“I am not anti-social, I’m anti-idiot” ~ Sherlock Holmes
In a sudden irrational act of antimicrobial, antihistimine inspired social distancing, I caught myself waving to one of my soon to be co-workers from my window this morning. He didn’t wave back, then I remembered, I have tinted windows, you know those shiny mirror things that block the view so I can see out but no one can see in. Drat! That’s what you get from inhaling too much sanitizer! Wonder if that could be considered huffing?
We ventured out into the wilds of semi-suburban Rapid City to our local Health Food Coop today. It wasn’t half bad. Special “immune compromised” hours and a very small store with fairly high prices led to an almost serene atmosphere. No toilet paper, no wipes, no rolled oats, but filled most of the rest of my list. Got in, got out, got home, just in time for a Spring Squall complete with snow. Ahhhh Black Hills in the Spring. How y’all holding up?
Til next time ~ Keep your head down and your pantry full ~JP
Well it was bound to happen and it did. I finally had a system melt down. I’ve kept the stress and anxiety bottled up, dealt with the pollen and weather changes, the drippy sinuses and the coughing. Apparently my body and mind have had enough and yesterday I just threw in the proverbial towel. I spent the major portion of 24 hours asleep. I sat in the recliner and snoozed most of the day, ate only sparingly, and was in bed by 6:00 pm. I feel better today but still somewhat drained. I am reluctant to take the immune suppression drugs I normally take for this since they basically squash my immune system and I’m not sure that’s such a good thing right now.
We got out for a good walk early this morning before the clouds, wind and … people. I swear if I get out of this crisis without a full-blown case of agoraphobia I’ll be doing really well. It’s already nuts as I’m washing and sanitizing my hands so much they’ve dried out to the point of cracking and bleeding. OK, OK, it’s also partly caused by Sjogren’s but c’mon I can blame it on Covid Prevention Paranoia, symptoms include excessive washing and sanitizing, fear of anything not clearly (and personally) sterilized, man I need an autoclave! Oh well, as they say:
“This too shall pass it may pass like a kidney stone but it will pass.”
From Linda: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “beside you.” Write about whatever is beside you when you read this prompt. Not when you sit down to write, but whatever is beside you right now. Take note of it if you think you might forget. Enjoy!
What Day Is It Anyway? Coping with Covid day 9
The quarantine continues, our governor has asked for more business closures. We’re holding up OK here although we’ve got “new” campers in the park who have been asked to self quarantine for 14 days, don’t know how compliant they’re being but, hey we’ll see.
Linda has asked us to write about what’s “beside you” when you read this prompt. For me, it is my ever present coffee/tea cup directly to my left hand; my window open to my right letting in some sunshine. That window becomes more and more important to me the longer I’m “inside.” We still get out a bit for walks very early in the morning before everybody invades our little spot of solitude but have been curtailing those a bit due to my continuing cough.
Outside my window the wind blows, robins squabble over tasty worms, bunnies sample tender green shoots of grass, trees sway, their branches dancing in the Spring winds dotting the ground with pine cones oblivious to the worries of humans
The April Fools — Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick vocals
From Linda: Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.
I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.
Let’s keep in touch!
Well it’s the 8th day of isolation for us. Weather is still wet and dreary although most of the snow has melted now. Went for very short walk yesterday and snapped a few pics of the last remaining remnants of snow. May use them for backgrounds for some digital art. I’m still coughing like a TB ward. I’m actually glad to be staying home as I don’t feel 100% and I’m quite certain to get taken out by a sniper if I go out with this cough. I swear I can hear friends backing away from the phone. I know it’s nothing serious, I get at least one spring cold every year at this time but I do tend to sound like a seal. In further quarantine news, we ordered some dried vegetables and found soup mix without all the potatoes, carrots, and corn that most have. Placed another Costco order since it takes them a week or two to get here. I currently have a case of almond milk waiting up at the office which I should be able to pick up tomorrow. For distraction today I’ve done lots of writing. I’m re-reading a book series by David Eddings that I haven’t read in many years and I’m loving it just as much this time around. Listening to some new music on Spotify, did a little cleaning but still feeling a bit weak for the heavy stuff.
Well it’s been a week since I’ve had any outside human contact. I’m actually very fortunate, Superhubs and I have each other. Still feeling weak and have ever present cough. Cold and wet again today so we’ll see what the day brings on the exercise front. I saw the above on pinterest yesterday and I’ve decided that I need to change my focus. I’m adding to my gratitude list each day at least one good thing that’s come from the current Covid-19 crisis. For today, I’m very gateful for Youtube, yeah you read that right. I’ve found lots of fun and educational stuff I never would have even looked for if this crisis hadn’t forced me to find new distractions. This is one of my new found favs.
Truth Well Told Tarot on Youtube go check it out, you know you want to.
Why I’m writing this post: Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.
I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA. Let’s keep in touch!
Coping with COVID-19 – Day 3, 4 and 5 — Getting Real
Things seem to get crazier every day as we all attempt to “flatten the curve” so to speak. We’re holding our own here in the Black Hills with only 1 confirmed case in our county and no community transmission (how they determine that I’m not sure.)
I slipped into my protective introvert shell for a few days so if I’ve missed posts, comments and such, I apologize. Problem is I can sink deep, fast, become apathetic and depressed which is kind of scary in and of itself.
It’s part of the whole INFJ/HSP thing. The vibes that surround me right now and just plain scary, stores are filled with angry, frightened people. The internet, my primary source of outside contact is equally alarming. The cough I have is irritating and maybe spooky as well. I lost my voice for two months last year from a chronic cough, arrrrgggghhh! Not it’s not virus related, mostly allergies and perhaps a minor spring cold. So that’s the “real” part, I’m OK but honestly I’m not handling this as well as I had thought I would. Must remember to be on guard against the dreaded “blahhhh’s.”
After talking with a friend yesterday (on the phone) and a few long conversations with Superhubs, I’m feeling much stronger emotionally. Still a little weak, wheezy, and coughy (gosh I sound like a bunch of dwarfs) but I don’t feel as bad about it. Both my dear granddaughter and Linda have expressed it well. Good can come of this crisis if we just remember to look for it. So for today, I will find the good hiding in the bad and I will cherish it.
Linda says: ”Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.
Our Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt is “welcome.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
Lilacs ready to burst forth in a glorious welcome of Spring
Kind of a mish/mash up for me today
Coping with COVID-19 — day 2 — March 21, 2020
It’s a beautiful day here in the Black Hills. Sunshine, blue skies, mild temps. It’s a welcome relief from the snow, freezing temps, and winds earlier this week. We have a large lovely, lightly populated area perfect for walking with minimal human interaction. We’ve been out for one walk already and plan to do one or two more. We’re both recovering from a mild virus and we’re still a little weak. It’s nothing more than sniffles, itchy eyes and a mild cough but right now a cough is about as welcome as a fox in the hen house.
If I’m honest about it, I’m kind of relieved to be home for a couple of weeks. I’m a Highly Sensitive Person and an introvert. Too much “peopling” can leave me exhausted under the best of circumstances and these, my friends are NOT the best of circumstances. Angry, frightened aura’s abound.
There has also not been much of an opportunity to celebrate the Equinox or Ostara which I always enjoy. I like to welcome Spring with a cleansed home and some special spring treats. This afternoon will be spent in an outdoor meditation, a “whole house blessing” (a fancy schmancy way of saying Spring Cleaning), and perhaps some nice vegetable soup.
