Out with the Old...

 

In a mere five hours...this insane year will be over.

And our toast at Post-Christmas Tea went along the lines of 

"GOOD RIDDANCE!!!"

Brenda, Diane and I, feel that we have been short-changed with the year that was suppose to be Our Year and decided that a do over is in order.

Began last January in Virtual Belize...which was nice.

Also watched the unfolding of The Wuhan Virus which would later be known worldwide as Covid-19 as it became the first real pandemic in almost 100 years.

As of tonight over 83 Million are infected and almost 2 Million people are dead.

I tried Ruby Chocolate and Dragonfruit!

Started the Great Decluttering of 2020 and am almost finished, and back to a minimalist lifestyle.

John and I saw the final episode of Star Wars in the theater! The Resistance won!!!

Trump was impeached...but not removed...our RESISTANCE would tend to that during The Election 2020.

John and I enjoyed a Valentine's Escape together...filled with chocolate...blissfully unaware of the Plague which would change our world in one short month.

In March, we enjoyed Sister's Day and celebrated Lisa's birthday.

I started 20 Virtual Remote Islands for Spring.

On March 12th, Brenda and Diane and I mall-ratted Bloomington...had a wonderful Brunch out.  It would be the last NORMAL day for the year...two days later everything would go into lock-down...you couldn't leave your home without a mask...hand-sanitizer...and for godsake don't touch your face!!!

April was spent in isolation...except John drove out and spent the night of my birthday.

May was much the same. We all got our first stimulus check $1200. and splurged a bit.  North Patio Beach opened and my plants never looked better.

June was basically spent in isolation as well.

July, I started Virtual Botswana...and Safari.

Also making various homemade micro-batches of fruit wines.

John and I spent a couple of days just hanging out here and making fair food and such....since this year's fair was cancelled.

So was everything else.

No car shows, no mushroom festivals, no Covered Bridge.

In August, Fall arrived...and for the first time since March we booked a hotel out....celebrated Loretta's Birthday with her Covid-Style and the next day we ate inside a restaurant for the first time in 5 months.

I would start Virtual Madagascar in September.

(...virtual travel has kept me more or less sane through these pandemic days...)

In October we would take another short Getaway staying on the Westside of Indy and dining at Rick's Boatyard Cafe.

By November the plague would gather for a more deadly 2nd Wave...and all holiday plans and such were cancelled.

Lock-down sucked...but Joe Biden won the Presidential Election...there was much rejoicing!!! The results of the election took literally days....

Trump has been throwing a temper tantrum ever since...it seems so 2020...

Decorated for Christmas...but still too dangerous for family get togethers. 

Covid is out of control.

Several vaccines have been developed and are being rolled out.

And tonight is NYE...and tomorrow morning 2020 is over!

 

Thank Goodness.

 

See everybody next year!

 

 

 

 

The Christmas Star...A Very Covid-Christmas...And More

 

A nice surprise...waking to a dusting of snow on Christmas Morning,and starting the day with cheesecake.

Earlier in the week the Christmas Star made its appearance.

A closer examination would reveal

 And an even closer picture from the observatory would show what it is actually-

As near as Saturn and Jupiter will be to us, for the next 800 years.

But it was beautiful in the SW sky.

 

 A very Covid Christmas this year.  

James brought venison earlier in the week...I did giftcards for pretty much everyone. 

 

Chris and Tina joined me for Christmas morning...then off to her Mom's later.

They will be back on the afternoon of NYE and we will all have a nice sit down meal. 

I'll use one of the rolling pins to make us cookies!

The Sofi-Cat and I had a very quiet...but steak and goodie filled Christmas Evening!

She ATE half my Porterhouse.

I am so ready for The Vaccine and for this to be over.

Yes...

This would be ME right now...lol!

I have definitely gained most of the Covid-19 pounds...and I can't even REMEMBER the last time I wore a bra.

Re-adjusting back to civilization may take some work.

Most everything else including Our Time with John and I, relegated to January.

(...did receive the best Sharper Image "Make You Warm" item from my gadget guy though, in the post. I LOVE it...I only hope Sofi doesn't take it over!!!)

Can't wait to see you, soon!!!

 

"I LOVE TV, Mom!"

                        -Gadget

Getting closer and closer to the playoffs. Quite a few teams doing amazingly well this year.

Quite frankly, I am pleasantly surprised that we were able to squeeze in a Season at all.

Anxious to see The Colts play The Steelers tomorrow.

It is all down to the wire now.

Selfishly, I would like to see Mahomes get the SB again. Back to back Superbowls at 25 would be amazing.

We'll see.

The Book this 

Week:

A continuation of the previous whodunit with FBI Agent Atlee Pine.

I had forgotten why I don't read a lot of his writing.

A little Baldacci goes a long way.

Whiplash from the twists and turns...action and reveals.

And the body count continues to rise...and the ending of this one can only mean we are in for a third book next year...

By then I will be ready for it...but two of his novels back to back just leaves you...exhausted.

This Week's Movie:

They're Back!

I think the best thing about this stone-aged saga is the voice-actors.

Ryan Renolds (yes...Deadpool), Peter Dinklage (Lord Tyrion to you), Emma Stone, Cloris Leachman and Nicolas Cage. 

A Dreamworks creation. Plenty of good stuff for kids...but also entertaining throw-aways for Mom and Dad.

Well worth the time.

 

And maybe the best Christmas Tree of 2020

 

 

Enjoy the weekend!

 

 

Careening Toward Christmas

 

Christmas will be here in six days!!!

How CAN that be right????

Although I've bought a few items...mostly a giftcard Christmas this year.

Thankfully, next year should be more normal.

In no small part to the vaccines. 

Only for frontline workers and nursing homes at this point...anxiously awaiting mine during the second wave.

It will be so wonderful not to have to worry about Covid.

And hug my grandchildren.

Chris has finished the eight weeks and passed the final with flying colors. He has managed to maintain a 4.0 and has a few weeks off to relax and enjoy.

He has popped by to drink a celebratory toast and catch up. We may even see a few lights the 24th. Lights that we were unable to see included The Geminids this year...as we have been under a thick cloud cover.

Tina got a real honor with the ambulance team she has worked with...and got The EMT of The Year Award!

So proud of both of you!!!

                                               Tina and Emma Gene

Lennon has been in touch several times this week, and will be celebrating Christmas only with Grandma this year. They are both still Covid-Free and hopefully she will get the vaccine soon.

James and Nicole, busy getting Christmas ready for their crew...and James popping by to share some good news that he will be remodeling and such INSIDE this winter (work) instead of hanging off a slippery roof, or freezing outside siding. Oh...and he showed me the new 2020 quarter...which really does sport a BAT. 

Why am I not surprised...

Loretta is waiting for her  vaccine which she will be getting not a moment too soon! She is so over the quarantine and isolation.

Angie caught a real break with her shoppe...talked to the new buyers for the building she leases...they are going to not start anything until summer 2021...and offered to buy her lease out then, and help her (and her vendors) find another building. Great news, and all is well that ends well.

Everything else has been moved until after Christmas...and mostly January.

Diane and Brenda and I, having a short holiday tea soon after.

Don and Chris and I, planning our Winter Brunch soon.

John and I, celebrating his birthday and Christmas over a few days.

And maybe a return to Sisters Day...which we have all missed!

The Covid numbers are numbing right now...and we are all just hunkered down.

And it will get worst before it gets better.

Still,with a vaccine on the horizon...there is hope.

My Winter Scent?

                                   Vanilla Mocha Cafe from Bath and Body.

Think Vanilla Chocolate Coffee. Very subtle and nice. 

Strange news on the Tossed Teddy front...as a package arrived from the vendor containing not the teddy but a child-sized hoodie.

When we talked it was clear she had mixed up shipping and had no idea who has got the bear....sigh.

A refund was issued and on to find another tossed teddy...since mine seems to have gone on an adventure.

Introducing Dexter.
 

 A well-loved named teddy which the seller had replaced his bow...owned for years by her daughter.

Soon Dexter will have a forever home and be 2020's Tossed Teddy.

This Week's Book:

Published in 2019 this is the prequel to his latest book. Since his books tend to be convoluted with many plot twists and subplots...I requested both of them...and read this one first so I wouldn't be totally lost.

A whodunit with FBI Atlee Pine, and I wasn't disappointed.

Unforgettable characters.

Fast paced.

The usual whiplash from Baldacci's twists and turns.

A rising body count.

and ready to begin the sequel now....

Great Read!

The Movie this Week:

A kill or be killed assassin film with Jessica Chastain and John Malkovich.

I am a bit prejudiced, because Malkovich is one of my favorite actors...always playing riveting characters...but this is one of the best films I've seen this year. 

Tense.

Edge of your seat.

Well cast...and a mentor role by the aging but icy Malkovich.

Worth a look.

Finishing a Cinderella Day here...so I can enjoy, a simmered soup beans with cornbread and football, Sunday.

Our Colts at 1:00 and the Chiefs & Saints after 4.

Have a Great Weekend!

 

The Colts bested the Texans..and although it was a nail-biter...Mahomes beat Brees in the last 2 minutes!!!!

The Texans are out...

And everyone else is playoff bound!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vaccines Start Today in USA...The Electoral College Votes & More

 

Sandra Lindsay, said it all.

"Today we start healing"

Lindsay, a front line healthcare worker in NYC, among the first to receive the Pfizer Covid Vaccine.

Shipments arriving through-out the US even as I type this, and today marks the beginning of the end of this plague.

 

Certainly it will be months.

Maybe even the end of next year...but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, now.

There is HOPE.

And today is December 14. By 7:00 the Electoral College will complete the voting process and Joe Biden will officially be President-Elect of the USA.

(...and no matter what Stephen Miller has said...there are not alternative electoral voters....)

Not that I expect Trump to stop his incessant bitching and whining anytime soon.

If you don't understand you are being played, MAGA...well, it is because you are The Mark.

Grifters gotta grift.

All the while emptying their wallets.

SAD.

 

 

 

Prepping for Christmas!

 

It's Beginning to LOOK a lot like Christmas, now.

Only 12 days to go...

I'm getting there. 

Devoting today to getting the last of the cards out.

Mailed Loretta's package last week...and most of the Christmas, otherwise, is in the form of giftcards...yeah...no mingling with crowds and shopping this year.

Finally found this year's "Tossed Teddy" on eBay and he is arriving soon.

A well-loved Gund.

I've a bright red ribbon bow just waiting for him.

(...for those who do not know I select and buy one used teddy bear every Christmas and have for years...)

Talked with our middle, Lennon, earlier this week...and will be catching up with him later today since the SC tossed Texas's lawsuit, and basically told Trump to pack it in.

Had a great drop-in from both Chris (who is nearly finished with this 8 weeks) and James (and Thanos) this morning...a nice surprise!!!

John and I holding off on both his birthday celebration and Christmas until mid-January...because...yeah... Covid.

 Earlier this week:

Yesterday in the US nearly 300,000 new infections and over 3000 new deaths.

Worldwide 71 million are infected and over 1.5 million are dead.

The good new is, that the UK vaccination has started, and the FDA has cleared for us to start as soon as next week!  By next year's holiday season we may even be able to spend it with family and friends, again.

I seriously hope so.

Missing normal so much...I suppose we all are.

This Week's Movie:

My favorite Annual Christmas Movie.

Give it up...Die Hard will ALWAYS be the Ultimate Christmas Movie...okay???

This Week's Book:
 

Part memoir...part reflection...and a great deal Zen...an enormously engaging book.

It sometimes imparts wisdom you didn't even know you needed!

A funny aside, like all people who have a distinctive voice (...think Morgan Freeman...) I found myself reading this, in my mind, in McConaughey's voice throughout.

Very introspective and interesting book.

Alright...alright...alright.

See...now you're doing it, too!

Baking cookies and back to the cards....

 

 

December...Christmas is Coming...And An Old Fashion Tree

 

 

Only 20 days until Christmas!!!!

And we have had our first tiny taste of snow...with more on the way.

Just a rooftop dusting.

John sent decorations seen in his neighborhood already.

and Sofi and I have been decking the halls, here.

The Old Fashion Tree made even better with THESE...

Something I thought  would never see again in my lifetime. 

Real Lead Icicles!!!

New old stock from the early 60's...from Germany.

Those silver plastic things have nothing when compared to real foil cut lead icicles...and the coldness and weight as you fling them at the tree.

"...what's a little brain-damage among friends...right???"

Relax. Not handling them a lot...and once the season is over they will be snugged back in their package (probably forever) but for this year...there will be icicles.

 Sofi is mesmerized by the tree...and gazes at it for hours.

 

"It is just sooooo pretty, Mom."

Amber finished scrubbing the carpet for winter on Monday...and we have been baking, decorating and making Christmas Lists/Doing the cards/et al for a week.

And collecting ideas and memes from friends.

 

Covid-Santa

Invisible Tree...

What a great idea...I love this!!!

Okay...so maybe some of my friends are a little deranged.

And enjoying Christmas Movies.

This Week's Movie

A sequel to the first- with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Some of the original cast members...a few new ones...a delightful tale and the ELVES, of course. 

A family friendly film with a real feel good ending!

A holiday must-see.

Chris over a couple of times this week...once bearing pizza! Excited about his eight weeks over soon and a little break before January.

Catching up with Lennon who is loving the birthday video game!

And James and Family...and getting ready to mail everyone's Christmas Boxes.

Christmas in the Time of Covid...definitely an adjustment...after seeing the spikes, John and I leaving the frozen duck frozen until mid-January...we will celebrate his birthday and Christmas mid-January, and hopefully Covid-Free.

Excited about the vaccine news...and hopeful by next Thanksgiving things can get back to something resembling normal.

Because THIS sure isn't.

 And the experts are expecting the worst is yet to come when the hospitalizations and death-rate catches up with the recent new cases. 

Make no mistake....we are living through The Plague of our lifetimes.

Stay Safe.

Stay Alive.

And it is eye-opening how many people during a pandemic refuse to acknowledge it/take it seriously.

I am sure during the Bubonic Plague in  the 14th Century or the Spanish Influenza of 1918, people were exactly like this.

No wonder there are so many deaths.

An update on Our Duck at the lake.

Now taken home by a member of The Conservancy to over-winter.

Not sure if she will be brought back to the lakes in Spring.

Hope so!

I'm sure she is missing her flock...and they are missing her. Especially the little Mallard drake that teamed up with her all summer.

Blueberry muffins baking and a fir scented candle burning...and looking forward to football on Sunday!

Have a Wonderful Weekend!