Musings of a marginally sane feline-appreciating female.

You made it! And given the past couple weeks, Covid may have hit your household – and that’s OK. It SUCKS, to be sure, but it’s so prevalent now that even the best avoidance tactics may not work, especially with the lack of structural mitigation. No shame in it – just do your best to isolate and take care of yourself. And if you’re still negative – keep doing what you can to stay that way – don’t give in! I know it feels inevitable and you may want to just say “fuck it” but keep trying, for yourself and those around you.

Here in my corner of the world I’m wide awake at 5AM – we had more snow last night and bless VDOT*, they were rolling through the neighborhood and woke me up at 4AM – realized I might as well just get up and get some coffee. And of course, Lily had to go to the basement and tell my brother, “HEY BOY, WE’RE UP EARLY, YOU SHOULD COME UPSTAIRS AND HANG OUT!”

Watching my brother try to do the math to make a pot of hot coffee…well, I’m just glad I made a pitcher of cold brew in the middle of the day when I was 110% conscious.

The upside of being up at the crack of pre-dawn is that I can at least start work early and then start my weekend early. Lily – well, she’s already sacked out again.

You stay safe and have a good weekend.

This day in pics:

* I-95 may have been an utter clusterfuck with the earlier storm, but they were hitting our street straightaway with the first storm and this one as well.

I think the Democrats should make good on every last campaign promise they’ve made. That would do them (and us) more good than just sitting around saying, “Well, you can’t elect those fascists.”

I mean, getting into office and just doing nothing but saying, “Look at us not being authoritarian assholes” just doesn’t cut it.

There’s been a *slight* dip in our county case numbers – maybe we’re passing the peak?

And I thought our community had an agreement that we wouldn’t be panic shopping anymore after Plague Friday, but no, because, snow. I had to get milk yesterday – the only thing there was organic fat free milk, or ultra pasteurized whole milk. So, we have two quarts of milk that don’t expire for 3 months. It’s working in my coffee so far.

And today, but before today!

Didn’t really realize how well I’d been sleeping until I got a night of terrible sleep – of course when I have to be up an hour earlier than usual. Today is gonna hurt. A lot. Come ooooooon, caffeine!

So, what happened January 5th?

And it can stop now, LOL. It’s been going for maybe an hour, and it’s very pretty and it can be done, thank you.

I love, love, love working remotely, but it also means no snow days. I remember starting very early in my career, every October with whatever boss I had, we would have to have a little sit down where I explained that I would not be risking my life/car to get to the office in snow or ice. (Even my first go round with support – I made them put the remote connection software on my home computer.)

It usually was met with raised eyebrows, but acquiescence. “You can’t expect me to wreck my car and possibly get injured for this place.” “Uhh, I guess not.”

Lily has given up on the day already, LOL.

January 3 in snaps!

So cook time is 25 minutes, plus egg wash, then 5-10 minutes more.

I skipped the egg wash and did 35 minutes, forgetting from prior experience that 30 works better.

The inside is VERY tasty! The outside is…VERY crusty, ROFL.

I think I may do another loaf tomorrow with a butter wash for the last 5 minutes as the interwebs tell me that will give a softer crust. (I always forget how easy this is to make – the actual prep time is maybe 15 minutes – all the rest of it is letting dough rise.)

But, hey right now, saw off a slice, peel off the crust (it comes off quite neatly) and slather it in butter and YUM.

OK, a bit grey and drizzly here, but, we have a blank slate again, so let’s make the best of it.

I’m getting the new year started off well – slept in new sheets & comforter cover, and there is a batch of bread dough rising right now.

I knew my old sheets were worn out & ratty, but my lord, the new sheets really highlight just how worn out and ratty the old ones were. Lily also likes the new comforter cover, cause it matches her!

Hopefully this will be the year we can put Covid in the rear view window. To be sure, January & February will probably be rough – I suspect what the governments won’t shut down, Omicron will. I’m ready for delays and various and sundry inconveniences (for lack of a better word coming to mind) – much like Spring 2020. Sadly, it won’t be things closing down as a preventative measure, but closing down because folks are sick, because we have no structural mitigation beyond “get vaccinated.”

And that blows. But hopefully if we all do our best – get vaxxed and/or boosted, mask up, get takeout, help each other out, isolate properly as long as possible if positive (understanding not everyone will be able to do this, because, capitalism) – maybe we can stop giving this virus transmission vectors all over the place.

In an act of aggressive optimism, I have a 2022 Thoughts of Dog planner. Because dammit, there WILL be some good times and things to plan for this year at some point.

Also, trying something new this year – granted it will probably last 3 weeks, LOL – but, shots from January 1 years past:

Though I am sure it will have its share of potholes along the way – let’s make 2022 better.

Take care and stay safe.