I checked my bank account and --my paycheck was way bigger than I thought it was going to be. I got holiday pay for Thanksgiving, premium pay for working Thanksgiving and 6.5 hours of overtime for the 2 weeks.

On the down side of things I've tried tracking my tax refund (since I mailed it in the absolute last day of the extension period) and I can't get any info on the website. So I need to call the IRS which.. I am dreading.. but I have 2 days off next week so I can devote some time to that.

I also need to find a GP, urologist, and allergist here and that will also be on my list of things to call on my days off. I'm not looking forward to any of that bc the appointments will all be in Jan , but hey I guess it means I'll hit my deductible early next year.

Yay doing good at work, askye!

It was a really pretty day here, so doggo and I took a long walk in a park. Went much better than the last time we went to that park, where I dropped my bag of treats and didn't have any for most of the walk and he was all barky and whiny at other people and dogs. This time much better, with treats. Except all that sunshine gave me a headache. Oops.

A little annoyed at the groomer from last night, she did kind of a crappy job (there were a couple big chunks of hair that I trimmed today because she'd clearly missed them), but just as well, it's a good excuse to go to the place that's so much closer, rather than so far away, even if all the other people with doodles use her.

Having a rough time at the moment with people and feeling alone and so on. Had been talking with friends about potentially podding and/or quarantining for a bit to see each other but I think it's probably not going to happen. Or may happen with just some of us, depending on who's willing to risk what, and either way (if I'm included and another friend isn't, or vice versa) that'll suck a lot.

Laura, I’m sorry about your friend. Msbelle, I hope your uncle’s health improves. Askye, I’m glad work’s going well.

I’m enjoying having my tree up. I’ve spent most of the day reading fanfic in its light. I should have done cards today, but didn’t. Or I could have wrapped some gifts or made some cookies. Again, it didn’t happen. But I am doing some laundry and I walked the cat, so the day wasn’t totally wasted.

He was not wearing a dress. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

I have seen Leslie Jordan in a dress, more than once actually, and all of them in person. I've designed a bunch of Del Shores shows and they are good friends and Leslie has been in many of the shows.

Why am I awake at 4am? Well, the puppy didn’t wake me up but my body did? Ugh.

Fun video about harvesting pecans: [link]

I was trying to think who can I schedule F2F time with (outside with physical distancing, of course), because I've been running empty lately, so I counted: I saw four friends (separately) eight times (again, only outside with physical distancing) since this thing began in March. Usually while I ran errands, and they were in the same street so I said hello. And my parents four times, twice to help them with things that couldn't be done in a remote way. No one in the past six weeks, at all.

No wonder the world feels a lot smaller. I miss F2F conversations.

I will try to meara, but I am so bad at it!

Meara, I think your puppy trained your body!

Askye, that sounds wonderful. It is so nice to be recognized for good work.

Msbelle and Cindy, I am sorry your children are being pains. And everyone with parents, I am sorry your parents are being pains.

sj. Condolances on your uncle

Msbelle- I hope your uncle turns another corner to health

ND- It doesn’t sound like a rant. And if it did, you would be well within your rights. I can’t believe the stress you must be under, and since your are kind and compassionate and have other people depending on you it must be even harder. It’s amazing that you were able to keep your full timers when large corporations (my former student was full time wardrobe on a late night talk show) could not or did not choose to,

My county is probably going red on Monday. As I said earlier, they are asking people to pick up extra shifts and really hoping to not have to close the OR to elective surgeries because that was financially disastrous to us. One thing I did not know is that really anything that is not life or death is technically elective. So for example, if you have gallstones or even cancer, that is considered elective unless you are in imminent danger of death. So closing elective surgeons also leaves people in a lot of pain as well. I always though elective surgery was for things like cosmetics procedures, but they differentiate by emergency/trauma, elective, and cosmetic.

However, they seem to think the nurses and doctors can get the vaccine by January if not sooner. I appreciated JZs post about the vaccine on Facebook and was happy to share with several coworkers. The nurses I know are pretty confident but the staff, although they mostly believe inCOVID and masking and distances with only maybe 2 exceptions (and one of them believes in the virus and masking and everything, just thinks that they shouldn’t close businesses or small parties because it is financially and mentally disastrous, which I can’t say he is wrong about, just that I am an ends justify the means kind of girl, and people not dying seems like a good end)

My mother wants Christmas in July, which I think is smart. She also thinks we should wait to buy gifts until then, which is fine, except I was going to make everyone masks from fabric I already have, mail them out, and call it a day!

dcp, that really was a cool video. When I saw the length, I didn't think I'd watch it all, but it was fascinating.

Shir, that must be so hard. I hope you're able to schedule some time with some people.

Thank you, Sophia. "Pains" are a good word for them (at least mine).

As I said earlier, they are asking people to pick up extra shifts and really hoping to not have to close the OR to elective surgeries because that was financially disastrous to us. One thing I did not know is that really anything that is not life or death is technically elective.

Yeah, hospitals are hurting, which makes the Trumplings' lies about doctors/hospitals making more money off Covid extra insidious. Elective surgeries are the bread and butter.

I am so grateful that my son's hospitalizations and surgery were last year. I keep wondering how many kids are going through what he went through, only to have Covid make it all worse.

However, they seem to think the nurses and doctors can get the vaccine by January if not sooner. I appreciated JZs post about the vaccine on Facebook and was happy to share with several coworkers. The nurses I know are pretty confident but the staff, although they mostly believe inCOVID and masking and distances with only maybe 2 exceptions (and one of them believes in the virus and masking and everything, just thinks that they shouldn’t close businesses or small parties because it is financially and mentally disastrous, which I can’t say he is wrong about, just that I am an ends justify the means kind of girl, and people not dying seems like a good end)

I can't see JZ's post, but I wish could get the vaccine today. I do think vaccinating healthcare workers first is the right thing to do and makes the most sense. My hope is that the people who are fearful of the vaccine will have time to think about the fact that the people who know the most are not running from the vaccine, but to it.

My mother wants Christmas in July, which I think is smart. She also thinks we should wait to buy gifts until then, which is fine, except I was going to make everyone masks from fabric I already have, mail them out, and call it a day!

This is a really good idea. Do you have to buy into her present plan? Can you agree to Christmas in July, and still make and send out your presents now, and just save Mom's for July?

I’m trying to think who I’ve seen since the pandemic started. I’ve seen aurelia twice, once outside her house and once outside mine. I’d seen my friend Carla once for Mexican food, served in the boulevard across the street from the restaurant. Since her accident I’ve seen her more because she was only allowed one visitor in the hospital. (One total, not just one at a time.) I saw another friend for a quick drink on an outdoor patio on my birthday, which was deserted because it was freezing. I ran into my childhood friend Ben when I was dog walking in June. And I came with my sister the one time she made it to her outdoor book club.

That’s it. Outside of that, my dad, and my dad’s cleaning man Gordon (there’s a story for another day) that’s everyone I’ve conversed in person with since mid-March.

In the past I was occasionally aggravated that my sister still lives with me but especially for COVID times it’s much more a blessing than not.