Thursday, April 2, 2020
Stephanie planned to have lunch with me yesterday, but she was not feeling well and couldn’t go to work. She was dizzy and nauseous. Mostly, I hope she’s feeling better, but secretly, I hope it’s morning sickness. It was her last day to work due to the shelter in place order. Her office will be working from home now. So I don’t know when I will see her again.
We learned the maintenance man at church has tested positive for COVID-19. He is in a Fort Worth hospital on a ventilator with double pneumonia. Our church staff is now self- isolating for two weeks along with a few lay people who have entered the church in the last several days. I guess we won’t have church on Face Book for a few Sundays.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
This morning our propane tank ran out. This has never happened before since we have a standing order for the company to fill our tank whenever they are in the area. They come twice a year, but it has been nine months between refueling at least once. They last serviced us in September. We fear that we may have a leak in the line somewhere. Ray called them this morning and they came right out and put $200 worth of propane in. They are returning Wednesday to check for leaks. We have no idea what all this is going to cost. Our income has already been cut forty percent due to no overtime. Beginning Monday, Ray will go in to the city hall office on Monday, Tuesday, and every other Wednesday. He will work from home the rest of the week. This will greatly impact my writing time because he will be using the computer for work.
Monday, April 6, 2020
I left the house today. It was the first time in six days, maybe more. I went to the post office, and mailed a friend a care package of a few extra art supplies I had around here. She posted on Facebook that she had stored her craft stuff to get ready to sell their house, and now she isn’t working and wished she had her materials. I hope there’s something she can use in the package.
Since I was out, I stopped by a local drive-thru restaurant. My friend Beth recently bought the business. She asked about the maintenance man from our church and said she was praying for him and our church staff that were exposed to the virus.
A grocery store sales flyer came in the mail today. This weekend is Easter weekend, so a normal ad would feature family barbeque items. On the cover they have beer and Pepsi products specially priced, along with this apology: “We apologize for the lack of products in our weekly circular; due to current conditions we are unable to anticipate product supply. Thank you for your understanding.” The inside pages contain their policies and thanks to customers. The back has Easter baskets and candy pictured. This company, Brookshire’s, has been around since 1928.
Dreary weather continues and is expected all week.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Our church maintenance man passed away today. He is the first COVID-19 related death in Palo Pinto County. The rest of the church staff tested negative for the virus.
Texas closed all of our state parks yesterday. I’m surprised they waited so long. I can’t believe people aren’t staying home more.
President Trump was on TV optimistic again that this mess is nearly over. He’ll probably bring a different message tomorrow.
Surprisingly, it was sunny and 93 degrees today.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
I ordered a few groceries online from Walmart and picked them up at the store. They didn’t have everything I needed so I went to Metro also. I can’t tell if things are getting better or worse. Metro had bread, milk, and a little toilet paper, but no butter and very little cheese. TV news reported dairies are throwing out milk due to the school shut downs. A few companies (not local) are delivering milk door to door to stay in business.
It rained today.
Stephanie and Hayden came for dinner tonight because she missed us. I wonder how she’s going to travel the country if she misses us after only two weeks. But I’ve missed her too.
We rigged a makeshift film studio yesterday to make a short video for Easter Sunday church service. We left it up so we could snap some family portraits tonight. Matt’s phone camera was held in place using our napkin holder, on top of Kleenex boxes, on top of a bar stool, on top of the ottoman (which is on wheels. Bonus!) Stephanie and Hayden were impressed with the set-up, and they have a video blog.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Today was Easter. Rain in the night knocked out our internet, so we were unable to watch the church service. It turned out to be a beautiful day. The guys vaccinated the cattle. I did some writing. A cool front came in this afternoon. It will get down to 38 tonight. It was 93 yesterday.
I completed the first edit of the Doggie Bag. Ray only read to page 36. That confirms my feeling that it’s not as good as the cat box, but it isn’t finished yet. Ray found a typo and an issue with one of the stories. I still haven’t begun working on my website.
Monday, April 13, 2020
It was much cooler today, but the sun shone all day. I went to Dollar General this morning for hot dog buns. There was no bread. Very few cleaning products, and those were limited to one per family. Still no toilet paper.
People keep their distance. Many wear masks. We don’t have masks, and there is a shortage. Some people are sewing them and selling them. I saw on the news that a man was thrown off a bus by law enforcement for not wearing one. Fort Worth issued today that you should wear masks.
The checkout clerk at Dollar General wore a bandanna mask. I had to wait for him to adjust it before he could ring up my purchase because it was fogging up his glasses. The lady behind me said, “Just scan my items. I don’t need any bags. I have bags in my truck.” She held all up all her items with the bar-code facing him and he scanned her purchase with the scanner gun. I felt like I had a disease by the time I got to my jeep.
The media says to disinfect your groceries when you get home, but it’s difficult to find cleaners. They say the virus can live on cardboard for two days. Lots of mail carriers are infected. I put out three boxes today. They are labeled “day one,” “day two” and “day three.” We will wait three days before opening the mail or using items that can’t be sanitized after shopping.
The propane company returned and filled our tank today. They didn’t do any inspection. I guess they could tell by the remaining amount that we don’t have a leak. The price of propane dropped by one dollar a gallon since they came out on the fourth of this month.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Today was still cool and windy, but sunny. Stephanie came over and we spent the day together being crafty. I painted the gold frame around a large mirror that I had bought months ago at a second hand store. I chose antique white chalk paint with gray tones. It’s looking good. I don’t know where I’m going to hang it. She offered to help me set up my website.
I have been very productive during this time at home. But the monotony somehow makes the days pass quickly. Every night when I take my medicine, it doesn’t seem like a full day has passed since I last took it.
Matt was called to work today. He dumpster-dived four large ceramic pots and seven large tropical plants that the school was discarding since most of the staff have been furloughed and there is no one to care for them. There were more, but he couldn’t fit them in his car. They are beautiful. I need to find pots. For now, they are all in the laundry room, and it looks like a jungle in there. It is supposed to get down to 35 tonight.
Ray brought home a few groceries.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
There was a frost last night. It was 32 degrees at 7am. I’m glad we brought all the plants inside.
I went to Walmart this morning. I didn’t know what to expect. News reports told of meat and dairy plants closing due to many employees being infected with the virus. But they were well stocked. They had everything, and I bought it. I even saw a few friends there. People still kept their distance, but it was the most “normal” experience I’ve had since the pandemic began. I should have bought some big planters.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
The weather has been dreary and cool the past few days. More clouds and rain are predicted. I purchased some pots and re-potted a couple of my plants today.
The news reported that a nursing home in New Jersey was concealing seventeen bodies in a morgue designed to hold four.
President Trump has given all the states the power to reopen everything as they see fit. Governor Abbott is reopening state parks next week and allowing medical procedures to resume. Schools will not open until fall.
I hope we aren’t opening up too soon. We don’t have masks. People are making them and selling them online for around twenty dollars. There are lots of tutorials for making them. I guess I need to make some.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
It was sunny and warm today. Ray and I watched the church service on Facebook from our recliners this morning. Home-viewing sure makes it more comfortable if you fall asleep.
I dreamed about the virus last night, but I was back in the old west. My time travel was likely due to watching the movie Badland last night. It was a very good show.
Monday, April 20, 2020
I had another pandemic dream. This time the church choir came to my house to take me with them on a shopping trip. I had forgotten they were coming and was still in my pajamas. I wanted to at least put on my bra, but they dragged me onto the church bus with them. The dream ends with me wondering around a crowded shopping mall wearing no make-up and clad in pajamas seeking a dressing room where I can put on the bra I have tucked in my purse. This sheltering in place must be getting to me.
Matt and I ventured to Weatherford to buy a new faucet. He hasn’t been in stores much during the pandemic. We both agreed that we felt dirty and like we were diseased afterwards. But it was a beautiful day and good to get out. In case you’re wondering, I wore clothes, all necessary undergarments, and make-up.
Ray and Matt have completed the fence around our house, and some of Matt’s cattle are pasturing here now. It’s nice to look out the window and see our own livestock.
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
I gathered with my nieces for lunch today. There were only four of us, and I seldom see them. I had a great time, but our conversations proved that we are all getting older. Our topics were focused around menopause and our many ailments.
They all have had their hours cut, and one admitted to having to visit a food bank for the first time in her life.
Saturday, April 25, 2020
The weather has greatly improved and life has seemed busy this week since I went shopping Monday and visited family on Tuesday. I re-potted my remaining plants on Wednesday.
Tonight Stephanie and Hayden came over and we built a fire in the fire pit. Lake Mineral Wells State Park broadcast their Cowboy Poetry event online and we listened while we roasted marshmallows and sipped cocoa and coffee. We attended the event at the park years ago.
Monday, April 27, 2020
Getting old is not much different than being young. Today was my birthday and I received three vaccinations at my bi-annual doctor visit. Dr. Jones was wearing a mask to remind everyone to wear a mask whenever they’re around people.
Stephanie and Matthew fueled up my car and ran it through the car wash. They made dinner for me and cleaned up. Steph gifted me an assortment of nifty plant accessories. One item is a gauge to tell if your plant needs water. I accused her of buying that to save her own plants that she plans to leave with me when they start their travels. Ray brought me flowers and chocolates. It’s been an awesome birthday.
The past few days the press has been in an uproar about a comment President Trump made about needing a disinfectant for the inside of our bodies to kill the Corona virus. Let it go.
The weather continues to be great.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
I tried to join the choir in a Zoom meeting last night, but the sound was squeaky and spotty, so I gave up. I watched a Zoom meeting between Stephen King and John Grisham on YouTube today. They both write in the mornings, from around 7-10 am. So I have a new goal, and tomorrow is a new month. I foresee a lot of obstacles with that time frame, but I intend to try it and discover what, if anything, really prevents this from working for me. My hope is that I will develop a new habit.
Tomorrow many restaurants and shops in Texas are opening back up. People are protesting for businesses to reopen at the state capitol. And Dallas has had a spike in cases the last two days. We still don’t have masks, but I guess we should try to find some. I am fearful of things getting back to normal too quickly.