I actually had something on the calendar for today—my Zoom chat with my conversation partner from Mexico—but she had to cancel for some reason. (I hope my requests for her to bring a topic to discuss didn’t deter her.) So I was pretty much done with my day by 8:00 a.m: brushed, dressed, ready for… what?
Pacing.
Eleni sent me a picture of Ember’s new blue hair, with a perfect photobomb by little Jesse. Small keeps saying how much Ember resembles my father’s mother (minus the colored locks). I believe I do see a similarity in the shape of those large brown eyes. What do you think?
I’m quite concerned about the budding purple carnations I told you about a few days ago. As you can see, a couple of them are just about to pop out, and I’m afraid that there will be a repeat of last year’s beheading of blossoms by squirrels. (The planter is way too big to bring indoors.)
Since there was only a ten percent chance of precipitation on this overcast day, I decided to move my pacing outdoors for half an hour. Still several blocks from home, I discovered the forecast was a bit off. But the rain was light (until after I got home) so I was only a little dampened. Here’s a house that my camera wanted to take a picture of.
After my walk I checked my iPhone to see how far I’d gone, and found this discouraging message: On average, you’re walking less this year compared to last year. Indeed, what a difference a year makes. At this time in 2019, I’d recently returned from a visit to Delaware and was getting ready for a trip to Iceland, walking up steep Marin Avenue twice a week to get in shape for the difficult hike we’d planned there. Now I’m a slug with nowhere to go.
I was surprised to get a video call from Ember today. She is usually averse to digital communication, as you know, so this was a treat. Once again, I was taken out to the trampoline to watch her and Jesse bouncing and chasing after each other.
That’s really all I have to say for today. And actually, I didn’t even have to say all that.
just so you know, stephen is also looking forward to your reports every evening and we read them together.
your phone might say less activity than last year, but just imagine what it will say next year. something to look forward to.
i love the house. it’s too ambitious for me, but i want to do a barn quilt on ours. did you see my fb post on that?
love that blue hair on ember and yes, big eyes.
i didn’t manage a lot today. masks for people, some tv (silent witness, a 21 season series from england on prime). i’m in season 18. but i started a long, long time ago. stephen and i are trying with ozark. taking care of foster dog arnold. do you know he has mast cell tumors? well, tomorrow to the vet because his diarrhea is not getting better after weeks.
if we open our pod, will you come and visit us? we are so vigilant. i don’t go out and stephen does curbside. we have friends who do costco for us.
and lots of cooking here, but that is nothing new.
stephen does his nytimes crossword puzzles every day and still works.
got a new boardgame! waiting for shoes i ordered. i only have one pair left.
got some ink so i can do print and play games. https://print-and-play.asmodee.fun/
the sad news is that a friend’s mom died and i loved her mom. and in germany my mom’s friend whom i adopted as my mom is dying.
Marianna: I love your comment, and am glad to know what someone else is up to in these times. I am so flattered that Stephen also joins in your reading of this stuff.
You’ve been taking care of Arnold for a long time now. That’s weird about his intestinal issues. I hope he’s still able to make it outside when he has the urge.
I would love to come and visit you when things open up. I, too, am vigilant to a fault. I haven’t been into a grocery store for maybe six weeks, and pretty much the only place I go is the weekly farmers market.
Which NYT crosswords does Stephen do? I’ve worked my way up to the Wednesday puzzles.
Oh, man, I’m so sorry about your friend’s mom and the woman you adopted as your mom. That’s heartbreaking.
Thank you again, Marianne, for catching me up.
Love,
Ginna
stephen does every day. i think he loves them more than me 😉 and you’re welcome to call him any time about them, he would be thrilled.
arnold does go outside. it’s not the number of times he goes, which is once or twice a day, more the consistency.
you know, it’s not good enough for gov or any other entity to tell me it’s ok to see each other again, i have to be convinced in my gut it’s the right thing.
Well, welcome Stephen! I’d be interested to know which NYT puzzles you do. Ma does the Sundays in the bat of an eye, while I couldn’t begin the thing. And Saturdays: never. But I’m pleased finally to have worked up to a mid-week crossword, though often I need my mother’s help.
Marianna: Glad Arnold goes outside, but weird that the problem has continued for a while.
I totally agree with you: I don’t know what it’s going to take for me to feel comfortable being near friends. I do think that Gavin’s edicts have been useful, but even still, as you say, your gut has to agree. I am eager to see my grandkids, who have been as cloistered as I have. But I fear that late June is likely too early to get on a plane to see my beloved mother.
Hi Ginna! Re NYT xwords: For many years I did only M-Th + Sunday. (Sunday generally isn’t any harder than Thursday, just vaster.) Once in a while I’d start a Fri/Sat, but it felt like trying to see through a brick wall. Like, going through all the clues, then noting that all I’d done was fill in a few S’s at the ends of obvious plurals. But we also stopped subscribing to the Union (which republishes NYT’s puzzles); so I did them randomly, and certainly not Fri-Sat.
Then maybe 10 years ago, a neighbor started passing her Unions along to us; and I got back into the most-dailies. And I’ll let Rod Serling tell the next part of the story…. Just figuratively, but it’s got a nice TZ-ish twist. So, the Union’s republished versions run exactly 5 weeks after the originals. (No big deal for a freeloader, but kinda unfortunate when, say, the puzzle’s timed for an event/whatever happening on its publication day — e.g., holiday/World Series.) One night I worked on the latest puzzle, in a Monday or Tuesday Union, and designated for that date. But… it was hard! Clue after clue, although I kept getting the answers, I silently yelled “Unfair!” at the puzzle maker and/or Will Shortz; these required levels of thought and knowledge that seemed highly inappropriate for early in the week. Still, I finished it. Then checked online, and found out… it was a Saturday puzzle, mistakenly republished and mis-dated as a Monday/Tuesday! But the truly mind-blowing thing was… I *did* it. Which meant, I *could* do it. Them. As I’ve done ever since. (For years now, thanks to Liana’s annual gift online subscription.) I still enjoy and appreciate and sometimes admire the M-Th & Sun themes, and miss them on F-S. But I love the extra challenges. And it doesn’t hurt that I choose to believe they’ll help ward off dementia….
Oh, that’s so funny. I read this blog after reading yesterday’s (on which I commented suggesting a blue hair dye for you) – only to read of Em’s new blue hair here! Clearly it is fated.
Could you bring the carnations to the front yard or front porch? The squirrels seem less active there.
You’re a CUTE slug.
I wonder if the bastards would respond to Bitter Apple? I can’t say it’s ever been a successful deterrent for the dogs I’ve tried it with, but it does taste awful (yeah, I tried it), and maybe squirrels have a more delicate constitution. Sensitive palate? Something.
BLUE hair, on my beautiful great-grandchild?? Oh well — it’s a bit of excitement in an otherwise somewhat monotonous time.
I agree with Stephen that the Sun. NYT puzzle is easier than Sat. — and, to me, more fun, with a tricky theme. (Sometimes I solve the whole thing — but still haven’t figured out the trick!)
Fingers crossed for the successful (un-bitten) blooming of your carnations .
Stephen: Lovely to get your comment. That’s a great story about solving the Saturday puzzle thinking it was an early-in-the-week one. You are determined. And it’s amazing you’ve been able to solve them ever since. As I mentioned, Wednesday is as far as I can (sometimes) get. I’m a neophyte, having been doing them only a couple years. I’ve had the best teacher in my mother, who has 70 years of crossword experience and a good liberal arts education to boot. Delighted to know I have another expert in the wings!And re. dementia: yes, puzzles *must* be good for our brains!
Eleni: I wonder if bitter apple might work! The trouble is, when I’ve put squirrel repellent right on the plant (as directed), the plant always withers and dies.
Molly: I can’t move the carnations anywhere. They’re in a giant, heavy planter that ain’t goin’ nowhere. That is a strange coincidence about the blue hair recommendation.
Ma: I know you don’t like leaving comments but it’s just a joy to wake up too early in the morning and check my email and find them there. Thanks, to you and to everyone who posts here. It’s only a “*somewhat* monotonous time”? Obviously you have a more positive attitude than I do!