Monday, June 1, 2020
I bought some lavender-scented paper towels from HEB. They were printed with pretty purple flowers, and the price was reduced on the package of six double rolls. I neglected to consider that since they are scented they can’t be used to wrap food for microwaving. Now I am a hoarder with separate paper towels for cooking and cleaning. Must be time to clean mirrors and windows.
We still don’t have Matt’s COVID-19 test results, so none of us have left our property in six days. Matt called about the results, and they said call back tomorrow. Tomorrow makes a week so we should get the results. I hope we get them early, and they’re negative, so I can get out of here.
We are out of chips, now. Forget eating healthy, I made bacon sandwiches last night hoping it might help. It didn’t.
I received an invitation to a “baby shower by mail” today.
Riots are still happening in large cities across the US. And the UK has made sex during lockdown with anyone outside your household illegal. I never expected to see that in the headlines.
Could life get any crazier?
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Police officers were shot last night during riots in Kansas City and Las Vegas.
A little before 6pm tonight we received Matt’s COVID-19 results. He tested negative for the virus. We rushed to Tractor Supply and got minerals for the cattle.
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
The weather’s been beautiful, but the heat has arrived. I went grocery shopping today since we’ve been self-isolating for a week while waiting for COVID-19 test results.
Stephanie and Hayden are coming for dinner tomorrow night. They’ve announced their tentative date to hit the road in their airstream as June 20th-ish. I think that was before the protests. Those poor nomad-wanna-bees.
Tuesday, June 4, 2020
I tagged along to Weatherford with Stephanie today. She was searching for a few final items for the camper. They now plan to take off around the end of this month. It was a sunny, hot day, but good to be out among the masked humans. I’ve discovered I’m now afraid of two things: germs and people.
A Yahoo news article headline reads “People with psychopathic traits are more likely to ignore lockdown restrictions.” I suspect they ignore a multitude of things.
Some areas of Minneapolis look like a war zone due to looting and vandalism. Protesters there and across the U. S. are requesting police funds to pay for social programs.
George Floyd’s body ended its cross country tour today and was laid to rest in Houston. Over 500 people, many who had never met the man, attended his service. Thousands stood in line yesterday in the Houston heat for a public body viewing. I am glad that his family was able to have gatherings that completely ignore guidelines for the current health crisis. It is sad that other lives lost during these frightening times were unable to have their families at their funeral services. This service and all the well-known attendees were all the press could talk about today.
As the media constantly reminds us, “We are all in this together.”
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
I finally got my hair cut and colored today. Truthfully, I look better than I have in months. But hair, make-up and nails are so 2019.
Saturday, June 13, 2020
Of course I would be alone in the house this morning when the snake appeared. Numerous, and almost unbearable at times, are the hours I have spent with Matt and Ray over the past few months of the 2020 Pandemic. Just when life had begun to get back to normal, and the guys were gone, I went to the kitchen to let the dog in and there was a snake on the rug in front of the door.
After determining from the picture I sent him that it was probably non-venomous, Matt tried to coax me through tossing the creature out the door. But it slithered away under the refrigerator. Matt came home and pulled it out from between fridge and wall with a hoe, grabbed it by the tail, and tossed it into the flower bed without incident. He worked so quickly that I didn’t even manage to get my camera. I was trying to help, but as usual, I was pretty useless.
The snake was yellow and black checked with a black line down its back. Matt called it a ribbon snake. It was about 18 inches long. And it managed to poop in the house, so I grabbed the bleach spray and the lavender paper towels.
Many cities across the U.S. are experiencing multiple days of record numbers of COVID-19 cases. Some are even talking about shutting down again.
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Hooray! I finally announced my website on Facebook last night and woke up to lots of kind words and messages from my adoring fans.
There was a murder hornet in the house today. Actually it was only a flying red insect, but this is 2020—the year of everything mega-disastrous. It might be what we used to call a dirt dauber. I googled it and “mud dauber” came up. We call them dirt daubers because we don’t have mud in Texas. Anyway, there’s one buzzing around the kitchen window.
Matt sent me information on a Saharan dust storm that’s expected here next Tuesday or Wednesday, so I’m avoiding all housework until that storm passes. Afterward, I’m looking forward to using some more of those lavender paper towels.
We had dinner with Stephanie and Hayden last night, and they’re really leaving…SOON. They’re staying near Antonito, Colorado in July, but will be visiting friends in Lubbock for several days before then. Father’s Day will be the last time I see her until September. I’m going to miss them. I don’t even want to think about it.
Thriftbooks.com is a great source for books—great prices and free shipping on purchases over ten dollars. This shop may get me through Stephanie’s travels.
We watched a good movie last night. An Unfinished Life starring Robert Redford and Jennifer Lopez. It costs three dollars to view on Amazon Prime. The writer in me always tries to guess what’s going to happen in books/movies, but at the midway point, I told Ray “This could go so many directions, and I have no idea what’s going to happen!” Somehow, the intertwining stories and the many possibilities moved the plot along. It was very well done.
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Today was Father’s Day. Ray worked overtime today. The Fire Department has reinstated overtime for the city hall guys, so he’ll be working every chance he gets. Our Father’s Day dinner is planned for tomorrow night.
I made peanut butter cookies this afternoon, and at dinner I found a light smear of cookie dough on my wrist. Years ago I would have licked it off without a worry, but thanks to so much information at my fingertips I now fear contracting food poisoning. This made me wonder if the whole COVID-19 is some fear tactic. The great state of Texas topped 100,000 confirmed cases on Friday.
It rained a tiny bit this morning and knocked out our internet so I was unable to watch the church service, but I’ll watch it later.
I’m working hard on my screenplay. Imagine Impact has called for screenplays to be produced for Netflix. The deadline is July 5. I am completing a final edit before I submit it. They require a long questionnaire about the project. I’m allotting two days for answering.
Monday, June 22, 2020
“Mama, someone’s parked in our driveway,” Matt said.
I sprang from bed. It was almost 7am. Ray would not be home from the station for at least another hour. I looked outside.
Once fully awake, I remembered our gate that Ray and Matt installed this spring. The mysterious car was parked outside the gate at the highway, not at all what I pictured when he announced someone was in our driveway. But it was blocking him from going to work.
We watched as a man stood outside the vehicle and fought with someone inside. A bleached blonde sprang out like a cat swinging and clawing at him. Then she pulled a fire extinguisher from the car and hosed him down.
Matt called 9-1-1. The sheriff came and talked to them and sent them on their way. They were considerate enough to leave the fire extinguisher and a few other goodies for us to dispose of properly.
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Ray was fencing less than a foot away from a rattlesnake this morning. It was the first rattler we’ve seen in probably 23 years. Speaking of snakes, since I saw one by the kitchen door, at night when I get up to let the dog out, I imagine snakes on the rugs. Only on the rugs, so I avoid the rugs. Problem solved.
Meteorologists are calling the dust storm the “Godzilla Sandstorm” due to its massive size. It’s supposed to arrive tomorrow.
Friday, June 26, 2020
Twenty-six people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Palo Pinto County now. Governor Abbott started closing businesses, and elective surgeries have been postponed.
Stephanie called today. They are enjoying their stay in Lubbock. I think she misses me already.
Walmart’s website will not allow me to select curbside pickup, and their online prices have greatly increased. You’re dead to me, Walmart. I will have to go to the store soon.
Today’s been mostly sunny with no sign of dust on the horizon.
If you ever wondered what it would be like to live during the Dust Bowl, Civil War, Civil Rights Movement, 1918 Flu Pandemic, killer insect threats, food shortages, a scant supply of toilet paper, and no open pubs—2020’s the year for you!
Monday, June 29, 2020
The Sahara sand blew in on Saturday. I can’t tell if it’s still here, or if the sky is just overcast.
I went shopping at HEB in Weatherford today because Walmart is still dead to me. It was good to get out. Signs were posted on the soft drink aisle saying: “Soft drinks may be out of stock due to metal shortage.” At the checkout counter signs read: “Due to coin shortages, please pay with card if possible.” This was news to me. Ray wondered if banks were sanitizing coins causing a shortage.
I’m still polishing my screenplay. It should be ready on time. Presently, I’m stressing about the thirty second video pitch. Having my picture made is not my favorite thing to do.