November 2 2020 Pre-election day

 So, Ed and I voted early by mail.   We're done with this very contentious election.  

Anxious to see the results.  Hopefully it will be a more cohesive government, not the one we've had for the last 3+years.

Ed is out hiking with the Trilogy Hiking Club here at Vistancia.  It is a beautiful day, highs today only about 90.  

Ed took this photo the other day on an early morning walk in our neighborhood, this is sunrise.  

This is beautiful little Ryah, dressed up for Halloween as her favorite book character!  I love this. 

Oct 26 2020 still in Coronovirus Land

 The pandemic is dragging on. The presidential election is days away.  Ed and I have already voted absentee.  

We're thankful that we are OK.  We meaning all of our families.  So far, so good.

I hate the isolation I feel.  Water aerobic has started up, but I'm too afraid to interact with so many people with no masks.  

Patsy has had a hysterectomy but she's doing well.  I worry about her.  but she's OK. 

Ed and the Trilogy hiking club are still hiking.  We did a couple short trips to Prescott and Sedona.

I

Tales from Coronovirus seclusion

Well, June has mostly come and gone. 
My birthday (68th) came and went too.

Cases of COVID19 have spiked here in Arizona.  I think there were 3500+ on Friday, then another new 3,200 cases on Saturday, then 2,000+ on Sunday.  Lots of related deaths also.  We are concerned, to say the least.  He is still hiking, but we aren't doing a lot. 

Ed and I took Amanda and Todd out for dinner on Saturday night at Arrowhead Grill  (June 13th).
The good points are:  we got to see Amanda and Todd, which was really nice.  (I'm lonely.)
The dinner was really delicious, we had a coupon for Buy One Get One Delmonico steak for my bday.  That was the best steak ever. 
On the negative side, it was very very crowded and the tables were not 6 feet apart.  Most people were NOT wearing masks.  Our waiter was not.  It was a risky thing to do.  I wish we had not gone out to eat.

No hugging.  No touching. 

Needless to say, I cannot wait for this pandemic to be over. 

The social feelings over whether or not to wear a mask is awful.  Mostly Trumpers are NOT wearing masks, and making fun of those of us that do wear a mask.  Masks are quite a topic on every social media platform.

Some of Ed's relatives are really thinking this pandemic is a hoax.  They don't believe in medical opinions.  They probably won't take the vaccine if it ever becomes available. 

This whole thing is divisive.

Then this happened;
George Floyd was murdered by a police officer.  George was a black man.  The police officer was a white man.  This ignited racial tensions, I'm sure you can read about the protests that followed for weeks and weeks.  More tension.  More angst.  More unhappiness.  Even more divisiveness.  It is awful.  Very uncomfortable.  I'm white and sad and angry too...and a little confused as to what I can/should do.

::heavy sigh::

I'm working puzzles.  Making potholders.  Reading.  Watching TV.  Occasionally going to Safeway.  Eating too much.  worrying about my diabetes numbers.  boring

2020 May 21 Self isolation

2020 May Coronavirus Self-isolation update

We're still surviving, in spite of our worries about COVID19 as it is called.

I love Dr. Fauci but not President Trump.

Here is a photo of Joey:

Facetime with Joey OMG that beard!!

I think he has shaved since this photo.  He fell while jogging and broke his phone.  Took a couple days to get new phone, so I haven't seen new photo yet.

We got our little swimming pool cleaned and refilled it.  Looks great!  Cost us about 800 bucks.  Keeping our economy running I guess.

It is hard to self-isolate.  People are arguing about wearing  mask outside the house or not.  We wear masks.

Trump and Pence do not.  Stupid people.

Our grocery store has marked the aisles one way.  They have stickers on the floor to let us know where to stand, to reinforce social distancing.  6 feet apart People!!

I'm still working puzzles, Ed still hikes.  We are fortunate.

Both kids continue to have employment and both are currently working from home.
Everyone is OK.

This too shall pass..

2020 April Coronavirus Time

We are currently under "Stay At Home" directives.
Ed continues to hike twice a week, with social distancing.  (6 feet apart.)

I order food from the grocery online these days, and only go out to pick up take out meals occasionally. 

Lots of time on my hands, I work puzzles, watch TV, walk around our back yard.  Waste time on FaceBook.  

Look at old photo albums.  Here are a couple of photos that spurred memories.

  The split leaf philodendron here as photographed in the sun room of our 1st house on 248 Worley Ave in the Broad Oaks section of Clarksburg.  That was a very nice porch area.  I loved that huge plant, we took it to Maple Lake when we moved there, but could not take it to California.  The terrarium was Stan's creation, I think he even make the hangar.  So pretty.

Last year in Kauai, we saw this pretty necklace that reminded me of something wonderful.  I didn't realize it was my philodendron at the time.  They called it  Monstero plant but that didn't seem familiar to me.  
I later bought this necklace and earrings in Las Vegas in early 2020.  I love it.  The jewelry tray is a gift from Amanda, from Tiffany so I won't lose anymore of my jewelry! 

So, there you have my random thoughts for this day in April 2020 while quarantined.  

We are well, had chicken tacos for lunch from Cross Eyed Cricket.  Shop local!!

2020 March COVID19 self quarantine

So this has become quite real.

Ed and I are home in Peoria Arizona where we are trying to stay out of crowded places and keep safe from the Coronavirus.  Ed and I are fine, we have gone out to the store and are utilizing take out restaurants.  We have our diabetes medications and have gone to the pharmacy. 

It is hard on me.  I'm worrying about all my loved ones all over the place, AZ, NY, WV, OH and elsewhere.  But I worry about Ed a lot.  This seems harder on him.  He likes to talk to people a lot.  I'm pretty satisfied with my solitary activities, such as puzzles, books, web surfing, TV, cleaning etc.   Schools here are closed until at least April 10th.  Today is March 23, so it will be a while.  I'm thankful I don't have kids at home I guess.

Ed is (right now, this morning) hiking with a couple other guys, part of the hiking club here in our community.  They have to drive to trailheads separately, and stay 6 ft. apart.  But, there is at least a feeling of camaraderie.

We feel very lucky and blessed.  We think we will still have enough money when the inevitable recession comes.  Our stocks have tanked, so that hurts, but it is what it is.  We have local grocery stores and pharmacy is still open and close by,  Grocery stores still have food, although maybe not one particular brand or another.  Toilet paper is in short supply, but we are Cost Co shoppers, which means we are a little stocked up on stuff.  We're fine that way too.  

Sometimes it i this...  but naps are OK

Sometimes it is this, which seems better. 

This beautiful trail is way too crowded though beautiful,  It was too late to back out when we realized how many people were there. 

This is me, but I'm not good at hiking anymore. My feet hurt and my hips hurt, and I am so slow and tire quickly.  Just old I guess.  It sucks.  I remember Machu Picchu. 

2020 Las Vegas in spite of COVID19 concerns

We had tickets for a Dwight Yoakam concert in Las Vegas, so, in spite of growing concerns over the Corona virus or COVID19, we decided to go ahead and take out trip to Las Vegas.

So far, so good.

We went to The Mob Museum and it was very nice.
Loved our Dwight Yoakam concert, he is still a great storyteller and still great strong voice.
We were also really impressed with our Dream Seats at the show Le Rev (the dream).

We ate at the Wynn Buffet and it was delicious, as always.  
I enjoyed everything, the lights, the big architecture, the shows and even the drive there and home.  Nice trip.   Yes, we thought about the COVID19, but we tried to be careful of things, used hand sanitizer and washed hands often. 

 We stayed at the Encore, part of the Wynn resort.  It was very nice, this photo was in front of the Wynn.

Barbara Nicholson at the Wynn, March 2020.  Love these floors!

Fabulous show - Le Reve at the Wynn, so much fun,

Dwight Yoakam preforming in Las Vegas 3\4\2020

Grand Canal Shoppes, Venitian Las Vegas

Two Desert Big Horn sheep on I-11 near Las Vegas

2020 Begins

I guess 2020 is the beginning of a new decade.  I started this one with an infection on my index finger! I tried to get into see my primary care physician, but this was apparently her vacation, so I ended up at an urgent care facility.  There was an NP there that prescribed Kflex for me, so I tried that antibiotic.  It didn't seem to work, so I tried again to get into my PCP.  One of her co-workers finally agreed to see me.  She prescribed a sulfa drug, Bactracin generic.  I took this drug for the whole prescription.  I still a redness and minor swelling in the finger, but I guess I'll just wait and see now.

 On Monday, we drove to Los Angeles!  We checked into the Kimpton near the Westwood area of Hollywood/Beverly Hills.  

On Tuesday, we went to the Peterson Automobile Museum.  This was much  more fun than I had imagined!  Nice museum!

On Wednesday we went to the Getty to see the Manet exhibition.  Really enjoyed it.

Thursday we drove home.  Always great to get home! 

Need to go back!  Still want to see:

• Greystone Mansion

• La Brea Tarpit

• Hammer Museum