January Blues

Well, covid has certainly hit my family. My sister and her 2 year old and my brother's entire family are sick with it. That means that my mom and I are the only households to escape it, thus far. I'm just resigned to getting sick at this point. I got my vaccine booster shot a few weeks ago and wear a mask except for at work, where I pretty much stay in my office, but I don't think I can stop it. With the numbers as high as they are, I'm back to home church for awhile. I started working from home this week as soon as my family started getting sick. I'm going to the grocery store bright and early tomorrow morning to get some things for my brother and sister while they are stuck at home. It's all I can do. 

I'm tired, tired, tired of it. 

I don't actually have January blues, but I definitely have pandemic fatigue.

I've been reading some good books. So there is that. 

I Bought What?!

I was laughing with some coworkers over bad Covid decisions that we’ve made over the past year. I must admit that I’ve made a few, mostly in the form of purchases. LOL There were those scratch off travel maps that I thought would be fun and then they just took up space and were actually not easy to scratch and just annoyed me. The giant outdoor connect four game that was fun once or twice and now sits in my garage and takes up space.  The little shade tent that I absolutely didn’t need and will be lucky if I use once a year. The Hallmark movie channel. I hate Hallmark Christmas movies and Covid didn’t change that. I watched most of the good mystery movies the first week during the trial. It was a total waste. I could go on…

 

"plant animals" I didn't need

Not all of the purchases have been bad. Early on in the pandemic I decided I suddenly couldn’t live without a stand mixer and bought myself a compact Bosch mixer. Mostly, it takes up space on the counter (especially now when it’s too hot to bake), but I have used it and will use it in the future. I definitely didn’t need it but I’m glad I have it. I now have 4 air plants in my house. Didn’t need those either but they are kind of fun to have.

 

The thing I’ve probably spent the most money on is subscription boxes. I used to look at them and think they might be fun but included a lot of junk and were a waste of money. I wasn’t wrong but not exactly right either. There are pretty much subscription boxes for anything you can think of. I’m kind of amazed. I’ve come to realize that yes, they are a waste of money, but they are still fun, and I can usually give away any of the stuff I won’t actually use. The trick is to get a box that you like and will use.

 

My first and still my favorite is the quarterly box from Margot Elena. It’s full of bath and body items, make up, perfume, and candles. Yes, there is always something I probably won’t use at all, but for the most part I love it. The products are so much fun to try and I can usually give the few things I don’t want to my nieces and they are happy to have it.

 

My second favorite is probably the chocolate subscription box I got from Jackie’s Chocolate. I did 3 months of that one for a birthday present to myself. It was so much fun getting chocolates in the mail. They were tasty! I will probably do that one again for a few more months in the winter. They say they pack for every weather but I’m not going to find out how well they pack for the summer heat.

 

I finally broke down and did the famous FabFitFun box. I’ve only had 1 so far and I got the annual subscription so that I could customize everything. It turned out to be a fun box and because I could choose what I wanted, there was very little I got rid of or won’t use. I probably won’t continue it after my year, but it should be fun while it lasts.

 

Let’s see, I did one from Cloth & Paper and that was a bust. Mostly because of me. I love paper products/notebooks, etc. but don’t have their brand of planners or anything and the pens from foreign countries were just ok, nothing to get excited about. That was canceled early.

 

I did the Candy Club box for 3 months and overall, I’d say that was not worth it because I don’t enjoy the types of candy they sell. It’s mostly gummy types in both sweet and sour flavors. I hate sour candy and am not a fan of licorice laces. I shared this box with my family and it was fun to try everything and pass around the little containers, but not worth the money.

 

And finally, the last one is the TokyoTreat box and I have nothing to say about it because I haven’t received it yet. My nephew really wants to go to Japan and we sometimes go to the local Asian market to buy fun things so I thought this would be fun for the family to try for a couple months. We’ll see.

 

There are other boxes I’ve looked at and said no, but I’m sure I will find others I decide to try. Anyway, that’s what I’ve been spending money on over the past 12 months. 

Poke in the Arm

Just got my second COVID vaccine shot. Yay! It feels so good to have it. 

Right now feels like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. I sure hope so. 

Friday Thoughts about Work

As much as I enjoy travel, I am truly a homebody and do love being at home. You’d think that would have made me happy during the pandemic, but then I discovered I am not a person that loves working from home. I kind of already knew I wouldn’t like it because I do need something to get me out of the house so I don’t feel like a hermit and I like the routine. I never got told I had to stay home, plus, in my job as HR for a manufacturing company, it was better to be where the people were. 

Now, with my new job I don’t actually live or work in the same state as my team so I’m truly remote. I get to go into the office or not as I choose. At first working from home was not enjoyable to me. I had a hard time separating work from home. As I’ve gotten used to it, I’ve found that there are some definite advantages and things I do actually enjoy. One is the very short commute time: walk down the hall. I also like that I can get up and exercise without actually getting up earlier. Again, thanks to that short commute. And then there’s the flexibility I have to take a lunch break whenever I want and run errands in the actual town I live in. Yesterday, I took a late lunch and went for a walk to enjoy the spring weather and sunshine. It was glorious. I can take breaks to walk at work, but it’s not really the same. 

Anyway, things in my state are slowly opening back up. About half the office is back to working in the office most days. I’ve no idea when everybody will come back or what they will do if people want to stay home (ha ha…not my problem any more). Since I don’t actually report to anyone where I physically work, my new job will allow a hybrid schedule and I’m seriously considering it. I just keep thinking how this summer I would be able to walk outside in the morning (when it’s light and cool) before work and still start working on time if I worked from home. I don’t want to do it all week, just maybe 2 days. If I do end up permanently with a bit of both, I’d like to get a new chair. My desk is fine, but the current chair has got to go.

 

One Year Later

So it’s been a year since things closed down as the pandemic truly became a pandemic in my part of the world. A year and 3 days since I got back from my trip to Egypt and got a cold and got told I had to stay home from work and quarantine for 2 weeks since I had left the country. At that time they didn’t know enough about what was going on and when I called the hotline, I didn’t have the right symptoms to be tested. I’m still pretty sure I just had a bad cold. One thing has definitely changed since that time. My boss had to deliver my computer to me and I have not once left it at work since then. It’s not that I work after hours, but I want to have it to be able to work if I can’t get to work. And now with my new job, I have a lot more flexibility of where I work so I just always have it with me.

Things are opening back up and life feels a little more normal, just we all have masks on. I still do my shopping and work and stuff just as I always did. Church has changed for me, but that’s mostly because I’m still doing it online because I’m lazy. It’s going on in person with masks if I want to be there. I figure I’ll probably go back soon. I do miss the theater. That is one thing I can’t wait to be able to go back to. 

I’ve come to the conclusion that we, as a human race, have been pretty arrogant to think some major thing like this pandemic wouldn’t happen. I mean we have major things all the time, they are just usually more localized instead of worldwide. But I don’t think this is the worst thing I’ll ever see. And in fact when I think about my life personally, the pandemic, even the bad days I had during the pandemic, doesn’t even count into the worst days of my life.

So here I am a year later on a beautiful spring day. A year older, and hopefully wiser. I am truly sorry for those that have suffered and I’ve tried to do what I can for some relief. But really, it’s just life. If it’s not one thing, it will be another. At least that's how I feel one year later.

Still the Same Old

I’ve been all over the place this week, emotionally. I had a high stress/anxiety day that I made it through and finally got rid of the tension headache. Then covid fatigue hit me hard. I am so fed up with the virus and people who think it's a myth and the whole gamut. My family has decided to go ahead and have Thanksgiving. It will only be 9 of us anyway. We’re doing it potluck style even though it was recommended to have one cook and one server. We probably won’t be together all day and might wear masks. My mom and I are going to do our annual pre Thanksgiving shopping trip, although probably just staying around town and shopping local. We will be wearing masks and using hand sanitizer until we get home. I’m actually perfectly fine with the mask. I’m used to it. I wear it a bunch at work, though not all the time. My breathing has even adjusted to it.  We had turkey pickup day at work and it was actually really nice to see a few of my coworkers and have the office be a little bit busier than it has been for the past however many months. LOL I just don’t know what to think about most things anymore. I do look forward to Fridays right now. Not because the end of the work week, although that is nice, but The Mandalorian drops new episodes and my web comic updates. So yeah, looking forward to tomorrow night. There is that, at least.

Ah, October

I am loving the weather. It's been mostly warm with cool nights and then this morning it was nice and almost cold! I've been out a little bit and drove through a canyon and saw the leaves changing. It's getting cool enough they are changing at my house now. Truly, I love this month. 

I'm having some of my nieces and nephews sleep over tonight. We can't really go anywhere so I got my house "kid-proofed" for our rousing game of hide and seek in the dark. It's still funny to me that they love it so much. My house doesn't have that many great spots to hide in. Then we usually have treats of some kind while we watch movies before bed. I created a treasure hunt for them to find some candy and popcorn. Hopefully, the younger ones will think it's fun. 

After I get them home tomorrow, I will have the afternoon to clean and restore my house to it's normal place and enjoy the piece and quiet. It supposed to get cold (possible mountain snow!) on Sunday and I am planning to make homemade broccoli cheddar soup with bread bowls. I can't wait!

Mini Road Trip

My mom was dying to get out of town and go somewhere. My sister wanted to join so we waited for this weekend and her family went with us. Basically, we drove up to Star Valley, Wyoming via Bear Lake and came back home through Soda Springs and Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. We stopped plenty of times and found this nice little park in Grover, WY to eat lunch where the kids could play for a while.  I have to say it did feel good to get out and Star Valley and some of the other canyons we drove through are really beautiful.
My one little nephew got car sick a few times so he didn’t have such a good time of it. Mom and I had the 2 older kids in the car with us and they are crazy funny sometimes. Plus, we had their walkie talkies with us between the 2 cars. Nothing we did would be funny if you weren’t there but it will make some good memories. I do love road trips and I love my family. They are good people.

Days Go By

Another crazy month almost over. I’m pretty sure a couple of positive things did happen but now I can’t think of what they are. My phone is no help either. Whatever it was, it wasn’t picture worthy.

I did apply for a new job. That’s a little bit noteworthy since it’s been 17 years since I last applied for a job. Same company, but I’d be working for someone else and doing a little traveling if the pandemic ever gets over. I had 3 interviews last Friday. I felt like I did my best in them and would only change 1 or 2 small things. It was a bit of work to prep for them and keep up the energy during them. Now that it’s over, I will not be upset if I don’t get the job and if I do get it, I will wonder what I’m doing to myself. But it would be a change and I am starting to feel like I desperately need one in my work life.

And other than that, evidently I’ll be having some kids sleep over at my house Friday night so I’m trying to gear up for that. I have a feeling it will be a long, long night. I’m tired just thinking about it.

Memorial Day 2020

I had a really great weekend. I took Friday off to make it 4 days. At first I thought why waste vacation days when I can’t go anywhere, but I’ve decided this year will be different. I’ll waste them if I want to. After all, I was lucky enough to get to go on my big vacation. Plus, I’m still working and having time away from work really does help. As it turns out, I was out of my house every day this weekend and it felt so much like “normal’ life and it was exactly what I needed to get out of a little funk.

On Friday I took some flowers up to my grandma’s grave in Wellsville and then in the afternoon/evening went up to my sister’s house where we had a family sleepover. It ended up raining and snowing that night so I was glad we were indoors. Saturday morning after breakfast we all went to the Brigham City cemetery. It was cold that morning and early enough that there were not a lot of people. We walked to all the different family graves we put flowers on. After I got home I did some housework and then took a nice long nap. On Sunday I rearranged my bedroom. I had to take my bed apart to move it. Still, it didn’t take as long as I thought and I had been putting it off. I haven’t had my bed in it’s new position ever so it is taking a little bit of getting used to but I like the change. It makes my bedroom feel bigger and it was plenty big before. Then on Monday I went with my brother and sister to explore Blacksmith Fork Canyon. Dad used to take us up there fishing a lot when we were young. I haven’t been up there in many years. It was so beautiful and felt good to get out. Of course, with crying and complaining kids, it was also nice to get back home. It’s supposed to get hot this week which means I missed the best temperatures but summer’s coming and I’m really going to try and get outside more.

Flowers and Donuts

And life during a pandemic goes on...
I planted flowers this weekend. I've got grand plans for a small garden box at the back of my house, but for now I did my normal planting in my front flower garden and my pots. And by pots, I mean all my pots. I normally try to hold myself back a little bit but I did not at all this year. I bought every flower that took my fancy. And a bunch of herbs. They used up every pot I had, plus new ones I bought.

It was a perfect day for flower shopping at the nursery. By that I mean it was raining and there were not very many people there.  I loved it. I've got ideas to turn my back patio into a miniature flower garden too, with pots and plant stands. I figure I might as well. It makes me happy and since I'm not going anywhere this summer, there's no reason I can't water them and keep them healthy and happy.

A few weeks ago I decided I had to have a stand mixer, even though I've gotten along just fine without one until now. I got a wonderful Bosche compact mixer. I finally used it this weekend and the first thing I did with it was donuts. I cooked them up and delivered fresh, homemade donuts to my family. It was fun. I'm not sure I loved the donuts and they were kind of a lot of work, plus my house smelled like fry oil for days...but I really loved seeing all my family as I delivered them.

A Small Change and Random Thoughts

So ever since my vacation I have pretty much had vacation hair. I mean, you plan to when you are on vacation. I don't ever take my "normal" things to do my hair on vacation. It's basically wash and go. When I had to quarantine for 2 weeks after I got back, there was no reason to do anything with my hair. And I've been doing nothing with it ever since. It feels kind of good and I am thinking I may keep doing it. My hair is naturally wavy and rather than blowing it dry, I've been drying my bangs so I can get them to fall the right way (and sometimes still using the flat iron) and maybe the top of my head a bit. And I'm spraying on a little leave in conditioner or wavy styling product and letting it go. They gray has definitely shown up and I'm not even bothering to cover it up either. Before, I was covering all the little gray spots as I waited for my next hair appointment. It's kind of freeing, really.  I'm thinking I'm still going to get it colored when I go back to the hair salon because I like the color. I'm just not going to stress about it as it grows out. I rather like the low maintenance hair style (let's face it, I wasn't actually high maintenance before) so yeah, I think I may keep it.

As for other things that make me happy, I started following some historic and old homes people on Instagram. I love old houses. Then I read a book with a cat in it and started thinking about cats and houses.  LOL - if this virus doesn't stop soon I may do something drastic. I do not need an old house, and I definitely do not need a cat.

It was my sister-in-law's birthday last week so we gave her a "heart attack". My other sister and niece did the banner and a few hearts and I did more hearts and wrote some messages on them. Then I drove to their house at 6:00 am and stuck them to the windows and doors. It was kind of fun and she was definitely surprised.

Is It May Yet?

Things that are making me happy right now. Well, one thing anyway. Music. I went for a nice drive into the mountains this weekend and listened to some old favorites again. Sara Evans among others. And this morning I listened to the Sweeney Todd soundtrack. I really love that musical. The songs are fantastic. While it may not have the happiest ending, it’s still one of my favorites.

I am just doing what a lot of people are doing and trying not to go stir crazy. I am often alone but seldom lonely. Right now I can definitely say I get lonely. I was at a conference when I heard a speaker say that social media is the junk food of connection. It will fill you for a small time but has none of the nutritional value you need. That feels very true right now. I don’t want social media, I want real people. My people. My sister sent pictures of her family in the backyard with their fire pit. My other sister set up her tent in her living room and camped out with her babies. Now I’m jealous I don’t have a fire pit or a tent.

I’m dying to go somewhere. I was finally able to re-read some old favorite books so right now I’m going places with music and books. A pie shop in London for one, and an archaeological dig in Scotland for another. 😊

Up Next...

When this whole thing started, I quickly read a few books just to help cope. Books are great for that and I can think of other times in my life when reading has helped.  But as more and more time goes on and nothing is getting better, my reading has gotten less. I’m having a hard time figuring out what I want to read next and my attention span seems to be much shorter. I haven’t even really turned to the good old favorites like I’m wont to do when I can’t find anything else to read. Instead, I’ve been watching tv, looking at social media more, and baking things. I have enough treats in my freezer to last a while, that’s for sure. I’ve made it through 12 episodes of Warehouse 13. I’ve actually watched them. Not just on in the background for noise. Plus, I’m almost done with Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries. It’s not normal for me. I’ve been on social media more just to try and connect a bit and watching weird stuff on YouTube, but yesterday I realized I’m tired of it again. That didn’t last long. I’m trying to keep up with the positive but too many judgmental and negative things interfere. I think for this long Easter weekend coming up, I’m going to stay off it except for the family chat.

I know that really the best thing I can do for stress is to exercise, but I’m having a hard time doing that also. I always struggle with it and now it’s even worse. My favorite places to go are either over crowded or closed off right now, but that’s really just an excuse. It’s up to me to take care of myself, regardless. Any maybe if I was doing better at that, I’d settle on a book to read. Who knows?

General Conference Thoughts

This was general conference weekend and we all participated in our own homes as the pandemic is still ongoing.
I just have some thoughts I wanted to get out.

First off, I was thinking about a news article I recently read that was about churches trying to get an “essential” exception because it’s vital that people can continue to worship. I happen to agree that people need to continue to worship, but I would argue that it still has to be distant from each other to slow the spread of COVID-19. Which just makes me grateful for my church and the prophet and the inspiration to make us more home centered. This is our 2nd year of Come Follow Me and even though we aren’t together (and I do miss the being together) we are still studying the same things worldwide.  I do miss the Sunday worship, but as I have been trying to make my sabbath day different from the rest of my week, having my own little devotional, I have had some good time to focus on some things like stories in the Book of Mormon and of course on Jesus Christ, and I have to admit that it’s been good for me and I have grown because of it.
And then of course, there is conference weekend. I never did go to Salt Lake to see it live, so in my own house is normal (although I miss being with my family). I can’t help think how we are being guided if we listen to the prophet. I don’t know if he foresaw this exact pandemic, but President Nelson (and many of the apostles) have taught many things that have helped me personally. Even just with food storage and savings. Also, they have said this is temporary. The temples are closed and I can’t help but think that they won’t stay closed for long as there is still a lot of work to be done. As they announced 8 new temples, I have confidence that we will get through the pandemic and get back to normal. Or at least normal with a bit more gratitude and lessons learned to make us better people.

Which brings me to myself and the things I need to do and I’m refocusing on things that are important. My recommend expired at the end of March and we weren’t going to church for me to get it renewed. I should probably contact my bishop anyway to see if it’s possible right now. The prophet called for a worldwide fast on the last Sunday of March (29) and now he has called for another one this coming Friday on Good Friday. I participated in the last one and I must admit it was the first time in a while that I had seriously fasted. I don’t know what good it did the world, but I know it did me so much good. The renewal I felt was absolutely worth it. So with faith, I will participate in this next one.

Things I have gotten out of conference: I need to put some effort into my religion. I need to go to the temple. I need to remember I can’t do everything at once, but it shouldn’t stop me from doing the one thing I need to do at that moment and I should seek the help of the spirit to decide what that one thing is for today. And after this pandemic is over, there is still so, so much in the world that is wrong and has to be faced and good people everywhere (and me personally) need to do our part. And it’s ok that I am not perfect (not even close) and I have to keep trying.

I loved the one of the first songs from the choir. They sang It is Well With My Soul and I don’t remember the first time the they sang it but man, it was powerful to me this time.

And wow! A temple in China! And Dubai! The work is going forward and I want to be part of it, even if it’s just in my own circle and sphere of influence.

Life Update

So I’m not gonna lie. I’ve started to miss people. LOL, I didn’t know that was possible as an introvert. Now that I’m over my cold, but still have a cough and still have to be away from work, I’m starting to go a little stir crazy. I talk with my family a lot and I’ve checked in on social media more than normal. But I have to get out of my house. I’ve gone for a couple drives and walked to get my mail. It’s raining today but I think after lunch, I will put on my raincoat and waterproof hiking shoes and go for a walk.  Today the anxiety spiked really bad. It’s a combination of being home/virus news and because we had an earthquake this morning. I’m fine where I live but people in Salt Lake had some real damage.
I’m ok and I’ll be fine and many other people have it worse than I do. I’m just acknowledging my feelings because they are mine and I’m having them and everybody gets to feel things. I’m just getting it off my chest so I don’t hold in the anxiety and I’m going to take deep breaths and do one day at a time.

Life Does Get Strange

So I’m back from my trip to Egypt and I had a great time. I’ll get some pictures posted here to journal the trip.

But in other news... Coronavirus, or COVID-19, as it is actually called.

It’s been in the news since... last fall sometime? I don’t really know. As my trip was approaching, I didn’t feel it was an issue as long as I took the basic precautions. It seems like it was only a few days before my trip when Italy got upgraded to a country to stay away from. And then I feel like while I was gone, it kind of blew up to be a big deal in the states and everywhere else. Or more of a big deal? Egypt also confirmed a case right before we left for home. I consider myself very blessed to have been able to get home with no issues.

Then...I had the bad misfortune to get sick as I got home. It felt like a bad cold, and that’s what it was. I got home Sunday afternoon. I went to work on Monday and left about 3:30 because I was exhausted with jet lag and didn’t think much else but then I realized I was also sick. I did not have a fever or shortness of breath and did not travel to a high risk country so they did not test me. I have not been to work since then and the only time I had left my house beside work, was 6:30 am Monday morning to pick up a few groceries. I figured I’d stay home for a week just to be safe.

Then my boss called me this morning and my company has decided that anyone who has been in a foreign country will have to have a 2 week quarantine before they can come back to work. So I’ll be off for another week. They are going to bring my laptop to me though so I can get some things done. I feel bad for those at work that are doing my job, but I can also understand the need to be safe and not spread disease and me staying home is an easy way to do that.

Oddly enough, the saying on my letter board right now says: Reading takes you places when you have to stay where you are. Funny. And a good thing I have lots of books to read and I can borrow online from a few sources.

Also, I was looking at my pantry this morning. We have been told for years and years to have a supply for hard times. I’ve done a half-assed job of it but I do have more than I thought. I have plenty of dry goods, toilet paper, cleaning supplies and other things that will come in handy. I have water stored, although it’s not enough if I didn’t have a good supply. And I’m a little low on canned goods.  Still, I’m grateful for a church that teaches preparedness and I’ve listened a little bit. I can see where I need to make improvements.

Anyway, who would have thought I’d end up quarantined after my trip. Not me, that’s for sure! It’s happening to a lot of people so I’m definitely not alone. I’m just so, so grateful that my quarantine is happening in my own home.