Cincinnati Day 7 - May 11

Running: Happened first thing.  Because, yo, I had a big day today. 

Morning: was spent with an old friend drinking coffee, eating breakfast, walking, and playing with dogs and cats.  Spoiler alert: all of her animals that were awake loved me, even the super shy cat.  Because I am the best.  She took me over the purple people bridge just days before it started falling apart.  It's been determined that if I ever get a dog it should be a doberman.  (I want a short haired mildly big dog that looks like it'll eat your face off but is actually super sweet and just lays around.  Also, I don't really want a dog.  This is just in my imagination.) 

Lunch: I ate defensively because I knew what was about to happen next.

Costco with Mom: We hit up Costco big time.  I got a new pillow for my Cincinnati bed because I was unhappy with my current options, and two surf shirts.  Because, yo, I am going on vacation!  Mom came away with like $350 worth of goods including nuts, laundry soap, regular soap, mouth wash for the year, and I don't really know what else.  I did not buy pots and pans here.  (Mom and Dad's current big non stick skilled it warped as hell and does not sit flat on the glass top stove.)  It's pretty liberating to shop at Costco when you can only buy things that'll fit in a carry on suit case.

Soccer: Some of my favorite people in Kentucky headed impressively far north for a make up soccer game for the little guy.  I'd seen the big one play in September when I was in town.  Super fun to see the other guy play, hang out with the family, and, yo, plan for vacation!

Cincinnati Day 6 - May 10

Well. I worked all day.

This was planned and on purpose, and I enjoy this part of my job.  It was also the one single day I'd agreed to work remotely for sure for the whole trip.  (And the only 'work' day that I kept.)

I was wiped out and exhausted most of the day. I just felt like I never really woke up. Certainly not the first day in the pandemic I felt like I was sleep walking through life.

At the end of the day, I went out and ran for a while to find my sanity. I'm not sure it worked.  During my run I saw a helicopter flying over head.  After the year we've had up in the Cities, I'm not a fan.  Though they fly over Mom and Dad's house for very different reasons than in the Cities.  They are in one of the flight paths to the small airport where a lot of helicopters and small crafts are serviced. 

Cincinnati Day 5 - May 9

Running: Was first thing because of the weather. Afterwards, Mom and I jazzercised in the basement via zoom.  Part of Mom's day is me dancing with her.  It was fun.  The instructor has an internal monologue that just comes on the outside and it was hilarious.

Brunch: I made crepes which are always a request of Mom's.  We tried something new with the berries and all agreed it was better this way.  Frozen berries, heated up and somewhat cooked down.  No sugar or thickener, just cooked down a bit.  It makes them super sweet.

Afternoon: Yo, it rained all day so I napped and read the news and watched sports with Dad.  Mom broke google sheets while she was trying to do minutes for an organization she serves.  So she was out of commission.

Supper: Homemade Tom Ka Gai.  This was more of a "trust me, you'll like this" meal.  They did like it. 

Afterwards: So, Dad thought there was to be a Factime call.  Turns out that text was on a thread last used April 11 and that's when the call was.  Dad obviously forgot that'd happened.  So when everyone asks how Dad's doing with his things, about like that.  But I did help him start the Facetime call that he thought was coming, so there was an impromptu siblings call that was utter chaos.  Then we had a much more chill call with my Pooky Bear and the Qat Lady. 

Cincinnati Day 4 - May 8

Run: I'm surprised to tell you I woke up and ran, and I went 4 miles.  It was a fun run actually.  I focused on running the downs and walking the ups, and this route had plenty of both.  Bonus, it was open and legal for me to be there the whole time as well!

Afternoon: I hung out with an old friend from high school and her family including twin preschoolers and a 2nd grader.  I learned about Minecraft and other video games.  I hope Grandma likes her Nintendo so she can play animal crossing.  We walked around Sharon Woods.  I've already told Mom and Dad this is where they're having their 50th wedding anniversary party next year.  I've also told them I'm already getting pressure not to screw this one up from Dungeon Master of all places.

Evening: We hung out on a neighbor's patio and had supper.  Everyone else there is in my parents generation.  But we're all technically adults too, so that can be weird.

Cincinnati Day 3 - May 7

Morning: Today was Jungle Jim's day.  And if you don't know Jungle Jim's, I can't quite describe it.  If you've seen the YouTube videos it's both more and less of what you think it is. This time I went with an agenda which I highly recommend. Friday night supper was to be Mushroom soup and Sunday night was Tom Ka Gai so I got loads and loads of fresh ingredients. 

When we got home I put in the ingredients for chicken broth in the crock pot and made the veggie salad. Everything else went in the fridge.

Lunch: Is it possible this is the first time I had goetta this trip?   That doesn't seem right.

Nap: Afternoon naps have definitely been a thing this trip.

Run: I decided to head the other way on Wasson Way (towards Kroger vs Ault Park).  This part of the trail is not yet paved.  Today I learned this part of the trail is actually closed. I told mom she'd played a nice trick on me, like the time she sent me down Grandin Rd and told me it was flat. 

Supper: Mushroom soup is awesome.  As always.

Cincinnati Day 2 - May 6

Chaos Morning: Well, obviously I slept in pretty hard on this day. Mom and I took a walk in Ault Park in the morning.  Spring flowers including irises and columbine are out.  Hastas always look good.

Later: Mom and Dad have been dealing with a smell issue in Mom's office. A nice man named TJ who works for their property management people came over and diagnosed the smell as a dead animal, not water incursion or mold (that's it's own post).  Once reasoning was explained, I understood and agreed.

Run: While TJ was exploring my parents attic, I spent some time briefly exploring the newer parts of the Wasson Way trail that are near Mom and Dad's house.  The part that connects to the park hasn't been paved yet.  More on that later. 

Afternoon: Mom needed to work so I took a hard nap. 

Supper: I'd requested Bangkok Bistro.  One of my favorites. Though this time, I was trying to dissect the ingredients in the dish I like. 

Cincinnati Day 1 - May 5

 Run: I woke up and ran to the sun coming up in Mpls.

Travel: Captain Smiley took me to the airport.  Where no one has heard of social distancing.  I had the golden arches for breakfast and a fairly easy flight to Cincy.  It was not 100% full but almost. 

Skyline: Obviously I made a beeline for Skyline when we got home.  We had drive through and took it home to game plan for the week.

Plant Nursery: In what I hope is the first of many trips, Mom and I hit up the plant nursery of her choice.  It's supposed to rain on Mother's Day so we were preemptively shopping.  Mom's garden this year will be pink and white.  Her plants of choice include begonias, geraniums, and columbine. 

Supper: We had a bonus shopping trip to Kroger because we needed mushrooms for Dad to make supper.  Kroger has changed a lot.  They remodeled the whole store.  The footprint for the alcohol section is massively bigger (and it was not small before).  Dad cooked chicken piccata. We couldn't find exactly the right mushrooms, but it was good for what it was.

Gardens!

Plant update
Lavender: Dead.  This is not a perennial in Minnesota.
Potted strawberries and mint: Also dead.  I am disappointed as I was told this shit would come back.
Hydrangea: Coming along.  She got lots of water today.
Bee balm: Flourishing.  If I ever don't know what to plant, I'll just get more of that.
Catalpa 1: Doing fine because her gator bag works correctly.
Catalpa 2 (southie): Also starting to grow leaves.  I found the hole in the bag though.  
Follow up with Southie: Mpls Park Board Forestry Service is lovely to talk with on the telephone, and they are sending someone out with a new bag eventually.

run streak update

 A couple of thoughts on the run streak: 

I checked today.  If I registered my run streak, I'd be in the top 500 streakers in the world, and the top 100 women. <i>Why don't you register?</i>  I said it's the same reason I don't like putting away my clean dishes.  OMG Blogger, I hate you!!!!!

Also, honestly, very very early, in the streak I started for myself, there were elliptical only workouts. So I'd need to find a different date to register for the start of the run streak, different than what I genuinely consider the start of my streak.

Second funny story: One of the blogs I love, the author was all "I don't trust running shorts on Amazon that are $15" or similar.  And I'm all "you need to try a running streak".  Because, yo, the running streak has taught me what clothes, and running clothes, and regular clothes actually do. And for serious, $15 shorts from Amazon are fine for many many many workouts. 

April 20, 2021

 Today started like any other day.

I worked.  I'm seeing more people in person.  I came home in the middle of the day to wrap up with phone calls, etc. 

Around 3pm my phone started BLOWING UP, as did my work computer.  The verdict will be announced at 3:30 or 4pm, the Governor is expected to declare a curfew and a state of emergency in Mpls, and it's okay to switch patients to telehealth tomorrow if needed.  Oh, and Olive went to work in Brooklyn Center at 3pm so I was blowing up her phone with all this info telling her to go home.

Obviously, I went out to run my mile, so I could be back by 3:30pm.  

I called Mom and had her watch the news with me.  It was after 4pm when they announced the verdict.  I was surprised on the most serious of the charges, and then super relieved as the more and more guilty verdicts came in.  And then, when they cuffed him, gut punch.  And so obviously I was sobbing with Mom on the phone. Captain Smiley had me come over for a minute and then I was sobbing in his arms too. 

All of the emotions are everywhere.  

Dungeon Master asked if I wanted to walk.  I was all "I don't think I can?" and added "I can only pay attention to something for a few minutes right now.  I stand up.  I sit down.  I do that..."  And obviously five minutes later I was done with that call.  Because, yo, I can only pay attention to something for a few minutes right now.

I heard AG Ellison's address.  I have not heard Gov Walz address yet.  I assume he's made one.

I have at least one friend downtown at that vigil and one friend at 38th and Chicago at that vigil.  It's really amazing to see all these pics on tv. Everyone is kind of processing their relief, and grief and everything all at once together, which of course makes it more powerful. 

This is what I'll remember from today:

COVID Diaries - February 15, 2021

 

COVID Diaries - Singles Awareness Day, 2021

 

Lockdown day whatever. Liz in her house day 3 at least

 Today was a super sad day.

I've talked a lot about the city of Buffalo on this blog.  Some of my favorite lake spots and running spots are out there.  As well as a lovely cider orchard that Dungeon Master and I hit up one time.

There was a horrific shooting at a medical clinic in Buffalo today.  I will say I'm familiar with the clinic.  Victims have not been named but I'm fairly certain I'm going to know either the person who was murdered or one of the critical patients.  One person was shot, treated, and released. One person has died.  Three are in critical condition at this time.

So, yeah.  My day stopped around the time my phone blew up with people checking in with me. 

I'd originally planned to actually leave my house today, run on a treadmill, and attempt a weights workout.  That didn't happen.  Instead, this is day 3 of my Living Room Mile streak.  (That's one streak that can end any day now.) It's day 2,000 of me not seeing another human being.  (Not really; it's Tuesday and it's been since Saturday?).  I was so emotionally wrecked, I pretty much stopped and walked it out after I knew I'd hit my mile.  That's not a thing I do too often.

I am apparently the captain of Doom Scrolling.  Found that out today as well.  Sigh.

We're going to try it again tomorrow.  I've invited the Qat Lady over for Jazzercise and more fried squid.  And Captain Smiley for squid.  I don't think he's into the Jazzercise.  We'll see.

Liz Dreams: Pooky Cub Bearnapping

Worst COVID dream ever: 

Pooky Cub was a bit older and we had this game where she would see me and this run into me.  (Only good part of the dream.) 

So, she was in day care and day care was at a book store (Barnes N Noble?).  And I saw here there, so she runs over and runs into my legs and I pick her up and we visit.

Well for some reason I wanted to take her across the street to a mall?
So, I just put her in the back seat of my car like "sit still child and don't fall over, this'll be fine".  And we had fun at the mall.
 

But then someone was like "what the f^ck, you took a kid out of day care without telling an adult?!?!  They'll be calling the parents and the police about now". And I was all "I can't tell Pooky Bear, because I shouldn't have taken her to the mall without a car seat"
 

So, we drove back over to Barnes N Noble.  Again without a car seat.  And acted like nothing happened.
Pooky Bear and the police had not been called.
 

But then when it was time for parent pick up, I was with Pooky Bear (?!?)   Pooky Cub and I practiced making sure the staff knew we were leaving.

So, I woke up feeling like a horrible friend and not sure Pooky would ever want her kid to be around me again.  I'm sorry for what dream me did!!!

Cooking Adventures!

Tonight, finally, My Pooky Bear and Qat Lady came over for a (COVID safe) visit. 

I absolutely love it when people come to see me.  If I'd gone to one of their homes tonight, yo, I would've left so early in the evening because I hate getting into a cold car and it would've been on my mind.  Not an issue when I don't have to drive home, right? 

We did Christmas (finally).  I am the proud owner of pretty plants and pretty pots.  Because these girls are my people.

For supper, we had Simple Mushroom Soup and Salt and Pepper Squid  Pooky Bear helped me with the mushrooms.  They both made me cut and clean the squid.  (What is the difference between squid and cuttlefish?  I'm pretty sure I had cuttlefish or a baby octopus.)  And then Qat Lady actually dealt with frying up the squid while I made a dipping sauce for us. 

Qat Lady tried Wood Ear mushrooms for the first time.  She did not like the looks of them at first, but got braver and braver as the night went on. "Oh yeah; they taste okay" (which means "they don't taste as funky as they look").  I was pleasantly surprised that my super texture eater friend Pooky was totally down on the mushroom soup.

My house is much cleaner when people come to see me, btw.  I spent some time today working on that, including vacuuming. But mostly, yo, I just got to hang out and visit.  With people.  It was lovely. 

COVID Diaries - January 22, 2021

 

COVID Diaries - January 18, 2021

 

COVID Diaries - January 17, 2021

 

COVID Diaries January 12, 2021

 

COVID Diaries, January 11, 2021