Hi Tatoulia

Have a wonderful time today getting outside in that beautiful weather! 😀

Having already done so much already you will be motivated to tackle that paper shredding when you have the time.
WAY TO GO! 😀

Good Morning

Going to get into the upper 80s today.
Planning to water trees today.
After today temps will be upper 90s.

A man in his 20s has tested positive
bringing our county's total up to 12 cases found so far.

I wonder how many people without symptoms would test positive if they were tested?
Most people without symptoms don't care to get tested, like me. 😉

Since I am never in contact with a compromised person I don't see the need to sit in my car waiting in line out in the hot sun.

Anyways, just another day puttering around at home.

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
Great that Roommate had an older computer you can have!
Hope that helps some.

Kitty Cat sounds stressed and worried to me.
Sometimes when cats have issues like old age or an illness or some other mental type of worry
they will vocalize in the night because the quiet and darkness set them off.
Sort of akin to cat insomnia. Sometimes it's just missing someone not there like they always used to be there.
My cats have done this after one of them has passed.
Best way to handle it is with gentle talking, answering their cries, letting them know that even in the darkness you are still there.
And my cats absolutely needed their night light in the bathroom turned on.
If the bulb burned out during the night they would anxiously wake me up to tell me to fix it please.

Some kitties feel insecure when things change.
I am glad the Dog is back where he belongs, that will help in time (((HUG)))

Nathan called me today and we spoke for hours!!!
We talked about everything and nothing.
His veggie gardens are producing well, the fruit trees are looking good.
The ducks and chickens are thriving and there are too many hens so he has a lot more eggs than he needs.
His business is doing well and Mrs. Nate is doing fine too.
I am so proud of him and happy for them. 😀

Good afternoon!

It's ok tatoulia, my headache is gone. Dh massaged my neck and I went outside in the humidity.

I'm glad you are well rested!

Tillie, Dh back is still bothering him, but he's taking it easy. No heavy lifting. Bean and family will be here a little later and he's going to just hold Bean on the couch. He's gotten a lot of desk/phone/paperwork things taken care of and put in order the last few weeks!

I'm glad your back is doing better!

I did my first laundry load and I am going to hang it.

I also got one of my 11 courses fully written up and posted (the first day lesson plan is still a bit vague). It was one of the three hard ones, so that makes me feel better. I'll finish another hard one this weekend. I thought they had to be done the 15th, but I actually have to the 18th, so that is better.

Dishwasher is running too.

Hi, checking in -

Yesterday was over 100 here. Monday was in the 90s but felt awful. I hadn't planned to go anywhere yesterday, but then in the afternoon the laptop started giving me FITS and I had had it! I really was about ready to take it and throw it in the Arkansas River.

I called the computer store, and ended up taking it in. They installed 4 more GB of RAM for a total of 8. That was $37 + change, not bad. They can also if I want reinstall Windows 7, and put the Linux on a USB stick. Then I could use Win 7 again and learn Linux at my own pace. Of course I would need to take security precautions re Win 7 and not be online with it.

Not only that, but my roommate had her old laptop she hasn't been using. It only has Windows Vista, but she said I could have it. I can fiddle with it and be able to do some of the things that I need to do, then just transfer finished files to my newer laptop.

Kind of crazy workarounds, I know, but temporary, and hopefully will save frustrations for awhile. I haven't had time to see how the extra RAM does with the Linux system; that might make a huge difference right there. Typing this on roommate's old laptop. I think overall getting these computers sorted will reduce my stress level and allow me to be more productive on things like my writing and paper decluttering (due to transferring scribbled notes to electronic form).

The dog is home from the kennel - sleeping a lot. Today is hot, tomorrow will be hot, ad nauseum. Dog will need to sleep out in the living room a couple more days or so; there is a mat for him so I hope he will do okay. Maybe kitty will calm down with him here. Kitty was vocalizing in the wee hours again - a weird, sharp little meow I've never heard the likes of before. I worried he might be sick or having a heart attack, but after awhile he stopped - meowed or yowled some still but it was more "normal."

Getting excited to hear about SubC's grandson soon.

More as time permits.

Quick drive by. Went to bed at 7PM up today at 11:30. So relaxed.

Tillie: ugh and oh no. And head in the litter box is particularly funny. You earned that moment: don't hide in shame!

Cm you are my hero! Tough decisions executed perfectly! Fun to see the candles and yes, too much maintenance. And someone at the thrift shop will be very excited!

SubC. I'm worried about your headache!

Ok off to do some things today.

Feeling pretty good right now. In my favorite pjs and everything.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
So nice you got to actually see some of your students in person.

YEA! for teaching a class from your classroom.
Must be sad in a school with only echoes where there used to be much life.
((((HUG))))

I hope they get this virus contained soon and everything gets back to normal with a minimum of loss for children's education.

Good luck finding suitable storage for things as your Dh starts setting up the coffee bean roasting.
Make sure the fiber is stored safely so you don't lose any to moths.

Rescheduled my dental cleaning appointment from June to September.
Hope by then I won't be too scared to leave quarantine.
Will see how I feel about it as the date grows closer.

Twinkies is telling me to feed him NOW!
So I will feed him now. 😀

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Thank you (((HUG)))

YEA! the soap has arrived!

So sorry about that headache.
Hope it starts to leave you alone.

Bean is coming to visit!
Have a wonderful and relaxed time with them.

I have always found that doing the usual routine household chores helps me to feel more in control and hope it works for you too.
🐐

How is your Dh's back doing?

My back is doing better so far today.
Less extreme pain when I move.
The electric throw and resting it seems to be slowly working.
Never realized before just how much I need to bend down to do things.
So much activity is from the knees down.

Tillie!!!!! Love the story! I can picture it all!!! So beautiful and fun!

SubC I'm glad you got to teach a class from your classroom. What a shame with all the changes. But you are my hero. You kept things going and you adapted and your kids feel the love. You provided them a sense of normalcy when things around them were collapsing. I'm so pleased to have you as a friend.

Another beautiful day here. I will be getting out soon. Post office, groceries, etc. then errands with BF.

I haven't done any more shredding and I'm fine with it. I'm feeling hood about myself and have the weekend to accomplish even more. Soon I should be in the position of putting/organizing the important things. There won't be many.

Happy July!
Planning to make this a month of daily puttering around.

Hi Subclinical
So far it sounds like the studio is still a safe place to work! 😀
WTG! for glazing and hope the pieces turn out gorgeous.

Your Summer class is a big success!
Fantastic job you have done (((hug)))

Yes, you must keep the gas tank full and the phones charged.
Plus you must keep keys and shoes handy.
I'm so anxious and know you must be too. ;D

So Mr. Kitty and Boy Kitty have come to an agreement.
That's good to know.

Hi Tatoulia
YEA!!! For Boston!!! 😀

So true.
Masks are annoying but having worked in medicine/surgery the one thing I always HATED to watch was when someone was intubated.
Such a horrible thing to do to a person even though they were unconscious.

Your Friday plan sounds like fun.
When I have to drive into Reno I don't drink anything for hours before leaving home.
Then I don't drink anything while I'm there.
On the drive home I will have some water.
So far this has kept me from having to use public restrooms.
Unfortunately it's no good being that dehydrated but it's the only thing I can think to do.
Guess I could get therapy to try to overcome my aversion to to public toilets. ;p

Take a package of sanitizing wet wipes in the car and wipe down the place?

Have a great day today at work work. 🙂

Nothing much needing to be done here today.
Dishes, laundry, watering all caught up.
No crafting projects to do.
Steven is extra mean and nasty. Doesn't acknowledge my existence but has been having violent outbursts in his bedroom and in the garage.
Yelling curses and slamming/throwing things around.
Makes me nervous.
Have a deck of "Lord Of The Rings" playing cards and I will start playing solitaire to keep my hands busy.

Tillie, you have done so many interesting things!

CM, hang in there. I hope your roof does ok. We are having rain all week, so I am thinking of you.

Tatoulia, keep up the good work!

Yesterday I ran my last class pickup. I think about half the families showed up. I got to see a few of my kids, most for the last time. - the kids who came are mostly going to other schools next year. One promised to visit next year if he can. One parent told me I will probably lose her kids next year because their dad got laid off. We have scholarships, but we are tuition based and there is never enough scholarship money to go around. I don't know how the scholarships are awarded, but they never ask for teacher input. Probably good. There would be hard feelings over favorite kids.

I put all the "abandoned" Items in the gym. There will be one last school-wide pick up in June, but that will not involve me.

My room is starting to look cleaned out (aka "normal"). I still have to sign up for an actual 2 hour clean out slot.

Two more days of online school.

Yesterday I went up to my classroom to log on to my end of the day class because I did not have time to drive home. One of my students looked at my background and said "HEY! You are at school! How are you at school?!" They want to come back so badly.

It felt really good to teach in my classroom. Even if all of my students were invisible.

Dh wants me to spend Saturday working in the studio barn with him so that he can set up his coffee roasting station. I have to move a bunch of fiber bins that I have no idea where they can go.

Sounds like you had a good day Tatoulia
plus plenty of time to do the crossword. 😉

Best blood drive I ever did was at the Governor's mansion in Carson City.
The mansion staff treated all of us like royalty.

When Ronnie and I were set to go on a break the Butler escorted us to an office where we could sit, smoke and put out feet up.
We put our feet up on the big desk in the room and were relaxing happily.
Then the door opened and the Governor walked into HIS office!
We sat up immediately apologizing and he said to please sit back as we were.
He sat in the big chair on the other side of the desk and put his foot up too laughing about the fact that he only had the one leg.
So we all sat there talking and laughing with our feet up.
He then gave me 2 golden state tokens, one for me & one for my son and Ronnie 3 tokens since she had 2 kids.
Met so many local "celebrities" that day. Casino owners, brothel owners, millionaire cattle ranchers, etc. along with hundreds of local Citizens.
I had complimented the First Lady on all the beautiful flowers filling the rooms and as we were leaving she insisted we should have the flowers and the Butler and some Maids loaded our blood mobile full of them.
It was a 20 hour long day for us but we were happier than tired on the drive back to Reno. 🙂

Hello! July 1!

I read all of the posts and the take-away for me was, two kitties on the porch!

I simply cannot understand people not wearing masks. It makes no sense to me. Masks may be hot and uncomfortable but I'm sure a respirator is way worse.

Okay I have to work on my work now. Trying to close out the quarter.

We have Friday off. I'm going to drive out to our friends' house to drop off a 4th of July package for the kids. T-shirts, flags, "patriotic" Mike & Ikes, a beach ball, etc. she had suggested maybe an ice pop in the backyard. My sole concern is needing a restroom. It is a long drive to her house

Okay we had no COVID19 deaths in Boston yesterday. We are staying strong.

I did your sitting for you Tillie.

I went to the studio and did all my glazing but the last big piece.

I got two things back - one came out great and the other was a disaster. I need to send a photo to the firing staff and see if I can get sone feedback. Only the apprentice was in yesterday and that is what she told me to do.

They have reopened the children's program, which made me nervous when I saw all the cars as I arrived at drop off time, but it has a separate entrance and only one shared room I don't use. I do travel through a shared hallway, but I can wait for the kids to be gone should we arrive there simultaneously.

There were a few more people present than before, but I was still alone in the glaze area.

I'm thinking about trying to do the big piece on Friday and be done. After Friday the baby could be born.

Then I filled my gas tank, came home and mostly sat. This is the second time I have bought gas since mid- March. The tank was only 3/4 down, but I want it full when the baby comes.

I ran the dishwasher and watched videos and read. I didn't need to make a list though. I could tell that it was recovery time.

The boy cat came to the front door and meowed loudly this morning. Mr. kitty insisted on going out and chased him about 20 feet, but then after I closed the door and went away he crept back and they are both lying on the front porch, not quite socially distant.

My summer class has one spot left.

Well today I did stuff.
Didn't spend too much time just sitting.
The kitchen is clean again and the garden and grass are watered.
Jack and Cowgirl had my attention and pettins.
Scooter and Twinkles too.

Scooter was laying down beside the water bowl with his head hanging over.
He was just relaxing and watching mousie drown at the bottom of the bowl.
Spent a long time like that.
It was cute 😀

Ate a peach. It was perfect!

All ready for bed and I am tired, in a good way.

Scooter's wearing your shirt!!!!

I had a good time donating blood today. Then I had juice and raisins. They had one packet of raisins in a sea of cookies and pretzels. It took a while because they were backed up but BF had sent me a Sunday NYTimes crossword to do. He knew a couple of people who were working the event so that was a nice treat. When I got there I was told the wait would be 1-1/2 hours and I said, sounds good.

Then I came home and rested.

Only managed to shower and do dishes today. Will get trash gathered tmr and will change my sheets tmr or Friday.

Okay that's the news!

Good Morning Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
Yes, so many things to think about and do and then even more things get added.
Hard to juggle it all at times.

Enjoy the Bunny time trimming nails.

I know very well the worrying about rain when the roof is leaky (((HUG)))

Take care and post when you get a few seconds (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia
Enjoy your bright and sunny day!

Scattered clouds, slight chance of rain but very cold still.
Scooter is wearing my flannel shirt that I want to wear.
Will bribe him out of it with cat snax. ;p

Cm, I know you have some challenges right now and we are standing right by your side. I had completely forgotten about the low iodine diet. The only thing I remember is no cold cuts. I too would meticulously go over the documents to make sure I was ready. I did manage to walk home from the hospital but I was a wreck for some reason. I was surprised to learn that there's no eating after the treatment, so I went to sleep to make the time pass. It's a weird time but it's a good and effective treatment.

Tillie thank you fir the poem. I could picture it all so clearly.

I have work this AM then a charity day to donate blood in the afternoon.

Bright and sunny here!

Good Morning Everyone
June 30th already!
The days seem endless but the month just sped by.

Hi Subclinical
I am so angry with those people at your Mom's doctor's office building.
So rude and inconsiderate and ignorant.

Keep drowning out the negative voices in your head with all the things you DID do.
Best way to quiet down those nitpicking noises. (((HUG)))

From what you described of the studio setup you should be fine going there.
Lots of fresh flowing air and more than enough social distancing.

Good idea to not take recycling/etc. since you have to hike up the road.

Yes, I remember having a little boy that I would have to be extremely specific about explaining every tiny detail to.
What he could do, what he couldn't do, what he should do...
Then there were always the thousands of " WHY" questions he'd ask about everything.

How wonderful to hear your Dh taking the Baby quarantining seriously!!!
😀

I believe locations are allowing businesses to open up and events to be held are because the people just won't behave.
Even shops/restaurants that are open but with mask restrictions are having a LOT of people loudly protesting the mask rule.
So many have had to reclose to protect their employees from violent outbursts and physical harm.
So the authorities have given up with mandatory quarantine until the hospitals are overloaded again.
But they want masks and social distancing and the people just won't comply.
So selfish and inconsiderate of others who are trying to stay uninfected but yet need to work, get groceries or hardware, etc.

We all need to keep doing everything we can to help ourselves.

Yard sales are now being allowed. OK, they are outside...
But I don't think they are necessary and are possibly not socially distancing enough plus you have the hand to face contamination so many people do.

Your quarantine plan would really work to help slow/stop the spread.
I would make it four weeks though, just to be sure.
But the people are revolting, in every sense of the word.

Every man for himself, disgusting.

Anyways...
Lovely cool morning and I am going out to water.
Garden plants and grass.
Yesterday I did nothing but cat tasks.
Just sat lost deep in thought.
Need to get out of my head today and shake off this depression. 🙂

Tillie,

I'm sorry your county has a new case, but 11 is not bad. Hopefully that woman has not exposed people. Your county's total count is in line with my county's daily count.

I am a little nervous about going to the studio today because cases have bern climbing all around here, but then I remember what it is like in the studio. It will be ok.

Dh has to go to his office today to label boxes. They are moving everything out of his building to a new building before he goes back to work. Currently his back to work date is July 13. But last night I heard him talking to his guitar instructor. The instructor is going back to the music studio in July. Dh told him that he will be quarantining for two weeks after his grandson is born so that he can see the baby, so he won't be able to come in. He doesn't know I heard him, but that makes me really happy.

I don't understand this continuing to open things up when cases keep increasing.

What if we set a three week window where everybody would stay home except for emergencies? It could be in August so people could plan and prepare. Maybe start the second week so people could buy the things they needed or get important routine care the first week. Of course, Americans would never do it.

Also, it would probably be like my son when he was little - we had a shower with a glass door, and he would come open the door and talk to me. I told him not to do that unless it was an emergency, but then I had to define emergency. Something is on fire. A lot of water is running onto the floor and you can't make it stop. Someone is bleeding or unresponsive. Then I had to further clarify bleeding and unresponsive after he fetched me for a paper cut.

I am going to break my rule about not leaving home unless something leaves with me today because I have to walk a tenth of a mile to my car and I already have the one dish and my purse to carry. But I can walk on the bridge now, even though I can't drive on it yet.

Good evening,

Tatoulia, I hope you and kitty get a thunderstorm free night.

I am excited about your shower curtain!

CM, focusing on the books sounds like a good idea. It is important, especially right now, to focus on positive things.

My dil says her dog "sings the song if her people" early in the morning. Is that from somewhere? Or is it regional? You are the only two people I have heard use it.

Sounds like your roomate's treatment is going to be fairly quick. I'm glad.

We had a lot of cloud cover here from the edge of the Sahara dust, but that is all.

My mother went to the doctor today. They had signs up telling people they had to wear masks, but my mom was the only patient wearing a mask, and the nurse who did her blood pressure etc. and the administrative people were not wearing masks. She said she channeled me and complained to her np - who was wearing a mask. Her np said that she was frustrated but did not have the power to enforce anything. But, she took my mother's complaint to the administrator and my mom heard the staff being told they were Absolutely not to interact with patients Without masks going forward and she saw them putting them on, but she said they did not look happy.

I don't care if they are happy. They are supposed to be caring for my mom's health! How is not wearing masks doing that?! If she had really been channeling me, she'd have pitched a fit in the waiting room when she saw all the maskless people. If I had been with her I would have pitched one!

She said they tested her for COVID because she has had a sore throat and sinus congestion for weeks. (That makes no sense to me)

Today was ok. I got my glaze work done. I am going to the studio tomorrow and I might finish everything.

I have been noticing that the voices in my head keep pointing out my failings, but they like to focus on the things I don't do.

So, today I made two columns. I left out routine stuff like chores, but on one side I listed all the things I did that help further my goals, and on the other side I listed all the things I did that were counter- or non-productive. And the good side is very long. It has 21 things.

The bad side just says:

Too much time reading the paper

Ate sugared cereal for breakfast

Put off chores until after breakfast

Let the chickens spill $10 worth of wormer even though I thought about the fact that I shouldn't leave the bottle open on the hay rack between doses, because the chickens might knock it over.

Watched two videos.

Take that voices!

Still having difficulty managing all the things to juggle.

Roommate's schedule for treatments in late June, and for a low iodine diet starting two weeks prior, has been laid out. She is thinking aloud about many many details, which is understandable.

My mind, alas, is already stuffed with tons of details.

If I go a little longer between posts for awhile, don't worry. These are just unusually full days.

Tomorrow I go to the bunny house to trim toenails. They have adopted out some bunnies. Fewer to feed, so maybe their money will stretch. Hope the adopted bunbuns are enjoying happy homes and loving people.

We have a stretch of rainy days coming Thursday. Again. Roof needs a major overhaul. It worries my roommate, naturally. And me as well.

Hi Tatoulia

YEA! for us!!!
Eating clean and clearing out all that processed sugar! 😀

Way to Go!!!
Fantastic job well done!!!
Now that file cabinet will serve you well keeping the important papers safe and right where you know they are!
So very proud of you (((((HUG)))))

Remember, first we declutter then we can organize.
Should you later decide you need or just want hanging folders you know where the stores keep them.

The cards from old friends served their purpose at the time.
You will always remember the people, places and times.
Letting go of the paper reminders frees you up for the life you want now. ;D

Keep up with the clean eating and fantastic shredding. 😀

The sky was filled with thick gray clouds all day.
About 6:40pm the sun broke through from the west with bright silver white light that lit up everything beautifully.
Making all the colors shine vividly.
There was no wind.
Then the sky above opened up with a downpour of rain.
The silvery sunlight lighting up the garden and the rain drops streaming down.
It was like being transported into some mythical magical fairy land.

Bathroom sink drain is all put back together with some new parts.

So far it seems to be water tight but I will keep checking on it until I feel I can trust it again.

After something leaks it takes me a while before I feel it can be trusted again. ;p

County website posted there is one new positive case of Covid19 here now.
A woman in her 40s.
This brings our total of cases up to eleven now.
The nine others have gotten better and that man, the first case here died.
But he was in the local killer hospital here that needlessly kills way too many people.

Well look at us, Tillie! I had strawberries today then sweet potato and cauliflower for dinner.

I started shredding tonight. So satisfying. What a difference this is making. I'm going through the built in file cabinet. I had previously, a few years ago, with your help, completely emptied the bottom drawer. Now I'm working on the top drawer. I will not completely clear this out, but I'll be making space for important papers that I do need. I have been getting rid of the hanging folders I had which now is leaving me to wonder the smarts behind that. Oh well. But now I can make a folder for my car title and my mom's cemetery plot and other important papers. I'm so thrilled with this progress.

Even valentine cards from old boyfriends. It's all going.
I'm obsessed with making space. I can see and feel my progress and it's moving me forward.

I have half a day tmr. Giving blood in the afternoon.

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
So sorry your priest is being transferred and hoping his replacement is everything you all need.

YEA! the van is repaired!
It is such a necessary thing and keeping it maintained is so important.

That's great news about your Cousin. 😀

Make sure those old broken loppers get into the trash can.
It's always alright when something so well used finally has to be replaced, shows how well used they were.
Kind of like socks that can't be darned any more. ;D

Yes, no Bunny play dates until all participating Bunnies get vaccinated.
What a horrible bunny disease. 🙁

Hi Tatoulia
Happy your power was spared.

Noticed I forgot to acknowledge all your shredding, so much so you kept over heating the shredder.
WAY TO GO!

Along with all the pollens irritating you there is also the shredding dust to consider too.
Very small particles getting into the air like that exacerbate allergies.

It would be good to know the test results.
The website for the county here is not the fastest but I like knowing better than not knowing where we stand.

The wind is really raging with lots of big gusts that slam all the house doors.
But other than that it's a nice day, low 80s, high clouds, some sunshine.

Have the hose very slowly watering some trees so only need to check on it about every hour or so and can stay inside.

The sink is disassembled but he has had to return to the hardware store because he said some other bits were corroded too and need replacing.
For many years every Sunday he would get up very early and go have coffee with his friend and then they would hang out together for hours.
But since his friend died last Sunday he has nowhere to go today.

So happy you are continuing with the décor update to your home. 😀

Very good that you are not buying right away.
You are taking your time, doing product research and taking the budget into consideration.
Responsible consumerism at it's best.

You need the chandelier for baths.
Sounds like such a fun thing to have. 😀

There are Robins and Orioles all over my yard today.
Something about the Mulberry trees having half ripe fruit I think.

Hi Tatoulia
Confession time...
I am so not happy with my size from eating so many sweet things and ignoring any kind of a balanced diet.
All that sugar must be taking a big toll on my whole system.

So, what I have been doing this week is eating only fresh raw fruits and vegetables.

Bananas, cherry tomatoes, avocadoes, cucumbers, pineapple, cantaloupe, celery.
Drinking lots of water, some with fresh squeezed lemon.

Well...
Now I am so uncomfortably bloated and distressfully gassy.
Scooter is thoroughly disgusted with me.
🙁