Between Christmas and New Year Day

I'm still saying "Merry Christmas" to people and watching my yule log videos. The United States does not observe the "Twelve Days of Christmas"; we just sing the song! One just ended; I can either refresh or watch this morning's news. I'm sure the big story will be Mr. Trump's approval of the relief bill! This means I will receive more unemployment benefits. :) Gray dreay day....what can one say? I am a poet and I don't know it.

Into December With The Year Of The Pandemic

It is cold out and the state governor has prohibited gym classes. Have to work out on my own! At present a realistic expectation is receiving the vaccination in summer 2021. Unless then I need to concentrate on thinking good thoughts!

The Second Anniversary Of My Cerebral Hemorrhage....

And here I am...a multi-millionaire possibly permanently retired. In the midst of a pandemic. And I am so happy!

My Fifty-Fifth Birthday...

....Is tomorrow! At age fifty-five I have survived ovarian cancer, a stroke, the drug overdose death of a loved one, and a pandemic!

Today Is The First Cool Day!

It is rather rainy but we do need the moisture. A good day for indoor activities.

It is September now...

And all is well; at least for now!

As I Watch American Experience

 I can really see the difference between the eighties and the nineties. Went from a child to an adult in those years.

World poverty is still a common problem. I don't even think it is humanly solvable....I suspect only an apocalyptical event. In the words of Alfred P. Doolittle: "I don't have any morals; I can't afford them."

August Is Here!

At least a few things are open and I can have an enjoyable summer!

Summer 2021 I will probably have resumed work.

Just trying to keep hanging on...seems like I have been doing that forever.

Summer 1971 seemed to last forever; I was in between kindergarten and first grade.

A child's perspective....

July Post!

Here we are: hot summer and cruel summer.

I will be fifty-five years old this year.

I am currently "on sabbatical" from working and enjoying it.

In my opinion I have earned this break.

It's just a heck of a goshdarn shame that everything is currently closed!

Well at present things are gradually reopening.

Who would have thought this would happen?

CRUEL SUMMER

Cruel Summer

Bananarama

Hot summer streets
And the pavements are burning
I sit around
Trying to smile but
The air is so heavy and dry
Strange voices are saying
(What did they say?)
Things I can't understand
It's too close for comfort
This heat has got
Right out of hand

It's a cruel, (cruel), cruel summer
(Leaving me) leaving me here on my own
It's a cruel, (it's a cruel), cruel summer
Now you're gone

It's a cruel, (cruel), cruel summer
(Leaving me) leaving me here on my own
It's a cruel, (it's a cruel), cruel summer
Now you're gone

The city is crowded
My friends are away
And I'm on my own
It's too hot to handle
So I got to get up and go

It's a cruel, (cruel), cruel summer
(Leaving me) leaving me here on my own
It's a cruel, (it's a cruel), cruel summer
Now you're gone

It's a cruel, (cruel), cruel summer
(Leaving me) leaving me here on my own
It's a cruel, (it's a cruel), cruel summer
Now you're gone

You're always around
You found yourself
But now you're by yourself, waiting for me
I'm your self
I am the sun (leaving me)

The above definitely reflects my feelings re summer 2020. 

There is a pandemic and today would have been the fifty-sixth birthday of my "soulmate."

↜

I WANT TO BEHAVE LIKE A BETTER PERSON....

...And not hold grudges.

How do I learn how to do the above?

ESSENTIALLY THERE ARE TWO CHOICES IN LIFE...

...Live or die.

Remain angry or move forward.

SELF CENTERED BITCH?

ME?

TODAY IS MY FATHER'S NINTIETH BIRTHDAY...

...Or would have been if he were still alive.

My mother comments on how the family would have held a big party this weekend. But the earth is in the midst of a pandemic!

I've been thinking recently of my actions should I ever reach the proverbial pinnacle of my life.

Shades of Bilbo Baggins' one hundred eleventh birthday party:

Thirdly and finally, he said, I wish to make an ANNOUNCEMENT. He spoke this last word so loudly and suddenly that everyone sat up who still could. I regret to announce that — though, as I said, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to spend among you — this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE!

And with that Baggins touched the "Precious" ring in his pocket and subsequently disappeared from view!

He stepped down and vanished. There was a blinding flash of light, and the guests all blinked. When they opened their eyes Bilbo was nowhere to be seen....

[Bilbo] was never seen by any hobbit in Hobbiton again.

Hmm..that's not how my father ended his existence. He died in his bed at age fifty-eight; the cause of death was complications of carcinoma (cancer) of the sigmoid colon.

HOW I AM SURVIVING THIS PANDEMIC

I am maintaining a continual log of tasks. This involves constantly updating my daily to do list.

I am completing my exercise workouts in my home via my android tablet and some recently acquired equipment.

I have completed several meetup walks. These involve maximum groups of ten, six feet social distancing, and the use of a face covering.

I am downloading books and finding worthwhile history programs on the television.

I am keeping my bed made, my house tidy, and I have now committed to a three month professional cleaning schedule.

I am eating healthy every day: fruit, vegetables and dairy products.

I am committed to controlling my drinking. This is probably the largest challenge I face. I recently read in the news that liquor sales have increased forty percent since the beginning of this situation; I am somewhat surprised it isn't more!

I am taking each day as it comes. I can project and plan two days ahead but that is as far as my task list goes. BTW I keep a longer term list of appointments etc. on the face of my kitchen calendar.

I am trying to subdue thoughts that the entire summer 2020 will be shot to excrement or that the way of life I have always known will be forever doomed.

ACTUALLY TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE!

No spouse and no employer since June 14, 1987!

I'M FREE!

I traveled to my office yesterday to submit my machine and my badge. I was vividly reminded of the long commute and the main reason for my decision.

Before going into the office I had a dr. appt. I had to attend due to a scheduled vaccination. It was a zoo; there was a clinical worker taking everyone's temperature; if a patient presented with a fever he or she wasn't admitted!

But I was fine!

Casper Tenboom's train ticket!

[https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/492554-father-sat-down-on-the-edge-of-the-narrow-bed]

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE LOUISE MCBRIDE

I never thought anything like this would happen.

On Feb. 22 my response was, "So what? Don't go to Asia."

Now it is middle April. My employment ends tomorrow; I have known this for several months.

This is due to a reorganization and does not merely affect me.

For personal reasons I opted out of interviewing and staying.

Welcome To The New Normal.

Welcome To My Nightmare; or rather welcome to the nightmares I experience every evening.

Life During A Pandemic

I get up same as my usual work from home days. I make my coffee, eat my breakfast, grab the newspaper and watch some TV. Then I make my bed and proceed to get washed and dressed for the day.

Then folks, it is time to fire up the laptop!

No gym since the evening of Monday March 16, 2020; I was literally one of the last people out of that particular location. Weather permitting every day I walk around the neighborhood. I have equipment for my toning exercises. Of course when I posted on facebook my intention to purchase weights some Billy Budinski promptly posted: "Stay home."

"But Louise I'm only concerned about the health and welfare of you and the entire community!"

NIGHTMARE

"Is this the real life, is this just fantasy?"

Some wonderful fantasy, folks!

PANDEMIC

I never thought I would experience anything like this.

My cancer diagnosis and my stroke experience were not as frightening.

As an atheist I will not pray but I will hope.

I ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT YESTERDAY

I was traveling on the right hand lane of a highway and a car made a turn from a side street right in front of me!

I swerved into the left hand lane in order to avoid and collision. I didn't even have time to look; luckily there wasn't a car there.

So...was yesterday a lucky day?

I suppose that depends on one's perspective.

Okay here we are into February....

...Mr. or Ms. Groundhog has come and gone.

It is Leap Year; there is an extra day in February.

Wake Me Up When January Ends!

So here we are; it is January 31st!

Bring on February and the groundhog!

I didn't think I would make it but here I am!

January 3, 2020!

The calendar year in which I achieve my fifty-fifth birthday and I am still employed at the same company!