Musings of a marginally sane feline-appreciating female.

I don’t say this with any snark – just more frustration and bewilderment than anything.

Like, did you decide that taking precautions was “living in fear”? Just a YOLO thing? Is it because the news isn’t talking about it at all anymore? Because health departments barely mention it anymore?* Because what little guidance coming from the CDC is basically “fuck it, no one listens to us anyway”? Is your risk tolerance just really high?

Seeing someone else in a mask when I’m out and about is a fucking rarity anymore, and pretty much everything I do is a shit-ton of risk calculations.

Yesterday I had to drop off my car at the service station, and we put in an online order for food to pickup and for whatever reason, the restaurant didn’t respond, the order got canceled (I got a text en route) and so we decided to eat in, but only because it was 4PM on a Sunday, they were at about 25% capacity, we could choose seats well away from others, the place has high ceilings and lots of fans, etc, etc. Just so much fucking mental math just to sit down and eat. (The last time I ate indoors, I can’t even remember.)

And on the other side of the restaurant, there was a party of folks all jammed together and pretty much on top of each other for a birthday. Sure, maybe they’ve all been super diligent everywhere else in their lives so they *can* do this, which would be great! But, um, yeah. And then in Starbucks this morning, six folks jammed up around one table – WITH A FUCKING INFANT.

I guess this on top of seeing multiple folks I know this week going, “Hey, look at us at this crowded indoor event!” was just a bit much, while I’m desperately hoping I’m not putting anyone else at massive risk just to sit down and eat.

I know – trust me, I KNOW – how much of a toll Covid has taken on everyone’s mental health. Isolation, canceling plans, saying no to so many things, constant risk assessments – it’s so much. But what’s been worse for me, is watching people decide they just don’t give a shit anymore about themselves or anyone else.

I know it’s not everyone – but it is just So Many People, and for whatever reason, it’s hitting hard this week.

ETA: I know that disabled folks have to do risk assessments/cancel plans/say no 6 days a week and twice on Sunday – I know my experience here is not unique, I’m just needing to get my feelings out about it.

* Even my own state health department, which had been pretty good – the website is starting to break down to lack of maintenance and the latest data download is 20 days out of date. Maddening.

Yes, I know there is a Big Game today, and I don’t really care about either team, but I hope Taylor Swift has a really fun time. (And watching the manchildren lose their shit about her enjoying watching her boyfriend play sports this season has been fucking hilarious. And pathetic, but really hilarious.)

But Big Game day means my brother is off at his friends house and girly is making salmon for dinner!* I think it will be pan fried in butter & wine with some garlic herb seasoning all over it, and some roasted potatoes on the side. I also have some mini crabcakes, and of course I’ll be making some Cheesy Ranch Bacon dip, cause, Big Game day.**

And I did get myself over to the Korean chicken place yesterday and picked up some bulgogi and decided to try the sticky ribs, too – 10/10, amazing, no notes. SO GOOD. Makes me wish I’d known how good this place was sooner.

Also, thanks to Lunar New Year and putting the housework on pause yesterday to keep whatever luck I’ve got from escaping the house – I had a really nice chill day of eating, reading and napping. It also made me realize I need to re-jigger my to-do list so I have a couple “just do the basic stuff” days in the week. So, Saturdays and Wednesdays are gonna be nice low effort days. I’ve been really consistent with things around here, but I can also feel household burnout coming along, so this should help.***

And on that note, I’m gonna go Get Shit Done so I can kick back and enjoy the afternoon and my seafood and potatoes and chips & dip.

You have a fantastic day!

* Little bro is not a salmon fan. I feel bad about doing actual cooking of things he doesn’t like, even though he is fully capable of cooking anything for himself, and does! He’s even said, “Seriously, make what you want!” but it’s some weird hospitality block I have or something. So, salmon waits for an empty house.

** I know I can make it whenever I want. But my brain loves to get hung up on dumb things, like “chip & dip is for a special occasion” because brains are dumb.

*** Look at me recognizing burnout on the horizon and doing something about it rather than drilling myself into the ground!!

Honestly, everything I read and hear about Lunar New Year sounds so much more fun than the regular calendar new year. Dancing lions, great food, red envelopes, and cool shit like it being the year of the freakin’ DRAGON. And it goes on for two weeks! So, if you’re celebrating – have a fantastic time!!

As for myself, while I’m not Asian, I won’t be sweeping or taking the trash out today and the roombas are turned off – no need to risk sweeping out what little luck I may have for the year.* Also glad I saw that porridge for breakfast is a no-go – chipotle cheddar grits can wait a wee bit. 

I’d been pondering about getting some dumplings and trying out the bulgogi from the local Korean chicken spot today, not even thinking about Lunar New Year – now it seems extra appropriate! (And I’m suddenly wondering if everyone else will have the same idea – maybe this should be a late lunch.)

And hey, Lunar New Year is another chance to start fresh! Love that.

Have a fantastic day.

*I know what you’re thinking: “Pfft, you just don’t want to do housework today.” No, I need to keep any luck in the house. Also, YOU DON’T KNOW ME. 🤣

I mean, I knew the cat *treat* market was delightfully out of control, but the LilyMonster has prescription food and there are a whopping 4 options for her wet food, so I’m never really looking at food options for her at the market.

She can run hot & cold on the wet food, which isn’t an issue, cause she also has dry food she eats. Then some genius at Science Diet decided to change the dry food and she is a bit “Fuck That” – and she needs to eat.* 

So, I’ve ordered a different flavor/texture on her wet food that we’ve gotten before when her usual is out of stock that she has liked in the past. Went to the market and got a handful of Fancy Feast cans to hold her over until the order arrives – she’s a big fan of their treat options, so I figured stick with what we know.

HOLY CRAP BATMAN, THERE ARE TOO MANY OPTIONS. There is Fancy Feast. There is Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals. There is Fancy Feast Medleys. There is Fancy Feast Petites.

I think I ended up with one of everything, LOL. So far, her favorites are the Gourmet Naturals Beef Pate, and the Salmon Pate. She WHOMPED through those. I really would have thought she’d like the stuff that looks more like actual food, but no. It was a hard no on the – I shit you not – Beef Ragu in a Savory Sauce with Pasta. That stuff actually smelled GOOD and she was, “Nah, not for me.” 

It. Had. Pasta. In. It.

* No worries, she has been eating, even before I found myself standing slack-jawed in the cat food aisle – I know that not eating can cause liver damage and is not good with her kidney issues. She would happily live on Fancy Feast appetizers & broth packets, but she doesn’t understand it’s not a proper diet. Her Ocean Fish Pate just arrived and I’m sure she’ll enjoy it given that it has zero resemblance to food.

Given that it was 19º when I left the house to hit the market & Starbucks, those temps are just rocketing up!! My heavy winter coat did it’s job wonderfully this morning. We’ll get up to freezing if we’re lucky today, but we do have very clear and sunny skies, so that’s something – hopefully the sun will be enough to get the ice melt going on the couple spots I had to hit on the driveway this morning. 😬

I saw people out exercising this morning. Good for y’all! And also, oh no baby, what are you doing? It’s so cold out, your boogers are gonna freeze! But I will admit, even though I was only out and about for a few minutes, that it does make the inside feel SOOOOOO wonderfully warm when you get back in.

Gotta brag on myself for a moment – yesterday I got my house stuff done and office stuff done and didn’t use either as a procrastination device for the other! I also got two nice clear examples of the app I’m working on being all squirrely for my dev to look at on Monday, woohoo!

Speaking of office work, I saw that “knowledge workers average about 3 hours of productive work a day” bit bouncing around again this week – I did more digging on it, and it’s still not totally clear to me if folks are running out of shit to do, or are running out of brainpower – but it seems more the brainpower side of things. Where the fuck are these 3 hour jobs?? I average between 1-2 hours of admin time/non-lunch-breaks over a day and I am full tilt the rest of the time, and honestly, if I eased up on that, I’m pretty sure my ass would be fired. It does explain why I’m usually mentally fried by the end of the day. (Oh, and in support? We had to be ON all 8 hours – and they wonder why there is burnout.)

And on a productivity note, it’s time to go tackle the house stuff so I can enjoy the remains of the weekend. Only one “Ugh, do I *have* to?” on the list, and that is cleaning Lily’s water fountain. It needs to be hand washed, which isn’t hard, but even with an anti-fatigue mat at the sink, my body HATES standing still like that. But – anything for the LilyMonster. 🥰

Have a fantastic day, and STAY WARM!

OK, there was sun when I went out for coffee, and now it has clouded over again.* Dammit! I need some sun to steel myself for potential snow on Tuesday, though I have done what I can to prevent that white nonsense by purchasing an cordless electric snow shoveler**, which will arrive tomorrow. When I ordered the electric shovel, they were calling for 2-5 inches and I just wanted something that would make shoveling a bit easier, and this should fit the bill.

The fact of the matter is, my brother and I aren’t 20 year-olds anymore and I’d prefer snow maintenance not induce a cardiac event. And since putting the order in, the forecast has changed to “AM snow showers” with no accumulation, LOL. See, doing it’s job already!

The household to-do’s are nagging at my brain, which I guess is good rather than the usual “What to-do’s? Everything is fine!” that my brain usually does. So far all I’ve knocked off is brush teeth, wash face, get coffee, download Quicken stuff, and clear the Gmail account. Not exactly off to the races, but I have changed from my “go get coffee” jeans to “get things done” comfy pants, so, it’s a step in the right direction.

And in a baller procrastination move, I’ve made myself a pastrami & chipotle chicken sandwich on a tiny Hawaiian roll, because who doesn’t love a tiny sandwich? But I do need to eat something, so it’s technically self care I think? 🤣 

OK, sandwich is finished, Iggy the Roomba is running and if my little robot vacuum can do his thing, I can do mine. I know once I pry myself off the couch, and just get going, I’ll be fine – it’s the “prying myself off the couch” part that is SO DAMN HARD.

Alright, time to fire up the get shit done tunes, and get shit done.

You have a fantastic day and if your weather is complete shit – be safe.

* Yes, I am aware the weather is complete shit elsewhere. We have been lucky – the storms earlier this week just produced rain, no wind, no downpours. The storms last night ended up being about 10 minutes of rain, if that much.
** We have a big snowblower we got from our neighbors when they moved, but it’s really for blizzard-level amounts. We have not had blizzard-level amounts since they left. It is working.

Look at how beautiful it is!!

And I couldn’t 100% tell from the picture online when I ordered it, but it is a perfect match to the washing machine, yay! It’s certainly something that does not matter at all, but it’s nice. And even though it’s super basic, which is exactly what I wanted, it does have THREE heat settings, you can turn the buzzer off if you want, and there is a light on the inside! 

The delivery guys were VERY amused at how excited I was about it. I sent them off with a bottle of water and $20 each – hopefully that made up for the shitty weather* and having a very weird lady dancing around the basement as they installed it.

It is already going on it’s first load of what will be many, many loads of linens today. 

New appliances are so very exciting. I’d say it’s cause I’m old, but I’ve always been this way, LOL.

*The winter weather never really materialized, we got about 10 minutes of sleet, and it’s just been 37º and light rain all day, and having gone out to the market in it, I can tell you – it is so gross out there.