Week 4 - The Big Clean

It was another quiet pandemic week but with plenty of interactions and lots of productivity.

I finished slogging through the last of the front room on MLK Day then went to knitting but kept my mask on and sat socially distant from everyone. Better safe than sorry. Janet had a bunch of yarn in her car that she was going to donate to Goodwill but gave to me instead. I had a happy time sorting the yarn - some for my sister, some for Anne, a few for me and a bunch for my neighbor. I still have my sister's box to ship but it'll have to wait until I go to UPS in Lincoln.

The weather was going to turn cold so I made sure to get my grab and go on Tuesday so I could stay home and cozy for the rest of the week. On Wednesday I had my monthly zoom PD with Paul (always fun) and then had a burst of energy at 5:00 and got some chores done after work. I hope I can keep that up since we I now have 30 minutes of daylight after work to be productive before dark.

I enjoyed my favorite Grocery Girls over lunch on Thursday and then messaged with Helen before bed. That was followed with actually talking with her after work on Friday, which was fun. Before she called, I popped the Jiffy Pop Dottie put in my stocking (yes it still exists but is a total pain in the butt with all that shaking) and watched the new Matrix movie. It's been decades since I've seen the others so I was pretty lost. Oh well. I finished the movie after I hung up with Helen and went to bed hoping for a good night's sleep so I'd be all set for a super productive weekend. 

My mission was to clean the front room now that it had been cleared out and organized. I started at the ceiling and worked my way down to the floor. I got out the Pledge and dusted the furniture, which hadn't been done in years. I have 4 windows in the front room and it took 2 hours to clean them. By clean I mean scraping dust with a screwdriver, vacuuming every crevice, wiping them down and only then washing the actual windows. I was pretty tired after all that but made myself do the floors since that would mean I'd be done with cleaning. I rewarded myself with a burger and fries from Chips (a Wahoo restaurant) but the fries were a soggy mess after being shut in the takeout container. Oh well.

The only thing I had left for Sunday was putting the rugs back down and vacuuming them then washing the valances, ironing them and hanging them back up. I chatted with my sister and a friend on Sunday morning then got all that done after lunch. I got a call from Rene asking if she could stop by on her way back from Omaha with lemons she'd picked on her Arizona trip. We chatted for a couple of hours, drinking Christmas Cookie beer and earing PB&J bread that I'd made that afternoon. It was a lovely end to a productive weekend. And it's still a rarity to have someone in my house. Will this pandemic ever be over? I live in hope.

Week 3 - Quiet Pandemic Week

It was a quiet week at home as omicron spread all around me. It just didn't seem to let up as it impacted more and more of my life.

First thing was Monday Night Knitting didn't happen since Andrea and I were the only ones going and one of our members was sick with something that sounded suspiciously like Covid. I was told on Monday morning to plan to work from home for a couple of weeks due to the high positive rates on campus. By Tuesday morning, it had become a month at home. Since I'd be perfectly happy to work from home until retirement (2 years from May but who's counting!), I was fine with that.

That said, it was the week for staff to do re-entry testing. If you didn't get tested (and test negative, of course), you wouldn't be welcome on campus at all. And while I don't WANT to work on campus, I want the option to should the need arise so I wanted to get tested. The weather on Thursday was gorgeous - sunny and in the 50's - so I felt the need to take advantage and do something. But when you only decide this in the morning, no one is available to play. Insert sad face here.

After ridiculous amounts of indecision, I decided against taking vacation time to play alone and so opted to book an appointment for a test on campus. They were closing at 4:00 and I couldn't get a timeslot on East Campus so booked a 3:45 on City Campus and headed off. And you know me - if I was going to Lincoln I was going to make it worth the drive. I dropped an undelivered Christmas present on a friend's windshield on campus then parked at a meter and headed to the spit hit. I must be a spit prodigy because I filled the tube in a minute then went to drop things in my office. From there I went to the Library Commission to pick up our next book club pick, to St. Louise's for some happy thrifting (found some goodies) then went to another friend's to drop something in his door since he was out of town, which would have left me with 30 minutes to kill before meeting Darla. But when I approached his house, his mom was there feeding his dog so we had a wonderful chat on his porch. Bertha and I hit it off immediately and vowed to plan lunch for the 3 of us sometime soon. I met Darla for a fruitless Goodwill run but we caught up as we did the aisles. So far a very successful trip to Lincoln.

But my day wasn't over. It was Cindy's birthday and I was going to Waverly to surprise her with a hat I'd knitted and some cookies from The Cookie Company, which I'd bought after picking up the books. She was indeed surprised and we sat at her table talking with her son's girlfriend for 2 hours. It felt SO NORMAL. I have made zoom work but there really is nothing as nice as seeing people in person. I didn't get home until 8:30 and since all I'd eaten since lunch was a piece of toast with the quark cheese Cindy had made, I was pretty hungry but nothing a bowl of cereal didn't fix. What a great day! And since it was for a Covid test, I didn't have to take vacation time. Win win.

The weather changed overnight and by Friday morning, the ground was covered with black ice and then it started snowing. It snowed for most of the day and the wind was blowing but by the end of it all, we only had an inch or so. Works for me.

My entire plan for the weekend was to work in my front room. The Ikea was 90% done but the rest of the room was a disaster with crap piled on the hutch and boxes of junk on the floor. I'm happy to say that over the course of the weekend, I finished stage 1 of the front room. While I did put a few things in my donate bag, which has a permanent spot in the corner of my bedroom, it was more about putting things away. I have a couple of things to decide where to put but the organization is done and now it's time for the deep clean. I have one more weekend in January and so am confident I can get it done and have a successful first month of my "do a room a month this winter" plan. I'll do some after pictures of the hutch after that's dusted next weekend. Stay tuned.

Week 2 - Back to Work

It was back to reality, and work, on Monday and I can't say I was looking forward to it. But before I could dig into work, I had to dig something else out.

My incision was sore and itchy - something was clearly wrong. I called my dermatologist's office and they got me in for an 11:00 appointment at their north Lincoln office, which saved me lots of driving. They found a piece of suture stuck in my neck that was causing all the trouble as my body tried to reject it. I left with a bandaid on my neck and 2 prescriptions - more antibiotics and antibacterial ointment. All worth it if my neck would finally heal. After a stop at the HyVee near the office, where I bought lunch and scored 2 scones for the price of 1, I headed back home to work on monthly reports.

I wish I could say it was all up hill with my neck but on Tuesday I got a big ole rash from the bandaids on my neck, which had me itching up a storm and taking a shower in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. I put steroid cream on the rash and the ointment on the incision and after a couple of days, it did turn a corner. About time!

Otherwise, the week was fine. There was nothing pressing on my calendar so it was a nice easing back into work. The weather turned frigid cold on Tuesday afternoon, right after I did a blitz of errands at lunch, so I happily stayed inside and got caught up at work, only venturing outside to keep the bird feeders filled. The highs on Wednesday and Thursday were in the single digits with wind chills around -20. It started to warm up on Friday and after a perfectly pleasant work week, I ran to Fremont at the end of the day to get groceries. I was prepared to hunker down for the weekend and had a big to do list. I was raring to go!

Saturday was the only above freezing day so I started the day stripping my bed and flipping the mattress before washing all the linens and hanging them on the line. Well, I actually spent most of the morning sitting in the sun in my nightie and knitting but the wash was on the line before noon, which is when it went above freezing. I then cleaned up the kitchen and went downstairs to do some mending. All Gansey chewed items, including my favorite nightie. Rotten cat but I got it done. I relaxed after dinner and was just about to head to bed when my cousin called at 9:35 with a knitting question. We were still talking at midnight. It was lovely.

I slept late Sunday for obvious reasons and was looking forward to a friend stopping after church. I waited and waited, my stomach growling as I was waiting to eat lunch until after she left. I called after 1:00 and she picked up the phone. She had driven by my house but didn't stop because the garage door was shut. Hello! It was windy so I shut it the previous night. Grrr.... I ate a quick lunch then started my next project - the freezer. 

I was determined to remove the dead ice maker but had to be rescued by Andrea when I didn't have a socket and couldn't get the last bolt lose with my needle nosed pliers. I did get it out and then completely organized the freezer. Only a couple of things hit the trash and a couple of mystery items got thawed but otherwise it was just all put back along with a bin and ice cube trays on the door shelf to make my own ice. That project had been on my list for ages so it felt great to have it done. And now I know what's in my freezer. Clearly I don't need to buy any meat for a LONG time. With omicron running rampant, having a house full of food isn't all bad.

I took a break for a cup of tea and then it was on to my last project for the weekend. I always enjoy the Christmas tree lighting up the corner of my back room when it's dark in the morning (I missed my last morning by sleeping late - oh well) but it was time to take it, and all the other Christmas decorations, down. It was the smallest tree I'd ever had so it didn't take long but it was the last thing on my list so I was pleased as punch to get it done. I moved a big geranium to where the tree was but need to work on some lights. Anyway... with all that done, it was time for a relaxing evening of knitting and PBS. 

So, not a bad week. Progress on my neck and my house in a pleasant re-entry week at work. My goal for the winter is to go through one room each month until spring so on the next weekend, a long one due to MLK Day, I'll be starting in the front room. I still had some yarn sorting to finish up and the hutch needs to be cleared and made pretty, which will mean finding new homes or donating lots of stuff. Once the stuff is under control, it'll be cleaning time. Can I do it before garden seasons starts? I sure hope so. Wish me luck.

Week 1 - A Perfect Break

As usual, I made a list of projects for my week off and as usual, I only made a dent but I did manage to do enough to not feel like a slacker.

The week started with tea with Lorri on Monday. She had invited me to her house but called after lunch to say the roofers had arrived early and the din at her house was crazy loud. It was a good thing I'd done some neatizing and even a bit of cleaning already because she came to me. She brought a plate of treats and I furnished the tea. It was lovely and I ended the day with knitting at the library for more fun.

My  other friend Lori (one R, who lives in Omaha) had invited me to meet her and her sister in Omaha on Monday too but I begged off until Tuesday. I went there for noon and we had Chinese food then chatted and knitted afterwards. I had errands to run on the way home and since the weather was changing, I left just after Linda did at 3:00. I had planned to grocery shop and hit Dollar Tree for more bins to finish the yarn sorting onto my Ikea but somehow missed the Dollar Tree and it was so cold and windy that I didn't go back. I hit Aldi then headed home.

It's a good thing I front loaded the week with socializing because winter weather had arrived and it was time to hunker down. And when I say winter weather, I mean highs in the single digits and wind chills in the vicinity of -20. I had some fun dyeing self-striping yarn, which involves creating a 20 foot hank. I set dining room chairs at the corners of the front room and walked around, wrapping the yarn around the chairs. Then after I dyed the yarn and it dried, I had to put it back on the chairs and wind it into a ball. I dyed these 2 skeins and can't wait to see how they knit up.

I had been taking the antibiotics for my infected incision, which Nan had taken the stitches out of on Monday at knitting, but it wasn't healing well. I woke up with stabbing pain at 4:30 on Friday and there was pus. Ick. I tried to get in touch with the dermatologist but despite not having anything on their website, Facebook page or voice mail about holiday hours, they were clearly closed. So I called the clinic in town and they fit me in. The PA looked at it, suggested that there might be part of a suture that didn't come out and said I should leave it uncovered, stop putting Neosporin on it and call the dermatologist on Monday. I had hoped it would get better but by the end of the weekend, it was still painful and has pus every morning when I wake up. Clearly I'll be calling the dermatologist and can only hope there won't be more cutting and stitching. 

I did nothing for New year's Eve although I did stay up until midnight but only because I streamed so late that I figured I could cast on my January socks at midnight. How's that for celebrating? Any thought I might have had about having a friend or 2 over as a replacement for my New Year's Knitters' Tea was nixed by  Saturday's weather. Between the -20 wind chill and the snow that fell all day, I put a cabbage casserole in the oven and called my Auntie Margaret, who will be 100 on January 10th. We didn't talk long so I settled in to knit and stream. I was watching Better Call Saul and the day flew by. 

At least there was sun on Sunday so I enjoyed it all morning while chatting with my sisters, my cousin Bette and my friend Deanne. After doing a few dishes, I moved to the front room to read in the sun with a cup of tea. And just like that, my winter break was over. I have to say it was totally enjoyable. I did just enough chores to justify the fun and it was extended two extra days so didn't feel like it was over in a flash. Back to reality in the morning. Happy New Year!

2022 - Just One Word

Well, yet another year where the previous word didn't quite work out. Last year's word was reclaim because I had hoped to reclaim normalcy after the vaccine came out. Not so much. With so many people unwilling to trust science and get vaccinated, Covid has just kept chugging along. I got my shot in April after talking myself into UNL's vaccination program and managed to do some reclaiming in the yard but it was all rushed because of my knee replacement in May. So while everyone who got the shot was breathing a sigh of relief and getting out and about, I was home with my knee up and going to PT constantly. After fiscal year end, I did manage a trip to RI for another fabulous week at the beach with John but Delta hit just as I was coming home. I managed some more yard work in the fall and went on a cruise over Thanksgiving, only to hear about Omicron on our last day onboard, which nixed my Christmas trip. So while I did manage some hints of normal, Covid overshadowed the entire year. I'm still waiting to reclaim some normal.

With another year of a mostly failed word, I've decided to go for something less tangible but desperately needed. My word for 2022 is:

Peace

Why peace you ask? Because I have spent way too much time and energy in the past year worrying and stressing about my unvaccinated friends and family. There is nothing I can say to convince them of the error of their ways and so I need to work on letting things go and not wasting energy on what I can't change. So in 2022, I will be exploring ways to cope in hopes for a more peaceful year ahead. Wish me luck.

Week 52 - Another Covid Christmas

Well, it was another covid Christmas but I made the best of it and managed some fun.

Since we'd been given the extra 2 days added to break, a few of us were going into the office on Tuesday since we'd all be home on Wednesday and Cindy and I were hosting lunch. I had baked cookies on Sunday but was also taking a loaf of bread and cottage cheese dip so got those ready on Monday before taking some cookies to knitting. After that, I wrapped the presents I'd be taking to my work friends. I also got completely ready to be up and out on Tuesday, set my alarm and went to bed.

It did well getting to work at 8:00 (all that prep worked) and, as usual, it felt weird to be in the office and it was really my first full day working in the new office. If there'd been work going on. I'd sent an invite for coffee and a spit test for 9:30 but Starbuck's was closed so it was just spitting for the last test of the semester because why not? I spent the rest of the morning training a new employee so that I could say I'd gotten some work done and then it was time for lunch. There were only 8 of us in and it was great to sit around, chatting over yummy food. When we were pretty much all done eating, the Vice Chancellor popped in to say goodbye since he's leaving UNL for a new job. He was super chatty and was still the boss so we visited for another hour then told us we could leave early. Nice. I took a walk with Dodie, came back for half an hour and then was done for 11 glorious days.

My plan was to get a shingles shot on the way home and I'd made an appointment at Walgreen's but they wanted $130 for the shot and had a list of charges, which included a drug deductible. Well if I have to pay that much, you can bet your butt I'll do it in January so it counts towards 2022's deductible so I'd wasted precious time and headed straight home without grocery shopping, which had been the plan. Starting break was more important.

I had 3 days of leisure before Christmas. Glorious! I spent the mornings knitting in the sun with cats on my lap, did some final shopping, dyed some yarn and cooked a turkey dinner. I also sent pics of my angry incision to my doctor and they called me in a prescription. Yes, it could be infected and with the holiday weekend, we didn't want to take any chances. I picked up a few groceries at the local market after the pharmacy. 

It was so warm on Friday that I called Lori and suggested a walk with her dog at the lake so she came in from Omaha. After a lovely walk, we had tea on my deck and were perfectly comfortable until we lost the sun. I think it was in the low 60's. It was a lovely way to spend Christmas Eve. After she went home, I put together the turkey tetrazzini I'd take to Anne's on Christmas. I also finished my advent striped socks just in time to wear them on Christmas Day. Perfect.

I had 3 stockings to open from my sisters and Carolyn and they all did a great job. As usual, there was lots of Goodwill yarn, including some sock yarn, from Dottie. Yay! I made some calls to thank everyone and headed to Anne's. We ate the yummy tetrazzini (if I do say so myself) and then walked her friend's dog (the friend was out of town for Christmas) before renting Belfast. Great movie and it was nice to watch it while knitting in front of a fire. So a nice Christmas despite being in Nebraska because of covid. It's good to have friends.

I can't remember what I did on Sunday but there were some chats with friends, more knitting in the sun and eating some turkey for sure. I had made a list of possible projects for break but there'd be time for that next week. I hope you all had a nice Christmas.

Week 51 - Packages and Socks

It was another package day on Monday. My last package was picked up and four arrived. How's that for a great way to start a week? As if that wasn't enough, I got an email from Tracie of Grocery Girls (my favorite knitting podcast) saying I'd won a prize. I don't know what it will be but I'm sure it'll be fun.

One of the packages that arrived was the skein of advent sock yarn I'd ordered. Advent skeins are designed with 24 different colors so you can knit one stripe each day and have new socks by Christmas. But I bought mine late so figured I'd knit 2 stripes/day and have a pair by epiphany. Then I started knitting and was having so much fun that I decided to do 4/day to get them done by Christmas. By Saturday night the first sock was done. Yay! I also finished 3 other pairs of socks, including the Christmas socks I'd started on the cruise. That deserves another Yay!

We had weird weather on Wednesday but since it was in the 70's, as troublesome as that is, I took advantage of it and met Lorri in the park for lunch. The sun wasn't out so it wasn't exactly balmy but still warm enough and I do enjoy our lunches in the park - one good thing that came out of Covid. Say what? But lunch was the calm before the storm. Literally. I taught from 1:30-3:00 and shortly thereafter, the weather changed for the worse. Tornado sirens went off and I was in the basement with the cats. We never lost power and the storm was over in 5 minutes. The temp dropped 20 degrees and the sky was an ominous yellow but it was over. At least for us. I saw a few trees down in the neighborhood the next morning but poor Kentucky. And so close to Christmas.

I had my neck lump removal scheduled Thursday at 11:30 WAY down south in Lincoln. I had considered going into the office but didn't so headed to the dermatologist after our 10:00 zoom. The surgery was super quick and after the first 2 jabs, I didn't feel anything. I left just after noon, stopped at Aldi and and HyVee, where I scored a cheap turkey. Then it was on to Anne's to eat the Panera salad I'd picked up. After that yummy lunch, I helped Anne do the heel on another Christmas stocking. I'd helped her on the cruise but she needed help again, which I was glad to give. I had considered running more errands but instead headed home for a cup of tea as the sun went down. Nice.

Friday was Ben and Brook's last day since they were both taking Monday and Tuesday off. The day didn't drag, which is a good thing for a Friday and I had no commitments on the weekend so would be staying in and getting things done.

I had a big to do list but spent most of Saturday sitting in the sun knitting. Oh well. I made up for it on Sunday, getting a few chores done but mostly baking cookies while listening to Christmas music. Cindy and I are hosting lunch on Tuesday for the few people who are coming in and cookies and homemade bread are my contribution. I made peanut butter blossoms, brownies and almond fingers. I had a bit of a snafu with the first batch of brownies, stumped with figuring out the equivalent to "2 squares" of baking chocolate when they're not squares anymore. The first batch had half the chocolate so was super sweet and not chocolaty enough but the 2nd batch was fine. I ended the day watching Elf, which I'd never seen before. Totally cute.

I'm heading into a two day work week so made a list of potential projects to do over break. I had decided to cook the turkey on Wednesday instead of this weekend so that'll be a fun way to start my break. I'm excited for break, as always. I hope your Christmas prep is going well now that we're in the home stretch. Have a Merry Christmas.