In the nick of time

 I don't know where the past month has gone.  We have been completely overwhelmed by my brother's needs I haven't had time to think about anything.  We had reached a crossroads and I was beginning to accept the fact that we just couldn't continue to care for him.

Mike was having difficulty taking his medications appropriately.  He was calling us constantly...every 5 minutes to ask what day it was or what time it was.  Other times he would sleep past his med time.  We would watch the clock and if we didn't hear from him would call and wake him up.  He'd be so out of it we had to drive to his condo to make sure he took the right medication.  In addition, he was acting out and getting very aggressive towards me.  

But after a consultation with his psychiatrist a plan was made to reduce some of his meds.  It has been amazing how quickly things are beginning to change.  He isn't calling constantly.  He can maintain a train of thought.  His walking hasn't improved but I'm still hopeful.  Just these small changes have revived Ron and I.  I have regained some hope that things can get better.  Maybe we still have a little more time before Mike will have to go to a residential program. Or we will be forced to move closer to him.

I have an opportunity to get the Covid vaccine tomorrow.  My former boss called me and they are currently administering the vaccine to the hospital staff.  She said they "may" have some extra doses and offered it to me.  So tomorrow I have to be ready to go in if they call.  Otherwise Ron. Mike and I will be in the 2nd round of vaccine administration.  Oklahoma also moved teachers and support staff to the 2nd tier.  I'm so happy about that.  I worry about my daughters all the time.

Christmas will just be the 3 of us.  We did the same for Thanksgiving.  Since Oklahoma is now #1 in the number of cases per capita it is apparent most Oklahoman's are not following safety precautions.  Of course with our governor it's now wonder.  A lot more people will die needlessly.

Hope everyone has a merry Christmas and here is to a better New Year!

Every day you think the craziness can't get any worse and then it DOES!  I am at the point that I blame the entire GOP for not putting an end to this stupidity but I think the whole party is beyond redemption at this point.  Just by the fact that all this drama will result in more lives lost to COVID proves to me that they absolutely put party before human lives. 

Oh What A Beautiful Day

Couldn't ask for a more beautiful day.  There is a mild breeze and temperatures in the 70's.  It was like this yesterday so my daughter Julie was able to come over and visit in the backyard with masks and social distancing.  I miss spending time with my daughters.  It's the hardest thing about this pandemic.

Just wondering how many of you will be getting the vaccine when it is available.  I plan to get it as soon as I can.  I figure if it takes years to experience any side effects I probably will be long gone anyway.  Most of my Republican friends have said they will not take the vaccine.  

Mike sees his heart doctor today.  I think he is getting the results of his stress test.  They aren't allowing visitors to accompany patients but we have an exception due to Mike's cognitive issues.  He would never find the doctor's office on his own and certainly wouldn't understand anything she tells him.  Usually only one of us is allowed to go with him and Mike always wants Ron to go with him. (I guess it's a man thing)

I feel like I've been busy finishing some projects but I have so many more to do that I need to do.  I have a box full of gnome bodies that I need to finish.  I have a painting I need to finish.  I wonder when I'm going to get it all done.

I've been doing some online Christmas shopping but I don't intend to do much.  It's going to be gift cards this year for the most part.  I have purchased some things for the little girls but not much.  Ron hasn't given me any hints on anything he wants so I may go rogue!  

Happy days are here again

 It has taken two weeks to get our power back after the Oct. 26 ice storm.  You never appreciate all your modern conveniences until they are gone.  We were so lucky the weather warmed up in a hurry and we weren't freezing at night.  Also got lucky that Mike never lost power in his condo.  

Glad the election is over and we have a new President but I know we haven't heard the last of Trump.  He will not go quietly.

Inside the snow is falling and friends are calling....you hoo!

 I'm still painting.  Just keeping the ole noggin from thinking and dwelling on the mess we have in this country.  Where else does the medical community and the scientists have to fight with the leader of the country just to convey the seriousness of a pandemic?  Mind boggling to say the least.  But I'm seriously counting the days until the election!

In the meantime.....

Nothing fancy but kind of fun to paint.  I have no idea where I'm going to put all of these pictures.

Sunday Thoughts

Well the events of the past week leave me speechless, well almost speechless.  The debate debacle and then Trump's diagnosis.  What a week!  Of course it took no time for the conspiracy theories to emerge. One I read said that "if" the President has the virus it is because it was planted in the White House.  One group thinks it is part of Trump's strategy and he will be sending them coded messages soon.  

You can't make up this kind of crazy!  I do wonder how this will impact the election.  You know he has some crazy scheme going but we just have to wait and see what it is.

Ron and I have already cast our ballots.  We took them directly to the election board.   Last I heard there was only about 6 percent undecided.  Don't know how anyone could still be undecided after that so called debate. 

I had a dream a few nights ago that the election was over and Biden had won.  I remember feeling as if we had been released from 4 years of Hell.  It was just this enormous feeling of relief.  Oh how I hope that dream comes true.  Not that I think all our troubles will be over immediately.  This country has a long recovery ahead but I hope that we can begin to mend the divide and that our political system can make some necessary changes to prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future.

Here's to a good week ahead filled with nothing but GOOD news!

 

Old Saint Nick

Saw this picture somewhere last year so I decided to paint it myself.  Not perfect but fun to do.

 

 I think it might be fun to take an online class.  As long as it isn't too complicated.

I had to do something to keep my mind off that "so called" debate last night.  How embarrassing for the country.

 

 Decided to try painting on canvas!

Not bad for a first time try I think!

I'm Sad

What the hell happened to America?  Where is the America I knew as a child?  Hell, where is the America that responded to 9/11 or the Okla. City bombing?  I have never felt so sad or disappointed in my life.  People arguing over mask wearing or how many are reported to have died from Covid.  My friend sent me a message informing me that hospitals are getting paid an additional $38,000 for every Covid death. Therefore they are forging the data for money.  Her information was partially true.  Not the conspiracy part but the payment.  Medicare pays an additional $38,000 for patients with respiratory illness that require a ventilator.  This is to help cover the additional cost of caring for a patient on a ventilator.  Doesn't come close to covering it all.  They pay on a system of medical coding.  There is no code for Covid.   But my biggest question is why do people want to believe there is a WORLD WIDE conspiracy about a virus?  The argument that people with prior health issues didn't die from Covid but their prior condition. Well to me that's like saying a person with terminal cancer who gets hit by a semi on his way home from the doctor died from cancer not injuries sustained in the accident...

Count Down Covid

Well this hen has checked in with all her chicks and daughter #1's covid test result was negative "viral load too low for detection, retest in 3 days".  So she is still at home and still has no sense of smell or taste.  She also woke this morning with a headache.  There are so many darn symptoms of covid that are the same as allergies, colds, etc. I don't know how anyone can tell what they have.

Daughter #2 won't get tested until this afternoon.  Her assistant is still awaiting the results of her test.  So the wait continues.

As long as I'm busy doing something I control my anxiety.  So yesterday I went to Mike's condo and painted his outside trim and front door.  I only got one coat on so I'm going to finish up on Thursday.

I started painting Christmas rocks now. So far I have a Santa and a snowman.  I only have 2 rocks left out of the 34 pounds of rocks Ron got for me.  I have rocks stuffed in places all over the house....If we have to isolate another year I'll have enough to build my own "border" wall!

I have to say that in spite of everything I am one lucky lady.  I was blessed with two wonderful parents.  One I lost too soon but was fortunate to have my mother live to 91.  In spite of losing my dad too soon I've always felt his presence.  I constantly feel both of them with me even now.  I consider that a huge blessing.

I'm blessed with a wonderful husband.  Anyone willing to share in the care of a disabled relative is a special person.  He does this while protecting my brother's dignity and I'm enormously grateful.  I couldn't continue his care without Ron's help.

I have been blessed with wonderful daughters whom I could not be more proud.  Watching my daughter overcome her own disability to become an outstanding educator has been more than just inspiring.  There were so many times I wouldn't have blamed her if she had just given up.  I'm proud of the devotion my girls have for each other.  They have always fussed like sisters do but in the end they always have each other's back!  It has made me envious at times because I don't have a sister.  It would have been nice!

Well, I must have run out of good luck.  Ellie just ran in with mud all over her and there went my clean floors!  Well a bath for her and a mop for me!

 

It only took one week of in person school for everyone to start testing positive for Covid.   My daughter woke up this morning with no sense of smell or taste.  She went straight to be tested.  Waiting for results.  My other daughter's teaching assistant and her son have tested positive.  So daughter number 2 is getting tested.  There are numerous children currently being tested.  So soon there will be no teachers to teach!   

Right now I'm a mixture of worried mama and mad as hell.  

Game Day

Today is the official opening of "football" season here in Norman, Oklahoma.  Twenty-five thousand spectators will fill the 85,000 capacity stadium.  The reduction is to allow for "social distancing".  I would imagine a few thousand non ticket holders will converge upon the campus corner where they will mingle among the bars and restaurants.  Can't imagine what could go wrong with that scenario.  Originally the city council had decided to limit the bars and restaurants to 30% capacity but later (due to pressure) increased it to 75%.  I realize businesses are trying to survive but to what expense?  Lives?

I read that Dr. Fauci doesn't see a return to some semblance of normalcy until the end of 2021.  In the mean time it is every man for himself.  I feel like a prisoner in my own home.  I know I'm in the vulnerable category and I know that no one is looking out for the likes of me.  So it is up to me to hibernate for another year and hope that I don't get careless.

Friends of ours contracted Covid from a backyard cookout.  Several couples had a get together outside, none wore masks, and over 30 people contracted Covid.  Our friend ended up in the hospital for a week but is lucky it wasn't worse.  These were young people in the 40's.  Most of them deny the virus threat is real.  Even after getting sick they still deny the seriousness of the threat.

I honestly think at least 500,000 people will die in this country before by mid 2021.  Who knows how many before it is in the rear view mirror.

Trick or Treat

 Cool temperatures and rainy weather are giving us a taste of Fall.  By no means does this mean summer is over it is just nature's way of teasing us.  I'm taking advantage of it and painting Halloween/Fall rocks today.  

I'm planning on hiding them around the yard for Piper.  I'll have little bags of candy with each one.  Kind of a Halloween activity since I'm not sure if trick-or-treating will be happening this year.  I have a few ghosts and monsters to paint yet.

I'm sure I've said this before but Fall is my favorite season.  I have so many memories of this time of year as a kid.  The state fair, playing tag football in the backyard, roasting hotdogs outside and just the sounds and smells associated with the Fall.  This time of year I miss my parents so much.

Since I'm so hot natured the Fall brings a welcome relief from the hot, sweltering Oklahoma summers. 

No more haircuts Democrats

 Well, we installed Mike's Alexa and Ron only had to make one trip over to his condo to reset it.  Seems Mike was calling her Alicia instead of Alexa and couldn't get her to play his requested music.  I told him she's like any woman, she doesn't like being called by an old girlfriend's name.  Oh well, he may or may not ever get the hang of using Alexa.

I can't help wonder why conservatives are more mad about Pelosi getting a haircut than they are about Trump calling deceased soldiers losers and suckers.  Their priorities astound me. I wish Pelosi had used better judgment by at least wearing a mask.  I make no excuses for her in that regard.  But please Dems don't give them anything else to nit pick.  Not now!

I've been trying not to think about Mike's upcoming cat scan and what we may discover.  I just can't think past today.  We will just have to figure things out as we go.  My biggest concern is how he will handle surgery and of course how he will react to any news about cancer and follow-up treatment.  If I let myself think about it too long I just get overwhelmed.  Everything has been a day-at-a-time situation with him.  Never knowing if we have reached the end of his being able to live in the condo.  I just can't let myself even consider the idea of having him live with us because he would consume us alive.  He practically does that now.  The only break we get from him is after he goes to bed.  That's of course if he has had a good day.  Then we have our own time after 8pm.  Unfortunately by then I'm ready to call it a day myself.

No one knows what being a caregiver entails unless you've done it.

Semblance of Normalcy

 Today was a pretty good day.  Ron and I got out early this morning and I actually did a little shopping.  First stores I've been in since March and even though I must admit I was nervous and nothing about shopping in masks is normal it's the closest I've felt to normal in 6 months.  I was out trying to find outside games and toys for my daughters.  Since they have to split classes up outside there are areas with nothing for the kids to do.  So I found some ring toss games, hoola hoops, bean bag toss, jump ropes, balls, etc. to use outside.  They aren't allowed to share anything (to keep the chance of cross contamination down) so they had absolutely nothing.  Just one more thing teachers are expected to purchase I guess.

We bought Mike an Alexa.  He loves the one we have and will ask it the craziest questions.  Today he proposed to her and she said she wasn't going to get married until Mars is colonized.  Ron is going to install his for him tomorrow.  We are hoping it's something he can have fun with and will keep him entertained.  His attention span is so short I'm not sure.  I had to write questions for him to ask her.  There are a lot of songs he likes to listen to but he has trouble remembering the names.

I'm trying to just not get on facebook or watch the news because every time I do I hear something else that bat @#$% crazy Trump has said and I get so mad it makes me crazy!  The crap he says is so nuts I can't believe the GOP doesn't try to stop him.  I'm hoping he just takes them all down with him.

I saw a watch today that has a countdown of the days until the election.  Kind of funny but I'm not paying $20.00 for it.

I have been painting rocks with Trump's face on them and I put the daily death count and date on the back.  Along with the quote "It is what it is".  I just drop them around town.  Oklahoma is such a red state I'm sure I've managed to piss off a few people around town.

Too Little Too Late

Rain, rain, and more rain.  We have received approximately 10 inches of rain since yesterday and there is more to come.  We are having flash floods but fortunately we are high enough that won't be a problem for us. 

Mike got tear duct plugs today.  Hope they are as comfortable for him as mine have been.  I don't notice them at all but they do seem to be giving me some dry eye relief.  I recommend trying them if you suffer from dry eyes.

School started yesterday and so far the girls have reported things are going as expected.  Four-year olds can't social distance.  No surprise there.  Fortunately she has a small class.

Kindergarten is doing well with wearing masks.  You'd think adults could do the same.  Only issue is that they get pretty grubby by the end of the day.  

Ron and I are now moving on with our projects and we are going to make a puppet theater out of the PVC pipe we have left.  I saw a video on facebook and I believe it will be pretty easy.  I'll make some curtains for it and a bag to put the pieces in when it's broken down.  This should be fun to make. 

Today our Governor addressed the state and stressed the need for the 3 W's.  Wear masks, wash hands, watch distance...  Basically what the CDC has recommended since February but our illustrious leader is just now recommending.  This is after the proudly went out to eat with his family and didn't wear a mask.  Since then he contracted Covid but still wouldn't tell people to wear masks.  But now that he wants schools open he's finally telling adults to wear them and to do anything to reduce the spread of the virus.  Hope it's not too little too late.

We are one month closer to November 3rd.  I don't know if I'm anxious or not.  I know I won't predict anything....we know what happened last time.

 

Game Changer

 Things have been busy around here lately.  Ron and I finished the last of the sneeze guards.

Glad to get them out of my kitchen.

I also had the pleasure of meeting our newest addition to the family, Miss Libby Gael.

She's a keeper.  She is just now back to 5 pounds.  Tiny girl!

And...I made a new gnome.  This one is a Christmas Gnome.

And now for the not so good news.  We got a call from Mike's doctor concerning the CT scan results.  It appears he has a tumor in the sinus cavity.  They are going to do another CT with contrast this time to get a better image of it.  Either way it will probably mean surgery and possibly chemo and radiation if malignant.  We will wait until we have all the information before we tell him anything about it.  But we are weighing all possible scenarios.  No matter what this is not going to be easy and may be a game changer.  He will not handle cancer treatment very well and just the mention of it will probably send him over the edge.  He obsesses over an ingrown toenail I can't imagine what this will do and I'm not sure of my ability to handle him or care for him through this.  Please keep him in your prayers!

Rocking Along

Yesterday's project was created for my daughter Julie's kindergarten class.  Julie had sent me a picture of these painted rocks and asked if I could make it for her class.  Sooooooooo here it is:

 I have to admit these were fun to paint.  I had to cut down a canvas bag so the rocks wouldn't just rattle around inside but this was fun.  Who knew we had so many expressive faces! 

Today we are back to work on the sneeze guards.  11 more to go and then we are done.  I think I have to paint a few more pvc pipes and then it's on to assembly.

Today is the first day of school here in Norman.  Going virtual for this week and then the plan is to go in person next week.  Hoping all goes well today and everyone feels encouraged by the end of the day. 

Tomorrow I'm getting tear duct plugs put in my eyes.  I have such dry eyes the doctor wants to try plugs again.  She said of have some corneal damage in my left eye so thinks I need the plugs.  I tried them several years ago but they fell out almost immediately so who knows, maybe they will work this time. 

Meet the teacher behind the mask

 Meet the teacher night was held in person this past Thursday.  Parents and children were scheduled two at a time for a 10 minute meet and greet.  My daughter had her schedule set Wednesday and received a cancellation Thursday morning, one of her families had tested positive for Covid.  If they had come she would have been in quarantine BEFORE the 1st day of school even began.  It's ridiculous to think you can bring hundreds of children back into a school building and still prevent the spread of Covid.  One school district here was in school one week and all the teachers in the middle school tested positive.  Now they are virtual.  When all the teachers get sick who is going to teach?  Virtual school is the safest way to do school at this time.  It is not ideal by any means and will certainly be difficult for a lot of children and their families but it is still the safest.

Members of the President's task force on Covid (Dr, Birx) were here in Okla. two weeks ago giving Governor Stitt recommendations on how to slow the spread.  They recommended closing all bars in the state and issuing a statewide mask mandate.  Both of which he refused to do.  This week Oklahoma is now in the RED zone.  Go figure!

The University students have been trickling in for the past 2 weeks and our infection rate has steadily risen.  I'm very disappointed that OU has not chosen to go virtual and that they are still planning on a football season.  They only plan to fill the stadium to 30% of capacity.  Lets see....a stadium that holds roughly 140,000 that would only be 42,000.  What could go wrong there.......?  I guess I'll be stuck in my house for the next 2 to 3 years!  

Yesterday Piper's baby sister was born.  Libby Gael weighed 5lbs 4 oz. and was 17 inches long.  I was surprised to hear they went home today but I guess they want them out of the petri dish as soon as possible.  I hope I'm not 90 before I get to meet her.

 

 If I sound a bit sorry for myself I guess I am a little blue.  Seems to be this season's color!

One Room at a time!

 Here is what a lot of those "lazy" teachers who just want to stay home during the pandemic are doing on their own time and their own dime.  Creating fun ways for kids to return safely to the classroom.  Ron and I made these for my daughters Pre-K classroom and now we are working on the other daughter's kindergarten classroom.  It cost about $160.00 for each room.

If more parents would stop complaining and ask how they can help they might get their kids back in school sooner.

Consequences

Right now the two most under appreciated and overly criticized professions in America are education and law enforcement. Each under the watchful eye of people who have done neither. Each bombarded daily by people more than happy to tell them how they “should” do their job! Where one minute they are a heroes and villains the next. I can't imagine doing my job every day to come home and read what a lousy job I did on Facebook? Often from people I have considered friends and whose children I have loved.  This is happening to teachers every day.  We know what is happening to law enforcement.

My daughters have been crushed this past week.  A decision was made by the school board to delay in person teaching until the spread of community infection has decreased.  We are currently in the "red zone".  This is in accordance with the CDC guidelines as well as local health officials.   Teachers had nothing to do with the decision though many agree it was necessary.  This decision was met my ranting and raving parents who view education as nothing but free child care.  They have called teachers lazy among other things. 

If people in our community had done what was recommended, worn masks, social distanced, avoided large gatherings and washed their damn hands regularly the rate of infection would be down and they'd be getting their free daycare.  It's called choose the behavior choose the consequence. 

You're Gnomebody till Somebody Loves You

OK....Now I'm making gnomes.  This was my first.  I have enough stuff to make 50 of these things.  But yesterday Ron and I delivered this one to the porch of a friend whose company I miss very much!  I'm going to make some boy gnomes next dressed up for Christmas.  I'm doing anything to keep myself busy and away from the tv and news which is too depressing to follow.  I'm trying not to lose complete faith in this country and its people but it is getting harder every day.

This morning Mike called and said he fell again.  I don't think he was hurt other than a skinned hand.  His psychiatrist has already decreased his meds to try to counteract side effects.  I think today's fall was just an accident.  He may have tripped or was tired after taking a walk.  Our weather is so humid right now and hot that may have played a part as well.  When his meds are reduced he gets a little more agitated and increased anxiety but its a trade off for a decrease in physical side effects.  Such a balancing act.

We haven't gotten the results of his recent CT scan so guess we will talk about all of this when we meet with the doctor to discuss the scan.

Well even the doctor is getting fat from the isolation.  The vet said Ellie needs to lose a pound so despite her obvious displeasure she is no longer getting treats.  She's lost 1/2 pound so far so we are on the right track.  Wish I could say the same for myself.  I keep losing and gaining the same 5 pounds over and over.  It all depends on my mental mood at the time.  I am definitely an emotional eater and I've found a lot to get emotional about lately.
 

Rock My World

As all the craziness continues I had to find something to pass the time.  So I started painting rocks again.  I've been dropping them around town as a subtle reminder to all the idiots out there!

I had run out of rocks so Ron picked up a few from a parking lot.  I have 3 baskets full of painted rocks.  I need to spread them around I guess.  

8 to 1

Our city council meeting was live on Facebook last night and the vote to make mask wearing mandatory passed 8 to 1.  It was an interesting meeting.  We listened to all the public comments and I was sickened by the level of sheer stupidity.  So much crap about "you can't make me wear a mask" and conspiracy theory garbage I told Ron I'm ready to go find an island to live on.

The only no vote was explained as a philosophical opposition.  He was in favor of wearing masks but didn't know how it would be enforced.  Frankly I don't know either.  People are ready to shoot each other over the least thing right now and I just know some Oklahoma yahoo is going to threaten someone who asks him to put on a mask before entering a business.  You know it's coming!

It's just an absolute shame that it is necessary to mandate doing what is responsible and ethical.  I read an article that said it may be necessary to wear masks for another 4 years.  Realizing that many many people will not get the vaccine if and when it does become available!  So guess we just better get used to the idea!

The mandate is for everyone over the age of six.

town hall meeting

Sometime this week our city council will be voting on a mandatory mask requirement.  I'm waging no bets on how that will turn out.  Interesting enough even if they pass such a requirement in will not apply to schools. 

Last night Ron and I listened to an online town hall meeting with one of our state representatives.  Basically what we learned is that there is no final plan on returning to school.  I understand that this is a very fluid situation that is ever changing but if you are pretty certain school will be open there are just some common sense things you would or should have in place and ready to go.  I think this biggest deterrent is there is no money.  A public school system already gutted financially from years and years of cuts is certainly not prepared to cover the cost of a pandemic.

Wow, twenty-five years ago when I encouraged my daughters to seek degrees in education I never thought it would be a high risk profession.  But from school shootings to pandemics I've changed my mind.  It was bad enough to think they would be expected to shield students with their own bodies during a shooting.  Now they have to fight an invisible enemy.  There are no virus drills for this threat.  Children won't be hiding under desks or in bathrooms to protect themselves from this boogie man.  Teachers can't just lock doors to keep this threat at bay.  And I can assure you that whatever defense they implement it will come out of their own pocket.

And I promise you....if a child becomes infected who do you think will be blamed?  Yep...now this I will bet on!

Happy Birthday America

Happy 4th of July!  Although it is really hard to find something to celebrate about in the midst of a pandemic.  Of course our commander in chief doesn't seem to have any difficulty in that department.  He's just gathering a few thousand of the closest enablers and throwing himself a party!  

Enough of that..............I can't even stand hearing from my own head anymore.  I've read too much and think too much.

I've been concentrating my thoughts on what to do to help my daughters prepare for the upcoming school year.  I'm preparing a list of purchases they will need such as hand sanitizer in bulk, disinfecting spray, clorox wipes, individual clear plastic boxes for each student to store their personal supplies (no sharing of supplies).  Disposable masks for those parents who show up unmasked and disposable gloves.  The list keeps growing.  So far I'm up to about $1000.  They are each given $200 to spend on supplies.  Of course most of the stuff will have to be purchased several times as supplies run out. Oh in addition each of them need no touch thermometers.  They run about $69.00 each.

None of the above will be supplied by the school system.  

Every year I usually spend $500 on each classroom.  It's the best way I know to help out.  I know how much they spend out of pocket each year so I just want to help a little.  Ron and I both volunteered every Thursday last year to help stuff take home folders and anything else they needed but this year we won't be able to do that.  So I guess $ is about the only thing I can contribute at this point.  

Again I ask the question...Why would anyone want to become a teacher today?
 
 

OK where is the voice of reason?

This morning I read that 318 child care centers in Texas have had over 400 positive cases of COVID19 with over almost 300 of those in children. These were while they were following recommended guidelines of screening temps. and controlling access by visitors while following strict sanitation protocols.  Hearing that just confirms my feelings about resuming school in the Fall.  I shared the information from Texas on my Facebook feed and immediately received a reply from a former worker stating she had just seen a video from a physician in Okla. City who says that no one under 17 can be infected by the virus because they don't have the necessary "receptors".  She said he is an "expert" on the subject.

So........1 doctor in Okla. City knows more than all the infectious disease specialists world wide!  In order to believe this 1 doctor either the Dallas Morning Sun is lying or the 318 child care centers are lying or the Texas State Health Department is lying and lets just throw in Dr. Fauci and every other front line medical provider here and around the world.  They all are conspiring to hyperbole a pandemic.  OH DEAR GOD....you can't get 4 people to agree on where to eat but you can get THAT kind of cooperation from millions of people????? 

Question anyone who claims to know everything!  Even the President!

Come on November

Our local school system surveyed teachers several times asking for their input on how school should be resumed in the Fall.  What kinds of precautions they would like to see in place and input on online teaching etc.  They must have sent them 3 or 4 different surveys.  At the same time they surveyed parents.  Well after much deliberation teachers were informed today on how school will resume in the Fall.  School will resume without any precautions or changes what-so-ever.  No social distancing, no reduction in number of students, no masks, no limiting of visitors, no additional cleaning or sanitizing, absolutely nothing!  I am totally disgusted!  Basically it's teach at your own risk!!!!

Should I be surprised?  I guess not!  We've been warned, we have been told what to do to suppress the spread but because we have no leadership and a loon steering the boat, it is now a political statement to ignore any recommendations by experts.  The number of people being infected every day is predicted to reach 100,000 new cases per day.

November can't get here soon enough!

Driver's Ed

I listened to a very interesting Podcast today on Moyers on Democracy.  The Podcast:  Trump's Grotesque Tulsa Speech and the Cult of Trump.  Bill Moyers talks with journalist Jeff Sharlet, whose reporting for Vanity Fair describes how Trump the orator has turned his re-election campaign into a militant crusade fueled by conspiracy theories and rhetoric that incites violence.

 https://billmoyers.com/spotlight/bill-moyers-on-democracy-podcast/

It's very interesting but worth listening to if for no other reason than remaining aware of just what is at stake.

On a lighter note we are dog sitting tonight.  My daughter and her husband took their four girls to the lake for an overnight stay. The girls are 15 now and they will have 4 drivers in another year.  They thought they'd take them down to my other daughter's lake house and teach them how to drive the golf carts.  Ellie is enjoying the company of their two dogs today.  They have played non stop all day and hopefully will sleep all night with little fuss. 

I taught my twins how to drive but I can't imagine teaching quadruplets.  I'd have to be on valium.  I asked my daughter how the girls were doing and she said non of them know where the brake is.  I remember the girls didn't know either.  It always felt like they were turning on two wheels. Scared the life out of me.

Shortly after the girls got their licenses to drive Julie came home from an outing carrying two of the hubcaps from my car.  They were scratched all to heck and when I questioned what had happened she defensively replied, "Well, did you want me to hit the kid on the bike?" at which I responded, "Were those your only two options? You do have a brake!" 

Sometimes payback is fun to watch!

What The Heck Is A NEW NORMAL anyway?

Due to the fact that every day is just a continuation of the last I haven't had much to say.  We have turned off the tv because the news is enough to make us go screaming down the street without  a mask.  I get all the news I can stand from the news feeds I subscribe to online.  Today's news from Kentucky was enough to set off today's bad mood.  Voter suppression that is so blatant and racially targeted only a corrupt legal system would have let it stand.  It just makes me sick.

The circus came to town in Oklahoma this past Saturday.  The only consolation was that Trump's expected HUGE turnout didn't even fill the 20,000 seats in the convention center.  There were no crowds waiting outside either.  Of course there were still 6,200   attendees too many.  I suppose we will see the aftermath of that many unmasked people crowded together in about 14 days.  If they get infected they have their ringmaster to thank for encouraging their willful disregard of health precautions.

November can't get here soon enough for a number of reasons.  The obvious is the opportunity to vote this clown out of office.  Of course I would like to see everyone who supported him during the past 4 years exit the door right behind him.  The other is hopefully we will be just that much closer to a vaccine and/or treatment for COVID19.  

I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe. 

Groundhog Day

I feel like I'm in the movie Groundhog Day!  I can't tell one day from the next.  They are all the same.  The only time we leave the house is to go to Mike's or Ron does a grocery pickup at Walmart.  My girls come by once in awhile and we sit in the backyard a safe distance from one another.  This is life in quarantine.

Oklahoma has begun reopening businesses but for the life of me it appears that people are acting as though the dang virus doesn't exist.  Many of them refuse to wear masks and for what reason completely baffles me.  Our mayor has held firm until just this week when the states attorney general chimed in and said churches can reopen.  Fortunately our church doesn't feel it is safe and will continue with online services.   The mayor was trying to do a slow reopen but everyone from beauty parlors to churches got in an uproar forcing her to go ahead and reopen just about everything.

Now that we have managed to politicize the virus we also managed to create a bigger battleground.  No one knows what to believe or who to listen to for information.  I know who I don't listen to but the experts keep getting pushed aside and are not saying as much now.  My plan is to continue social distancing and remaining at home as much as humanly possible.  That is until we have a vaccine or a very effective treatment.
 

 

The Shopping Wizard

Ron and I started exercising each morning following a set of dvd's designed for seniors.  It includes seated versions for some of the exercises and that works for my bad knees.  Yesterday we did the balance routine and found out we don't have any!  We have a chart to follow that tells which dvd to use for each day.  So far it is kind of fun and just gave us something else to add to our routine.

I'm wishing I could go and purchase flowers for the window boxes and planters but I'm too afraid to go anywhere.  I resorted to buying some fake ones for some of my pots and OH MY they are ugly!  They are the brightest neon pink I've ever seen!  Oh well, from a VERY LONG distance they aren't so bad.  Maybe they will chase the neighbor's cat away.  

We are still under a stay at home order but we still see a lot of traffic on the streets.  The only place we go is to Mike's but you'd think it was just business as usual with the amount of cars on the streets.  Yesterday we went over and cleaned his condo and then played monopoly with him.  We've developed a shorter version of the game because it would take two days and we still wouldn't finish.  Mike lands on his own property and then tries to get us to pay up!  He has his own set of rules!

We have managed to get all our groceries without leaving the house.  Ron has it down to a science.  He places the order at 12:01 am.  That's when all the shelves are being restocked and then he chooses a 6:30 am delivery.  That way when the shopper goes to the store the shelves are restocked and we get everything on our order.  If you order in the middle of the day the shelves are bare and you just don't get anything.  

So, we are in good shape right now as far as food goes.  The freezer is full and I'm cooking every day.  It's working out just fine.  The only down side is how much I miss my daughters.  I facetime with them every day but it isn't the same.  Of course I haven't seen Piper in over a month and I miss her so much.  I don't know if I mentioned she is going to have a little sister in September.  Don't know when I'll get to see the new baby.  Anyone's guess at this point.

Well, again, hope everyone is well.  Find something to be grateful each and every day.

Creating A Routine

We are really trying to establish a routine.  A short time ago I purchased some exercise dvd's designed specifically for seniors.  Some of them are seated, some include weights and others are for balance and strengthening.  Ron and I have set time aside each morning to do the exercises.  We are also walking 15 to 30 minutes each day.  Mike usually does this with us.  I'm hoping this helps us resist the urge to just sit and eat all day!

Yesterday my daughter Julie brought her dogs over for a play date with Ellie.  We observed social distancing but it was so good to see her and visit with her for awhile.  The weather was perfect.  

Today we are having thunder storms.  As long as there is no severe weather I'm ok with some rain.

I heard this morning that Amazon workers are threatening to strike along with some of the food delivery service workers.  I can't say that I blame them.  They are all risking their lives to do this kind of work and making millions for their prospective companies.  It is only right that they be given hazard pay as well as good medical leave if they acquire the virus.  It's about time that some of these companies learn to pass it down...............

What do you think about President Trump wanting Governor's to "play nice" if they want to get their medical supplies.  Sometimes I think we are dealing with a four year-old.  It just baffles the mind.  Honestly I stopped listening to his briefings because so much of it was him just wanting to be praised.   Since Dr. Fauci is no longer attending these briefings I haven't found a reason to listen quite frankly.  I guess the Doctor wasn't "playing nice".

Hope all are well!

 

Lessons to learn

As businesses close in town we were lucky enough to get Ellie in for a haircut that may have to last for several weeks if not months.  Thank goodness...she was looking at big shaggy.  But for now she's looking as cute as a bug.

Gotta admit...that's one sweet little pup!  One of the sweetest dogs I have ever owned and she plays us like violins.

In addition to Ellie's haircut Mike was here and he assisted Ron with some projects he had going.  He will come back over tomorrow as well.

I've really tried hard to distance myself from the news today.  I prepared some things for the freezer and looked through recipes trying to get some ideas for simple freezer meals.  Who knows this pandemic may make me a better cook.

When my daughter was here the other day we maintained a safe distance.

It's a good thing my hearing is still relatively good!  I don't care how far apart we have to stay it was still good to see her.

My daughters and their fellow teachers participated in a drive by parade through the neighborhoods of their students.  It was so sweet to see children in their yards waving to their teachers as they drove past.  I think it did them all a lot of good as the year ended so abruptly without closure for the teachers as well as students.

I am enjoying seeing the way people are finding ways to overcome the challenges we currently face.  Restaurants have partnered with Homeland grocery to sell single serve meals from their establishments.  Homeland is carrying meals from several different local restaurants for $10.00 each.  Profits from the meals are going directly to the foodservice workers currently without jobs.

You see people stepping up to help the truckers who now find themselves on the road with no places to get meals.  Individuals have been manning truck stops and distributing sandwiches, drinks and treats to the truckers as a way to say thanks!

We haven't participated but some homes are hanging Christmas lights in their windows as a sign of support.  Thousands of masks are being hand sewn by volunteers although their are conflicting reports that the masks don't really protect anyone from the virus and people may rely on them and put themselves at greater risk.  

I read what one doctor said in New York.  You can't get the virus if you don't meet it.  So....just stay home.  Simple instruction but seems people are resistant to do follow it.

But I am going to choose to believe that when this is over we will be a better nation than before.  That teachers will be appreciated for the jobs they perform.  That parents will have learned to spend quality time with their children.  And......I hope more than anything we all will have learned to be kinder to one another.

Stay safe friends!
 
 

Nuts for Winter

Little did I know that the reason I gained 20 pounds was because I was preparing for a pandemic!  A little fat reserve can come in handy.  Since we began this self isolation I have lost 6 pounds.  Partly I think because of stress and also not eating out.  I've also been rationing portions because grocery shopping is hit and miss.  I don't know what is available from day to day.

Our mayor issued a stay home proclamation yesterday requiring all non essential businesses to close and for residents to stay home.  It goes into effect at midnight tonight.  I'm anxious to see if it makes any difference.  Today Ron and I delivered toilet paper and food to my niece and then drove to Mike's to clean his condo and sit with him awhile.  People were all over the place and for the life of me I can't figure out where they are all going.  It just looked like a typical day.  We will see what tomorrow brings.

On the subject of Mike he seemed a little out of it today.  A lot of things he talked about didn't make sense.  It's hard to tell sometimes if it is just his cognitive issues or his mental illness.  Our goal has been to create a new routine for him and try to get him stabilized.  I know he is anxious and I do my best to keep him reassured.  I also try to keep him from watching the news but that's hard since I'm not there 24/7.

For fear of sounding like a complete nut job myself I will share this little tidbit.  Ever since my mother passed away in 2009 I often look at the clock and see 3 digit numbers.  3:33, 2:22, 4:44, etc.  Every time this happens I think maybe my parents are talking to me.  I know that's out there but it gives me comfort all the same.  So I always stop what I'm doing and silently greet them with "Hi mom, Hi dad!"  This has kept me feeling close to them.  

So, today when I was at Mike's I was changing the sheets on his bed and happened to glance at the clock and it said 1:11.  I greeted mom and dad and then had this strong feeling I needed to pray with them.  I stopped what I was doing and just silently prayed the Our Father.  Just as I said amen I looked up just to see the clock change to 1:12.  As if they said Amen as well.  

I know....it's crazy...so don't call the authorities.  But since my mother died I have wanted to know if they are pleased with how I am caring for my brother.  So I guess this is my way of getting that confirmation even if it is just in my head.  Every day I have a better appreciation for the care they gave him and also a better understanding of just how hard it was for both of them.  I just want them to know that I'm trying to give him the best quality of life I can.  

Sunshine Came Softly

Ahh so happy to see the sun.  It's been a week of cloudy, rainy weather and that coupled with the events around the world made way for a lot of gloom.  Somehow the sun has a way of awakening the spirit.

I've been receiving some really nasty comments from what I assume is a very disgruntled millennial.  I've deleted them because I don't want to provide a platform for this type of rhetoric.  They are certainly entitled to their opinion but they need to create their own blog and share it with those who choose to listen.  Not here.

I changed some of my settings but don't know how successful I was at making it harder for this type of thing.  Lord knows I hope future generations do a better job than we have done.

I'm just one person trying to weather through a shared crisis.  I hope young people take this virus seriously because it appears to not distinguish between young and old.  If they are not careful they will be leaving their fate in the hands of us old people.  All the deaths here have been people under the age of 40.  Virus doesn't discriminate.  So young people you have to stay alive to make a difference.

 

Maintaining Social Distancing

I had my first visit with one of my daughters today.  She and her husband came by to drop off a propane tank for our grill.  We kept 6 feet between us as we visited in the backyard.  Hard not to be able to hug your children but not worth the risk of exposure as this time.  Ron and I have been so diligent about remaining at home I'd hate for all of our distancing to have been for nothing.

The number of confirmed cases continues to rise daily.  I'm not even sure what the count is today.  I'm afraid our Governor will not take the necessary steps to contain the virus because he refuses to consider mandatory quarantine.  Frankly he just parrots what the President says.  He is also an anti-vaxer.  He refuses to have his children vaccinated and only a week ago was telling everyone to continue going to restaurants and even shared a video of he and his family doing just that.  The next day he declared a state of emergency for the state of Okla.   Sound familiar?

Continuing our plan to create a new routine for my brother we spent yesterday afternoon playing Jinga and gin rummy with him.

I said it was like Moe watching Larry and Curly play chess.  Very entertaining!  So far our efforts are paying off as Mike is still stable.  I try to avoid any discussion about the pandemic when he is around and distract him if he brings it up.

My daughter shared a picture with me of her neighbors and how they are staying in contact with each other while maintaining social distancing.

They are gathering in the cul-de-sac and tomorrow evening each household is ordering take out and they are meeting again to share a meal together.  Creative ways to bridge the social distancing!

I hope people will share some of the ways they are bridging the distance.  There are very clever and resourceful people in the country.

On Wednesday we will be participating in the world wide prayer called for by the Pope.  At 12:00 noon he has asked the world's Christians to recite the Our Father together.  That will be 6 am our time.  Prayer can't hurt!

Hope everyone is staying healthy and staying in touch!

Passing the Time

This is how we spent our afternoon yesterday.  Play monopoly (or a local version called Normanopoly) It's a monopoly board of our town.  What a time.  Mike had no idea most of the time about what was going on but he was having a blast anyway.  Every time I told him Ron owed him money he would just get so excited.  Of course if it went the other way and he owed one of us money he wasn't so thrilled.  

I was trying to find the video I made of Ron on St. Patrick's day.  I talked him into dressing up in green and dancing an Irish gig.  He loves Riverdance so he gave it a try.  Stiff arms at his sides and all.  I about choked from laughing.  He's such a good sport.  Anything to entertain his wife.

How to balance just how much news to watch is difficult.  You want to stay informed if anything changes concerning stricter isolation requirements but you also don't need to just get overwhelmed with bad news from around the country.  I just wish we had looked at China and their containment efforts and followed their example.  They haven't reported any new cases now for 2 days.  If we had acted immediately we would be in so much better shape.  It would have required more hardship on some but it would have flattened the curve ahead of the virus. 

Frankly I can't even listen to this Administration.  I can't trust one thing I'm hearing so I rely totally on local news and everything else from the CDC and WHO.  There isn't much to think about you just have to do everything you can to avoid exposure.

The number of cases is growing daily here in Oklahoma.  Certainly not at the level of NY and California.  We are more spread out and that helps a lot.  It's surprising at the number of young people who are getting sick and a lot more seriously ill than expected.

Today we are going to play another game with Mike and eat fried bologna sandwiches for lunch.  Trying to stretch our food supply a little further than usual since it has become harder to get groceries.  They haven't been able to keep up with the demand of all the panic buying.  Our hospitals are begging people to donate gloves, masks, clorox wipes and hand sanitizer.  Hopefully some of the hoarders will help out.  I only purchased 1 large bottle of hand sanitizer.  I have plenty of soap and water so figured sanitizer was only needed if and when we had to leave the house for something.

Well all, stay healthy and stay as busy as you can.  Share any tips you may have on coping with isolation.  There are a lot of folks who are completely alone.  

Finally...Back online

Wow, I've been trying to regain access to blogger for months.  Every time I thought I had resolved the problem I'd be kicked out before I ever got back in.  Hopefully, fingers crossed that problem has now been resolved.  Or at least until the next time I try to login.

I might as well just skip the past 7 months and jump to today.  Ron, myself and Mike started self-quarantine 3 weeks ago.  It has been interesting to say the least.  We have no contact with anyone outside the 3 of us.  Mike is holding up well as long as we are together.  He only had one minor episode but was able to regain his composure rather quickly.  We have 19 confirmed cases of Covid 19.  One is a two year old little girl.  Of course there are many who do not know they are carrying it so expect the numbers will increase daily.  It's averaging doubling every 24 hours.

Our city has closed everything except essentials.  Only prepared food you can get is either drive-through or curbside pick-up.  But people have just rushed the supermarkets.  So much for social distancing.  You can't find anything on the selves right now.  We had stocked up (not hoarded) what we needed several weeks ago.  Now we are only getting food delivered through Shipt.  It's working fairly well but right now there isn't a lot of variety.  Get what you can.

Of course I'm worried for my daughters.  Fortunately school has been canceled and probably for the remainder of the year.  Teachers were allowed to come to school today at scheduled times to retrieve anything they need to take home.  They will be deep cleaning the school later.  They are not allowed to tutor online or teach lessons because so many students do not have access to internet.  This would create an imbalance that would be hard to deal with when school resumes.

Only one son-in-law is having to go to his workplace.  Of course he's a government employee wouldn't you know.  The other is a professor at the University of Okla. and they have closed campus and he is instructing from home.

My lung doctor told me to self quarantine.  Should I develop a fever I'm to call him and he will get me directly admitted to hospital.  Won't have to go through ER.  Hopefully that will never be necessary.  We don't have enough equipment to treat everyone and if they have to triage I would probably not receive care. 

All I can say is I believe this will get a lot worse before it gets better.  I'm hoping that develop a treatment soon (some are looking promising) and or a vaccine.  Otherwise my head will probably remain hidden for the next 18 months or longer.