Pandemic, May style

I have been on staycation this week (gotta burn some earned time) and it's been pretty low key, also unseasonably warm. I'm thankful as work has been busy. It was almost 100 on Wednesday and close to 90 yesterday and today. I am not complaining at all...in fact, bring it on. I welcome a long, hot summer, even if that means breaking down at some point and putting my AC in. Hopefully it still works after being in my closet for years. Maybe I'll also break down and actually buy a kayak and head out on some adventures on area ponds and lakes. Anyways, back to vaca adventures. I did Saturday stuffies and spent some time on my deck. I cleaned my bathroom and went for a run on Sunday and got take out from 110 Grill. I spent Monday and Tuesday visiting with Laura and Brandi at Laura's house. Laura's mom lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on the 7th (the day she turned 63) so we felt it reason enough to cross state lines and visit. Laura worked until 330 so Brandi and I met a little early and got some take out for a picnic lunch (leftovers is what's for dinner tonight) then grabbed some groceries. We just hung out and visited for the rest of the day...Laura is doing pretty well considering the trauma of watching her mom waste away to almost nothing over the course of the last 6 months; unless she hides it very well. She's a very strong person. No tears were shed. Tuesday morning we got up and leisurely drank coffee until it was time for breakfast. Just us gals went for a walk then grabbed he babes to get ice cream for lunch. We spent the rest of the afternoon outside as the weather was perfect in the shade. We had some beverages, ate delicious BBQ takeout for dinner and sat around the fire pit eventually making smores. I headed home around 8 to get home to X while Brandi stayed another night, getting home around dinner time the following day. It was nice to see them and feel somewhat normal again, socially. Wednesday, I grabbed some groceries, did some HOA stuff and went for a walk. There's been some drama lately *rolls eyes* as some newer members are expressing (towards me, mostly) criticism of our president and her lack of performance. I'm trying to be neutral and not get sucked into this vortex of clashing personalities and to stick to my duties. Kinda makes me wonder if anyone is critical of me behind my back. I ain't got time for that. Anywho, we are working on some time sensitive tasks. Amy (my neighbor behind me, new to the board, lawyer, good asset) revamped our lengthy and outdated bylaws this past weekend). I've arranged a meeting with a lady up on Poverty Ln. who gave me her card when she came campaigning at my door for the primaries this year. She's in the local government and has years of experience with HOA's and offered her advice and guidance. So that's what I did. I reached out to her to see if she was willing to guide us through bylaw and insurance issues. We are revisiting our policies to see what can be changed to more accurately reflect our neighborhood needs. I often regret joining the Board but here I am. Oh well. Yesterday, after a slow start, I ran some errands. I dropped off at the True Value in Hanover a broken lamp I picked up from someone's yard when I ran last. Actually, just got a call, they were able to fix it so it's ready for pick up. I bought supplies at the garden center to start growing better grass in my yard (this will take effort for time to come) and to finally utilize my window box. Ended the day with a walk. This morning, I got up and set up my window box and started the process of attempting to grow grass in some bare spots in my front yard. We shall see...just have to be diligent when it comes to watering. I did a remote Barre class and spent some time brushing the pooh bear. I'm very much looking forward to my Friday night pint.

I can't eat ice cream until I finish this so here goes. Last weekend was pretty low key. I did my Saturday stuffies, talked to Denise about some family business, took out my bike for the first time this year and went for a ride out to Canaan (had to be creative with picking up the rail trail due to bridge construction) and grabbed groceries. Sunday, I started cleaning out my garage, relaxed on the deck and went for a walk. Monday, I finished cleaning the garage, ran some errands and went for a walk.

The previous weekend was pretty uneventful as well. I had that Friday off for an Iration concert at the Casino Ballroom but that was postponed for obvious reasons. I kept it and decided to go for a run...a run I dedicated to Ahmaud Arbery, a young black man who was shot and killed while out jogging in broad daylight. Related, an unarmed black man was suffocated to death in Michigan recently by police kneeling on his neck. Major rioting, rightly so, as a result. Is America great yet? In lieu of the concert, we just hung out at their fire pit but had to retreat inside for dinner because it was so cold (hard to believe based on how hot it is today). Saturday, I attempted to get my bridesmaid dress hemmed but the lady was a no show at her house so I gave up on her as she proved to be unreliable and untruthful while being too personal discussing her abusive relationship. That lead me to my appointment with Martha in Concord tomorrow. I hope she's there. I gave up on accomplishing much so I took a long walk despite the blustery, snow-spitting weather (again, hard to believe) and grabbed some groceries. I was on call Sunday. The night crew was finishing up a STEMI so I went in for that with a floor player to follow. We went home for an hour and got paged in for a case that did not happen. I meal-prepped and did dishes then we came in again to relook at the early morning STEMI. Got to sleep that night. The only thing worth mentioning from Monday is an elliptical work out.

The first weekend in May was spent in solitude (I could get used to this) as it should have been. Saturday, I did my stuffies and went for a long walk on the rail trail. Grabbed take out from village pizza on the way home. Sunday was clean sheet day, started rereading Jurassic Park on the deck, grocery shopped and meal-prepped. Monday, I did dishes, ran errands, went for a walk and did my yearly basement vacuuming.

As far as the pandemic goes, things are starting to cool down a bit. More businesses are opening and I've expanded my errands a little. I went to the Paper Store for the first time in months yesterday. Of course I always wear a mask, sanitize my hands, and keep distance from people as much as possible. Must not relax that for a long while.

My forehead is doing ok...I was hoping they'd be less noticeable for Dayna's wedding but I don't think that's going to happen. I actually got a little pus (probably from a hair follicle) out of part of my incision when I was at Laura's. She gave me mederma with spf to use so I stopped with the aquaphor.

Fortunate Youth has made a comeback on my Pandora :)