Each Week is Worse Than the Last

Where to begin? You all have probably seen the 9-minute video of George Floyd being murdered on the street, in full view, by four policemen. That has haunted me all week, especially with all of the destruction that followed, though I can understand the anger and sadness that his death caused.  It is just incomprehensible that institutionalized racism continues to beleaguer our country. And I mourn for communities of color that have suffered and been held back for so long. I am happy to report that Savannah had a large gathering yesterday and it was peaceful. Our little community had a car procession in support of Black Lives Matter and justice for George Floyd. As Rosie and I were in the procession, I realized how creative the idea was - it minimized the possibility of violence and allowed for social distancing. Cars were decorated with slogans and signs of support and one estimate was there were about 150 cars. That's a large turnout for this area. As we drove along, people on the streets cheered us, people came out of their house to wave, etc. It was very uplifting. I had signs on most windows of the car and wondered about the reaction of my neighborhood as I drive through. As luck would have it, my neighbor's grandkids (the girls who love Rosie) were walking down to my house to show me their new puppy. So, I pulled over and chatted for a minute, also explaining the signs on the car. This morning, the grandmother was out riding her bike and asked how it went. We had a nice chat about it and the general situation. So, overall, I consider it a positive experience and I'm glad to see the diverse elements of the community coming together for something like this. 

One interesting thing I've been doing lately is text banking for Jaime Harrison (running against Lindsey Graham) and some voting issues. This was an informative process that is so well organized. You have to set up an account on something called ThruText and then they will let you know when they are going to do a texting campaign. So, you sign on and are given a list of names and cell phone numbers. There is also one of those pre-set statements like "Hi, I'm Donna with the Jaime Harrison campaign. Blah, blah, blah". You send that message to everyone on the list. Eventually, people begin to reply. To make it even easier, there are pre-set replies to their questions or comments. You may occasionally have to reply personally or edit a pre-set reply, but it is so well thought out and intuitive. I've enjoyed it. And my guess is that cell phone contact may be the way to reach a lot of people.

I'm also an alternate delegate to our Democratic state convention, which is going to be virtual this year. The unexpected thing about that is that I'm receiving robocalls, postcards, etc. from those running for Democratic National Convention Delegates and Executive Committee members. Voting begins today and will be complete by the end of the week. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Last week, I finally ventured out to have my hair cut. It's one of the few "risky" things I've done as I continue to order groceries online and pick them up.....and keep a low profile. Kelly works in a salon with lots of other stylists but she has her own little room, which made me feel a bit better. She also had a full face shield and is conscientious about cleaning because she goes home to a compromised mother. Everyone HAS to wear a mask (and she had received grief from some!) and they keep the door locked. No one can enter until someone comes out to get you.  Kelly and I were talking about being sequestered, being bored (not me), eating too much (me), and that kind of thing. She said she was going to call it the Corona-15 - the 15 pounds put on between mid-March and the end of May!

Other than that, not much is happening. I've almost completed another puzzle. Chris, Lynn, Tom, Bogey, and I continue our little Friday afternoon "social bubble", which gives us a chance to hash out the trauma of the week. Tippy and I get together as we can, and Drinking Liberally is going to try our first live meeting in a while. We will order food from Juan, our favorite restaurateur whom we're trying to support through these difficult times, and then tailgate in a nearby parking lot. We'll see how that goes.

That reminds me that Tippy and I will be teaching a class on our second Africa trip - Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Cape Town, SA. It will be done through OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), which is nationwide. Since they have been unable to run live classes on campus, they want us to do a Zoom class and open it up to all OLLI groups nationwide!!  No doubt we will miss the personal contact, but this is the trip that has all of the unexpected stories (elephant flatulence, unexpected storm, Black magic woman, etc.). It should be fun and in preparation, I'm taking an online Zoom class this Thursday.

And last, but not least, I think we have a definitive answer on the mystery bush. Mary commented on my last post that it is ligustrum, one of her mother's favorites. After checking it out online, I am in agreement. The small blooms of the jasmine that I found online didn't seem to form the cone-shaped flower shown to the left. Sadly, they have bloomed out and we are without that wonderful scent, but I am glad to know what it is. Thanks, Mary.

I hope this finds everyone doing well but still taking necessary precautions. I'm not sure the coronavirus has finished with us yet. It has also been predicted that it will be an active hurricane season, which I don't even want to think about it. The only things left are locusts and zombies, and the way 2020 has going so far, nothing would surprise me! 

Things Are Picking Up!

Yes, things are picking up, even with social distancing. On May 1, Tippy invited Rosie and me for a walk on Dolphin Head. It was a bit breezy, but otherwise, it was wonderful to be out.  There were loads of people there, but each group maintained an appropriate distance from the other. We were afraid that there would not be enough privacy to let Rosie off the leash but as we rounded the corner, there was no one. So, I let her off the leash. It took her a minute to realize she was free, and then she took off. It's just wonderful to see the joy she feels. She even chased some birds. It was fun for all of us. We then joined Tippy and Kieran for a glass of wine on their porch. It was delightful

This post is going to look wacky because I opened Blogger today and everything has changed - new and improved, no doubt!! One of the glitches in the new program is that I'm not able to get the text to wrap around photos. I'm not the only once as when I looked for help, many others were asking the same questions. Hopefully, it will be resolved before next time!

May 1 was also to be the day that Alex, my friend Reyna's son, graduated from college. Needless to say, the ceremony was postponed...and hopefully, reschedule for sometime in August. In any case, I was invited to a graduation party for him on April 9. Actually, it was Reyna's birthday, Alex's birthday and graduation, and Suzanne's 1st birthday - all within 3 days of each other!! I felt a lot of trepidation about being around so many people, but by and large, the kids stayed outside and Reyna, Richard, her sister and her husband, and I stayed in the kitchen. They were really a polite group of young people.....not loud, not rowdy. At least two have been accepted into dental school, one in Kentucky. One young lady, I had met at the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition. She had opened a Go Fund Me account to help her go with her school to do charity work in Peru. Unfortunately, that too was cancelled due to the pandemic. It was very encouraging to meet these young people and I certainly wish them all the best.

Last night I had Chris, Lynn, Tom, and Bogey over for wine and munchies. We maintained social distancing but, even so, it felt normal.....maybe not for Chris because she isn't accustomed to having two dogs playing, frolicking, playing with squeaky toys, howling, etc. It does take a little getting used to! It was fun.

Zoom connections have also picked up. This week I had a meeting with Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate, as well as a precinct meeting. I think folks are feeling that we should be doing something, but so far no one seems wanting to get out into large groups. That's fine with me. I'm sure you've seen the idiocy of folks showing up at government offices brandishing guns (no masks!) and trying to intimidate officials. I'm waiting for a spike in deaths in about a week and am just lying low until I feel good and ready to go out. Even then, it will be very measured.

I have continued my online grocery ordering experimentation. My first attempt with Instacart had a 3-day delay. As things ramped up, that extended to 5 days, which required more planning that I wanted to do. So, last weekend I placed a pickup order from Sam's and Kroger's. Much to my surprise, I was able to pick up both orders the next day! Both processes were well organized and easy. Though my closest Kroger doesn't offer the pick-up service, the one on Buckwalter is only 4 miles away. I like it well enough that I might continue it after the pandemic!

As I write, I'm watching the Historic Black Colleges and Universities Class of 2020 Celebration on Twitter. President Obama is to speak, which will be a great treat! There is also going to be a graduation program tonight on major networks, also featuring President Obama (little donnie will hate that!). Imagine complete sentences, thoughtful dialogue, courtesy, all those positive qualities we took for granted. I'm going to savor it while I can. If it turns out to be the same program, I'll watch it twice!

On a sad note, I was told by Ann W that Lois Law Marsh had a stroke and was in hospital for about 10 days, which does not sound good. If I am correct, her mobility was only minimally affected but her speech was more so. She's home now and I'm sure she will be getting therapy. I'm sending healing vibes her way.

Below is one of Rosie's walking routes. For a while, I've been trying to obtain the name of the bush shown (Rhonda T, you might be able to confirm this). It grows into huge bushes throughout our neighborhood and smells wonderful. I was told once that it was a Jasmine, but I wasn't convinced since I think of jasmine growing on vines. When a second person told me, I Googled it and I think that is correct. With the great weather we are having, they add to the joy of being outside.

 

The lagoon along our usual route has acquired a second alligator. The older one usually suns on the far side of the lagoon, but now this one has taken to lying between the lagoon and the pathway. Even if he isn't there, I'm wondering where he is! I'm happy to take a different path, but convincing Rosie is a different story. We have been enjoying the nice weather and this morning we were out over an hour and ran into many of our buds, both two-legged and four-legged. Rosie stops with anyone who will pet her and most people do! I even came home with five 500 piece jigsaw puzzles! Another neighbor had already given be two 1000 piece puzzles, but I think I need to stick with the 500s until I get the knack. Yes, I did finally complete the first puzzle! Proof below.

This is just Rosie with her bunny.

I loved the matching ears!

Keeping you all in my thoughts. I hope you are safe and well. Take care and be in touch.

A Whole Lot of Nothing!

A special thanks to Mary, Tippy, and Rhonda T who commented on my last post. I can rest in knowing that the comment section actually works and the directions seem to be correct. So, feel free to comment on anything you read or just let me know what you're doing. I've already gotten two book recommendations, so it's a great way to share ideas and information.

I hope this finds you and yours safe and well in this unusual and perilous time. I've touched base with friends in the UK, Spain, France, and Australia. Everyone is well and seems to be going through much the same experience as here in the US, with the exception of having reliable leadership!  While some elements of the government are pushing to open businesses, most neighbors and friends I've talked to plan to stay put long enough to see whether or not there will be a second wave. Even after that, my feeling is that people will still be reticent to be in crowded restaurants, theaters, etc. There will definitely be a new normal!

The last week has had a degree of normalcy to it. After our Drinking Liberally group had our Zoom meeting last week, David asked if he could come over for his Rosie fix. He brought over a sandwich and I had my vegetarian grub at lunchtime. He then had some playtime with Rosie, which she loved. 

As Rosie and I were out walking one day, I mentioned to a neighbor that I had borrowed a jigsaw puzzle from another neighbor and was enjoying working on it. He said they had plenty to share. That afternoon his wife called and invited me over for happy hour and to pick up some puzzles. So, I went over on Thursday and had what felt like a normal evening, even with keeping appropriate social distancing.

Then, yesterday I invited Lynn, Tom, and Bogey over so Rosie and Bogey could have a play date. It forced me to tidy up the house, appear presentable, and actually make an effort toward something. It was fun to see Bogey learn his way around the house - it was almost like he was being yanked around by his nose! Over time he settled down and delighted in the fact that he could hop up on the sofa (I ordered covers at the time I bought the sofas because I know Rosie would be on them!) By the end of the evening he was sleeping on the sofa between Lynn and Tom. We had a nice visit and it's something I should do more often. Those interactions almost made it feel like normal times.


Zoom has made it possible to get together with friends and see their smiling faces. Ann, Eileen, and I are trying to get together this Wednesday morning (my time). Later that day, our local Squad (Chris, Tippy, Lynn and Tom, David, Rhonda) + Sally in NJ and Melodee in St. Louis will get together for happy hour. Sally suggested we all do Clorox shots together!! That did make me laugh but I think I'll leave that to the Cult!!

In the time it has taken me to do this much, the neighbor I
borrowed it from has done FOUR 1000 piece puzzles!
I'm not sure I have the knack!!

Yes, I started a jigsaw puzzle and have enjoyed it. It's great because you can leave it and come back as time allows; in fact, it is better to leave it for a while and come back with fresh eyes. I'm using it as bribery - if there is something I need to get done, I can't work on the puzzle until the job is done. We'll see how long that works! This puzzle is only 500 pieces and the two I was given are 1000. That will keep me out of trouble for a long time. 

The other thing I've been doing is binge-watching some escapist series on Acorn (The Indian Doctor, The Good Karma Hospital, The Heart Guy). Two that I've really enjoyed are Ackley Bridge and Geroge Gently. Neither are current but they are timelessly produced with great plots and storylines. Jan has also recommended Caliphate on Netflix. That may be next on my list once I catch up on Bosch's new season. You would be correct in thinking that I'm not doing anything productive. I do get little bits and pieces done but not as much as I feel I should be accomplishing. It is what it is!! Let me know if you have any great series that you've enjoyed watching.

My mother would say that I"ve "gone to seed!" Rosie and I are taking our own sweet time getting up and out in the morning. As soon as we get home, I remove any restrictive garments and slob around for the rest of the day (until I walk Rosie again) in something loose and comfortable.  My hair hasn't been cut in 6 weeks and I'm doing less and less to it. Tomorrow I'm going to cut the neckline myself and just let it do what it will. I've actually always wanted to just let it grow and see what would happen and how little I could get away with doing to it. Now seems to be the time to do it! And, of course, there has been a lot of comfort food. I posted this picture on my fridge and all it does is make me laugh as I open the fridge door. At the rate I'm going I can just throw away my entire closet and start over again.

This may be more than you need to know, but something has been biting me over the last few days. It started around my growing waistline, then moved up my right side (2 more bites). I know it was a bite because the new bites had a dark center and then red inflammation emanating from that.....and itching. It was far enough around toward my back that I couldn't really see too much, then yesterday the bite was on my stomach. As I was applying alcohol to it, I noticed that the dark center lifted a bit - it was a tiny tick!! I removed that little sucker and am hoping that is the end of that. 

One positive thing that has come from this pandemic and that I've enjoyed seeing, is our planet recovering and the animals having more space as we are forced to have a smaller footprint. There should be no doubt that our lifestyle negatively impacts the planet, climate, etc. My hope is that as we define the new normal we will be willing to make some changes that will benefit us all in the future.

And finally, we continue to have glorious weather. Today was sunny, the mid-70s, and a wonderful breeze. Our winter was mild and it feels like we are having a long spring. Some/many years it feels like we have a week of spring and then one morning you wake up and it's 95F and 95% humidity - for the next two months. This year has been beautiful.

I will leave you with a little Rosie time. You are all in my thoughts - stay safe and well.

Passing Time in Quarantine!

This is what happens when I don't have an
appropriate photo!!

We have all had time to settle into our "social distancing" situation, and I have probably settled in better than most. That is possibly an advantage of having no siblings and being accustomed to amusing myself. Being at home has never been boring for me, though I'm sorry it has been imposed in this way. One of the first few days, I ventured to the DMV to get my Real ID license, which had been on my To-Do list for a long time. If there were a lot of people there, I would just skip it, but there were only about three people in front of me. They had everyone wait outside, keeping appropriate distancing, and someone came to ask why you were there. As it turned out, I didn't have everything I needed, so the lady gave me the form to fill out. The DMV is directly across Hwy 278 from me, so I went home, filled out the form, picked up my Social Security card, and headed back. This time there were two people in front of me but I had everything in order and she sent me right on in. I was happy to get it done AND they extended my license, which was due to expire in 2023, to 2028! 

I've had one take out from Olive and Fig and coffee with Lynn and Tom twice. It's great to have neighbors to get together with, and Rosie and Bogey like getting together, too! Other than that, it's been only grocery shopping, complete with mask and gloves. 

The Instacart grocery shopping experience was interesting. At the time I did it, you had to plan three days out. Now it is five days out, so it is obviously catching on. My initial delivery order had a $7.99 delivery fee, but once I added a few things that brought the charge to a certain amount, the fee dropped to $3.99, which I thought was very reasonable. I could add things virtually until she started shopping. If items were running low, the app would inquire about substitutions at that time. If an item was not in stock while the shopping was being done, the shopper would inquire online about preferred substitutions. I enjoyed seeing how it worked and it can certainly be a worthwhile service.

I'm happy to report that Rosie seems to be feeling better over the last 7 to 10 days. It is so difficult to tell how she is or to determine whether or not I'm overacting. In any case, you can see that her tail and ears are up and she's playing with a squeaky toy. None of that was happening when she was in pain. You may also notice that I have a chair (2) backed up to the bed to keep her from jumping. Not liking that setup, I found a pet bedrail online. It is a neat contraption and works well - and it looks a bit better than the chairs. She has learned how to get on and OFF the bed using the ramp, which may partially account for her feeling better. Keep your fingers crossed that this continues.

My other project is to purge my closet (which I began 10 days ago and continue on an irregular schedule!) and clean the garage, but every day I have it on my To-Do list, I find something else to do! I really do want to get it done while I have time. Keep your fingers crossed for this one, too!

The Squad (Tippy, Chris, Lynn, Melodee, Sally, and I) have gotten together once on Zoom and it was lots of fun to see and chat with everyone. On the free version, you are limited to 40 minutes and we used that easily. Last night, Drinking Liberally Zoomed for happy hour on our usual day and time. About twelve or so "old-timers" showed up for an animated chat. It was good to see everyone, but I missed Juan's Mexican food!

I don't want to put a kenahora on it, but we continue to have fantastic weather. I can't remember the last time I heard the AC or heating running and it's wonderful to get up in the morning to a perfect temperature. With everyone locked down, more neighbors are out walking, riding bikes, etc.....and much less auto traffic. The neighborhood is quieter and slower. I've been touched by several neighbors who stopped me to ask how I am doing. They hadn't seen me in a while and were concerned. That's comforting in times like this.

The pandemic and the three trump years leading up to it have shown me how much my life has changed. When this is over, we will never go back to "normal", whatever that was, and I've been thinking about what I want my remaining years to be. I'd like to live at a pace that is more comfortable for me (slower). I'd like to be able to appreciate more of the people and things around me and on this wonderful planet. And most of all, I'd like to exist in a kinder, more compassionate world.

PLAY ALONG: 

• What have you discovered in this time of quarantine? 
• What revelations have you had about reaching the other side of this pandemic?
• What changes do you hope to make when this is over?

Let me know your thoughts in comments below.
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Love to all!

Stay Safe and Well.

In the Age of Pandemics!

Meat counter at our local Publix

I'm sure you're as stunned and amazed as I am about all that is going on in our world.
Even now, people are giving toilet paper alerts on FB. How much do you have to have to feel safe? And bottled water! Is our water source threatened? Every day you go to the grocer store, something new is wiped out. It is just amazing and yet, trump is standing before the microphones and expounding his "knowledge." I have found comfort in listening to Gov. Cuomo on NY giving thorough, calm, rational updates. Too bad we have no one at the helm of government to do the same. States and the Federal government are BIDDING against each other for necessary supplies. Does that sound as ridiculous to you as it does to me? Why is the Federal government not coordinating this? Alright, I know, I know......but it is so incomprehensible!

I wanted to tell you a little about the exhibit sponsored by Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate for March 14 & 15. It had to be cancelled but we do plan to do it when life returns to some semblance of normal. The artist is Mary Burkett from Columbia, SC and she does pencil drawings of Children of the Holocaust and Children of Slavery. She usually brings 10 of her drawings and will talk about two of them. I thought it was interesting that she used this drawing for PR. Her reason was that you really couldn't tell whether this child is from the holocaust or slavery. She was actually a child of slavery who was rescued around the age of 5 and taken to a whole new life. She appears to have had a comfortable life. I was very much looking forward to the exhibit and talk, being interested in where and how she obtained information about her subjects. Here is a LINK to a local article about her and I'm sure you can Google her for more of her drawings.

On the 19th, Chris and I had planned to go to an art exhibit in Beaufort and we thought it safe enough to do so. It would our last outing before lock-down! The exhibit, What it Means to be Free - Art by Women of Color, was just hanging in the Arts Center. We figured there would probably be no one there. In any case, we made a quick stop at the Publix in St Helena in search of yogurt and TOFU. Whoever thought there would be a run on tofu! We were able to pick up a reasonable amount in record time. When we got to the exhibit, there were signs posted on all doors so we thought we were out of luck. We went up to read the notice and I tried the door, and it was open. So, other than the lady in the office, we had a private showing! While we were there, one of the artists came to pick up her work. so we'd made it just in time. From there we went to Herban Market for delicious vegetarian food. There were only doing take outs but there just happened to be picnic tables under a large tree across the street - I'd never even noticed the before. So we sat, facing the river, enjoying a nice breeze on a sunny day, and had lunch. It really was a beautiful day and outing. Chris put it perfectly when we were reflecting on our good fortune...

As always, the simple things give the greatest pleasure. A delicious lunch accompanied by sunshine and river breezes, a successful and impromptu shopping trip, lovely art and best of all, sharing all of this with a good friend. Grace abounds in these perilous times! Be well ...

The following day Tippy scrounged for lunch as our usual haunts were closed. She brought Sushi and we worked on Zoom, a computer program for running online classes. She's going to have to teach her FSU class online. We played with it and got the obvious things to work. The following day she was to meet with two friends who have actually used Zoom for teaching. I'll be eager to pick her brain the next time I see her. 

Since then, I've pretty much been on lockdown with only short trips to the grocery (off-hours), the dump, etc. Today I tried something new......ordering groceries online. This seemed as good a time as any to try it, and it may be needed down the line. They will be delivered on Friday between 1 and 3 PM. I was given some substitution options in case they were out of a specific item (This item is running low. What could be substituted). Prices seemed what I would expect to pay at Kroger. There was a $7.99 delivery fee, $2 service fee, and then tip. It adds up and I wouldn't use it on a regular basis....unless I had to do so. Even so, it's nice to know it's there and I'll see what's actually delivered on Friday!

The hermit in me has really enjoyed having no commitments and being home.  All of my usual activities/groups have been cancelled, as one would expect; but these additional activities will not be happening:

• Tippy and I had planned to attend our precinct reorganization meeting in hopes of also attending our county and state convention. All of that has been postponed/cancelled with no idea of what will follow.
• The travel ban cancelled Eileen's visit and then Melodee did the same. She would be doing a driving trip, but so many things are closed, both here and along the way, it would be difficult to know what to expect. Thankfully, both hope to reschedule later in the year.
• Our governor just announced that schools will be closed through April! I'm thinking of Reyna with a house full of kids and two elderly people!!! She reminds me that my life is a "piece of cake" and I'm not arguing!

I will close with a Rosie update. The vet told me to stop the gabapentin, which I was hesitant to do. There were telltale signs that she was still in pain/discomfort, even on the meds - sleeping/hiding out under the dining room table, getting under the cover on the bed during the day, the "smile" that is really a grimace. I delayed it as long as possible but last Thursday I stopped the meds. Things seemed well for a few days, then she started cutting her morning walks very short. On the third day, I found her under the cover on the bed shivering! So, I've informed the vet and Jennifer, the President of Noah's Ark Rescue, asking where to go from here. It really breaks my heart to see her in pain.

This photo shows the state of my house at the moment. This sofa is one of Rosie's favorite spots.  Under the flokati rug she is sleeping on is a 5" pad to soften her jump from the sofa. There is a chair at the end of the sofa to keep her from propelling herself off the arm of the sofa. There is a spot like this in the living room.....and you can't begin to imagine the bedroom!!  I am at the "love me, love my dog" point and willing to do whatever improves her quality of life. She brings so much joy to me and the whole neighborhood - that is the least I can do for her.

Well, my dear friends, I hope this finds you well and safe. We have to remain optimistic and willing to move to a better outcome. Try leaving me a message (will not show up immediately as I approve them beforehand) and letting me know what is happening where you are. Also, I'm on Netflix, Prime and Acorn...please suggest some viewing recommendations (series). in this time solitude.

LOVE to all. Stay safe and healthy.

Strange Times We Live In!

Well, what can I say? Chris's family was here last week and after they departed for home, she and I got together for the F-word (falafel sandwich!!).  In the week that we were not in touch, we have been besieged by the coronavirus! People are going nuts and those in charge (government) are playing it by ear day after day! That pretty much sums up the last three years of the trump administration - you leave home for a two-hour meeting and return to something atrocious, dehumanizing to some group, or just plain immoral and unethical. And now we have a pandemic on top of it all and a government that refused testing kits when offered by the World Health Organization!! Don't get me started!

And there is the travel ban - I have just emailed Eileen, who was to arrive from the UK in early April, to find out what she is hearing there and how it affects her plans. As of a week or so, Melodee was still planning to come (driving) at the end of this month. Her plans might not be impacted as much as Eileen's but who knows?

This weekend was to be busy - Liberal Ladies Luncheon on Friday, Precinct Reorganization meeting on Saturday morning, and Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate art exhibit on both Saturday and Sunday from 4 - 6 PM. Everything was cancelled, so I went from too much to do to nothing to do, not that I'm really complaining. For a while, I've felt that I needed more home/downtime and I hope I use it to get some things done around the house. My plan is not to remain totally isolated but to continue to get together with friends at home or in uncrowded places. I do really feel for those who have no choice but to work, children who will go hungry or unattended because they aren't in school, etc. And this is happening here!! At the moment, I'm working on the Liberal Ladies newsletter but once that is complete, I hope to have more non-committed time than I've had in a long time.

I'm happy to report that Rosie has finished her 15 days of steroid treatment. So far, all is well. I emailed the neurologist and gave him a report. As it turns out, he is no longer at CVRC but a surgeon got back to me. He said everything I am doing is good but wants me to take her off Gabapentin in a week. I am concerned about how she will do without it, but we have to know. It also makes me sad to see her have days when she looks like she doesn't feel well, though she hasn't had a shivery, panting episode after going off the steroids. David came over to see her after Drinking Liberally last Wednesday and she was just beside herself...... because that's who she is and she just goes full-tilt (unlike me! Allan used to say that I peaked at 2:30 in the afternoon for 15 minutes and that was it! So true - and that was when I was younger!)!  Anyway, I'm still hoping for the best and doing all I can to keep her safe, healthy, and happy. She has done something I never thought possible. She's learned how to get on and off the bed using the ramp!! Keep in mind that I have chairs backed up to one side of the bed and I sleep on the other to keep her from jumping. Once the chairs are removed (not in the near future!!), all bets are off! She was so funny when I first tried to get her to use it. I put treats at various points on the ramp, thinking she would sneak up to get them. She would put her front paws on the ramp and stretch as far as she could to get the treat....but keeping her back feet on the floor!! Eventually, when she wanted to get on or off the bed, I would put her midway on the ramp so she could get used to walking up and down it. Eventually, it just happened. I credit it to her smarts, not mine!

Before the craziness began, I did have a fun thing happen. My neighbor invited me to see Emmet Cahill, an Irish tenor, who was appearing at the Arts Center. It was raining like crazy and it didn't seem like my thing, but I didn't have a good excuse not to go! Surprisingly, I thoroughly enjoyed it. He had a fantastic voice and made it look so effortless. He was accompanied by Shamus, a very impressive pianist, and a string quartet, which was perfect. I was amazed that the pianist's music was on a tablet! He would play and then touch the screen for the music to move forward!! For the second portion of the concert, he took requests. Most were traditional Irish songs, but someone asked for Brown Eyed Girl! He took the request but said he'd never sung that song in his life---don't know why! The same happened with New York, New York!  So, the pianist made a note (on his tablet) of the requests, arranged them on the spot, and off they went. When we get to Brown Eyed Girl and New York, New York, Emmet reaches for his phone, finds the lyrics, and sings from his phone!! I was amazed! The other thing that was quite impressive is that he gave a verbal tribute to the part immigrants have played in making America. From someone who is not a citizen, it was touching (and made me wonder why others find it so difficult to see the value of diversity). Then he sang Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears, which was beautiful. Another one I really liked was Raglan Road. In spite of the rain, it was a pleasant evening.

Yes, rain! We had two days on non-stop rain and this was my backyard! You can see that I get a lot of drainage from the golf course. This was right before Lynn picked me up for a Liberal Ladies' Steering Committee meeting. I had no idea what to expect when I got home. Thank goodness, it finally stopped and we've been having wonderful weather since. It feels and looks like spring with azaleas blooming and mild temperatures. I hope it lasts a while before summer arrives.

I'll wind this up and hope this finds everyone well. Please take the necessary precautions so we can get through this pandemic as quickly and painlessly as possible. Wishing everyone good health and happiness in these strange times.

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