Again, in no particular order...
1. Old Job.
2. Road rage. It seems the fewer cars on the road, the fewer assholes behind the wheel.
3. Dress pants. Nothing says Pandemic Chic like leggings in the office, and I am here for it.
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
10 Things I Am Missing
In no particular order...
1. My hairdresser. Yesterday, I missed my monthly appointment with the world's best colorist; my roots are evidence of how badly I need her services. I am sad.
2. The automatic car wash. Lola is a dirty mess. Also, I was utilizing the three-minute wash as a weekly therapy session, and, now I can't. I am depressed.
3. Time spent with friends. I am grateful for my weekly Virtual Cocktails With The Girls, but, I would much prefer to be able to wrap my arms around them. And, I miss Jana Bobana, who can make me laugh and feel better about the world. Mama Jill and the rest of the Booster Moms are also missing from my life. I am lonely.
4. Marshalls. What I would give to be able to spend a relaxing hour perusing the shelves, sniffing candles, and wasting money on things I don't really need. I am jonesing for a retail fix.
5. Sleep. My anxiety wakes me at 3:00 a.m. like clockwork, and, there is no possibility of me falling back to sleep, so, I toss and turn and fret. I am tired.
6. My massage therapist. I have a rib out in my back and the unrelenting, gnawing pain that it is causing me is sapping my will to live. A good massage would pop that sucker right back into place and make me feel a lot better. I am frustrated.
7. Downtime. While everyone else is hunkered down in their homes, baking bread, sewing masks, and producing theatrical TikTok videos, I am spending every spare moment working on the big projects that are rapidly approaching their deadlines at New Job. I am overwhelmed.
8. Peace. I could not tell you the last time I felt truly at peace. I am hopeless.
9. My Mom. I hate that she couldn't be with us on Easter. I hate that she's so isolated in Mayberry. I'm grateful that she is staying safe and healthy, but, sometimes a girl needs her mom, ya know? I am verklempt.
10. The gym. I never thought I would miss sweating on a treadmill, but, here we are. I am shocked.
Word on the street is that we have another two weeks of lock down before things start getting back toward normal. I know I can make it. I know I'll be ok. But, man, I'll never again take for granted the simplest of things. And, I'll have this list to remind me.
But, before go, remember at the beginning of this post, when I said that people were spending their time baking and sewing? Well, count Queen B among them.
She tried her hand at sewing masks for herself and her coworkers. It didn't end well, but she gets points for trying!
1. My hairdresser. Yesterday, I missed my monthly appointment with the world's best colorist; my roots are evidence of how badly I need her services. I am sad.
2. The automatic car wash. Lola is a dirty mess. Also, I was utilizing the three-minute wash as a weekly therapy session, and, now I can't. I am depressed.
3. Time spent with friends. I am grateful for my weekly Virtual Cocktails With The Girls, but, I would much prefer to be able to wrap my arms around them. And, I miss Jana Bobana, who can make me laugh and feel better about the world. Mama Jill and the rest of the Booster Moms are also missing from my life. I am lonely.
4. Marshalls. What I would give to be able to spend a relaxing hour perusing the shelves, sniffing candles, and wasting money on things I don't really need. I am jonesing for a retail fix.
5. Sleep. My anxiety wakes me at 3:00 a.m. like clockwork, and, there is no possibility of me falling back to sleep, so, I toss and turn and fret. I am tired.
6. My massage therapist. I have a rib out in my back and the unrelenting, gnawing pain that it is causing me is sapping my will to live. A good massage would pop that sucker right back into place and make me feel a lot better. I am frustrated.
7. Downtime. While everyone else is hunkered down in their homes, baking bread, sewing masks, and producing theatrical TikTok videos, I am spending every spare moment working on the big projects that are rapidly approaching their deadlines at New Job. I am overwhelmed.
8. Peace. I could not tell you the last time I felt truly at peace. I am hopeless.
9. My Mom. I hate that she couldn't be with us on Easter. I hate that she's so isolated in Mayberry. I'm grateful that she is staying safe and healthy, but, sometimes a girl needs her mom, ya know? I am verklempt.
10. The gym. I never thought I would miss sweating on a treadmill, but, here we are. I am shocked.
Word on the street is that we have another two weeks of lock down before things start getting back toward normal. I know I can make it. I know I'll be ok. But, man, I'll never again take for granted the simplest of things. And, I'll have this list to remind me.
But, before go, remember at the beginning of this post, when I said that people were spending their time baking and sewing? Well, count Queen B among them.
She tried her hand at sewing masks for herself and her coworkers. It didn't end well, but she gets points for trying!
Sunday, April 12, 2020
An Egg of a Different Color: Easter 2020
Easter 2020 will be remembered for being so very different, but, despite the loss of so much personal freedom amidst the corona virus chaos, certain traditions would simply not be denied.
Easter tradition #1, coloring Easter eggs! Most years, we do this in a large group, whether at Mom's house, or here, depending on the year. This year, we gathered together virtually to accomplish the goal, and, while not ideal, it was far better than nothing.
Easter tradition #2, We eat ham and Mom's "homemade" scalloped potatoes (inside joke, here: for years, Queen B was under the impression that Mom's scalloped potatoes were made completely from scratch, she had no idea that Mom added fresh potatoes to a box mix. Once she learned the secret, she was semi-devastated, although, certainly not devastated enough to boycott the potatoes). As an aside, this year's ham was my best effort yet!
This year was a little different, given that we ate the ham and potatoes last night, instead of today. Today's big meal was brunch, which we got to enjoy with The Rodeo Princess and her Prince, and Second-Son, Mikey!
While I am aware that this flies in the face of social distancing and the spirit of quarantine; we all work in fields that have been deemed essential, so we are exposed to the outside world anyway, so...it is what it is. And, brunch was amazing, if I do say so, myself. We had biscuits and gravy, bacon (I made it in the oven for the first time, and, I'll never cook it any other way, again), a ham and cheese egg casserole that was to die for, fruit salad with poppy seed dressing, an assortment of bite-sized pastries, and, raspberry lemonade mimosas that just may become an Easter tradition all on their own.
Easter tradition #3, Easter baskets for my kids. I don't care that my kids are now adults; Easter means a visit from the bunny! This year, the Cub's basket featured t-shirts and a kite (about which he was super-stoked, because BOY), while Queen B's basket was built around art supplies, including acrylic paints, brushes, and colored pencils. Both kids were delighted with their haul.
Hugh got his usual gift from the bunny; Peeps. He is the only human I know who actually likes the things. Go figure. As for me, the bunny dropped off a few items for the next Porch Night charcuterie board...
...now I just need to get the porch ready. And, you know, not be under a quarantine order.
Easter tradition #4, Deviled eggs, because nothing celebrates the resurrection of our Lord and Savior like an appetizer named for Satan. This year, the Man-Cub volunteered to boil and peel the eggs for me, which made the job go that much faster. And, since Mom wasn't with us, we used her recipe, so she would still be included. They were delicious, as usual.
And, that wraps up our Easter! If you celebrate Easter, I hope yours was equally lovely and that you were able to feel the presence of both the holy Spirit and your loved ones, whether they could be physically with you or not. And, if you don't celebrate Easter, I hope your Sunday was especially spectacular, Corona virus or not!
Easter tradition #1, coloring Easter eggs! Most years, we do this in a large group, whether at Mom's house, or here, depending on the year. This year, we gathered together virtually to accomplish the goal, and, while not ideal, it was far better than nothing.
Easter tradition #2, We eat ham and Mom's "homemade" scalloped potatoes (inside joke, here: for years, Queen B was under the impression that Mom's scalloped potatoes were made completely from scratch, she had no idea that Mom added fresh potatoes to a box mix. Once she learned the secret, she was semi-devastated, although, certainly not devastated enough to boycott the potatoes). As an aside, this year's ham was my best effort yet!
This year was a little different, given that we ate the ham and potatoes last night, instead of today. Today's big meal was brunch, which we got to enjoy with The Rodeo Princess and her Prince, and Second-Son, Mikey!
While I am aware that this flies in the face of social distancing and the spirit of quarantine; we all work in fields that have been deemed essential, so we are exposed to the outside world anyway, so...it is what it is. And, brunch was amazing, if I do say so, myself. We had biscuits and gravy, bacon (I made it in the oven for the first time, and, I'll never cook it any other way, again), a ham and cheese egg casserole that was to die for, fruit salad with poppy seed dressing, an assortment of bite-sized pastries, and, raspberry lemonade mimosas that just may become an Easter tradition all on their own.
Easter tradition #3, Easter baskets for my kids. I don't care that my kids are now adults; Easter means a visit from the bunny! This year, the Cub's basket featured t-shirts and a kite (about which he was super-stoked, because BOY), while Queen B's basket was built around art supplies, including acrylic paints, brushes, and colored pencils. Both kids were delighted with their haul.
Hugh got his usual gift from the bunny; Peeps. He is the only human I know who actually likes the things. Go figure. As for me, the bunny dropped off a few items for the next Porch Night charcuterie board...
...now I just need to get the porch ready. And, you know, not be under a quarantine order.
Easter tradition #4, Deviled eggs, because nothing celebrates the resurrection of our Lord and Savior like an appetizer named for Satan. This year, the Man-Cub volunteered to boil and peel the eggs for me, which made the job go that much faster. And, since Mom wasn't with us, we used her recipe, so she would still be included. They were delicious, as usual.
And, that wraps up our Easter! If you celebrate Easter, I hope yours was equally lovely and that you were able to feel the presence of both the holy Spirit and your loved ones, whether they could be physically with you or not. And, if you don't celebrate Easter, I hope your Sunday was especially spectacular, Corona virus or not!
Wednesday, April 08, 2020
Today, I Made My Own Disinfecting Wipes, Like, For REAL
Part of being an essential industry is following all of the social distancing, sanitation, and safety protocols set forth by the Governor. Unfortunately, with disinfectants being so hard to come by these days, the sanitation part of the program is more challenging than one may hope. No worries! If you can manage to scrape together a little bleach and some paper towels, you can make your own disinfecting wipes in a jiffy!
This afternoon, I filmed a member of my team making the wipes for our Facebook page. We managed to slide in a reference to it being Child Abuse Prevention Month, killing two birds with one stone, and, that right there is the most accomplished thing I have done since I started New Job.
I'm kidding.
Sort of.
Anyhoodle, if you would like to make your own disinfecting wipes, here's the skinny:
Supplies:
Gallon-sized pitcher
Measuring spoons
Roll of paper towels, cardboard core removed from the center (hardest part of the project, hands down)
Household bleach
1 1/2 quarts of water
2-3 drops of citrus scented essential oils (optional)
Directions:
Pour 1 1/2 quarts of water into pitcher, add six teaspoons of bleach, give a little stir. Add essential oils, if desired, and stir again. Submerge paper towels in water, apply light pressure for a few minutes, cover pitcher with lid, allow to sit until water has absorbed into paper towels.
Once the towels have absorbed the water, you can dispense them by starting from the center, where you removed the cardboard core. Keep the lid on the pitcher between uses and the wipes will stay moist.
And, that's it. Simple, but effective, and, if the increased traffic on New Job's Facebook page is any indication, highly popular.
Stay safe out there!
This afternoon, I filmed a member of my team making the wipes for our Facebook page. We managed to slide in a reference to it being Child Abuse Prevention Month, killing two birds with one stone, and, that right there is the most accomplished thing I have done since I started New Job.
I'm kidding.
Sort of.
Anyhoodle, if you would like to make your own disinfecting wipes, here's the skinny:
Supplies:
Gallon-sized pitcher
Measuring spoons
Roll of paper towels, cardboard core removed from the center (hardest part of the project, hands down)
Household bleach
1 1/2 quarts of water
2-3 drops of citrus scented essential oils (optional)
Directions:
Pour 1 1/2 quarts of water into pitcher, add six teaspoons of bleach, give a little stir. Add essential oils, if desired, and stir again. Submerge paper towels in water, apply light pressure for a few minutes, cover pitcher with lid, allow to sit until water has absorbed into paper towels.
Once the towels have absorbed the water, you can dispense them by starting from the center, where you removed the cardboard core. Keep the lid on the pitcher between uses and the wipes will stay moist.
And, that's it. Simple, but effective, and, if the increased traffic on New Job's Facebook page is any indication, highly popular.
Stay safe out there!
Monday, April 06, 2020
Yeahhhh...I Got Nuthin'
Covid-19 Lockdown, Day 5,764,923....
...or, maybe it just feels like that for some people? I've heard? Yeah, thing is, I'm still going to work everyday, so, for me, it's Day 5,764,923 of that dismal groundhog movie. It feels like swimming against a a neverending wave of anxiety, with an undertow of depression thrown in, just for funsies.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
It's surreal.
If you had told me a year ago that life would play out like this, I would have said you were crazy. Yet, here we are. I can only hope that, at some point in the not-too-distant-future, we will be looking back on this time and patting ourselves (and, each other, fuck you, social distancing!) on the back for how well we came through it.
Lord, let's hope.
...or, maybe it just feels like that for some people? I've heard? Yeah, thing is, I'm still going to work everyday, so, for me, it's Day 5,764,923 of that dismal groundhog movie. It feels like swimming against a a neverending wave of anxiety, with an undertow of depression thrown in, just for funsies.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
It's surreal.
If you had told me a year ago that life would play out like this, I would have said you were crazy. Yet, here we are. I can only hope that, at some point in the not-too-distant-future, we will be looking back on this time and patting ourselves (and, each other, fuck you, social distancing!) on the back for how well we came through it.
Lord, let's hope.
Monday, March 30, 2020
Thank God I Am (Relatively) Low Maintenance
I'm slowly developing a skunk streak down the center of my head, y'all. This comes as no great surprise, given the fact that I have routinely required a root touch up every four weeks for the past decade or so. So, while not surprising, it sure as shit is annoying.
My plan for dealing with The Stripe of Indignity is to utilize a can of temporary spray-on color for as long as humanly possible before giving up the ghost and embracing my inner old lady, which, I anticipate happening....never.
Sooooo, the makers of spray paint for hair are about to become quite wealthy.
Other than my hair, I really do consider myself to be low maintenance; I don't dip my fingernails, I can paint my own toes, do my own facials, and, I don't require the services of a dermatologist to keep away my frown lines. I'll endure the quarantine, is what I'm saying (janky roots and all).
That being said; I'll also never miss the opportunity for a good self-care plan, and, currently, that plan involves long soaks in a hot bath with a a good sprinkling of scented sea salts, a chilled glass of wine, mellow songs playing in the background, and the reflection of candlelight dancing in the bathroom mirror.
Totally takes my mind off the fact that my scalp is rapidly approaching Pepe le Pew territory.
Totally.
My plan for dealing with The Stripe of Indignity is to utilize a can of temporary spray-on color for as long as humanly possible before giving up the ghost and embracing my inner old lady, which, I anticipate happening....never.
Sooooo, the makers of spray paint for hair are about to become quite wealthy.
Other than my hair, I really do consider myself to be low maintenance; I don't dip my fingernails, I can paint my own toes, do my own facials, and, I don't require the services of a dermatologist to keep away my frown lines. I'll endure the quarantine, is what I'm saying (janky roots and all).
That being said; I'll also never miss the opportunity for a good self-care plan, and, currently, that plan involves long soaks in a hot bath with a a good sprinkling of scented sea salts, a chilled glass of wine, mellow songs playing in the background, and the reflection of candlelight dancing in the bathroom mirror.
Totally takes my mind off the fact that my scalp is rapidly approaching Pepe le Pew territory.
Totally.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
The Isolation Album
One of the surprising gifts of the Covid-19 lockdown has been time; time to remember who I am at my core. Time to remind myself of what's important. Time to reconnect with the things that make me happy. Prior to last weekend, I had not picked up my camera in months; I was so focused on New Job, I couldn't imagine making the time to shoot. That's the longest that I have gone without expressing myself via photography in decades, and, it hollowed me out in a way that I did not know was possible.
Last weekend, I took a drive, stopping to photograph whatever took my fancy. Yesterday, the Man-Cub and I did the same thing. Since we were photographing deserted places and abandoned items, we were keeping with the spirit of isolation, if not completely obeying the stay at home orders (we also had to grab groceries, so, we were doing an essential task, regardless).
I feel better for having created something that I consider beautiful, and, that's a good lesson for me to take from this is. Time is precious; use it accordingly.
Last weekend, I took a drive, stopping to photograph whatever took my fancy. Yesterday, the Man-Cub and I did the same thing. Since we were photographing deserted places and abandoned items, we were keeping with the spirit of isolation, if not completely obeying the stay at home orders (we also had to grab groceries, so, we were doing an essential task, regardless).
I feel better for having created something that I consider beautiful, and, that's a good lesson for me to take from this is. Time is precious; use it accordingly.
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