March 2020

March 2020
Under Quarantine

PA, FL

1- SU- PA- It was cold today but my plants are beginning to bloom so spring is coming.  I went to Reading and two breweries: Oak Brook Brewery and Saucony Creek Brewery.

2- M- PA-I took two sleeping aids in the early morning and didn't wake up until after noon and I was groggy. I spent too much time making doctors' appointments and if this is going to be my new life, I'm checking out soon.

I went to the Exton Library to write and I got annoyed as usual as this library does not have any electrical outlets near their comfortable chairs.  So I had to sit in an uncomfortable booth where I was surrounded by everyone getting after school tutoring.  There are a lot of tutors out there.  I watched Honey Baby on Amazon Prime.  I don't take advantage of this perk enough.

3-TU- PA- I had to get blood work which took longer than I wanted so I became a little bitchy.  I went to see the movie, The Call of the Wild.  I read the book last week and couldn't figure out how they were going to do this movie as the story centers around the lead dog's life on a dog sled expedition.  Afterwards, I went to the Chatty Monks Brewery and Schaylor Brewing Company in Reading, PA.

4- W- PA- I left this day open so I could clean my apartment and I just don't feel like it.  It's too big a task because  I have way too much junk.  I have to get rid of shit and I have to stop buying shit.  My shit owns me.  But on a positive note, I have the door to my balcony wide open and the sun is pouring in and filling my apartment with fresh air.

5-TH- PA- It was a beautiful, beautiful day.  Spring is right around the corner and I cant wait.  I had an appointment to meet with a staff member of my congress woman.  I was there with CARE.org.  We were pushing for legislation to support women and children.  Because it is an election year, the legislation will not pass because it could cause too much controversy.  What bullshit.  I spent the rest of the afternoon in the lounge, talking politics which I hate to do with a republican.

6- F- PA- I cleaned the apartment today.  It's the best its looked since I moved in.  I hate to clean.  And my damn phone died.  The SIM card went bad.  And it rained and it was cold all day.  And I went to the grocery store to buy food for Kevin's visit tonight.  I do not know how to feed people.  I just bought $75 in food and all I have to offer are sandwiches.

7- SA- PA- we got up early and headed to Lancaster for Glenn's exhibit at the Fly Fishing Show. It was a beautiful ride and the show was great fun.  Everyone was excited about Glenn's cabinets.

8- SU- PA- It's International Day of the Women.  I met Deb and Mary and Lisa and went to Triple Bottom Brewery and Love City Brewery.  It was a gorgeous day and a great day to be inside, drinking beer with friends. I love days like today. I love that moment when I realize that spring is here and there will be many more days like today.

9- M- PA- It was Manny Rucci's funeral.  I was sorry to say goodbye to him as he was so damn nice to me.  He always had a kind word.  He always seemed excited to see he and he was a class act.

10- TU- FL- I got a flight to Florida for $64 so I flew down to see Jaye and Dom in Cape Coral.  Unfortantely, Dom was up here, tending to his mother who just fell and broke her hip. The weather was beautiful and it was great to see Jaye again.

11- W- FL- We hung around the house most of the day and then we went to The Big Storm Brewery and had a great time.  At one point, we had 11 glasses of beer in front of us. WHO just declared the Corona Virus to be pandemic. And the whole world is in a panic.

12- TH- FL-  Another lazy day of soaking in the hot tub and the pool and then off to dinner with Dom and Jaye and their friends at a local sushi restaurant. We are all talking about the looming obligation to stay at home and maintain social distancing.

13- F-FL-  I had a late morning flight which was effortless and I got home before the rush of everyone getting home and preparing for our two week of social distancing.

14- SA PA-  Social Distancing is already starting to fall in to place and I feel isolated. I drove to Marsh Creek in hopes that a bit of nature would help but it didn't.  I went to Gabes to see if there were any sales that interested me and I found nothing.  And the Governor declared a state of Emergency for Chester County.  All non-essential businesses will close tomorrow.

15- SU- PA- I stepped outside and took a photo of an empty street.  People are tuckering down.  Debbie and I ran over to Lemoncello for one last drink before they close down for two weeks.  I drank too much. We got a notice from management that all of the amenity areas will be closed effective immediately. I am being reduced to just the 800 sq feet of my apartment until further notice.

16- M- PA-  Quarantine Day # 1  

It's quite here.  My apartment building houses 300 people but it feels like a ghost town.

I went to the dentist and had a gum grafting on the right side of my mouth and that beat me up a bit.  For two hours, the doctor cut, scrapped and stuffed gum in to a gap in my tooth socket.  I didn't like it. And, in a few weeks, I am going to have to go back and have the other side done.  Can't wait.

17- TU- PA- Quarantine Day #2-  

It's St. Patrick's Day and its as lame as can be.  Even if I was not confined because of th Corona Virus, I couldn't drink because I am on an antibiotic and pain medicine. Early this morning, I was at the hospital by 8 AM for a gastro emptying procedure.  I had to eat a radioactive egg and then stand in front of an ex-ray machine and watch these radioactive dots filter from my stomach to my intestines.  It was interesting but gave no more clues as to my random vomiting.

18- W- PA- Quarantine Day #3-  I stayed here all day, in my apartment, doing nothing but napping and listening to podcasts.  Sharon is calling every day, out of boredom.

19- TH- PA-  Quarantine Day #4-

Heather and Elliot called to check in with me.  I think Sharon told them all to call me because I also heard from Patricia, Kathy and Jimmy.

I had an eye doctor appointment and I was so happy to have a place to go.  I had full intentions of ordering new glasses.  But that service is shut down until further notice. I want a new pair of eye glasses and I want them now.

20- F- PA- Quarantine Day #5-  

I had a follow up appointment with my dentist and I joyfully skipped off to this opportunity to step outside. She took the stitches out and I felt immediate relief.

I broke down and rented Wild Nights With Emily.  I love this movie.  It is so damn funny.  Maybe I will watch it again before my rental time runs out.

21- SA- PA- Quarantine Day #6-

It was cold today (45F) which was disappointing because it was 70F yesterday.  So I had to pull out a jacket and I went off to Middle Creek Wildlife Reserve in search of birds.  The snow geese were still there, only 10,000 of them but it was still a nice show.  Of course, my camera was not charged and so I didn't get any photos.

22- SU- PA-  Quarantine Day #7 -

OMG, I did nothing today.  I was a lazy ass sloth.  I had full intentions of going to another bird spot.  But it was cold and rainy and I was cranky as a result.  All I did was watch snippets of Family Feud shows.

23- M- PA- Quarantine Day #8-

It's cold again.  I had to wear a coat.  I hate this switching between warm and cold days.

I took a woman to her cancer treatment.  She is a medical mess.  She was supposed to get a radiation treatment for 15 minutes.  But the doctor showed up and kept her for almost an hour and a half.  She is struggling to keep up with the treatment and wants to surrender. I have to take her again on Wednesday.  The American Cancer Society has shut down all volunteer assignments as of tomorrow.  But I am going to take her anyway.  She needs help.

The Governor called for a shutdown in all of the counties in the surrounding Philadelphia area as of tomorrow.  So I decided to get a big ass delivery of food from Mabel's BBQ Ribs.  I could just taste that food.  But damn, she was closed today until further notice.  This quarantine is getting to be too much.

24- TU- PA- Quarantine Day #9-  

Today my dad would be 92. I'm glad he isn't here for this mess we are in.  I wonder what's going on outside my apartment.  I watched The Aeronuts on my Amazon Prime account.

25- W- PA- Quarantine Day #10-

I took a woman to her cancer treatment.  She's one beaten-up, sick person.  She needs to go home to her maker.  Her legs are oozing with pus because of her congestive heart failure.  As she was getting out of her car, she prayed, Oh dear God, what have I done to deserve this.  I must have really sinned in my life."  I don't ever want to get to that point.  I drove home to empty street and contact with no one.

I got an Amazon package and was so happy to have contact with someone.

I spent time on the internet chatting up students and staff from WAFW.  One student is complaining about her prime minister in Bangladesh.  When I asked for more detail, she sent me a private message as she worried that she could go to jail for her negative thoughts about her leader.  I had a zoom conference with my siblings and it overwhelmed me that we felt a need to check in.  People are dying quickly and we are all a bit unnerved.

26- TH- PA- Quarantine Day #11-

 I slept through most of the day.  I did have a moment where I sat out on my balcony with the umbrella up.  Too bad it was just a bit too chilly to sit there for long.  I chair sat in my reading chair and tried to listen to some podcasts.  But that just turned in to a nap.  And I had wild, vivid dreams.

27- F- PA- Quarantine Day #12-  

It was a beautiful day so I took a ride to the Octrarara Reservoir in hopes of seeing some great birds. But nothing was to be seen. But it didn't matter. I got out. I stopped at a convenience market for a quick sandwich and I was nervous the whole time.  They were not doing enough to distance themselves from each other and me and I was sorry I even stopped in there.  I had intended to go to the grocery store in the evening but that didn't happen as well. i watched a show on Shackleton and his voyage to Antarctica.

28- SA- PA- Quarantine Day #13-

It raining today and for some reason, I feel more trapped than ever.  I can't even go out on my balcony. I watched The Torture Report.  Somethings our government does dreadful things in the name of national security.  I didn't nap today. And I made it to the grocery store and found a marked down wagyu steak for only $10.  I was so damn excited and can't wait to cook it for dinner on Sunday.

29- SU- PA- Quarantine Day #14

It rained all day and I didn't do much. I slept late and napped and then came in to some energy around 8PM.  I spoke to KT for an hour.  I spoke to Kathy Flatley for about an hour.  I texted back and forth with Sharon.  I watched some Amazon Prime shows.  But the highlight of the day was my wagyu steak that I cooked.  It was delicious and I was tempted to go back to the grocery store to buy another.

Trump announced that we will be in quarantine until the end of April.  So my trip to Ireland on May 1 is off.  I dont' know how our economy will sustain this closure.

30- M- PA- Quarantine Day #15-  

I got a call from Sally Doan.  She is in Penn Hospital in the ICU for a lung transplant.  She lost her charging cord and was worried that she would lose touch with the world.  So I hopped in my car, went to Walmart to get her a charging cord and a mini tablet and went off to the hospital.  It was so exciting to have something constructive to do. I also picked up a few blue iris plants and planted my container garden and I am so excited about the possibility of having irises in my pathetic garden.

I came home, joined Netflix and watched The Marriage Story. Some marriages just become so damn bitter and ugly.

31- TU- PA- Quarantine Day #16-

OMG, it is the third day in a row with no sunshine.  It's too damn gloomy.  I woke up this morning and I couldn't figure out if it was early morning, mid-afternoon or late evening.  I am completely disoriented on time.

I spent the day in front of my laptop, watching movies and shows.  I watched The Boy who Harnessed the Wind and a Kevin Hart Comedy show, among other things. It is becoming too easy just to resort to watching movies and TV shows.

I didn't take any naps which is unusual and hopeful.  I have to do more than just force myself to sleep through this time.  All of this confinement reminds me of the James Taylor song about prison life, Sleep from Free Me.  This has been a very long month.