a baby. She said "what?" "Where was that?" "I have no idea. I was just worried that they were going to send your Dad to Vietnam."

My friend's child is still in custody waiting fir a trial that has now been put off until July - A year after the arrest.

Last night her Dad died.

Tatoulia, I like your job and my dd1's job.

Today evaluations.