Tackling the Letter T

Here it is July 7 and I'm still working from home.

I'd like to be in the MLS office, but the administration is being very cautious about opening the offices. I appreciate caution. I'm also looking forward to being out and about, even just a little.

M. and I have been carefully venturing out. We've met with friends (no hugging) at outdoor venues, shared take-out meals, and on one occasion actually ate dinner around a dining room table with 4 other people. We had planned to eat outdoors, but it was pouring rain.

Fortunately, no one I know personally has become sick with the virus. I know others who have friends, relatives, or neighbors who have contracted it. I know of two who have died. I've been watching the data on confirmed/probable cases in Massachusetts. I'm happy to live in an area that has relatively few. Most of my close relatives live in the eastern part of the state which is more densely populated and more vulnerable.

As much as I miss working in my cubby in the office, I miss my exercise class more. I'm still getting exercise, perhaps more than in the Healthy Bones and Balance class, but I miss the people. They're my friends. And even though we're not close, there is still a connection that I find comforting.

Back to the title of this post. Yes, I've finally reached the letter T. It amazes me that I still find duplicates and incomplete records that begin with earlier letters. Why haven't I found them before now? Clearly I will never totally finish cleaning up the MassCat catalog.

When I finish with Z, I'll start with A again.

It's Daytime and I'm Awake

I've always responded to my surroundings. When it's dark, I'm sleepy; when it's light, I'm awake. Now that it gets light at 5:00 a.m., I'm awake at 5:00 a.m. and often get up soon after.

Today is one of the rare days I did not exercise first thing. I've been very good about practicing Yoga or walking to the newspaperbox early in the morning. But every once in a while I just need a break from exercise.

For the last two months, I've spent most of my time at home. Pretty much everything is closed down due to the virus. Keeping people separated seems like the best way to minimize its spread, but I'm getting somewhat bored and lonely.

The hardest thing for me is that I've had to do a major readjustment with the way I shop for food and household items. I'm not someone who goes to the supermarket once a week and buys everything. I visit a variety of different places for different things. There's the bakery for bread; the food co-op for most food and meat; the supermarket for the things the co-op does not carry or where the prices are too high.

I go to a health food store for vitamins and skin care products because I like their selection. There is a butcher shop where I sometimes get meat and a seafood store which is the only place that sells finnan haddie. Now that the weather has warmed up a bit, the farm stands are opening. I get as much fresh produce from farm stands as I can. I'm used to stopping by one or more of these places to pick up a couple of items as I need them.

Going to the market is such an ordeal now. Sometimes I have to wait in line so that the store does not exceed its limit of customers inside at one time. And there's the wait to get to the cash register, always keeping at least 6 feet from the next person. Since I'm not allowed to bring my own bags, I now have a cabinet full of paper bags. Well, that's one plus: I used to run out of paper bags needed for recycling. It will be a while before I run out of those.

As the virus seems to be fading, stores are beginning to open up. Soon I'll be able to invite people here for drinks as we sit by the pond. I wonder how long it will take before I'm able to get back to my former routines?

What I'm looking forward to most is being back in the office and leading the senior exercise class. I miss those the most.