Monday

 Good Monday morning.  It's 8:29 am and I'm sitting here waiting.  I decided to add a bit of bright sunshine here with the daffodils photo.  Looking forward to spring already and it's only January 2.  I'm waiting to get an email to pick up a small grocery order.  I'm waiting for little Mini to come and be my companion for the next week or two.  I'm waiting for the washer to stop so I can dry the sheets.  I'm waiting for my energy to pick back up so I can take down Christmas.  I seem to do a lot of waiting.  That's okay, I'm a very good waiter.  

This flu thing is getting better and better.  I thought this morning that if I had NOT had the vaccination I might have been a lot sicker.  Of course the rounds of Tamiflu have helped tremendously too.  Yesterday I felt so much better that I got nearly all of my laundry done.  I cleaned the kitchen, dishes and all and wiped surfaces with Clorox wipes.  Got to get rid of the flu germs before Mini arrives.  I even went around and gathered up a lot of the Christmas decor that was spread throughout the front of the house in preparation of storage for another year.  I've been thinking about how I'm going to keep a 3 year old entertained for an extended time.  If the weather keeps staying warm I think we will get Snicklefritz's old tricycle and clean it up and teach Mini how to ride it around the back patio.  Time spent in fresh air...CHECK!  She will also be in her day school Tuesday-Thursday, so there will be time for me to go to the office a bit or even to the studio.  At home maybe more watercoloring and the tricycling.  I'm going to try and not do too much TV time, keep her busy with other things, maybe helping me.  I'm going to try and get her to help in her food preparation, get the step stool out that Snicklefritz used to use a lot to help.  Got to keep her busy mind and body.  Trust me, I'm going to need a vacation when this all over...LOL!  Cabin time.  Looking forward to a lot of time spent at the cabin and possibly with her in tow along with Snicklefritz.  Feels like being a mom again, just a LOT OLDER!  We will get through this and before you know it Max will be here and a big part of our lives.  Tomorrow is the induction day so stay tuned for updates.

Covid Ramifications, Family Loss

Good Monday Morning and yes it is a GOOD Monday morning!  

After a week of isolation and battling the "VID"  I have won and am testing negative and so is The Hubby.  It has not been all pleasant for me I can assure you.  The Hubby had just a little sniffle and that was about it, oh and he threw his back out leaning over in his chair one evening at dinner.  Me, well, my covid took a dark turn, I got strep throat, at least that is MY diagnosis.  My throat was so sore, so very sore I could not swallow without crying out in pain.  For nearly 3 solid days of this I contacted the doctor again and said I needed something to help, thinking it was just the virus.  They sent a prescription of liquid lidocaine, a viscous concoction that did not help at all and only made me want to throw up, which was not appealing with the throat I had!!!!  I tried, man I tried but it was not working and the throat just got worse and worse.  I slept Wednesday night with a hand towel stuffed in my mouth to catch the saliva so I didn't have to swallow, now that is pain!  The PA said wait to Friday morning and then they would call in an antibiotic if nothing had changed.  By Thursday evening I was a basket case.  I sent three messages PLEADING for help and she sent in a prescription for the antibiotic.  Today, Monday morning, there is still a tinge of sore but I can sleep, I can swallow, and I can talk without screaming and I tested NEGATIVE!  I can tell you I've had strep many times and this is the worst, absolute worst I have ever had in my life.  And honestly if I had not been vaccinated and boosted I probably would have been in the hospital because it wanted to go to my chest really bad.  I don't care what anti-vaxxer's say being vaccinated may have saved my life or at least a stay in the hospital.  On the plus side, we can get it again...ARGHHHHH!  WTF.  One of the tech's who had to come and fix our A/C that went out during this crap said he's had it three times!  WHAT!  Well, CRAP.

It's also been kind of crappy month family wise because I've lost a cousin and Saturday morning my Aunt Jane, one of my Daddy's sister's had a heart attack.  There are now only two precious aunts left.  Jerry, my cousin I used to babysit him and his little brother.  He had a heart attack too, but he had heart issues.  

Aunt Jane

Cousin Jerry in the front in the little red suit!

Birthdays and Vaccines

This is the face of a fully vaccinated and boostered person.  I also had my flu shot and the pneumonia shot for over 65.  I am a HUGE believer in any kind of vaccines.  I was raised in the early times when polio was abounding in this world and my mother took me to the school cafeteria where I was given the sugar cube, gladly.  I also had the smallpox vaccine and have the scar to show for it.  I was born before there were mumps and measles vaccines, hence I had all that.  I've had several versions of measles, mumps and chicken pox (still have scars from that.)  Yes I did survive but a lot did not and some had lifelong debilitating side effects from the diseases.  

I had my 1st and 2nd Covid vaccine and last week I quickly got in line for my booster.  I had absolutely no side effects as did The Hubby when he got his on Friday.  We are both good and I feel a sigh of relief.  Yes I know I can still get the virus, much like the flu that they tell you that you can still get even if you are vaccinated. There are different variants and that is what is happening to the Covid virus.  I suspect that every fall when we line up for the flu shot the Covid shot will be part of it too.  You cannot just eat healthy or have some other kind of alternative care and think you are bulletproof, that is just insane.  Too many have died with that kind of attitude. Stepping down now. 

The weekend was very quiet at the cabin.  We watched football (not my thing) and enjoyed a small gathering for dinners and a bit of birthday cake for my friend.  Yesterday morning was just awesome as the fog rolled in and all you could hear were the crows in the background calling out that fall was here. 

Friday and Saturday also ushered in another year for both the grandgirls.  This little munchkin turned 2!  It's so hard to believe how fast she is growing.

Snicklefritz turned 9...WHAT!!!  So grown up she is.

Since their birthdays are a day apart we celebrated together and then they did their own things on the weekend.  Min said, "I blow candles, eat cake and make wish."  Yes she did.

Happy Birthday my darling girls.  Granny loves you to the ends of the earth and back.

 

Anniversary and Happy (& not so happy) Time

 

First of all, Happy Anniversary to you for three years of wedded bliss and 10 years of knowing each other.  We celebrated with them last night with their little angel, the oldest and her family and Nick's bestie from New York.  It was a wonderful dinner of lots of laughter and good food.  It's quite wonderful to have my family so very close during all this damn pandemic crap.  

A lot has been on my mind lately and has put me in a funk, not bad and not good.  First, just because I've not posted food stuff doesn't mean I've stopped.  On the contrary, I am continuing the road down the weight loss trail.  In fact, I had a 6 month check-up with my regular doctor yesterday and he was quite pleased with me.  At first his nurse took my blood pressure and announced it was 140/72!!!! WTF!  I was alarmed and he was too when he came in and retook it.  Well, I don't know what is wrong with that nurse but it was 124/70.  WHEW!  I don't know what she did but I felt a lot better after he took it himself and so did he and he announced an almost perfect patient with all I'm doing.  I also got the pneumonia shot they give if you are over 65.  It's a more souped up version and I'm all over it.  Then I went downstairs to the lab for blood draw to check my thyroid, liver, etc levels.  The girl called me in and we were ALL masked.  She came over, leaned over to draw the blood and noticed the band-aid for my pneumonia shot and asked if I'd had the Covid vaccination.  I said, "Yes."  She replied that she had not, that she was scared of it and then asked how mine went.  I WAS SHOCKED that she was IN MY FACE (mask on) and admitting that.  I have not been around anyone unvaccinated if I could help it and if I find out I back off immediately.  I've been super careful with myself in those situations and now this.  If I get Covid I will know EXACTLY where I got it.  I was so damn mad.  This person is in the health care industry and afraid to get a damn shot!  GOOD GRIEF!  Really ended a good morning on a bad note there.

I'm also upset with some of my "friends."  I can't and won't go into it but I got a phone call which shocked me the other day.  It pissed me off to no end and continues to effect my mind.  Some people can be so stupid in their tact and how the talk to people.  I (we) are going to pull in for a bit, away from the masses, so to speak, and let some stuff die down, i.e. our anger by unfeeling, out of touch people.  I will continue living my life, being a kind, nice, person the best I can.  Whew,  Ohmmm, Ohmmm, Ohmmm

Back to the easel where I can let stuff go in my head and find my happy place...later friends

Lost Sleep

I have been up a good part of the night because of the rising numbers from Covid.  I shared it on FB and honestly only got a few responses for the rightness of this.  I am on board for being vaccinated for sure.  There was only one negative and the stupidity of their reasoning is bugging me.  I've heard all kinds of reasons not to be vaccinated, and these I've personally heard:  

* It's not tested enough, we're guinea pigs

* I'm waiting to see the side effects of the shot

* I'm afraid of the side effects

* It's my right not to be vaccinated

* It's against my beliefs

* You can't tell me what to do

* I've had Covid, it wasn't that bad

* I've never been vaccinated for anything before

* It can make me infertile

Okay, now I will challenge these:

* There are literally MILLIONS of people who've had the vaccine, we are not guinea pigs

* IF you have side effects of the shot they last a day, maybe two, not unlike possibly the flu shot

* It's my right NOT TO BE INFECTED BY YOU UNVACCINATED

* This is NOT a religious thing, it is medical, get over yourself.  

* What are you 13 years old rebelling!!!

* If you had Covid I can bet you say you had Covid but if you won't get a vaccine you probably weren't tested either so you probably DIDN'T have Covid!

* If you are my age I can almost guarantee you have been vaccinated for at least polio and smallpox!

* I know 4 people who have gotten pregnant during this damn thing!!!

Listen people, get over yourself and let's get this thing beat back down again before we wipe out our babies now because that is who it is hitting hardest now.  Think of your fellow mankind here and let's do the right thing and get poked! A friend of ours who is vaccinated is a pilot and his co-pilot (private pilots) is...was unvaccinated.  The co-pilot passed away and our vaccinated friend got Covid but is getting over it.  Our daughter has a friend, a couple with five children who did not get the vaccine and the husband is in the hospital fighting for his life and losing that fight.  This is completely crazy that people are not willing to suck it up to save lives, their lives, their children's lives.  I've seen what it can do to a baby.  Our little Min had it early on and it was heartbreaking to watch her suffer.  Her momma still has issues with smell and taste and another friend is still losing his hair by the handfuls from having Covid.  I am TERRIFIED of contracting this thing because of my lungs.  

I DO NOT WANT TO DIE!!!  

This is why when I woke up at 12:30 last night I could not go back to sleep until around 3:30.  My mind was whirring again like it was when this all started a year and a half ago.  

I'm sorry to be on a soapbox, but I can't sleep from the worry.  Let's all be careful and do the right thing.  Let's get back on track for our lives, our future, our children and stop the fighting and the ignorance.

Saturday Morning Laziness

Good morning.  It's Saturday and a rainy Saturday at that.  For some reason I don't remember the weather people forecasting rain but I'm okay with it because I'm not going anywhere and we truly needed it for spring. 

Today I bring to you pictures of spring birds, flowers, squirrels and my happy time of year.

I know it is just around the corner and if we can just get through without any snow I will be so very happy.  February can be some intense cold and winter weather and for sure some of the flowers need it.  I just want spring to get here so I can feel the warmth and sunshine on my shoulders again. 

I want to sit on my screened porch with the new fireplace and enjoy waking up to the birds singing and the sun rising.

We stayed in town this weekend so The Hubby can finish getting the invoicing ready for me to type tomorrow.  So I called out the forces, my girls to come over today and help me with yet another closet cleanout.  I also wanted to have Snicklefritz over to spend the weekend with us.  I miss that kiddo.  Last night we had dinner of fish sticks, crinkle-cut french fries, tossed salad and a dessert of ice cream sundaes.  We ate the sundaes while working on the jigsaw puzzle she and I started a few weeks ago.  For 8 years old she's very good at the puzzle thing and I so enjoy just chatting with her about school and her life.  Right now it's contained because of Covid but hopefully it will change soon so she can see her friends.  The only kiddo she gets to play with is 16 month old Min.  Min loves it but I'm sure Snicklefritz needs older playmates.  

Can you just feel the warmth of the sun here.

Thursday The Hubby got his first part of the vaccine and this next Thursday I go back for my booster.  Glad to have this over with and hopefully we won't have to do it every year like a flu shot but I suspect we will.

 

Vaccine Day 2

 Just a quick note to say I was really sore last night and a couple of Advil then back to bed and this morning feel right as rain.  I was sore yesterday when I got home but I was sore before I left the place.  It was a long line and walking on concrete which my hip and knees cannot handle.  Once in bed and asleep for a few hours I woke up and was very sore.  Actually, both of my shoulders were sore BUT that could also be from doing an upper body workout on Tuesday too and the shot just made it a bit worse.  My knees and hip screamed too but once I took the Advil and hit the pillow again, well, this morning I'm all better.  So we will see what the next few days hold but I suspect nothing but good stuff.

Don't be afraid my friends.  We have vaccinations for good reason.  I've been through chicken pox (have the scars to prove it), measles, hard measles, German measles, mumps, there is not one childhood ailment I haven't had, except polio.  I remember the sugar cube and the terror of polio.  Don't be afraid.  

Vaccine Tale

Guess what happened today!  I know I'm not quite 65 yet but I have some health issues, and I am overweight.  After I signed up and they listed me as tier 4 then I received another email that I was eligible now so I worked at signing up for a few days.  Last night I just kept refreshing and even though it said "no bookings available" I clicked it anyway and lo and behold a whole swath of openings were there and I grabbed one.  The only issue was standing outside for about 5 minutes in a cold wind and then once inside the long winding lines for about 15 minutes.  For normal people that isn't much but an obese person with a messed up hip and knee standing on concrete is excruciating.  BUT, I did it and now in 21 I go for the booster.  Good luck everyone.

 

MY Year in Review

First and most important for me was the loss of my Daddy.

Yes, there is much bigger news in the world but in my tiny world the year of Covid, the year 2020 brought about the loss of Daddy.

The loss of a parent and the loss of our old homestead and all the memories that have rushed through our conscientiousness.  It has been an unnerving year to say the least with Covid, mask wearing, virus warnings, death...EGAD...

but first and foremost for me was the last time I told Daddy, "I love you!"  

We said goodbye to Daddy and to the house that we grew up in but we are stronger as siblings than ever before.  We are still family!

It has all been a whirlwind and I can't wait for the year to finally end and hopefully we have brighter days with a vaccine in play. 

It's not been all bad because sadly for our youngest and her family, living in LA was just too scary and money wise too difficult during pandemic (HATE THAT WORD!)  So they packed it up and headed our direction.

So we get to hold this darling anytime we want now.  Get all the kisses and hugs, anytime, as long as one of of is not in quarantine.  I get to watch another granddbaby grow up.  

I will reflect back to my first post of the year, 2020 and not even realizing what was in store for us this past year.  I again was prattling on and on about losing weight, dieting, the story that never ends, me losing weight.  Of course, the dreaded pandemic set in and shut down all my ideas of working out and left us basically stranded at home, close to a kitchen and no desire to get out and about for fear of the virus.  Fear of illness, fear of spreading the contagion, fear of DEATH!  Everyone in the world has had these fears, except for the doubters who don't believe it.  I do because I have friends who have lost family members, I have family members who have caught the virus and survived.  It is real and frankly I DO NO WANT TO DIE!  So the new accessory to our daily attire is a mask, which I wear proudly.  We've learned how to shop for delivery or pick-up, take-out food on a daily basis.  Yes the world, our world has changed, probably forever.  Weight loss, dieting, frankly that is not high on my list of worries right now.  Staying healthy and alive is.  I think I'm eating better and my one foray back to the workout world led me to be possibly exposed and having things poked up my nose, Covid test.  So, I'm just staying put until more people are vaccinated at this point.  

Here's to 2021, may we start getting the world, our world back to spinning like it's supposed to be.  

Happy New Year

Sleep is Overated

It is 5 AM...yes I just wrote that down.  Actually, I have been awake since 4:15 but only just started writing here.  Last night we kept little Miss Snicklefritz overnight and she has slept pretty darn well with a whimper about 1 and again about 4:15.  Yes, that is when I gave it up.  When I wake up in the middle of the night the mind immediately starts whirring and I'm awake anywhere from 5 minutes to HOURS!  This week I've had several of those nights.  So the little princess is snoozing and her Granny is wide awake this morning but it's my usual time to get up anyway.  

She slept all through the night basically and that is a wonderful thing.  Her momma is in the process of trying to wean from the breast.  She has dropped the two middle of the day feedings and last night I was to give breast milk in a bottle but she thought that was a game.  Rio kept biting down on the nipple of the bottle and pulling it between her teeth till it popped out splattering milk on her and me.  Oh, that was great fun but I cringed thinking of her momma!  She laughed and giggled until I'd had enough.  At least she got about an ounce down her then I popped in the pacifier and she was out and has been all night.  The picture above she is eating some of her crunchies and occasionally one would fly off as she pulled it out of her little cup and Clayton was happy to retrieve it for his tummy.  She wore herself out crawling around our kitchen island over and over again.  Someday she will walk it but right now she is faster crawling.  She can walk but just not as steady as she would like.

Friday I was recruited to go with her and her momma to the pediatrician for her 12 month well check up.  She did fantastic and is above in her height right now.  It was also a day of SHOTS!  That face was soon transformed into crying and pain.  Poor baby.  She had 5 shots and then a blood test that they do now by government requirement for lead testing.  She also got the first of two for the flu shot.  I am a HUGE proponent of any kind of vaccinations because I've had a lot of the stuff they vaccinate against and it is not fun.  Mumps, measles, chicken pox, with some of the scars to prove it.  With the chicken pox I also have the dark cloud hanging over my head for shingles.  I know it is painful and her poor little arms looked like a war zone with band aids when we walked out the door but she is just fine today and she has never had a reaction or even swelling from the shots, unlike her momma with swelling and redness.  Rio's immunities are fabulous!  Like her mother she has only had a little virus once and a sniffle, once.  

Oh, and I had my flu vaccination this week too.

DADDY UPDATE:  He is doing marvelous and will come home this week!