Boosted

 I got my Pfizer-BioNTech booster at noon today.  

Omicron spreading like wildfire.

God help me.

An Omicron Christmas

Well, it has come to this.  Rapid Covid Tests are now available before going out.  The Omicron variant is starting to make its presence known in a huge way in the last week.  Word is it’s 4 times as transmissible and it’s doubling in 2-3 days!  Borders have been shut, reopened, testing adjusted, again, at the American border, travel advisories reissued.   What a shit show.   It feels like we are in the same boat as last Christmas.   

This is so disheartening and unending.  

Merry fucking Christmas! 

$86.00 To The Good

 I donated 6 paintings to the “We All Need A Rescue K9 Rescue” online auction to help raise money for a dog rescue.   After two weeks of bidding, they helped make $86.00!  So, a bag or two of kibble!  😂😂

Back In The Saddle

Well, I am working again!   I am 3 1/2 weeks into my Fall contract of LLI tutoring at Pleasant Hill.  And I’m loving it.  I work with 3 Grade 3 students (Sebastian, Braxton and Amber) for 3 50-minute, one-on-one periods a week.  This was exactly what I needed.  It gives structure to my days/weeks, a nice sense of purpose and some extra cash in my pocket....hopefully to be used next winter for travel.   I have even decided to do it again in January and found out yesterday that I am able to.  Originally I was only hired for the Fall, as I’d hoped to be away this winter, but it looks like, once again, it would be most prudent to stay put, so I will do this instead.  Which is fine.  Far from ideal, but fine.   Which is how most things are these days.  😖🥴
 

September

September.  A mix of oh, so good and endless and increasing bad.

Bills wedding was wonderful.  Perfect weather, lovely event, a wonderful reprieve of “normalcy” for a couple of days among family and friends.   A hint of hope and better days ahead.   

I also worked at the federal election (which resulted in basically no change in government) and my tutor training.   Some river walks and painting and an overnight trip at Elk Ridge to take in the beautiful fall colours to enjoy this unseasonably pleasant weather lately.   These are the good things.

But...the covid numbers are out of control, the hospitals are in danger of collapse, Dr. Shahab has projected a “fall and winter of misery” as Saskatchewan and Alberta reap the “rewards” of our short-cited and ill advised political directives from summer decisions and directives.  So sad.  And so unnecessary.  And no end in sight.   It feels fucking bleak.

Summer 2021

 People went back to work today.  The nip of fall is in the air.  Night is falling earlier.  Must be the end of August.

What a summer.   Fires.  Drought.  Days of endless heat.  Vaccinations nowhere near where they need to be.  Border still closed t Canadians.  Delta virus surging.   Saskatoon a current hit spot and we have more cases in the city than we ever had.   

Fucking endless.

My constant battle is how much to open myself up to.  Been home and to the lake three times.  Have registered for a painting and a glass class.   I’m scheduled to begin tutoring after Thanksgiving.  I’m reticent to begin singing again, but it is on the docket.   

Living vs existing vs just being alive.   How to balance?  I just don’t know.

I best decide cause it’s gonna be another year living like this, and winter is coming soon.   I’ve abandoned plans and hopes of San Diego once again, but maybe Vancouver Island in January.  I find it so hard to make any sort of long term plans.

Bill’s wedding in two weeks.  So nervous about mixing with all the strangers.

This is NOT where I had hoped we would be.  I shudder to think of what is yet to come before we can consider this episode in time as “the past”.  I feat it won’t be any time soon.

Thankful for these reconnections over the summer, as well as a few hours with Mona  who was home with the family for a wedding.   Silver linings...

I

Reset

Yesterday, all Covid restrictions, including masks, were lifted in Saskatchewan. Something like 453 days ago they began.  Things are now back to “normal”.   Who’d have ever thought this day would come?   I sure do hope it stays.   I’m not sure when I will feel comfortable being without a mask so I plan on still using them sometimes as I increase my social frequency.   

I am just home from 5 days in Bredenbury and 5 days at the lake.  A much needed reset indeed.   Even my back is feeling better these last few days.  I can’t believe it.  The calendar is starting to slowly fill with commitments and activities.  Dare I even dream of a winter vacation again! 🤞🏼

Here’s hoping we are on to better days in our new normal now.