Old Folks' warnings!

I flagrantly disobeyed one this morning, and I can hear my mother's words very clearly:  "Don't go outside with wet hair, or you'll catch pneumonia and die".

I tried to take Rocky for a walk this morning and he wouldn't listen to a thing I said, so I brought him back in.  I decided to take a shower and wash my hair.  If we don't beat this virus pretty soon and get back to normal, my hair is going to be so long you can call me Rapunzel!

 I felt sorry for Rocky, so I dried my hair for a few minutes and then took him out again, with damp hair.  There is just enough of a chilly breeze that it made me feel cold with my damp hair.  We didn't stay out for very long because he hadn't learned a thing and still wouldn't listen.  I'll try again this afternoon when my hair is dry and hopefully the air is a bit warmer.  It's a beautiful sunny day here, so I shouldn't complain, and who knows what kind of heat summer will bring this year. 

 I think my awful reaction to the 2nd covid vaccine is just about over with.  I can't imagine why I had such a negative reaction, when the first shot didn't bother me at all.

I have seeds ready to plant for 4 varieties of tomatoes plus green and yellow squash.  Those two veggies are all I ever plant, and most of them never make it into the house as I eat them right there in the garden.  I love the squash and give Jeannie most of the tomatoes.   I gave it a lot of thought this year because my heart isn't really in it.  I have had a positive attitude for most of my life, even through adversity.  But this past year of almost complete isolation has done something to me that I can't understand myself, much less explain what it is.  Some of you will know what I am talking about, and those of you who have a partner won't have much of an idea.  I guess a lot depends on which part of the country you live in, but I take this whole thing seriously and am determined to not catch covid.  So I stay in isolation and except for when Jeannie or Steve come by, I don't ever see or talk to another human being most of the time.  It's a sad state of affairs, especially in one's "golden years"!  I have had a wonderful and mostly happy life, and I hate to see the latter part of it come to this disaster.

I finally got Rocky out for a decent walk, but the wind was blowing strongly enough that I was uncomfortable and cut the walk short wonder if I will ever get some of my energy back.  I sure hope I do so I can face all the problems that keep popping up.

 

Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, as Mr. Rogers' used to sing.  I loved watching his show with my kids when they were little.  What an amazing, gentle, and beautiful man!

 I have my back door open to let the fresh air and sunlight in - no screen, but I haven't seen any flying insects yet.

I walked a few blocks with Rocky this morning just to see if I could do it, and I think I'll be fine as long as I don't try to do too much, too fast.  I'm getting my appetite back and keep searching for some good junk food, which I can't find!  I will probably eat some ice cream  that I hope will satisfy my sweet tooth.

 I think I will soon be back to normal, and appreciate the good wishes and comments. 

Feelings

I am angry about an argument I let myself be drawn into, and am feeling pretty hot about it.  I sometimes wonder if it isn't my time to "go", and it could very well be.  But do I want to cross over?  Where I will be all sunshine and light and happiness?  Hell no, I want to stay right here and be piss & vinegar!  But maybe a little happy now and then!

Was I Ever Wrong!

After 3 days I have a severe reaction from the 2nd dose of the vaccine!  I just had an online visit with a doctor in my medical group, and I have been given strict orders to stay off my feet, and a couple of other recommendations.

 I thought I was getting by so easy!  Now I have a severe rash on both arms, and Jeannie just went to get her blood pressure monitor because she couldn't find mine.  If I could only get up off this couch I could probably find it in a minute.

I'll try to post a quick note tomorrow to let y'all know if I'm still alive! 

 

Quick update

 I got my 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine two days ago, and while the injection site is still a bit tender I really haven't had any problems.  I am so relieved and grateful to be this far along in the process, and don't think I'll have difficulties down the road.  I think it makes me more tired, but I will take it easy to begin with.

Jeannie went home this afternoon after being here with me for 2 days & nights.  I was happy to have her company, and we worked a couple of jigsaw puzzles over the time she was here.  Donald and the girls have been in an out as well, and Rocky is in heaven with all the younger people around.

Speaking of Rocky, I often feel so guilty that he has to put up with me as his owner.  I'm not very active, whereas he is approaching his 3rd birthday and probably in the prime of his life.  He deserves to have fun and be around people, and I can't meet his energy.

This was just meant to be an update on my experience with the covid vaccine.  Everyone will react differently but I just want you to know that I am so happy and relieved that I've gotten both doses, with little or no problems .  Even if I knew I would have a stronger reaction, such as chills & fever which one of my sons experienced, I would still get the vaccine.  And it is my nature to be suspicious of everything, so that makes me surprised that I've never had second thoughts or doubts about it.

After the storms

I finally spent some time in the back yard surveying the damage from the storm.  I've been picking up small branches that were blown around, but there are two larger and heavy branches that I can't seem to maneuver.  Maybe if I clean up the area around them I can get a good grip on at least one of them.  They fell into my garden plot.  The weeds have grown so high from the rain that I will have to use the weed eater to get them - I doubt a lawn mower could get through the tall stuff unless some of it is chopped off first.  I'm too old for this stuff!

I have to get Rocky ready for some sedation pills, as he is going to get his nails trimmed.  I am going to insist on them making another follow up appointment for about 3 wks for more trim.  They can only do a little at a time since his nails are totally black and they can't see the "quick".  I'm sick of being clawed to pieces but no one seems to care but me.

With a few weeks to go until the 1 yr anniversary of going into isolation, I'm hoping this next year will be different.  I used to be a fairly normal, cheerful woman, but with everything going on I have turned into a disgruntled old witch who is mostly imprisoned at home.  Thank the stars I get out to walk Rocky in the morning and can wave to those dog walkers on the other side of the street.  I usually don't meet that many people, although runners, kids on bikes, and the occasional walker go by.  But I need a little more than waving to an occasional person on a morning walk.  Also, with my worsening eyesight goes a bit more difficulty in walking and avoiding all the cracks and upheavals in the sidewalks.  Sometimes I feel a sense of doom and know I am going to suffer a severe injury if I fall again.

Let's see if I can end on a more cheerful note.  The day is sunny and beautiful.  A bit chilly and breezy, but a gorgeous day nonetheless.  And I am going to get Rocky's nails trimmed in an hour or so.  I gave him the sedation pills in peanut butter and hope he didn't find a place to hide the pill while eating the peanut butter!

 

Finally, a sunny day!

I should go out into my backyard and see if the grass has dried up a bit, so I can try to gather the tree limbs I lost last week in the windstorm.  I should, but I won't.  Maybe later.

I've just been trying to stay cool, calm, and collected but it is so hard most days.  First of all, my, bank account which I've had since about 1958, has changed drastically.  It is a credit union account and I've loved being with them all these years, but now they must have a newly hired developer who has taken them completely off the rails.  I don't have the patience for it, so I'm trying, with Jeannie's help, to get things in order and transfer my accounts over to a credit union that I belong to here in Sacramento.  I should have done it years ago but didn't foresee the way things would go.  For the record, I am of the opinion that a credit union and/or bank should be at least moderately conservative.  That is the one area of my life where I want conservatism - for the rest, I am open to most change and innovation.

When looking over the banking records for the past year I was totally shocked at how much money I've been spending.  Because I'm so housebound I have to order most things online, and it has really gotten out of hand.  I'm really sick of this pandemic and how it's changed my life, and I'm sure I'm not alone in my outlook.

We've had enough rain the past week that it looks like my back yard is full of green grass; in actuality, my back yard is full of green weeds!  I want to do a garden this year and should be starting my seeds indoors in February, but I'm not sure if I'm up to it.  I keep thinking this is a phase I'm going through which won't last long, but 80 must not be a phase but an actual slowing-down age!  Another thing holding me back is that I will need to get things like potting soil, fertilizer, etc. delivered.  I'm not sure that I want to spend all that money!  I guess I could plant the seeds in plastic cups like I did last year, and if I don't feel like replanting them in a couple of months then I can just toss them out.

About a week ago I had an opportunity to get the first covid vaccine (Pfizer).  I can't remember if I posted about this, but want to say that after a week I have had absolutely no aches, pains, or any discomfort at all.  I hope the 2nd shot goes as well.

For having done nothing for the past year I'm surprised I could find anything at all to write about.  I hope you are all staying safe and well.  Here's hoping to an end to the spread of this pandemic.  I know we are all sick of it!