July Passes Filled With Storms, Regrets, and Farewells

The First States, mostly republican, opened up their states and foolishly believed our president, that Covid was over. But, the Pandemic is still here, and soon these states were faced with increase infection rates, crowded hospital, and mile long lines waiting for testing.

I could say: "I told you so." But, they results were be the same. The President finally wore a mask the other day. Meanwhile, Florida, Arizona and California rates which had come down, now are going up, up and away.

I retreat to my gardens. I do have the greenhead threat here, but, I boldly dare to go outside in Newbury.

Long sleeves shirts, and long pants are my gardening clothes of choice. There is nothing attractive in my appearance. Just functional, somewhat successful keeping mosquitoes, spiders,  ticks, and other stinging insects away.

My perennial garden is a mature garden and it is looking good.  It is round and has taken me years of trial and error where to plant and what to plant. This year and last year I lost my echinacea plant. I think it is mr or mrs rabbit.  I love the plant as much as the butterflies do.  But, I must be practical this time and find a non tastly, good looking plant.  So it goes in the garden.

My mood is flat. Neither good nor bad. The current loss of a good friend weights on my heart.

This Pandemic, and all its  nasty deaths also weights on my heart. The lack of intelligence and caring of our president is the third stress on me. It has been a hard year. 2020...sounded so go but, the year will be remembered as terrible year, for people, the economy, and the mood the this nation. The bigots have come out of hiding and are massing into a force of evil. Why can we not just love everyone. All life matters.

We all matter. We all need love. We all need kindness. 

So on my 2 acres of land surrounded by large protected woodlands, I hid. I hid within myself.

I don't venture out much. I stay to myself. Good or bad that is my plan. 

I will vote and pray that everyone votes to rid this nation of this hateful, pitiful man.

Sadness Fills My Heart

We lost a close friend three days ago to cancer. He was at home and died with hospice. His comment close to the end was  "We kill our animals humanely." That sums it up for his experience on being very brave on his second time with prostate cancer. He fought drugs, walked with a portable chair, did not have a hospital bed until a week before he passed. He told us he had a great life. He married and lived with the women he loved for over 44 years. 

            

He was a poet, a expert birdwatcher,  planted a vegetable garden his last summer. He joked with us "I am not dead yet." (an old Monty Python joke. )  and he practiced his French with my husband the student. Two weeks before he died, he gave my husband what of left of his good scotch. He gave me a Zen Potato Kit complete with a stand, tiny scissors, and a miniature 50 page instruction manual

            He was a great foodie and we traveled with him and ate so well. We also followed the Vermont     

            beer trail.  New barbecue  joint opened and we were off for sweet ribs. Portland, ME was a                       favorite spot for all of us. Great museums, the best tea shop in the east, favorite Tai, and Japanese

            delightful restaurants. 

            I now have a hole in my heart. It will slowly close. Until then I will not be myself.

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2020 Summer Quotes

"It isn't where you came from. It's where you're going that counts." - 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝐹𝑖𝑡𝑧𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑑

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal."

Outside of Our Home in the New World Order

Slowly, we have started to visit our old breweries in their new outdoor locations. It is very surreal under a tent, with picnic tables six feet apart and having the best beer service ever. No crowds. Just a few thirsty fellow drinkers. We are allowed to drink without our masks.

 

Best surprise birthday present from Glenn. A handmade fairy home. Complete with doors and windows and front yard. Perfect and wonderful. Some call it a hobbit home. 

BHM Job List....thank the lord that I am retired.

Clerk at our neighbor's Paint Brush Factory in the Old North End. Round trip rides with my neigbor.

Jordan Marsh, Shopper's World, Framingham, MA

High School Summer Jobs:

    Clerk, Boys Clothing

    Clerk, Fabric and Notions

    Clerk, Easter Hat Department

Harvard Cooperative, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA

    Executive Training Course

    Training Department Manager

Crimson Travel Service, Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA

Travel Agent. Pre computer days

Boston Phoenix Weekly Newspaper, Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA    

    Receptionist

Design Tex, Boylston  Street, Boston, MA

    Office Manager

Zayre Corporation, Natick, MA

    Credit Card Authorizer

ALA Travel Agency, Worcester St., Wellesley, MA

Travel Agent

Garberville Medical Center & Southern Humboldt Community Hospital, Cedar St, Garberville, CA

    Billing Office Supervisor

House of Travel, Pleasant Street, Newburyport, MA

    Travel Agent

Great Journeys, State Street, Newburyport, MA

    Manager

Amesbury Travel, Main Street, Amesbury, MA

    Manager

Essex County Travel, State Street, Newburyport,MA

    Part Owner and Manager

Fishery Products/Ocean Cuisine, RT. 1, Danvers, MA

    Administrative Assistant

Trustees of Reservation, Beverly, MA

    Administrative Assistant

Mark Richey Woodworking,  Newburyport, MA

    Receptionist

Weidma & Lavin CPA, Hampton, NH

     Temporary File Clerk and Tax Assistant

Internal Revenue Service, Methuen, MA

    Temporary File Clerk

National  Visa Service, Portsmouth, MA

    Visa Processor

Adelynrood  Retreat and Conference Center,  Byfield, MA

    Kitchen Support Staff

L& M  Properties, Inc, Newburyport, MA

    Clerk

Capone Iron Works, Georgetown, MA

    Receptionist

    This job lasted only 3 1/2 days. I was never so happy to a loose a job. It was really working in hell.

    Office Assistant

Caribbean Beach Party-Pandemic My Soul

Music this summer morning, Putumayo Presents: Caribbean Party. It is rocking deep in my soul.

Thursday, we had drinks, and apps at a friend's home on Plum Island. Then we took a six minute walk to the beach, opened up our chairs and watched the sunset. Nice to have friends. 

Yesterday, we went to a bar. Outside set up in Amesbury, at Brewery Silvaticus. 

Oh joy to drink my favorite beer. It has been a long time coming.:

Oblivion Black Lager  - Dark Chocolate and espresso highlights.We sat in the street

 protected by jersey barriers and very tall plants. Service was excellent. We watched the clouds forming into large massive rain clouds, but, the sun was out and we were happy.

Slowly, step by step back into the new normal is a new reality. I miss my museums. I miss our Old Fashioned Baseball at the Spencer Little Farm. I miss my library visits. 

Newburyport Art Association has been closed since the pandemic. 

A few members, decided to give some light to the dark days with this exhibit. Colors change and it does help to feel that art will survive and so will museums.

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European Union Blocking US Entry into Europe With Reviews Every 15 Days

Music:Japanese Melodies , Flute and Harp - Jean-Pierre Rampal and Lily Laskine

Woke up to more wet weather, no sun, clouds and fog. Had a very nice meditation after my back exercises. The day begins. I showered, and now it is 10:59 am and I have skipped breakfast. 

This afternoon I have a telephone appointment with doctor to review my last epidural shot in my back.

It is a day for quiet music, and staying calm.  This music is my go to for this kind of days.

We paid our European Cruise in full last week. We decided not to move the cruise dates (again) into 2021. So now, the European Union is blocking entry of US citizens. Many states opened up their states allowing people onto beaches, bars, and public events. It was a given, that this plan was to fail and so it has. The president thinks people have a right to choice a mask or putting themselves at risk. 

So, the beaches were crowded, people frolliced, throw off their masks, and had a big huge party in these states. Now, their Covid numbers are tripping. Massachusetts had its first day ever that there was no deaths from corona. Massachusetts is not a state that has open it state yet. A very wise move on our Republican Governor. He is a thinker, planner, and good organizer. 

So, because of these other states, Europe has closed our entry. It does not matter that our rates are going down. Europe is looking at the entire country and not individual states.  So  we may lose our cruise and our money for staying safe while other states don't care to protect their citizens. Not fair. But it is the way of the world today.

We are pretty much staying home but do go grocery shopping and yesterday spent half hour in TJ Max as our big event for the month or you could say months. 

My curent corona project is now to french knot my bland sun hat. Doing embroidery does relax me. It is the meditation of repetitive steps that calms the thoughts and anxiety. It also gives me something to do at night when we watch tv. 

My birthday is this week. Happy birthday to me.