Interview the member below you

[stillmovingforward]

I'm exhausted and fighting being depressed. As covid-19 has pretty much wiped out my last 15 years of progress. But I'm hanging in there asend do have a 4th interview with a company.

What is somewhere new that you are going try taking to this summer or fall? Staycation? Or?

[Tired Tess]

I'll be practicing "my last day of work will be ...." in front of the bathroom mirror.

Going to the pool club today! Hope it's smooth sailing with all these new covid rules.

How old do you feel? Why?

[Apple]

It really depends on the day...  I've always felt much older than I am because of the early start I got on a lot of things (kid at 18, bought a house at 19, started a retirement account at 21...)  My son is an adult, and a lot of the people I went to school with have kids not even in school yet.  When I spent 6 days in a trench last week, I definitely felt every day of my age (hard labor is not as easy as it used to be!)  Other times I feel much younger than I am though.  I mean, the 90s were obviously only ten years ago, right?

Is there anything you daydream about often?

[stillmovingforward]

Travelling and s#x. 😳
I love to travel. My dad used to say I was part gypsy (and given my family history, I probably am)!
The other *sigh* DH needs to work less and care more about saving his energy for home. He's getting to old to work so hard and long.......
I have more energy now then I did 10 years ago!

If you could have one 'life do-over' what would it be? Just one......

[sesfw]

The one I would 'do over' is one I hate even thinking about.  But I'll give you another one.  Knowing the best way to feed family so DH#1 wouldn't die at age 59 with heart attack.


Keeping politics out of it, what is your gut feeling about this pandemic? 

Several people please answer this.  I'm really curious and maybe some reason can be explored.

[stillmovingforward]

That we'll be living with a low grade version of this forever, literally. A vaccine, medical developments, and behavioral changes will reduce the deadliness of it but we'll never be rid of it.
Sorry......

[chiver78]

that there are far too many selfish and childish people in our country to think it is realistic that we can beat this back by masking up and social distancing like other countries around the world have managed to do. I think it is going to be a very long time before the borders are open to Americans because of it, too.

sorry, but I don't expect many optimistic responses here.

[sesfw]

I didn't expect any real optimism, just honest opinions.

I'm thinking along these same lines that all of us need to follow guidelines, including the 'children' that say nobody is gonna make me do anything.

Places are going to have to start with a door sign .......... no mask, no shoes, no service.  And enforce this.

Wish I had better thoughts but if people would just take one year and do what is necessary, we might get a handle on this. ............ Thanks for thoughts

[Tired Tess]

Just wear the mask! If it doesn't stop covid maybe it will stop something else. The common cold, strep throat, whatever.


Anybody thinking about the holidays? Any plans?

[NoNamePerson]

Nothing exciting but we will get together for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Only 8 of us so not a big problem with all the do's and don'ts involved. We have done 4th and 3 birthdays thru all this and no problems.

Anyone started their Christmas shopping yet?

[sesfw]

I've started my Christmas shopping ........... bought a huge LEGO set for g-g-kids from Costco.  Yesterday I finished a Christmas stocking for DH and now working on stockings for our kids.  Finished the ones for g-kids and g-g-kids a couple of years ago.  Looking for things for DH that will keep him interested.  With his memory loss, his frustration level can go up exponentially very quickly.


I was also going to ask about holiday get-togethers.  How are you handling it?  Last year for Thanksgiving DD had about 25 in her home and it was all family and extended family.  Don't see this happening this year.

[Artemis Windsong]

Thanksgiving. I expect H. and I will make our own meal or be invited to a friend's home who are in our bubble. We do have neighbors that could plan something.

My answer to the following. I use the library but have started collecting paperback of Calvin and Hobbes cartoon and Patrick McManus outdoor humor stories. Maybe one shelf with some other keepsake books like a bridge instruction series.

I see all of these photos with ceiling to floor books cases behind the speaker. Do you have a collection of books in your library and what size?

[Tired Tess]

Not really a library, just a 7 ft. tall and 4 ft wide book case. It has 4 shelves.

Have you started getting ready for your Thanksgiving dinner?

[NoNamePerson]

My DIL and her sister do it all! They won’t let th the two mothers lift a finger. Just show up for good food and family time

If you have pets do you give them something for Christmas? Saw on another board about this.  

[Tired Tess]

I don’t have pets but my children do. So I will be buying snacks for two dogs, two cats, and a rabbit 🎄

Considering that Covid is on the rise, are you going out to the stores or shopping online?

[Apple]

Online groceries are not an option here (and pick-up is not convenient for me), so I just hit the store on the way home from a night shift.  Not many people out shopping at 6 am (well, most days).  Gifts, if any, for extended family this year are home-made, except for something for my niece and nephew.  Got niece's present online, not sure what nephew is getting, maybe just cash for gas money since he just got his license.  So, no real change in my routine, covid or not.

Books?  I have books everywhere!  There is a bookcase in almost every room in the house (bedrooms included), and they all have shelves full of books.  I do the majority of my reading on a device (phone or kindle), but still read paper books.  If I ever got to build a "I can hire staff to do all cleaning and maintenance" dream house, I'd have a library, with big comfy chairs, a beanbag chair, floor to ceiling books, and even one of those roller library ladders.  My reality, have to clean it myself, dream house is too small for a dedicated library though.  However, I plan to have a little wood cabin that I use as my reading room, because who wouldn't want to read on a daybed in a cozy little wood cabin?

I just talked to my dad today.  I think we are canceling a dinner due to some family stuff and attitudes.  I told him I'd still make him a pie over the weekend though (when I'd have a lot more time).

Presents for pets?  I miss this dog...




Watched any good movies lately?

[sesfw]

No, not in a theater.  In reading movie reviews I haven't seen anything that interests me.  All of the ratings are PG and lower, and not a huge star quality rating for any of them.  We go to live theater, and the one in town is doing outside shows.  Very close to musical reviews.  The next one will be 'Buddy Holly Story'.

TV has been showing some of the older very good movies lately.  Maybe the TV audience is saying, give us something decent to watch?




Do you have live theater in your area?  Do you attend?

[Tired Tess]

I’ll go to concerts and live theater in the summer. Not a fan of sitting outside in the cold even if I’m sitting in the sun. And I’m not ready to go inside and sit next to anyone even if they are gowned and masked up. I’m beginning to believe that instead of saying “I can’t wait to go back to normal” i’ll be referring to my normal as my past. I truly believe we’re in the new normal and from now on I’ll just referred to it as the present. Mask free days and not having to keep 6 feet away from each other are “now back in the day” memories. So here we are in the present. Always with the mask, socially distancing, washing our hands raw.

So, how are those new year resolution is coming along?

[sesfw]

I stopped making new year resolutions many years ago.  I have better luck during the Lenten Season to change a habit.  I finally understand the Biblical 40 .... and it's great.

Any habit can be changed in 40 days.  I remember one year I was 'addicted' to chocolate.  Had to have some several times a day.  For Lent, I said no more chocolate until Easter.  I kept Easter as my focus point, and it was easier than I thought it would be.  Simple, I know.  But for me it was very effective.  I still have chocolate, but as a treat.



How much gift wrapping paper and other supplies do you have in your home?

[Tired Tess]

Just gathered up Christmas and birthday gift wrapping paper and tucked it away downstairs. Total of 5 rolls Xmas and 4 rolls birthday with 10 bows (various colors) and 3 spools of ribbons.

Do you wear your bathrobe and slippers? I never where slippers but I could live in my robe.

[Tired Tess]

And another question; with what has been going on in TX over the last 10 days, there has been a great deal of Preppers speaking out and sharing how they were prepared with water, camp stoves, and food.

Are you a Prepper? When did you start? If not, are you thinking about starting to build up supplies?

[NancysSummerSip]

Yes, totally a prepper, since we live in hurricane country. And NOAA is considering moving the start of the season to mid-May, rather than June 1.

I'll direct this question to the majority of you living in relatively cold places -- what are you looking forward to the most when spring arrives?

[sesfw]

Well, I don't live in a cold place but today downtown Phoenix is supposed to hit 100 for the first time this year.  Average date for this to occur is May 2 so we are 3 days late.  The desert trees, plants, and cacti are in bloom so the whole Salt River Valley is one huge sneeze.  Myself included ........... <achoo>


Have you eaten inside at a restaurant within the last month?  Social distancing or just a crowd like a couple of years ago.

[stillmovingforward]

I ate at a restaurant a few weeks ago. It was on a Sunday during church so just me and my DH were there. All the tables were social distance apart. We're in Washington state so it's pretty strict here.

And for the record Nancy, I hate spring and summer. Too much sun. 

What would your dream house and it's interior be like? Shabby chic, minimalism, classic 70s, etc.?

[chiver78]

I was just thinking about this thread today, wondering why it had faded away. let's revive it. 

my dream house would be situated on the ocean, with panoramic views from everywhere. my decorating style is pretty minimalistic, if life and clutter prevents me from fully achieving that.    I like cool colors for walls, and throughout my adult life the majority of my hard furniture has been black painted wood/substitutes. all but my bedroom set which is a very light ash. 


how has your summer been so far? typical? something else? it's been raining for July here in MA, and I'm over it. 

[apositronic]

Summer has gone by in a blur. No camping or weekend drives. My husband had to work too much. On the upside, we added a gas fireplace to the house. A bit of an indulgence, but it could serve as a backup source of heat if we lost power. So far, we're loving it. This summer was also unseasonably hot and dry. I am so happy we're finally getting rain.

If you could travel anywhere in the US to experience fall color, where would it be and why?

[Lizard Queen]

Oct 21, 2021 23:38:20 GMT -5 apositronic said:

Summer has gone by in a blur. No camping or weekend drives. My husband had to work too much. On the upside, we added a gas fireplace to the house. A bit of an indulgence, but it could serve as a backup source of heat if we lost power. So far, we're loving it. This summer was also unseasonably hot and dry. I am so happy we're finally getting rain.

If you could travel anywhere in the US to experience fall color, where would it be and why?

I never thought about that.  Maybe somewhere around Maine and that generalsection of the country, just because I've never been.  We've got good fall color here in Michigan (usually, not this year yet, though), and I feel most of the Midwest is going to look similar. 

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 21, 2021 23:38:20 GMT -5 apositronic said:

Summer has gone by in a blur. No camping or weekend drives. My husband had to work too much. On the upside, we added a gas fireplace to the house. A bit of an indulgence, but it could serve as a backup source of heat if we lost power. So far, we're loving it. This summer was also unseasonably hot and dry. I am so happy we're finally getting rain.

If you could travel anywhere in the US to experience fall color, where would it be and why?

I live in the land of year round green. Would love to go to New England area but will settle for the Smokies! (ETA) I've been to Smokies but never in the fall)

If you could go anywhere in the US to experience snow where would you go?