September 2021
Yes, COVID Is Still With Us
Kids Are Back To School
1- W- PA
Hurricane Ida is coming our way and leaving a downpour on us. There is flash flooding everywhere and I am getting emergency alerts all night long. The rain is intense.
I prepared my balcony for high winds and other potential problems. I am worried that my car may flood in the parking lot.
Twitter: Last week the trumpers were complaining that we were leaving our Afghan allies behind. Now that our allies have arrived in Philly, the trumpets are complaining that we have allowed the Taliban to infiltrate our country. They are just crazy with hate.
2- TH- PA/DE
My immediate world is flooded. The Shykill River, the Brandywine River, Wisachicon River and all other waterways in my area crested and created havoc.
OMG, the world has gone mad. Texas just passed a law that bans abortions after six weeks and encourages people to turn on other citizens (who may have had an abortion) and turn them in for a bounty of $10,000.
Jaye called me and I went down there for dinner. I hadn't seen Dom in months as he has been spending all of his time with his friend who has pancreatic cancer. I can't believe this guy is still alive. I thought he was going to die last summer. But he keeps plugging along and Dom is going to do everything he can to make this guy's final moments as full as possible.
The sun set at 7:30 tonight and the harsh realities of fall are kicking me in the face. It was a little chilly today and I had to wear a light sweater.
Twitter: My religion allows me to determine my own reproductive choices. TX violates my religious freedom. #AbortionIsHealthcare #HandsOffOurBodies #handmaidstale
3- F- PA
I have finally surrendered to my reality of my kayaking days. I went through all of my things and weeded these things out of my piles of overconsumption. I have diving boots and water rpfoof bags and cords and kayak racks and rope and so many things that I will never use again and that makes me sad.
4- S- PA
I made my way to the Philadelphia Canoe Club and dropped off all of my kayaking equipment. It was hard to let go of all that stuff but I don't use it anymore and there is no room in my apartment for all of it. As I pulled away, I wanted to cry. It's an end of an era. My kayaking days are mostly over.
5- SU- PA
I had dinner with Jaye at the Side Bar Cafe in West Chester. It was fun to hang with Jaye and it was fun to sit outside and have dinner. I wish I could do this every night.
6-- M- PA
I got up and had brunch at Nudy's with Tricia. Afterwards we went to Jenkins Gardens I need to step up my walking routine. I have been doing great with getting my steps in but I have only been walking on an even surface. My short hike through Jenkins just about kills me.
7- TU- PA
I hung in the lobby all afternoon. I need to start coming here more often as I am more productive here as compared to my apartment.
In the evening, I ushering at Uptown. There was a lecture on the waterfront rescue efforts on 9/11. It was so interesting. Without any plan, any leadership, any direction, boat captains just came to the Manhattan harbor and ferried almost 450,000 out of the city. It was a remarkable story of bravery and commitment to do good. I left feeling hopeful.
8- W- PA
I am still trying to schedule a meeting with an oncologist and it has become a royal pain in the ass. There is something wrong with our health care system when people from the richest country in the world have to beg to be seen for a suspicion of cancer.
I hung in the lounge this afternoon and discovered that I left my power cord here yesterday. It is now gone and I have no access to my old laptop.
Deb asked me to join her for dinner at Limoncello and I told her I would join her for a drink only, Three beers and one huge slice of vanilla bean cheesecake later, I emerged as a bloated pig. Needless to say, I didn't get all of my step in tonight.
I ran in to Jill Kingsland in the lobby. She confirmed that she is moving out fo the building by the end of the month. I am going to miss her. So many of the people who were here when I arrived are mostly gone. And I am not meeting people yet because of COVID. Mostly, the building has become a ghost town. It's hard to believe that 300 people live here and I rarely see people.
9- TH- PA
I am forced to use my new laptop. I bought it a year ago and I just hate it. It's bigger and heavier. It is different enough that there is a learning curve to be had. Not all of my data transferred from my old laptop so I am missing too much information. And to make matters worse, I have been away from it for so long that I forgot my user name and my password. I wish a system could be introduced and maintained at that level. This constant force of upgrading is too much to comprehend.
We had a zoom meeting for Sharon's birthday. I think we are all exhausted and tired of zoom meetings.
10- F- PA
Sharon called me in the AM to tell me not to worry about Annum's deadline to get accepted in to Wilmington University. I dont think she has realized how difficult this has been for Annum and for me and I was disappointed in her response.
I had to drive to Jefferson to pick up my MRI disc. I have an appointment with a breast oncologist on Tuesday so she needs to see it. I am getting so damn tired of going to the doctor.
Afterwards, I stopped by and saw Sharon. I only stayed for a quick beer and left before her family came over for her birthday party. I was not in the mood for a crowd.
11- SA- PA
It's the 20th Anniversary of 9/11.
I dropped a storage box of new towels to the local mosque. These will go to the refugees from Afghanistan. I found a whole container of towels in my closet that I have never used before. I am an over consuming asshole.
Then I pulled out all of the linens I have in my apartment. I have a mix and match of about 20 different sheets combination. How did I end up with so much linen and what happened to the complete sets?
Finally, finally, finally, we got to take Sue out to dinner for her 70th birthday. We went to Ardianos in West Chester. Because of the virus, they have limited their menu to a fixed plate option. I didnt like this as much as the other two times I've been there. BUT, for some reason, they only charged us for two meals instead of three meals. So we saved $75. I wonder why they didn't charge us.
12- SU- PA
Tricia had us over for lunch as sort of an end of summer picnic. Bill, William, Lauren, Mike and I hung out for a bit. After two hours, I had to leave to meet Deb Green and others at the Main Stay Brewery (1) in Philly. Then I came home and wasted my evening on watching YouTube videos on survival techniques.
13- M-PA
I had to get up early to go to the damn dentist. Three visits ago, it was decisive that I had a tooth that needed to be capped. Then it was decided that I had two damn teeth that needed to be recapped. So there was an unexpected expense of $1000. So I went back and started the process which then required a follow up. And this new cap didn't world out so I needed another imprint of my mouth taken. And today I went make to get the new cap and now my mouth guard doesn't fit anymore. Fuck, fuck, fuck. These damn things cost $600. Fuck.
I am still washing sheets. I seem to have an abundance of pillow cases.
14- TU- PA
I am sitting in a doctor's office. This is now my third oncologist on my payroll. There is a lesion on my left breast and a specialist has to see it. This effort to stay healthy is getting old. I have been to so many doctors that I no longer worry about any news that I receive. I am here not because I might have breast cancer but because it will quell some of the anxiety my sisters are having over all of these annoying developments.
15- W- PA
I was up earlier than usual so that I could head down to the shore.
16- TH- PA
I left Avalon with relief and panic. Kathy was her usual self today and seemed oblivious as to how aberrant her behavior was last night.
On the way home, I stopped by for a flight at Glasstown Brewing Company (2) in NJ.
We had our weekly meeting to discuss the new Great Dames portal. I thought that we now decided on a platform that my responsibilities would be over. But now, we got talked in to developing a launch for the new site. We have been meeting for months now.
I finally got to speak to one of Kathy's sisters and she was not surprised by Kathy's behavior.
17- F- PA
It was a beautiful day to drive to VA to see Clay Kelly run his first collegiate race. He was running with his Radford team against ten or more other teams in the area. Maybe there were 70 runners and he came in within the top 25%. We were all thrilled and, of course, he was disappointed. He's used to winning.
I got to meet his new girlfriend. She's a good sport. After the meet, Clay had to get back on the team bus and return to his university. We, on the other hand, went out for pizza. So here is the girlfriend with Clay's parents, grandparents, brothers and old aunt and she seems to have a good time.
18- SA- VA
Cindy and I got up and drove to Radford University to pick up Clay. His girlfriend has a school dance that he wanted to attend. So Cindy said she would come get him. She's a good mom.
In the afternoon, we sat around the fire pit and attempted to get a fire going on my little,e portable fire pit. I am taking it on my trip across the country and I wanted to make sure it was going to do what I wanted. And it is perfect.
In the evening, Brian, Cindy, Jameson, Gus and I went to Basic City Beer Company (3). The beer was great. The service sucked. And the company was fun. It's funny to see how much Brian enjoys drinking a flight.
19- SU- VA/PA
It was a gorgeous ride home. The sun was shining. The temperature was perfect and there was no traffic. I did stop at a sporting store and picked up more shit that I absolelty don't need. I have been watching YouTube videos on EDC (Every Day Carry) and so now I am buying stupid little gadgets to help me get through life.
20- M- PA
I texted Kathy F to see if she could meet. She sent back a scathing message of anger. Our relationship is damaged and that breaks my heart.
We had a Great Dames event. The topic was great, "Making Good Trouble." We were asked how much courage we all had and everyone claimed to be courageous but when we were called on to speak up and give an answer, most of the audience had no courage to speak up. I committed to standing in front of Planner Parenthood, in support, for at lease an hour a week. I am filled with good intentions. Let's see if I follow through.
21- TU- PA
I didn't do much of anything today. I have so much anxiety about Kathy. I need to meet up with her. But I am afraid that the longer it takes fro us to meet, the more difficult it will be to convey to her just how creepy her behavior was.
I didnt' know what to with myself so I went to REI to see if there was any outdoors shit that I didnt really need. I am happy to report that I didnt buy anything. I have more than enough equipment for my Router 66 tour.
22- W- PA
My situation with Kathy is weighing on me. She is so angry at me and is avoiding me. I am engaging in too much isolation. I need to turn it around.
I went to Rite Aid to get my flu shot and to see if I could get the Covid Booster here as well. The pharmacology got on my nerves. And I think I got on her nerves and I left with no good answers. And I didnt get either shot . So I went across the street and had an ice cream cone.
23- TH- PA
I started the day with a covid test. After spending the weekend with Gus, who is not vaccinated, I thought I should not be too careless and make sure I am not carrying the virus. We have Deirdre's wedding on Saturday and I would never forgive myself if I brought the virus to the wedding.
It's thundering and lighting and pouring down rain. We may have flash floods in the evening.
Twitter: If you own a gun, you are not pro-life. #AbortionIsAWomansRight.
24- F- PA
It's the day before Deirdre's wedding and the weather is beautiful and tomorrow is supported to be equally beautiful. I can't wait.
I had to have an MRI on my left breast to see if some sort of cyst is there. A pancreases doctor saw something on his MRI last week. So I went to a breast specialist. She did an ultra sound and found nothing. So she sent me to radiation that day and they conducted a 3D mammogram and a more extensive ultra sound. They both found nothing. So they sent me to get an MRI just for the breast and something was found. Now I have to get a biopsy and that is a pain in the ass as I wanted to start my Route 66 road trip on Friday. I am ready to go and this is going to delay me.
My COVID test came back negative as I had thought it would. But now I can go tot he wedding with peace of mind.
25- SA- PA
THE WEDDING WAS GREAT FUN! Deirdre and Kevin got married at the Rodin Museumin Philadelphia. Fifty of us were in attendance.
26- SU- PA
Sharon hosted a siblings' brunch today. I think it's been three years since we were all together. Our last Christmas party was in 2019 but I wasn't there as I was teaching in Bangladesh.
27- M- PA
I took my car to AAA to have them determine if it is up for my trip though Route 66. They called and said it would cost $650 to get it up to par. FUCK.
28-TU- PA
Kathy F and I met up for coffee.
29- W- PA
My mental health is still a challenge today.
I got my Covid booster. That's shot #3 and I think we will probably need another shot at some time. And I wouldn't be surprised if this became a yearly event.
We've had 693.000 covid deaths in the USA and people are still denying that the virus even exists.
30 - TH- PA
I still can't get out of my depression funk.
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