05/05/2020 Tuesday,,Cinco de Mayo

The stay at home order has actually enhanced my life in several ways. Yesterday, a typical Sunday, DC and I tackled the garage, as it was too chilly and damp to work outside. DC worked on reorganizing his bench area, and I reorganized the wall of storage and sanded and repainted two chairs and a table from our front porch. Our old normal would have been to go to the lake for a 2-3 hour brunch, consuming much wine and high calorie options (their shrimp and grits dish...) I have also cleaned and reorganized many bottom of the list areas of the house (closets, downstairs storage room) and reclaimed my joy in sewing and rock painting.

Liz, good for you maintaining your boundaries with the neighborhood Romeo. Peps, thanks for checking in ! I always look forward to your posts. Ceci, do you think you will make it to Michigan at all? I REALLY want to see that screen door up, but things do sound like a bit of a mess there. David has been chiming in, but Ann, Shirl and Miss Bonnie are much missed.

Weight: 139.6

I'm back.

The short version: As a result of quarantining completely alone and experiencing my neck lift post-op complications, I fell into a deep well of depression like nothing I've EVER experienced before. I am incredibly grateful for having access to a great therapist.

As the saying goes ("When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging"), I've finally stopped digging and am now climbing out, one baby step at a time.

My post-op complication is ongoing, although things are improving slowly. At 7 weeks post-op my neck is still quite swollen and bruised. I've finished a second round of antibiotics and an antibiotic ointment. I'm now using a lotion to reduce bruising and using a vibrator to speed circulation and nerve regeneration.

Social distancing here continues, but this week businesses are starting to reopen.

My county has been incredibly unaffected by the virus. During the lockdown we've seen only 5 cases in a county of 40,000, with no new cases in the last 3 weeks and 0 deaths. I just did the math and see that 5 cases in 40,000 is less than one-seventh the virus penetration that Devon's area in NoCal has seen (891 cases for 1,000,000 people).

Therefore, today I will rejoin the land of the living, while observing social distancing and sanitation measures. At this point, getting COVID and acquiring immunity would lead to a much better life than the one I've had since mid-March. This afternoon I'm getting my hair colored and cut. In two weeks yoga classes (smaller than before lockdown) will restart, and I'll be there. In short, I'm done sheltering in place.

Wish me luck.

Good to see you Ann. Your plan seems sound. The risk is low in your particular area. If things start to crank up, you can readjust. I go back and forth on wishing to just get it over with, and being scared at the outcome of contracting covid. I usually decide the longer I can postpone what seems like the inevitable, the more time there is to develop better treatments, and learn how this virus behaves. Go out, be judicious, be safe.

Weight 123.6, WW Bluepoints 9. Weight up 2.2 since my low yesterday? WTF? I hope it is partially water retention - I usually do go up after a new low but not by that much.

Welcome back Ann!!! We have missed you so much! So sorry you are still dealing with complications. Has your PS had to drain it periodically? I hear you on going out. A lot of people are feeling that way. I have to admit that the idea of going home to Massachusetts which is still in a full lock-down while Florida is re-opening is not an easy decision. Though I do think Florida is moving too fast, I do appreciate some of the freedoms like being able to go to the beach again.

Diane, how industrious! We ran out of projects here in Florida, but I've got numerous ones on Cape Cod. I wonder if I will have the mental energy to deal with them (they are very tied up with DH memories).

I hate that I have to avoid this guy down here when I walk around the block. Luckily he never walks around (just drives). DD and Cecily made good points - I had already stopped returning his calls and had not shown interest when he suggested I join the support group for dinners out. He married somewhat late in life, marrying the nurse in the prison where he worked as a psychologist. Maybe he never learned how to read signs of interest or not? Regardless, I realized that I wouldn't feel comfortable going to that support group anymore if it started up again next year. Hopefully I won't feel the need, though I did like touching base with some of the people (though not him).

Today is food shopping though we don't need much as we are in the last 9 days here. Then maybe the beach!

Stay safe and healthy!

Liz, just want to chime in here and say it's appropriate to tell someone who's socially oblivious and needs a two-by-four approach: "Let me be crystal-clear: You are NOT what I'm looking for in a life partner, even if I were looking for a life partner at this point in my life, which I am not. Please do not approach me again on this topic."

I agree with Ann, you shouldn't have to make any decisions about your life based on him. If you want to or don't want to go to your support group, let it be your choice. That being said, I've left groups because there was one or two insufferable members I didn't feel like suffering.

Forgot to respond, Liz. Nope, no draining done. Just waiting for the body to slowly absorb everything. And it really does seem to be working. After a big consultation last week with the surgeon, I opted for the "give my body some more time to heal itself" option, rather than introducing more "solutions," i.e., "let's see WTF else could go wrong?!" options.

Everything I read says that they do resolve with time.

At this point, I'll defer it until the fall when I come back. If I'm lucky he will have found a new "crush"! But if not, I will have to be clear with him.

Ocean Diane, I love hearing about all your projects. Very much looking forward to seeing your painted rock project. Even with working, stay at home has given me some time to tackle a few things. I'm hoping to get at some bigger projects once school is out.