42 Weeks Behind Us (Weekly Update)

42.

There are 42 weeks behind us now since coronavirus hit the state of Georgia.

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 Before I get into the not so good stuff, let me talk about some positive stuff...

  Briana got to visit with her friend Meredith last week...

They were unintentionally "twinning" - both wearing gray hoodies.

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I bought Mei Mei another cat bed - one that now sits in our upstairs hallway. Mei loves to sit in the hallway between all of our rooms. That way she is in between all of us (Doug in his office, Bri in her tween room and me in my office or bedroom). I was tired of looking at the big brown box that had been sitting there. She is quite happy with it...

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Doug, Bri and I had a quiet evening at home for New Year's Eve. Doug cooked us an amazing dinner of grilled filet, lobster in butter and baked potatoes - seriously delicious...

We planned to watch a movie in our home theater after dinner. Bri and I didn't know that Doug had decorated the theater room that afternoon for the special occasion! Such a surprise! He gets big time hubby/dad points for that one!!

We really miss Broadway, so we decided to watch "Prom" on Netfl!x. It was so good! And then we watched some performances and the ball drop on D!ck Clark's Rock!n Eve...

Happy New Year!

 

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I am usually the type of person who likes to put away my Christmas stuff right before New Year's Day or at least on New Year's Day. It's kind of weird, but I haven't been in a rush to put the decorations away. I really enjoyed my decorations the last few weeks - maybe it was because I was home so much. Christmas lights are so pretty and relaxing. So, I am taking my time and I hope to have everything put away a few days into the New Year. Mei will be sad when it goes...

 

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I struggled over the weekend with a bad sinus headache that just didn't seem to want to go away. Luckily, I felt better by Monday. I realized that I forgot to address in my last post that I battled a blocked ear (right side) twice in 2020. The first time it lasted for a month in June/July and then again in November for 10 days. I am so tired of having so many head issues - sinus, headaches, tonsil stones, tmj, ear blockage - it's pretty frustrating. Really hoping for better in 2021 health wise.

 

Despite my headache, Doug, Bri and I took a trip to the Bl!ck Art store on Sunday to use a gift card Bri got for Christmas...

 Doug and Bri visited there at the beginning of March last year - right before the pandemic hit. And here we are 10 months later. Amazing how much life can change...

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Now for the not so good stuff.

  Things are bad all over in regards to coronavirus. Bad in the U.S. Bad in other parts of the world. Bad in Georgia.

We are getting big case numbers in GA (like FL numbers) now...

Hospitals are basically full now all over the metro Atlanta area. Ambulances are being diverted to less crowded hospitals - even if they are hours away. I pray that no one in my family needs a hospital right now - for any reason. It's scary.

People were warned. Over and over and over and over again they were warned. And still so many people are not being careful enough. I'm so frustrated right now.

Definitely a scary time.

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(Now I'm going to get pretty political because I am so fired up! Beware!!!)

 In the midst of this horrible crisis, our impeached l@me duck decided to stalk the GA Secret@ry of State and attempted to bully him into changing the elect!on results. He's trying to steal an elect!on and he's caught on tape - AGAIN. It's one of the sickest, most despicable things I have ever witnessed. And what he did was illegal - AGAIN. Another impeachable offense.

Tr@mp tried to called R@ffensperger EIGHTEEN times...

He's is mentally ill. He reeks of desperation. The politicians and staff who are supporting his sick behavior are either terrified, politically motivated or also mentally ill (probably all of the above).

The GA Secret@ry of State recorded the call to protect himself. I can't believe how calm he was able to remain despite the conspiracy theories, baseless accusations and misinformation that was being spewed at him for over an hour (and I say this not being the biggest fan of R@ffensperger).

These memes really express everything I feel/believe at this moment in time...

 And click this link below...

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CJnAncWgtDq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 Today is the runoff elect!on in Georgia. I pray the dems get in, but I know it will be a very close race. I'm not going to hold my breath. I also know mostly likely, we won't have an answer today.

I can't wait for the pres!dential elect!on to be certified (which it will). I cannot wait until Tr@mp is kicked out of the WH. It's time for a fresh start.

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Bri starts back to school today virtually. She's got some big classes including Geometry and Geography. I hope she has a smooth second semester.

I'll be back next week.

A Look Back At 2020

 2020 was a very tough year. Most definitely. But, there were parts of 2020 that were happy and enjoyable for our family. I think Doug, Bri and I adjusted to our "new normal" quite well overall.

We did have normalcy for the first two months of 2020. We visited the Chinese Lantern Festival, saw "Cats" in Chattanooga, enjoyed a school musical, ate out at restaurants and visited with friends...

Those first two months were a bit tough for me because I was battling some tonsil and mouth issues, but I managed to figure out how to deal with all of those issues during this pandemic. No need for tonsil surgery now.

The biggest change we encountered in 2020 was how Briana attended school. 8th grade ended virtually - no school dance, no school graduation, no yearbook signing. It was very sad. We made the tough decision for her to go through her freshman year of high school virtually as well...

Briana took on that challenge and has done amazingly well. She got all A's her 8th grade year and has also made straight A's her first semester in high school. Yes, she misses going to school normally and seeing her friends, but we've embraced the benefits of learning at home and are making the most of it.

Once March hit, we learned how to go about our lives "physically distancing"...

 It's difficult not to be able to get too close or give hugs, but it is what we have to do right now.

 

We did create a very small "social bubble" where we can see a few people (more normally) who are distancing the way we are, so that has helped a lot too.

Our family embraced wearing masks in 2020 to help ourselves and others not get this virus. It's not always comfortable, but we've learned to do it. And it isn't that bad once you get used to it...

And because of all the physical distancing and mask use, Doug, Bri nor I got a cold or flu in 2020. So crazy. It proves how easily germs spread around.

 

In 2020, our family spent more time together than we ever had before. And honestly, it was really nice. Doug hasn't travelled for work at all since the pandemic started. Bri has been at home learning. Mei is super happy having us home all the time. And surprisingly, we still like each other - LOL! It's a family bonding experience that we wouldn't have had if it weren't for this pandemic. So, that is a bright spot that came out of the crazy year of 2020...

 

 We didn't let 2020 steal away holidays or special moments...

We still happily celebrated birthdays, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Autumn Moon Festival, Gotcha Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. And we continued our apple picking tradition.

 We also ended up getting an amazing finished basement in 2020. Since Doug was able to be home, he was able to focus on having the basement exactly the way he had always envisioned it. It is really amazing and we are really enjoying it...
 

2020 was the year that Mei got "cat-napped" by our former vet practice. They took her off property without my permission to another location for care. I ended up reporting them to the licensing board. And that was tough. I was trying to help Mei with her over-licking issues and ended up making things worse for her (not intentionally obviously). But, she seems over it now with lots and lots of love and attention. We love her even though a lot of her is hairless...
 

I cooked more than I ever had in my entire life during 2020. It wasn't super fancy food, but it was good food and that's all that matters. Doug perfected the art of air frying wings. I made apple pies, soups, pork, chicken and beef dishes and lots of breakfasts...
 

We also ordered lobster rolls, matzah ball soup and cheesesteaks for special occasions. All of it delicious.

Here are some of my favorite memes from the year...

Everything from the getting vaccinated to voting to politics to mental health to all things coronavirus.

The one thing I did find in 2020 was a voice. I've lived in the state of Georgia for almost 35 years now (mostly in conservative areas). I have kept my mouth closed for so many years while the majority of those around me have openly vocalized their (mainly) conservative beliefs. Their beliefs on how they think others should pray. Whether or not I should get myself or my kid vaccinated. Under the current adm!nistration, a lot of those vocalizations got even louder. 

I couldn't do it anymore. I finally had to speak out. I realize now that I am a moderate who leans left. I believe in science, mask use, physical distancing and vaccinations. I won't preach to anyone about religious beliefs - it's a personal matter. I don't fall for conspiracy theories. I am 100% anti-bullying and anti-lying and know that our (now lame duck) pres!dent is the biggest bully and liar of them all. I couldn't sit there and just not say anything anymore. I guess I exploded a bit. I know I have probably lost followers on this blog (and maybe even friends in real life) and it's unfortunate, but it's ok. I needed to finally have a voice too.

I'm pretty sure I will continue to voice my opinion a bit on this blog until this whole pandemic is over. Lives are at stake. But, I think I will be able to tone it down a bit now.

Here is a tally of what happened in 2020...

It's not the flu. It never has been the flu. And even if you recover, there could be lingering effects.

So that is my 2020 wrap up. It was a hard, scary, different, weird year, but we survived it. My deepest condolences go out to those who lost loved ones in 2020 - whether it was due to coronavirus or something else. 

I know for us right now, 2021 is just a continuation of 2020 because our family is going to continue to be super careful. But, we are looking forward to eventually getting our vaccinations in 2021 and hope to resume a normal life sooner than later...

Thank you to those who continue to read my blog. Hoping for a brighter, safer, happier and healthier year for everyone.

It's 2021!

We made it to 2021! I hope this year will be a happier, healthier, safer and kinder year for everyone!

Let's roll...

41 Weeks Behind Us (Weekly Update and Last Post Of The Year)

41.

41 weeks since coronavirus hit the state of Georgia.

 41 weeks of some people taking this virus seriously and others not so much. Look where we are today - not good.

The end of 2020 is upon us.

I've been trying to figure out what I should write for my last post of 2020. I've been pretty prolific and opinionated this past year, so you'd think I could easily figure out what to say. I've been trying to come up with something possibly enlightening, informative or encouraging - an interesting way to sum up this crap of a year, but I'm not coming up with anything all that constructive.

I think I feel a bit defeated right now. I know a vaccine is on the way, but the distribution of it in the states is a total debacle right now (no federal plan for distribution - what else is new). I'm not even sure when I'll be able to get the vaccine.

 The number of people who tested positive for the virus on Christmas Eve in GA...

Over 10,000 people in one day, and those are the people who actually got tested. It's mind boggling.

I looked back at my very first post I did about the virus in March...

https://waitingforbriana.blogspot.com/2020/03/my-coronavirussocial-distancing-post.html

Everything I said in it still holds true. What a cluster this has become in the U.S.

 I'm frustrated and I am angry. Every time I see a picture of people posing cheek to cheek or gathering in groups, I feel a huge pit in my stomach. I'm irritated every single day- and I hate feeling this way. I know the difference between right and wrong - why don't others?

I haven't eaten in a restaurant since the end of February. No joke. It's just not safe where I live. Even outside - the tables are still too close together...

It's just how I feel.

And as people are dying of Cov!d, our lame duck POS pres!dent is golfing incessantly, screaming about election fraud that doesn't exist, roadblocking the incoming administration, getting pissy about the renovations of his soon-to-be permanent residence and refusing for days to sign off on an important bill that will help people survive. No - the stimulus amount is definitely not enough, but it's something. And he could have said something so much sooner. He could have actually contributed to the creation of the bill and he flat out refused. Now he is trying to "look" like he cares at the 11th hour. It is total BS. Don't let him fool you...

I guess I am happy to see 2020 go. Over the last 10 years going into a new year though, I have either dealt with some sort of personal health ailment, I've worried about a health ailment of a loved one or I've mourned someone's passing. So for me, once again I'm just going into another year dealing with something that is very overwhelming. 

Dang I am not sounding super positive right now.

Sorry about that.

I saw this meme the other day and it really spoke to me...

That is one thing my family did. We got through 2020 without getting Covid - so I'll take that as a win. Hope to continue that winning streak until we get the vaccine. And luckily, Doug, Bri, Mei and I are as close as ever - even though we are together all the time (and drive each other crazy sometimes). 

 So here I am...

I need to sleep better. I need a haircut and color badly. I could use a vacation. 

Hopefully I'll get those all of those things very soon.

I think I will wait until my next post to do a whole "looking back" on 2020 thing.  I'll write about the good and the bad (yes - there was actually some good 2020 stuff).

So I will say "happy" new year to you all. Hope everyone stays safe and healthy. Be back in 2021.

All About The Christmas Season

As the holiday season crept closer and closer this year, I felt a lot of stress and pressure about how it was all going to "look." Months before, I knew it was going to be different - it was going to have to be. Our family of three wanted to remain very vigilant. That meant having to do things alone, having to say no to some things and having to set some boundaries for safety. Everyone was very respectful of our choices, and Doug, Bri and I ended up making Christmas work for us. It was happy and safe. Despite this being a super difficult year, the Christmas season ended up being quite enjoyable for us. It was different and we were definitely sad to miss things that we are used to doing each year, but overall, it was nice. I am confident calling it a "win."

 Here is my mantel with the fireplace on...

And a couple more pictures of decorations around the house...

So what did we do throughout December (besides shopping online, wrapping presents and decorating the house)?

Briana decorated a gingerbread house...

We baked and decorated Christmas (and Hanukkah) cookies...

Besides making the traditional candy canes, nutcrackers, Santa and presents, Bri made a vampire minion and Doug made Pac M@n and a ghost. That says Christmas, doesn't it?

And yes, she did eat the minion cookie!! LOL!!

Bri had her friend Jackson (who is in our social "bubble") come over one afternoon to visit and they exchanged gifts...

In mid-December, Doug, Bri and I visited a drive-thru Christmas light display that was synchronized to music. I had to buy tickets online in advance, and due to the number of people and slow nature of the show, it took about an hour to wait in line before we finally got to the starting point. But once we were in and driving through, it was so worth it. We drove through for about a half an hour and it was amazing...

 

Check out these videos...

It was really something to see! 

 

We have really enjoyed our new home theater during the holiday season.

 

Of course, we had to watch Christmas Vacation...

 

 And Bri and I finally watched "D!e Hard" with Doug for the very first time...

I know, I know. How is it possible that I had never seen "D!e Hard" before? I don't know, but I never had. And it is one of Doug's favorite movies. Doug, Bri and I had been having THE debate about whether it is an actual Christmas movie or not. Doug is in the definite "yes" camp. Bri and I can now make an informed decision, and Bri landed in the "no" camp. As for me, I am on the fence. It is set at Christmastime, but I didn't get big time Christmas vibes from it. I liked it a lot, but it's pretty violent. I can see people saying it's a Christmas movie, but I am not sure I felt it.

Due to the pandemic, D, B and I decided maintain social distancing and saw some friends and family outside and masked before Christmas Day...

Waiting for my friend Amy to drop off a gift one afternoon...

Dropping off gifts at my sister's house one afternoon and visiting for a short while...

My mom dropped off gifts at my house before Christmas, and I didn't get a chance to take a picture of her tree. So, she e-mailed me one. I definitely missed opening gifts at her house on Christmas Day this year...

My sister gave me this early Christmas present - Mei dressed as a queen (so awesome and funny!)...

Gifts from my friends Val and Amy...

My parents gave me this beautiful jewelry box...

When Bri and I went to drop off gifts at my sister's house, Mei was very sad and looked out the window after we left (picture courtesy of Doug)...

She is so used to us being around all the time now. She always hated when we left her, but now it is even worse!

Christmas Eve finally arrived. It started out raining that day, but then the temps dipped, the rain turned into snow flurries. It was really nice. Doug and I watched "Scrooge" in the morning, we exchanged some Christmas Eve gifts that afternoon and ate a nice Christmas Eve dinner...

All the gifts ready for the morning...

Finally, Christmas morning arrived (yule log on the TV)...

Bri made out like a bandit...

 

It was definitely Mand@lorian themed this year...

Briana drew the "Animaniacs" for Doug and I helped her put them on a mug. When Doug opened his gift, he actually thought Bri had just bought the mug in a store - we had to tell him she drew the characters herself...

And I had to get him a "Schitt's Creek" gift of course!

Doug gave me this amazing map that is now hanging in our basement. We placed straight pins in it showing all the places where Doug, Bri and I have visited in the world, and we will add pins when we visit new places...

Mei loved her new Christmas gift too...

Though we didn't have our traditional Christmas this year, thanks to technology (Facetime, phone calls, texting), we were able to touch base with our loved ones anyway.

The day after Christmas, I cleaned up a bit - but I mainly rested. All the stress, excitement, busyness and anxiety of the holiday completely caught up with me. Looking forward to decompressing this week - though I always feel some sort of anxiety. Which is a big bummer.

Thanks for reading all about our Christmas.

I will write one last post on 2020 in a day or two. I need to figure out the best way to wrap this crappy year up!