How's your week going?- Week of May 17, 2021

[ProudTVJunkie]

I can't believe May is over half gone already! Perhaps I've just been busy but it feels like this school year will be over before I know it. (FYI, schools in NJ end the third week of June.) Last week I managed to sign my daughter up for three weeks of summer camps through her school. One multi-sport/game camp, one art camp, and one basketball.

Despite the new non-mask mandate, NJ is still requiring masks indoors, and I'm so grateful. Even if they change that, I'll probably wear mine indoors with strangers for some time to come. I just don't trust people to do the right thing to keep everyone safe.

My sister just sent me pictures from Montana. She and her family are moving back there. My 4-year-old niece is already signed up for preschool. The school is mostly outdoors with woods and a small creek. There was an orientation this weekend and it looks like she had an amazing time.

This week feels like the big unknown. We're waiting to hear about jobs and projects. Where we'll be living by the end of the summer is still up in the air. And whether to fix our car or trade it in has become a big concern with no decision made yet. Hopefully, we'll have some positive answers by the time the week is through!

So how is your week going? Check in and let us know what's happening with you.

[tefla]

So ... as of 11am this morning I am partially vaccinated against covid-19. I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine with very little apprehension.

(( Back at the beginning of May I had signed up for an appt for a different vaccine choice but had to end up cancelling it due to my habit of 'fretting' over things that could happen. In this case it was that small pesky chance of developing blood clots from the vaccine )) ... so I then waited only 11 days more before today.

All in all - not a bad experience. Dealing at the moment with the sore arm that is typical of injections like this so I'm not too worried. And the soreness is bearable without me having to reach for any pain medication. So that is good.

I also can't believe that May is half over. It just means that my upcoming birthday is creeping closer and closer.

Anyways - that's the important news from me today. One step closer back to normalcy.


PS: even if mask wearing rules were relaxed in Canada (and or BC) ... I'd still wear mine as well so I completely understand how you feel proudtvjunkie

[geezer2008]

Rikki and I are doing fairly well and so very Happy to be opening up our world a little. We are attending baseball and soccer games for the twins. The parents and us are fully vaccinated so we sit together. We noticed families sitting in clusters and separated from others which is good. 

Quite  a few restaurants here have outside venues for dining so we will do that as it warms up. We had Book Club last week indoors for the first time in over a year. All of us are fully vaccinated. We still sat 6 feet apart. It was great to talk books and visit in a normal setting .

We've been birding and had a great evening recently with lots of great viewing. It's fun when that happens.

We are going to the movies for the 2nd time tomorrow and that, too, has been a good experience for us. The theaters here are keeping seating  separate and requiring masking except when munching goodies. You  preorder your goodies and pick them up at a selected time which works well.

Hope this finds everyone doing well and enjoying Spring
Please continue to be safe!!

[tycho657]

I have been doing my volunteer gigs and cruising along toward my big RV trip to Wyoming and Montana in July. I am in charge of the music for the FMCA Rally in Gillette. I am NOT looking forward to that gig. I need to learn how to say
“ no”.
I still see the 4 kittens that I adopted as my wild kitty family. Glad they are staying safe. Two wild peach faced lovebirds have been taunting them every morning by the pool. They like to fly down and pick at the salt on one of my pool rocks. I don’t want my cats to get them as they are so pretty.
Arizona is moving away from masks as the Governor never mandated masks here. Each city had to do that for their city. I went to two grocery stores and one still had the mandate, the other suggested you wear one. My nail place still required a mask today. The human society where I volunteer just dropped the masks, shields, and temperature checks. 

[ibmjas]

More of my friends than I expected opted to not get vaccinated. I really don't get it. Now every where I go, the signs say Masks preferred, not required. So most people don't wear masks. So far I've been wearing my mask in the stores but no where else. I felt like it was a little soon to get rid of the mask requirement but no one asked me.

Beautiful day here with temps in the 80s. We may have to turn on the air conditioner today!

[ProudTVJunkie]

ibmjas, I agree about it being too soon to ditch the masks. I think I'm going to be careful for some time to come.

However, I am thrilled with the weather this week. It's been in the low-80s and sunny. We don't have central air, so my husband and I will have to put the air conditioner in the bedroom window this weekend. I'm fine with the heat during the day, but I like it cooler to sleep.

Also, my daughter wants a hamster. She actually had my husband and I sit down and gave us an entire presentation, including a google slide show she made on her computer highlighting important information, pros, and cons and how best to deal with the cons. I've never had nor wanted a hamster but she's put so much thought and work into this that we're actually considering it.

[tycho657]

My roommate in college had a hamster. I made her keep the cage in her bedroom. I don’t think she cleaned it like she should have. Her room always reaked of hamster smell 😜 I would get a kitten. Much better and they live longer. Good luck😻

[castlekat]

May 21, 2021 8:07:15 GMT -5 ProudTVJunkie said:

ibmjas , I agree about it being too soon to ditch the masks. I think I'm going to be careful for some time to come.

However, I am thrilled with the weather this week. It's been in the low-80s and sunny. We don't have central air, so my husband and I will have to put the air conditioner in the bedroom window this weekend. I'm fine with the heat during the day, but I like it cooler to sleep.

Also, my daughter wants a hamster. She actually had my husband and I sit down and gave us an entire presentation, including a google slide show she made on her computer highlighting important information, pros, and cons and how best to deal with the cons. I've never had nor wanted a hamster but she's put so much thought and work into this that we're actually considering it.

Hamsters are sweet little things. We let the boys have one when they were little. They were very good about helping me clean it's aquarium (we used an aquarium with a screen top that had clips to secure it because we also had cats).  We loved that little thing. Her name was Cuddles.  She loved her exercise ball and loved being held and played with.  They are like anything else. A pet. You need to take care of them, and that means keeping their home as clean as possible.  And giving them attention and holding them, and feeding them properly.  So many people get pets and just think they can put them on auto-pilot.  Anyway, we loved our Cuddles.  Kate seems to be a very responsible young lady. I'm sure she would enjoy having one.  

[castlekat]

Super hot here today in Ohio. Presently 90 at 7pm. We haven't wanted to turn our air on yet - just doesn't seem like Spring when the air is on, and I love the smells of Spring. My two miniature lilacs are lavishly in bloom, and when the breeze hits just right, I can smell them in my kitchen.

Mask mandates are pretty much optional here now. Most restaurants have resumed dine-in. Personally, I'm glad. I'm a no-masker now that I have the option, and will get my second vaccine Monday. I get it for people who feel safer wearing them. Everyone needs to do what they are comfortable with. It infuriates me that so many family members died alone, in isolation, in nursing homes. I probably would've gotten arrested because I wouldve thrown an ever-loving fit if my mom was in there and I couldn't get to her. I'm an only child, and I'm all she has. I don't think that was right. But that's another ball of wax.

These are scary times. It's hard not to live in fear. I know when it's my time, it's my time. It's my faith that gets me through. But that's me.

[ProudTVJunkie]

tycho657 and castlekat, Not to brag, but my daughter is very responsible. Even after this difficult year, and us living in a very small space, she hasn’t complained. Virtual, hybrid, and now back in school with masks all day, and she’s gotten straight A's all year. I rarely have to remind her to do her homework or practice her violin. She even gets up early to go outside and get in some basketball practice before school.

Personally, I’d prefer a kitten, and we’ve said we’re going to get one after we move, but Kate really seems to have her heart set on a hamster. I can’t even tell you how much research she’s done and how much she's taught me about hamster care in the last two days!

There are still some details to figure out, but we’ll likely have a hamster in the next couple of weeks. I’ll keep you all posted!

[castlekat]

May 21, 2021 21:33:30 GMT -5 ProudTVJunkie said:

tycho657 and castlekat, Not to brag, but my daughter is very responsible. Even after this difficult year, and us living in a very small space, she hasn’t complained. Virtual, hybrid, and now back in school with masks all day, and she’s gotten straight A's all year. I rarely have to remind her to do her homework or practice her violin. She even gets up early to go outside and get in some basketball practice before school.

Personally, I’d prefer a kitten, and we’ve said we’re going to get one after we move, but Kate really seems to have her heart set on a hamster. I can’t even tell you how much research she’s done and how much she's taught me about hamster care in the last two days!

There are still some details to figure out, but we’ll likely have a hamster in the next couple of weeks. I’ll keep you all posted!

That’s awesome! Way to go, Kate! 😍

[tycho657]

May 21, 2021 21:33:30 GMT -5 ProudTVJunkie said:

tycho657 and castlekat, Not to brag, but my daughter is very responsible. Even after this difficult year, and us living in a very small space, she hasn’t complained. Virtual, hybrid, and now back in school with masks all day, and she’s gotten straight A's all year. I rarely have to remind her to do her homework or practice her violin. She even gets up early to go outside and get in some basketball practice before school.

Personally, I’d prefer a kitten, and we’ve said we’re going to get one after we move, but Kate really seems to have her heart set on a hamster. I can’t even tell you how much research she’s done and how much she's taught me about hamster care in the last two days!

There are still some details to figure out, but we’ll likely have a hamster in the next couple of weeks. I’ll keep you all posted!

I have no doubt this will be a wonderful pet for your family. Looking forward to what she names her new pet 😄

[larryholmes]

I learned that today is an unusually special day. Today is the 21st day of the 21st week of the 21st year of the 21st century!