One more for May

In life there are many people we come to meet.. some are great.. some not so much. and then there is that person who hits your heart.... and gives a gift that no one else can give.. it is a give of their own art... the beauty of the art work... but when that subject of the art work is such as this.. that brings you to tears... tears of joy of the gift.. but tears of our memory... THANK YOU John  Brosseau….

FOR BEING THAT PERSON.. our saying THANK YOU.. doesn't cover the gratefulness of the beautiful gift you gave Ken and I .. (((((HUGE HUG)))))) until I can do it in person.. your gift leaves me actually speechless as the tears came...

Not one to scare easy

I don't know if I have wrote about my mother and her reaction to the bomb shelters of the 50's or not...  My mother being a cynic and all.. plus common sense.. she didn't scary easy.. 

Guess that is where I get it..  

Maybe for those who have not read a past blog about my mother and the bomb, I should give you a little bit of it..  

See in the 1950's there were a LOT of people who were digging in their back yard and putting in bomb shelters..  Kind of on the line of THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING. ..    Mom was having no part of that.. and I guess she sold Dad on it too..  because we never  did have one..  I think there was one half way on on the block.   Mom said she wasn't going to die in no damn hole in the ground...  If the bombs, she was going to bend over and kiss her arse good bye.  That any hole in the ground was not going to protection against the gas of the bomb.. it would come  thru any source of the of air one would set up.. there is not filter against bombs.  And she was right. 

Now jump forward to now and the virus scare.  With all that is said.. from every conceivable angle, with more people of knowledge of such things and far more opinions of so called experts... that our heads are spinning.  How the heck are you suppose to know what is true and what is opinions.   Even the scientist have OPINIONS..  

I have tried to be fair.. I have honor others who are scared.. but wearing a mask... (it was never about me not getting the virus protection)  Before everyone got on the band wagon of wearing a mask...  I did give space to others.. and especially those who wore mask.. They were scared..  I was not going to increase on that, so I have gave  them lots of space.. even before it was asked for.   

In the past when we have had flu seasons of the many years.. while I was working and otherwise... I did stay away, I did stay mostly home... I didn't want to get sick..  My job was taking care of the sick, not getting sick.   I never had much faith in the flu shots... not after they did a mass shots thru out the whole building and we would lose at least 10 in the first week.   Year after year.. Those who got the flu shot, got the flu anyway.. So it did not impress me..  Got away with out getting them for several years, until our CEO told us to get the flu shot (they paid for it) or else..   that meant.. so sick pay if you did not take the shot, as you were asking for it. I never got the flu.. but I sure did that year... and yes, I got their damn flu shot.  So I am not much for getting shots.  

Just like their talking about everyone getting a vaccine for this virus.. Not me.. at least for a year or two.. if you all survive the shot.. MAYBE..and that is just MAYBE .. I will. but I doubt. 

Anyway, yesterday, I went to the store.. and no I did not wear a mask.. you know when you are 80.. you really don't give a shit anymore of what opinions are of others..  YES, I did give space to others..  For those with mask, plenty of space... as I don't want to increase their anxiety.    And I was breathing air..  and outside. fresh air..  see I live in Idaho and we still have fresh air..  

So do as you must..  but I guess I am just an old chip off of mom's block...   And feel no one is going to tell me I HAVE to do something....  if I make you nervous.. tell me.. I will get far away from you....  I won't visit you... all those are your choices...  my choice?  at the age of 80...  I am living it FREE...   after all life is still free..  

  

Memorial Day for all...

Every year the King and I put flowers on his family graves as well as my deceased husband Marvin… 

It is hard to understand why so many make a big deal out of making Memorial Day .. veterans only…  As I was not raised that way.

My father started taking me to the cemetery to help him plant flowers on this family graves, when I was a small child… There were many people who also planted flowers on their family graves.  The family had very little military graves..  So it has been a great puzzlement to me, to have it only for those and not the rest.

I guess those who are picky feel that Memorial Day is for the dead military, and Veterans Day is for the live Vets. 

I also heard the night before Halloween is called All Soul Eve.. and you go to take treats to the graves to scare away the evil spirits, as you celebrate with your deceased family member..  Kind of creep to me.. but to each their own…   And as for me.. my family will mourn  and remember for ALL those who have past.

To Mask or Not to Mask….

To Mask or Not to Mask….how about you?

As things are easing up around the country.. some more so than others..

The question seems to be, should you wear a mask or not..  

There are MANY views of this..  Both by the average citizen, who

has become a health expert.. but even the Health Experts themselves,

are at odds with each other..

Big thing in certain business..  big stores and offices alike.. are saying no mask, no service..   And there are plenty of doctors weighing on the mask should be worn.. 

Seems like there are plenty on the other side…especially those who are yelling for their freedom of use.  That no government is going to make them wear a mask.. they have rights..  Once chorus down South decided not to and ended up half of their group ended up with the virus..  those are hard number to beat.  But even some doctors are telling you .. you are doing more harm than good, if you wear a mask.

The King and I decided to wear mask in Walmart… and other big box stores. We, have decided to sometimes go without in a small store that may only have about 4 people it in..  If we feel secure, we will go without. If not.. or if we feel others feel threaten by not having you wear a mask.. we wear the mask..  Up until last week, though, we wore a mask everywhere.

We wear mask for two reasons… Ones is we do feel like it protects us from breathing in germs… we would feel the same way if the flu season was full blast and it was ramped…  But we also wear our mask to protect YOU… You might laugh and say how does it protect me?…. If we have a cold, we don’t want to give it to you.   The King has wore a mask in the past just for that reason.. or if he goes to a friend to help out and that friend has a bad cold.. he will wear a mask.. 

But also… last year.. end of April or first of May, the King and I got some kind of bug… not the flu.. cold like type. It was over in about 4 days.. EXCEPT FOR THE DAMN COUGH… that took another 6 weeks..  And after that.. we ended up with a dry cough.. even still..  The King’s dr. thinks he has asthma as he also had trouble breathing for a while and now has a breathing thing… so it must be asthma…  I am not so sure, wish  (they discovered this about January or early Feb)..they did a test to make sure.. But time ran out for that.. yep, the virus showed up and no test, no office visits..

But anyway.. we both from time to time will cough.. it is a dry cough.. but never the less…  Well, we found out… that if I were to cough WITHOUT the mask.. people jump to the side.. like you are Typhoid Mary. We get some of the quick looks even with the mask..  but when they see the mask, they seem to relax and figure what ever we have.. they must be safe.. So you can just imagine what it would be like.. if we didn’t have the mask.. 

So to mask or not to mask?  What is it for you? 

The Restaurants are open…

The Restaurants are open… and so is Chi Chi's 

As things start to relax during this virus mess…  the governors across the nation are letting different business open up.. Restaurants open up in Idaho last Saturday, the 16^th of May.

Well, Chi Chi must have found out about it, as you can see, she is eating in.

I looked around behind me and there she was, inside the kitchen…looking for peanuts..  So the usual routine is.. I put the box down, she picks which one she wants, (some times going thru 3 or 4 peanuts before she decides) and then heads out with that peanut.  I, then, go fill up the feeder for her.

Well, not the past Saturday.  I put down the box and she goes thru them. I was making my lunch, so didn’t pay much attention to what was going on. As I headed back to the refrigerator, I see she is still inside and on her second peanut.. Then the third and a fourth.  She was eating in, like they say about the restaurants that have been closed.  They have been cash and carry. Well, Chi Chi I guess was tired of grab and run.. and decided she would stick it out for as long as I was going to let her.. Then it became.. just how long will she stay.. Well, it was about 20 minutes and about 10-12  peanuts.. and as you can see.. she made quite a mess.. 

I wonder, the restaurants that open up …  did they feel the same way as I did.  Do they miss the days of cash and carry…. No mess… After all there were no tables to clean, or silverware to put out and salt shakers to fill and etc… Just make the food and hand it over to the customer and they leave.

Now it is back to the clean ups and etc..

I looked out later, and saw that Chi Chi went back to her feeder.. eating on her little patio attached to the feeder…  And I clean up the mess in the kitchen.

I am not needed... dang..

I am not needed…. I am not wanted.. lol

See two weeks ago or maybe just a bit more.. I got a letter from

the county..  it was…..drum roll…. JURY DUTY LETTER…

I actually wouldn’t mind..  I was on the list about 20 years ago.. I

would call and they would say, “group what ever has been cancelled”

There was 3 times I got to actually make it to the court house.  One was to be informed of what we were expected to do…  Then I was picked to be question, as I raised my hand, when they asked if anyone knew the defendant… I had worked with her.  So I was asked by the DA if I thought I could make a unbiased decision.. I said I thought I could..  (I had only worked with her for 3 months and she left) … well the defense didn’t trust me and I was sent home..  The last time, I was in the line up of those who were told to stay.  And I was up to be the next one interviewed when they came out and told us to all go home..   It was just as well… as it was a very boring one.. about water rights up on the mountain.  One of the nurses got picked. She endured 3 weeks of trial to only have it dismissed…. As she said, when it was finally getting interesting.  That is my total experience of jury duty.

But there it was.. and a questionnaire to fill out.. I answered everything fairly seriously and definitely honest.  But there were two questions… one question was…….was I over the age of 70 and would want to be dismissed.  I answered I was over 70 but I would serve if selected..  And at the end was a space where they asked us to write in if there were any health issues that would stop us from serving..   I wrote that I WOULD BE THRILLED TO SERVE… but I did have an old lady’s bladder so would need breaks.. and also was a little hard of hearing…  But I looked forward to being selected… WELL… this is what I got back…..   AND THEY HIGHLIGHTED IT!!!

I am bummed… lol…  they didn’t want me.. I was looking forward to being in a Perry Mason trial.. lol.. or what ever..  See, there are some who want to serve and are turn down.. lol..

I am mad….

I am mad because this year did not turn out like I thought. 

I know.. it didn’t turn out like a lot of people thought.

Especially the graduates …be it high school or college.

They worked so hard for 4 years… to get to the goal at the end..

To show their parents and the world that they did have it in them to make it thru the whole thing and did well doing it…Only to have it snatched out from under them.  To no fault of their own.

I am mad, and I thought I was handling it well considering all… But as

I was on my knees this past Saturday… digging out a root with water and mud… I was thinking..  Here it is going to be Mother’s day tomorrow. And it will be practically. Nothing..    That was my thought.. but my daughter and I did go to the beach and had coffee and talked.. staying the 4 feet away... but no lunch with family...… Just another day..  a few calls.. THANK GOD, THEY CAN’T TAKE THAT AWAY… And I did get to do a visual messaging with one of the boys, and his family... but other families usually do a huge lunch with their mom's... ones in the nursing home have to celebrate thru the window with signs.. and phone calls..  so sad.. for all

So pard me, if you notice I am having a piety party.. Oops, no party.. against the rules…  So a… alone piety party..  I get it.. as I stated above.. the senior GOT ROBBED… I get it, that some rather see little business go down the tubes than lose a relative or friend..  I think we still could have them and the business…  After all in ALL OF MY YEARS… we NEVER EVER SHUT DOWN THE WORLD.. for a disease.   NEVER.. for anything for that matter, they didn’t shut down the world for the wars…  not for Aides, not for the Asian flu.. not for polio… 

But I had plans..  a combo birthday party with all those who turn the age ending with a 0… my oldest would have been 60… and for some reason God decided to take her to heaven….  My youngest did turn 50 as I DID turn 80…and my grandson WILL turning  30…   but we were suppose to celebrate together..  Then there is Easter… we did get to eat together and watch the great grand boy search for eggs..  probably would have been shamed over the fact we did get together…   Now Mother’s day.. and next up is 4^th of July…  which is my favorite holiday…. Will Thanksgiving be next?

I am mad.. but don’t know who to be mad at… I am not mad at China, I am not mad, if it is true some poor soul screwed up and passed the lab work out. I am not mad at God, although it sure would have helped if he told me/us what we are suppose to be learning from all of this..  Or see later how this was a good thing…  There is no blame.. it is what it is… And it makes me sad…

But you see…. If I was 40 say, …  it wouldn’t be so bad.. it will still be annoying.. hurting.. but not so bad..   BUT I am 80!!... I don’t know if I get next year … that is the part that bothers me the most, I guess.. that is the part that gives me the piety party deal…  

So if this disturbs you..  upsets you…  I am kind of sorry, you feel that way… but when you have a 90% chance of not doing a do over.. you feel down in the dumps.. 
Ok, piety party over....

Feeling older yet still liking it....

                           

                                             

Feeling older yet still liking it..

Well, when you consider the other choice, ha ha.. it is still the best..

But really, I mean, with all the yard work I have been doing these

past couple of glorious days…. I have feel beaten and put up wet… as they use to say.. I have the war of the roses and the roses won… my arms show that.. But the end results as I have gone around all 4 sides of the house this past couple weeks, it  feels good to see it.. and worth the pain.  And the black dirt finger nails that haven’t looked clean for a while. Even with using a brush like mad on them… and the sore muscle that even the hot tub could not take away…

They say that dirt is good for the soul…  And I have stood barefooted in warm soil and felt like I was connect by roots…So being home, is not a chore for me.. It feels more like it on days like today, with the threat of rain and heavy winds, with temps that have dove down  over 20 degrees…

But there is hope… this weekend…Mother’s Day weekend.. is suppose to be SUNSHINE… AND 70+… I am so looking forward to it..

                                      War of the Roses and the roses won

I love the flag waving...

 all of these are not around the burning bush...

Hope you all are enduring as well..

 

I’m skating thru this….

I’m skating thru this….

More babbling from a inhouse person… ha ha… Or how you can clean your house and have fun doing it…

I came across an idea how to clean my kitchen floor without a mop.

I have some Lysol wipes (I got them from before this madness) that the King got for me.. when I asked for Clorox wipes.. which I use on the sink counters and cutting boards.. I am not a fan of using Lysol where I am going to be putting food… so stashed them  in the back of the cupboard… 

As I got ready to mop the floor, which I do the old fashion way.. mop… bucket, and water with bleach or Mr Clean… I did get one of those buckets with the spinner in it.. So saves on the wrist as I ring it out.   I looked in to find the Mr. Clean and saw the Lysol wipes… and a thought came across my brain.. What if I use them to wash the floor?  And no. I was not looking forward to doing it on my hands and knees… HOW ABOUT.. putting them on the floor and push with my foot… (the height of laziness, right?)  Well, I am here to tell you.. it was not a bad idea after all.. For one, when I found a bad spot.. I could put extra weight behind it … with my body… and go back and forth and it WORKED!!...

Doing the rest of the floor … reminded me of ice skating..  except I got to stay up… and not fall….. which I did think about that.. would I loose my balance.. But it went well..

So I skated thru it… did the whole job without having to go back over and rinse and etc.

So what ideas have you come up with? During these can be boring times?...

Funny with all of this time.. I have not taken on the chores I keep telling myself.. I will get around to doing that when I have a lot of time on my hands….  Have you said that? Have you done it with this time on your hands… One that comes to mind is.. my  file cabinet… I surely have had the time… but now that I have the time…… I don’t want to do it.  Haha

Well, hang in there.. hopefully things will open up for all of you.. See this kind of  like what I normally do… I am not a gadabout person.   But it is kind of like having your husband take the car.. because you have no where to go.. and about  15 minutes  after he has left the driveway.. you can think of a dozen of place you needed to go..