Today is Tuesday, November 24th, 2020

 Today is the 25th anniversary of one of the most significant days of my life... I married the love of my life, Tracy James McAvoy... he's been gone about 6.5 years now but I treasure the time I spent with a man who loved and lived as a man driven by his ideals... I am truly grateful to have spent almost 21 years with a principled hero who would always find the solution and stay true to his moral compass.

Treasure the memories but keep living...

Today is Tuesday, October 27th 2020

I awoke with a blog in my head... only 4 hours sleep but an idea yearning to be told...

One week until election day and the whole world is watching and frightened.  My world has been disrupted by Covid19 along with countless others... sleepless nights...fear of exposure forces me indoors socially distanced from most... which leaves me talking to myself and poking fun at anything and everything including myself... 

The orange con man has taken us all for a ride...our country has been brutalized by this 4 year old who seeks self aggrandizement at every turn... everything we took for granted as decent and moral has been stomped on by this petulant vindictive child.  The final blow was the elevation... the stuffing of Amy Barrett on the Supreme Court yesterday.  In one fell swoop the court has severed its status as a third separate branch of our government and become a lethal arm of the president, a campaign ad and a political cartoon.  Who was it that said "What have you got to lose?"

Everything is at stake. Our way of life is at stake. Democracy, our Republic is at stake.  The comparisons to Hitler's rise can't be ignored.  Slowly but surely, he and his enabling Republicans have stripped away all the safeguards to ensure their power can't be disrupted.  Even our faith in the Post Office has been destroyed while his henchman has demoralized and deconstructed their basic way of doing business.  At every turn, this con man with the guiding hand of Moscow Mitch has stolen the sacred accepted tenets of government and substituted chaos.  

I have found faith... the Biden Harris ticket must prevail and Joe and Kamala must rewrite the wrongs and prosecute the demons...  FAITH is the only thing that will sustain us in the coming week and action:

                                                    VOTE BLUE!!!!

Today is Sunday, October 25th, 2020

 Happy birthday Gar!  Yup there have been several b'days recently and we've celebrated in very small groups which are socially distanced... and our masks are never far from our faces.  I'm feeling fine except for a small tweak on the muscle that feeds my right knee... I am very grateful to be alive and healthy!!!

As the countdown to the election is moving quickly, I'm looking forward to change... seems like everyone has finally gotten the message...VOTE!!!  It's gratifying to see people exercising their civic duty even in the face of long lines and intimidation.  I'm hopeful for our United States.

Been doing a lot of hiking lately and enjoying it!  The air is clear and the temperatures are slowly returning to the 60-70's.  Perfect!  So, as I contemplate my navel and anticipate the Niners game today against the Patriots (I'll be cheering for the 9ers but I am kind of torn as a New England native)  I am also excited about the possibilities of getting past COVID with a new administration!!!

GO NINERS!!!!

Today is Sunday, August 16th, 2020

 4:15 AM awoke to the sounds of a summer storm... huge thunder crashing and lightning lighting up the sky... memories of feeling so safe in mommies arms as a small child, watching a summer squall from the living room window through the towering tree in the front of the house...  so safe and warm and enchanted by nature...

listening to James Taylor crooning some American standards... I feel really alive.  It's coming up on 6 years that T is gone.  I'm able to remember the good and the bad....ahhh.  It's refreshing that at long last, time is really healing.  My heart is opening... I do believe I'm ready to share love again... first perhaps a little doggy and then???  who knows???

It's time to fix T's raven and my crab sculptures... and maybe even my Roseville rosebud vase... it would be wonderful to put my hands into clay again... certainly have the time... inclination??

Turned 71 and everything looks clearer now... trite but true... the pandemic has given me time to reflect and relish the kindness of friends and the little things.  With the lack of travel has come the idea that friends and sharing are the most important soul satisfactions... 

I'm harmonizing ...feeding my soul...

Be safe and stay cool...

Today is Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

8? weeks of SIP... losing track of time...

I pressure washed the bricks in my backyard on Sat. with some help BUT without a mask for most of it.... BIG mistake!  I inhaled all that debris including mold... sick as a dog on Sunday and today I finally feel like me again.  I constantly forget my problem with mold... and ignorance is NOT bliss.

However, I'm getting there with my backyard, front stoop and front yard.  Adolfo has finally fixed the irrigation system and is now readying the bricks for a finish coating.  Ahhh...

I noticed when I opened the door this morning that a bird was on approach and quickly darted away. Grabbed my step ladder and whaddayaknow?

I'll be very careful about opening the door from now on....

And life goes on....

Today is Tuesday, May 5th 2020

It's Cinco de Mayo!!!  in the year of the pandemic.... what exactly does that mean????  no gathering of friends... no not that.  I guess I'll just have to have a celebratory orange margarita this afternoon... alone or within 6' of a neighbor.

I've been working on my yard, my trust and making some interesting discoveries about myself...

Today is Wednesday, April 22nd 2020

Today is perhaps week 7?? of sheltering in place... Phew.... I'm losing track of time, however, I have had an amazing awakening.   All of a sudden, I've recognized that I'm capable of accomplishing something every day... that's my new way to cope.  It gives me great pleasure to recognize that no matter how small or large... whether exercise or a task;  I'm doing things... checking goals off the list and/or adding things for another day.  That's major for me to acknowledge and has given me pause and pleasure.

You see, I believe we're all social people but we exist on different levels for seeking social contact.  I used to crave social contact as an extrovert, but in the last several years; I've become a bit of an introvert.... go figure...  I now realize, I need alone time whether for a day or several days; the need is real.  Of course I do need social contact and I crave being hugged but for now, since that's impossible,  I choose to ignore it.  That's for the good of our community...  We shall all live to see May by sheltering in place.

I am so proud to be a citizen in California.  Gov. Newsom has admirably managed the pandemic.  He deserves high praise for recognizing the enormity of this plague early on and acting on it.  I include him in my list of heroes and I pray that we all stay safe!

President Trump on the other hand is the devil himself constantly politicizing the pandemic .... encouraging protests against sheltering in place in blue states; not leading the charge for the Federal government to manage the procurement of PPE or testing kits or masks etc across the nation; manipulating the truth so red states don't institute sheltering in place; advocating for the closure of the post office and other voter suppression techniques and on and on.

Stay safe!!   Stay home!!! 

Wash your hands and by all means, wear a mask if you must go out!!!

Today is Thursday, April 9th 2020

It's week 3-4? of sheltering in place.... that is amazing and very interesting since I haven't left the house for any reason for the last 2 weeks anyway .... I find contentment in my new routine ... I'm only missing fresh veggies and company.   Today was garbage day so, I recycled the trash and freshened up my bed and bod...

Woke up feeling restless and latched onto AppleTV+ the Oprah show... wow lots to digest... and to think about in this new world.  What can I do to help?  We're all grappling with that, I think.  Escape is easy... what will I do to make a difference?  I'm thinking about how we're all... the entire world is in this together.  We have polluted the world and this organism is fighting back.... we must choose the best for civilization... not just the US or our own communities...  we must find a way to accept that we are one humanity and we will live or die based on our actions as our world gets smaller and smaller... and this pandemic strikes around the world.

What shall we do?????

Today is Wednesday, April 8th 2020

Well this Connecticut Yankee was just turned on to a website www.getmainelobster.com and boy, did I take advantage!  The highlight of my day, week and month will result in a surf & turf for Easter for this homesick puppy....  I'm excited!!!!  Thanks Deb!!!

So, I'm wondering how all of you peeps deal with this shut-in status...  I have found myself in the same pj's or I guess I could call them lounging pajamas... sounds a little better?... for 2 and I'm reluctant to say sometimes 3 days.  Then, I do a deep dive... shower, strip the bed or sometimes just change sides... since it IS a Cal King and there's a totally unused and clean side to abuse... ha!  What you say?

I find I'm listening to music and wanting more... it's the little things that bring pleasure.... music brings such peace....
after all, forewarned by Michael before it hit the news... the beach is NOT safe right now.  Think about the fact that the rivers and creeks wash into the ocean and after the last couple storms, the scientists have begun to suspect that the ocean spray may hold Covid 19 particles... damn!  Who would have thunk? 

So, I'm forgoing walks to the beach for awhile... besides I've read and heard in multiple news sources that there's another critical point approaching in the pandemic.  So, why not stay home for a few more days and stay safe?!!!!

Today is Tuesday, April 7th, 2020

I wonder if I'm handling this as well as most?  I've lost interest in most things and have consigned myself to staying home... emptying the freezer; the pantry and being a little creative with ingredients... and of course raiding the wine stash.  Today was a non- alcohol day... all I wanted was bubbly water.   I keep thinking today's the day to go food shopping and yet, something is telling me to stay home.  So, I've finished another book 'The Accidental Empress' by Potaki and even started looking for the 2nd in the series and realized I have lots more books and magazines here in my house to consume... so why bother?  perhaps something to look forward to...

So, I have a couple major things that need specialized repairmen and yet, I really don't want anyone to come into my house... my Fisher & Paykel dishwasher drawers decided to crash Sat. nite  F1 is the error code and I did the logical thing... unplugged it.  According to their website, I need a repair tech.  Plugged it back in yesterday, and nothing was magically fixed.  Oh well... I guess I'll see if the dishwasher in the bar works.  Ha!  I can't remember the last time I used it.  It can wait and I can still wash dishes....

Then there's the furnace... runs constantly and my house isn't warm.  Lucky for me, the temperature outside is rising so, hopefully, I can do something about that in a few months when we're free to return to life.

I do believe it's gonna take another month at least to be free from this sheltering in place situation. 

The good news is I'm retired, I'm lucky and I'm healthy... and there are times that I don't leave the house for a few days at a time.... now, if I could only become motivated to create ... perhaps....

Stay safe and healthy and stay home!!!!

Today is Thursday, April 2nd 2020

Wow!  What should I do with myself today?... let's see it's a week today, actually last Thursday, since I'd gone anywhere in my car....for some fresh veggies and my favorite sugarless coffee creamer.  I had watched Rachael Ray while getting ready to shower and she'd prepared " Pasta alla Norma with Lamb" which looked sooo interesting!  It incorporated all the ingredients I loved - eggplant, ground lamb and then, some other novelties for me and I was salivating.  I figured what the hell?!  Why not go for it????

Off to Safeway in Capitola at a non-prime time;  I walked in with my Sierra Club small cold bag over one arm and a reusable bag on the other and gloves, ignoring the shopping carts and any shoppers from a distance.  I desperately needed my Lucerne sugarless French Vanilla and Hazelnut creamers for morning coffee and some fresh veggies and other items for the sauce.  I perused any aisle with no one in it.  Lo and behold, organic eggplant, organic grass fed lamb and salad makings were available but not dried Fusilli con Buco, sweet vermouth, organic cherry tomatoes, tomato passata, or Calabrian chili paste. So, after unloading all my items on the counter and repacking my own bags;  I was off in pursuit of my missing items.... next stop, Deluxe market in my hood... the purveyor of all things Italian...  there I found everything BUT Calabrian chili paste... thankfully, Rachael had suggested substitutions.  I got home about 3:30 and decided to get to it!

Cooking has always been solace for me... only, I'm always wanting to have company so that, the food prepared with love is shared with family and friends....  Covid 19 had reared its ugly head and that wouldn't be possible the normal way.  No, not now... so, I ate my delicious dinner accompanied by a fine Zin and the TV in my bar and planned.  There was way too much sauce and no way would it freeze and besides, I really wanted to share it.  What to do?  I called my neighbors and said I had made their dinner for Friday evening ... turns out both homes ended up with several dinners... per usual, I had made a lot of food and most peeps love leftovers.  How to share?  Well, each party brought a container and I filled it with pasta and this fabulous sauce and I was able to share, albeit awkwardly... I revelled in the praise the next day for my 'shared' gourmet meal.  We'll all get better at it as we proceed in this new world and its many constraints.

This past week has been very interesting... I'm learning that escape doesn't always do it for me.  I've read 4 books in the past few days and finally, figured out who to contact for help with my blog.  You see, that's the stuff my honey always took care of.  Turns out, GoDaddy was able to redirect my domain names to my blog and I've spent a little time editing my profile and now, finally I'm up and writing...

Stay tuned....

Today is Tuesday, March 24th 2020

 It's been a very long time but I'm finally realizing that writing shall set me free... We're in some crazy freaking times, folks.  All these new terms we're now recognizing and acknowledging - Pandemic; sheltering in place; social distancing.....

I was supposed to have been in Florida visiting my family      (March 14-21) this past week.  Canceled my trip while packing and listening to t rump announce the National Emergency.  Up to that moment, I’d been convinced that I’d be safe traveling.  Now, absolutely forced to acknowledge the new reality:  precarious nature of travel - the Petri dish ️... it was time to give in and heed my intuition and my friends/families' advise and cancel my trip.  

So instead, I've been sheltering in place.... reading the beginning of the Jesse Stone series by Robert Parker plus quite a lot of stuff that was ignored by my bedside; playing Words with Friends; streaming; calling friends and listening; texting, and walking.... frustrated by the hoarding mentality and loss of control looking for the release of laughter and music. 

On St. Patty’s day, rather than celebrating with my Irish in-laws in Florida;  I ventured out to our newest Aptos Village Organic grocery store, New Leaf and did a little shopping.  It was quiet, clean and anxiety free for me; devoid of the big box mentality.  Ended up marinating and grilling a filet mignon, baked a purple yam (my first but definitely not my last- yum!) added a salad and paired it with a fine Cabernet...mmmmmm. 

 Took a 4.5 mile walk at Seacliff with Jan on Saturday... 

that’s been my week....  I miss hugs and the wonderful social gatherings on our Monday hikes!!!! 

We must find a way to thwart the anxiety and bleak nature of facing down this pandemic... we're all in it together and all anyone will remember when this is over is the way we've treated each other...smile, live the golden rule and WASH your hands!!!!

Love, peace and health to you all ️🏻🤟