Work life

Worked in Salem yesterday about 6 hours. It's pretty strange to be the only person in an office meant for 10 or 12. We have Zoom meetings twice a week, but some people I have never met in person. I sometimes take my shoes off, or play music. I hadn't gotten to that point, fortunately, when Charles arrived to spend a little time in the office. I immediately put on my mask, of course. I usually start the day by going to the mailbox in the hall. It's a big brick building with 4 or 5 floors--we're on the first floor with several other groups. So when I go to get the mail, I put on my mask and take my mailbox keys. There are two mailboxes, for suite 9 and suite 10, although we are actually in suite 12...no idea why. Sometimes there is little or nothing, except some junk mail. I love it when there are Essex Heritage envelopes; they are the ones with money in them! Three donations yesterday, one from a charitable fund. I stamp them right away For Deposit Only and the account number, and put them aside to enter in QuickBooks. I also enter the information in Neon, which keeps track specifically of donors and donations. Before I left for the day, I took them to the bank. So that's probably the most important thing I do, although it doesn't take up a lot of time, and some days there aren't any. My boss works remotely, apparently even when there's not a pandemic. She lives in Newburyport and this was supposed to be her "semi-retired" job, 21 hours a week and no commute. Life intervened. Her assistant became ill and is on medical leave. 

Monday, Monday

 Trouble sleeping last night, took pain reliever toward midnight for my shoulder. Woke up pretty groggy to a beautiful day. Now that I have to go to work every day, I have to do things like eat breakfast and get dressed, whether I feel like it or not. On the other hand, I feel fortunate to have a job! that I enjoy. and I will be home before 4. Maybe today is the day for working in my yard!

Yesterday was Sunday, my stay-at-home day. Pancakes with blueberries and bacon. On-line services at First Parish Beverly, plus virtual coffee hour. Leftovers for lunch, family trivia zoom. At 3:00, Amelia's craft club. Watched some of the Oscars after dinner (steak potatoes broccoli), but was tired and went to bed about 9:30. No good reason not to fall asleep, maybe I didn't get enough exercise? 

Another month goes by...

 I feel something strange--what is it? Happiness?? I didn't know it was missing...

We went out to dinner last night. The food was very good, we sat outside and it got cold. They brought us one of those tall heaters. Tamara, my Dad, Ray and I. Three of us have had all our shots, Tamara only one. My Dad paid! It was not cheap, but we figure we saved hundreds (thousands?) of dollars by not eating out for a year, so we can spend as much as we want any time! It feels a little shallow to be so easily enticed by something as worldly as dinner out. 

I have two part-time jobs. I like working. My Dad does not understand why I don't want to sit home and do nothing. Perhaps it is because my surroundings remind me of things I should be doing? It is a challenge to find the right balance. Certainly I want to eat well (and feed the people around me), but I do not want that to be my whole life. There is some cleaning that needs doing, but it does not inspire me. 

Tamara has withdrawn from school. Eventually, she found Zoom classes to be too challenging for her. She now has 3 job offers for the summer, so that will be good. She is trying to get an appointment to take her driving test again. She wants her friend Daniela to come spend the summer with us (which is fine) and work here. She is looking for places who will get her a temporary visa. Tamara seems happy and very agreeable. She puts away dishes, vacuums, walks the dog, and does anything else we ask her. She does not generally get up very early, but that is one reason working will be good. 

Ray and I made reservations to fly to Hilton Head for a week next month. Our friends have condo time shares there and we had a trip scheduled last year that we canceled because of the pandemic. Now we will go! Again, it is expensive but we have not been anywhere in more than a year. We will change planes in Atlanta, the hardest part of the trip, but we will then fly right to Hilton Head, rather than to Savannah or Charleston and rent a car. It will be warm...