Monday May 4, 2020

Weight 121.4, WW Bluepoints 34. Weight last seen in December 2018.

Hair is done though I think I'll add a couple more highlights tomorrow (before washing my hair next). I used clippers to do the bottom of the back - hopefully the hairline is even...

We had friends over in the driveway and ate phenomenal take out. The restaurant has been doing curbside pickup with a limited menu but it reopens today (@25% capacity). They had a special of 2 meals for $10 yielding 3 terrific chicken parmigiana dinners out of each for $3.33 each.

So this happened... The man who ran the Alzheimer's support group I attended lives in my park. He was a prison psychologist before retirement, is in his mid 80s now, and is friendly. However he thinks he knows everything, talks too much, and wrote the most boring, pedantic book that I have ever read passages from (I believe he paid for a limited number to be published). He would pass the book around at meetings (it is about his take on prison psychology). His wife died about a year ago after he kept her at home for many years with 24 hour care. She was on a feeding tube for several years past the point where she had any awareness of the world. Most caregivers who deal with dementia feel that the kindest thing is to not prolong life with a feeding tube. Those of us who knew felt that he was keeping her alive for himself not her. Anyway, he has been calling me and leaving long-winded messages asking how I am doing and informing me of the latest coronavirus news (as if I can't read myself??). I used to return his calls but stopped a while ago because I really don't enjoy talking to him and he goes on too long. So yesterday when we walked past him he stopped me to essentially tell me that he has a crush on me! Arghhhhh He went on at length about how he never thought he'd feel this way about another woman but he likes me so much and hopes we can get together when I come back in the fall. Arghhhhh again! I just stated the obvious that it has only been a few months since my husband passed. But truly, though he is friendly, there is NO WAY I could date a guy like him. And someone 20 years older at this point in life? That is like asking for another caregiving job. I sincerely hope he finds someone else to "like" before I return later this year.

Thats all the news here... Nothing planned for the day other than the usual walks (and avoiding Mike).

Stay safe and healthy!

Good grief! You don't return his calls, don't initiate interactions, and yet he boldly declares his intentions. I hope he "goes away" while you're back in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, he sounds like the type that is going to need hear a very blunt message. Why can't people just behave?

My weight is up a pound and a half, and I have to accept that is the outcome of scones and cream Saturday, and wine and cheese Sunday.

Saturday visiting my Mom was nice. It was very hard to look through the glass door and see her struggling to get her shoes on, and not be able to help.

Yesterday, in addition to eating cheese and drinking wine, I spent the whole day reading a book, start to finish. Very relaxing. If anyone is looking for a suspenseful, quick read, I'd recommend it. Tangerines, set in North Africa in the 50s.

Back at work today. The warmth of the weekend has vanished in a cold front, and there are frost warnings for midweek. We got a taste of real spring. Hope it comes back next week.

I think they made that book into a movie a few years ago?

Ohh, I'll have to investigate. When I finished it, I thought, this would make a great movie!

It is brave to put yourself out there and tell someone you like them, but good manners dictates that it also requires you to have read some similar interest from the other person before you do! And not answering or returning someone's calls does not demonstrate reciprocal interest! Argh. I hope he finds someone else to like too!

I had nice chats with my dad and my bff yesterday. Still working on my puzzle. Lizarded a while. Laundry. Vacuumed.

After I complained about the squirrel going after my bird feeder, a friend sent me a video of a pressure-triggered trebuchet someone built to launch unsuspecting squirrels trying to invade their feeder over the fence. You know you've been cooped up too long when stuff like that makes you crack up. I sort of want to build one...

I never bothered with bird seed feeders in Michigan because of the squirrels and mostly because there are black bears there who love them. But urban Southern CA has never been squirrel country. Where did they come from in the last few years? And why have I never seen one in any of my neighborhoods here in nearly 50 years, but now they're everywhere? Someone even posted raccoon pictures on NextDoor from my 'hood. Again trash pandas are very Michigan, but never have I seen in one in urban CA.

Yet another sign of solo quarantine brain - blathering on about yard pests. I feel like a lot has been said about people being cooped up with their kids or cooped up with their spouses who are driving them nuts, but very little has been said about those of us quarantined alone all this time. It's not good for the mind. It's super lonely and I was lonely before, with the outings I had to see friends keeping me from feeling despair. But this takes loneliness to a new level. And it can make it hard when you do talk to someone on the phone as there is nothing to talk about. Just squirrel trebuchets and puzzles and virus.

I miss Ann. And Shirley. And Miss Bonnie. And David. Y'all may not feel like you have anything interesting to say or positive to say given what we're experiencing, but it makes my day to hear from everyone!

I miss them all too!

Do you ever start to talk and realize your voice isn't working quite right because you haven't used it all day? I used to have that happen sometimes when I was alone all day. I wonder if that is worse when you are alone for longer periods? I have to admit that I need a break from SIL. Though my DS may talk my ears off my head - he is up to a minimum of 3 calls a day lately and one day he called 9 times! Obviously he is super lonely!

I do have that happen! I find myself talking out loud to Fergus just to use my voice! I know it's hard for everybody and it's just hard in different ways. It's all an exaggerated version of our normal lives. It's 24/7/endless of whatever your situation is. Exaggerated togetherness or exaggerated loneliness.

Being reacquainted with the urban wildlife in my backyard is one of the positives about quarantine. I like to talk and post about it more than people probably want to hear about it.

Do you feel like going on a social distance walk/hike with a friend, like you did before is doable? Or maybe a driveway or patio dinner meet up? When we met up with friends for a picnic, we all brought our own food so we could stay in our space.

What are your thought about going to Michigan?

I think often about people who are quarantining alone, and how tough that is. I'd love to come and sit on your driveway with a glass of wine or diet coke. I wish we could.