Bern and I have different strategies for dealing with isolation.
She plays solitaire on line. I play hearts.
She watches TV series on Netflix (today she's watched 6 episodes of an Australian show call Quirk in which dead people rise from their graves, not as zombies, but as who they were, from all periods of history).
I watch news videos on line.
She works in the yard on warmer days--not many this April.
I look at you tube videos.
She goes on line with zoom with her women's group.
I do church on line with zoom and face book live.
We do both cook and read books. But I read mysteries and she reads zombie books. (She's a zombie fan--watches zombies on TV...I don't like zombie shows.)
She goes to bed early--9 or 10 and wakes up at 7 a.m..
I go to bed late--11 or later and wake up at 9 or so.
She feeds and takes Bridget out after breakfast. I feed Brigit dinner and take her out the last two times each day.
But we are both doing well, doing our own things.
We spend time together every day, but not that much.
But all this was like that before the pandemic.
We're just doing what we do.
And it works for us.
Hope you find the rhythm that works for you in these confusing times. We need a rhythm that keeps us sane and safe.
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
OK, I beat up on the President
Today I want to beat up on the Vice-President.
Mike Pence went to the Mayo Clinic today (THE MAYO F-ing CLINIC!!!) and ignored their rule that everybody (I mean EVERYBODY!!) must wear a mask.
Everybody, I guess, except the Vice President.
His explanation was he is tested regularly and is always negative.
That's not the point.
He was in parts of the hospital with C-19 virus and he didn't have on a mask! The patients did, and every medical staff person and everybody in the whole hospital besides him.
He was risking 'getting infected' by not wearing a mask.
And he was being an A-hole.
I guess he was showing off for his boss, who said, after saying everyone should wear a mask, he wouldn't.
Risking getting the virus to mimic his boss.
Pathetic.
And why are all those demonstrators against the 'stay at home' orders in several states not wearing masks (most of them)? Because their President and Vice-President lead by example....
As the President says. "Sad...."
Mike Pence went to the Mayo Clinic today (THE MAYO F-ing CLINIC!!!) and ignored their rule that everybody (I mean EVERYBODY!!) must wear a mask.
Everybody, I guess, except the Vice President.
His explanation was he is tested regularly and is always negative.
That's not the point.
He was in parts of the hospital with C-19 virus and he didn't have on a mask! The patients did, and every medical staff person and everybody in the whole hospital besides him.
He was risking 'getting infected' by not wearing a mask.
And he was being an A-hole.
I guess he was showing off for his boss, who said, after saying everyone should wear a mask, he wouldn't.
Risking getting the virus to mimic his boss.
Pathetic.
And why are all those demonstrators against the 'stay at home' orders in several states not wearing masks (most of them)? Because their President and Vice-President lead by example....
As the President says. "Sad...."
Somethiing I've noticed
The pandemic is much, much worse for many, many people than for me. I'm not in health care or police and fire or grocery workers. They put their life in danger every day. I don't.
And I don't yet know anyone with the virus or who has died though one out of 330 people in the US have it and between 5 and 6 percent of them have died. A tragic loss of life I could without fear of contradiction blame on our President.
Today a Connecticut Public Radio host, Colin McEnroe, played an old show from three years ago where he and various experts and news people discussed how the current administration were dismantling the pandemic preparedness of the country. Three years ago, we should have known we weren't going to be ready for C-19.
(In fact, those last two paragraphs illustrate something I've noticed--I'm very scatter-brained these days. And rather than get on with telling you that, I do statistics and CPR.)
I had to remind myself three or four times to take out the trash because tomorrow is trash and recycle day in Cheshire. I even got the bags out to replace the full ones and came downstairs an hour later and noticed them--and that I had forgotten to do it when I took them out!
Also, I'll go on line to watch the news and end up playing Hearts instead.
Or, I'll go on line to read my emails and end up watching news videos instead.
Or, I'll go on line to write this post and end up watching Youtube instead.
Scatter-brained.
Can't do three things in the logical succession.
Now, before you tell me, "Jim, you're always like that!" Let me tell you I know. But my natural disconnected state has increased during this crisis.
I'm not anxious or worried (which is normal for me) but my tendency (which I admit) to not do things in the right order has increased 4 fold.
Like just after I typed "4 fold", I stopped typing to wonder if there was something else I should be doing instead of this!
Really.
That's my only symptom of 'cabin fever', as He Who Will Not Be Named has called the results of the isolation of staying where you are.
I'm lucky.
But scatter-brained....
And I don't yet know anyone with the virus or who has died though one out of 330 people in the US have it and between 5 and 6 percent of them have died. A tragic loss of life I could without fear of contradiction blame on our President.
Today a Connecticut Public Radio host, Colin McEnroe, played an old show from three years ago where he and various experts and news people discussed how the current administration were dismantling the pandemic preparedness of the country. Three years ago, we should have known we weren't going to be ready for C-19.
(In fact, those last two paragraphs illustrate something I've noticed--I'm very scatter-brained these days. And rather than get on with telling you that, I do statistics and CPR.)
I had to remind myself three or four times to take out the trash because tomorrow is trash and recycle day in Cheshire. I even got the bags out to replace the full ones and came downstairs an hour later and noticed them--and that I had forgotten to do it when I took them out!
Also, I'll go on line to watch the news and end up playing Hearts instead.
Or, I'll go on line to read my emails and end up watching news videos instead.
Or, I'll go on line to write this post and end up watching Youtube instead.
Scatter-brained.
Can't do three things in the logical succession.
Now, before you tell me, "Jim, you're always like that!" Let me tell you I know. But my natural disconnected state has increased during this crisis.
I'm not anxious or worried (which is normal for me) but my tendency (which I admit) to not do things in the right order has increased 4 fold.
Like just after I typed "4 fold", I stopped typing to wonder if there was something else I should be doing instead of this!
Really.
That's my only symptom of 'cabin fever', as He Who Will Not Be Named has called the results of the isolation of staying where you are.
I'm lucky.
But scatter-brained....
Sunday, April 26, 2020
I realized something today
On 'virtual church' today, Bryan Spinks preached and I realized how much I missed hearing other peoples' sermons. I really hadn't realized it until today.
I was at St. John's in Waterbury for 21 years. I always had an assistant and at least one seminarian and they all, of course, wanted to preach. So I heard a dozen or more sermons in the 48 Sundays each year (I always took a month off for vacation and didn't go to church!)
But since I retired, almost 8 years ago, I preach every Sunday a bishop isn't visiting--which is only every 3 years or so.
Hearing Brian made me remember I enjoy other people's take on 'the word'.
And I never second-guess them or think "I would have done this differently"--I just listen and take in their wisdom.
That's a good realization I think.
I really do.
I was at St. John's in Waterbury for 21 years. I always had an assistant and at least one seminarian and they all, of course, wanted to preach. So I heard a dozen or more sermons in the 48 Sundays each year (I always took a month off for vacation and didn't go to church!)
But since I retired, almost 8 years ago, I preach every Sunday a bishop isn't visiting--which is only every 3 years or so.
Hearing Brian made me remember I enjoy other people's take on 'the word'.
And I never second-guess them or think "I would have done this differently"--I just listen and take in their wisdom.
That's a good realization I think.
I really do.
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Missed two days
I haven't written for two days. Not because I haven't anything to say, just because I haven't.
I really hope you aren't taking Clorox to kill the virus as President who will not be named suggested.
His lies have been constant, but the lies are beginning to matter now because if people believe them, they could kill themselves. The Maryland Department of Health had over a hundred calls to ask if disinfectant could be injested!
(My spell check didn't like 'clorox' or 'injested'. I just don't get spell check....)
Tomorrow is the 6th Sunday of 'no church'. We'll do it on zoom and face book live. I asked Brian, the other priest and a professor at Yale Divinity School, if he'd like to preach before I read the Gospel. It's Luke 24.13-35--the road to Emmaus story--my favorite story in the Gospels. But I already gave it away! Woe is me!
Bern is downstairs below my little office on a Zoom call with her women's group that normally meets once a week but is zooming more often. Bern's been in the group for 30 years. There are only 6 of them, never more, and I know them all. I can recognize their voices but not quite hear what they are saying. Which is good, since no men are allowed!
It was one of the few lovely days of April this year. Which was good because Jesse and his crew dug up part of our yard to fix a break in the sewer pipe for our house and Mark and Naomi's house.
These two houses were built by the same Congregational minister in 1850 and 1860 so lots of things, like water and sewer, are shared.
We haven't had any problem since about a month ago, that Jesse fixed, but Mark and Naomi have.
What Jesse dug up was a spot where Bern wanted new plants, so it all worked out.
If you live near Cheshire and ever need any pipe work done, email me for Jesse's contact stuff.
He's great.
Be well and stay well.
Wash your hands.
I really hope you aren't taking Clorox to kill the virus as President who will not be named suggested.
His lies have been constant, but the lies are beginning to matter now because if people believe them, they could kill themselves. The Maryland Department of Health had over a hundred calls to ask if disinfectant could be injested!
(My spell check didn't like 'clorox' or 'injested'. I just don't get spell check....)
Tomorrow is the 6th Sunday of 'no church'. We'll do it on zoom and face book live. I asked Brian, the other priest and a professor at Yale Divinity School, if he'd like to preach before I read the Gospel. It's Luke 24.13-35--the road to Emmaus story--my favorite story in the Gospels. But I already gave it away! Woe is me!
Bern is downstairs below my little office on a Zoom call with her women's group that normally meets once a week but is zooming more often. Bern's been in the group for 30 years. There are only 6 of them, never more, and I know them all. I can recognize their voices but not quite hear what they are saying. Which is good, since no men are allowed!
It was one of the few lovely days of April this year. Which was good because Jesse and his crew dug up part of our yard to fix a break in the sewer pipe for our house and Mark and Naomi's house.
These two houses were built by the same Congregational minister in 1850 and 1860 so lots of things, like water and sewer, are shared.
We haven't had any problem since about a month ago, that Jesse fixed, but Mark and Naomi have.
What Jesse dug up was a spot where Bern wanted new plants, so it all worked out.
If you live near Cheshire and ever need any pipe work done, email me for Jesse's contact stuff.
He's great.
Be well and stay well.
Wash your hands.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
so strange these times
I'm going to go to a couple of the churches I serve tomorrow to borrow toilet tissue.
We're almost out and there is none in Cheshire--empty shelves and printed apologies.
I'm also going to get some wafers and Port wine since we do virtual church and I bless my bread and wine and hope those who have some in front of their screens have some as well will feel blessed.
Plus, I just want to get out and drive.
I get mileage from the Cluster, but have none this month.
It's much colder than April should be.
Bern is good at finding bright spots in these strange days.
She told me the chill was good because it made being inside less problematic. I agree.
I looked on the weather channel and it won't get to 60 for the rest of the month.
Chill as well as very strange, these days.
Georgia opening up gives a chill too. And the mayor of Los Vegas wants the hotels, casinos and restaurants open as well.
Slower than needed better than faster than is right should be the rule.
Stay home. Wash your hands. Keep distance when you have to go out. Wear a mask. Gloves too if you have them.
Be well and stay well.
Shalom.
We're almost out and there is none in Cheshire--empty shelves and printed apologies.
I'm also going to get some wafers and Port wine since we do virtual church and I bless my bread and wine and hope those who have some in front of their screens have some as well will feel blessed.
Plus, I just want to get out and drive.
I get mileage from the Cluster, but have none this month.
It's much colder than April should be.
Bern is good at finding bright spots in these strange days.
She told me the chill was good because it made being inside less problematic. I agree.
I looked on the weather channel and it won't get to 60 for the rest of the month.
Chill as well as very strange, these days.
Georgia opening up gives a chill too. And the mayor of Los Vegas wants the hotels, casinos and restaurants open as well.
Slower than needed better than faster than is right should be the rule.
Stay home. Wash your hands. Keep distance when you have to go out. Wear a mask. Gloves too if you have them.
Be well and stay well.
Shalom.
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Mejol
(Bet you didn't know what that word meant.)
My favorite of 20 first cousins was named Mejol. It was a name my Aunt Georgie found in a novel about native Americans.
She is 5 or 6 years older than me and since my parents didn't know they'd have me, being older, they brought Mejol into their lives.
I remember her going on vacations with us and always being around.
She lives in the Baltimore area so I sometimes see her when I go see Josh and Cathy and the girls.
Her two children live there two with their spouses and her two grand-sons.
I'm sure I've told you this before, but when I was 14, she locked me in her room with a copy of Catcher in the Rye and a Bob Dylan album on her record player. It changed my life.
So I call her....more and more during this virus thing, because I love her and she grounds me.
Talking with Mejol makes me sane. (My spell check underlines her name and always will.)
We've shared so much over all these years.
Besides Bern and our children, there is no one I feel closer to than Mejol. (sorry spellcheck..)
The calls aren't profound, but they are comforting, centering, grounding.
Thank you cousin Mejol.
You mean more to me that you will ever imagine.
Really.
My favorite of 20 first cousins was named Mejol. It was a name my Aunt Georgie found in a novel about native Americans.
She is 5 or 6 years older than me and since my parents didn't know they'd have me, being older, they brought Mejol into their lives.
I remember her going on vacations with us and always being around.
She lives in the Baltimore area so I sometimes see her when I go see Josh and Cathy and the girls.
Her two children live there two with their spouses and her two grand-sons.
I'm sure I've told you this before, but when I was 14, she locked me in her room with a copy of Catcher in the Rye and a Bob Dylan album on her record player. It changed my life.
So I call her....more and more during this virus thing, because I love her and she grounds me.
Talking with Mejol makes me sane. (My spell check underlines her name and always will.)
We've shared so much over all these years.
Besides Bern and our children, there is no one I feel closer to than Mejol. (sorry spellcheck..)
The calls aren't profound, but they are comforting, centering, grounding.
Thank you cousin Mejol.
You mean more to me that you will ever imagine.
Really.
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