Year #2 - Day 110 - Normalcy? Sort of?

Today I went out to eat at an actual restaurant, with a friend no less, in my neighborhood.

Wales came to visit. It's the first time we've seen each other since March 7, 2020. Also the first time either of us have eaten in a restaurant since March 7, 2020.

We visited The Castello Plan on Courtelyou Road, and sat outside. We were told that we could sit and enter without masks if we were vaccinated. We're both fully vaccinated.

So we selected a table outside in the shade, and had a pleasant outing. My belly was a bit unsettled, so I ordered Watermelon Gazepacho Soup and a side salad, with sparkling water. Wales ordered a creamy pasta dish. She offered to have me taste it - but I did a hard pass. (I couldn't eat it anyhow, gluten intolerant, and it's too creamy for me.)

We wandered about, got some iced coffee (Wales) and iced tea (me). A combination of the heat, humidity, and the call of nature - sent us back to my place. Then Wales went home, after we shared a quick hug - it's the first hug I've had since March 2020. I'm thinking of scheduling a massage next - sometime in August.



I took a picture of our table and the person in front of us - because I'm not posting my picture and Wales on the internet.

Was admittedly nervous - my right hand was shaking so badly at one point that I could barely use it to eat my soup. It's because I was out with people, who are outside of my pod, so to speak, with no masks on, and eating like it was a normal day and there wasn't a pandemic, while outside people were still wearing masks. And we still have to wear them on the subways and most venues.

It was kind of freaking me out. Also, when I got tea at the Conneticut Muffin - for the first time in forever, I did a cash transaction and had the cashier put the change in my palm. I got a straw afterwards, only to realize I should hand sanitize, so I used the hand sanitizer on my hands and the straw or tried to, without poisoning myself.

It was a lovely walk and chat though. Although Wales moves like a snail, and my bowels were acting up. We did make it back to my place in time, for both of us.

**

Spoke to mother afterwards, and she advised that bowel issues probably were a result of the metroformin - which can cause loose bowels. Also being diabetic, I have to eat more often and risk low blood sugar. Which explained the feeling a bit off - or dizzy bit. Mother has similar issues - that's how she knew. Oh, and she's been referred to an orthopedic trauma specialist in Charleston - which is about three hours away from where she lives - and they've scheduled an appointment for her at 3:30 pm. Luckily she's found a friend to drive her, if the home health care group can't do it. Having my brother fly down - is a bit much.

Mother also visited father today and she just sat and watched him read the paper. It was enough. Just sitting and being together in silence. He's one of the few people she can just be quiet with - and not feel the need to fill in the gaps. They've been together now for well on 56 years.

Interesting, New Life Hiking Spa - which I'd flirted with but never tried, has shut down and the owners are moving from Vermont to Florida, they are also in the process of setting up a Wellness 50+ Plus site, since most of their users are over 50. That works for me at least.

Kripalu - the one I actually did a retreat at once, ages ago, is back. It's a yoga retreat. I may try it again. It might be a good way to get back into the travel groove. Don't know yet.

***

Wednesday - is my first day back into the office since September (unless you count that quick trip in February to pick up transportation passes). I need to make arrangements to go to the pass office to drop of the pass that I found after they sent me a new one. I'll call them on Tuesday and see if I can do it on Wed or next week. It's supposed to be 91 degrees on Wed and humid. I'm hoping I can make it to work without melting. I don't care if I melt on the way home - just not on the way to work.

I'm actually more nervous about melting on the way to work - then just about anything else. That, and getting there in time to swipe in and out.

I've done less meandering about Greenwood Cemetery this summer - because if I walk around in the heat and humidity for more than fifteen to twenty minutes, I'm dripping wet. Middle-aged female bodies going through menopause and humidity/heat are unmixy things. I don't know why older folks move to Florida.

Anyhow, here's a picture of flowers from my walk with Wales today.

Thoughts...

1. I'm slowly figuring out how to use twitter - now that the nitwits are gone, it's a heck of alot easier to manager. This entire Thread

Per:

Sigrid Ellis
sigridellis

( excerpt for those who can't go to Twitter )

[Personally, I love the punch line.]


2. Been watching Discovery of Witches - with Behind the Scenes Footage

One of the snippets discussed the writer, Deborah Harkness's process. Harkness is a Professor of History at Oxford or Cambridge. And the way she wrote the novels was in snippets. She had various notebooks. Jumped around a lot, because she doesn't think lineally, and determined what books each of the characters would read, developed a reading list and proceeded to read all of them. Basically she went after the project like a scholar would or professor.

I found this interesting. It's not how I write. I kind of just type and see what emerges from my brain. But I also discovered that my mind skips about as well. And I forget stuff. So maybe taking notes, and putting down names is a good idea? I have a tendency to forget the names of my characters - I am not good at "naming things" - labeling and naming is not my strength.

3. On Acting - the Kathleen Turner book continues to be interesting, Turner states that a lot of directors don't know how to direct actors and the actors have to learn how to direct themselves. And if an actor doesn't know how to do that - you can get uneven performances, particularly if the director is more into technical stuff or lighting, etc.
( Read more... )

4. And this entire Twitter thread..


An Introverts Renewed Attempts to Relate to Other Humans After the Pandemic

Although technically - I was kind of forced to do it during the pandemic - via phone, zoom, and various forced interactions with Super, construction folks, and people in apartment building - and crazy union thrusting us all back into the workplace in September, plus doctor's appointments and the vaccine.

It's not like I was living all by myself in the middle of Idaho or Ohio.

But still...

How Did I Use To Do This? An Introvert's Renewed Attempts to Relate To Other Humans After The Pandemic.

( excerpt for those who don't have access to Twitter )

It's weirdly reassuring to realize I'm not the only one who is anxious about returning to the office and social interaction, and would prefer to just stay home.

I was beginning to think something was wrong with me.

5. Did a meditation this morning on Envy and Jealousy - which basically stated if you don't compare yourself to others...envy and jealousy cease to exist. What happens, said the guide (a former Buddhist Monk) is we tend to focus on what we don't like about our lives or wish was different, then our mind drifts to what we wish we had instead...taking us out of the present moment, and the ability to appreciate what we have and be pro-active and build on it.

I rather liked it. I want to do a course on that one. I'm working on comparing less. And being more open.

My other deep thought for today...my difficulty with romantic love is it is often portrayed in our society as so possessive and jealous. And that's considered okay? I wouldn't want to be in a relationship like that - I'd feel suffocated. I need to be able to have male and female friends.
( Read more... )

6. Almost forgot? RIP Richard Donner - he was behind Superman (the first film with Christopher Reeves), Ladyhawk (a personal favorite of mine), Lethal Weapon Series, and The Omen. He also did Radio Flyer - which I liked but a lot of critics hated for some reason.

He died today.

Oh and here's Richard Donner's story of how he came to direct and make Superman

Donner's Superman was the best superhero film up until Christopher Nolan took over the Batman franchise. Prior to that, it was lot of missteps. Although Tim Burton's Batman was a good film.