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.
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...
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
