Corona Thoughts, part 42 (Forgetful Days)

4.30.2020

Thursday.  A new month starts tomorrow.

I almost forgot to chronicle the day, but it has been a somewhat crazy one, although I don't know why.

Final exams are underway and the normal excitement of a coming summer just is not here.  In fact, there is a bit of depression in my, I would have to say.  I think it is the uncertainty.

I still cannot find a solution to a local RV trip since the state parks are still closed with no released information as to when that will change.  I can get day passes to hike on my Texas Parks Pass, but they are so far away.  And I think this is their intention - to keep people close to home - but what it has done is sent those desperate to get out to Oklahoma.

I ordered the rooftop cargo carrier today.  It will arrive in a few weeks.  It is a costly purchase for sure, but hopefully, it will make a summer return to Glacier Basin a possibility in the new Forester.

I picked a bit and tried to work on Colleen Malone in a different key, and Bury Me Beneath The Willow.  Sadie likes both of those, and I would like to get them to the point I can play them for her.

And through it all it has been a day of fielding questions about due dates, etc, through email.  It gets tiring because these would be things I would rather address in person to my students in the class.  But it is what it is.

But then, as Scarlett O'Hara famously said, "I'll think about it tomorrow."

Corona Thoughts, part 41 (Cool, Wet, and Predictable)

4.29.2020

Wednesday.

That storm I had mentioned as forecasted yesterday came through about 2 am.  The wind did get up, but the weather map showed that it bowed around us mostly.  No damage, no hail that we noticed, and just under an inch of rain.  Truthfully, we needed that little bit of rain to water in the fertilizer spread on the hayfield about a week ago.

Coffee on the porch while birdwatching and a bit of work done by both Stephanie and I.  Sadie continued her schooling and was tasked with drawing a map of her neighborhood - which was ours and the neighbor's houses down our country road.

I talked to Dad for a while about vacation plans.  I called Ft. Robinson for some clarification on their camping - they are reopening for camping mid-May.  I also tried to find out about availability at Gulf State Park in Alabama as well, but their website showed them completely booked even into September.  That didn't seem right so I called and left a message.  They called back (wouldn't you know it) the one time I left my phone inside while Mr. Wilmot came up to borrow the log splitter.

We visited a while.  It looks like maybe a group camping trip is in the cards.

Supper was wings once again from Bottlecap.  Sadie loves the honey bbq.  Steph got the Cajun once again (not as spicy this time).  I got the mild Buffalo wings.  This is my favorite so far, I think.

An hour on the porch.  An episode of Arrow with Sadie.  The conclusion of Season 3 of The Last Kingdom.  

I have said it before - we have become way too predictable.  I really want a destination to write about!!!  

Corona Thoughts, Part 40 (Working at Home is Tiring!)

4.28.2020

Tuesday.

This post may say part 40, but in reality, it has been over 40 days in lockdown.  Gov. Abbott says the shelter in place ends Friday (May 1) but so many people seem to want to live under house arrest.  More and more doctors are coming out saying this has been an overreaction to the extent that the powers that be have whipped us into a froth.  Fear generates power.  History tells us that.

It was harder to post this tonight just simply because the day was hard.  Alot of work for work was done, and most of a second summer class was built.  I tried to get reservations for the RV at Dinosaur Valley SP, Fairfield Lake SP, or even Colorado Bend SP, but none as yet are allowing campers for overnight.  Stupid... Very.

In the afternoon Dad needed help with a broken fence, so I helped.  He needed me to drive the tractor home because it is becoming harder for him to climb in with his bad shoulder.

Grilled pork chops for supper.  Sadie wanted to watch "Arrow," which Mom and Dad recommended.  We watched the first 2 episodes.

Severe weather predicted for tonight.  I am sure I will report on that tomorrow.

Corona Thougthts, part 39 (The light at the end of the tunnel?)

4.27.2020

Monday.

Maybe, perhaps, could be - that we are nearing the end of this COVID shutdown nonsense. Governor Abbott announced that retail businesses, movie theaters, restaurants, etc, may open at 25% capacity, with others of following later.  It remains to be seen how that will work.  I think he, as well as others, started to see the civil disobedience that was breaking out.  Interestingly, he claimed that his EO supersedes local edicts.  Take that, Judge Jenkins!

In world news, it has been confirmed that Kim Jong-Un (Communist dictator of North Korea) is dead.  I am sure there is much grief and morning in Bernie Sander's mansions today.

Anyway, Mondays have been the busiest workdays for Stephanie and me.  She had to go to BG to get some work to grade while I stayed here to get my classes ready for Final Exams.  That was a good morning's worth to screen time.  Sadie and I took a break when I showed her how to make paper gliders.  Of course, she got in trouble for throwing them off the balcony once her mother got home.

One thing that has been lacking is the opportunity to get to the bank.  Woodforest is in Wal-Mart, and I have been avoiding that like the plague (pun intended), but it had to be done.  The workers were masked up, but few of the patrons.  Aldi's customers were pretty devil-may-care as well.

Gov. Abbott's press conference came on while I drove home.  Still no word on camping in the state parks.

Supper tonight was la lingua tacos (yes, it is what you think it is!) with refried beans.  Beyond that, the day was pretty uneventful.  It has been windy so any time spent outside has been unpleasant.  They are predicting severe storms tomorrow.  

Evening entertainment?  Bird watching on the front porch, an ST:TNG, and more adventures of Uhtred of Bebbenburgh.

Corona Thoughts, Part 38 (Shelter-in-Place Sundays)

4.26.2020

Sunday. 

It feels a bit like things are opening up in spite of the governor and mayors/judges, etc.  At least that seems to be the case.  As I noted, over the last few days I have seen more cars on the road.  At various times today, I saw motorcycles and RVs both on the road in front of the house.

We got up about the "quarantine normal" time and had a bit of coffee on the porch, then bacon and eggs for breakfast.  Church is still held online and so we watched it as a family.  I sprayed some weeds in the yard, took the spray tank back to its owners, and spread gravel in the driveway before lunch.  

Matt and Cindy are visiting Brandon and Jennifer with the new baby.  Sadie has spent some time with Emma, so Stephanie and I walked up to give the new parents a baby gift.  Then back home. 

Bro. Grady announced this morning that he wanted to host a drive-by prayer request session, so Mom and I drove up there.  I took some eggs to the preacher or whoever else wanted or needed them.

Once home, Steph took a short nap while I wasted time, then we made deviled eggs to take to Mom and Dad's tonight since they are having us up for supper.  Afterward, Stephanie helped Mom with her fingernails and I sat on the porch with Dad.  We discussed taking the camper somewhere if we could find a place open during all of this.  Lake Murray State Park in Oklahoma looks nice but is full every weekend with, I would assume, Texas folks who cannot use our own state parks right now.

Mostly, though, we just watched the dogs in their front yard.

Emma invited Sadie up for a backyard sleepover and movie on the lawn, so the house is quiet, giving us the chance to catch up on Outlander and The Last Kingdom.  Season 4 of TLK dropped tonight, but we will have to wait a few days until we get to where we need to be.

Gov. Abbott is supposed to talk tomorrow about the plan to end this lockdown.  It will be interesting to see what he says.  The state is becoming increasingly divided, so I am not sure there is a winning position for him to take anyway.

Corona Thoughts, part 37 (Brief Respite)

4.25.2020

Saturday once more.  We did escape for a while, however.

The morning was fairly standard.  Breakfast on the porch with our coffee while Sadie watered our little garden.  

We made plans to visit Stephanie's parents today for a cookout.  We took a nice grass-fed sirloin to grill and took the time to visit, watch the birds, and enjoy the nice East Texas weather.  There was even time for a short walk within view of the private lake.

Some observations:  There were many more cars on the road today, and certainly more travel trailers and RVs than I have seen in a while.  I think that we are getting to a point where people are tired of the "house arrest" mentality.  I know that stories on FB indicate protests across the country comprised of people who value freedom over safety.  

We are still looking for options for next weekend.  I am hoping that we find something fun.

Corona Thoughts, part 36 (Love Never Dies)

4.24.2020

Friday.

As I have said before, these days are running together and it is hard to keep things straight.  It will be nice when this semester is over to provide for a fresh start.

Morning consisted of a bit of time on the porch with coffee, and Sadie and I planted a few watermelon seeds.  She did some homework, Stephanie managed her class, and I did some of the same.  Dad needed some help framing a new implement shed, and I told him I was putting "house framer" on my resume.

When the work was done, more porch sitting.  We are getting good at that.  I picked a bit and think I figured out Darling Nellie Gray in the key of D.  I also spent a little time looking into summer vacation.  We are leaning toward Fort Robinson, NE, again. Sadie played with Emma until storms threatened, but they did not amount to much here.

After supper, Brandon invited us up for a movie on the lawn.  Storms passed to the south, and did not affect us at all besides some wind which shifted from the north.  Andrew Lloyd Webber has been releasing videos of stage productions on YouTube hoping to generate contributions to the actors.  Tonight's was Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom of the Opera.  It was interesting, to say the least.

We got home late, and Wilson Fairchild announced the passing of Harold Reid, the bass voice of the Statler Brothers.  I grew up listening to the quartet, and I must admit I always hoped for a return of such an important part of my childhood.  Not to be now.  

But from his life, I am fairly certain where he is tonight.  Such an inspiration! Rest in Peace.