Friday Evening

Coming to you in the early hours of the EVENING.  I'm bored and, as I mentioned, morning was rushed like crazy.

Here are a few of my very boring happenings.

Got my monthly this morning.  Fun times.

Tried Publix when they opened at 7am since masks are now required.  NEVER going back until this is over.  Lots without masks ... or should I say CHIN masks ... even EMPLOYEES.  If I had my phone somewhere other than safely buried in my purse, I would've take a picture to send it to Publix.  Employees with masks around their chins -- mouth and nose out, laughing and standing next to each other and a STORE POLICY of MASKS REQUIRED.  What a joke.

Met my girlfriend under a shade tree.  It was extremely nice to catch up in person.  She brought me two glorious tomatoes from her garden.  Incredible, sweet and meaty.

Hubby comes home tonight.  On his way, but his car is having ac issues.  That's no fun.  Bet he'll extra need a shower when he gets home.

Kids coming over tomorrow.  It's been a month.  Grilled burgers, potato salad (already made), broccoli salad and kids bringing dessert.  We will socially distance, take precautions and mask if we are sitting inside.  I miss everyone.  This will feel nice -- wish I wasn't in the middle of my tough monthly days.

Nothing else to report.  Bored as ever, but staying safe.  Be well.  Find some HAPPY.  Later gators.

Thursday Things

Good morning.

I don't have much to say this morning since I'm doing nothing :)

I'm running to Costco at opening today.  Still keeping well stocked as I expect things to get worse as kids return to school.  I have a couple of new favorites from the freezer section.

Wild salmon burgers.  Gluten free.  Cook from frozen -- super yummy.
Beyond Burgers (as I've mentioned before).  Also GF.  Thaw in refrigerator (will keep for a few days thawed).  Strange texture before cooking and not super delicious plain, but add burger fixings and it's delicious.

I have a few new books to recommend too.  You know the podcast, PopCast (deep dive into the shallow end of the pool) -- at the end of every episode they red light and green light things.  Often TV shows, movies and BOOKS!  I love Jamie's recommendations for books.  She loves fun, well written, beach or mysteries.  Stay tuned ... arriving soon (I'm too lazy to look up the titles this morning).  Sometimes if the episode of the PopCast isn't something I'm interested in (maybe they talk about a reality show I don't watch, etc), I jump to the end to hear the red light, green light.  So many good ideas.

My girlfriend reached out to meet tomorrow morning at the park for a chat.  I'm excited and very grateful to her for making time to see me.  BUT ... here's my complaint.  EVERY SINGLE THING is in the morning.  I need to get up and moving early to rush around and get everything finished so I can leave at 9 o'clock and then have NOTHING to do the rest of the day.  She hates sitting in the heat and wants to meet in the mornings.  I get it.  I respect it.  I appreciate her.  But, dang, I HATE this pattern of morning rushing and afternoon slumping.  I super duper hate it.  I tried to get her to meet later in the morning -- but no go.  Oh well.  My dance card is empty and I can't afford to be too particular.

Here are my pups ...  stay well.  Later gators.

Giving me sass lip because it's time for dinner.
He likes to eat at 3 o'clock.  LOL

Had a bath yesterday.  Look at this fluff ball.

Answers

Hubby got an answer yesterday.  Work TWO WEEKS from home every month for "a few months."  He's taking that to mean until the end of the year.  They weren't happy, but they said YES.

This is good news.

A break for him and some routine for me.  I need to KNOW things.  Have a little stability for a little stretch of time.  He'll be home every other week and that feels like a good balance -- a very good balance.  

I took a little ACTION yesterday.  I can't stomach that I'm not doing anything fun at all, anything productive at all -- so I pushed a few things forward.

FUN -- I chatted with my youngest and he happens to be "into" the Enneagram and wants to take the BIG 144 question test this weekend when he comes over.  I put it out to the rest of the family as a I-have-a-fun-surprise-if-you-want-to-do-it.  This sounds FUN to me.  I know I have one person willing to do it.

PRODUCTIVE -- I messaged the board team of my dog rescue saying I hadn't seen many dogs available, but I was ready.  They said they've been calling behind the scenes to ask people because some of the new fosters aren't working out.  They called in June and asked about a dog and I said I needed Monti to settle first -- that's why I haven't been called again.  They're on the lookout for a foster for me now.

HELPFUL -- One of the adopters volunteers for a refugee organization in the city.  I've donated before and I reached out to ask about how they're doing during the pandemic.  Not surprising they're struggling and I offered to help -- in a donation of money or things kind of way.  She has a project coming up and she's going to reach out.  I made another donation last night.  Helping the helpers.  Helping the GOOD.  I like that it's local too.  

I'm going to start the picture project after hubby has his work from home week next week.  I need to work on it outside his office and that's too close for comfort.  I'll work in phases and finish up sections before he's home again.  I also don't need him picking through what I'm working on.  No one can resist a box of pictures :)  No rush so if a foster comes and that's a slow working week, that's fine.   I can do one bin at a time (there are about 12 bins --- eeekkk!).  Some bins will take and hour and some bins will take a week.  

The hike will happen, but maybe not this week.  My monthly feels imminent (already have cramps today) and I don't think this is the week to go for it.  Might be better to do when hubby is home anyway.

Now that hubby has some weeks home, I'm going to put some feelers out to our couple friends for outdoor happy hours.  I need to see people.  I need to see people SAFELY.  Fingers crossed.

Forward direction feels good.  Maybe I'm climbing up for real this time.

Stay well.  Later gators. 

Finding SOMETHING

Finding a direction is HARD.  I'm stumped.  

Here's my list ... and the scoop.  A few gems and a few duds and some in-between.


(1)  Meet my ONE girlfriend at the park.
She's the only one I trust to see in-person right now, but she is super duper busy in August -- double move and a new grand baby.  Maybe I'll get to see her a couple of times, but nothing more.



(2)  Hike local lake loop.
My heel is still having trouble and that concerns me with uneven ground on the hike.  Also, solo hiking is a little risky too (can you tell I'm a risk chicken-shit?)  I might try it later this week though.  I need to step up and out SOMEHOW.

Hiking partners are slim pickings right now too.  It's either "group" hiking and that doesn't allow for social distancing or my solo peeps are out of commission (foot problems, knee surgery, etc).



(3)  Go to Starbuck's drive-thru with dogs.
Already doing this once a week (usually).  It's okay, nothing too thrilling, but gets us out of the house in the heat of the afternoon.



(4)  Cook new recipes (look for meatless meal options too).
Also have been doing this -- but I'm getting tired of cooking.  Maybe this should say GET TAKEOUT instead.  I haven't had takeout since my birthday.  Someone else making the food sounds nice.



(5)  Organize picture and memorabilia boxes in attic. 
This one has merit if my back holds up.  HUGE project I've wanted to undertake since we moved.  This one will keep me occupied.  I'll start next week.  I need to setup the upstairs with some tables and chairs and such.



(6)  Start back with life coaching (I bought 3 sessions in June).
I need to confirm hubby's schedule.  Why get a session when he's home.  Way easier and more private to do when he's gone.  This might give me some more direction on my direction.



(7)  Read on BLM and Enneagram.
Doing this too.  I have more to go on both though.  Reading takes a backseat when I'm upset, worried, sad, etc.  Too much energy to read when EMOTIONS are swirling.  Write up the Enneagram post too -- that will take more energy than the usual what-I-did-yesterday post :)



(8)  Finish decorating the bedroom wall. 
We have a massive wall in our bedroom opposite our bed.  No windows or anything that breaks it up. I have a big mirror over the dresser, but need a lot more.  I want to do a mix-n-match stuff.  I have some ideas -- waiting on the first picture to come.  Backorder until end of August.  Cleaning the picture boxes can help on this too.  I'd like some family pictures framed in cool ways.



(9)  Start FOSTERING again.
I was waiting until Monti settled and I think we're there.  Our rescue hasn't pulled any dogs that fit my type lately, so I'm waiting ... on the watch though.  I might give myself a few more weeks so I can do the picture organization without a new pup.

Tuesday Updates

I don't have many answers to yesterday.

Hubby spoke with his bosses and gave his rationale for working from home 2 weeks a month until it's safer to fly.  Good news ... they aren't flying either.  Bad news ... they weren't happy and need to "discuss" before approving.  The conversation happened in the morning and nothing was resolved yesterday.  How long do you need to discuss it?

Then, in odd news, his immediate boss (these are Private Equity guys, but there's a pecking order), messaged him and asked him to a virtual happy hour on Wednesday.  Grab a beer, zoom call and we'll chat about all things NOT work related.  Huh?  Apparently, he's a big social guy and hubby thinks he's trying to help him feel more adjusted.  THIS, but no answer to THAT?!?!

Also, during the conversation one of the guys asked why I didn't drive up with hubby and spend the month in Virginia.  Also, huh?  He answered because I wouldn't be able to do anything but sit in a hotel room.  Duh.

Not looking good, but no answer is still no answer.  So we wait.

As far as my mindset and mood ... not much accomplished on that front.  I know I need to move into an acceptance mode.  Remember the days of "the universe works for me, not against me?"  "It's aimless to fight WHAT IS."  All the nuggets of wisdom that seemed so clear in good times and now useless.  LOL.

BUT, some good news (!!)  My life coach is back at stuff -- podcast, Instagram.  She took a 4 month break and she's back to talk about NOW.  Her insights connect very well with me and I'm hoping this is a step in the right direction toward feeling better, being more production, having a direction.  I'm setting up another meeting with her soon (as soon as I know hubby's schedule).

Also, in my defense, it's hard to FIX MY LIFE during PMS week.  PMS during Perry sucks.  This week I'll information gather, journal, think and come with a plan for when my hormones aren't complicating my every thought.

I believe this will continue well into next year and I need to figure out how to do more than just exist on a day to day basis.

One answer ... MEDITATION.  I've been lax on meditating and while skipping a day or two doesn't make a difference, not being consistent does take away the collective benefits.

Hope you have a great day in whatever way that's possible right now.  Stay well.  Later gators.

Monday Blues

The last few days were a big old FUNK.  Even with hubby home, maybe especially with hubby home.

He's walking on the side of unhappy too.  Not sure whether to stay working, not happy about the state of anything either.  We fed off each other and the weekend was lousy and boring,

Something needs to change for me.  I need to figure out how to do better during this time -- a time that has no foreseeable relief in the non-mask wearing south.

I keep sputtering with a little success and then falling backwards again.  I'll do some thinking today and some planning,  Hubby has a BIG conversation with his boss today.  He needs the work situation to change while it's not safe to fly (i.e. more work from home).  The answer will determine if he continue.  This is a big day.

Anyway, I'll write all about both tomorrow.  Hopefully, I'll have some better news.  I have some ideas :)

We watched a movie Saturday night -- What If.  It was a rom-com and just okay.  Hubby liked it better than I did.  Made a nice dinner too.  Broccoli salad, oven baked potato chips and cowboy chicken.  I also baked the brown butter chocolate chips cookies.  You could taste the brown butter in the dough, but not the final cookie.  More work than necessary with this recipe, but I tried it and he loved it.  I have a simpler cookie recipe he likes just as well.  Good old butter flavored Crisco cookie.  It's what he knows and it's a favorite.  Every once in a while, I try a "special" recipe to see if I can do better -- never is that much better in his mind.  Not complaining because his favorite is super simple.

I watched The Kind of Staten Island.  It was good.  Super actors, "real" feeling story -- even with the price tag.  Since the kids watched too, I felt better about spending $19 on a 48 hour rental.

I'm slowly getting into Beach Read (Emily Henry).  It seems good, but I'm only about 50 pages in -- reading and being in a crappy mood don't go hand in hand for me.

BTW -- it's PMS week (maybe that's obvious).  Sorry in advance (!!)

Strange thing happened yesterday.  I took off my nail polish (it was chipping) and didn't get around to applying more.  A few hours later, my nails started hurting.  So much by bedtime, that I had to polish them before bed.  I thought this only happened if your nail beds were too thin after SNS, gel, etc.  I googled and turns out, wearing nail polish slightly curls the nail bed up.  After it's off for a few hours, the nail bed flattens out again and that causes the pain.  They are sore this morning, but not nearly as much as last night.  I had no idea.  I guess I usually take the polish off and re-polish quickly enough that that hasn't happened before.

As bad as I felt the last few days, today feels more upbeat.  Maybe it's because I feel like today will get us closer to some answers with hubby and some ideas for me.

Have a happy Monday.  Stay well.  Later gators.

A Smidge of Complaining

I think I know why this week feels hard.

I have exactly ZERO in-person social interactions.  My girlfriend who I meet at the park is under strict isolation because she's seeing her brand new granddaughter now.  I'm super happy for her, but it's going to be a long time before I see her in person again (as it stands now ... her daughter might relax regs at some point).  They are moving locally in August and it involves a double move and that will keep her extra occupied.  It's certainly not her responsibility to entertain me, but she's the only friend I see socially because she's the only one I trust.

I also can't see the kids because my DIL's unit continues to have employee positives.  It's been a month and looking like we have weeks before it's even a possibility.

This in contrast to people doing what they want to do.  I'm not talking about the non-masker crazy peeps (they'll never do the selfless thing) ... I'm talking about regular folks taking a "breather" from the pandemic.  My friends.  My extended family.  Socializing without masks because they are EATING OUT, inside at restaurants ... too hot to be outside ...  lingering for a couple of hours with drinks, etc.  Multiple groups of friends with multiple people each time.  Vacationing and throwing all precautions out the window because they are at the beach.  As though the beach doesn't count.  Posting it all on social media for the world to see.  What are they thinking?

It's frustrating and I'm having a hard week with it.  There's only so many things I can do safely that are fun too.  I've exhausted a lot of things (TV, books, puzzles, house organizing, zoom calls).  It's too hot to do much outdoor stuff so I'm plum out of ideas.  Groundhog day, every day.

That's my complaining.  Hopefully, I'll recharge soon and plug along with a better attitude.  I know I'm lucky.  I know bored is not a tragedy and not even a problem.  But I'm tired of it all.  I WANT to be the person who takes a break too.  But I won't.  For my own safety and for the social responsibility to my fellow humans.  I also want to plan something fun ... a vacation, weekend away, dinner party, SOMETHING.  But I can't do this either.  We have no idea when this kind of thing is possible again since too many people are behaving poorly.

And, you know what?  I don't care that I'm not being understanding to people's choices.  There are rules of society for the better good of all.  These happen to be new rules since we are in a pandemic, but, dang it, they need to be followed.  I wouldn't "understand" if someone decided to drive through red lights on the regular or drive on the wrong side of the road.  Rules.  Simple as that.

Guess I wasn't finished complaining.  Now I am.
Stay well.  Later gators.