Social Distancing Part 26

May 8,  Friday

We are winding down the end of the school year. In some ways, of course, it seems like school has been over for almost 9 weeks, but it hasn't. It's just been different. Very different. Grades are due on May 21st, which is also the day that Graduation was scheduled. But of course, no gathering in the Pan Am Center will be happening for a while, yet. But there will be a celebration, with Seniors and their families (at least the four total per vehicle that will be allowed) will get to participate in a drive through celebration. I'll be there, even if wearing a mask makes me crazy.

Another thing that they have planned is that they bought yard signs for all the seniors, and this week, teachers are delivering them. I did two today, and I thought it was sweet. The families met me outside, the senior wore their cap and gown, and I took pictures of them. Of course I got them a few celebration goodies, some candy hugs, (since we can't give them the real thing) a decorative class of 2020 pick, a senior class beach ball, and a card.

Senior Swag

I have pictures from the two deliveries I made, but I don't know that I should publish them here. I got to deliver to some awesome students today, and I get to deliver signs to three more tomorrow. I met each of these students in their freshman year, and one of the things that rewards me for teaching school is seeing the freshmen through those four years, becoming seniors and finally graduating. The growth curve is amazing in those four years!

Social Distancing Part 25

May 3, Sunday

Like many Sundays at my house, this one was full of chores: laundry, cleaning the bathroom, making dog food (I still need to pack it up and put it in the fridge). I seem to be doing a lot of cleaning in the kitchen. I don't like to cook around a mess, and I have been cooking more than usual, though not every day. I'm working up to an apple pie, but it didn't get made today. Maybe tomorrow.

I got some sewing done, 5 masks completed. I know it isn't many, compared to the production lines some people have going, but I'm not selling them, I'm contributing to the efforts at Cruces Creatives to make masks for facilities, and for people in need of them. I took a lot of 25 finished masks in last Wednesday, and picked up supplies for 20 more. I've made more than 50 so far, and will try to get these turned in next week. They go pretty fast once you get the process down, really, and I have been enjoying listening to Stephen Frye read all the adventures of Sherlock Holmes while I sew. (I finally finished listening to The Stand). I've also been working slowly on a cross stitch project for my brother. He wanted, the Last Supper. The pattern I found was 18 panels, and I'm on the second one. Faces are starting to show up, though!

The local rock painters added some skulls into the mix this week, possibly in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Here is some of the fun:

skull, heart and black cat

Additional characters: hungry caterpillar, pizza slice, chile pepper, and heart, among others

another black cat here as well

along with this skull is a broken tooth (clever) and maybe something from Minecraft

I must say that I have enjoyed my winter turned to spring becoming summer this year, and having the time to experience it. The temperatures have been in the 90's for several days, but it isn't the real heat of 100+ that the next few months will bring. My front yard is green, and I pull a few weeds now and then. The grass is more noticeable than it was a few weeks ago, when it seemed the weeds were all that was there. I made a concerted effort to pull out the goat heads, and I haven't spotted any yet this year. Maybe it's too early for them, but I felt every day at the end of the summer last year, that I had gotten them all, and I would walk around and find more. And I have gotten to enjoy my neighbors' flowers. If I can't have the green thumb, at least I can enjoy the efforts of others...

looking down at these purple beauties

looking up at the ocotillo flowers

I think, when all this is over, I there will be things I will miss, just as there are things I miss from before the quarantine. The slower pace is one thing I will miss, and taking time to notice and enjoy these simple pleasures.

Social Distancing Part 24

May 2 - Saturday

New Mexico is opening up, more. I noticed a couple of traffic jams yesterday. I line of cars on Triviz going south and backed up almost all the way to Madrid. As if it was business as usual on a late Friday afternoon. So yes, I was among those driving around... I'm so torn. I feel for the people who want to go back to work, and I feel like it CAN be done safely. Curbside delivery for retail. But people are so very clueless about the whole thing. I don't really think we are ready, in terms of COVID safety to quit staying home. And I don't feel like I've personally stayed at home like maybe I should, except that I bought my first tank of gas since March this week. 6 weeks on 2/3 of a tank of gas is quite slow usage, so I think that tells me that I have definitely curbed by travels quite a bit. But there are so many cars out and about when I'm driving, that it doesn't make me feel more secure.

Sam's today was pretty crowded. No line to get in, for a change. They have rearranged the store, so their shoppers have to look around at everything to find what they used to be able to go right to. They still don't have the stock that they have had in the past, which helps make the aisles a little less crowded, though. I was glad I had my mask, even if I do hate wearing it. On the way out, I even mention to the man who was waiting behind me to go through their check at the door that there were marks on the floor for the proper spacing. He was definitely crowding in (though it wasn't like he was THAT close), and I kind of surprised myself chiding him, because I'm not usually like that.

According to the news, Gallup, NM was closed down yesterday by the governor, at the request of Gallup's incoming and outgoing mayors. The roads in and out of town were blocked, and residents were pretty much required to stay put except in case of emergency. The virus has been running rampant in that area, and I think they are hoping that residents will take precautionary measures more seriously.

Las Cruces got its first recorded positive test of COVID in a nursing home. One of the employees. I've been waiting for it, and hoping it wouldn't happen, as the disease can spread so quickly, and be so devastating for residents and employees in these places.

On the lighter side, someone posted a hilarious make-up video, called tiny face make-up challenge, where she did a mask look that turned her nose into a smaller nose, and then a mouth at the nostril area. It was hilarious to watch her develop her look, and the end result definitely had me laughing. Even if she really needs to wear that mask over her nose if she's going anywhere...

I also got some social time this evening, playing canasta with my brother, his wife, and a friend of ours. That was fun.

Social Distancing - Part 23

April 30 - Thursday

So, here we are, all the way to the end of April. My Birthday was this week, and I did celebrate. A few - a very few (6 total) - people met at my brother's house, where he and his wife have a lovely back patio, where we could space ourselves out. We grilled some tomatoes, then corn, and finally salmon and shrimp while the crab boiled. It was a lovely, sit outside, messy meal. And oh, goodness, did it draw the flies! Mainly because we were at it so long, and I'm sure the flies had time to go bring their friends. Desert was angel food cake, with fruit on top (we blended some of the fruit, mostly blueberries, with a little orange juice, to make a nice soak-into-the-angelfood juice) and then topped everything with some whipped cream. YUM.

Raine has been talking about getting a plant for her bedroom, and has been looking into plants that won't hurt her cats if they eat some. I think it is something positive for her to do. Care for a plant, enjoy the benefits of something that is natural, pretty, and alive (for however long that lasts). We got some flowering sage. Not a big container, but a good starter size. Plus she cleaned whatever area where she decided the plant should go. I got some moss rose as well, to go on the front patio, and add a little color.

It perked up some after I watered it. If I can get back to Lowe's, I may get another one to go with it.

Here are some of the other flowers from around my neighborhood...

flowering desert plant

some lantana

a bunch of ice plant

these little purple guys in with the poppies

The rock selection in with the poppies changes, and here are some of the newer ones:

rock group

land sharks

Even though you would think that the time would be passing slowly, I can't believe that the month of April has flown past. Just three more weeks of school, and then out for the summer. Of course it already seems out for the summer in some ways, but it isn't. I've been keeping my office hours, and talking to students and grading their work and thinking about next year. I really enjoy the planning part, and I have ideas for several new/different units for my 9th grade honors kids. It doesn't look like I'll be teaching the AP Literature class next year, and I admit, I will mourn that some. Still, I do enjoy the Honors 9 classes, and I think the new units will be a good change for us all.

So,  a week of walking and flowers, Birthdays and school days, rocks and rolling with it. Social distancing isn't so different in some ways...

Social Distancing Part 22

April 24th - Friday

Well, it has begun. Protests from people who don't want to stay home any more. People who - understandably - want to go back to work because they have bills to pay, and there will only be more. People who feel like those who want to stay home should, but everyone else should just be able to do what they want.

Ultimately, if you want to go out, you will. You may get harrassed, depending on where you live, but I think mostly, you'll be left alone. Oh, you won't go scott free breaking into stores, but if you want to wander around Walmart for hours, knock yourself out. Find a grassy park and park your butt there... at least until the cops chase you off. Find a remote piece of desert, and enjoy. There are plenty out there.

I was reading a social media post about a man who complained and protested about the social distancing, and stay home measures. He felt that if he wanted to take the chance to get the virus, he should be allowed to. Guess what, he got the virus, and died. His wife said that he didn't understand how serious it was. If he were alive today, he would stay home, and not protest. I feel like the only thing that would make him understand it was to go through it himself. The news didn't make him understand. The emergency measures didn't make him understand. The experts - if he was willing to listen/hear them - didn't make him understand. Only experience would make him understand. Sadly, that meant his death, but perhaps now his family understands. Can they help others understand? There are so many people like him, who don't understand the seriousness of the situation until it becomes personal, and by then, it can be too late.

OK, I get antsy. I would like my life to return to its normal. But I don't have to experience COVID 19 to believe that it is serious. Since my husband is an "essential worker" I might have to have that personal encounter. One of his co-workers tested positive. It is not a person he works with all the time, but a dayshift colleague while he works nights. But someone he speaks to at shift change, and works in the room where that person works. When the person was confirmed positive, the company had that work are professionally cleaned, and the people who had the closest contact are now self quarantining. But my husband is at work. I've asked him to wear a mask. I've made masks for him, and his co-workers, to wear. And I will wait with a little more stress than normal until the incubation period is over to see if anyone else there becomes ill. To see if he becomes ill.

My good friend, who lives in Arizona is going with her family "to the lake" where they enjoy a day on their boat, playing in the water. It should be a good day for them, in the sun, and the heat, and far away from other groups to be appropriately socially distanced. I'm kind of jealous, because my RV is sitting out in the driveway, and I want to take it out. Anywhere. But our state parks are still closed. And I will not go use them anyway, at this point. At this point where the non-believers don't think anything can possibly hurt them. My friend, by the way, is not a non-believer. She works in the health field. She knows it is serious, and if she didn't feel they could enjoy the lake safely, she wouldn't go.

Next week is my birthday. I'm not much of a celebrator, but I usually like to meet my friends and family somewhere to celebrate with a meal together. That won't happen this year, and I will miss it. I missed doing that with another friend, when it was her birthday this week. And it's my 60th. That decade landmark. I wasn't feeling too happy about it before all this. And now, well, I guess even more low-key isn't exactly a disaster.

It's rather a stress-issue post, and I would rather be more positive. But there are stress issues. And I know people are feeling pressures that make them want to pressure "the system," and take more "control" of their situations. I will take control by hunkering down longer. Perhaps past the current stay-home-until date of May 15. If it stays May 15th. I will be hopeful if some businesses get to open up with safety guidelines. There is already more traffic out there than there was. But an infectious disease will be glad to meet those people. At least some of them, and it won't be pretty. And even that won't be the last wave of it, either. I don't know, honestly, when I'll feel like it is safe out there...

Social Distancing Part 21

April 10 - Sunday

As with many Sundays, with or without social distancing. This was a day of chores. Laundry done, Made dog food. Often I try to put together some healthy snacks to go in our lunches. I have done that, but not today, there are still bags ready to eat in the fridge. I should probably go through them and make sure they are still good.

Breakfast was provided by Nueva Casita. We often go there for a weekend breakfast, and the friendly staff make us feel welcome every time. We're not eating out every meal, in fact we've been cooking (I've been cooking) more and we've been eating at home more. My fridge is usually sparse, as we get stuff, and then don't eat it, and end up throwing it out. My parents always had the fridge stuffed to the gills. Now, our fridge is pretty stuffed. I guess all it takes to want to keep a full fridge is having the expectation that you're going to eat out of it every day.

I walked. Twice today, and the second time around was not pretty. Heck I almost fell twice on the morning walk. My balance is messed up. My brother would like me to go bike riding with him, but my balance issues make me take a pass on that. Anyway, this afternoon's walk was slow, and I was stiff, and my knee was hurting. It hurts almost all the time anyway (thanks, arthritis), but more today. Sometimes it aches in the night and wakes me up. I won't be surprised if that is the case tomorrow. I'm still glad I went, and waved to my neighbors, and saw them at their entertainments: chalk drawing, a three way game of basketball, running some RC cars over ramps. Tomorrow's walking will probably go easier for going out today, even though it was hard. I'm trying to get my brother to come out walking with me, but the logistics of talking oneself into doing something you don't really want to do in the first place... yeah, problematic.

I also sewed. I've finished 7 of the 10 masks I started yesterday. I've got 10 more to work on this week. A friend even dropped off some elastic for me, which was nice, and it was lovely to talk to her from a safe distance for a few minutes.

There was also a drive-by birthday party down the street. A nice line of cars that was only annoying because we had to wait in the line to get to our own driveway after picking up dinner. They had balloons, and a bull horn, and there was lots of honking. I hope it brightened someone's birthday, getting to see the friendly faces of friends and loved ones, caring enough to come see you, if only for a few minutes.

I read The Importance of Being Ernest, because the AP online instructors suggested it. It was a short read, and funny. Now I need to find an online production of it to watch. I kept seeing young Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry (as in Wooster and Jeeves) in it. I'll have to look for that team up for sure...

Social Distancing Part 20

April 18 - Saturday

I had planned for my trip to Sam's this week to be my only grocery stop for the week. But then the milk from last week went over, and I took a run today. They were monitoring their occupancy, but the line was very short (3 people) and went very quickly. They have tried to make the aisles one-way, but people don't pay attention. And it's hard when you are used to making a certain path through the store, not to follow your habit.

I followed my regular path around the neighborhood this evening as well. There was this cute little sunflower hanging out between the concrete sidewalk and the cinderblock wall.

growth happens

Along the sidewalk at another house, someone has been busy...

notice the little pink bird top right

I've taken pictures of the flowers growing here, before. Tonight, these caught my eye...

I'm loving the creative and happy way this family is dealing with boredom. And what a nice incentive to keep walking past. What is going to be added next time? That's about as close to will to exercise as I can get.

There is pressure on now to relax the social distancing measures. One of the local Catholic churches wants to resume having people attend mass in church. In other places, the beaches are full of people and in still others, people are protesting the stay at home orders. Personally, I think it is too soon, and that it can undo a lot of good that staying home would do. I get it, not wanting to stay home. Wanting to be back at work, and earning money to pay your bills. Missing friends and family. Here's the deal, miss them a little now, so you won't have to miss them forever... or so they won't have to miss you forever. I'm very glad that New Mexico has already cancelled school-in-the-building for the rest of the year. I will keep in contact with my students, and hope they are OK, and worry about them being fed and safe... like usual. Schools are a place for sharing knowledge, and germs. Lots of germs. One less thing to worry about. I'll push for keeping social distancing going for a while longer. Then when other stores open, perhaps they will also limit the number of shoppers, and create one-way aisles, and stick to other social distancing measures for a while.