a surprise treat... and a little rant

Hawaiian Surprise!!

We received this surprise package from Oahu this week! Goodies from Hawaii... from our son and his wife. Such a great surprise! There's macadamia nuts, cookies, candy, chips, coffee, etc. We thank you! thank you! thank you! Packages are such fun to get.

I occasionally send surprise packages too... usually things I know they like - like home-made nutty granola, or espresso cookies or our family's special rum cake. But it has been a while... maybe it's time to spread a little joy.

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On another note:  One of the outside ferals (we call him Sammy) has started climbing the tree in the back. This isn't unusual as lots of cats climb trees. 

But this is new for Sammy. We have never seen him up a tree. We expect he was after this squirrel that likes to pester him. Pretty sure he didn't catch him. But if you look at the 2 pics, Sammy looks guilty that we caught him in the act.

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Grand daughter's idea during sheltering at home... forget lemonade stands - Let's dance!

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Can't close this without leaving this next message:

Some businesses, beaches, etc.  opened this weekend... and from what we saw on TV, there was little social distancing and few masks. Can't understand it ... are people that obtuse?

This next chart is current for Texas:

(Now before someone goes all ballistic on me for not wanting to open up so soon, let me say that I can understand the need to work to pay rent and buy groceries, but it's hard to see how going out into crowds of possibly infectious people to spend a few hours having fun is worth the risk for your children or families. Yes, it gives you a few hours of emotional release - but at what price?)

Just my opinion...

As always, thanks for reading and please stay home and stay safe. 

Hugs,

Rian

North Texas reporting in...

Just checking in. We're still here... although from all the news reports we are

 'old and compromised' 

but not to make light of a serious situation,

 we are doing our part:

1. Staying home as much as possible

2. Not traveling

3. Avoiding crowds and/or sick people

4. Washing our hands well and often

   (trying not to touch our face)

5. Not stockpiling or hoarding,  but do have enough water, soup, tp, and tea for about 2 weeks

6. Carrying sanitizer to use when touching surfaces (opening doors, etc.) 

Did I miss anything?

Since both of us have had the big C... and DH is now undergoing radiation, we are being careful. However, I've had a cough for 20 years... which my doctors have called a 'radiation cough' - likely due to an effect on my lungs or heart due to radiation. But my cough is not contageous. However, coughing these days around people can really empty an aisle... so I try not to... but I'm not always successful. I'm not sick... but who's to know. 

My Oncologist sent us a email message this week reiterating all the things the CDC has been saying. I also got the impression that we should put off annual exams (even dentals and eye appts) for the time being unless there is a present concern that needs to be addressed. 

My hope is that this virus is seasonal (like the flu) and that if we can prevent the spread as much as possible now,  it will peak and go away as the weather warms.

Anyway, right now I'm praying for all those that are affected - that they are well taken care of and will recover soon. 

Stay well! Take Care! And thanks for visiting. 

Adding a few pics of one of the outside feral cats and his conversation with a squirrel.

Might have to enlarge pic...

Hugs,

Rian   

a funny story...

Funny story... about getting older.  I recently called the Emeritus Program at our local community college to check on a genealogy class that was being offered. The class I was interested in was already full, so I asked the lady if it would be given again in the summer session. She said yes, she was sure it would be offered again... then she gave a little laugh, and said, "... but the Instructor is 80 years old."  I laughed and said, "That's alright I'm pushing 70 myself. So, if he (and I) are around next semester, I'll just take it then."

I guess that's the kind of little comments that I both fear and laugh at... that once you reach a certain age (and for me it's 70), people are expecting you to die any day. Maybe the word is not *expecting*, but they are considering the possibility. And I don't really fear it, but there's a little voice inside that keeps saying, "...oh sh...t!"

There's a comic in the newspaper (which by the way, we just cancelled - it was getting way too expensive) called, "Pickles". I don't know if it's syndicated (or for sure what syndicated means), but it's pretty accurate in its portrayal of an aging couple. Do any of you read Pickles?

So, I guess we have to accept that we're getting *to that age* with grace... but maybe not always with *dignity*.

We can still have fun...

books, coffee, and chocolate....

  
The following is another pic of  3 of our inside cats enjoying the sun coming through the bedroom window:

And some recent visitors to our yard:

young possum

fat squirrel

young black feral cat