Good evening my Corona friends and once again wishing you all happiness and health. I don’t know about anyone else but this has been an exceptionally long week for me, and so happy we are on to the next. I had a couple of vaccinations this week that not only left me with two sore arms but a tad feverish. God forbid we find ourselves a little under the weather and I have to break out the thermometer and oximeter to test for the plague, it’s always on the back of your mind, especially since we are spiking once again. We had perfectly glorious weather. Now tonight it is coming to an end with intense weather warnings with heavy wind and rain. I think we are coming to an end of all our lovely Alfresco dining in my neighborhood, plus we are in the midst of another spike and curfew in place. I had to break out the down jacket for the first time since Corona started and have to admit it was kind of weird. When we were first in lockdown and adjusting to life in lockdown Techie and I would wander the streets on our daily expeditions exploring all over the city and I wore this down jacket.  I got this coat at Costco a year or two ago for about 35 bucks and I like it because it is very lightweight. Now I have deemed it the Covid coat and I am dreaming of the day I can burn it. Well, I actually won’t burn it because I am sure it would be useful to someone but I dream of the day it won’t be on my coat tree.  We are approaching giving up a year of our lives to this pandemic and I am regretting all the things I didn’t accomplish in my downtime. I was going to learn Spanish and signed up for Babel but soon decide this is ridiculous and I need to live in a place where people only spoke Spanish but since there is a travel ban, It is not going to happen anytime soon. I have cleaned out my spice cabinet but haven’t managed to complete the other cupboards. I am saving my linen closet for a snow day, albeit just a few shelves next to my washer and dryer, because of my limited space. Managed to frame a few additional family photos but most went back in the storage container because I ran out of space to put them and may need a project later this winter. There has been an upside I mean I have my roommate cooking some lovely meals out of a box and the other day says he is ready to break out on his own and use a recipe. This is great news but I can’t imagine what kind of mess will be in the kitchen when he is breaking out more than a few pots and pans, right now it has pretty much been contained to a frying pan and a baking sheet. I did just pick up one of my hero’s new book, Modern comfort food, by Ina Garten, and have been staring at it lovingly on my kitchen counter. I loved the forward about instead of reaching for a pint of ice cream or cold martini she has some recipes to satisfy your cravings and warm your soul.  I have sipped a nice cold martini while browsing the book and I think there are a few things here that even techie can make to perfection. The week after next will be our favorite holiday. I think it is also the same for most people but this year will be quite different, notably by the size and by who is absent.  We all will probably gain some time but not traveling and stressing over this holiday and just remember this is a one-time pass, as I am declaring that next year will be totally different. This may be the year you and your partner or small circle decide to order Chinese takeout instead of waiting till New Year’s, or if you are Jewish Christmas Eve.  I think the path to surviving the next month or so is really changing it up and not relying on what has always been because nothing has ever been like this in my lifetime. I am lucky haven’t been kicked to the curb yet as I stay up all night watching TV and he can’t hide from it just has to learn to sleep through it. I may have mentioned I have been binging on Silent Witness. I am on season 18 and there are 21 so getting to the end.  I don’t know why I find it as addictive as it is so macabre in so many ways that when I do fall asleep my dreams are really bizarre. I have brought so many of the people in my life into these episodes, I mean the cashier at Trader Joes showing up in one of the homicides. I am beginning to question my sanity, is it because they were out of the mini cones last week?

Just sayin………….