Saturday, October 31, 2020

Halloween...Living La Vida Boxes...3 Day Until the Election & More

 

Happy Halloween!!

A lot different this year. No trick or treat...no Nicole's Chili Supper...no costumed grands...or sitting all together watching A Nightmare Before Christmas...

Damned Covid.

I guess the up-side is that I get ALL the chocolate this year.

The week has been a little insane.

And I don't mean The Trump Show.

(...we will get to that later...)

Some of the cabinets came...

Truly...I have no idea how people live in their homes during a remodel.

I really don't.


Still living La Vida Boxes...

Everything from the kitchen boxed and in the living room until the kitchen is finished.

If the kitchen is ever finished.

We are down to a pantry cabinet left to replace.

And I am getting a brand new dishwasher, refrigerator, and stove out of the deal.

And it isn't costing me a dime extra...so I need to take a deep breath and remind myself it is only an inconvenience.

And the remodel/fixing of the longstanding leak in the walls...and the bathroom has already cost 11,000 to date...without the kitchen.

Not surprising when they ripped the cabinets out the drywall looked like this...not quite as covered with black mold as the bathroom...but still pretty horrible.



Needless to say...it stopped everything.

Dead quiet.

Covered with sticky plastic to keep from disturbing and spreading it through the air...Sawsall to remove the contaminated drywall and quickly whisked away...mold spray to kill any traces of spore left behind...then drywall to build a new wall before continuing.


You have to admit...these guys are good.


And a start on the new cabinets.

Monday, my new dishwasher and garbage disposal will arrive.

The replaced wall needs painted and there is some paint to finish in the bathroom.

The bathroom vanity and the pantry are scheduled in together...and should be here soon.

Soon, in construction, I have found is different from our definition and is much more like South Africa's "Now-Now" which can mean anything from this very second until...oh...the end of your life. 

Still everything is going to be beautiful when they are finished and I will have the equivalent of a brand new apartment.

Even if the construction crew has been here so long I literally know some of them by name, and how they take their coffee...

Just Saying.


Everyone getting into the new normal for Halloween.

Contemplating a surgical mask on my Jack'o'Lantern. 


Emma going through her Scooby phase and participating in Trunk or Treat.

With Aunt Tina



And carving her pumpkin


"Ewwww...nobody told me there would be brains!!!"


And James...who just decorated himself...



When you have a great tattoo gun and too much time on your hands...lol!

I do like how it spells out LOKI when your fingers are together.

Brilliant!

Exciting news as The Dodgers won the World Series!


And the Broncos~vs~Kansas City Chiefs game earlier in the week...the Chiefs won handily...but this was the best moment of the game for me...


Snow falling during the game and after one touchdown several of the team dropping to their backs to make snow angels in the Endzone!!!

Seriously...even if you don't like football...you gotta LOVE this!

The Covid Numbers spiking now worldwide.


The Second Wave is here.

Worldwide we are seeing an additional half million (500,000) new infections each day, and have been for most of the week.

Nearly 46 Million people infected now.

In the US we have seen 71,000 then an additional 85,000...then 90,000...and yesterday 101,000 more.

for 347,000 new infections here in 4 days.

Have cancelled everything in November...including Our Time.

Hopefully it will peak out by December...sigh.

A little good news as the mortality rate has dropped from 4 in 100 to 3 in 100 elsewhere.

The USA is still at 4 in 100 currently.

Hoping this means maybe some overseas mutation to a little less lethal virus. That happens sometimes.

We will see.

And last..but certainly not least...the up and coming election...


Nicely summed up in this West Texan Sign.

 

(...loosely translated...Fuck You MAGA Asshole ... No more ORANGE...) 


Yeah...I laughed out loud...and kind of wished I had one!


This week has seen the most unhinged Trump yet...bless his heart.

17 Rallies on the schedule before next Tuesday.

From Tampa where the heat caused several elderly supporters to drop and be sent to the hospital...to Nebraska where supporters were bused in several miles from their car...then left for hours in freezing temperatures before they made it back to  their cars...some attempting to walk the 3-4 miles in the cold. 

9 sent to ER with hypothermia. 

It is almost like he doesn't care.

Okay...

He really doesn't care.

I feel a little sad for them...maskless...packed at rallies...dropping from the heat and cold. 

"Went to the Trump Rally...and all I got was heatstroke/frostbite, this tee-shirt, and Covid."

In 3 days...none of these people will matter in the least to him.

In 3 days...after they have voted (he hopes) they will cease to be useful to him.

Meanwhile some will catch the virus, some will get better, others will live but end up with exorbitant hospital bills...and some will die.

John voting this week...you have to love a man who waits two hours in the rain to vote!!!

 



The deed is done...and now we wait.

Biden holding a strong lead in the pre-voting. I am soooooo hopeful!

 

#VoteJoe

 

Our fur-kids settling in for a relaxing weekend!


"So comfy!!!" ~Gadget



"Loving my cat nest, fireplace and rocking chair!"  ~Sofi



"This is The Life."  ~Gadget



"Spoiled? Moi?"  ~Sofi


Have a Wonderful Safe Halloween...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 




 




 

 


Saturday, October 24, 2020

The Final Presidential Debate...Voting...and a Beautiful Fall


 Busy week!

It is all over for me...except the counting...returns...and Congratulatory or Concession Speeches on November 3rd/4th.

(...and of course the celebratory champagne or commiseratory drinking...depending on various outcomes...)

 


But otherwise, it is a done deal.

Actually, mailed mine on Tuesday, so that I could accurately say I was giving Trump his two week notice.

Politics...it is a sickness...lol!

Watched the final debate like someone might rubber-neck at a bad accident.

Not for any real purpose...more out of morbid curiosity, than anything.

The muting of the mics did lead to a more civil discourse...if not more factual. And the difference in the two candidates could not have been show-cased more clearly.

(I was rooting for shock collars)

So, here we are...the ten day count-down.

Feeling very confident.


Photos of early voting lines everywhere today!

 Massive mail-in response already. 

Know what else has been massive this week?

The Covid-19 Surge across the USA.

The Past 3 days:

Wednesday: 65,000 new cases.

Thursday: 71,000 (additional) new cases.

Friday: 83,000 (more) new cases.

For a total of 219,000 newly infected people.

8760 of those people WILL die  (4%)

 Not speculation...Covid Math. 

And when I see Trump still doing the "...balls to butts..." (thank you, Steve) mostly maskless rallies...multiple rallies a day each day this week through so many states...I am appalled...but mostly just saddened.

In ten days you people will mean nothing to this man.

In ten days or less...some of you will be quite ill.

In a few more weeks some of you will be dead.

And the rest of us out here that are unwittingly exposed to you will continue the cycle...quarantine...hunkering down...with no end in sight.

I miss hugging my Grandchildren.

~sigh~

 The end of Fall is coming, though...

The leaves falling and getting more muted oranges and yellows...that will soon be the rusts and browns of November.

Have to make an executive decision soon as to whether I am going to over-winter my Bay, or just pluck and dry the available leaves...and start a new one in Spring. 

Decided against mums as it turned cold early this year. Still doing pumpkins.

Huge undertaking this week as soon I will have all new cabinets!

(...which sounds great until you realize you have to empty every cabinet and drawer and pantry you own...)

Oh...and you haven't really done that for almost 10 years.

It has been a bit like a treasure hunt...with trash bags.

And boxes.

And phone calls to friends...

"Do you want this red Japanese Tea Set...I don't even know what I was thinking!"

Yeah....

But at the end it will be beautiful!

The Grands school closed until at least November 3rd...James and Nicole tell me a teacher at the school ended up with Covid.

Otherwise they are all doing good.

I miss our Annual Orchard Outing.

Chris and Tina are fine.

Chris has started his new 8 weeks...aced his finals and made honor roll again. 

He is tying wet flies and nymphs...as well as dry flies now...and even sold a few.



And I'll catch up with Lennon later. I  am anxious to hear his assessment of DeSantis' newest order to open the nursing homes down there to visitors, now.

How could THAT possibly go wrong, eh???

We have taken to referring to him as DeSatan, and lament that Florida is stuck with him for at least 2 more years.

Don and family now infected with Covid...thinking maybe they ended up with it from their grandson. For now it appears to be mild.

Loretta still fine...but scary news as her assisted living that has literally been on lock-down since the end of February...now has 3 residents infected after an asymptomatic employee had been working around them...when the employee became sick...the residents did also, soon after.

Now they are all confined to rooms...even at mealtime...until a handle can be got on this...

And I am still scared for her.

John and I looking forward to November and Our Time.

He has been doing a lot of biking before it is winter.


and sending me shots from the trails he rides!






Can't wait to share a walk with you here...(well...roll)...and maybe some of that DQ you are always telling me about...lol...

                                                      Pecan Mudslide


 

Still waiting on Woodward's new book RAGE.

 Caught a new (2020) movie last night:

 


(The Great Silence)

 

This film was a great film in search of an ending...that just didn't quite happen.

When the credits appeared I actually said out loud

"SERIOUSLY????"

(..yeah..scared the hell out of the cat...)

Not well known cast but well acted.

Good story-line and back story.

Good cinematography.

Edge of your seat film....until it wasn't.

Almost like maybe the plague in the film took the scriptwriter right before he wrote the ending...lol.

Very frustrating.

You have been warned.

Back to the cabinets and drawers, now.

 Have a great weekend...  


 



 







 



 

 


 

Friday, October 23, 2020

Virtual Madagascar: Beaches


Finally back to (virtual)  Madagascar...after a hectic real-world week.

I'll elaborate on this during tomorrow's update...but for now...

 

I think we all deserve a beach!

And WHAT a break it is...

Since  Madagascar is an island...beaches are plentiful...and beautiful. 

A huge part of the tourism here.

 Without further adieu...here are the 6 beaches deemed THE BEST Madagascar has to offer!

 

#1 Sainte-Marie

 


A small islet off the mainland coastline, Sainte Marie is known for its clear turquoise water, sugar white sand, palm trees...oh and PIRATES

A genuine Pirate Cemetery is nearby.

Pirate Cemetery

https://youtu.be/M9RWRs3aZpc


This island was a pirate base on the trip back from the Indies during the 16th and 17th Century.  Many well known pirates came here. Some even stayed and made the beautiful island with still waters and abundant fruit and other food,home.

Part of Captain Kidd's treasure was reportedly found off the coast of this island.


A 121 pound silver ingot.


#2 Nosy Be

 https://youtu.be/jaRWXKAYofI

 

The name means "Big Island" in the Malagasy language.

This is the most popular touristy beach in Madagascar...so if you aren't into crowds...you might want to skip this one.

This area also has a history of murder and crime as recently as 2013 when mobs were attacking tourists...robbing and killing them.

Yeah...I'll pass.

Also kidnappings as recently as 2015.

Known for mob violence and lynching of ex-pats.


 Beautiful...but no...

Hard Pass.

 

#3 Tsarabanjina

 https://youtu.be/IdmevRKQTIo

 


This small coastal island beside Madagascar is one of the few private islands for RENT.

 Yes, you can rent the entire island! 

(...which seems kind of neat...)

There are accommodations...and it is all inclusive.

Perfect for long walks or basks on powdery tropical beaches.

This seems like more MY kind of place.

 

#4 Manafiafy


Home of  Manafiafy Beach and Rainforest Lodge.

 https://youtu.be/lpfBZ1nv_Gc

Where you can enjoy not only the sand-colored beach and clear waters...but also an amazing Lodge.


They also offer scuba diving tours and whale watching.

Expensive, but exclusive. A private romantic getaway!


#5 Mitsio Archipelago


Just off the coastline of the mainland..Mitsio is actually a chain of islets made up from the remnants of ancient volcanic ruins.

Perhaps its most interesting feature is the number of sea caves to explore.

 


 Carved out through the ash-piles turned to stone through the centuries.

Diving is also a well-loved past-time in these waters.

 Diving  Mitsio

 https://youtu.be/xHLjm4GbiyA

 There are also several hotels and many hiking trails.


#6 Anakao Beach

https://youtu.be/4NLiSdst-X4


Once again a bit touristy for my tastes, but a Safari Hotel on the beach itself.

There are also traditional fishing boats to be seen here or go out on.

 

Zebu-Carts

 


This is a Zebu.

 


And red starfish to be found.



 These are just a few beaches you can explore in Madagascar!


Hope you've enjoyed today's adventure.

 More anon...