#1 In The Bag /In the Arm

On Thursday Morning, the State of NV

 announces that as of that morning

 65 and over are now eligible for vaccine! Woot!

This begins a long two long days of registering

on multiple sites to be called for appt and 

refreshing a dozen other sites all day trying to 

snag an appt. 

By Friday night my frustration level was

in full bloom and I decided to bag it in and

watch some tv.

About 10 minutes before 9pm, I suddenly thought

go to Walgreens (across the street from me).

I get these "premonition" moments a lot in my life

and I've learned to go with them.

I thought, it's 1 hour till the pharmacy closes,

maybe they have leftovers, or at least they can help me 

to stop being kicked off the sign up list.

I walked straight to the back corner,

 asked if there was a trick to the site and a gal in the back

says we have one left, you want it?

YESIREEE

By 10 I had it, and was back home.

Son and Daughter in law also got one Friday through

a test run with Govt and National Guard in CA - open to all ages.

My arm is just a tiny bit sore at the site, no other side effects, 

but the kids got bad headaches and very sore arms.

If all continues to go well, I can see my family or 1/2 of them in April.

 A tiny peek back into normalcy.

The upsetting thing was the wonderful gal who gave 

me my shot has been vaccinating at long term care facilities all week.

She said 30% of the employees were refusing the shot.

I.  DO.  NOT.  UNDERSTAND.

I read that 30% refusal, denial, is for the population in general.

Also many teachers demanding to be vaccinated,

while still many others are refusing.

All the misinformation and fear is going to drag this out

for years while the variants continue to mutate.

500,000 dead, in 1 year, in one country, 

and still some folks say it's just a bad cold.

If this disease caused oral, nasal and anal bleeding like ebola

would folks still say it's just another flu or would they be demanding

help? That number, half a million, has become so large, over so much time 

that people have become numb to it.

Not to me

I am grateful that science and medicine and Drs

are doing everything they can to save my life and

the lives of my loved ones. I pray that all people, in all countries,

are given the opportunity to continue living.

More Sanctuary

and Walter weirdo who sleeps in the darnedest positions

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

Some of you saw Walter and his rock on

Instagram. It continues to be a source of great

pleasure or frustration, I'm not sure which

 as he whines while he rolls it.

( much clearer on IG click over on the right)

In between the rock is the hard place;

one that we are all too familiar with.

I am trying my best to keep busy

and productive but damn it's hard.

I'm nearly at 100 days of this.

It's now pushing 100 degrees here most days,

so gardening of any kind is limited to 

early morning hours if at all.

I'm keeping most pots on the porch,

so I don't have to wander the yard to water.

My head is not in the right place to 

be creative at the moment,

though I wish it were.

The studio beckons, but I sit and think 

up there creating zilch, while

Walter whines at the blocked off stairway.

I've cleaned, I've tidied, I've rearranged

a little, only to find 

it is needed again even with little activity,

so why bother?

Food delivery has hit a hiccup, 

our government is a disgrace and dangerous,

and I worry a lot about friends and acquaintances who

take none of this too seriously.

"I told you so" with tragic consequences.

Hmmmm

Not such a perky post,

but I'm guessing you've all been there.

Tomorrow is a new day.

Exactly the same as the day before except

the garbage will be collected.

My witty and goofy Tom and Hannah

entertain themselves with Friday Frownies

you can find here and here.

If you go to either of their profiles

and click on frowny or friday frowny

you can share in the goofy.

Last Saturday was the planned, now postponed,

wedding date for my son Ben and his love Helene.

Many of us sent food, plants, flowers

and happy thoughts.

They are handling the disappointment 

with grace. 

I say my prayers of gratitude

at the start and end of each day.

My kids and family are safe and healthy;

many folks around the world cannot say that,

so it's hard, but it's doable for however 

long it takes.

Our grandparents and their families,

were separated for years during the wars.

Immigrants today are kept away from family

for years. War torn countries today do not know if

their loved ones are alive.

We can certainly handle this without

tearing the country apart can't we?

Those who try to continue the divisiveness, 

should not be allowed to remain in power, 

be able to corrupt our judicial system, or

allowed to curtail our right to vote their asses out. 

Z

Pizza and Poses

I really don't have much to say these days,

nor very many folks to say it to,

 at least not out loud.

I am in my 9th week of total isolation,

within a 2 1/2 year span of partial.

I think I'm still sane,

or as sane as I ever was I suppose. 

The smallest things make me ever so pleased.

This cheese and marmalade pizza for one.

It was the Private Selection brand from Kroger.

Reading the ingredient list it states the marmalade 

is made from bitter orange. 

It is delightful and my next delivery order

 included two more for the freezer.

Almost like melted brie with marmalade

you make for dipping...

on a thin crispy crust.

Next you'll see two of the CA kiddos.

Tom and Hannah posing in the masks 

that Tom's mom made for them.

In Walter news:

He has learned how to go thru 

the first set of dog doors.

It took 4 days of gentle coaxing 

and a setback trauma when he nearly strangled 

himself for about a millisecond,

 and he hid for 4 hours as if it was my fault. 

He has also discovered the second floor.

Once with me, and the second time he 

climbed under the handles of a shoe basket

used to block the way,

 and up and over the other side

onto the stairs.

Sitting in the family room, I heard what

seemed like thunder until it dawned on me 

it was Walter raising bloody hell upstairs.  

I had to chase him out of each room

 one by one slamming doors closed behind me

and then another 10 minutes of him 

ducking past me on the stairs up and down,

up and down, "the little s&^%".

As he grows the mischief increases,

as does the whining to get his way. 

oh the whining...

Good Good Friends

 Another chicken dinner left by neighbor 

at my door today and my friend Paula 

came by and dropped off these two pkgs.

Tomato basil chicken and potatoes.

That's 8 meals for me!

We were able to chat a few minutes

 thru the screened window and she met Walter.

He barked a bit but then he doesn't really know

about other humans just yet.

I was also contacted by Shopping Angels

and a young volunteer will be going to 

Trader Joes for me tomorrow.

 I sorely miss their food.

A young college student started the

program in Reno for at risk seniors 

and it is spreading across

the nation. Each Instacart delivery

 was running me $15 which adds up 

on my wee budget

unless you do a mega order.

Volunteers only, not even allowed tips.

They are limited to 10 items, 

but I can use twice a month and save $45 a month.

If you know a senior who needs

this kind of help, maybe it is in your area also.

I am blessed to have good friends and

a young friend I'll meet tomorrow through my

screened window.

I'm shaking off the malaise of the past

couple weeks and I'm purging a little each day

and I'm tackling one room a day 

down to the baseboards, curtains washed etc.

It's exercise and I get tired by the end

which helps me sleep.

Every time I take Walter outside to "get busy"

 I whack off a few stray stems and pluck a few weeds.

Eventually the yard will be in better shape also.

It's all about the little actions,

be it a volunteer, a kind friend or TWO,

a plucked weed, a 4 legged friend bringing joy.

I pray the world wakes up to 

what a human being should be to another.

Humanity: noun 

1. the human race;

 human beings collectively:

all together

imagine

"You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one"

My Shadow's Shadow

I was so sick of sitting only on the couch,

that I rearranged a few things 

in the family room Sunday night. 

Too lazy to search for a photo of before,

but bench and bread boards used to be

 on the left wall with chair coming

 out into the room from the corner and no plant.

Now I can watch tv from chair and put my feet up.

Cozier for now.

Z

Entertaining Ourselves

Air So Fresh Skies So Blue

It is eerily quiet in my neighborhood.

I wanted Walter to have a different view today,

so I brought him into the den, 

and using photobooth shot this scene behind me.

I threw a towel over the chair 

as his puppy nails can quickly shred.

I was hoping he would be entertained by 

movements outside but there were none.

No people, no dog walking, no birds flying,

or planes in the sky.

nothing

A little creepy.

I have noticed for two weeks

 now the absence of birds.

Anyone else concerned about this?

Perhaps they've all gone to the strip.

Seen this?

He sniffs the air and whines now and then,

and then a yelp and I turn to see a man

sauntering past wearing an old straw hat.

Walter scrambles even higher.

Air so fresh * skies so blue

and finally the coo of a mourning dove.

Ray of Sunshine

One small bit of light coming into the 

family room and Walter found it.

I've been making different toys for him

to keep him busy. He loves the 

knotted rope ones the best.

Poor little guy has no dog friends and no

other human in his life. We'll need lots

 of socialization weeks? months? from now.

His ongoing habit of climbing up my chest

to perch like a parrot on my shoulder

is problematic. At 6 weeks he fit fairly well.

At 13 weeks he balances on both shoulders,

curved around my neck

digging in so as not to fall, while trying 

to chew hair and lick everywhere. 

Often I end up with a tiny butt in my face.

Very bad parenting on my part I know,

but he leaps up so fast and it is hilarious.

The days roll by while

working to keep the fears at bay.

Neighbors picked up antibiotic prescriptions;

yep, another bronchial infection,

  and also found me laundry

 detergent which is scarce on line.

Grocery delivery is working pretty well.

Sooo much texting to kids and friends.

I drive to the mailbox up the street at night,

almost always in pjs.

I don't have to carry O/2 tank that way

and it gives my car a 

little engine time each week.

This next week I may take a drive to see

what it feels like out there. I have no point

of reference other than tv images.

I'm searching for every ray of sunshine I can find.

Stay safe

Z

Spatchcock

First Spatchcock chicken. 

Not as pretty as some, as both legs fell

off while transferring.

I did not place them correctly or that 

that would have been one weird bird.

Of course what isn't weird and scary these days? 

Stay safe Stay home

Z

So Flippin' Cute

I've been pretty isolated for over

 two years now so the new normal does not

affect me as much as the rest of you.

I always have emergency supplies

so that has been Ok also. For now

 I'm having groceries delivered, 

and still being careful when handling.

What has really helped is this sweet boy.

Always busy playing by my side,

or sleeping tucked next to me

 or in his favorite spot,

on my chest.

He's a stubborn, determined pup at times,

(He has murdered two boxes of kleenex already.)

but we're working on things together.

Thought you all could use 

a sweet thought and pic

today. Walter says Hello!

Please be cautious, not fearful,

generous, not selfish,

and if you have nearby seniors 

please help them out if you can.

I have two neighbors who are checking on 

me, and there for me if I need anything.

That makes me feel less anxious, as I am 

extremely vulnerable and my kin

are so far away.

oh and BTW

vet says he's a jack russell mix.

That explains a lot