Heat Ho Hums

I was already having problems motivating myself to accomplish anything of substance this week, and then Mother Nature threw me for a loop. Today was unseasonably warm, with a high temperature more appropriate for June than for April.

The morning started off pleasant, but by mid-afternoon it was a little sticky in the condo. I knew the heat was temporary (a cold front is scheduled to come through, and it will be in the low 60s by bed time), so I didn't think it was worth the bother of closing everything up and turning the air conditioner on. Instead, Hubby Tony and I decided to make do with the ceiling fan.

Sitting on the couch right underneath the fan I thought about the projects that needed to be done, but eventually gave into lethargy. Those To-Dos can wait.

Worth A Watch

This is really creative!

YouTube

Five years ago today: An Easter Miracle

Take One, Leave One

I've always been a reader, but in the past few years instead of books I've substituted the daily newspaper (which we get virtually during the week and physically on Sunday), blogs, and internet forums.

After one week of sheltering in place I decided to spend less time on the computer, and picked up the book I had been working on for months. In three days I finished it and needed a new one. When we were packing boxes to move to the condo I purged my bookcases, keeping only the books that meant something to me. Now I can't find the box. (It's here somewhere, and based on experience I'll discover it when I stop looking so hard for it.)

My missing books aren't a problem, though. There are two public book exchanges within walking distance of my condo. The first one is at the end of the community by the pool. The other one is a little less than a mile away at the far entrance to the subdivision. BC-19 (Before COVID-19) I would sometimes stop and see what the exchanges had if I happened to be walking right by them. Now I walk to them specifically.

When I need a new book, I start by checking out the closer box. Then I stroll over to the other one to see what they have before I decide. Even though the boxes are close together, each has its own personality. One has a selection of hardcover books recently culled from the public library's stacks, and includes a large handful of thriller and action paperbacks. The other has more religious-themed, teen lit, and romance books.

Each time I return a book I rotate which box I put it in, to help cross pollinate the selection. So far I've chosen, read, and returned a couple of selections from Reese Witherspoon's Book Club. I'm in the middle of a road trip novel, and a compilation of short stories is waiting in the wings. Each time I've visited the boxes they have some turnover, so it will be interesting to see what's there next time.

Plague Or Pollen?

Since I'm not leaving the house on a regular basis, I'm in a bit of a time warp. From the windows at the front of my condo all I can see is grass, evergreens, and some later-blooming bushes and trees. From that vantage point it certainly doesn't look like Spring.

However, the calendar says it's April. The past few days I've heard the birds chirping when I roll out of bed, and open the windows for a couple of hours in the warmest part of the afternoon. I took a walk through the neighborhood after lunch today and noticed that in the Bradford pear and redbud trees have started blooming. Several houses that I passed were having their lawns cut, and the smell of the fresh mown grass was delightful. I don't have any diagnosed allergies, but all of a sudden my nose was running from something, which caused a nasty case of postnasal drip, which started up a little hacking cough.

In a normal world no one would think twice about a little hacking cough. Today, however, the two people I passed on my way back home gave me an apprehensive look before they hustled away. I probably would have done the same thing.

Five years ago today: Male-Centric

Rules From The Male Side

In this time of enforced quarantine, do you need some help seeing eye to eye with others in your house? If so, here are some rules from the male side. (Please note. These are all numbered #1 on purpose!)

1. Men are not mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:

• subtle hints do not work!
• Strong hints do not work!
• Obvious hints do not work!
• Just say it!

1. Yes and no are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we...

1. Men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say 'nothing,' we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as football or motor sports.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round is a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight. But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping...

Pass this to as many men as you can - to give them a laugh...

Pass this to as many women as you can - to give them a bigger laugh, because it's true.

Five years ago today: Asparagus Tips

Time Enough

Normally my calendar is jam packed with activities. Work, meetings, and volunteer commitments. Now in this strange new world we're living in all have been cancelled and I have a lot of time on my hands.

Hubby Tony is working from home, but without commuting time his business day is shorter. We've been taking a nice long walk every day the weather allows. That's really helped us investigate the neighborhood streets in our new neighborhood. But sometimes we walk with a purpose.

When I woke up this morning the ground was wet, but my phone app said the rain had stopped for a few hours. We needed some things from Aldi, so Tony and I decided to walk (a distance of eight-tenths of a mile-the majority of it straight north, with a short jog to the east). Before we left we each grabbed a bag from the stash in my car, and as we shopped in the store each of us got to decide just how much weight they wanted to carry home.

Rather than going back by the same route we walked a little farther east, then turned and went south until we got to a back entrance to our subdivision, where we turned east, making a large three-mile circle.

What would have been a fifteen minute in the car took about 90 minutes on foot. Because we could.

Adventures In Yoga, Virtually

Last week I had a great time playing LEGOs virtually. Today Grandson Jay and I had another play date, but this time we exercised together!

During one of our recent FaceTime calls Son Brian said that Jay enjoyed Cosmic Kids Yoga via YouTube videos. He wondered if it would be possible to do a video conference that included a video, and said he would investigate it.  Over the next few days Brian and I texted back and forth, and this afternoon I received an invitation and link to the conference website.

It took me a couple of tries to get everything up and running, but soon I was sharing my computer screen with Brian and Jay. After exchanging pleasantries Brian opened the YouTube page, and Jay picked one of the dozens of videos. We both rolled out our yoga mats, and Brian started the video. The video was on full screen, but I could see Jay in a small square on the right-hand side, and he could see me.

Before today, I was completely unfamiliar with Cosmic Kids. Jaime, the host, tells stories and weaves yoga poses into them. The session started with the "secret yoga code word", namaste. She led us through several traditional yoga poses, some jumping up and down, and finished with a short guided meditation, followed by the secret code word again. When the video was over Jay chose a second one. All together, we exercised for about a half hour.

So now I've built and exercised with Jay. I wonder what we'll come up with next?

Let There Be Light

Back in January when we moved into our new condo we knew that it was low on overhead lights. (The only ones were in the kitchen, dining room, and bathrooms). Neither Hubby Tony nor I are a fan of relying on lamps, so our first project in making the place our permanent home was having an electrician come and rectify the problem.

We got estimates and chose a company. We went to the hardware store and purchased ceiling fans with light kits for the family room and master bedroom, and a fixture for the spare bedroom. (The electrician was supplying the rest.) The service date he offered us was several weeks past the date we accepted the estimate, and then got pushed back an extra two weeks by an issue on his part. At that time I was looking forward to having the work completed this week.

However, as the day got closer I started to wonder if we were doing the right thing having someone come into our house. What if this electrician had been exposed to COVID-19? After talking it over with Tony we decided the condo was large enough to socially distance ourselves, and I could also disinfect any necessary surfaces after he left.

My fears were unfounded. The electrician walked in wearing gloves, and after a quick greeting and outlining of the order of the work he got started. Tony carried his things to the back bedroom and continued to work, and I moved from room to room as necessary. By the end of the day Tony's office had can lights in each corner of the room, and another can light over the fireplace provided a beautiful wash of light.

Today the rest of the lights were installed. The electrician also improved the switches in the kitchen so accent lights over the stove and sink could operate independently of the main fixture. Now I can walk into a room and flip a switch instead of fumbling with a lamp, which is much more convenient!

Five years ago today: Better To Be Safe Than Sorry

You Don't Need A Psychic For These Predictions

Or even need to know what your zodiac sign is. These are all spot on.

Five years ago today: I've Been Looking Forward To This For Weeks!

I Am A Cat And I Sleep Wherever I Want

After we got up today Hubby Tony stripped the bed and I threw the sheets into the laundry. When they were clean and dry I carried them back into the bedroom, and I saw that Jackson the Cat had claimed the bed for his morning nap. I knew that Jackson would get up when it was time for his midday meal, so I folded the sheets and laid them on the dresser for later.

At the appropriate time I fed Jackson, but then I forgot the job waiting for me in the bedroom. By the time I got back there 45 minutes later Jackson was curled up on the top left corner of the mattress. I wanted to get the job done, so I figured that if I started the making process Jackson would get annoyed and leave.  I started by putting on three of the four fitted sheet corners. No response from the cat. I put the flat sheet on top of the fitted, tucked the bottom edge in, and added hospital corners. Still nothing. I added the blanket on top of the sheets, repeating the tucking in and cornering process. The cat woke up enough to give me the stink eye. Finally, I threw the bedspread over everything and shoved the bottom end between the mattress and footboard. I could tell Jackson was annoyed, but not annoyed enough to move.

I was here first!

I decided to capture the moment to send a text to the family. Just as I hit the Send button Jackson got up, stretched, and moved. Not enough, though.

Extra layers of bedding mean extra padding, right?

It took two hours until Jackson decided to get up. When I heard him move. I quickly swooped in and finished the bed. Jackson took the change in stride and settled in for his next nap in the spare bedroom.

Five years ago today: The $2.00 Bill I Tried To Spend