Another week of social distancing in the books. Week Seventeen saw repeated news stories about the daft man “running” this country and reported on protesters in some states with signs that literally said, “Sacrifice the weak” and “Give me liberty or give me death!” These were so ridiculous, I actually wondered if people were trolling the protests. But to be out there trolling, you’d have to be participating in the very thing you’re trolling about. So I’m left thinking the protesters really are that stupid and selfish. Which is really disheartening.
I’m trying to remember that the majority of people are trying to behave responsibly and kindly. But it’s hard to stomach the news these days. In fact, it’s been hard to stomach it ever since Trump took office, so I’ve bene disengaging. It’s the only way to maintain my sanity. Instead, when I’m not online teaching, I’ve been walking and writing and reading.
Sunday
This is a shelf in the downstairs bathroom. Brian has several high quality action figures left over from his childhood… Oh, who are we kidding. They’re left over from his teenage years. There’s always one manning the Q-tips. It’s been Ant Man for awhile. Before that it was Spiderman. Sometimes they’re just chilling; sometimes they’re actually holding a Q-tip; other times they’re leaning on the octopus. I enjoy the small surprise when he changes it. He never says anything and I never say anything. But he does it and I notice it.
Monday
The flowers give me hope that an actual spring is on its way, because this week was mostly another cold one.
Tuesday
In honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day, the school asked us to take to send in pics in which we hugged trees and showed them our love. Anyone who knows me well, knows I have a deep respect for trees. My mom, though raised Presbyterian, instilled some Pagan beliefs in me. I only have one tree in my backyard in Utica, though, because my backyard is really only big enough for one tree. So here’s a selfie of me hugging it.
Wednesday
Willow trapped me. And I was okay with that. I used it as an excuse to binge watch some Designated Survivor.
Thursday
There’s a whole world in this tree knot, fit for fairies and other mythical folk. It looks like a frozen pond beneath bedrock where a small spring waterfall will appear. A closer inspection made me notice the way the bark curls in the upper left and the growths shoot out from that area, making it look like a smiling cat with long whiskers. It makes me think of FernGully and Fraggle Rock… It makes me smile.
Friday
When we give Sam catnip, he rolls around in it. Then his ear itches.
Saturday
It was too nice a day not to spend a ton of it outside, especially since the weather report calls for rain all next week. It was like Mother Earth said, “Okay, you’ve all been very good in your time-out. I shall reward you with one nice day. But then it’s back inside with the lot of you!”
According to my phone, in between YALLFest zoom sessions, I walked 7.2 miles through the gulf course and Master Gardens. I also sat outside with a new book (one of I think nine I’ve ordered in the last week… I may have a problem) and the little woodland creatures Brian always feeds came scurrying and flapping over. Unfortunately, most of them spooked the moment I reached for my phone, so I couldn’t get a pic of them all out in full force, but this little squirrel repeatedly came within two feet of my chair politely asking for more peanuts.