May 2021
The Virus is Still With Us
But Most of US Don't Care Anymore
PA/DE/NY
1- SA- PA
Sue wanted to get a photo from her mountain house for Tom's funeral on Friday. So she and the dogs and I went up for the day. We had lunch at a bar in Pocono Mountain. The owner graduated from Stroudsburg High Schooling's 1988, a year before I arrived. So, of course, he let me tell him my high school stories.
I started watching the series, Don't Fuck With Cats. That is a frightening story. The headline should really be Don't Fuck with Cat People.
2- SU- PA
OMG, it is gorgeous today. It's sunny and warm (82) and the birds are out and singing and there is slight breeze. So I sat out on my balcony and my neighbor called over to me. She wanted to chat and I wanted to be left alone. Damn, the moment was broken.
The courtyard was abuzz this afternoon. After a year of being empty, it was filled today and people were so happy to be there. I like this sound and I have missed this sound. I hope it won't be long until
Finally, finally, finally, I got off my fat ass today and walked to Marshal Park which is only about 600 steps from my apartment and, after four years of living here, today was the first time I went here. And I loved it. It's filled with lots of flowers to photograph. And in the past, it has been filled with evening concerts. I hope these concerts return this summer.
Laydon and I attempted to speak with each other but our connection was just bad so I will have to wait until Thursday to check up on her.
3- M- PA
Wiscohchen Park
Twisted Ginger Brewery (1)
I had a FaceTime call from Elliot. The talking Mother Goose stuffed animal that I sent him was a big, big hit.
4- TU- PA
I wandered around Stoneleigh Gardens in Villanova. I had been here four years ago when it first opened up and it is a completely different place now. It is beautiful. I was taking a shot of a white flower and some sort of bug emerged in the shot. it turned out to be a ruby-throated humming bird. I was so excited.
I walked 6000+ steps today. I have to really get on track to walk this much every day.
Sharon wants to know when I am going to visit the sick.
5- W- PA
I bought more plants today. It isn't even Memorial Day and I already have a full garden. And I already have plants that have died and there is no trace of them anymore.
I watched The Eichman Show which was the story of the live coverage of a Nazi soldier's trial for crimes against humanity. This coverage was the first time the rest of the world got to see the horrors of the Holocaust.
6- TH-PA
I had dinner with Sharon and Glenn. I brought dinner with me which is something that is a bit of a challenge for me. I brought smoked salmon, 5 different kinds of cheese, olives, artichoke hearts, lobster cakes, corn on the cob, salad and rosoto and three different kinds of beer. Sharon asked if we had to eat it all and I told her to pick out what she wants as I am not good with this entertaining thing. I left everything there fro her as they would all be good for lunch tomorrow.
7- F- PA
tom's funeral
Jon Spalding died
dinner with Debbie and shelly
jill Dougherty
joe o'brien
hanging in the lounge
8- SA-PA/NY
I finally, finally, finally met GiGi and she is beautiful. I drove up to Larchmont just for the day.
9-SU- PA
It's Mother's Day and Jimmy's 67 birthday and 23 years since my mother died. I'm in a sad funk today.
We had a family zoom call. Elliot stood right up at the screen and asked when I was going to visit with him again. I was thrilled. At the moment, I am the only family member who has meet every member of our family. Most of us haven't met Heather's son, Peter, or Kevin's daughter, GiGi.
I didn't have the energy to do much today. All of these deaths in my life seems to be wearing on me. I mostly hung in bed, listening to podcast and music.
10- M- PA
met with Jon's family
I had lunch with Debbie. We went to Sedona Tavern and I had a few beers and I had to come home and take a nap.
I walked over 5000+ steps today. I have to get back to walking or I am never going to be prepared enough to travel again.
There are 582,000 Covid deaths to date in the USA. The surge of deaths in on the downside.
11- TU- PA
I sat in the lounge in the morning and looked for Jon. For the past 4 years, Jon always seemed to show up whenever I was in the lounge. But those days are over. I have some guilt that I didn't make more effort to connect with him this year.
I had a bone density test today and I flunked big time. Here, I thought I had healthy bones because I drink so much beer. But, apparently, my bones are shit.
I spent the evening watching a CARE celebration webinar and I actually enjoyed it.
I walked 6300+ steps today. That's two days in a row that I made my walking goal of 5000 steps/day.
12- W- PA
Jaye's bday is today. I think she is 73. And she doesn't look or move like she is this age.
The BMFI- is open for business again. I went to see The Truffles Hunter. I was so excited to be back at my beloved movie theatre. There were only 7 of us in the audience.
Fear of 13- wrongful conviction
I am obsessed with my osteoporosis diagnosis. I am so afraid of falling, breaking my back and being confined to a wheel chair for the rest of my life. This possibility is a new benchmark for my suicide pact. I will not live out my life in a wheel chair.
Tweet: November 2020 Election Results: Liz Cheney- Popular vote- 185,732; 68.6% Trump- Popular vote- lost by a lot; 46.9% #IStandWithLiz
I walked another 5000+ steps today and it is getting easier to accomplish this shamefully, low level goal.
13- TH- PA
While I was driving today, the radio station was advertising upcoming, LIVE concerts. Concerts are back and I cant wait. In other COVID news, Biden announced today that we do not have to wear masks inside if we are fully vaccinated. I think that new ruling has been issued too early. More people need to be vaccinated before we reach herd immunity.
I stopped by Animation Brewery (2) in Coatesville. I was here last fall and liked it. They have good beers.
There is a fucking bird's nest under construction on my balcony. Unless I can deter these damn mourning doves from moving to a new neighborhood, I will be banned from my balcony for at least two weeks. And some doves come back to the same site each year. This is war.
annum's post
I walked 5000+ steps today. This is getting easier. It's not getting more fun but it is getting easier.
14- F- PA
I have anxiety today. I'm worried about my osteoporosis. I am worried about Sharon. I am worried about my speech tomorrow at Mile's funeral. I am upset about the damn birds building a nest on my balcony. I feel defeated about my lack of success in negotiating a better lease for my apartment. I have a former parent form SHS who wants a favor from me and I am not interested in helping her. And I am worried about the fallout for Sharon from Annum's post. Jon Spalding's death is still on my mind. I'm worried about my weight. I need medication today.
PM Update: OK, so I medicated myself. It looks as if the damn birds have been run out of town. I got a birthday gift for Bill on Sunday. I just practiced my speech for tomorrow and I like it it. I got a notice that I am getting a reimbursement from Air Canada for a flight they cancelled last year ($450). I agreed to sign my lease. I have calls in to three Dr offices for an appointment. My SHS parent can't make the time I suggested we speak but she told me to take my time in getting back to her. I am going to get through this moment.
I went to the Amish Farmers' Market and none of the Amish people are wearing masks and I know they haven't been vaccinated. I feel like telling on them.
I spent the evening in the lounge with Steve and Phyliss. Another couple joined us for a little bit. I hope we can go back to those nights of many of us hanging together.
Afterwards, I checked on my damn bird situation. There is no nest in the rafter. So maybe they have gone elsewhere to set up their home.
I walked my 5000+ steps today and I was surprised at how much faster I was tonight. I am walking around he perimeter of my apartment floor and at one point, I almost felt as if there was a little bit of speed in my walk.
Tweet: I feel naked without my mask. #ThanksCDC #ThanksBiden #Vaccinated
Tweet: The Civil War going on in our country is just like the Cold War of the last century. We are on the verge of imploding from within at any moment. #America #OurDemocracyIsAtRisk
15- SA- PA/DE
I got up to watch the zoom call of the Mother's Tea ceremony in China @ 630AM and, of course, it was delightful and honest and filled with pure joy. Those Chinese people are wonderful. This ceremony is part of the WAFW Women's Symposium and our students ask their mothers to come to campus for the day so that we can honor them. I was supposed to be there last year at this time to be part of the ceremony. But, of course, that didn't happen. I was hoping to make it there this year. But, of course, that still didn't happen. Maybe I will get there next year.
There were no signs of those damn mourning doves setting up a nest on my balcony. I feel a sense of victory.
This afternoon was Miles Cooper Seaton's Memorial Service @ Ridley Creek State Park.
Afterwards, we were hanging at Andrea's house and Jaye, Dom, Mary and I were the old farts. So we left after a little bit and had dinner at Jaye's house.
I was not able to make my walking goal because I was just too damn tired by the time I got home from DE. I almost had to go right to bed. I only walked 2500 steps. I will walk the remaining steps tomorrow.
16- SU- PA
I got right up today and checked and it appears as if the mourning doves are definably gone. I am so damn relieved.
I went to Tricia's house for Bill's birthday celebration. We ate pizza, lots of pizza. I love pizza. I could eat pizza every day.
visiting a local farm and a ram got his horn stuck on a wire fence
Spoke with Sharon and Tricia about my concerns about my osteoporosis. They both have been treated for it and do not think it is a big deal. I guess this is just another genetic plus of being a Kelly.
I walked 5200+ steps today. I am now walking at such a faster pace that it is only taking me 300 steps to walk around the perimeter of my hallway. Last week, it took 400 steps. And because I am walking faster, i am breathing heavier and reaching a dizziness. If my pants don't start fitting better by next week, I am going to be very disappointed.
17- M- PA
Abducted In Plain Sight- what a fucked up story
paid my fucking taxes
laydon's call fo pure joy
5200+ steps
I bought more fucking plants. Thats' enough.
I finally, finally got a doctor's appointment with the rheomotologist, thanks to Sharon. She had to play the cancer card.
Great Dames event.
18- TU-PA
It was Primary Election Day. Because of mail-in options for voting, not many people showed up at the polls. I sat at my usual polling assignment today.
I watched the Amy Tan movie. She is one of my favorite writers and this documentary so clearly showed how her life influenced her writing.
I walked my 5000 steps today.
19- W- PA
lunch with Sharon
5200+ steps
20- TH- PA
zoom meeting with Kellie
I watched the documenatry movie, Gunda. It was the story of a pig and other farm animals. After about 1 1/2 hours, I left. At that point, I had the jest of the movie.
I placed a phone call to Laydon. It's always pleasant to talk with her.
Tweet: We need to stop treating the Constitution as a document etched in stone and treat it as it was intended to be: a living document designed to meet the needs of the people. #Constitution #RepresentAllOfUs #DemocracyMatters
5100+ steps
21- F- PA
I had an appointment with the rheumologist and she is going to start on giving me injections for my osteoporosis. She isn't even going to start me out on any medication first. She also wants to do a complete work up on my so she is suggesting that I get x-rays of my hips and knows and 15 different blood tests to check for thyroid problems, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, hepatitis and other ailments. This is what I get for going to the doctor's office in the first place. As my father would say, "getting old isn't for sissies."
Now that my balcony door is open most days, I hear lots of people in the courtyard. After 15 months, I saw Pete and Diane, sitting in the courtyard. I was on my balcony and we shouted a conversation to each other for about 1/2 hour. It was good to see them and I am hoping that we can get back to hanging with each other soon.
Mid-afternoon, I got a text from Lauren. She was on a zoom interview with a woman and this woman's husband walked in to the room and he was naked.
It was hot, hot, hot today. It felt like summer. If it is this hot now, what will August be like?
In the evening, I walked the whole series about two men who rowed a boat down the Ganga River from Delhi to Dhaka. Am I jealous of them or do I think they are crazy?
I completed 5100+ steps today.
22- SA- PA
I haven't lost a single ounce of weight since I started my better diet and my walking routine. BUT, my pants are finally fitting me better. Two weeks ago, I was determined not to move up to a bigger size just because I was uncomfortable in my pants. Today, they fit me without discomfort. Now I have to move off of this dreadful weight marker.
23- SU- PA
I picked up Tricia and we drove in to Philly to have lunch with Sharon. I dont think they have seen each other since Covid hit the world. That would be 14 months.
It was hot, hot, hot today. I think it hit 90F and it is only May. What will August be like if this heat streak keeps up.
I think I have to get the bulk of my walking steps finished before 5 PM. If I have too many to do in the late evening, I lose my determination. I got my 5000 steps in but it was a struggle.
24- M- PA
I had a terrible night of sleep and work up feeling as if I had been drugged. I was so groggy that I worried about driving to my medical appointment.
Yesterday, it was so hot (91F) that I contemplated turning the air conditioner on. Today it is so cold, that I wished I had the heater on. It was 64F today. And these dramatic contrasts are hard to take.
I had to get some hip X-rays to determine the extend of my arthritis. I am getting so damn old and decrepit.
I had lunch with sue and bill mcrae@Ironhill Brewery (3) in Media.
I got my 5000+ steps in.
25- TU- PA
Clay posted a series of photos on his Instagram account. He graduated from high school and then he had his prom and he took a beautiful, young woman. He commented that this was the great weekend. His photos were beautiful and filled with hope and they filled me with a little bit of sadness. My role as an aunt has just been diminished. He is the last of the 16 nieces and nephews and he is going off to college and adulthood and, like the rest of them, will move on to a new world without me. Forty years of being a fun aunt to the little kids is over.
I took at drive to the Big Dog brewery (4). All of my beers were delicious.
Afterwards, I went to an Odd Lots store. I just love to go to these junk stores and buy shit I don't need. And that is what I did.
The AG of NY announced that a grand jury has started to investigate Trump crimes. Today is a great day for justice.
Tweet: Today would be a great day to be on a grand jury in NYC.
MTG has been making dreadful statements of comparison between the Holocaust and wearing mask. So many people are in an uproar and her party leaders have been silent. But today, five days later, the House Minority Leader finally, finally condemned her statement.
Tweet: It looks as if someone has been stepping on his balls to do the right thing. #QevinCoward #MTGRacist #RepublicansAreHaters
I watched a movie, The Lighter Side of Darkness, about a man who was diagnosed with a rare disorder, similar to Lou Garig's Disease. He slowly slipped away to a mostly dysfunctional body. He and his wife told their story of his decline. And rather than feeling sorry for himself, he went on to write a book and then write a movie script and then direct this movie which won awards. He does not feel sorry for himself. Instead he talked, through his electronic voice, about his will to live. I just don't have that will to live. I would want to die.
I walked my 5000+ steps.
26- W- PA.
The pool opened up today. It's a perfect pool day, hot and sunny. And of course I didn't go there because it was too damn sunny for me.
I stopped by the Be Here brewery (5) . I was here last year but was not able to get inside because of Covid. Today, I got to sit at a table and enjoy my beers.
We had another mass shooting today and I think we may have had another one as well. We also had a ridiculous road rage incident that resulted in murder. I just can't keep up with all of them anymore.
Tweet: Has enough time passed that we can now talk about the Parkland Shootings and not be accused of being political? Just asking for a lot of broken-hearted families. #GunReformNow #BanAssaultRifles
Tweet: So, is this one of those good guys with a gun? Until we start with background checks, how are we to distinguish the good guys with a gun with the bad guy with a gun?
Tweet: Someone needs to tell Rubio that teaching social justice = WWJD.
I started a new TV series: Captive. The first episode told the story of a couple who were kidnapped by pirates in the open seas. the pirated thought they could demand $7,000,000 from the British government but the government would not agree to negate. So now these pirates were stuck with these two hostages. So the wife's brother had to do the negotiate. I think if I had been captured, I would just told them to shoot me. I would hate to put them in that situation.
I made my 5000+ steps today. I think I am at a two-week streak. Let's hope I can keep this up.
27- TH- PA
I started the day at LabCorp for extensive blood work. The technician took 15 viles of blood form me. As a matter of fact, it seemed as if he ran out of blood by the time he got to the last vile. It was an effort to draw any more blood so he just had to pour bold from one vile to the last one. I came home and took a nap.
Tweet: Isn’t it funny that flies are so attracted to republicans. They know shit when they see it. #ToadCruz #PenceFly
My evening was spent in the lounge with Steve and Phyliss. We decided we are going to send out a flyer and ask the few friends we still have here for a happy hour party in the courtyard.
I got 5100+ steps in today.
28-F- PA
I had dinner with Rosina and Kathi lewis at Rosina's house
I didn't get my steps in today. I didn't get home until 11:30 and saw that I had to walk 2500. So I started, made a few laps around the hallway and noticed that my steps weren't being recorded. I got discouraged and stopped and went to bed. Then I was disappointed in myself for quitting.
29- SA- PA
Deb Green had planned a 40 year PSU reunion party for the afternoon but the uncooperative weather threw her off and she cancelled last night. That left me with 12 ears of corn and some disappointment. I think I will get over my disappointment before I get rid of 12 ears of corn.
So I spent most of the afternoon in the lounge. Debbie, Jeff and Bob joined me. And at one point a young mother and her infant son wandered through. Jeff called to her and starting talking about how big her baby, Miles, was getting. We talked for a good 5-10 minutes and then the woman finally told us that her baby was Vinny. Jeff had this woman confused with another woman and Kathrine was too polite to tell Jeff that he was confused,
Debbie had made a batch of meatballs so, of course, I had dinner with Debbie and Jeff. Dom and James were also there. It feels nice to be back to times when it is so easy to just get together.
Debbie and I went to Split Rail for an after dinner drink. I don't think I have been in this bar for two years. I wanted to go because it was a place I would sometimes go with Jon.
It was 48F degrees and I had to pull out my winter jacket to keep warm. I had contemplated putting on a scarf as well but I just couldn't bring myself to bundle up from the cold in May. That would have been too psychologically damaging.
30- SU- PA
I left my home today without my face mask and I was a little nervous. I thought about running back to get it but I didn't.
Sue invited me to her family party. I think she just didn't want to go there alone as this was probably her first event without Tom.
Vanessa Thompson sent us a message to tell us that Michelle Fuller died of lung cancer. She had been suffering for two years and the last month has been dreadful for her. So her death came as no surprise. But I still don't like it.
I met a new, young guy in the lounge. He seems very anxious to meet the people in the building. I can't wait until we all start hanging around again.
I didn't walk much all day so I have to do most of my 5000 steps in the evening. It was a lot of effort, but I got it done.
31- M- PA
It's Memorial Day, a day designated to honor those who died in war. But really, it has become the holiday to kick off the beginning of summer. It's the first sunny day we have had for three or four days but it is still a bit chilling. I could use about 10 more degrees of heat today.
I spent an email to my high school friends and told them about Michelle Fuller. I heard back from people all day long. I still marvel at the fact that my high school friends and I feel a genuine interest in connecting with each other.
I spent the afternoon at Deb Green's house. She had a group of us over to eat the food she bought for the cancelled saturday party. It was great fun to sit in her garden, drink beer, complain about trump and trumpeters and just catch up. It's fun to be with other people.
At 9:30 PM, I had only walked 1,000. It was going to be a real challenge to get to the 5,000 mark but I did it. After I got started, I almost zoned out as I walked. But I was able to do 11 loops around the building in less time than I had thought. And I wasn't that tired. I think I will increase my goal in a week.
Tweet: Is it just my imagination but do all of Trump's people turn into traitors. Were they always traitors? Have they been brainwashed? How could one person attract so many deviant people. #DemocracyInDanger #Vote
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