Well, I’ve been here in my house for a month now. On March 15 the Governor told anyone over 65 to stay home. A couple of days later he expanded that order to include everyone. Everyone, just stay home, he said. So we did, for the most part. I believe that everyone stayed home because I did, but I have been led to believe that I may be at home more than some people. I have a family member who is a police officer and he was shocked this week at how many people are out and about during this time. I find myself getting really irritated by it! What makes them so special? Do they think that only other people can get this virus? Or that they can’t bring it home to their family members? There’s no easy button here.
Does that make me sound grouchy? It probably does, but honestly I’m not feeling grouchy. Just incredulous. And maybe a little grouchy if I watch the daily White House antics. About that, I’m more than incredulous, but I don’t know the word for it. Definitely “grouchy” applies.
So, the days are flying by. I wake up and make coffee in my fancy espresso machine that I’m so glad I bought last summer. Then I do a Marco Polo video with a friend or two. Even though those videos are such poor quality that they make anyone look terrible, I love being able to chat up my friends, so I do. Why, in this day and age, does a video app have to result in such bad looking videos? I look better on FaceTime, and that’s not great. But whatever. That requires both people to be available at the same time. And I have to stop talking long enough to wait for the other person to talk. So I keep doing Marcos.
After a Marco or two I eat breakfast – always the same thing. bacon, spinach and eggs. Day in and day out. Then I start making art. I’m all about my newly revamped garage studio these days. I now have three working spots. Two standup spots and one sitdown spot. Which one do you think I use the most? KYep.The sitting down spot with a bit tabletop. I either make a collage, or paint something in my art journal or I work on a painting in progress. Sometimes I tune in to an online class or work session with an artist or two that I like. That’s pretty fun and it helps make the time pass.
A couple of times I went out to the bird refuge for a sit in the breezy sunshine. The migratory birds are pretty much gone, so it’s a good place to be able to avoid contact with other people. I took this picture there (the one above). That is my favorite little tree. I can always get a pretty good reflection shot, and in the winter when it’s naked it is always filled with noisy little black birds. The place is starting to smell a little of algae as the sun begins to evaporate the marsh water. But that’s okay with me for now.
I think I need more exercise, so yesterday I ordered some trekking poles. I was supposed to have my knee replaced on April 6, but that didn’t happen. I think that if I use some poles maybe I can actually take a walk. I wonder if I’ll be embarrassed using them, but I sort of don’t care. If they help me take a walk they’ll be worth it. And I’m a pretty early riser, so I can just walk early, while everyone else is still sleeping, while I get used to them. While I get over being embarrassed by them. Maybe I’ll try them at the bird refuge. I’ll keep you posted on that.
Yesterday I saw that a former student of mine (way former – like 12 years ago) announced that she is reopening her eyelash extension/nail salon on April 20. I’m pretty sure that Gavin Newsom isn’t going to let us out by then, so she’s just making a rogue move in reopening. I messaged her asking what she’s thinking. She replied that she has bills to pay and that this virus came at a really inconvenient time for her. So she is opening. A pandemic came at an inconvenient time. Okay then. I get it, and t’s none of my business really. But how much closer can you get to a person than when you are adding little tiny hairs to their eyelashes? I am practicing non-attachment here. Non. Attachment. But have you seen “the curve?” Non. Attachment.
Okay. This is enough for now. If I write any more I might get snarky. (Snarkier. M ore snarky. Snarkiest.) Have a wonderful day. Get out in the sunshine, maybe dig in the dirt a little. Avoid the Socials. That’s what I’m going to do.
Awake and Aware 
Glad to hear you are staying busy. Same here. The days are flying by, which I guess is okay. My whole retirement career has been that way. Time never went this fast when I was working. I’m reading and writing a lot. Now that the weather is nice, there is so much yard work to do.
As for your hairdresser, mine has her own salon, in a home, and I got to see her about two weeks into the shutdown. I figured if she felt safe with me, I felt safe with her. She told me, when I arrived, I was her last client. She had been told that she could lose her license if she kept working as well as be fined. I was sad for her as I know she has a family and they count on her, but her husband’s job is essential and he is still getting paid. I told her it was a good time to let my real color grow out. It’s been this color for 20 years!
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