March 1-March 7, 2021

  In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb. March started out with rain and chilly winds which was a benefit since it dried up all the muddy puddles. Most of the snow is melted, but it left some big puddles along with some rain showers on the sidewalks making it difficult to take Cookie for a walk. She just loves marching through all those puddles. I even put a sweater on her to help keep her from getting too wet and dirty. But it was not enough. And just when I got her cleaned up, I had to give her another bath to get off all the mud. I did sign her up for a haircut, but she'll have to wait a few weeks. I did not take her in earlier because it was still pretty cold and she gets a very short cut-did not want her to freeze! So now is the time for her spring shearing!

And speaking of water, looks like the family is sharing the same type of problems. We needed a new water heater which Tom replaced. Then Allison called us this past week saying water was dripping into her apartment from the ceiling by her laundry room next to the kitchen and front door. We figured her upstairs neighbor(who I call Thumpy because that person walks around very loudly)must have had a leak in their washer, hot water heater or laundry tub. Allison was busy putting out bowls and pots(don't think she owns a bucket!) to catch all the water. Then she had to put towels in the containers to keep the drip noise down so she could fall asleep. She also moved quite a few items into her bedroom to keep things from getting wet in case there was a bigger disaster overnight. We couldn't talk her into going upstairs and speaking to her neighbor about it, but she did get the maintenance staff to stop by the next day. They just came to the door and said they would be back to repair the ceiling. Allison said she heard work being done upstairs and the maintenance worker said they have had to repair the washer in that apartment before. We did notice what appeared to be water damage in that spot when Allison moved in and had her take lots of photos and make a note of it on her move in slip. So they just stopped in and repaired her ceiling again. Guess she'll see how it goes. 

She did come over for a visit on Friday night after getting a hair cut at the salon near our house. She is getting ready for the wedding she is attending with Gabe on March 14th in New Jersey. She picked up some chinese food for dinner for all of us(shrimp and broccoli for me on Fish Friday!) and we watched the finale of WandaVision on Disney+. We also saw "Coming 2 America" on Amazon. It was cute, but I still like the first movie better. Allison has never seen "Coming to America". Just bits and pieces, but the new movie also reran a few of the scenes from the original movie. (all I can say is everybody got old!).  

I also had my second acupuncture treatment Friday evening. I pretty much made an appointment every week and I am hoping I continue to have great results. I am also taking advantage of any time off work to get to the pool at the Y for an exercise class. I really like having some time off during the week-so much easier to make appointments and run errands with less people out. So I didn't mind going into work on Saturday. Since Tom and I don't really have any big plans these COVID days, I don't mind going in for a few hours since I have the rest of the day to myself. Turns out Dan and Gloria invited us over for dinner at their house on Saturday night. I was on dessert duty, so I ended up making something with St Patrick's Day in mind-a layered pistachio pudding with a shortbread crust and cream cheese base. Very tasty and easy to make. I actually put it together on Friday so it had time to settle and chill overnight. We had an incredible Prime Rib dinner with a hot cauliflower casserole and cold crab salad at Dan and Gloria's topped off with my dessert. Just when we started in on our coffee the doorbell rang and the next door neighbor stopped by with homemade pastries. She was paying Dan back for helping with repairs on Zippy the Wonder car. Tom donated the Toyota Echo to Dan and Gloria so she could use the car to drive into Baltimore a few years ago when she had a Home Health job driving her patients to appointments. I think it had around 200,000 miles back then. Both of our kids used the car to learn how to drive and complete their tests for their license. Tom originally bought Zippy to drive down to DC many, many years ago when he was working on a project and was reassigned to a facility off the DC beltway in CardeRock. So when Gloria finished her Home Health contract position, they sold the car to the next door neighbor so their 4 kids could use it to learn how to drive. So far their oldest daughter has graduated from Zippy, and the second daughter is busy practicing. However, the girls have put Zippy through the paces. Their first daughter drove it up and over the hill at our local neighborhood park when she hit the accelerator and not the brake. Smashed up the bumper and front end. It also supposedly has been hit by a deer. They scraped up the windshield when they ran the wipers without a blade. And recently they dug it out of the snow and found the alternator needed replaced and now the tire rims need replaced when someone hit a curb. Dan has been nominated as Zippy's personal repair man since their neighbor is not so into fixing anything. Dan has been trying to teach him some of the basics as well as a few complicated repairs but I think he has a new job for life! And Zippy must be at 300,000 miles by now! We just love driving by every day and waving hello to Zippy as she is parked in the street in front of their house. So Hagit made some traditional Hebrew treats to say Thank You and we got to share. We also had a great conversation(a whole group of vaccinated people!). 

Schools have just opened on a hybrid schedule in Maryland this week after being closed for a whole year. So kids, if they choose, can go into school for a few days and complete their week learning online or just stay home and complete the year online. Hagit is a 3rd grade teacher in downtown Baltimore so she was filling us in on the challenges of splitting your time between educating kids in class and those online. No Thank You. At least the teachers have been added to the vaccine priority in Maryland. There's talk about making this type of learning the 'new normal'. We also talked about scheduling Tom for an in class visit at her school to cover STEM subjects sponsored by Northrop. 

One person who is very tired of online learning is Scott. He would be most grateful to return to the classroom but it does not appear to be in the works for Western.  He just finished his midterms and admits he is getting burned out. He is basically stuck in his dorm room and only goes out to pick up his meals. We try to keep him distracted with sending care packages and cards. Tom ordered him a big blow up palm tree(necessary for every dorm room). I packed him up a St Patrick's Day Goody box and sent it off early. We actually will be picking him up at the end of March, so even though he feels like time is dragging, it will go by fast.  Tom and I have also been sending in Scott's resume for possible summer Manufacturing Engineer Internships in various locations, but so far no luck. He actually had one request for an interview, but it was for a permanent, full time position in an ice cream factory! Darn! 

I also spent the weekend putting together all of my mom's paperwork and adding up her deductions for her 2020 taxes. I was still receiving tax documents in the mail right up through this first week in March. Fortunately her accountant said everything and everyone is behind due to COVID, so no great rush or worries. And I am trying to wrap up some paperwork of my own-transferring a previous IRA into a new account as our broker switched to Morgan Stanley from Merrill Lynch. 

Celebrating his Birthday this week in sunny Florida, right after his wife Susan(Seitz)-Happy Birthday John!

March 8-March 14th, 2021  Happy Pi Day!

This week we were treated to a taste of Spring. The weather really warmed up and the spring flowers have started blooming including the crocus and daffodils. And the trees are starting to bud, especially the maples. Not a great time for allergy sufferers. Lots of sneezing inside masks. At least it is not COVID! Cookie has been enjoying her walks even more(me too since I don't have to bundle up or put on her sweater). No more puddles, although we could use some rain as everything starts to bloom. 

The most exciting news of the week! Our Governor started lifting some of the COVID restrictions as people scramble to get vaccinated. Although the changes are slight, it is an actual breath of fresh air! Even though guidelines continue to change daily, one of the best improvements was being able to hug my mom during a visit on Friday! From one vaccinated person to another! We still had to sit 6 feet apart and wear our masks, only visit for 20 mins and in a small room off the lobby. Families are not allowed to roam freely through the nursing homes or assisted living facilities yet, or visit in the residents rooms. And still only 1 person per visit.  I also still had to make a reservation for the meeting and get COVID tested 72 hrs before stopping in. But that last restriction was lifted on Friday. Meanwhile, Mom B looked great and her eyes got real big when she saw me! And I gave her two big hugs!  We have not seen each other since her birthday visit in September, and have not hugged in a year!  I do send her cards and notes every week when I drop off her supplies. Have not had any luck getting her to answer the phone in her apartment. She really has trouble speaking, but follows directions and does not seem to have declined much in her ability to get around with her rollator in her room and on the floor, helping with her self care skills and participating in group activities(when they are allowed to run them).  And the staff always tells me how happy she seems, always smiling. Thank goodness. Looking forward to the time when I can bring her back to our house, go out on the town and visit with Cookie! (Cookie loves her some Grandma!)

And now Cookie looks a whole lot better with her recent haircut on Saturday. Tom took her in and picked her up. I was busy at work on Saturday. Our facility has been trying to ramp up the rehab admissions. Still a bit slow with the restrictions-hospitals are being asked to continue to put off non emergency surgeries or procedures. So most of our rehab people have been residents that live in our facility with a small, steady flow of hospitalized patients  that have had medical complications or fractures from falls. Some of those patients coming from home have decided to move into our Assisted Living Facility, so I am getting a bit busier on my side of the building. Also spending more time helping on our rehab side completing evaluations as well as spending a day at one of our local facilities covering for their OT that quit. We have been seeing a few more patients that had contracted COVID and are still trying to recuperate with all sorts of symptoms from respiratory and cardiac issues, muscle weakness, swallowing issues and cognitive deficits. And many people feel very depressed as the quarantine restrictions remain in place. Patients have to remain in their rooms for 12 days on isolation when entering most facilities, and we still cannot bring them into our therapy gym. We still have to wear our masks with a face guard and gowns in the isolation rooms. And everything gets wiped down with clorox. Still trying to keep at least my M-Thursday work schedule if at all possible. 

I keep trying to get to my swim exercise class at least once a week, but the classes can fill up fast. Only 20 spots and you need a reservation ahead of time. Our Governor eased up restrictions for the number of people allowed in for restaurants, shopping, entertainment venues, churches and gyms but most places still want a limited number with masks and social distancing or reservations to keep the numbers down. I am still going to tv mass on Sunday morning. Turns out, the wedding Allison was supposed to attend with her boyfriend on Sunday, March 14th in New Jersey was rescheduled for June. Her Ultimate Frisbee teams have not started up again yet. She is happy that her exercise gym reopened at her apt complex, including their clubhouse. She can get back on the treadmill, but also does a video workout in her apartment. I pulled out a set of 3lb hand weights for her to use from the back of my closet when I was cleaning it out. (Still a work in progress). I did manage to pack up all of my snowmen and put out the spring decorations, including getting a jump on the Easter decorations. Seems like all the holidays come at the same time! This year Tom's Birthday lands on Easter so I am also busy birthday shopping as well as putting together Easter baskets. Another reason I enjoy having the extra time off during the week. I also took advantage of my time off to get my oil changed and tires rotated, ready for the big trip to Kzoo. Tom decided to help Allison with her oil change and found out his oil pump sprung a leak, partly in our garage. Looks like he's getting a new pump for his birthday. And he's celebrating with an early birthday present-a streaming service from the AHL so he and Allison can enjoy the Hershey Bears Hockey games at home. He's really hoping they start opening up the ice rink to the general public. So far they are only allowing season pass holders into the games. It's still a limited number, spread out around the rink with masks on. You can't even go up to the food stands-you have to remain in your seats and wait for someone to come take your order. I assume they let you go to the bathroom, but who knows! At least it is a step in the right direction! No more COVID please!