What's After Work?

  Our March trip was a visit to Evansville Indiana to celebrate Art's (Jan's dad) 97th birthday.  But before our trip north we headed south. For one of my varied aliments I see Dr. Castro at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston Florida. I can't say enough good things about the Doctors and staff of the Cleveland Clinic. Every time I visit I am made to feel that my care is their first thought. Also there is some great artwork on display through out the clinic. I really enjoy seeing all the art on the walls. And I got a good review by the Doctor! After visiting Weston we headed north via the Florida Turnpike. Jan and I traveled the entire length of the Turnpike.  All 312 miles of it. Along the way we passed several Turnpike Travel Centers. These advertised gas and food as well as restrooms. We decided to stop and give it a try. These are really big rest stops. They are in between the north and south roads so if you don't pay attention or get a little confused when leaving you ...

 With a year of Covid under our belts I've been thinking about what will define this era. I think it will be the masks we are wearing. These are a visual representation if the many things we are all going through.  I know that there are other things that could define this time; washing hands, social distancing, unemployment, fear and anger. but these are all things that can be connected with other times or events. Masks are focused on this time only. Masks are either a symbol of caring for others or submission to an authoritative government. Masks played a part in the downfall of some political aspirations while boosting others.  I have noticed masks being discarded most places I go nowadays. I got to thinking that a year ago seeing a mask was a rare event. Now most people I see out are wearing masks and they are loosing then everywhere. I have started photographing masks as I find them. The more I look the more I find. By the end of this I may have quite a collection of ...

Long ago we had decided to have our family celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas together at a cabin in the mountains of Blue Ridge Georgia. Then Covid happened and we began to vacillate on that decision. After much debate it was decided that the cabin was big enough and we were capable to practice social distancing and safely be together. We also decided to be tested for the virus just before leaving for our gathering. So with a negative test, wipes and sanitizer in hand Jan and I left for Blue Ridge Georgia. This is the earliest we have ever had out Christmas shopping done and wrapped to boot! It is a strange feeling to have this done so early I'm not sure how December will be not having to shop and wrap. I'm sure it will be a lot more relaxed. Or I hope so. So with the car packed we headed north. Our first stop was to be in Albany Georgia at the Merry Acres Inn . Described as a Boutique-Style Hotel in Albany Georgia. It was far off the Interstate in an older, shall I say th...

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6 weeks into social distancing and Jan and I are starting to fall into a routine. If you want to call mostly waiting a routine. Jan walks several times a week with a friend, keeping their distance from each other and wearing masks. I ride my bike most every day with a mask also. Those are our two big outings from the house. Two weeks ago I started to do some yard work, trimming up the bamboo palms in the back yard. These things grow like weeds and drop palms fronds all year long. I don't really like them but they do provide a good screen between us and the neighbor behind us. Well I started cutting some of the smaller palm trees down and filling trash cans. I got two filled ready for trash day and then we got the news that Safety Harbor was no longer picking up yard waste on Thursday. Well that's a kicker. I got trash with no where to go. So I took part one can full of palms and cut them smaller and hid it in our big trash can hiding the leaves and such under several trash ba...

The days are starting to run together. Each day is almost the same. Ride my bike, watch some TV, discuss the state of the world with my quarantine partner Jan. Monday I mixed it up a little by going out to Walmart to have my by-monthly blood test for one of my ailments. Fortunately it was not a fasting test so I went later in the day and there was no crowd. This was the first time I had gone out except for my bike rides in 3 weeks. I'm really getting goods with this social distancing. Jan doesn't think I should be enjoying it this much. So I went to the Quest in the Walmart near our home. I wore my homemade mask and took anti-bacterial wipes with me. I used the wipes to wipe the door handle, key pad that I signed in on, and the armrests of the chair I sat in. As I sat there waiting to get stuck my mind started to wander, as it often does. I thought about all the people I has seen in the parking lot and in the store wearing masks. I wondered what would happen now if I went ...

Today I attended church in my PJ's. Sort of. Because of the Covid-19 outbreak and my many unique health problems Jan and I are quarantining ourselves as best as possible. Avoiding groups of people. Yesterday we got an email that both St Johns Episcopal in Tampa and the Washington National Cathedral would be streaming their services live on Sunday. Jan and I decided to take advantage of this offer and watch the service from St. Johns. It was nice to be back at the church we attended for many years before moving to Safety Harbor. It was not quite the same but according to Father Connelly it still counts. I'm hoping that things get back to normal soon.