Saturday, September 26, 2020

Weight 123.6 after two meals out yesterday, one including pizza. I guess I am holding at least.

Yesterday SIL and I went to her yacht club in South Boston and hung out with her friends on the outdoor deck. They are a great group who I have gotten to know well over the years through various trips and by going to the club periodically with SIL. Lots of good socializing.

Mike and I are leaving at 11 for Boston to stay overnight at a jail turned into a hotel overlooking the river. We can walk most places in Boston from there (it is a small, walkable city). We have reservations in the North End tonight, the Italian section of Boston. I haven't been into Boston since Covid so I am looking forward to it. It is kind of romantic and so refreshing to have someone else making arrangements these days. He asks first and would revise them if I didn't agree but he actually comes up with ideas and executes them!

Have a safe, healthy, and social day!

I would imagine Mike coming up with social plans is refreshing, since your social/family group seems to look to you to do the planning. I like planning, but sometimes when DH asks, what do you want to do this evening, I'll answer, not make any decisions. And he'll take care of the plans.

Sadly, DH has to work this weekend. I have lots of things I could be doing to get ready for my first day of school on Monday, so I'll be busy.

I'm sure you are ready for some normalcy in your life after COVID and cancer, but gosh, I am worried about you going back to school so soon after your radiation treatment is done. Teaching is highly taxing on so many levels. The emotional stress takes a huge toll on the immune system. Couple that with your treatment..... Promise yourself to be flexible and if you need to take an extended leave of absence to truly heal, DO IT! The kids will (or won't) survive, with or without you. As much as it kills us to admit that, we teachers know that's true. Yes, we can make a difference, but it should not be at our own expense.

Just me being a bossy pants. Meant with love.

I hear what you're saying. None of my doctors: surgeon, radiologist, and oncologist will say that there are any concerns with my immune system. Even if I insisted I needed a longer leave, I don't think they'd extend it ... I know, but they are ADAMANT that my immune system is okay. My oncologist said my biggest risk factor for Covid is my age. I'll take it easy, my team teacher has already indicated he isn't looking for me to be 100%... he's worried too about my coming back right now. I have lots of sick days left, so if I'm feeling poorly, I'll use them. Wednesday is all digital day, so I'll work from home that day. I think I'll be okay... but if I'm not, I'll ask for what I need, part time leave, whatever it is... And really, if I need to, I can call in sick once a week if it comes to that, and I doubt any admin would object for a long time.

Our schools just went back (2 days a week for the hybrid kids). My friend was telling me today about her 13 year old daughter's science class on the first day. All the desks had acrylic guards around them. The teacher was in the front of the class separated by plastic sheeting so she could teach without a mask. She had a wireless mic so they could hear her. All seems like smart planning until the teacher forgot that she meant to tell the kids to peel the film off their acrylic surrounds (there were a lot and she thought that would be faster than doing them all herself). So they're all trying to see through murky film and no one says anything about not being able to see anything. Then her mic died. So she's yelling so they can hear her. Ah, the best laid plans...

Scale wavered up a hair today.

Once again my main credit card was compromised. All my automatic payments go on it. Argh. Now I have to change everything when I feel like I just did this! At least I keep a list of what pulls from there. It's not like I shop anywhere sketchy...

I had a good chat with my mom's first cousin I didn't know about. She was very nice. Bit of a talk-over-you-person, but we all have our quirks. She wants to talk again next week. That got the part of me that likes to keep people at a bit of a distance feeling smothered. I feel for her. She feels like her mother stole something from her by not telling her about my grandma and my mom sooner. She said she found letters from my grandma in her mom's things after she died begging her mom and dad to move to CA so she and my mom could grow up knowing each other as cousins. But they were just signed "Do" (my grandma went by Do, short for Dolores) and she didn't know who she was. Anyway. I wonder what she's looking for from this as far as forming a relationship goes? I've never talked to my mom's cousins I know about. IN fact, I don't think I could name more than one? Staying in close contact with family is not something I was raised with. Hmm. I would be comfortable with FB friends and a Christmas card. What if she wants more?

Today I'm off to walk at the bird ponds with my friend, then dropping old paint off at a collection event in my town. That'll clear a garage shelf! Then I need to get on filling my trash can for Monday pickup. I don't feel like I have more obvious trash like last time, but I'm sure with little effort I'll find it.

Liz enjoy your getaway. DD, good luck with school prep. We haven't heard from David in a good long while. Hope he's well! DianeO, come back!

If what you want is a casual relationship, that is okay. You don't owe this woman a close friendship. Perhaps you mother's other cousins might be more interested in knowing this cousin, since they are the same generation, and maybe even had an inkling of a mysterious aunt.. Are you able to direct her towards any of these relatives?

That's a great idea. I had my dad look up my mom's cousin Fred's number in my mom's address book. I think I'll check with him and see if he'd want to connect with her. And I think her other cousin might be named Diane? (Could be I'm absorbing that from all the Diane's here). Fred should know...

Liz, My aunt used to live in those 2 white condo towers, next to the Marriott and the Aquarium. Steps from Fanueil Market and the North End. Whenever we would visit, I would say, I want to live in Boston! My husband would gently remind me that what I really liked was living in a million dollar condo on the harbor near the best food. True, I would not live there, for sure. Before they moved there, they had a condo on Beacon Street. It was amazing!! Now that they've retired, they've moved to a house in Ipswich on a tidal creek. The house is from the 1600s, and beautifully restored. We were going to visit Memorial Day weekend, but Covid. Our daughter lives on the border of Jamica Plain and Roxbury, not like the North End, but interesting and fun in its own way.

I'd love to "live" in the city for a few weeks, but for long term I think I would need to be by the water in a quieter area (as I am). Cool that your daughter is here.