Day 274 - really...

Yesterday was actually day 273. [ETA - I went back and fixed, apparently I skipped over day 272.] I did a calendar calculation from March 17, and it has been 274 days since I went into what can best be called self-isolation/lock-down.

Day wasn't really that bad. Started out well enough, even had a nice little talk with one of my neighbors in the laundry room.

Then I called mother back and we got into a fight. A bad one. Over something stupid. Most fights, or disagreements, so I've discovered, are over dumb things. Lately, I feel as if people are talking at each other. And I don't feel heard.
( ups and downs of family...during a pandemic )

The Snowstorm





Didn't get as much snow as everywhere else. My brother got about 21 inches, to the west and south of him, 41 inches. I got 3-5 inches, to the east of me? Six inches. To the north? Ten inches (and fourteen in Central Park). To the South? Six inches. To the West? Ten inches.

Mother: So everyone around you got more than you did.
Me: Pretty much.

Apparently my brother got up at 4 am to plow his street - it's his driveway, but it is actually the same length as a road. Then again later. He also coerced his teenage daughter and wife into helping him. It's wet heavy snow...so not easy going. And his tractor keeps losing air in its tires.

Still it must have been beautiful where he is - with the woods and the deer. It was beautiful outside my living room window. The cardinals, bluejays, squirrles and a cat were all wandering about. I was really enjoying watching the bluejays and cardinals. There's a lot of birds in the back yard. Afterwards, I looked down and saw a lot of animal tracks in the clean white snow. No humans walk around back there. And the snow covers the trash the idiotic humans failed to pick up.

The Governor came on around 10 am to discuss the snow storm in Kingston, NY. Apparently it was a serious storm, and states of emergency were announced in twelve counties. He explained that states of emergency provides local governments and counties with increased access to funding.

It's the biggest and worst snowstorm that the northeast has gotten in decades. Over two feet of snow were dumped on some areas. And apparently everywhere in NY State got snow. Power lines fell in most of upstate. But down-state, we're fine. Also it didn't quite have the wind or snow damage expected in the city. However, the snow is heavy and wet - and it's very cold - so no melting for a bit. It is however supposed to reach the forties by next week. I'm look forward to wandering about Greenwood Cemetery in the snow, assuming of course it is open and I can do it.

[As an aside, family disputes are exhausting. I'm worn out.]

COVID

Per the NY Times..
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I keep seeing all these people on FB traveling about and doing stuff, and I feel this odd mix of envy, resentment, irritation, bewilderment, and regret. It's not joy. I wish it was.

What are they doing?

Former college friend went and did a Spa Day in Boston on her day off.

Several people are traveling to see family, after getting tested first.

Several are visiting family for Xmas.

Several are doing family Xmasy things - like visiting a forest with light Christmas trees.

Tis the season to feel lonely. I'm pushing it to one side. I've been dreading the end of December pretty much since I realized I wasn't going to be able to visit family during it . I may go grocery shopping tomorrow and buy stuff to bake with...considering hunting for peppermint ice cream.
But it's not a good idea - dairy ice cream gives me gas.

I'll make gluten-free pumpkin muffins tomorrow instead.



That's the bluejay that I was watching outside my window this morning.

I think I need the break from work. I told my management about five times that I was taking vacation. Yet, one of them still asked if I was off on vacation for two weeks. Sigh.

Work, I've found to be increasingly frustrating. I got kicked out of my remote computer repeatedly this week. Today, I couldn't get back into it.
So I gave up and did the work around method. Instead of going through the Citrix Server, I went through Windows Virtual Desktop - which is slower, but doable in a crunch. (It's very slow. It takes forever to do anything.)

Also I had to do hand holding, and deal with pesky users and vendors.
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So, I'm grateful for the much needed vacation. Tomorrow, I can sleep in late. Take a long walk if I want to. Watch television. Read. Write. Bake.
All lovely things.

And I get to do this for two weeks. Yippee.

My time is my own. Perhaps, I'll ignore the news. I don't know about you? But I need a vacation from all of this doom and gloom.