Month: October 2020

Isolation Diary: I am actually isolated at present. I took a couple of trips on Amtrak so I am staying away from everyone for a week and then will get a covid test. Maggie, Adam, and Fig are back east for several more weeks but we had some FaceTime today. This is a pale substitute. While they are gone I am forcing myself to address some house issues. I have a hole in the ceiling, I have a room that is desperate for re-painting. I have a gate that opens and closes reluctantly. I direct my attention to these issues by writing an intention down on a piece of paper which I then place among numerous pieces of paper near or about my computer. These papers get shuffled daily. Mentioning my intention here is another tactic to encourage follow through.

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Jeff W.
Where did you go on the train, if I may ask?

Ruth Silveira
I went to visit my brother in Felton which is just inland from Santa Cruz. I got off in Salinas and Ted picked me up. He and his wife, Lorraine, had to evacuate for a time but when I was there all was quiet, beautiful sky, lovely smells.

Isolation Diary: I mopped the kitchen floor this evening. No one noticed so I am mentioning it here. Also, outside, I pruned back that prickly plant but no one noticed that either.

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JJ Mayes
I need to mop my floor.

Ruth Silveira
Take a photo. We will be witnesses.

Douglas G.
I need to trim the mop on my head!

Susan J.
The floor noticed. And, most assuredly, the prickly plant noticed. Listen carefully; they’re thanking you.

Isolation Diary: Last night I Zoom met with my local library’s Cookies and Comics Book Club. We met once a month before covid and decided to continue. I look forward to this Zoom Meet every month, a good group, a diverse group, great discussions. I hope everyone loves their local library.

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Donnelle P.
I didn’t know you were part of that! I’ve seen flyers for that club before and thought it sounded cool!

Susan J.
But, of utmost importance: were there actual cookies?

Ruth Silveira
Yes. Always when we met in person. Always based in some way on the book. And tea. Now, J, our leader, sends us a recipe which a person could make or not. I did make the cookies this time. The recipe included 2 cups of pureed strawberries. Never seen that before in a cookie recipe. They are okay but will not be added to my Holiday Cookie List.

Isolation Diary: Sometimes one needs a specialty store. One of my top favorites is Light Bulbs Unlimited or LBU, located at Beverly Blvd. and Orlando in LA. It sells light bulbs. And when you need an odd light bulb, which I did today, you do not need to shop around (not a fun thing currently), you go to LBU. Not a university, a retail store.

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Carl G.
In my neighborhood, and a treasure. Sushi bar next door and a good Chinese restaurant across the street (The Mandarette).

Richard L.
I know! I wish my local Just Sweet Relish hadn’t gone under. Because damn Trader Joe’s never has any!

Ruth Silveira
A store that only sold relish? Now that is a specialty.

Isolation Diary: I isolated after my train trip up to Santa Cruz and back (to see my brother); I got a covid test. I received a negative result. (In less than 24 hours!) And so I went to visit some friends today. Who have also been isolated and yearning for company. Two wonderful hours of personal face to face, but at a distance, conversation! Don’t you just love people? They are so much better than blenders and toothbrushes and jigsaw puzzles.

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Claudette W.
Yes !

Anna M.
So true

Carl G.
Where did you take test to get quick results, please?

Ruth Silveira
Dodger Stadium. So easy. Drive through, you stay in your car. Must make an appointment through the county site. I was there for about 40 minutes, inching through the line. Lots of people getting tests I am glad to see.

Carl G.
Ruth Silveira Thanks!

Susan J.
Yeah, but blenders?

Isolation Diary: Today I have had only minimal conversation with another human, namely the person doing plaster repair work in my house. I have written letters to lawmakers concerning matters that concern me deeply. A Senate hearing is being conducted that concerns and offends me deeply. And tonight I have encountered several emotionally searing posts on Facebook. I am wrought. Tearful. I ran out of wine and am drinking Irish Whiskey. (Which I really like.) I distracted myself for awhile tonight by playing a fantasy D and D encounter. I died. And so did my companion. Sometimes tomorrow is the better day.

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Holly B.
Oh would that I could drink Irish Whiskey.!!!!!

Paul B.
Liquor is quicker – prefer Scotch

Natalie R.
I am so glad you wrote. You inspire.

Isolation Diary: Because I know you are all wondering……the plastering repair of the hole in the ceiling and the large cracks in the walls was brilliantly done. I am so pleased. And relieved. Because I stressed and considered about who to hire. Because what do I know? I hired The Plaster Master. Not cheap. But so good. And these days when something goes right I thank the angels. I thank the universe. Next challenge–the painting of these newly patched walls. There are considerations I have learned. New plaster, just FYI, should not be primed with a water based primer. OMG, what am I doing? You do not care about all this. It’s just that…..if I am going to remember any of this I have to talk about it. Have an exchange. Record it somehow. Otherwise, it slips away and I just move on. And there’s nobody here.

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Sabrina A.
I watch home improvement reality TV and have no home, this is content, and it’s super engaging to me!

Isolation Diary: Quick update on the house–got the patching done around the new ceiling fan done today. (How are these things happening so quickly?) Wonky gate will be repaired tomorrow. Don’t have a painter yet, waiting for a quote. (Don’t tell anyone but I don’t have the faintest idea what a good quote would be.) My FB feed tonight was a combination of outrageous reports from DC, heartfelt posts about friends, and some actual information. This is one part of how I end my day. Now I am going to play a simpleminded game to help transition myself into sleep. Good night.

Isolation Diary: I haven’t mentioned Dungeons and Dragons recently. Still playing. A highlight of my week.

Isolation Diary: Two weeks until the election, or the voting cut-off. Will this mean that on November 4th the many many solicitations (spell check just changed my apparent misspelling of ‘solicitations’ to ‘politicians’) for money will cease?!! My rising stress concerning the outcome of the election is balanced by my anticipation of the cessation of alarming and conflicting emails–so and so is cratering and needs money and so and so (the same so and so) is rising and needs money. One (that’s me) can only hope.

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Douglas G.
I suspect we will see money requests to fund the legal fight Dump will certainly make.