Good Morning Everyone

Hi Tatoulia

Lots of sleep AND a salad!
That's great social distancing. ;D

I know it hurts to not be able to see your Mom and baby Sister.
But if they let people in it would not be good (((HUG)))

I always make sure to wash my hands before I pet Jack or Sweetie Cowgirl and wash them again afterward.
But they insist that I pet them. They want pettings more than the food I put down.

Wishing you a day of actually doing stuff and having fun at it too.

Hi Subclinical
Your plans for organizing things for the weeks sound good and solid.

I remember what it was like for us kids when JFK was shot.
Everything in our worlds was upended. No school, no cartoons on tv, no playing outside with all our friends, no outings/parties.
All grown ups too concerned with grown up stuff to help us cope.
This must be even worse for the children because not just a president died but they know they may lose their loved ones.

Wishing your Mom great success doing her Swedish cleaning.
And many long side trips through memory lane while she sorts out her memorabilia. 😉

Hi CriticalMass
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 😀
Enjoy those cupcakes!

Go drag boy cat out from hiding and check on him.
If he was the one who was bleeding he may be hiding because he is hurt.
If he did get tagged you need to watch out for an abscess.

I know this time is even harder for you not being able to attend services.
Just remember that your God wants you all to be smart and stay safe and that he is with you where ever you are. (((((HUGS)))))

Clear bright blue skies, not a cloud on the horizon.
Will get up to 70 degrees today.

County hospital has been doing testing and as of yet no positives reported.
Most people avoid that place because they tend to kill too many people and so drive all the way to Reno for medical treatment when it's not urgent.
So hoping they are the negatives Reno is reporting.

Today my plan so far is to get dressed...

Cm,

I have no ideas for your cats, but I am sorry for your roomate. You gave both had so much sadness thus spring. And I know it is hard to face separated from your community.

Tatoulia,

I also love your company.

It's good that your depression has lifted. Anxiety is no fun either, but I think it is going to be the new normal for a lot of people for a while.

And I am pleased by the improved Steven, however temporary at least someone is doing a few good things for our Tillie!

I made it through another week of online school. Two down, six to go, so I am 1/4 of the way through. This weekend I am going to put together a solid, detailed plan for the Friday classes so I can manage supply lists. I think I will have one more pick up for them.

Today I unload my car (the feed has been in there for ten days) and go to school to pack up pottery supplies for a limited number of students. - individual projects needing extra time and a few special request for supplies. Getting those sent home will make the 27th a bit easier.

My students seem to be handling this pretty well. One complains of boredom, another is deeply disappointed by the cancellation of 4H and the loss of his summer job, but they are young and adaptable. The littles mostly wanted to talk about the giant storm we had this week.

We did have a student (not in my classes) whose mom was taken to the hospital with covid this week. We found out because he sent one of our directors a note asking for guidance on how to handle his classes because he might not be able to log on due to the resulting disruption of his life.

My mom is Swedish cleaning. She keeps telling me where things are. And that she isn't ready to get rid of this or that, so she's sorry but I'll just have to deal with it, but I can get rid of it if I want to. And then I say "you can help decided when I come for the packing party to move you here."

She is determined that she will never move, and I am determined that she is never going to die. I just hope she is also wrong. It's not that I want her to lose her independence, it's just that I know who her friends are. And I want her to live so long that they won't be there anymore (because most of them are already in poor health) and she won't be able to drive. And then I want her to move here, not hire help and be all alone.

She also sent me an article from her local hospital telling residents what they have done to get ready. It sounds like a good plan. I'm not sure it will be enough, but if everybody stays home like they are supposed to, it might be. They have just gotten into the hundreds of cases in their service area, so the hospitalizations are about to start for real.

I told mom to stay home until she has all the family photos and letters and other memorabilia she is working on completely organized. She said my grandson will be 4.

325 AM. YIKES

I like that Steven's showing a less selfish side.

I just slept and slept and slept. It was good to have a salad today. It tasted really good. I'm so used to my salads on work days.

I have errands to run tomorrow. Stuff for mom, mainly. I miss her so much! And don't even bring up that precious little one at her house.

Tigger is doing well. He had some salad with us today. BF is encouraging people not to let him. He's old and susceptible.

Okay I want to actually do stuff tomorrow. I've been lazy all day.

My garden has a LOT of catmint (catnip) growing in it.
There are even fresh green leaves under the fallen tree leaves and/or snow all through Winter.
So I always have fresh catmint.

I use the catmint to soothe the savage beasts.
Some cats get a bit aggressively playful so I never mint them near each other.
Separate corners of the room.

Out in the garden deep in the catmint cats look at other cats, they watch the pretty birds but they are too stoned and mellowed out to do anything about it but just continue to love on the plants, drool and roll in the dirt.

CriticalMass
I suggest you give the cats some catnip.
It helps get the feistiness, orneriness and excess energy out of them.
It makes them Rastafarian.

My sympathies to Roommate (((HUG)))

Hi Tatoulia
Sounds like you had a nice day with happy hour and lunch with BF. 😀

Relieved to hear you are feeling good (((HUG)))
Anything is better than overwhelming unrelenting depression.

Cats and I went out a couple of times today and soaked up lots of vitamin D.
I picked a few very small weeds.

Steven was going to the drug store and asked if I wanted/needed anything and I asked for a chocolate bunny.
He brought me a chocolate bunny and some Russell Stover cream eggs too.

Have pork chops thawing in the fridge and plan to have those & smashed potatoes and mixed veggies on Sunday.

I believe we ALL need to celebrate in some way.
It is important for our well being. 😉

Just an update...

My roommate's mother died at 3:15 a.m. The siblings had funeral preplanned so not as much for them to do. It will be back in the small town where they grew up. So my roommate is going to come home tomorrow then go to the small town on Tuesday.

So I guess I won't drag out any big projects. It's okay; I've got my church livestreams to occupy my time and of course the animals. Kitties had two terrible brawls last night, and today I found some dried drops of blood where they had fought.

I checked the girl and couldn't find any wounds, though she wouldn't let me really look thoroughly. The boy keeps hiding out in the daytime so I wonder if he got bitten or scratched by her. He did sleep with me last night though, so maybe tonight I can sneak and check him under the guise of petting.

When things settle down after the funeral, and in whatever ways possible until then, I think we need to do more hunting play with these cats, among possibly other strategies. The squirrels and birds are visible through the front window, and that may be ramping up their prey drives, which may lead to their attacking each other. And, of course, we've had lots of stress and they probably are picking up on that too.

Any tips on getting the little stinkers to get along would be welcome. We are already using pheromone spray, and brushing them with the same brush. Food rewards for good behavior are hard to administer, since the boy sometimes hides if you approach him too directly, and the girl has a dainty appetite and isn't food motivated.

I'm sorry about the roommate's mother. I do dread the day I lose my mom.

I have zero advice on the cats getting all along. I had that problem when mom's first cat stayed here. My cat was (obviously) an absolute angel but her cat was an aggressive 4.5 pounds of pure tiger. I was allergic to that pheromones dispenser. So I just tried to tell my cat that things would get better.

Tillie today I showered and did my hair and makeup and put on a pretty pink blouse for my video time. Happy hour was moved to 1 and then the office closed at 2. It was really nice. I then ordered lunch and BF and I had lunch together. I'm home and about yo enjoy some tv time.

I will make good progress this weekend. I feel better today. About everything. I think I mentioned that my depression is at the best point it's been in decades. Anxiety those is pretty high and staying high. It's a change. And somewhat preferable to depression (for me)

Our friends received their Easter box and one of the kids announced it on her school soon call today.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
Well, at least you were half dressed. 😉
WTG! getting the trash out and getting in a little walking too.

Great plan to clear away "work" after you finish today.

Have fun planning your easter festivities. 😀

9:20am here and the fog has just finished clearing out.
Bright sunshine for the moment but solid gray clouds on the horizon.
So happy that it rained so nicely here, finally.
"April showers bring May weeds"

Last time I was at the grocery store I picked up a bag of Whoppers pastel colored malted milk balls.
I get to eat them on Sunday. ;D

Washed my 2 warmest coats and will stow them away now.
Still need the Winter blanket and comforter because over night it still dips down so cold.
This time of year is when I switch some Winter stuff out with some Spring/Summer stuff and I always feel that I have too much stuff to shuffle around.
But it all is needed in the proper seasons.

The sleeplessness is awful these days. I can commiserate, Tillie.

Our rain has passed and it's bright, sunny, and extremely windy today. I'll be working in the dining area on paperwork. Work paperwork.

I did take my garbage and recycling out last night and there was a brief lull in the rain so I walked a bit. I had pants, shoes, vest, coat and a pj top. So half dressed. I came home and showered and washed my hair.

My company is doing a lot for us right now. I'm so grateful. They sent an email a few days ago telling us to breathe and take a pause. They've been doing a lot to keep us together and healthy. Today there's some essay from one of the members of our board of directors but I haven't read it yet. In our photo contest last week I submitted a picture of my supervisor Miss Kitty. Other people had kids, dogs, cats and it was great fun.

My goal today is to work, then put the computer away at the end of the day. Clear all the work paperwork off of my table and shred the stuff that I have scanned and sent in for further processing. I need to make it less work-y in here. Plus I have come up with a way to celebrate Easter do I need my house looking better.

I have told my cleaning ladies they can come if healthy and if they can't make it for any reason, I will still pay them. I need them to know they can stay home.

Ok let's do our best today!!!

woke up at 3am.
now it's 4am and I am still awake.

The rain stopped about midnight and thick fog rolled in.
It's very foggy out there now.

Will try to sleep some more.

Sleep well Subclinical
Sleet! interesting Spring we are having this year.
So nice of you to make yourself available for Mr. Kitty to dry himself on. 😉

Been gently raining here for several hours now.
Garden is getting a good deep soaking. 😀

Heading to bed in a minute, but just wanted to let you know that we have sleet. And mr. kitty just came in and used me for a towel.

So nice to catch up with you Tatoulia 🙂

Happy hour online!
Cheers! 😀
LOL a naked man in the background HAHAHAHAHA ;D

Don't know what company but I LOVE them.
They are so wonderful.

Happy the cleaning Fairies are still able to come.
The maids are really suffering through this.
Some are afraid to travel on busses & trains to get to work and many clients are not using the services at this time.
Hoping they can easily get the financial aid and free food to help them through all this mess.

When Doug, the Veterinarian, noticed just how allergic I am to cats he asked me why do I have a cat?
I said life without a cat is just not worth living. ;p
Lucy the Vet tech agreed with me wholeheartedly.

Hello Everybody
Welcome to our new thread. 🙂

So Tatoulia
Did you ever get dressed today?
Did you get the trash out before sundown?
😉

Hi CriticalMass
You not being a dog person, I think you would be annoyed by the dog even if he were a one pound yappy chihuahua, LOL ;D

I'm glad Roommate will be in a nice area and can have her beloved dog with her.

You need to make a more solid plan as to how you will spend this alone time.
Don't stay up all night and be draggy all day.
Don't forget to eat properly and stay hydrated.
Don't make too big of a plan. Keep them simple and doable.
Spend time in the company of the Furbabies, they sense all our stress and worry.

Hi Subclinical
I just started the new thread and it was at the top so I thought it was visible. LOL 😉

I am very grateful your DH has work and heartbroken for him knowing so many others there don't.

Yes, maybe overcompensating by giving out more assignments is making the kids stressed.
Needs to be more balanced.
School, recess/exercise, free play without them falling too far behind in lessons?
This is all so new for all you who are Teachers.

I think just being online with you gives the children great comfort (((HUG)))

Made a short list of chores I should do today and managed to do them all.
Vacuumed, washed dishes, did some laundry and some other random type stuff.
Been dark and cloudy all day, no rain here.
Maybe it will rain later?
Think I have seen every movie on Netflix by now except kid & chick flicks.

Everybody keep doing what you have been doing to stay safe and healthy.
Remember that we are all here for each other and understand the emotional ups and downs.
Sometimes we need to rage against the world for a moment in order to regain our inner peace.
(((HUG)))

Hello everyone! I did laugh a bit when you said about husband now having two jobs. But that's very real to him and you. That's sweet that the kids wanted to stay with you!

I was better focused at work today. I've had a problem working. Each day feels ridiculous.

Garbage and recycling are out!!!

CM I bet there is a lot of compromising when you have a roommate. I've never had one, if you can believe it. Since leaving my house (at 23, so admittedly later than most-I had just completed my associates degree at night), I have lived alone. I have worked really hard to live alone. It suits me. And during this terrible time, I am grateful for it. That said, if they shut the whole city down, I'll move in with BF for a few weeks. But just to keep myself from going crazy.

I will hopefully see him tomorrow.

I will call mom now.

Tillie I love your rag idea. My cleaners use rags and there's something comforting about it. Right now they use only paper towels that I supply. They are cleaning all of their equipment before coming over and they put on fresh gloves while here. They will be here next Wednesday, God willing.

I don't know what we will do for Easter.

I went back and read the cross posts. Tillie I love cats too. They make such a difference in my life. Dogs and other animals too. I'm just a cat person through and through.

I know mom is grateful for her kitty right now. I miss her so much! Mom says she waits by the door for me, starting around 7 PM.

I am so thankful for my job. My company has set aside $500,000 for grants/donations to the fight against COVID19 and another $500,000 for employee-directed donations. They've also been sponsoring meals for health care workers. They match our charitable donations up to $1000 and I think they've increased it for any COVID19 related donations. For now I'm sticking with my shelter/soup kitchen. And sent a check today. I also ordered some supplies my animal rescue league put on their amazon wish list. Right now I'm not sure I'll be taking any of the extra charity time. But I'll keep my eyes open for opportunities. They also will give any employee under financial strain $5000-so if a spouse is out of work or a tenant stopped paying rent and the mortgage is due, those types of situations.

We now have Happy Hours on Fridays, which is nice. They've staggered who is on video camera and who is listening in and watching. Tmr is my video day. Last week someone had a very large piece of artwork that was a large painting of a very naked man. I will stage my background differently.

I know I am fortunate. I have been very glad to work for this company. It was a significant pay cut when I took this job (almost 50%) but i wanted a more stable life and I've gotten it.

Praying for the world. You all mean so much to me.

I didn't see this! Did you tell us about it?

CM, good luck on your alone time and I hope you feel spiritually renewed by the holidays.

Tatoulia, glad to know you are ok.

I survived another day of online school. Some classes were cancelled and some teachers couldn't show up because of the power outages. Apparently over 50,000 customers in our service area lost power. I only had a couple of kids out.

Two of my kids showed up early and when I told them we might cancel class if no one else showed up, they panicked. I told them I would be happy to stay with them and we could play the game from last week, or talk about anything they liked - even the book, but we weren't going to move forward with most of the class gone. Then I think they were a little dissapointed when the rest of the class showed up.

The kids are telling me we are giving them too much work. We are so concerned that they will fall behind, we may be overcompensating. I'm trying to find ways to ease off on mine.

Dh department went from 140 to 60 today. He still has a job. In fact, he now has two jobs.

Okay, so Tillie and I just cross posted on Phase 12, and not to be outdone, Tatoulia cross posted with both of us here!

I had been wondering if we were due for a new thread, and whether Tatoulia was okay.

Tillie, re your last post on Phase 12, I am so sorry things are rough. Wish he would stay home AND out of your hair, go sort his hoard if that's what floats his boat...

The "God won't give you more" idea is one lots of people struggle with; I have myself at times. Mother Teresa was quoted as saying she wished He didn't trust her so much! Relatable to me...

I'm glad roommate will be in a nice neighborhood where she's going, and can walk her dog without the unpredictability we have here. And without me bitching, LOL. I think I just need a break from the dog.

To be fair, he goes in her room and sleeps most of the days now that he's well past the crazy puppy stage. But he's just so huge in a small space when he does come out. (He was supposedly full grown at 41 lbs. 3-1/2" years ago; now he's 65 lbs and not fat just big.) And I wish she would make him go lie down at mealtimes instead of standing 6" from her creepy staring while she eats and constantly has to tell him No. To me it would be better to train a dog to respect human boundaries and then give him his own food after. But we're never going to see eye to eye on that.

Oh well. Enjoying it being just the cats, bunnies, and aquatic critters. And I can cook what I want, stay up, sleep on the comfy couch maybe, set my own schedule. And just chill.

Tulips and Hyacinths, how lovely and cheerful.

Your friend's kids will really enjoy your gift.

Make sure to get the garbage out before dark.

Glad you are rotating and washing your masks between uses.
That's the right way to do this.

Since I don't have many paper towels (stole them from Steven's garage) I have been using washcloth rags to wipe off/disinfect areas and wash them in hot water.
Have a load of them soaking right now.

good night

Phase 14!!! Sorry I didn't notice this earlier. I am doing well! Bored but well. And frankly, if I'm bored it's my own fault!

I haven't gotten dressed today. Very rainy and raw. I bought tulips and hyacinths yesterday. I also mailed an Easter package to some friends' kids. I completely disinfected everything then wrapped in new plastic bag then sealed it up with instructions to the parents. Got it to the mailbox.

I have a few things to mail today but haven't gone out. I don't know why I'm so excited about getting my garbage out tonight but I am.

I am rotating my cloth masks and washing in between.

I am praying for peace and healing.

Good Morning

Beautiful sunny warm day.
No clouds last night to filter the moonlight.
Woke up at 3:30am and couldn't fall back to sleep so got to enjoy the big moon a long time.

Keep checking the county page and so far the local county hospital has only had negative test results.
Except for groceries, pharmacies, necessary jobs and limited doctor appointments people are isolated at home.
Except for Steven who goes out and visits and generally screws around because he believes it's all a farce.

good night

Hello anybody

Got all the little ceiling dust bunnies all swept down.
Make microwave baked potato again.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

Hello Tatoulia
You are always in my thoughts and prayers (((HUG)))

Hello CriticalMass
Hope you are feeling at peace today (((HUG)))

Hello Subclinical
Best wishes for a glitch free school day (((HUG)))

Hello World, stay well 😀

Gently rained a little over night again.
Going to sweep the ceilings with the rag covered broom today.
Then see what else I may do.

Tillie, and everybody,

I'm reading and thinking about you, but swamped with school - which us actually going really well.

Got my flu shot today and made chocolate ice cream mix and ran the dishwasher and the washing machine - load is in the dryer.

Even though I spent two hours commuting and taught from 9:30 to 4:30 with breaks for lunch and my planning period.

Dh made dinner, but we'll be back to my pot of food tomorrow (too dry for stew, too wet for casserole, but yummy!)

Well I did it and have the smilie face band aide to prove it.

It was outside, drive up.
A lady handed me a clipboard & pen with the consent form to fill out.
Told me to keep the pen.
I was the very first one in line!!! 😀
Then a very nice nurse with dark purple hair stabbed me.
So I would be at the right height I stepped out of the car and also requested my right arm be used.

One less thing to worry about now.
Steven never gets the flu shot and he also catches everything that goes around.

Afterward I was driving to the grocery store and there was a terrible 3 car crash at the intersection.
This is highway 50...
At least 6 cop cars, several ambulances.
A policeman was directing traffic.

Went grocery shopping and got most everything on my list. 😀

Mornin...

Glad I had the comforter on the bed, got cold over night.

The flu shot place is at the senior center and I am hoping it will be done outdoors.
It will go on from 4pm to 5:30pm.
I will leave home at about 3pm to get there early and get it over with.
There won't be any huge crowds of younger people there, just us old folks.
So I feel it will be safer than the usual flu shot give-away with a huge herd of younger people with all their kids.

Toying with the idea of getting groceries on the way home.
I need more fresh produce.

Good Evening Anybody

Laid low today but did get the grass watered and cut & filed my finger nails and took a shower.
Twinkles spent the afternoon outside laying in the sticks & pickers getting them all in his fur.
Quarter to 9:00pm and I am all ready to go to sleep. 🙂

Hi Subclinical
You sure did a LOT today!!! 😀

Yum! coffee icecream.
I don't like drinking coffee but I do really like coffee icecream.

Interested in your "rabbit thing" 😉

Well can't feel very sorry for a drunk who broke his arm.
But that's heartbreaking about the young woman with 2 kids and another on the way.
(((((HUGS))))) for them

Hope your Mom rests her eyes and that makes the headaches go away.
Screen time can really do a number on us.

Good luck and best wishes with all your school related things. 🙂

WTG! for a big pot of dinner.
Been thinking of making myself a big pot of chili.

I am so happy you are going back to school with a clean bill of health.
You need this and the kids need you (((HUG)))

The spiders bite and make painful weepy sores.
There are many different kinds and every bite I get really has a bad effect on me.
Plus there are black widows and brown recluse in the yard hoard.
I do enjoy the Wolf spiders and even have had some as free range house pets.
They are trainable and do eat the bugs.
Boris knew never to get on the couch.
He would come stand in front of me and beg for the table lamp to be turned on to attract his supper.
But he did eat Dave, a smaller Wolf spider pet.

When I went out to water the garden plants I pulled the hose around and hosed off the car.
Got the layers of dust & fallen leaves off but it still needs a proper washing, maybe next Spring?