From Siberia to the Bahamas

 You just gotta love Oklahoma.  We were in Siberia last week and the Bahamas this week.  Today was in the 70's after being -12 a few days ago.  Ron and I took advantage of the sunshine and picked up my daughter's little dog and brought her over for a play date.  While the two pooches ran around in the backyard we cleaned out one of the flower beds and just soaked up the sunshine.  I told Ron I'm a little concerned about the upcoming tornado season.  Since we have been in a state of extremes for so long no telling what that will be like.  Last year we were considering building a tornado shelter but could never decide what kind or where to put it.  Normally we just get in an interior hallway and put bike helmets on our heads.  That is about as much of a shelter as I can get Ron in anyway.  I could just see him getting blown away standing outside the shelter door.

I got a long overdue haircut today and feel so much better.  It's funny how that one little thing can improve your disposition.  I literally couldn't do anything with my hair.  I prefer to keep it short because basically I'm too lazy to spend too much time fussing with it.  Besides no matter how much time I spend trying to fix it my hair has a will of its own.  I've either had really long hair which I put in a ponytail (when I was younger) or really short hair.  I guess I have my extremes as well.

I've been thinking about the yard projects I'd like to get done this year.  We have to have another tree removed because of storm damage.  We are also considering having a new patio installed, larger with a cover.  We want to have a ceiling fan as well.  If you don't have shade in the summer you just can't bear the heat.  It's brutal.  In my wildest of fancy's I'd like a screened in patio so I can get away from the mosquitoes....I'm a human bug zapper!

I guess we'd better keep entering those publisher clearing house sweepstakes if I'm ever going to get my wish list completed.

The Big Thaw

 Well we are beginning to thaw out in Oklahoma.  We were above freezing yesterday by only 3 degrees but we got up to 40 today and the snow is melting.  We were so lucky compared to our Texas neighbors.  Not nearly as many people lost power here but then Oklahoma didn't deregulate their energy grid.  We were able to buy from other states which kept us going.  I've been amazed at how Texas Republicans are blaming everybody from the Easter bunny to Santa Claus but mostly Biden and AOC for their problems.  The federal government isn't moving fast enough says the state that is always wanting to secede from the union.  Anyway I wouldn't wish what they've gone through on my worse enemy.

Mike didn't pretty good through the arctic blast but he's been a little wack-a-doodle the last few days.  I think his meds were cut just a smidge too much.  We missed the sweet spot.  Guess we will talk to his psychiatrist again.  Also his hand tremble is back since he stopped the buspirone. The shaking is a side effect of Risperdal.  Everything has side effects and you just have to decide which is worse.

We got to visit with my daughters Thursday for a little while.  We didn't wear masks but maintained distance.  It felt almost normal.  I'm looking forward to them getting their second dose of vaccine and hopefully soon we will be able to get together more often.

Our schools are still closed due to the weather.  Going into the third week.  A lot of the schools suffered damage from the storm.  A lot of broken water lines.  They will do remote learning Monday and that will allow teachers to get vaccinated.  A vaccination clinic is being held and they plan to vaccinate about 7,000 Monday.  All of this will make it safer for in person learning.  It's what I've been praying for this past year.

Here is to warmer, safer days ahead!!

Happy Valentine's Day

 Well, like everything else that's going on we are now getting unusually cold weather for Oklahoma.  Right now it is 7 degrees and will be about 17 below zero tonight.  They predicted 14 inches of snow but we don't have nearly that much.  Some places have 6 foot snow drifts but we are ok on that front.  I've just retreated under the covers and Ellie and I are keeping each other warm.

Ron, Mike and I are fully vaccinated now and my daughters have each received their first dose.  This was such a relief to me.  One clinic opened up to teachers for one day because they had so many cancellations due to weather. So the girls took advantage of the opportunity and got their shots.

Like a lot of people I watched the impeachment trial.  I had no expectation of a conviction so I wasn't disappointment with the result.  I just want 45 to fade away which unfortunately he has no intention of doing.  

Hope everyone is having a great Valentine's day and staying warm and toasty!

A bit of sunshine in a dreary day!

 One thing I haven't shared is the miraculous changes happening with my brother.  After a discussion with his psychiatrist changes were made to his medications and we have been slowly reducing his clinozapam and have eliminated his buspirone.  There was almost an instant change, like a thin veil had been lifted and underneath is the brother I remember.  He is thinking clearly and his constant phone calls have stopped.  He doesn't lose his train of thought and just overall is AMAZINGLY better.  Of course he still requires assistance with meals and grocery shopping but the improvement is miraculous.  I can't even describe how much this has helped Ron and I.  I feel so much more hopeful for the future.  We will continue to monitor him and if we see an increase in anxiety we will quickly report it to his doctor.  I don't think he was initially over medicated because his symptoms at that time were so severe it required that level of sedation.  But he has improved and as long as his symptoms remain controlled it is best to use as little medication as possible.  We have been through hell for the past 10 years.  We can finally breathe again.

I have no words! But I'll give it a shot!

 On the 6th of January I received my first dose of the Moderna vaccine.  I was so excited to get it I had not slept but a few hours the night before.  So about 11:00 I fell asleep but awoke to find the Capitol building under seige.  I was taken back not sure what was happening but I never once felt shocked.  Nothing is shocking that relates to Donald Trump.  He prepares you for anything through his rhetoric.  The only people who seem to have been surprised by Wednesday's insurrection were the Capitol police.  God only knows why as they were being offered assistance days before the event.  

I know there are conflicting ideas as to where we go from here.  Do we impeach 45 even if no action is taken during the first 100 days of Biden's administration.  Knowing how short memories are  I wonder if there would even be a chance of conviction.  Part of me believes there must be some consequence for his actions.  No one should ever be above the law.  Though we see that is not the case when one has the privileges afforded by race and wealth. It is played out in courts every day.

Something else that has come to mind is the need for every American to hold a mirror to their own face.  We have to ask ourselves if we have contributed to the divide by engaging in verbal combat with individuals who do not share our political views. I left social media because the attacks from both sides were becoming more and more hostile.  I realized that no ones views were going to be swayed by a post on Facebook no matter how articulate or logical you think it sounds.

My biggest concern of all is how do we combat disinformation?  The first time the idea of "alternative facts" was introduced I thought we were doomed.  Now, no amount of data, research, fact will persuade someone from what they "want" to believe.  Technology and the information highway may be the biggest enemy of democracy.   It is not an external threat I fear will bring the country down.  The seeds of distrust were planted and cultivated and here we are.  People willing to destroy the very thing they believe to have been stolen from them. 

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.