First Party Since Pandemic

As my therapist says, everyone is feeling a bit "socially awkward" since we've been in isolation for so long, but I tell you, I had a full blown panic attack when I received an formal invitation to a friend's 70th birthday party "cocktail attire recommended".

My first inclination was to bow out politely. The party was indoors and didn't begin until 7:00 p.m. on a Saturday night. CoVid concerns, driving in the dark, and for godsake -- cocktail attire! Eeeek!

This birthday was for one of my widow friends turning 70. So a mile stone birthday for her. I knew also that she had been down in the dumps about it and this was her way of coping, by throwing a party.

I was going to decline, but then one of the other widows in our group contacted me, offered to drive, said we should go for the birthday gal's sake, show our support, wear masks, leave early! So that was the plan.

OMG, I must have rummaged through my closets dozens of times, trying on a variety of things, some too tight, some too big, some not right... I am not exactly what you would call the "cocktail attire" type. After changing countless times, settled on a black skirt, black top, black lace scarf and elbow length black beaded gloves...  Oh and black mask, shoes and purse. (The gloves and purse rummaged out from my vintage collection.)

Then comes the "socially awkward" part. What to talk about, wearing a mask, with people you don't know.... But my fellow widow friend was there and she didn't know many people either. So we were kind of an army of two... still --

It was stressful and sad: to my shock, the boyfriend of birthday gal came dressed wearing a black Fedora hat and suspenders and since I last saw him had lost weight and grown a mustache! I couldn't help thinking of Bob with his mustache and penchant for Fedora hats and suspenders... I nearly cried when they danced. It should've been us (Bob and me)...  had to leave the room.

And the musician she hired was playing a Washburn guitar, exactly like Bob's...

Too many memories. Too many lovey-dovey couples there. 

But I somehow survived the night.

Looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving, with the dog, the cat eating frozen pizza on the couch. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Finally, Peace and Quiet

 Since November 1st, I've been up before the crack of dawn every day (except Sunday) as contractors have been working on the house. Then all day the sounds of saws, sanding, banging of hammers, drills drilling, and of course Kona barking at all the commotion. And even one day, when two workers got into it, yelling at each other like grumpy old men, or an old married couple bickering outside my window... oh it's been hard to concentrate.

Finally, everything is finished. New ramp done. Two gates, repaired. Clawfoot tub straightened. Pealing paint scraped, sanded and repainted. Tile grouted. Two new faucets installed. 

Feels good. I can't believe I put off so many repairs so long. Oh! How nice it is to have hot water in the bathroom! Faucet handles that actually turn on and off! And a ramp I'm not afraid I'll fall through...

Someone asked me, why I had to get up so early as most work was outside. But the one carpenter would bring his dog (a male pitbull) which was a nice dog, but I wasn't sure how it would react to Kona, so had to be up before they arrived (at first light of day) so I could let Kona out in the a.m. without worry. Also the tendency to leave gates open, etc. 

I tell you my sleep schedule is all mixed up. (Add the daylight saving change into the mix.) The fur babies meal schedules are all off. And I got to get back to "normal" whatever that is.

But it's nice to have accomplished some sorely needed things... Nice to concentrate again. Get back to working at my desk. Swimming in my pool. Taking leisurely walks with Kona. 

Feels good.

The Cursed "C's"

So I thought I had ticked off the Fire Demons or the God's of Electrical Appliances, but seems I've been cursed by whoever is charge of C-words. First there was the cord then the coffee pot, shortly after that I heard a crash in the kitchen and found my cat cuttingboard lying broken on the floor... Takes a lot to break a cutting board in half. Not to mention flinging it nearly five feet off the wall! Good thing I wasn't standing there. Had to glue and clamp it back together. 

The very next day, I walk out the back door and see the clawfoot tub in my garden has sunk: like the Titanic going down. I tell you, I spent more than a few hours trying to upright the thing, finally using my car jack and getting it upright enough it doesn't look like the Titanic, more like the Lusitania listing... the crash of the clawfoot severed my sprinkler system. After jacking around with that project (literally) I came in to shower and only had Cold water... aargh. Then the deck ramp crumbled.... 

This week I've been up every morning around 4:00 a.m. with contractors here every day. Sprinkler guy, general contractor, and Friday the plumber comes. So I've had: the Cord, the Coffee Maker, the Cat Cutting Board, the Clawfoot tub, the Cold Water... Okay deck ramp doesn't start with C, maybe I'm moving up to the "D's" now.

Cursed Cat Cutting Board

Sinking Clawfoot...

Tub Back Upright  After Contractor fixed it.

 My attempt: still listing...

PS: Jenn, I think, mentioned I should check my electrical outlets, but the kitchen outlets were all updated in 2014 when the kitchen was remodeled and there is a new breaker box, so don't think that's the problem. (Hi Jenn!)