August 2021

August 2021

We Are Returning To Mask Mandates

Covid Numbers Are Rising Again

It Was 40 Years Ago That I Started My First Job As An Educator*

PA/NJ/DE

1- SU- PA

I woke up to rain and thought that my meetup with Sally at the Stolen Sun Brewery would be cancelled.  I didn't think she would want to sit inside and be around the covid germs.  But she was up for it and so we met and spent the afternoon together and had a great time.

2- M- PA

At noon, I had a zoom call with the Bangladesh people and the Wilmington University contingency to talk about how we can get Annum's scholarship application process completed.

Afterwards, I went to the movies to see Tidewater with Phyliss. I am not sure if I liked the movie or not.

3- TU- PA/NJ

As promised, I was up and out of the house by 10 AM to drive to Long Beach Island to see Jane.  It was an overcast day so we never made it to the beach.  We did take a drive to Holgate and marveled at the megadasions going up where the trailer park used to be (before Hurricane Sandy-2012).

4- W- NJ/PA

I left the shore around 1 PM.  We did take our coffee and sit on a bench on the beach, earlier in the morning, but we didn't stay long as it was just a bit too chilly.

5- TH- PA

Tricia and I went to Jefferson Hospital to get a 2nd opinion about my pancreas lesion.

I spent Root Beer Day with the Hakes and Tricia.

I have 30,600 followers on Twitter.

I walked 5000+ steps.

6- F- PA

I got my second round of shots to my knees and I am so damn happy. This appointment was far less difficult than the first one.  I barely felt anything and I didn't feel any nausea.

I went to COSTCO and most people are back to wearing masks.  What the fuck is wrong with us.  We have a weapon against the virus and stupid people are refusing to get the vaccine. Now, numbers are spiking again and we are wearing masks and will soon be required to show proof of vaccination to get into indoor places.

I ushered at Uptown and we are all wearing masks. There was a kids' performance of Putnam County Spelling Bee.  It was cute but I think you had to be related to one of the kids in the cast to have really enjoyed this show. I wasn't related to any of the kids in the cast.

I walked 5000 steps.

7- SA- PA

OMG, I wandered in to the fitness center in my apartment building and I sat and peddled on the stationary bike for 30 minutes.  I couldn't believe it.  And I had absolutely no knee pain and I could have gone longer but my phone charge was dying out and I didn't want to peddle if they weren't going to count as steps on my exercise app.

Tweet: We have reached the point where we have to make it uncomfortable for people who refuse to get vaccinated. No flights, no indoor venues, no mingling with the mainstream until you are vaccinated.

I made my 5500 steps.

8- SU- PA

I had to pick Jeff up at the airport. He was so grateful.  It's the least I could do since he had to pay for my dinner last week.

I binge watched a show on a drug scandal within the judicial department.  Two employees screwed up and tarnished evidence in 35,000 drug trials.  All of the defendants were dismissed.  Holy Fuck, that's a big, fucking fuck up.

I walked 5000+ steps.

9- M- PA

I woke up to a call from my nurse practitioner.  She is not going to approve any more medication for me until I come in to see her so I now have an appointment at the end of the month. I had more damn bloodwork done today. .I came home and scheduled an MRI for my pancreases.  My dentist called and rescheduled my Wednesday appointment. I went to the pharmacy and picked up pills and was asked if I wanted to get my flu shot today. This is my new life.

Twitter: Garland is a kind, competent AG. But I want a AG who is ruthless.

I walked 5,000+ steps.

10- TU- PA

Jimmy and Joann came over and we went to The Mediterranean Restaurant for dinner.  I wanted to treat Jimmy because he has been so good to me during my cancer.  Every time I mentioned anything, he stepped up and offered to help me.  And even though I never needed his help, I was grateful to know that I could depend on him.  And dinner was delicious.

Tweet: Are you doing anything special for Trump's Inauguration on Friday? I'm getting steroid injections in both my knees. Can't wait. #TrumpLost #TrumpOurNationalEmbrassment #BidenNation #BidenHarris

The covid situation in FL and TX is all over the news.  The FL Governor has demanded that school districts can not impose a mask mandate on its students. PA Covid death toll to date- 27,903.  FL has 40,000 deaths.

I walked 5000+ steps.

11- W- PA

Jaye sent me a text at 9:10 AM this morning to see if I was awake enough to talk with her.

I made an appointment to see my gastrointentestinal specialist and she isn't available until 

mid-October.  That's two months from now. I can't be spending all my time going to doctor 

appointments. And I can't plan any trips if I am tied up with these damn appointments.

We had a Great Dames event on financial savings.  I continue to be surprised at how poorly 

people manage their money.

12- TH- PA

Sharon got on my weekly meeting on the new portal system for Great Dames.  She was 

sleeveless and her arms were so thin. 

I finished listening to Bill Byson's book, Mother Tongue. For ten hours, I listened as he spelled

 words from the English language.

13-F- PA

I got my third round of shots in my knees and I still feel great.  As a matter of fact, my hip 

pain as also better.

I watched a movie on Alzheimers. It was depressing.  I wonder how Uncle Dick is doing with his alzheimers.

Twitter: So do you think they faced reality today and took their Trump signs down now? #TrumpIsALaughingStock #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace #TrumpIsAnIdiot #BidensAmerica

14- SA- PA

Cindy Revie called me really this morning to tell me that Uncle Dick

died peacefully in his sle.  

I went to an Old Fiddlers' Picnic with Lauren. It was fun.  A brunch of musical misfits just 

brought thier instrument of choice and jammed with one another.  I bought iced tea and c

heesse and dips and lauren and I just parked outselves in the middle of the music.

We began our official withdrawn from Afghanistan after our 20 year war.  I don't know what 

I expected but the Afghan government rolled over and gave the country back to the Taliban.

15- SU- PA

Jaye and I went to see the Arthea Franklin movie, Respect. She was beaten by her husband and 

she made all of the money and yet, she still stayed with him. Why??

16- M- PA

I had to go to Jefferson to get an MRI on my pancreas. The process was challenging becasue I had to hold my breathe and for some reason, just couldnt. It cost me $32 to park for two hours in

town. From now on, I only go to doctors in the suburbs.

Afterwards, I went to the Evil Genius brewery. I've been to this place before and like it.

Then I drove around in the neighborhood.  I dont know this area at all.  There were a few 

murals that interested me.  But then I heard a Drum Corp in North Philly so I stopped and 

listned to them for awhile and then I thought it was my civic dutiy to interrupt them and tell 

them how much i love the sound of the cadence and drums at a football game. They politley 

listend to my incoherent speech and then I moved on. with a note to myself (don't interrupt 

other people's work when you have had a few drinks in you. You aren't that interesting.)

17- TU- PA

Someone ran down to the lobby in my apartment to report that her stove was on fire.  She 

didn't call 911.  And we have gas stoves.  This place could have been a bomb.

I finished the book, Dying of Whiteness by Jonathan Metzel.  It is hard to understand the fear 

of skin color.  I think, in fifty years, everyone will be carmel color. That's everyone except me 

as I will be dead.

18- W- PA

I signed in to my usual Thursday afternoon zoom meeting and no one was there.  So I checked 

in to see if I had the wrong link.  Turns out I had the wrong day. How embarrassing.

So with my new found time, I quickly found a movie and went to see CODA (Child of Deaf Adults).

Twitter- As I watch all of the turmoil in Afghanistan, I wonder how I could have been so hopefully and naive to think that our departure was going to end well. #Afghanistan #AfghanistanWomenAndGirls #AfghanistanCrisis

Twitter- My nephew now suffers from PTSD. We didn’t find Bin Laden there. We killed thousands of innocent people. We spent more money than I know how to write. We wasted the potential and talents of so many people. I wonder how many useless wars we are willing to fight.

19- TH- PA

A group of us had planned to meet at LaVente Brewery in Downingtown but that didn't work out for everyone and just Fran and I met. It was a fun time and after three hours of talking problems and world politics, I went home. I was glad I made the effort.

20- F- PA

I had my fourth shot in my knees and it really hurt. OMG, now I don't want to get the last shot.

Kevin and I had dinner with Sue. We ordered Chinese again. I think this is an easy way for Sue to have company.

After a few hours, I had to leave because my knees hurt so much. I'm disappointed in today's treatment and I am having trouble getting up from my choir.

21- SA

OMG, my knees hurt all day. I have regressed to the pain I had before I started all of my shots. I couldn't get my steps in today. As a matter of fact, I only walked 298 steps. i had no energy today because I was too focused on my pain and discomfort. I was a bit of a self-absorbed crybaby.

22-SU- PA

Shelia came to visit. I haven't seen her since before covid. Last November, I wrote to her and told her that I had cancer but she never responded which was so out of character. So I mentioned it again and she was so surprised. I showed her the text and she was so embarrassed that she bought dinner. We went to the Sedona Tavern, sat outside and had a fun time.

23- M

I drove to Middle Creek Reserve to check out the possibility of spotting a Sandhill Crane. But no luck. These birds have been spotted here before on rare occasions and they are in western PA so I thought I might get lucky and see one.

Afterwards I went to the Mad Chef Brewery for a flight of beer and a reuben sandwich.

24- TU

I had an appointment with my nurse practitioner and she was so happy that I was doing so well that she gave me a hug.

OMG, my hip hurt so much that I couldn't walk. My limp was so pronounced. I just couldn't get my steps in.

25- W- PA

My hips are feeling better. My knees are feeling better. My plantar facitis is still a pain in the ass.

I called Nadia and explained the expression, "the shit hit the fan."

John visited me today. He was supposed to show up tomorrow but he called to say he was wandering Gay Street. Fortunately, he booked a two night stay at the Warner Hotel so I didn't have to worry about cleaning my place. Thank God.

We started at The Wrong Crowd Brewery and then moved over to the Artillery Brewery and then we went to the Sterling Pig Brewery and then on to Slow Hand Restaurant for a beer and then we went to Sedona Tavern for a flight and finished off the night at the Ram's Head Inn. I was exhausted. I can not hang with young people anymore.

26- TH- PA

I had a virtual visit with Dr Yeo. This guy really knows how to control his time. He managed the conversation and he hung up within 15 minutes. I had questions but didnt have an opportunity to get them answered.

John Staudt has still around from his impromptu visit. We spent the afternoon at Stolen Sun Brewery. I was driving so I only had three of the sampler beers. John, on the other hand, had several and for some reason, when he went to pay up, he wasn't charged fro any of his beers.

Later we had dinner with Tricia and Bill at some taco place in Malvern. There was loud music playing at an outdoor venue next door so our conversations were strained. It didn't help that three of us are prime candidates for hearing aides.

Afterwards, John and I came back to West Chester and I took him to Jitters, our local taproom. We ended the night there and I was grateful to go home and rest. I am too old to hang with a 40 year old.

27- Friday- PA

I stayed up all night and watched the movie on the Atlanta Bomber during the 1992 Olympics. I was watching with full intent and then all of the sudden, it was 5:30 AM and the sun was beginning to rise. This has to stop.

John called me in the AM. I knew he was checking out of his hotel and looking to see if I wanted to meet up with him fro breakfast. But I just couldn't answer the phone. I just knew if we got together, we would find one more place to have a beer and it would then become the third day of drinking and I just couldn't afford to do that. I am too damn old.

The BMFI was showing The Last Leonardo movie so off I went for the afternoon. This painting may or may not be a DiVinci painting but it sold for $450,000,000. And I don't care or feel sorry for anyone who would spend this much money on a painting. Actually, I hope it is a fake.

I finally caught up with Laydon. It was nice to connect but she seemed very lethargic and a bit disinterested. I am torn between holding on and letting go of this assignment.

28- Saturday- PA

Damn, damn, damn. I watched the whole series of Murder Mountain. It was only four session but this binge watching has to stop. It's too easy. It's too mindless and this is why I never got a TV. I did not want to get in to this rut of watch mindless shit on TV.

The withdraw from Afghanistan permeates the news. We have been in this shit show for 20 years now. And it is ending as a shit show.

29- Sunday- PA

My car mattress arrived yesterday. I blew it up and now I want to see if it maintains its form through the night. Later this week, I am going to go camping somewhere for the night to see how I do.

I went shopping and bought stupid shit just to occupy my time.

Twitter: I just listened to Crybaby Eric on the news. Have any of you ever heard the children of former presidents badmouth the current president? The Nixons, Carters, Fords, Regans, Clintons, both Bush families, the Obamas? The Trumps lack all dignity and social grace. #Biden #USA

30- Monday-PA

I got the last of my five shots to my old knees. I went to the doctor's office with so much in trepidation that I almost canceled. And I created so much stress for the doctor's assistant that she worked with great care. And this final shot was painless.

A group of us hung out in the courtyard tonight. We still haven't returned to the comfort of hanging together in the building.

Twitter: The war is finally over. Thanks to my two nephews who served in the Middle East, the 1000’s and 1000’s who were injured, the too numerous soldiers and civilians who died. But right now, my heart goes out to all of our Gold Star families. May they never feel as if their horrific lose was in vain. #USA #Afghans #Soldiers

31- Tuesday- PA

We had our annual faculty meeting for retired teachers. Four of us showed up and we met at Iron Hill in Media.

On the way home, I stopped at the food store and began my ridiculous focus on buying provisions for my upcoming road trip. I am headed to Route 66 in October and I have already started to pack. I need to go somewhere.

* In August 1981, I started a position as a guidance counselor at Loyalsock High School in Williamsport, PA. That was a lifetime ago.