meara, I had a neighbor who would walk around our block before settling into his home office, and walk around the other way at the end of the work day. He said if nothing else, having to put on outside pants helped with the shifting of mental gears.

I miss going to the salad bar at T&C on Fridays: Jim and I would walk the half mile down, load a container, go to Waterfront Park if the weather was good, walk back up the hill. It was a "Hey, almost weekend!" signal.

That's what I need, some kind of pleasant routine or ritual to help my brain make the transition from home to work and vice versa.

I go out to water my plants and feed alley cats just before and just after work to provide a transition. Though I'll confess a few times I've shut down my work email and napped before doing the latter.

Just got back from the Otter Lake bar where there were 3 other patrons and the bartender. The other patrons were buying us drinks and reminiscing about my dad (who has been gone 35 years), so that was nice. Super tipsy, but backspace and squiggly line keep me coherent.

May his memory continue to be a blessing -- sometimes one of my elderly residents uses one of the phrases that a woman of my Mom's age (she'd be 98 now) would only use, and I'm blessed with her memory yet again.

sometimes one of my elderly residents uses one of the phrases that a woman of my Mom's age (she'd be 98 now) would only use, and I'm blessed with her memory yet again.

That's why I watch Escanaba in da Moonlight about once a year. They do a good job with the Michigan Upper Peninsula dialect, and it's like hearing my dad.

Catching up from the weekend:

I agree with Stephen King's view on the covid outbreak in the government -- needs some supernatural to be King. Without the supernatural, it's more Agatha Christie.

Not a fan of most melons alone. In a fruit salad, or with prosciutto, fine. Watermelon in the summer, great. But someone else can have my slice of canteloupe.

The animal shelter where I volunteer is allowing a limited number of people to work with the cats at any one time. I'm one of three on the late Sunday afternoon shift. At a time like this, there's nothing like having a flame point cat named Norm curled up on your lap for more than an hour, moving only to shift position now and then.

Ooh, that sounds nice.

ION, I got a mailing for someone else from the unemployment people. I don't understand! No one else has lived at this address for decades, and how would a scam work using the wrong address? Obviously I'm just sending it back and not opening it, but I'm just super curious.

May his memory continue to be a blessing -- sometimes one of my elderly residents uses one of the phrases that a woman of my Mom's age (she'd be 98 now) would only use, and I'm blessed with her memory yet again.

Yes, it was a lovely bit of nostalgia talking with this old friend. His mother shared a birthday with my mom, she is one year younger. His mom still alive at 98. He lamented the limited ability to visit with her now.

The most encouraging part of the night out at the local bar was that I knew I was in the company of Trumpers, but Trump was never mentioned. The only political conversation was all 6 people agreeing that no one in NY would trade their governor for ours no matter how much they like to complain about him.

The owner/bartender was talking about home schooling her 3 kids and how much they all are enjoying this new normal. Her husband and one of the kids have conditions that make her super vigilant with masking and made her elect to not send them to school. She has even lost weight from going on hikes and field trips with them. She expects to continue with home school after the threat is gone. She also expressed how lucky they were that they own their building without mortgage and with her mother and daughter they have been able to stay open and make it through with the sharp drop in business.

DH joked that he had to go back to Florida because I had no popcorn up here and the bartender went in back and brought back two bags of microwave popcorn for him.

Anyway, the short version is that it was nice to socialize with people I have known for decades, at least two of which I know have Trump flags flying in front of their homes, and just talk about normal life stuff. They know well where I stand politically, but it had nothing to do with the various topics discussed over the evening.

That sounds delightful, Laura. I miss people.