Category: Life

On Saturday I was still fighting a small cold and a sore back. Have you ever wondered how easily things are damaged when really, you’ve done very little to injure your back? Yes, well, such is the case with my darned back!

I was thinking that it was time for me to put to rest my old header and some sidebar pictures of my Anneliese. It was time to move forward.

I sort of knew what I wanted to do, and the pictures I wanted to use, but it just wasn’t right until Header number 7. Then I knew that this is good and I loaded it up.

What do you think?

The middle pictures are of Greta’s first litter and amongst the puppies are both Arnie and Anneliese. But they’re babies and it does not pain me the way the pictures of my old girl did.

We’ve also developed the new normal around here. Arnie and Lili are good pals and live quite harmoniously.

It is also nice to live normally with dogs again. In the end, Anneliese was taking so many medications and then at the very end, nothing was helping her. But that is past and now I feed the pups twice a day and life is wildly normal.

I wasn’t very sure I was going to get all my errands done on Saturday before the bank and the Post Office closed, but somehow leaving early and hitting the grocery store first and then getting the banking and the mail, worked out splendidly. I was done well before noon!

I’ve been wanted to go to Plymouth, NH to shop. However, this morning on the news they announced a Covid outbreak at the college there and 166 new cases overnight. They warned people to stay away from Plymouth if they could.

Since we are finally down to single digits of Covid cases here in Meredith, I decided to forgo the trip and shop locally.

One thing I must say about our little grocery store here in town is that our Grocery Store Manager has worked day and night all through the Pandemic to keep our store clean, and safe. The manager is named Joe. I count him as my friend now and always speak to him when I am in the store.

Arnie is settling down. He likes the new little bed I fixed for him in the family room and feels comfortable snuggling in it. He is eating well and also sleeping well. I am hoping the worst is over for my little guy.

So, life is going on. This week I get my eyes checked for new glasses, then next week I go to the dentist. And one day soon, I will be eligible to get my vaccination. Yes, life goes on.

As I sat here on Monday afternoon, watching the snow fall gently in my yard, I began to think that quite soon it will be a year since we entered Covid Madness.

There had been cases, of this virulent type of flu, but quite honestly, no one understood just how much this virus was about to change the world.

I recall March 9, 2020 — The Grand Princess Cruise Ship anchored off the  California Coast. Eventually, she would come to the dock, where people were screened and taken off the ship and sent to centers where they would stay for 2 weeks in order to be sure they were not bringing the virus in with them.

I watched the ship dock. I saw people outside on their balconies. Many probably thought their nightmare was over, when in fact, the nightmare was just beginning for us all.

I watched the people come off the ship. I watched as medical experts, dressed in hazmat suits examined them. I think everywhere people began to fear this virus. I know I did.

The numbers are finally dropping. Vaccines are available. This is all positive, but I wonder how long it will be until we live normal lives again?

It’s been a rough year. I’ve clenched my teeth so much that I actually need to order another mouth guard when I see my dentist in March.

At least Jack has had his first vaccination and will get his second one the first week in March. We’ve learned so much, and yet I think we have a long way to go until this has passed us.

My heart is broken. I watched my beloved Country devolve into a wild, rioting, hate-filled morass! No one was there to protest peacefully. They were there to damage and cause nothing but trouble. Four people are dead. There is talk of removing Trump because he has become unstable. Let Pence serve out the next two and a half weeks.

What we need is peace. What we need is grace. What we need is for those who do support Trump, to step back gracefully, and follow the rules and the laws of this land.

If they do not like our Voting Standards (Which I do feel have become corrupt and need to be completely revised.) then, vote for people who will work on changing the system. I personally like Australia’s Voting Standards.

For right now, we must work together for peace. We must repair our Country from the damage that has been done to it.

Well, I woke up on Saturday morning, January 2nd to more snow falling! It was pretty, but right now with Arnie having an infection on his back, all that “wet” was not welcome at all!

I managed to get the pups to go outside and do their business before they turned around and rushed back into the house! After giving them breakfast, the day dawned and I took them out once again. That’s when I shot this video of the snow and our back yard!

In the end, I think about 3 and a half inches fell. Enough so that I asked Jack to get the snowblower out and clear paths for the pups.

The rest of our day was spent doing some prep work for dinner and of course, spending time taking care of our pups.

Arnie is doing better. For an old man, he still has so much energy! I’m so thankful he is healing so well!

Maribeth

Sometimes there are no words. Words that will bring comfort, and aid in the healing of a situation that one simply cannot fathom.

I remember when Katie passed away, people tried so hard to offer comforting words. Unfortunately, the most often used phrase was: “Oh, if that ever happened to me, I would not want to live!”

Well, you do not have much choice there, so somehow you wake up and get dressed and another day goes on. You with a broken heart, but very much alive.

The next phrase used was “Oh, I know just how you feel.” Ah, no. Not if you haven’t lost a child. For that is an area that I would not wish on anyone.

Well, my young friend’s six-month-old niece has passed away. She was a beautiful, happy, healthy baby, with the sweetest smile.

I feel like using the F-bomb here to express myself because I do know how the baby’s parents are feeling, and thus her Aunt. And my heart is breaking for them all.

My friend has two young children. This will be their first experience with losing a contemporary. They loved their baby cousin and the pictures of them holding her are now priceless.

Today I am praying for the entire family. I know they will make it because somehow you do, but I know that forever, in their hearts, there will be a piece missing.

After eating copious amounts of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, I think I am now turkied out! Tomorrow I plan to make a turkey soup. But I may very well freeze it because I am ready to move onto other foods.

Our day was a quiet one, and I spent time doing some online retail therapy. Christmas is coming fast and I want to be ready for it.

Jack watched an old classic movie, “Mutiny on the Bounty” and I pulled out my Christmas cards and started writing those out. If you would like one PM me your address and I will happily send you one.

I used to write a funny long letter, but frankly, 2020 is not a year I want to look back on. Aside from losing 60 pounds, that’s about all that happened in a positive light. No fun trips or vacations, no dinners out, and no socializing.

Mostly what I wish for in the next year is good health, much happiness, and joy in our lives once again!

As I sit here on Sunday morning, the temperature is a cold 29 degrees with mixed precipitation forecast for in the next 24 hours. Well, why the heck not? I mean right now it seems everything is going downhill, so why not the weather?

I was just watching our local news and I am sure that this will cause panic in the streets. They are telling people that shortages abound, and if you do not have your holiday foodstuffs now then you are up the creek.

About a month ago, I could see the writing on the wall. people were being careless with their masks, and I also saw groups at gatherings and knew it was not good.

I told my family and friends to buy extra canned food and boxed foods, and any paper products they might need. I myself would buy canned soups and vegetables, paper products, and cleaners each time I went. Today I feel like a genius!

I do not need another thing in order to make a Thanksgiving meal for Jack and myself.

On Monday I do plan to go to the recycling center to get rid of our trash and stop both at the Grocery Shop and at the Post Office. Then I am in until after the holiday unless important mail is awaiting us.

So, gentle readers, please wear your masks. Wash your hands often, and stay away from people. And remember, if you can’t have the exact meal you want for Thanksgiving, it’s okay. Better to eat meatloaf, then to be in the hospital for Christmas because you kept shopping for the perfect turkey.

There are times in our lives when it seems that there are only complications, illnesses, and problems around us.  Some days seem eternally long. Like one is stuck on this merry go round with no way off.

Such has life been since earlier this year when the Covid came to call. In the beginning, not knowing too much about the virus I was scared to death. I remember clenching my teeth so tightly that my jaw ached, and made it difficult for me to eat a simple salad.

But as our numbers went down, and we understood more, I began to relax and my jaw stopped aching and although I still was conscientious wearing a mask and practicing good high gene, I did not live in fear.

About a week or so ago, our numbers began to soar. For my little old State of New Hampshire to have between 350-450 cases per day is dramatic. We are a small state. and my small town is registering higher rates too.

The Covid Virus is back and in so many ways it is worse than it was at the start.

As I drove home from my daughter’s home yesterday I looked at the cars around me. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut plates abounded. I found myself being annoyed, as these people are only supposed to come if they Quarantine for 14 days here. And of course, when they return to their own States, they are supposed to quarantine there too. But as I pulled into The Outlet Mall I noted all the out of State cars and it made me both angry and paranoid.

I did my business there and pulled across to BJ’s and got gasoline. Then I hopped on the highway and went home.

I will be going into a lockdown here with Jack as long as our numbers are so high.