Category Archives: domesticity

Avoidance and chores

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Have other bloggers noticed that if you let a few too many days go by, it can be hard to step back in? Right now, I’m procrastinating.

I should be putting my recently printed manuscript into a binder for ease of editing. Instead, I vacuumed. To finish properly, I had to pull a big jam out of the tubing using forceps. Found a bic pen lodged in there (– perhaps a symbol about getting down to business today?) Then I knocked over a Christmas cactus and had to clean that up.

I rearranged papers under the desk to make room for my soothing noise maker, because leaf blowing season is upon us again. “I must be ready!” she said.

Then there was a little candle lighting (my brother hasn’t been feeling well; D lives in Boulder — AND IS OKAY — but shops at that grocery store).

Then, because it’s lovely today, I opened a bunch of windows and got a couple of fans going and in the process kept losing the cup of coffee which any writer can tell you is an essential element of GETTING ONE’s ASS BACK IN THE CHAIR. One screen got stuck. Par for the course.

It occurs to me that if one had a practice of praying for all the victims of gunfire in this country, and their families, there’d be little time for anything else.

It also occurs to me that keeping a catalogue of the sickening and vast difference in how Black and white bodies are treated by cops could be a full time job.

On that note, I’ll leave you with yesterday’s historical tidbit (think: a trump-corrupted CDC playing down the Covid numbers).

And now, off to work!

We’re gonna be dancing soon

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This headline will be dated by the time I post this and that’s a good thing.

There I was, ear buds in, dancing my heart out at midnight, hoping for the call. Nope. But I got to see a rumpled Kornacki return to the white board, refusing to cede his nerd throne even though no one would’ve begrudged him a few hours sleep and a change of clothes.

Woke to news that Georgia flipped blue. Not long after learned about Biden taking the lead in Pennsylvania.

People can’t decide whether to anoint Stacey Abrams Queen of the Universe or offer her a Nobel Peace prize.

Autocratic Chaos maker soon to be relegated to the sidelines, a King maker no longer.

So, first, let’s celebrate kicking slime bag ninny and corrupt cohorts out of office before we get to addressing the shocking (not shocking?) support for trump.

And, the Senate is still in play, thanks — again — to GEORGIA! I love that I know about both these democratic candidates and supported their campaigns with money (Jon Ossoff’s last run, too). That level of commitment isn’t going away.

In other news: hips ache at the 45 minute mark. Decision: eat breakfast before setting out with Finn so I can take Tylenol or just grunt it out and take it on return?

I’m making a pumpkin pie today. K’s sister and her husband are coming for a Thanksgiving Dinner on the patio tomorrow. It’s supposed to be in the high-60’s so it should be comfie. I’ll roast a turkey breast, not a whole bird and instead of the usual mashed potatoes, I’ll add roasted garlic. There will be string beans or Brussel sprouts or both.

Back to back days of summer

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Plans for patio entertainment on. Then off. Rain storms swept through. Of course now, approaching the dinner hour, it is clearing.

No matter. Another super-focused day of writing under my belt.

A short walk with Finn and K after the second rain. A nearby cul de sac has the most beautiful garden.

It occurred to me while watering the garden yesterday, that we probably have never spent so many summer days at home before.

I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: there is something very grounding about staying put. I don’t think it’s any accident that I have been able to work mornings and afternoons on my book. That has NEVER happened before.

What about after?

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After the pandemic recedes, no one believes we will return to normal. But the question is, what will be different? Is hand shaking a courtesy of the past? Will people with colds wear masks from here on out? Will we treat our homeless population with more dedicated resources, since if the Mayor of LA could find them 600 beds in the middle of a pandemic, surely he can later — when the homeless are left with only their own set of catastrophic conditions?

Today, standing at the counter eating a grapefruit that had withered in the fridge for weeks, I thought: this, this change will come with me. A withered grapefruit that I would have thrown out without a second thought once upon a time turned out to be delicious.

Underneath its toughened top, lay the most succulent wedges of citrusy goodness.

I like to think that after this weird and trying episode we will be better somehow. More inclined to deprive ourselves in service of the greater good, less wasteful, less eager to go shopping, and more kind to the cashiers and phlebotomists and mail carriers in our lives.

I did listen to the podcast that Grace recommended. It was moving and provocative, featuring an interview with the author of a book called, “Die Wise.”

To be truthful, I need to listen again to really let it in. But anything besides Pod Save America or Gaslit Nation is good these days. My consumption of news has dropped precipitously in service of mental health, she said about to go watch Nicolle Wallace.

What behaviors or ideas do you think might stick when this crisis is over? Or, maybe the better question is, what do you hope will stick?

Let’s count

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After a poor night’s sleep, I woke discouraged. ‘Why blog? Why tweet? Really, why bother?’ Things that seemed sustaining 24 hours earlier, seemed less so this morning. It alarmed me, actually.

Two cups of coffee and one dog walk later, I feel better. Nothing like a beautiful spring day! The sun’s out. It’s in the fifties. I didn’t have to wear down or a hat!

Let’s keep counting.

Five Zoom meetings this week. Four successful, one marred by a no show. Son #2 had better things to do, apparently. Maturing brain, I failed to teach manners, etc. But better things to do with a visiting friend from Brooklyn — really? REALLY?

Number of times I’ve wondered if DJT is a sociopath: too many times to count. Recent events confirm it. Incompetence, stupidity, and strategic vengeance only explain so much. He has more blood on his hands than all the most prolific serial killers combined (except Stalin, Pol Pot, and Hitler).

Spring robins are back! Saw at least five this morning. ‘Chirp-chirp-chirp!’ There they hop — through the green blades of daffodils, not yet blooming but nodding in anticipation.

Number of sirens wailing during 25 minute walk: three? four?

Number of new cases YESTERDAY in Massachusetts: more than 800.

Number of doctors and other health care workers who recently tested positive in Boston: something like 141.

Number of times I’ve seen a person on the red house porch on Jackson Street in 26 years: 0. Today, a woman with a lap top. “That’s 45 schools,” she says. “AND, all the faculty!”

Number of times I spray Lysol on the keyboard every day, even without external contact: once.

Number of yard crews suffered through yesterday: four.

Number of times I’ve looked for the tiny bottle of Purell that magically turned up out of nowhere and then just as magically disappeared: five?

God damn those elves!

Number of masks finished: 5. Number of masks half done: 5. Number of blog and instagram posts about masks: 5. Number of additional masks I plan to make: 0 to 10.

It’s an act of duty without clear cut benefit. I’d rather finish C’s quilt.

Number of email addresses collected for our hyper-local help chain: 11.

15: number of minutes I will sit and follow the breath today.

3: minimum number of pages that I’ll write. I expect pure ranting today but who cares?

2 or 3: number of yard waste barrels I will fill.

One delicious dinner planned. Fire up the grill!