Just Looking At The Bright Side
Apr. 21st, 2020 03:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
teddy_radiatorRight now, I know there's not much brightness on the horizon for folks like us.
We got our stimulus money - yay! - and promptly half of it went out to pay bills. We have exactly enough money to get us through May, and after that, we're in the lap of the gods. I could waffle on about it, but it would just upset me and bore you, so I won't.
It's funny, though, today of all days, I've been thinking about some of the positives that have come from this. I mean, I know about how the pollution is down and how the water in Venice is clear and how the animals seem to be thriving, but that's all a bit distant, nothing I can actually reach out and touch. It's the things that I can see around me that I'm starting to notice that give me a little hope:
Because I'm now washing my hands much, much more than I used to, I've gained a new appreciation for bar soap. I used to hate it, and yet - I have about 15 bars of it in the house. It sat around in glass dishes, or pretty containers doing nothing. Well, now, it's earning its keep, and I love it. My hands are softer and in better shape than they've been for years, because I'm using these specialty soaps I've been collecting, and using more moisturizer, of course. Nothing can stop the ravages of time, like the saggier skin and the arthritic knots, but damn if my hands feel silky soft. Even my cuticles, which were the bane of my existence, are looking better.
Thanks to my former student Todd and the always wonderful![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
stgulik, I am taking ukelele lessons online via Fender Play (Jules turned me on to their offer of three free months of their online lessons), and they are terrific. I'm still in the early stages, but I can already tell that without them I would not be nearly as far along getting the hang of the instrument. I highly recommend them to anybody who wants to learn acoustic guitar, electric guitar, or ukelele. The lessons are short, easy to follow and really give you a sense of accomplishment. I very nervously but proudly sang and played Happy Birthday to our daughter Cat last week, and she got the biggest kick out of it.
I have written a 'gift story' for anyone who would like to read it. It's on my website, which you can access HERE. On the home page, click on "Gift Stories" (it's right under the seahorse), then you'll be sent to a password page. The password is "Gift". The first two chapters of the story are there. The remaining two chapters will be uploaded at the weekend. It's called The Houses These Stories Could Tell. It's just something that came to me while we were still riding around the countryside. I hope you like it.
We produced another podcast last week - we've been podcasting for 5 years now! I don't know how long that will last, because we probably won't be able to afford the annual fee in June, but while we can, we're still enjoying it. You can listen HERE, if you'd like.
I've made some delightful bread. I don't know how many times I'll be able to do that, because you cannot find yeast ANYWHERE around here.
There was an horrific storm here last week. We were told to stay up during the night, it was so bad. And such enough, several tornados touched down around us. We were absolutely safe. Not so much as a bird feeder was disturbed, but I have to say, the wind that night was terrifying to hear. I've lived through a few tornados, and I was sure one was close by, but out neighborhood was fine.
We have a visitor in the bedroom. Several times I've heard what sounds like a chewing, scrabbling noise, but I don't know where its coming from, and in the morning there is a little pile of dirt scattered on the floor. Our lazy little shit cat Sevvie couldn't be arsed to hunt it down, but my fear is it's made a cozy little nest for itself in our box springs.
I hate like hell that I'm more worried about us financially than I am about getting infected, but we can control our exposure, and we can't control our lack of money coming in right now. May will be a time for considering all the alternatives. In the meantime, I am just doing what I can, and hoping for the best, and hoping that the utilities/creditors/expenses will still be as understanding in June as they've been now. Here in the south, they are determined to open everything back up, and I think it's a mistake, but it doesn't mean I have to go there yet. We are happy enough with hunkering down for a little while longer.
Our boss continues to be a jerk, but I'm really at the point of telling her to stick it. She remains as uncommunicative as ever, and while others are still more than willing to risk their lives to take photos of toothpaste and spring candy, she is more or less ignoring those of us who have elected to stay home. The insecure part of me thinks that perhaps I'm being too careful, but the common sense part of me wants to tell her to go fuck herself. I still have to visit with Mom and take her stuff, and if I was responsible for infecting her just because I couldn't stand the thoughts of not doing my 10.95 an hour job in 15 different pharmacies, I could never forgive myself.
I think I'll do the Quarantine Meme because, hey, I've got time on my hands. Also, is anyone having problems with the old entry post? It keeps taking out my spaces between paragraphs.
1. Are you an Essential Worker?
Technically, yes, but only because my employer got Homeland Security to label us as such. My job is NOT, unless you count packing out candy and taking photos of toothpaste essential.
2. How many drinks have you had since the quarantine started?
Lots of tea, now that I've learned how to make it in my coffee maker
3. If you have kids... Are they driving you nuts?
Bwahahaha
4. What new hobby have you taken up during this?
Book binding, ukelele
5. How many grocery runs have you done?
This will make the 3rd one. Finally Walmart opened up more pickup times, so we haven't had to actually go into a grocery store for almost two months now.
6. What are you spending your stimulus check on?
Paying bills for April and May
7. Do you have any special occasions that you will miss during this quarantine?
Our 20th anniversary is May 22, and we had seriously discussed a party before everything went to hell. Now it will be a lovely, quiet evening at home. We might break out the candles.
8. Are you keeping your housework done?
Yes.
9. What movie have you watched during this quarantine?
The Hunger Games. I found it eerily appropriate. I've also watched Star Trek: TOS, TNG, and I'm working through DS9. The two part episode Past Tense is so accurate it actually unnerved me and I had to stop watching. It's supposed to take place in 2024, and damn if it doesn't look like it could.
10. What are you streaming with?
Netflix
11. 9 months from now is there any chance of you having a baby?
Bwahahaha
12. What's your go-to quarantine meal?
Beans on toast
13. Is this whole situation making you paranoid?
What do you think???
14. Has your internet gone out on you during this time?
No, but it's slow as hell sometimes
15 What month do you predict this all ends?
I'm not sure it will
16. First thing you’re gonna do when you get off quarantine?
Go back to work
17. Where do you wish you were right now?
In the UK, on the Isle of Wight
18. What free-from-quarantine activity are you missing the most?
Taking day trips and just driving around until we find a place that looks interesting
19. Have you run out of toilet paper and hand sanitizer?
No. I made my own with 70% alcohol and a squeeze bottle
20. Do you have enough food to last a month?
Yes. That's one thing I'll go in debt for.
We got our stimulus money - yay! - and promptly half of it went out to pay bills. We have exactly enough money to get us through May, and after that, we're in the lap of the gods. I could waffle on about it, but it would just upset me and bore you, so I won't.
It's funny, though, today of all days, I've been thinking about some of the positives that have come from this. I mean, I know about how the pollution is down and how the water in Venice is clear and how the animals seem to be thriving, but that's all a bit distant, nothing I can actually reach out and touch. It's the things that I can see around me that I'm starting to notice that give me a little hope:
Because I'm now washing my hands much, much more than I used to, I've gained a new appreciation for bar soap. I used to hate it, and yet - I have about 15 bars of it in the house. It sat around in glass dishes, or pretty containers doing nothing. Well, now, it's earning its keep, and I love it. My hands are softer and in better shape than they've been for years, because I'm using these specialty soaps I've been collecting, and using more moisturizer, of course. Nothing can stop the ravages of time, like the saggier skin and the arthritic knots, but damn if my hands feel silky soft. Even my cuticles, which were the bane of my existence, are looking better.
Thanks to my former student Todd and the always wonderful
stgulik, I am taking ukelele lessons online via Fender Play (Jules turned me on to their offer of three free months of their online lessons), and they are terrific. I'm still in the early stages, but I can already tell that without them I would not be nearly as far along getting the hang of the instrument. I highly recommend them to anybody who wants to learn acoustic guitar, electric guitar, or ukelele. The lessons are short, easy to follow and really give you a sense of accomplishment. I very nervously but proudly sang and played Happy Birthday to our daughter Cat last week, and she got the biggest kick out of it.I have written a 'gift story' for anyone who would like to read it. It's on my website, which you can access HERE. On the home page, click on "Gift Stories" (it's right under the seahorse), then you'll be sent to a password page. The password is "Gift". The first two chapters of the story are there. The remaining two chapters will be uploaded at the weekend. It's called The Houses These Stories Could Tell. It's just something that came to me while we were still riding around the countryside. I hope you like it.
We produced another podcast last week - we've been podcasting for 5 years now! I don't know how long that will last, because we probably won't be able to afford the annual fee in June, but while we can, we're still enjoying it. You can listen HERE, if you'd like.
I've made some delightful bread. I don't know how many times I'll be able to do that, because you cannot find yeast ANYWHERE around here.
There was an horrific storm here last week. We were told to stay up during the night, it was so bad. And such enough, several tornados touched down around us. We were absolutely safe. Not so much as a bird feeder was disturbed, but I have to say, the wind that night was terrifying to hear. I've lived through a few tornados, and I was sure one was close by, but out neighborhood was fine.
We have a visitor in the bedroom. Several times I've heard what sounds like a chewing, scrabbling noise, but I don't know where its coming from, and in the morning there is a little pile of dirt scattered on the floor. Our lazy little shit cat Sevvie couldn't be arsed to hunt it down, but my fear is it's made a cozy little nest for itself in our box springs.
I hate like hell that I'm more worried about us financially than I am about getting infected, but we can control our exposure, and we can't control our lack of money coming in right now. May will be a time for considering all the alternatives. In the meantime, I am just doing what I can, and hoping for the best, and hoping that the utilities/creditors/expenses will still be as understanding in June as they've been now. Here in the south, they are determined to open everything back up, and I think it's a mistake, but it doesn't mean I have to go there yet. We are happy enough with hunkering down for a little while longer.
Our boss continues to be a jerk, but I'm really at the point of telling her to stick it. She remains as uncommunicative as ever, and while others are still more than willing to risk their lives to take photos of toothpaste and spring candy, she is more or less ignoring those of us who have elected to stay home. The insecure part of me thinks that perhaps I'm being too careful, but the common sense part of me wants to tell her to go fuck herself. I still have to visit with Mom and take her stuff, and if I was responsible for infecting her just because I couldn't stand the thoughts of not doing my 10.95 an hour job in 15 different pharmacies, I could never forgive myself.
I think I'll do the Quarantine Meme because, hey, I've got time on my hands. Also, is anyone having problems with the old entry post? It keeps taking out my spaces between paragraphs.
1. Are you an Essential Worker?
Technically, yes, but only because my employer got Homeland Security to label us as such. My job is NOT, unless you count packing out candy and taking photos of toothpaste essential.
2. How many drinks have you had since the quarantine started?
Lots of tea, now that I've learned how to make it in my coffee maker
3. If you have kids... Are they driving you nuts?
Bwahahaha
4. What new hobby have you taken up during this?
Book binding, ukelele
5. How many grocery runs have you done?
This will make the 3rd one. Finally Walmart opened up more pickup times, so we haven't had to actually go into a grocery store for almost two months now.
6. What are you spending your stimulus check on?
Paying bills for April and May
7. Do you have any special occasions that you will miss during this quarantine?
Our 20th anniversary is May 22, and we had seriously discussed a party before everything went to hell. Now it will be a lovely, quiet evening at home. We might break out the candles.
8. Are you keeping your housework done?
Yes.
9. What movie have you watched during this quarantine?
The Hunger Games. I found it eerily appropriate. I've also watched Star Trek: TOS, TNG, and I'm working through DS9. The two part episode Past Tense is so accurate it actually unnerved me and I had to stop watching. It's supposed to take place in 2024, and damn if it doesn't look like it could.
10. What are you streaming with?
Netflix
11. 9 months from now is there any chance of you having a baby?
Bwahahaha
12. What's your go-to quarantine meal?
Beans on toast
13. Is this whole situation making you paranoid?
What do you think???
14. Has your internet gone out on you during this time?
No, but it's slow as hell sometimes
15 What month do you predict this all ends?
I'm not sure it will
16. First thing you’re gonna do when you get off quarantine?
Go back to work
17. Where do you wish you were right now?
In the UK, on the Isle of Wight
18. What free-from-quarantine activity are you missing the most?
Taking day trips and just driving around until we find a place that looks interesting
19. Have you run out of toilet paper and hand sanitizer?
No. I made my own with 70% alcohol and a squeeze bottle
20. Do you have enough food to last a month?
Yes. That's one thing I'll go in debt for.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2020-04-22 10:43 pm (UTC)I am so grateful that you aren't rushing back to work. SC is a frontrunner for opening things up, right? Very scary.
Please post more of your bookbinding adventures! I signed up for a class in April but it was of course cancelled. It's fascinating stuff. :D
Hugs to your and yer man!
no subject
Date: 2020-04-27 04:29 am (UTC)My bookbinding is not really that great. They are holding together, but I'm not that sure it will stay that way! LOL
Thank you for replying to this. I don't think I've ever been met with such a resounding yawn as I have at this post and my Facebook post about my gift story. Not really good for the old confidence, but folks have a lot on their minds. <3 <3 <3