Wednesday - COVID382

Up on time, and sent a message to Mandi for her birthday.  I wish I could have seen her, but I hope to be able to deliver her gift in person over the next few weeks.

I worked as much as I could before my dentist appointment.  The new crown was installed, after some off-and-on because it was so tight, and adjustments to make it fit.  It was relatively quick, no Novocaine.

I dropped off the returns to Amazon of the batteries and charger that didn't work at the UPS store, then headed home.

I worked as much as I could in the afternoon to make up the time.

After work, I put in another good half hour on the weed whacker.  There are a lot of dense areas with fleshy plants that are harder to cut and that spew wet green all over.  These are new this year and I wonder how much of the new growth I'm seeing is from the high winds flinging debris from the fire last year.  The grassy areas are much easier to cut.

And then during dinner I lost one, maybe two, fillings near the new crown.  I am so frustrated and disappointed.  I left a message for the dentist to call me tomorrow.  

To bed earlier I hope.  I'm pretty tired after today, and it's rather warm tonight.  I think the first night in a long time that I won't turn on the space heater before going to bed.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Tuesday - COVID381

Up a little late again, but not too bad.  I had a hard time getting to sleep last night.

I worked and transcribed and was able to mostly maintain my new routine of taking brief breaks to move and do something.  I am starting to see significant progress in getting the tall grass down.  Once I get this section to the gate, I'll get the back yard in shape so we can plant the garden.  

I made a trip to the feed store and stopped at the nursery to pick up some mini carnation plants.  When I cleared the planter where I used to keep them, I decided I wanted to plant them again.  Of course, while I was there I saw basil ... and tomatoes ... and cilantro ... and cucumber...  I want to plant earlier this year than I have in the past.  I also have some luffa seeds I want to try.

I'm up a little later than planned but not as late as I have been.  

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Monday - COVID380

I was up a little late today but not too much so.  I hit the ground running with work and then transcription.

I am continuing my new routine of taking a break every hour to at least stand and walk a little, and sometimes take on a project for 10 to 15 minutes.  I got some more weed whacking done today and the new battery - that fits - charged fast and lasted longer.  It's an odd one and I am guessing it's a difference between Lithium and NiCad.  It doesn't slow down, it just stops.  Which is fine.

I also reorganized my closet and added shelving and got the extra comforters and pillows into vacuum storage bags for space conservation.  I noticed tonight that a couple of them puffed up again, so I'll redo them tomorrow and make sure they are sealed better.

Leftover soup for dinner is always good and easy.

It was a day full of exertion and I'm pretty pooped, though it took a while to get there.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Sunday - COVID379

I snoozed and then killed the alarm until Oliver's insistent jumping onto my body and running over the top of my head and meowing finally got me up.  As soon as I was vertical and sitting on the side of the bed, Bella started barking.  The animals were peeved.

I fed them all and released and fed the outdoor critters before my first cup of coffee because that's the right thing to do when they wait that long.

Then I started transcription and set a timer so I remembered to get up and move and to work on one project at least every hour.

The new batteries I bought were all charged up but ... they don't fit the weed whacker.  I set up a return and ordered the right kind.  Apparently there are some with three prongs and some with two, both designated with the same part number.  Geez.  I got a little bit of the grass down but not much, and now it's growing fast and is harder to cut.

I made tortellini soup for dinner, which I haven't had for quite a while, and it was good.  Bex keeps baking and I am trying to stay away from the chocolate chip cookies.  One a day could be okay but I keep grabbing one as a snack and need to get them out of sight.

I did a little bit more reorganization today but it was a little scattered because I still have a lot of transcription to do.

The foxes showed up this evening.  I had to laugh at the second in this video because it left its mark just before running off.

I'm awake but need to try to sleep so I'm rested for the week.  I need a vacation.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Saturday - 378

Up with the sun and not too late.  I started with transcription and alternated housework and weed whacking throughout the day.

I headed out about 3pm to meet up with Tamily at the farm in Cotati.  I got to see the new enclosure for the chicks they have been raising in their living room for the past several weeks and admire all that they have accomplished and are working on at the farm.  It's changed a lot since I first saw it during my Kincade evacuation in 2019 along with the planned power outage that had me hanging out at the city building charging station.  We were invited to walk across the street for a much needed stress break and visit the animals.

It was nice being out in the sunshine with good friends and good animals.  I left after about an hour and a half and stopped to pick up dinner for myself from Smokin' Bowls before picking up my grocery order on the way home.

I was pretty pooped out and a little achy after walking more than usual, but that's a good thing.

I couldn't get the small bag of cat food I normally buy a couple weeks ago, and needed to order a humongous bag.  I really didn't have a good place for it until I realized I could use a galvanized bucket with lid that I used to keep bird seed in.  I cleaned it up and brought it into the house, then stared at it for a week or so not liking it until I realized I could cover it.  I ordered contact paper that arrived this week, and that was a project this morning.  It was difficult and is far from perfect, but I kinda love it - and it looks better in the bathroom.  

It's been a long day, though I surprisingly didn't snooze on the couch while I watched a movie and crocheted tonight.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Friday - COVID377

Up on time after a good night.  I'm glad I got the rest because it was a busy day.

I take a break a couple times a day to hit the grass with the weed whacker.  My goal is to get this all knocked down before it turns brown.  It's slow going because the batteries don't last long and I have one charger.  I have ordered new batteries and another charger so I can work longer.  A gas machine doesn't work for me and I haven't been able to get it started in years.

Bella continues to grow more confident.  And bossy.  She is now ignoring me sometimes if I am leading her somewhere that she doesn't want to go, so she's back on the leash in the afternoons, which seems to be her most stubborn time.  She is very food driven so if I have treats - and she has an excellent sense of smell and knows it - she will follow.  But I don't want to carry treats all the time and need her to learn better manners.  She barks if she's not sleeping when I leave the room she's in and don't come right back.  I make myself wait to go back until she has stopped barking.

I have lots of work to do but am hoping to get some house projects and product done this weekend.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Thursday - COVID376

I overslept which normally would not be a big deal, but I had an appointment for an oil change this morning.  I had plenty of time, but not enough to leisurely start the day or get some work in first.

The oil change went without a hitch.  I enjoyed being outside while they did it, people and car watching and enjoying the mild sunshine.  When I picked up the keys and paid for it, she said the oil was low, which surprised me.  This is the first oil change since I bought it in August, and I've put less than 5000 miles on it.  I mentioned that to her and she suggested I bring it in monthly to check the oil.  They'll document it and if it's burning oil, it could be a covered repair under the extended warranty I purchased with the car.  She said this engine is known to have issues with burning oil.  First I'd heard of that.

The rest of the day was work and then I fell asleep on the couch again.  Gotta quit that habit.  It's hard when I'm working on the afghan and I feel cozy and sleepy.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Wednesday - COVID375

 A normal busy work day.  I am trying to take 15 minutes each hour to stand and move, and that plan seemed to go into effect pretty well today.  Other than that, it was busy busy.

We are staying safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Tuesday - COVID374

 Up and at 'em early because I thought I had a dentist appointment today.  About an hour before the appointment time, I called the office and inquired because I hadn't received a confirming call or text from them.  Turns out this was an appointment that was cancelled when I was able to get in earlier.  My next appointment is next week.

But that was a good thing because I needed the time off work (I'd already told them I'd be off) to go with Bex to drop her car off at the mechanic.  Again.

I dropped her back at home and then took a nice drive out to Guerneville to return a wifi device to the library that was due back today.  It was a beautiful day.

I worked for a bit then Bex told me she needed to get blood work done, so she scheduled the appointment and I drove her down.  Her car had been diagnosed by then, and the shop was ordering the necessary part, so we picked her car up while we were out.  Thankfully, it is covered under warranty!  Woohoo!

Napped on the couch after dinner and then watched an episode of Idol with Bex.  We are a little behind and I'd like to get caught up before voting starts.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Monday - COVID373

The morning started off fine through early afternoon.  I wished Jess a happy birthday and was working along toward meeting a deadline today.  

Then my boss asked me to go into the office to put together this big packet that needed to be submitted to court today.  I said I'd get ready and head down.  It was the first time in over a year that I'd really put on make-up and straightened my hair and got ready to go out to a place where it might matter.  I didn't bother to put on work clothes, but did remember by the time I got home how much I hate real bras (as opposed to sports bras) and shoes.

I had feed to pick up from two stores, so hit the one in Santa Rosa first, then headed to the office.  It was strange to see the building so quiet, even though there were a handful of cars in the lot and some lights on upstairs.  I was able to get the project done, with some last-minute revisions and corrections.  I was out a little after 5pm to drop it at the courthouse and then head back north.

It was weird to be back in my office space, but after a while just as if I'd never left, hand reaching for the sort-kwik and paper clips and post-its on its own.  I had some issues with my printer, which hasn't been used in a year, but found a workaround.

I stopped at the second feed store and then to Jessi's house to bring her birthday present and visit for a little bit.  She was feeling poorly yesterday and is still not 100% but better.

Bex picked up Amy's for dinner.

Two feed stores is because Tractor Supply has the best price on dog and cat food, but poor quality goat and chicken feed, so I get food for the farm animals from Western Farm.

I forgot to mention that - I think it was Sunday - I discovered coyote scat in the grass, which was unusual.  When I went to remove it, I noticed it had been placed next to the now-vacant spot where I had discovered the small mole.  All that was left was a scattering of fur.  Bizarre.

I was up a little late again.  Still working on my afghan that will likely need to be set aside when the weather warms up more.  It's very big and primarily single crochet, so it is going to take a very long time.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Sunday - COVID372

Up with the sun and feeling good today.  I was able to work out a pick-up plan with Cory and Tammy of a free kick-wheel pottery wheel.  It's pretty heavy but we got it safely here.  The seat needs some adjustment because I'm not sure that we put it back on right, but it is functional and came with clay and attachments.  Art therapy on the horizon.

Then Tammy stayed with me and we tackled another section of the living room.  All of the DVDs and video cassettes were combed through, organized, and some set aside for donation.  The living area is slowly taking shape in the way I want it to be.

Bex made dinner, and I fell asleep on the couch again.  

The weekend was full and good.  I'm hoping for an easy work week and am happy with the mild weather.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Saturday - COVID371

I ended up going to bed at 3am.  I just couldn't get sleepy.  Wakeup time was at 9:30 am after Oliver quit circling my head and decided to lay his 16 pounds of cat body on my side and the sun was reflecting off the mirror into my eyes.

The coyote left its mark again last night, outside of camera range.  And the foxes showed up a couple more times.  One time I was still awake and a little annoyed at one fox hanging out, so I turned the alarm on.  It didn't immediately startle it, but the fox did trot off shortly after the sound started.  That and the ability to talk through the camera is a nice feature of the Ring.

I did some organizing and clearing and started some weed whacking.  I need to get back into my battery routine so I can run it longer - I ran out of juice and didn't have the other batteries charged up yet.  I was pretty tired at the end of the day.

I also opened up the drone that I gave myself for Christmas a couple years ago, charged it up, and tried it out.  It is super light and I think most of my trouble maneuvering it was due to the light breeze this afternoon.  I'll keep trying it on calm days.  It has a built-in camera and I am looking forward to taking some aerial shots around the property.  But I have to be sure I can control it first. 

While we've got these winds (it's pretty strong out there tonight), it might be a better time to fly kites.

I'll go to bed a little earlier tonight than last night.  Tomorrow is shaping up to be pretty busy in a good way.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Friday Friday - COVID370

Hey, I slept awesome last night and got up on time.  I did hit my injured toe on a middle of the night walkthrough, but was able to recover and go back to sleep.  It's funny how when everything in life gets so condensed, things like this are the first thing I think of to write about.  Sleep and lack thereof is important.

The coyote left a big pile o' mark on the other side of Loretta, outside of the Ring camera view.  As I was picking it up, I saw what I thought was some rain-pelted scat off to the side, though it was in a grassy area.  As I started to scrape it into the pooper scooper, I stopped.  It was not scat.  It was a dead small mole. 😔 I don't know how small they are when born, but this was not very old.

It was another busy work day.  I started early and ended about 4pm so I could drive to town with Bex.  We ran some errands and enjoyed the time together.  She made dinner (BLTs and salad) while I got the critters tucked in.

We were watching TV when around midnight the Ring notification went off and I saw a fox hanging out.  It walked under the camera and I wondered if it was going onto the deck, but I was too comfy and Bex had Bella in her lap, so we didn't move to look.

Bex went to bed and at about 12:30 the notification went off again.  This time when I looked at the camera, there were two foxes looking toward it, one very small - maybe a youngster?  It bit at a piece of grass.  I decided to get up to let Bex know in case we could see them through the window, and as soon as I closed the footrest on the couch, they took off, scattering gravel.

It's off to bed tonight, looking forward to the weekend.  We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Thursday - COVID369

 I'm getting up a little easier but still need to go to bed earlier.  

And work is still nuts.  We have two huge deadlines to meet tomorrow and I'm looking forward to a break after that.

The rain came down hard and cold and I'm very very tired of it.  I wouldn't mind a sprinkle now and then to make sure things stay damp - even through the summer would be nice - but long wet days are no bueno.

Bex made a good dinner tonight.  Mixed greens with a side of pesto bread sticks and homemade ranch.

It's a little earlier bedtime tonight.  I'm hoping to sleep well.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Tuesday/Wednesday - COVID367/368

I skipped Tuesday.  It was a routine, packed, boring work day with me falling asleep on the couch.  When Bex woke me, I made me way straight to bed, did not pause to update the blog, because it was a nothing new day and I was pooped.

I didn't sleep well once I got to bed, but I guess I got a head start on the couch.

It was another intense work day.  I need a vacation but the work will still be there and I have eaten away vacation time earned because I need the money.  Then I got hit with an almost 50% increase in the garbage bill.  To add insult to injury, it was retroactive to January 1 with no notice.  I've requested a downsize in can size because I can't justify the cost going forward.  It knocked me sideways for the rest of the day because just when I feel like I can move ahead, something messes everything up again.

I fell asleep on the couch again, so another broken night's sleep.  

But we are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Monday - COVID366

I was up a little late again today.  I went to bed late and then the time change got me again.

It was a busy work day with new clients continuing to come in while we juggle current cases.  We are still trying to play catch-up after a five-day trial that was supposed to be one day and sucked a lot of time with a disappointed client and an unpaid bill.  Such is the way it goes in family law sometimes.

I took Bella in for a nail trim in the late afternoon, a quick trip out and back.  She continues to improve and seemed to enjoy the ride this time, sitting on her bed in the seat next to me, not trying to climb around or get into my lap.

Chicken salad for dinner tonight and I feel like there are loose ends because I don't have work to do tonight.

A coyote trotted through at about 815 p.m.  I hadn't seen any for so long that I thought they had decided to stay away from the compound.  I still haven't laid the wolf lines because Blue started laying again and I didn't want to scare the chickens with the smell if the coyotes weren't around.  I have to rethink that plan now.

I lost track of time and stayed up too late again. 

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Sunday - COVID365

I slept in laaaaate today.  Thank you daylight savings time for making it feel worse than it really was.

I was able to finish the transcription I needed to today - it's a rare treat to catch up.

And I was able to visit with Tam this afternoon when she came up to help me with my next project.  It's great to visit together and I enjoy working with her.  We got a good spot cleared and reorganized and I'm looking forward to the next time.

I read my first COVID post tonight.  It was a week into the shutdown and I recognized how my posts became a shorthand diary over time, as I sank into the dull days and stress and didn't want to dig deep into feelings and thoughts.  I can't guarantee that will change, but I do know I'll be more aware and more willing to really write instead of log.  There's a bit to reflect on this week.  Looking back at the hope and fear and then reflecting on the last months of dark dullness and how it didn't really have to be that way, but it was.  I know for me a big part of that is how winter hits me and how much I need the sun.

The foxes are back and the Ring captured video from early morning and then sunrise.  

Foxes YouTube Video 3/15/21

It's nice to see them again, and I especially enjoyed the sunrise part with the birds starting to chirp.  It looks like there is a pair and my best guess is they're hanging out in the old garden area where we've seen young kits in the past - when it was an active garden.  I'll be weed-whacking with caution.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Saturday - COVID364

I woke up before the alarm and made myself stay in bed until I heard it start.  This making sure I get 7 hours of sleep is a good thing, I think.  I'm not sure if it was just me wanting to get up or if I heard Bex and Q.  Bex took Q to the ER for pain way early this morning. He is fine now but they napped most of the rest of the day.

I transcribed and did a few things around the house and mentally tried to figure out what I want to accomplish tomorrow.  

I took a trip to town to pick up curbside groceries and drop off the return to Keurig.  The new machine arrived this week and is working fine.  Though I did discover I prefer the French press...  The Keurig is handy when I want a quick coffee or fast cup of hot water.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Friday - COVID363

I slept a little late but not too bad, and felt better about starting my day.  I hit my goal of a minimum of 7 hours of sleep.  

Work is still busy and I'm glad it's Friday.  I did have a good day, despite how focused I needed to be.  The three of us make a good team.

I didn't mention yesterday that when I went out to get the mail, I noticed a squirrel laying in the middle of our short section of driveway, belly down on the warm dirt.  It didn't move.  It lifted its head, and when I got out of my car, it moved off to the side of the driveway.  I was concerned because of the unusual behavior and the fact that I saw what looked like an injury at the base of its tail.  It vanished quickly so I couldn't check further and all I could do was wish it well.

But Bex found it by the driveway in the same area today, and unfortunately it had died.  We are pretty sad about it because we are enjoying the squirrels and are hoping this one isn't the female of the pair we have been watching.

Watched a little TV and crocheted with Bex after dinner.  Looking forward to what I hope will be a productive and enjoyable weekend.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Thursday - COVID362

Up on time so I could work before yet another appointment.  

I had a good conversation with a nutritionist today that I think will help.  She was very thorough and reviewed my records and test results in addition to our conversation to come up with a plan.

That was the only unique thing about the day - just another day at the home office.

But I am enjoying a show I discovered called The Carbonaro Effect.  It's like Candid Camera but with a magician and is frequently laugh out loud funny.

I'm looking forward to the weekend!  And we are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Wednesday - COVID361

I got up on time this morning.  I had to be sure to get in as much time at work as possible before my dentist appointment.

I was hoping to see snow after the hailstorm we had, but didn't go far enough south to find any.  I did see pictures of Larkfield covered in snow.

I was looking forward to the next step in the process toward getting my crown, and this was for my temporary crown.  It started off challenging and didn't get any better.  Just as the dentist started to work, the right side of my jaw locked up.  This happens sometimes but I know how to move my jaw around to get it taken care of.  But I felt pressure with the dentist and his assistant watching and waiting on me, and I just couldn't do it.  Plus my mouth was numb.  I decided to just open my mouth as far as I could and see if they could get the work done.  It hurt the whole time as I was opening it against the stoppage.  Just when I thought we were almost done, the assistant, who was assigned to place the temporary, got it in wrong and it needed to be adjusted.  But it was stuck.  She kept pulling and prying and trying to get it off and nothing was working.  The Novocaine was wearing off and I was starting to feel things.  I started to shiver and then tears started to flow even though I wasn't in pain, but I was tired and frustrated and my jaw was aching and I couldn't open my mouth bigger to help.  She finally went to find the dentist and came back alone because he was with another patient.  He gave her a tip to try, and she did, but it didn't work.  He showed up and got it taken care of.  I know things happen but this was exhausting and I was shaking.  All I wanted was a warm blanket.  Of course, after all was said and done and I got into my car, I was able to loosen my jaw.  Ugh.

I got some things done at the end of the work day and then took a break for a while before starting more transcription.

Bex made cookies after dinner.  :)

And I'm glad it's Wednesday and am looking forward to the weekend already.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Tuesday - COVID360

I was able to get up with the alarm and got a good start on the day.

It was super cold, with a brief freezing rain mid-morning.

Work is still keeping me very busy!

Q had stomach pain this morning that was basically debilitating.  His previous care was in SF and we were trying to figure out who he should call and where he should go.  I called Health and Human Services to find out and started off the call as the 36th person in line.  After nearly an hour on hold, I decided to use the landline to call the library and also order feed.  The hold music at the library was identical to what had been in my ear for an hour!  Hearing it in both ears at different points in the recording was bizarre.

I kept the line open and was going to stay on hold until I got a person, no matter where I was.  I had just opened the car door to head out to the feed store when an actual person came on the line.  When I explained why I was calling, she asked if Q was available.  Because I had no authority to talk to them.  Whew!  I hadn't left yet!  I had to wake him but he was able to talk to them.  One hour and 35 minutes total on the phone and the answer took less than a minute.  County and State services shouldn't be run like this.  Thankfully, he's feeling better now, and he knows what to do if something comes up in the future.

It was a quiet evening and late night, though not as late as many recently.  We've got freezing rain again tonight and I'm looking forward to cozy sleeping quarters.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Monday - COVID359

 Dang it's Monday again.  I snoozed late deliberately because I kept waking up throughout the night and was exhausted when the alarm went off.

It was another busy work day with a nice Zoom office meeting to take the edge off of technological and communication and client/case frustrations.

I had a chance to talk with Tammy tonight, which is always good.  Then watch a show with Bex until bedtime.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Saturday/Sunday - COVID357/358

I slept in blissfully for a bit this morning until the mirror caught the sun and threw it into my eyes.  

I was able to finish one transcription project in the morning and then focus on house projects as a break.  There's another transcription project awaiting me.  And then as the day went on, more on the first transcription project.  

It was nice to go back and forth between things without feeling tied to a single job for eight hours.  I organized kitchen towels and cleaned house.  Then I made quiche for dinner, and leftover breakfasts and lunches, etc.  

Aaaaand I forgot to post this Saturday night.

Sunday was another sleep-in day, though most of the morning was spent catching up on transcription.

I was able to take some time to completely empty, clean, and organize the kitchen drawers.  It's amazing what you remember you had when you discover three corkscrews, two bottle openers, and I think about five vegetable peelers.  In my defense, most of those were trial and error peelers until I finally found one I like.  Now I go through them (they're all in the dishwasher) to see which are worth keeping and which go away.

I helped Jess pick some fresh spinach from her garden and brought some home with a spinach pesto recipe I'm looking forward to making.  It was nice to sit in her beautiful backyard and visit for a while.

The weekend passed too quickly but it was a good one.  We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Friday - COVID356

Up a little later than alarm this morning but I'm making it through.  Trying to get back schedule.

We were all hopping and bopping through work today - so much happening and I felt like I was juggling my way through the day.  With the same amount of tension and worry about dropping a ball.

It was a quiet night except for the deluge that came through with winds rattling the house. I was grateful that I'd suspected we might have rain and I had covered the hay. I don't bother checking the weather forecasts anymore.  Nothing feels predictable, so I watch the sky and go with the flow.

Two foxes bopped through by the Ring tonight but too fast to be worth saving video.  I haven't seen evidence of coyotes in quite a while now.  Maybe they have figured out a different place to settle.

I'm looking forward to what I hope will be both a productive and relaxing weekend.  We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Thursday - COVID355

Up just a little bit later today but not too bad.

Work is so busy that it makes my head fuzzy.  I find myself just wanting to get up and do housework and organizing.  Looking forward to the weekend.

Bella is accustomed to being tethered near me during the day and night before she goes to the master bath at bedtime.  She was interested in something in the kitchen this morning that later turned out to be a mouse, so I took the leash off so she could alert me.  I discovered it (surprise!) in the trash can later.  I guess peanut shells are the draw when there's nothing else available in the kitchen.  I took the trash out and dropped some peppermint oil in the new bag and in the cupboard.  The good news about Bella being untethered is that I discovered she has learned to behave herself quite well.  She has a bad habit of "hoovering," eating absolutely anything she can find on the floor and getting into things, so I have kept her in one spot.  She spent the day today untethered because she is lying nicely in her bed or sitting next to me.  She follows me when I get up, and if that means going to the bathroom, she gets a treat for good behavior.  We discovered that will not go through an outside door without a leash (she refused to go with Becca, even when called to be free in the wild outdoors).  She continues to become more confident and is quite good at letting me know when she wants to be with me by barking.

It's been a long day.  We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Wednesday - COVID354

I dragged myself out of bed to make sure I made my early call this morning.  Got the chores done beforehand and a cup of coffee halfway in me before I called.  It was a positive way to start what ended up being a super busy day.  Our assistant has been out all week not feeling well.  The burden is real when we get busy.

I handled a ton of stuff and then took a break to head into town to meet up to deliver the transcript I completed this weekend.  I haven't seen my friend in many years and it was nice to take some time to catch up while sitting on a park bench downtown.  The money didn't suck either, and I'm hoping to get more of this kind of work.  It's really going to take me making the time to finish the training on the software and get it transferred to the new computer to be most effective.  I feel overwhelmed thinking about this sometimes because of all the other things I'm trying to get done at the house and on the property while working my butt off on the computer long hours.

My boss was in the area and we arranged for her to come by for a bit so she could see my place.  Because of COVID and her age, I couldn't invite her indoors, so we walked the property.  She discovered edible plants growing wild near the barn, and identified many flowers and plants as we walked around.  She gave good advice on how to help my Meyer lemon tree and rosebush.  She's a pro at plants and used to be a florist.  She enjoyed seeing and petting the goats and walked with us to the barn, and peeked at the chickens who had tucked themselves in early.  It was a nice visit.

I snoozed on the couch again this evening before rousing myself to finish this and head to bed.  It's been a long week.  At one point I thought tomorrow was Friday and sent a message to my boss about a deadline we need to meet "tomorrow."

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Tuesday - COVID353

 I woke up to Mandi calling and that was a great way to start the day.  After that, it was a run through lots of office work because my assistant is out for the day and of course everything is happening all at once.

I picked up my online grocery order late in the day.

My neighbor told me that her worker had talked to the guys who left right before me when my package disappeared.  When she went down to get her newspaper, she discovered my package stuffed in the newspaper box - not the mailbox.  It wasn't there yesterday, so whoever took it brought it back.  I had a chance to chat with her for a while this afternoon, which was good.

I had a phone appointment with my doctor to follow up on my ER visit.  She was cracking up when she called because she had just read the doctor's notes from my visit.  Apparently amidst the technical recounting of my injury and what happened during the visit, he wrote that I had said to "Just pull the damn thing" when I agreed to him yanking my toe without anesthetic.  I don't recall using damn but who knows?  It is not outside the realm of possibility and I was not thinking very clearly at the time.  

I finished work and spent some time with Bex and crocheted.  It's gotten to be another late night and I have an early appointment tomorrow.  Oops.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Monday Monday - COVID352

I went to bed waaaay late/early last night.  When the alarm went off, I got up and fed the cat and dog.  Then was so groggy I decided to sleep a little more. I set the timer for an hour and then shut it off, turned over, and slept more.  Then my phone rang at about 10am.  And it was my boss.  That got me up!!

She had been wondering why I wasn't responding to emails.  Then she texted me and got no response, so she started to worry.  I explained and she was cool and I got busy with a deadline.  It was a pretty busy day again and I was in a fog but got stuff done.

I received a text in the afternoon that a package was delivered, so I hopped in the car to go pick it up. I heard a vehicle heading down the driveway and then saw an SUV going after it, so I headed down behind them.  When I got to the gate, I saw the SUV turning onto the road, and when I got to my mailbox there was no package.  Not in my box, not in the parcel box, not by the gate, not behind the tree where one mailman likes to hide things for me.  I texted my neighbor to see if she might have been the vehicle going out first and maybe picked it up, but she hadn't.  It was vineyard workers leaving.  She talked to the foreman and he was going to look into it.  She is pretty heated about it and will "find out the truth!" when they come back tomorrow.  It wasn't anything special, but I do need it.  It's Rid-X for the septic system and I really don't want to have to buy it again. 

I finally called Keurig about the coffee maker I bought back in August.  It arrived while I was evacuated and it took me a while to go ahead and set it up.  After two weeks of use, it quit working properly.  I called Amazooooo to discuss the problem and the rep walked me through a little troubleshooting (had already done but humored him) then gave me the info to call Keurig.  I put it on my to-do list and it took me a few months to get to it.  It took about a half hour on hold before someone picked up but Sandra was fun to talk to.  She got all the info and then we went through a long series of troubleshooting.  You know how your kid gets sick and you take them to the doctor but they feel fine by the time they get there?  And the broke thing works when someone in authority is witnessing it?  That didn't happen.  The machine would not cooperate, and the conclusion there was a malfunction inside of it.  So I'll get a label to return it and they'll send me a new one.  I don't miss it much because I became accustomed to using the French press, but it will be nice to have a working Keurig again.

I worked late and crocheted a bit. I didn't fall asleep on the couch but was wide awake late.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.

Sunday - COVID351

I slept late but not enough.  But the weather was nice today and I enjoyed one of my favorite kinds of fresh cool mornings when I went outside to take care of the animals.

I turned to a work project I have been putting off because I knew there would be a learning curve. It turned out to be more of a learning curve than expected and I spent the morning and early afternoon wrangling a new software program and a new process in Word.  

I stopped to spend time with Tammy and work with her on organizing and sorting through the TV cabinet.  We reorganized games and controls and books and pictures and I filled a box for donating and Tammy took some items to list directly to people who might be able to use them.  She helped me remove the nonfunctioning DVD/VCR and replace it with the one the kids got me. It's tough to manage the cords behind the unit and needs two people.  We gave it a good dusting and I took photos out that were packed for evacuation last year and put them up.  I was amazed at the amount of ash on them from having been stored in Jessi's garage.  It looks great and is relaxing to look at, easy to use, and impetus to move on to the next bookshelf.

After Tam left, I turned back to my project for a few more hours.  I'm sure there is an easier way and I'll eventually find it, but it took using three programs to get the setup that I needed.

I fell asleep on the couch after dinner and didn't even pick up my crochet project.  I can't believe the weekend is over already.

We are safe and well.  I hope you are too.