Friday

 Friday, TGIF. I remember when Friday was the end of the work week, a sigh of relief. I like Fridays now because I go to Newburyport. But I'm torn. Even though I only work 6 hours, I spend two more hours driving to and from. And Fridays, especially Friday afternoons, tend to have worse traffic. Friday is a good day because it is when I see my family. Every week at 7:15, my sisters and daughters and I meet on Zoom. It is good to look forward to and marks that end-of-the-week-celebration feeling. As my life is getting busier, though, it is one more thing on the calendar...There is a Market Basket grocery store on my way home from Newburyport. It seems efficient to stop there, even though it means I get home even later on Fridays. Last Friday, I missed that window because I wanted to be with Molli as she looked over a venue for her wedding reception in August (which we will pay for). If I don't get going early enough, the traffic in the morning heading up to Newburyport makes me late, so then I need to stay later...a vicious circle? Now I have been without brown sugar for a whole week and other things are joining the list. I am out of yogurt, plain and sweetened! And last night, I used up the last of the whipped cream in a can and Ray and Tamara finished the ice cream. I must stop at the store today! 

On the other hand, I am in this play. I like this play, I am proud of the people involved for staying with it during the pandemic year. We have been rehearsing on Zoom Wednesday nights. Last week I had a budget meeting for the Church on Wednesday that I couldn't miss. I made my excuses in advance. Apparently, they decided to have a live outdoor rehearsal on Sunday and no one told me. Rats! I am so torn. I really need the non-virtual practice and review of the music and blocking. On the other hand, my Sundays are pretty full. They would rehearse again this Sunday, but it's Mothers' Day. So we are rehearsing at 5:30 on Friday. Yup, tonight. After my day of work and driving, after going to the grocery store, before my special Zoom date...AND today is an important day for Tamara. It marks 6 years since she first came here. 14 years old, with her mother gone a year and a half, after being neglected by her brother who was supposedly caring for her. She didn't really know what was going on, but he left her with Molli and went back to Mexico. She started school (it was the end of the year obviously) and began learning more English--the hard way or the easy way, depending on how you look at it. She is a tough cookie and a survivor and has grown so much--obviously the hard way. I wanted to have a special dinner/celebration for her, but we will settle for ordering pizza, which is kind of a big deal for us now. 

So, Friday is not as much of a treat for me, because I have several obligations hanging over me. I need to go to the church office for several hours tomorrow morning and clear up some bookkeeping issues and prepare for the annual meeting. There are things I need to do for Amelia's business as well. I have a Zoom meeting at 5 (?) with my friends from Georgia. Tamara needs to go to Rhode Island to get the rest of her possessions--a mini-fridge, some boxes of linens...

I routinely get stressed about the state of my house. There are boxes that need to be dealt with, there are books and clutter to put somewhere. This time of year, there is yard work to do. I managed to spend about an hour yesterday afternoon, pulling grass from the beds in front of my house. It is a hopeless task. I haven't gotten all the roots yet in the years I have worked on it. It was sunny with a cool breeze yesterday, but I think Saturday will be colder again. I am tired of not having weather warm enough to be outside. I have not even walked to the beach in months. Although I very much like having Tamara here (she is good company, usually cheery, and sometimes helpful: she washed the dog yesterday!), there is always someone around--her, my Dad, my husband...perhaps I am more introverted than I used to be. I look forward to Sunday, when Ray drives to the Cape to be with his family. His mother sleeps most of the time now, but he hopes to catch her awake at some point. It may be the last time. I want to make a photo book for her, but haven't done it yet. It will be an exhausting day for him, but maybe rejuvenating for me. 

Cold and Rainy Spring

 Ah, Spring! sunny days...? nope. Rain and more rain and cold temperatures are keeping us indoors. The last two days we've sat in front of the fire in the afternoons, working on the puzzle, which I am determined to finish soon. Tamara and Dad play gin rummy, but he usually wins, to the point that it's less fun. He wants to win, but not because she isn't good at it! 

I worked about 6 hours in Salem, and ended my day bringing checks to Annie, the director, to sign, which I do about twice a month, depending on the urgency. Home by 3, I made a cake, Sour Cream Raisin Pound Cake, which was tasty. Ray did the dishes and helped with supper. 

Part Zombie today

 Hi, I'm fine. I just stayed up late last night (for me), and didn't sleep much the night before. I slept hard last night and woke up kind of in a fog. 

We had our first softball game last night. We lost, but it was fun. We scored lots of runs. I would say our defense was more the problem, except I guess you don't say that in softball. Anyway, I didn't play. I was the "manager," keeping track of the batting order. I was kind of keeping track of the runs, too, but didn't do that perfectly. At one point, I think we were behind 10-13, but after that it may have gotten worse. I think their good hitters were in a clump and our good hitters were in a clump and we zigzagged. Some of our team members have not played in many years and none have played much in a couple years (pandemic). It was cold and dark with a light steady rain. People who were running were not cold. Molli and Michael played well. Tamara came and watched, all bundled up with blankets and jackets. She drove me home and we left Ray to find a ride. Then Molli called--turns out Tamara had Michael's phone and wallet and keys... so we didn't get to bed until almost 11 and I slept until 6:30. 

Grumpy Sunday morning

Maybe I overdid yesterday. Maybe I need breakfast--if someone else would get up, we could cook the pancakes I've mixed up. It's 7:30 and pretty soon I'll cook pancakes for myself! 

After a morning of computer bookkeeping challenges, I drove to Lynn at 2 to participate in a caravan rally/protest. As usual with these events, we didn't actually pull out until after 3:30. So, standing around in a parking lot, waving banners, taping signs to cars, keeping my distance. One nice young man introduced himself as Neil and stuck his hand out to shake. I said, "we don't do that now," and felt very antisocial. We were outside, wearing masks and fully vaccinated, but still...I offered my elbow and we bumped.

I was there, in part, because Tamara had committed to giving out flyers about vaccinations. I left a small pile in the Market Basket and gave a few to people. Most had received vaccines and some said no thank you, like it was a choice they had made...

The caravan drove slowly from Market Basket up a long street heading north (Western Avenue, which, amusingly, intersects with Eastern near Molli's house). We were supposed to go a steady 10 MPH. The police had blocked every intersection, but people managed to get in line ahead of me, and they don't know they're not supposed to stop at the lights. After we turned on Eastern, we were stopped at a light and then at the next intersection, the policeman was telling us to come ahead, but i could see the caravan had turned right. I just went home. 

I had somewhere else to go at 5, so I thought I might as well get back. Ray and I got our sneakers on and headed to the park to practice softball with our friends from church. It was good to be outside with people we hadn't seen in over a year. No softball season last year. I designated myself catcher. It's still a lot of exercise for me, but doesn't require as much running (or skill). I don't have to do anything if the pitcher does a good job and the batter hits the ball. I am definitely not going to be able to catch any popups or forced outs at home, but the pitcher will cover for me if he can. I still have to hit the ball and run to first base, unless they can get me a designated runner. 

Then we got Thai takeout. So after talking about it, I feel less grumpy. Also T just got up and is walking both dogs, while I start the pancakes. So yay! 

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...