Happy New Year 2021!

Today (12/18) is very cold. It got down into the low 30s last night as it will tonight. As I mentioned before, my house isn’t built to handle such low temps and I hate to hear the air handler labor all day knowing that it can only do so much. So, I’m bundled up and Rosie is still in bed here at 10:30 AM. I’ll leave her there until it’s warm enough to get out. Night before last I put the duvet on the bed so through the night we are warm and toasty. It’s only when we have to face the cold light of day that we shiver a bit.

Last night (12/17) I had Tippy and Kieran over to share the Christmas spirit. Another motive was that I wanted to try an appetizer and I knew if I made it, I would eat it all, so I was looking for guinea pigs!! Being true friends, they offered to help me out. As always, we had a fun evening enhanced by an evolving event. Before they came over, they had been visited by a stray/feral kitty. They had left it some food and milk but were concerned about it being outside through the cold night. Kieran texted their neighbors who have 6 cats and as we were chatting, they set up a box with towels, more food, etc. Kieran doesn’t want an indoor pet but I mentioned to Tippy that she could have an outside feral cat. Having worked with them and shown Tippy our feral cat village, I think the seed was planted. Over time, the feral cats grow to know and love you, while you learn to respect their freedom. One side effect of feeding feral cats is that the raccoons will find the food and show up to be fed also. I recommended that Tippy not mention that to Kieran!!

Can you guess who this is?

This has been a quiet Christmas but I feel very good about it. I have savored my few gatherings with friends and hearing from friends near and far.- even from Santa & Mrs. Claus!! As each week passes, I’ve valued our little pandemic bubble (Chris, Lynn, and Tom) that gets together weekly and brings normalcy to this surreal year. This week (12/18) we all donated to our local charity, Bluffton Self Help, in hopes of helping those in need in our community. I will also be donating to some of my longtime, favorite charities. I did not do cards this year but I’ve done an ecard for everyone (actually 3 eCards for three different groups of family and friends). If you didn’t receive one, please check your spam folder and let me know. I always feel that sending many at one time increases the odds of it being considered spam.

Yesterday (12/22) our little social bubble had a shock. Chris had an antibodies test, just out of curiosity, and it showed that she had been exposed to Covid-19. Luckily, she has no symptoms and we hope that continues. She let us know right away and was advised to quarantine for 7 days. She asked about her pandemic pals and was told that we were okay unless we experience symptoms. Of course, the three of us are wondering what we should do – nothing!? Get the test?  Could it even be that one of us infected Chris?? At the moment, we are touching base each day and hoping it is nothing. In the meantime, we all have been invited to gatherings in the neighborhood and decided to decline just to be on the safe side. It’s my turn to host everyone on Saturday. Chris will still be in quarantine, but Lynn, Tom, and Bogey plan to attend at this point.

For the first few days of Christmas week, we had magnificent weather, but on Christmas day it was cold and to be colder the day after. Today (12/27) I’m in my snuggly robe and plan to be in it all day as I know Rosie is not interested in going out. In fact, she got up once only long enough to decide to get back under the covers! Now that she is out of bed, she is following a spot of sunshine around the room. It is my job to keep her bed in the sunlight! I have to keep her happy because I credit my walks with her for preventing me from feeling isolated. We have a great neighborhood of dog owners and dog lovers, and we never know how who we will run into or how long our walk may take.

I did get it together to host Lynn & Tom.

Well, 2020 just keeps on giving. Yesterday when I went to the freezer for English muffins for breakfast, I picked them up and they were soft, not frozen! Then I opened the fridge and it, too, was warm. I was to have Lynn and Tom over in the afternoon and had also placed a pick-up order for groceries. Luckily, I have a very old, somewhat reliable fridge in the garage and a small box freezer, so it isn't as bad as it could be though it was a shock to go into a very cold garage this morning for milk for my coffee - definitely a waker-upper! The repairman is scheduled for Wednesday. Keep your fingers crossed.

In the meantime......

Happy New Year!

As someone said, I'm going to stay up until midnight this New Year. Not so much to see 2021 in but to make sure 2020 leaves!!

Merry Christmas 2020

I’ve been meaning to thank those who respond to my posts – some email, some reply to the notice that I’ve updated. Others text or leave a comment on the post. It’s always great to hear from you (in whatever form) and to keep up with your doings, too! It’s hard to believe that I’ve been doing this blog since 2006 in one form or another and I’m happy to share it with friends, whether or not you respond immediately. Some of you have been with me from the start and I’ve added new friends as time passed. The best part of doing it is knowing that those who read it know me and care enough to put up with my drivel! Thank you all.

I had to include this after my
episode with the Christmas tree!

Something really strange happened Sunday morning (12/6) when I reached for my phone to turn off the alarm. The phone started talking to me and identifying everything I touched, and it seemed that I had to tap everything twice. It also altered the capability to scroll and I never even figured out how to do that. I have no idea how it got that way which means I didn’t know how to turn it off. It was only through the use of Google on my tablet that I figured out how to do it, but even then, navigating to the setting was not easy. If I inadvertently caused it, I’d like to know what I did so as not to do it again! Pretty much the whole day was devoted to tech stuff after that. I spent several hours deleting emails, both folders, and individual emails. This is something I’ve been meaning to do since my last Liberal Ladies’ newsletter. There were hundreds if not thousands just related to that. If only it were that easy and fast to get rid of the clutter in my house!!

The microwave issue has turned into a saga. On Monday (12/7) I called American Home Shield first thing and had to wait so long (58 minutes) to speak to a representation that I literally made a soup in my instant pot!! The repairman came a week after I placed the initial repair request (11/23). The microwave is discontinued and parts are not available, so he suggested a replacement and told me I would hear from AHS within 48 hours. Well, I didn’t and when I checked online it only said: “under evaluation.” When I finally got to a person, I was told that an email had been sent to me offering various options for replacing my unit. Well, I never received it or it got lost in the numerous emails I receive, or whatever. So, the rep sent it to me again and I spent the morning trying to figure out what to order (I really thought they should find the closest replacement and just do it!). Anyway, they sent a selection of about 10 or 12 microwaves that they would provide and install at no cost to me. There was one recommended…..but it was not available in white! So, now I’m on my own….and if I order something that doesn’t work, I pay for shipping back and restocking. So, I called GE appliances and got a delightful, sweet young lady who compared the microwave I have to the one I was considering. I had pretty much determined that the dimensions were compatible, but I was concerned about the venting. The unit I had selected could be vented in three different ways, so that should work. Needless to say, this took me most of the day but I submitted my order that same day. On Monday, December 14 the new microwave was installed.Whew!

Who knew pecans were so complicated? After we gathered them, Tippy went about finding someone to crack hers and he turned out to be an expert. He checked the moisture content of ours and they were a 7. He said they should not be over 5 and we should store them in the fridge or freezer, or we could bake them in the oven to dry them out. After cleaning them, I put them in a sunny spot in the sunroom until I could dry them out in the oven. It seemed easy enough and hope I haven’t ruined them! 

I continue to enjoy my ear pods and subscription to Fairfax County Library. My first book was Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro, which I’ve been chasing for a while. It’s autobiographical and the title alone piqued my curiosity. I was not disappointed!  She’s an excellent writer and narrates the audiobook which made it even more enjoyable. After that, I read Untamed as recommended by Mary B. It, too, was compelling and read by the author, Glennon Doyle. It is recommended reading for every woman! I have about 6 books on hold, all of which will not get to me for a while, so please let me know what you’ve enjoyed reading recently. The Thursday Murder Club has been recommended on both sides of the Atlantic but I couldn't find it on audiobook, so Chris has kindly loaned me the book. And, yes, the Libby App is so much easier to navigate than Overdrive and the customer service at the library is fantastic!. 

On Sunday, Tippy invited Sally, Rosie, and me for a walk on the beach. It was a gorgeous day (low 70s and sunny) and she picked up falafel wraps from a new restaurant (Casablanca) in town (very tasty!) and we had them at the park at Dolphin Head. It was a bit chilly in the shade under the trees, but as soon as we got in the sun on the beach, it was perfect! When we got to a secluded section, Rosie was let off the leash and she ran like crazy. It’s wonderful to see her run like that and I wish she could do it more often. Something funny did happen as we were walking back. As Rosie was sniffing around, I noticed a medicine bottle. It looked like a fresh prescription with the name and all of the info clearly written. My first thought was that I should turn it in at the front gate and let them set about contacting the person. But, when I looked inside, there were two joints!! Initially, The more we thought about it, we decided to just flush them down the toilet. It seemed like that would cause less trouble all the way around. Anyway, that’s our story and we’re sticking to it! 

I hadn’t planned to show my Christmas decorations again as you “old-timers” have seen enough of it. It’s just the same items recycled in one form or another. However, there are new friends on-board and even the oldie-goldies may not know the history of some of my doodads. So, I’m showing them again with more information. Hopefully, you will know why I decorate even when I may not be filled with the Christmas spirit; however, once I do it, it does feel more festive! I always enjoy seeing the decorations and remembering the people and events attached to them.

Merry Christmas

One and All!

The Holidays are Upon Us!

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, I only had the Christmas tree in the sunroom to complete. The day before I had put out all of the easy stuff hoping to work my way into the holiday spirit. Putting the pre-lit tree up sounded easy but it was very difficult to get all of the lights to work – almost as bad as putting up stringed lights! I fiddled with it for about an hour before giving up. I was determined not to become frustrated, so I stopped!

As aggravating as it was, it was made somewhat more enjoyable by my new ear-pods! They feel comfortable and music sounds fantastic on them. I wasn’t enough in the spirit for Christmas songs, but I did like the relaxing holiday instrumental music on Spotify. I also think the mobility will make it easier to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. When my phone is left on the kitchen bar, I can move all around the house with them, so I can do whatever I want to as I listen.

Tippy’s Nutty Idea! On Sunday (11/29) Tippy called to ask if I wanted to go pecan picking with her on Monday at a secret, not-to-be-named, location. This is something that she and her mother enjoyed doing together as she was growing up. She had found this wonderful place where pecans were abundant. She was absolutely right. I’ve never seen so many pecans! You could pick up 2 handfuls, move a few steps, and do the same again, as well as feel them being crushed under your feet as you walked. We were able to fill two large bags in no time flat. All of the stooping was rough of the back so we decided to meet up and relax over lunch at Olive and Fig – for the F-word (Falafel). We discussed earlier to check it out before considering whether we would eat there or order to go. We were happily surprised to see there were three tables outside. Though it was a very blustery day (as you can see from our hair!), the building shielded us from the wind and the sun was warm. It gave us a chance to catch up and was a fun morning.

I came home (from picking pecans) and tackled the Christmas tree again!  When I left it yesterday, there were two female plugs not plugged into anything, and not all lights were on. So, I took the three tiers apart and tried to figure out where the plugs were and correct them before going to the next level. It was a miserable failure! I’m sure there is a simple solution, but I don’t know what it is. If anyone has the secret, let me know. In years past, I have not had this problem! There has to be an easier way (like one plug connecting all lights in those of the next tiers!!). In any case, I’m going with what I have and decorated the tree the next day.

A week later and the microwave man finally came. This week has shown me how dependent on the microwave I am. I was opening the door to pop popcorn before I remembered it didn’t work. No warming up that second cup of coffee or leftovers. In any case, the repairman wasn’t here long and I think he helped my cause as much as possible, so American Home Shield is replacing my microwave – which means it will still be days before I’m functional again, BUT I will be happy and appreciative when it is replaced.

Winter has arrived with a vengeance. We’ve had temps dipping down into the low 30s at night for about three nights and only getting up to the high 40s or 50s during the day. My house doesn’t accommodate those temperatures and it takes a long time to warm up. So, I’ve learned to alter my routine to conform to Rosie’s schedule. She is NOT interested in going out in the cold or rain! One day she wasn’t willing until about 11:15 AM!! We did have one delightful morning when it was raining and we both slept in, listening to the gentle rain, until about 8:15! Now that my light sleep is more peaceful, I thorough;y enjoyed it.

In the meantime, I’m listening to The Nantucket Inn (a summer read kind of thing that I don't recommend!) with my new ear-pods, mostly as an experiment. I’m listening to it via “hoopla,” available through our local library. It’s a great service; however, it doesn’t offer some of the things I’d like to read/listen to via audiobook. Now that I’m familiar with the ear-pods, I’m going to rejoin the Fairfax (VA) County Library, which has a much broader selection of audiobooks of interest to me, and I’ve already searched for specific books I’d like to read. They offer a non-resident library card for something like $25 that allows you to use their digital library. I’ve joined in the past using the Overdrive app and found it difficult to manage, so I contacted the library and they suggested I check out Libby, Overdrive’s newest app, as it is easier to maneuver. I have done so and am going to rejoin using Libby. Thanks to Rhonda T for turning me on to all of this!

Enjoy the holidays!

Thanksgiving 2020! Food Galore.

I’ve been trying a new process that seems to work well. I leave a Word document titled Next Post that I leave on my laptop desktop.  When something happens or I think of something I want to mention, I write it up while it is fresh in my feeble mind! By the time I’m ready to post, it is all practically complete. There may be some changes or additions but it seems to come together much more easily and in less time. It is then just a matter of deciding which photos to bore you with!! 

As I write this, just after publishing my last post, I was warming my lunch in the microwave and it blew again! This is the third time and I’m going to request that they replace it. When it blows there is a pop sound and an electrical burning smell, as well as a humming sound and in this case, the plate kept slowly spinning and a light remained on! It has to be turned off at the switch box to make all of that stop! I’m not happy with this happening so frequently and the possibility of fire.

Sandra & Howard, Thank you!

 Imagine my surprise when the mailman rang my doorbell and delivered a large box. I had not ordered anything and even when I saw the return address, I still didn’t have a clue. I ripped into the box to find 10 jigsaw puzzles for Sandra and Howard in the Upstate. I didn’t even know they were into puzzles, but like all puzzle addicts, they must have collected quite a few and decided to share them with me. What a nice thing to do – thank you so much!! This should keep me out of trouble for the remainder of the pandemic (being optimistic!!).

Thanksgiving Day was glorious (reaching about 80 degrees, sunny, with a cloudless, Carolina blue sky) and I’ve never seen so many people out in the neighborhood. So much so that when I took Rosie for her walk, one neighbor whom I didn’t know commented on it. It really was amazing- walkers, joggers, cyclists, dog walkers. As I was doing my little bit of cooking for our get-together, I watched the traditional Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and the National Dog Show. Rosie and I went over to Lynn and Tom’s for an early dinner. They ordered in and Chris picked up our lentil loaf. She added green beans to our meal and I did mashed potatoes, as well as a sweet potato pie (ginger snap crust and coconut milk added to sweet potatoes – my favorite SP dessert!). It was all delicious and it was great to be able to share it with friends…and feel safe about being together. We also agreed that this was an easy way to do it so that all could enjoy our time together I’m concerned about all of the people traveling and ignoring CDC recommendations. I feel like there will be an explosion of positive cases in about 2-3 weeks, and then we’re into Christmas! In any case, I was thankful to have a safe and enjoyable group to share Thanksgiving.

I didn’t have one additional bite to eat after getting home and slept like a baby. Friday was overcast in the morning, still warm, with a light drizzle. So, I prepped for a recipe I wanted to make until Rosie was ready for our walk. It was a layered vegetable dish with a polenta base and two layers of leeks, eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and Gruyere cheese. The first time I made it, my pan only held one layer. It was tasty but I was convinced that the second layer would definitely make it better. After acquiring the appropriate pan, I tried again. Even this pan almost overflowed but the two layers of veggies better balanced the polenta. 

Yum!! Delicious.

To make the day even better, Reyna called and asked me to come over to pick up Chili Rellenos as a thank you for small favors I’d helped with. Hers are really delicious and I eagerly accepted and took her a sample of my veggie dish. Authentic Chilis Rellenos are so involved to make that I felt guilty to accept them for the small favors I had done for her (picking her up and delivering to car repair place….simply things like that!)  Even so, I didn't refuse!! It was after having all this food on hand that I was reminded that the microwave was out of order! After reheating in the toaster oven, I finally tried and settled on reheating in the Instant Pot, which worked very well without drying out the food in the process. 

Yesterday I spent a dreary, rainy morning putting out Christmas decorations. Since I’m not in the spirit, I started with the easy things and everything is out except the large tree. This part has not been difficult and I took my time and enjoyed it. Now is the tree! Even though I’ve invested in a pre-lit tree, it is still daunting. Today, I've spent the morning putting this post together and watching my morning shows. After lunch, I think I'll be able to tackle the tree. Watch this space!

via GIPHY

The Craziness Continues

Somehow, we all knew trump wouldn’t go quietly, honorably! After the dancing in the streets ended, the shenanigans began with the republican senators upholding him! I find it hard to believe those grown men can be that afraid of him, enough so to sacrifice their self-respect! Most decent conservatives have already left the trump cult and I guess we shouldn’t expect anything more for those who remain. In any case, I am feeling lighter each day. I almost feel that I can breathe better/easier, that a weight has been lifted from my chest. I’m getting more done around the house and am getting hooked on Silent Witness on Prime.

Earlier I mentioned my watch/step counter/sleep register gadget. Well, this is what the sleep register looks like. You get to see when and how long you are in deep sleep, which I find very interesting. I thought it was a progressive process and you would go into a deep sleep, it would last a while, and then you would come out of it - not that it was in fits and starts!! It isn’t the deep sleep so much as the light sleep that has tormented me for the last years. When I would go into a light sleep, my mind would race - and I was aware of it; however, since the election, my light sleep has been calm, quiet, almost meditative! I’m aware that I’m not in deep sleep, but my mind is quiet, no thoughts, no worries. No doubt you will think I’m bonkers, but it is what it is and this is how it has affected me. I’m thankful to be able to be rejuvenated by my sleep.

We are having great weather at the moment. Last week we had one really rainy day but otherwise, we have had light showers at night or early morning. So, Rosie and I have really enjoyed those fresh mornings. By afternoon we are in the 70s with some days almost reach 80. One walk this week lasted 2 hours – Lynn and Tom invited us in for coffee and we ran into loads of other people, dogs, and fellow liberals. We got home so late that I skipped breakfast because it was too close to lunchtime!  We never know what to expect. Two days ago on our afternoon walk, we ran into one neighbor whose husband likes to pet Rosie. She called ahead to let him know Rosie was on the way. Then, the mailman stopped and gave her a treat. Then, on the way home, a new neighbor saw us, came out of the house, and called to us. Both she and her husband came out and played with her in the grass!! Two other neighbors with dogs stopped by to visit. We really do live in a great neighborhood for doggies. 

You all know how I don’t give a hoot about shopping but my favorite handbag is shot. I got it for $6 at the thrift shop (half-price sale!) and it has been one of the best ever – small, lots of pockets, a handy credit card section. I really love it. It’s by Multi Sac, so I searched Amazon and they have a whole range of handbags (all coming in a variety of colors). There was one very similar to mine (but a bit larger), which I ordered. If anything, it has too many pockets. The thing that really impressed me was that it is vegan leather, which I didn’t know! That made me love it even more! A cow didn’t have to die for me to have my favorite handbag! I still like the old one better than the new one but I think I’ll just have to get used to it.

Friday the 13^th was our Liberal Ladies Zoom event with Chris Matthews. He is a much better speaker than TV host (always interrupting guests!) because he has a wealth of political knowledge and experience and really connected thoughts and issues well. Someone asked if anyone was going to challenge Nancy Pelosi for Speaker. He didn’t think so AND then said that she was the best politician he’s ever met. She is very strict with her caucus but manages to do it without being hated! That takes real talent and skill. Well, my first thought was that it is because she is a woman (and mother of 5!)…..but  I liked his observation. He got rave reviews from all in attendance. Our next speaker will be Larry Kramer, a former reporter, and editor at The Washington Post and President and Publisher of USA Today.

Last weekend marked the end of my 2 years of working on the Liberal Ladies newsletter. The last one for the year has been published. I’ve really enjoyed it as diddling on the computer is my thing and I always learn something new. I will also miss the great group of ladies on the Steering Committee, especially when we were able to socialize in person. Since we can’t do that at the moment, our last meeting of the year will be at 5 PM, glass in hand; so, I doubt much will be accomplished – but I do expect lots of laughs! Anyway, if you're interested, you can see my last edition HERE. Now that we aren't meeting regularly and the election is over, this issue is shorter and less involved than most, but it gives you an idea of our group.

Because I knew you missed Rosie!

This month also marks the 10^th Anniversary of Liberal Ladies and a special newsletter was done by my co-partner (Mary Ann) and the lady who will take my place (Ann). They did a beautiful job. You can find it HERE and might enjoy the read.

Well, In addition to politics being nuts here so is Covid-19!  After going to Kroger one afternoon and seeing three people without masks, I’m back to ordering my groceries for pickup. I confess to becoming slack and almost back to going to Kroger (right out my back door!) every other day, but that experience pulled me up short. Then, yesterday I made a late trip to Sam’s thinking it would be quiet, and it was a zoo! I mentioned that to one of the assistants and he said I had actually come at a good time – that it had been worse through most of the day! That tells me that it is likely to be this way throughout the holidays, so I’m staying home and ordering everything! It has also touched closer to home. My neighbor across the street who owns and operates a restaurant got it. I was told that the staff at her restaurant were not wearing masks, etc. I also heard from Rhonda T in Albuquerque that her work had to close down for a week when someone got it. They closed to sanitize the place before bringing in a skeleton staff to keep things going. That would definitely put a new slant on going to work each day.

I wish everyone here a Happy Thanksgiving and hope you’ve found a way to celebrate safely. Our little Pandemic Pals group will be celebrating on Thursday/Thanksgiving Day rather than our usual Friday get-together. We’re also making it easy by picking up and bringing our own food. Lynn and Tom will have the traditional turkey dinner and Chris and I will have a lentil, mushroom, and chickpea loaf, green beans, and mashed potatoes. This sounds very easy and may become a tradition!!

Happy Thanksgiving

One and All!

via GIPHY

It's Over! We Won!

Well, we kept up our political efforts to the very end. Lynn, David, and I held signs on Bluffton Parkway the afternoon before election day. The weather had turned cold and by the end of it, we had numb hands and ears. On election day, I did a shift of phone banking for Jaime Harrison. At that point, I called it quits! It was then only a matter of waiting.

One positive result of organizing in our neighborhood is that you get to meet more neighbors. As Rosie and I take our walks, we are frequently stopped by liberal neighbors wanting to talk politics – that includes walkers, runners, cyclists, and folks in cars. Last week, one man pulled over and said how anxious he was about the whole thing. What would we do if trump wins again? What if he pulls some shenanigan on election night? Yikes! On election day morning, he called and said, “We’re going to win this thing! I feel it in my gut”. I was glad he was feeling better and said I was calmer than I expected. Then he thanked me for all we had done, which was totally unexpected and very much appreciated. It made my day, which I told him. Even with our sign-holding, we were cheered on with yells, applause, honks – one young woman tooted at us while holding her own Jaime Harrison sign! One man, while stopped by a light, rolled down his window and thanked us. Another said, “It isn’t often that you see Democrats in the wild in SC”. That made me laugh and I assured him there were more of us here than he might think. I love moments like that and they made our time and effort worthwhile.

With the little bit I have done, I’ve made connections to various groups – Precinct leaders, Democrat clubs, candidates, etc. One that I’ve really enjoyed is being included in the texting group called the Bluffton Roadside Crew. This is a group of much younger people who have hung door hangers, posted signs, taken in signs at night, replaced signs, etc. I have done a minimal part but I have certainly enjoyed their texting chatter. They are very dedicated, knowledgeable, and hard-working. They really have restored my faith in young people and educated me in their outlook, parlance, and references. It was fun!

Ana

Another uplifting moment was when I received this photo from Ana, whom I helped register to vote. She was so happy to be able to vote and I’m glad she thought of me when she did!

Then Wednesday, the day after the election, arrived. In addition to Joe Biden not looking good at that point, Democrats got slaughtered in SC. Jaime Harrison lost to Graham. Joe Cunningham lost his seat and all of our local candidates lost! It was a nightmare! That was pretty much rock bottom, especially after how hard we worked. Then, by Thursday morning we realized that all was not so bleak for Biden and it was a matter of waiting it out. As his numbers climbed, I could literally, physically feel the tension and stress leaving my body. 

As if the tension of the election were not enough, Tippy and I had scheduled our next Africa Zoom class for November 5! What were we thinking? Then Friday was my day to host our Pandemic Pals. My fridge was bare and I didn’t even have time to cook! I lived off Amy’s soup for two days. For our social gathering, I took the easy way out and ordered food from Truffles which was probably better than anything I could have done anyway!

Saturday was to be a quiet day at home and I was finally going to have time to cook. Then suddenly midmorning, Biden was declared president!! The phone started ringing, emails and texts coming in…..locally, as well as from the UK, Spain, France, and Thailand! There was one glass of wine left in a bottle from the night before, so I poured it to celebrate as I cooked. Pauline texted first and suggested it must be wine-o’clock! A photo followed! 

Lynn hosted the Pandemic Pals for an impromptu celebration. It was one of the few times we kept the TV on just to see the joyous people in the streets. Seeing the people celebrating in the streets – diverse, jubilant, peaceful – was so heartwarming. You talk about a schizophrenic nation? It has been like night and day and makes me wonder why some people would prefer the night? I think it may have to do with their general worldview (positive or negative) and I’m not sure how to change that. At least we will have a reprieve from the negativity. What a relief!

It was all so inspiring that I wore my 4^th of July shirt this morning when I walked Rosie. It had just rained and it felt like a crisp, new day, literally and figuratively. Hope springs eternal!

What will I do now that the election is over and I'm not compelled to focus on politics all the time?