05/31/20

and well ...

the craziness, unrest, uneasiness, weirdness continues ...



life rolls


laundry
work
lake


yard
basement
house


projects
projects
projects.

05/30/20

i get it --  but I just don't get it ...


protest
make your actions and deeds reflect your beliefs


but destroy other people's property
for no reason ...
the anger is real - I get that
but is it really anger for the issue at hand



Gov Walz press conf this morning stated
protesters were hauled in to incite
wtf

my heart aches for the mom/pop shops
their whole world must be spinning
trying to understand



we're glue to the tv
always looking for more information
it's not healthy


lets not forget
there is still a freaking pandemic happening


keep the faith in the good
be smart stay safe

05/29/20

wtf.

05/28/20

the view from my desk this morning 

early mornings are the best ...

with all the chaos in Minnesota this week

the calmness of morning helps to slow my spinning brain

so much destruction

so much hatred

we lost two more residents to COVID19 overnight

it's real

blooms, etc ...

I bought Mom a solar water fountain for Mother's Day -- I have yet to see it in full action, but I'm told it shoots a foot in the air on a sunny day ... the birds like it ..

the allium is blooming 

and the only honeysuckle plant is also in bloom

so so delicate 

I've been jealous of everyone's pix on wastebook so I took some of my own

No work weekend (ha ha ha )

Mom and I took a drive to the bison range Friday night -- the buggers were 1/2 mile away from the road ... this was as good as it got ... rumor has it they've put on quite the show lately

post bison range - we detoured to Rapidan and checked out the Rapidan Dam -- one of us (mom) had never been there -- I was there 20 years ago 

it was gushing heavy .. load and scary looking

the Orioles -- I need to keep typing oriole so I can learn to spell it 

the birds were hangry ... dang noise critters when the jelly is empty

after the rain let up I went to the happy place -- more cleaning -- a bit of a nap, and finished my book -- need to haul out some food -- I could have stayed longer but hunger was an issue ...

tomorrow -- food, more cleaning supplies -- some clothes and projects

tgif

... it's been a blissfully quiet friday -- at least here on 3rd Street ... the rest of the world seems to be falling apart --

we've become so polarized, politically polarized -- rude, nasty, unkind, disrespectful .... it is a sad state of affairs -- the Minnesota nice isn't so nice ....

we've had a slew of new cases and our numbers will continue to grow -- it will continue to spread ... i find the statistics frightening and it's even more frightening when others don't care.

so ..
4th of July is off (our 4th of July) -- the 50th Anniversary of the big gig
All School Reunion is off
the Minn Quilters annual show is off
the Minn State Fair is off

the happy place is looking pretty darn good -- might be the only place to be.  I'll be hauling "treasures" out there all weekend --- Haven't been back for a couple of weeks -- busy and rain.  I think the boat and wave runner are out there ...

the bed rooms need to be cleaned --
there's no food
my xtra sewing machine and projects
my yarn projects
books
computer (?)
chargers
games
treats


the Maker Fair is still on -- we received confirmation that we're in ... I replied back with our preferred booth location ... it's time to sew!!!!

ah ha!

Two, maybe three years ago the office cleaning lady closed and locked our safe.  And well, yesterday I issued a challenge to Katie and she got it open (and got 1/2 the contents).  The safe held software, check blanks and my secret stash of cash.  And the safe combination was pasted on the front with a giant sticker from the label maker -- I just couldn't remember the sequence and spins to get the goofy thing open.

After the day the big wind blew (3/28/98 or 97) I learned to keep a couple hundred bucks on hand for emergencies -- like food and gas -- because back then I needed both and had no cash.

At any rate  -- the safe is open, the software trashed (it's old stuff) -- the check stock relocated and the cash got divvied up!

I made a list on Sunday -- 50 days and 50 projects -- at the office and at home.  The safe was on that list :)  So far -- we're not getting enough done.  Need to print out that list and tape it to the wall.

Tuesday

i took this Sunday morning during the morning deluge.  those birds were slurping jelly in the rain ...

a little sun would do wonders to lighten the mood around here


my weekend planning included a list of 50 things to do in the next 50 days -- I need a life.  no doubt.  50 things at the office and 50 things at home.    so yesterday, the dehumidifiers are up and running in the office basement ( 3" of rain ) and the "stash the winter clothes" projects are done. 

thru the chaos of the last 60 days, yep 60 days, i lost my daily routines.  routines keep me grounded, level, even, nice.  so the list of "50 things to do" is getting a bit of refinement -- "things to do every day" ...

there is going to be some phone free time -- internet free time ...  we had 10 more stimulus calls yesterday ... argh.  takes a lot of time away from the important issues.  5 of 'em wanted to know "when are we getting our next check" .. argh argh argh.

on that note ... I'm going off to make more lists -- 'cause I really like me lists ... lists are fun to ignore!!!

Happy Tuesday Peeps .. may the sun shine brightly (let's hope) and the phone calls be few :)))

Monday

monday, the day that follows Sunday, the day of rest ... rest .... hmmmm

I worked most of Saturday and Saturday night -- it was supposed to be raining and the rain held off  -- I should have went to the cabin and worked.  The rain on Sunday sent me to the office .. and I worked some more (re-occuring theme) brought home a couple of projects.  Managed to read my book, do some laundry and work on said projects.  

I started a spreadsheet list of 50 days and 50 projects.  Time will tell eh!

Picked this bleeding heart off of Hollie's bush near the front steps .. it is loaded and oh so delicate .... 

Happy Monday ...

friday tibits ...

yep, words of wisdom

beatrix and peter noshing on the freshly mowed grass

i had a speech about babies ... no babies in the grass

my new normal -- zooming with my R9 peeps and Senator Smith 

zoom makes the world a smaller place

2 desktop monitors

my laptop (bison) updating

my new surface pro (on the left) updating

zooming on the iPad front and center

keeping the tech running is driving me batty (battier)

4 months -- I waited 4 months to get my prescription sunglasses repaired 

the eye clinic/doctor is open

first is sanitizing, temperature, mask 

but I GOT MY GLASSES FIXED ...

two lens make a difference!!!!

and yes, I have friends in low places that cut hair -- and I'm most grateful for their skills 

my project next week is to clean the crap on the shelves behind my head.

it never freaking ends.

over-thinking

over thinking

the disease of the pandemic.  not sure what to think of GovWalz lifting of the shelter in place and modifying a few other things.


not sure what to think


a big part of me is thinking - what the hell --
sometimes a crystal ball that tells the future is handy -- this might be one of those times.
seriously -- this shit is real.

Life on 3rd St (during a pandemic)

all was quiet on 3rd street at 6:45 pm ... 

eerily quiet

there does seem to be more traffic (or at least traffic noise) during the day and on weekends  and there is a spot of rush hour ... at least on Friday's during the escape hour -- Karen's Flower's is busy ... busy ... busy -- they are doing their best to social distance, control the movement of people ... wash down the carts ...

I really haven't had the work mojo this week
seriously not feeling the love for the office
there is much to do however
so I'd better get my act together

50 days

50 days since I closed the office to the public ... and yesterday on Day 49 -- I crashed. 

It was a pretty productive 50 days.


35 years since my grandfather left us
18 years since the cancer surgery ..

ya, I'm a numbers junkie.



I'm going to play more in the next 50 days.




It is so bizarre --- it's cold.  I turned the furnace up when I got here -- and I wore a freaking winter coat the last 3 days ... on a brighter note, my tomato's didn't freeze --- (jk - no garden this year).

Life is exhausting

So since the weather forecast was the pits --  I don't do cold and windy.  Neither did the pine tree in the grove.  Another story another day.  So Friday afternoon, I packed up a tote bag of work and worked at home on Friday night -- got to the office on Saturday and finished most of my list.  More homework for Saturday night.  Back to work this morning and I crossed 2 more items off of my list and .........

crashed.  I had to leave and I had to do nothing.  So I've done nothing since noon.  A nap, finished my book, surfed the internet.  Shopped (ya, I know).  I should have taken a walk but the cold and wind again .... 

I did toss in a load of laundry so ... 

My next move is to plot out my week.  

I do this every Saturday night -- then email the spreadsheet to myself.  It's a bad habit.  

If I work like a whirling diva -- I should be able to finish everything that is actually at the office.  The list is long.  

so this dude -- has been hanging out in the back yard attempting to woo the ladies.  since he's still here I guess he's outta luck ... and then after the deer incident .. we now have a one legged tom turkey limping around ... his foot is bent back at the ankle.   yes, he is still alive.

Happy Friday - I think

life amid the crazies during a pandemic ...

'tis my life


new tools ordered (arrived)
new software


I'm ready for all kinds of remoteness ... new Surface Pro to replace my 5 year old $250 laptop -- new zoom account so I can video chat with people -- oh joy!  and share my screen at the same time ... did that yesterday and this morning

next up is client portals and all that fancy stuff.  expensive, somewhat necessary and I'm not sure but perhaps less work?



got my truck detailed -- it is nice and shiny and smells good -- it's sitting outside at home .. I drove Ruby the last couple of days

big birthday coming up for me Ruby 6! ... six years of cool ... I've become one of those old ladies with the cool car -- I was having a wee bit of OMG I'm old this morning.



and it's freaking cold.


M

lessons

dear mighty myles,

  soar with angels mighty myles -- your wings are blessed with love.  so much love -- you and your family taught all of us about life and love ...

  we truly cannot understand the depth of their grief -- but sharing you with the rest of us was truly a gift of love --

   fly free myles ... fly free

life and projects

a spot of excitement on Daisy Lane last night

a badly injured deer drug itself across the driveway in front of me on my home bound commute ... walking on it's back knees - it was an awful sight -- heartbreaking

a couple phone calls later, Mick from the sheriff's office arrived, tracked it, shot at it, and lost it in the thick brush at the neighbors ..

awful --



today is project day:

1.  Marie 1 -- lawn 0
                  first mowing of 2020 is in the books
2.  truck detailed -- looks good

next on the list

3.  listen to the daily briefing from the Govenor
4.  get my Roth contribution done
5.  organize my desk

May the 4th be with you ...

  cheezy statement from a woman who has never seen ANY of the Star Wars movies.  none -- not a one ... missing out on Harrison Ford in his younger years ...

we finally got to see the bison ... the bison drive opened up last week 

they were a 1/2 mile away ...

and the view from the deck of the happy place

so here's my last 4 days

Friday --  

Kate had the day off and the office was a freaking zoo .. endless telecalls regarding that damn stimulus payment, Mom had an emergency visit to the eye doctor -- I had to wait in their parking lot for 2 hours -- slowest place on the planet -- seriously ... slow .. 

 .... I took a tote bag of work home and spent the evening in the cave -- me, laundry and tax returns

Saturday --

arose at 5:00 am and returned to the cave -- more laundry and more work 

finally headed into office -- where the phone kept ringing and people kept walking in ... I bailed for home ... got Mom and off to the lake

6:15 pm.  back to the office --some things can't be done at home ... and the damn phone rang again

Sunday -- 

arose at 5:00am and started the clothes closet project -- move the winter out and the summer in .. I HAVE TOO MANY CLOTHES .. end of story ... while hefting a tub of summer I managed to knock over my water glass and created yet another catastrophe -- ( at 5:30am) ... so .. a lot of shuffling later -- there are 4 bags for the thrift shop (which isn't open) and a bag of rags ... 

drove to the bison range, picked my way back thru Mankato for take out Panera salads ... used 1-800 Ford to find my way from Panera to the cabin ... it was a scenic route ... the last mile was gravel and we were following a John Deere and a planter ... and more cleaning and tossing at the cabin.  and more mouse poop elimination.  it was a beautiful day ... 

Monday --

off to the grocery store at 6:15 -- hey -- I have the place all to myself .. the meat counter/section was pretty darn bare.  hoarders.  

a full day at the office --16 more stimulus calls  ... snuck home for a bootlegged hair cut ... and well, I look fabulous -- back to work for a couple of hours ... projects with no interruptions ...

and it all starts tomorrow at 6:00am

this is life

I've been listening to podcasts while working -- things like quilting, Covid19, working thru a pandemic .... sticking with the quilting ... 

no wonder I've become a crabby woman -- at least I have good hair ...