Going To See It All

Sunday, April 26, 2020

4/26/2020 Sunday, another day

4/26/2020 Sunday.....another day

Sunday, a new day just like the others..... got my new table yesterday. My friend, Austin, did the woodwork and made the legs so I look forward to having dinners again........soon, someday? I was thinking about him and his family. They were the first friends we made in Florida, next door neighbors. We've had so many fun times over the years. Austin was a mere boy when we met and on May 9th he will turn 21 years old. Funny how he aged and I didn't.

My table is beautiful. I bought the wood a few months ago and hired Austin to finish it for me. Lots of sanding and hard work went into it. It is so heavy and big. Has removable legs so we could get it in the door. The nice thing about a custom table is that I had it made a little shorter so I can work in my office chair and have my feet touch the ground. Ergonomically perfect for me. I promised Austin the first meal.

Austin manufactured the legs that I chose

and they are sturdy and durable. So happy.

I immediately covered it with a plastic tablecloth and am starting on about 5 projects. Trick now is to complete one of them, LOL.

I've been hanging pictures, art so slowly. I have too many picture and not enough walls. So trying to be selective and I can't seem to just do it. Slow, slow.

Every surface covered

Fell asleep in my chair and up at 5 am, will do stuff today and then I'm sure take a nap. Listening to Santana, will file some papers. Seems I've printed out lots of recipes lately from coffee cake to limoncello. I don't have to print them, but if I don't I'll forget things I want to make. I have a drawer full now.

Lists, I've got lists everywhere. What to buy at the grocery store (don't want to forget anything since I go only once a week). List for projects to do, people to call, etc.

Have enjoyed visiting with friends via messenger, FB, Zoom, and actually the phone. I've had some of my longest conversations ever in my life. Talked to my friend in Boise for an hour and one half, wow. Finally had to say I've got to hang up because my elbow is hurting.

So upcoming week plans (too funny). I am going to try to force myself to do better starting Monday. Daily walk unless it pours like it has for a lot of the past week, and I mean torrential rain with thunder and lightening. Try again to dedicate an hour a day to my Spanish language work and get some more stuff up on the wall. Ambitious goals I know.......LOL.

Must share my goose girl who is nesting. I've been seeing her for three weeks when I take my walk along the canal. She is getting used to me now as I gently give her a greeting. Last week she was standing up (stretching her legs I imagine) and I was able to see her four large eggs. She's such a good mom. She is so close to the road and just very exposed to people who walk along the canal. Seems the mom is the one who picks the nest location (I just read that), but it just seems like such a strange place. Says they like to have a good line of sight up high, so I guess accomplished that. I was taking pictures of her and stupidly standing in a red ant hill that I was alerted to by burning bites. So glad I had a paper towel in my hand because I had to spend ten minutes getting those horrid things off me. They were all over my shoes, socks and climbing up my legs and under my pants. Ouch, ouch. Learned a good lesson and suffered for about a week with blisters and itching. I am going to walk today and hope that the eggs have hatched so goose girl can move about. This has been a great experience watching this up close.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/lifehistory

This week has been sad for me personally when I look at my calendar and see that I was supposed to fly to London April 22nd and fly to Paris on April 23rd for a wonderful trip. So that's the end of my whining. I hope that we can travel again safely, soon. I don't have time to sit around!!!!!! I have spent quite a bit of time working on plane, train, hotel, Airbnb, tour refunds or travel vouchers. It is so comforting to know that I have a travel voucher for Ukrainian Airlines!!!! Much rather have the money. I'm such a fiend for planning ahead, way ahead, and now I feel I might be changing my idea about that and go a little more spontaneously. My great fear is that I will have to spend a night in a train station if I don't plan ahead. Have to give this some thought for future travel.

I wish you all success in your endeavors. It is a good time to try new things. YouTube has been great, TED talks, Spanish lessons, different crafts and techniques, visiting with friends. I have never in my life watched so much TV. Lots of good documentaries which I enjoy, some good movies and some trashy stuff too. Can't make everything educational I guess. Eating is still challenging, but I know I'm not the only one struggling. I think a lot of us will come out of this with 5 or more pounds to show for it. I hope to look back on this experience as one where I learned new things about myself and as a result can make some improvements. I am working on perfection, but it is hard.

Good to know that everyone I personally know has not been affected by the virus. I have heard of friends of friends who have either been sick or have passed away. That does give this all a reality check. I find it amazing that some people take this as a hoax or government plot, but I guess to each their own. As for me and mine, we are going to be very careful when things open up. And, of course, I have the luxury of being retired and not having to go out and face the world to put food on the table. An almost worse part for me is how they are talking about this coming back in Fall/Winter. I guess we'll see what happens and if so, how strong it is? We just don't know.

So that's it from here in my messy, busy, fun and wonderful room. I do hope to make progress to get this room complete. I'll set a mental deadline, but I'm not sharing that just in case I don't make it. LOL.

Hugs and stay safe out there......................

Flowers in my neighborhood

Friday, April 17, 2020

Changing Direction

4/8/20

CHANGING DIRECTION

My blog in the past has mostly been about travel. Well since there is no travel at this time I will redirect my thoughts to life -- which of course is interesting. This is such a historic time that I will hope is never repeated.

I've been trying to post positive things for myself and to share. My post for today was:

I watched the most fascinating Netflix documentary the other night, "Life Overtakes Me". I had never even heard of this type of trauma before in immigrant children in Sweden (now being seen quite a bit in Australia). It is called Resignation Syndrome where some refugee children go into a coma-like state upon notification that the family is to be deported back to their homeland. The documentary is 40 minutes long and I was amazed by this information. Highly recommended unless you're only a light comedy person.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/03/30/521958505/only-in-sweden-hundreds-of-refugee-children-gave-up-on-life

Puzzles, when was the last time I've done a puzzle. This is like being a child again and looked for fun and play. How enjoyable and distracting working on a puzzle can be. I find my total attention devoted to finding that one piece and that gives my brain some rest.

Something so simple, but I just read this about the benefits:

"Solving puzzles helps reinforce existing connections between our brain cells. It also increases the generation of new relationships. This, in turn, improves mental speed and thought processes. Jigsaw puzzles are especially good for improving short-term memory."

https://classifieds.usatoday.com/uncategorized/the-surprising-benefits-of-puzzle-solving-for-adults/

A friend of a friend wrote this and I think it is meaningful.

TRAFFIC is gone, GAS is affordable,
BILLS extended.
KIDS are at home with their FAMILIES.
PARENTS are home taking care of their CHILDREN.
FAST FOOD replaced by HOME COOKED MEALS.
Hectic SCHEDULES replaced by NAPS, REST, and RELAXATION.
The AIR seems CLEANER.
The WORLD quieter.
PEOPLE are conscious of HYGIENE and HEALTH.
MONEY doesn't seem to make the WORLD GO ROUND anymore.
DOCTORS AND NURSES are being praised and recognized instead of athletes and celebrities
And WE now have TIME, finally,
to STOP and SMELL the ROSES.

Home Sweet Home - Corona19 - 3rd week up to 4/17/20

Hey, still sane, well somewhat. I seem to be less motivated each day with a few exceptions.

Two nice walks today, one at Phillipe Park. I always enjoy that park and it reminds me of John since he enjoyed fishing there. Walking makes me feel better. Some people can't get outside at all and I can't imagine that. Glad I don't live in NYC.

Florida is so full of beauty and wildlife at every turn. Right in my neighborhood I saw my little goose girl who I met two weeks ago. She has diligently been sitting on her nest and today when I went by she was standing up for a minute. I can't imagine sitting on a nest day after day.

All photos taken 4/17/20, while on my 15 minute walk.

Picking this straw from grass. Maybe making a nest?

Oh let's get these eggs hatched!!!!!!!!

I was taking some pictures of her (from a distance so as not to disturb her) and I was standing on a fire ant or red ant hill. I felt this burning around my ankles, looked down and shoes and socks were covered. Stings like hell. Luckily I had a paper towel with me and I'm sure I looked pretty comical swatting and trying to kill ants, stomping my feet. They started going up my pant legs. This was scary and awful. So now I've had up close and personal experience with these beasts. How can something that small hurt so much. Very scary because I overheard a conversation once at a restaurant where this lady was telling about how her son was killed by fire ants in Louisiana. He was an underwater diver, 34 years old. He went camping and guess pitched his tent in the wrong place and he died of anaphylactic shock. Probably one of the saddest things I ever overheard. I wanted to turn around and hug the mom, but of course I couldn't. So then and there I realized the seriousness of those critters. I had probably 150 on me in one second. So now I will be watchful for any mounds where they could be.

I home made potato salad yesterday and also baked a wonderful coffee cake, called the LSUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District) cake, a recipe from 1957. I used to eat that coffee cake most days when I was in junior high school. It turned out great and I ate too much.

Staying in touch with friends via Zoom about once a week. We even had a trivia game on line that was fun. We also meet for park dinner, bringing our own chairs and sit 10 feet away and eat our own food. But so fun to talk and see each other. We had some lonely man sort of join in with us last week. I just think he needed someone to talk to, so we did visit with him too.

I'm sure you are all experiencing up and downs like me. I do notice that daily walks seem to help. I'm only going to the grocery store once a week during "senior hour" with a mask, in at 7am and out by 7:45 am, not like my old shopping days of wandering the store finding new delights. This last week there was no crowd as before, I'd say only about 20 peole in the whole store.

Been working on getting my plane, hotel, Airbnb, tour and train refunds. Some places are great about it, some I am having to work with quite a bit and the worst are the foreign airlines that give credit. It is nice to know that I have a credit from Ukrainian Airlines!!!! Also EasyJet, but I can use that for any place they fly, which fortunately is lots of places. I would be leaving for my trip on April 22nd, so that will be a sad day for me.

I've had some people who don't seem to know to not come close. Wanted to punch a lady who just walked in front of me yesterday putting the trash out. I was there before she was and she just walked right past me - close. Some people are so rude and thoughtless. I also noticed several really speedy cars on somewhat empty roads, I mean really enjoying the open road and going way too fast. It makes me wonder where they are in such a hurry to get to.

This could help people mind their distance:

But no real complaints, I've got a roof, food, internet and A/C so probably compared to a huge population I've got it made. Now we will see where things are going and how we move out of this isolation. It is a little scary and I hope it is smooth with no backlash. Slow and sure.

Bless our front line people, doctors, nurses, paramedics, grocery clerks, gas station attendants, food workers. These are truly brave souls. We owe them so much.

So chins up, doing our best, caring about our neighbors, lending a helping hand where we can. We can now appreciate the small things and I hope we take some of what we'velearned individually and can apply it when we are free again.

Stay safe................

Friday, April 3, 2020

Part II, Life in Real Isolation 4/3/20

Wow, never did expect this. I think when I heard about this virus I assumed it would come (do its horrid damage) and go. Well, we just got isolated in our homes for the month of April. This is going to really test our mental abilities. This is a nice time to have a spouse or someone living with you -- even a pet would be great.

I am mostly up, but I think I'm getting a little tired of myself, LOL. I do go out to the grocery store which is a big and fast event, but it is also scary. There are people who just don't seem to comprehend how far six feet is and get right up next to you. It is so irritating!!!!! I'm usually a shopper who takes 2 hours in the grocery store, browsing and getting what inspires me. This used to drive John mad, he was in/out 8 minutes. Now it is with list in hand and sanitizer close by and in and out quickly.

The grocery store used to be fun. Now I bring the groceries in, wipe down each bag and unload and wipe down all food. Then I have to sanitize the door handles, go to the car and clean doors, handles, steering wheel, gear shift knob and I just writing this now realized that I have not cleaned my seat belt buckle, yikes. It just takes one creepy bug.......................... Then the trunk handle. I haven't cleaned the inside of the truck, but I'm hoping that time will take care of that.

I've been taking my daily walk which I do enjoy. Get a few hellos, but it seems that some people are even afraid to say hi at a distance of 20 feet. That is funny, but also sad. I figure we do need contact, even oral to keep some sanity. I did stop and visit with one man for about 10 minutes yesterday and we had a nice conversation about the beauty of being retired, especially at this time in our history.

It is hard to believe that this tiny, teeny little bug has shut down the world for the most part. The economic reality is pretty unbelievable. It is heartbreaking to think about the aftermath of this situation. It is going to be a long recovery period.

I suppose a positive is having friends contact you to see if you are OK and visa versa. I'm not a telephone person, but I've had more phone conversations in the last two weeks than at anytime in my life. Thank goodness for messenger, Skype, the internet and TV. I've never watched so much TV in my life. Another plus is that we have time to do things we were always too busy to get done. I myself have at least 30 projects I can get done. The hard part there is in keeping myself motivated. I suppose there are people out there so up to date they don't have any projects? Another thing that is strange is having a blank and I mean blank calendar. I'm so used to being on the go, go. So maybe this is a good time to reflect a bit on how fast I was going. Maybe a day when you have three things scheduled is too much. I know my January and February activities were out of control so I hope I've learned to slow down a little. I hope so.

I've been eating way to much of the wrong things for comfort. Not enough exercise and sleeping long and taking naps. A good escape mechanism. I have been trying to post positive messages and share happiness, but sometimes it is in short supply. My worst problem is sometimes spending 3/4 of the day online. I've always been a huge internet person, but now I have gone totally overboard.

Rules are needed: 2 hours on house work and organization, 2 hours on art projects, 1 hour in healthy food preparation, a 1 hour walk a day taking photographs because that makes me happy, 1 hour studying Spanish, and a strict limit of internet time. Unfortunately there is no one here to enforce these rules!!!!!!

So dears, I hope you are all dealing with these issues with fortitude. I just looked up fortitude so I was sure it was the appropriate word and I'd say it is perfect: Fortitude refers to strength in the face of adversity or difficulty. ... People who have fortitude are described in an admiring way for their courage and this word comes from the Latin word fortitudo, meaning "strength."

I hope you are finding you way. Bless us all.........................

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Life in Isolation - 3/24/2020 - Crona19

This is my travel blog, but guess I am traveling through life -- even though I'm in my home. This virus and media overload has been interesting, scary, something I've taken seriously but not in a panicky way.

It has affected us all so much. I was going to Colombia for 26 days, to have left on March 12th, but by the grace of God I cancelled my trip on March 11th. I would have been stranded in Colombia until May according to the information I received from the U.S. Embassy in Bogata, inside in quarantine. I am so glad I was able to not be stubborn and listen to good friends who were so worried. That's one of the importance of friends, when you can't see the writing on the wall, sometimes they can hold up that magnifying glass for you.

Then my huge trip planned for April 22nd to Paris, Armenia, Germany, South of France, Madrid and back to Paris to fly home on June 8th. Oh gosh that cancellation ripped my heart out. But again we have to try to make good decisions and I do enjoy life. I can always go later when this scourge of the earth is gone.

It is an interesting time of some reflection, some projects getting done and lots of procrastinating. I have spent a lot of time on the computer (not unusual for me), but for awhile I was only reading about the virus and finally I'd had enough.

I've tried to make my FB page positive and share fun or good things so we can enjoy some humor. I've actually talked to several people on the phone which is something I never, ever do with one exception, Cheryl. I'm not a phone person, but when you're stuck at home it is nice to hear and voice. I've been trying to check on some friends who are alone. I wish I could check on every single person, but many do post on FB so I can keep track of them. We need to care about our neighbors at this time.

My good friends have been totally amazing with offering help if I need it, I got a delivery of some antibacterial soap, toilet paper (with an apology that it was only single ply - which made me laugh) and hand sanitizer. Just keeping in touch and people wanting to be sure I'm OK. I already knew I had some of the best friends in the world and it has proven out time and time again.

I'm trying to spend an hour a day working on my Spanish. Some days I don't have time and I don't know how that is possible, but I guess it is. I'm putting up art in my front room that got painted when I was in London, returning home in November. I'd say it is about time (moving slow on this).

I've cooked and baked a little more (no restaurants) and hardly any of it is healthy food. I am having comfort food and lots of carbs, my food of choice. No excercise to speak of - 2 one-half hour walks. Trying to work on crafts that are right in front of me, but don't seem to be able to motivate to get any of that done. So eating and sleeping more seems to be what I'm doing best.

I went to grocery store this morning (7 a.m. senior hour) and got many things I wanted. It was weird to see that there was no chicken or hamburger. We take so much for granted -- the amazing array of food that is "always" available to us. Canned veggies were all gone. I found it funny that all the flour and I mean all, was gone. Many really gourmet and expensive items were still on the shelves. People are looking for the starches, pasta, beans, rice -- the staples of life that we have all been living on for a long time. I have bread flour and yeast and baking powder that I just bought just in case this does go on for awhile and we would run out of those items. Part of the weirdness I think is that we don't know if this will be 2 weeks, 4 weeks or longer.

So I guess I just had all this stuff running around in my head. I think when I put it down "on paper" it just makes me feel better.

And as I knew before, I know more now, how blessed and rich I am in what counts. I worry about the economy, people out of work, children out of school who might not have food, the people fighting for their lives in hospitals, the healthcare workers, paramedics, grocery store clerks. Speaking of, the clerks were so wonderful this morning. They cleaned every grocery cart, when I took my groceries up to put them on the belt they asked if I wanted help doing that (I had more than I normally do - not hoarding!!!). They really are on the front line too and I just can't get them off my mind. They were so kind and welcoming. I gave them many compliments and thanked them. I just don't know if I personally could do any of these jobs.

So I guess I just had all this stuff running around in my head. I think when I put it down "on paper" it just makes me feel better. So I'll end this and send out hugs to you my dear friends. Please be kind and take care of one another.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Dusseldorf - Kempen and Cologne, Germany 9/28 - 10/3/2018

I'm ashamed I am only now getting this blog finished. I apologize to my friends who I stayed with and visited with. I just had such a huge trip and it was mind boggling getting most of the blogs done. I still have a few to work on.

My trip to Dusseldorf and area was to see my friend Silke, who I met by chance in Oslo, Norway last year. We were both alone and she was standing by a cool, huge statute and I asked her if she would take my picture and I would take hers. We visited a bit, but each had our own day agenda to complete. I asked if she was busy the next day and we were able to have lunch together and hang out. We had fun and we were instant friends. She's a lovely person and I'm so glad we by chance met.

Not a usual tourist hub, but since my friend lives in the area I took a train from Berlin to Dusseldorf on September 28, 2018 and left for Paris on October 3rd. Silke met me at the train and from there our fun adventure began. Never a dull moment!!!!

Silke took me to a great place that is now a favorite of mine called Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord. I fell in love with it. They have reused this huge old facility for recreation and so many people are out there enjoying it -- free. Germans love to be outdoors enjoying activities. Like a huge, crazy park for events and all ages of people were out enjoying. We saw an excellent car show and it was fun seeing so many American cars in Germany. They have a huge, and I mean huge, old silo type thing and they are now using that for teaching SCUBA diving. I was wondering why in the middle of Germany people were walking around in wetsuits and diving gear. Great use, reuse.

We went to a wonderful park where there were........to my great surprise, flamingos. The landscape was lovely and speciality gardens. Enjoyed walking around as each turn on the path brought a new surprise.

Silke was the best hostess and we had the best time together. She took me EVERYWHERE and we saw so many wonderful things, botanical gardens, churches, castles, a cat cafe and we had such delicious meals. She shared her friend, Nina, with me and she made leek soup (specially for me since I'd never had it) and we had a lovely dinner together. She wanted to show me so much and to have me experience new foods. One thing I really appreciated is that even though she is so much taller than me and I'm sure walks pretty fast, she always stayed with me and never made me feel like I had to catch up.

A mention of the Cat Cafe in Dusseldorf because it was a first for me. There were maybe 4 cats out in the dining area and you could pet or play with them (if they were in the mood). You sanatized your hands when you went in and ordered coffee or snack and got to enjoy the cats. They were pretty sleepy and full when we were there, but it was great fun. You could tell they were spoiled by love and attention.

This area of Germany is beautiful and green, fields with crops growing, and many beautiful trees. We were able to go "over the border" to the Netherlands" - a first for me. This almost took care of my trek to see all countries of my roots, Dutch, so I only have Wales left and I will have touched ground for all seven. We went to Venlo, a lovely, sweet city -- very full of tourists and locals too. Visiting their nice grocery store I wanted to pack ten boxes and ship home so many things. I did get gouda with cumin (my favorite cheese) so that was thrilling. I should have bought more and brought it home.

Silke was just the best hostess and I appreciate everything she did for me. She drove us around and found all the top sites and interesting places. I even got to meet her beekeeper friend and bought some of his lavender honey and he gave me a little pack of his homemade chocolate walnuts.

Kempen, where she lives is a walled city and we did lots of walking around and had dinner there one night and ice cream too. The first mention of this city was 1186. The population is 2016 was around 25,000. There is a castle, all cobblestone streets and it is charming with lots of beautiful shops for clothes and specialty food. I'm so glad I was able to visit Kempen and highly recommend it for a stop when anyone is visiting Germany.

I was also able to see another friend from Germany. Andrea, who I met in 2016 in Dublin, Ireland on a walking tour. She lives in Cologne. I contacted her and Silke was able to take me over there and we spent the day with Andrea. She is an actress and just got her degree. She is young and one of the sweetest little gals I've ever met. Her personality just shines through.

Her dad kindly took time out of his day to meet us and took us through their famous cemetery. Quite impressive and some of the largest tombstones I've ever seen. Had a little rain, but then we had a rainbow and the day warmed up. We walked around and then went to the famous Cologne Cathedral. I had been there in 1980 with John so that was a sweet memory. Walked around inside and it was so impressive. After the Cathedral we went to a nice late lunch at the oldest beer brewery, 1311, in Cologne - Brauhaus Sion Gastraum. They only serve one beer, Sion Kölsch so don't make the heresy and mistake to ask for another type of beer. Andrea had to leave us around 2:00 p.m. and Silke and I headed home. It was so fun seeing Andrea. I felt so lucky to have seen two intrepid travelers, one in Oslo, one in Dublin) and here we were together again. Truly a magical day.

I hope all my friends (Silke, Nina and Andrea) come to visit me so I can show them around all our great places on the Gulf Coast. I really want to repay the hospitality that was shown. I am blessed beyond belief.

Too fun, coffee at Cat Cafe

Dusseldorf, Germany