Happy COVID New Year

Almost a month into the New Year and I'm just now coming to my little public space to write. Here is the only real pic I have of New Year's Eve. Me and one of my Besties. We are at the local pub which has nice outside seating. This winter we've doubled at one of the pubs several times. We practice social distancing and eat outside (and drink some). The first time we were out I didn't realize how cold it would feel, but Shields, ever prepared, had a blanket and let me borrow half for my bottom. The metal chairs are chilling when you are outside. Her husband brought the new best party favor, a portable outside propane heater, kind of like what you might use out camping. I swear that makes the outside dining so much cozier. They are good enough to share the heat by alternatively pointing it in our direction. After that first pub outing, I got better about bringing blankets and a good coat and gloves. I do tease Shields and her husband about driving around with those propane tanks. They are little...but still. 

We toasted New Year's right at 9:00. That's right. Curfew was at 10:00 so the pub provided flutes of champaign at 9:00...so that we could all leave to go home for the COVID curfew. 

This morning, Bill went out and got the NY Times. It was glorious to be able to sit with an actual Sunday paper. The local papers are more like pamphlets these days, so I don't even bother. But the NY Times! Ah, that's a paper. I sat my bum on the couch with a cup of java and read that thing cover to cover. The inauguration was well covered. I must tell you I watched it stream when I was at work. I was able to work and watch at the same time. I was surprised when I teared up. More than once my breath caught in my chest. The ceremony was just perfect in my eyes. Lady Gaga singing the National Anthem was so unexpected and she was just perfect. I may overuse that word, but so be it. She was lovely.

The Times also had several human interest/feature articles on how "we" are responding to the lingering quarantine need as COVID has lingered. There were two articles about the need for human connection and how people have navigated trying to keep human connections. 

Since March, I've used Zoom and FaceTime, and WebEx apps to connect with others. After the first couple of video conferences, it began to feel like just a logical extension of telephone communications. I smile when I think how much like Star Trek it is. When I moved into my new apartment I used FaceTime to call my daughter and give her the tour. I've sent pics through phone messaging to friends. I'm not a fan of email (too much like work) but I can get down with a good text chat. One of my friends and I have perfected text chats. Sometimes we continue with phone chat. It's not the same as sitting in her kitchen, but it is connecting. Sometimes we multitask while we talk. When we do that it reminds me of the "old days" when phones were hanging on the wall with really long spiral cords. You could walk from room to room with the phone held between your ear and shoulder. Doing dishes at the same time was not unheard of.  

Girl's Night hasn't taken place since August and I sorely miss it. 

One of my girlfriends said she is late to the bread-baking fad that became part of COVID quarantines. But she is now baking quite a bit of bread. You may remember I thought I would learn to cook during COVID. Not sure that I can put a checkmark on that. But I did make some lovely french toast this morning. 

I read War and Peace as one of the #COVIDtogether fads. But I confess I didn't get through the epilogues (there are two). Someone recently told me that more story takes place in the epilogues. Well, I feel like I should get a "pass" for this novel anyway. 

I've binged a few shows, which may also be part of the COVID experience. First, I must tell you that I could not watch Tiger King. I made it through the first episode, but that was all I could do. But, I did watch The Crown. I also watched The Queen's Gambit (I give it 5 stars and highly recommend it). Also, The Spy with Sacha Cohen was another captivating binger, as well as The Chicago 5. For comic relief, I watched Schitt's Creek. I love every quirky character on that crazy show. Luckily, I have not needed to fold in the cheese in any of my recent cooking escapades. 

Oh, and that commercial about "not becoming your parents"? It's a classic! Some of those snippets will become cult classics! I know "We all see it" has come up in my life...more than once!