Life in progress

Yearly Archives: 2020


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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Friday, April 24th, 2020 – Understand?

 

My day today so far–3:06pm: 

Got up early and made it to the store. When did that become a noteworthy thing? Back in my day, a trip to Tokyo was noteworthy. Now doing groceries is an adventure. Sheesh!

Speaking of Tokyo, I checked my favourite traffic camera last week, the one pointing at the famous Shibuya crossing. So sad to see so few people there on a Saturday at 9pm. Normally you wouldn’t see the sidewalks for the people.

What it looked like when I was there, December 2015, about the same time at night:

The view from where the black cab is sitting on the right side of the traffic cam photo, looking across the intersection.

But I digress.

Now, I’m working on perfecting my dirty look to use on people who won’t move over in the aisle in the store or on the sidewalk. In the latter case, it’s the dirty look that says, “You see me dragging my child out into the middle of the street to avoid your selfish ass, right? You understand the sacrifice I’m making for you? Yes?”

No, probably not.

So yeah, that happened today too.

Good news is I’m pretty sure I’ve got the look almost down pat.

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS April 25/2020

Hey! Friday’s here! And that means it’s time for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt! It’s the last week for the prompt word to line up with the A to Z Challenge. If you want to do two prompts in one, this is the place to be. Here’s your SoCS prompt for this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “val.” Find a word that starts with “val” or if you’re not doing the A to Z Challenge, find a word that just has “val” in it, and use that word any way you’d like. Enjoy!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here to this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Anyone can join in!

To make your post more visible, use our beautiful SoCS badge! Just paste it in your Saturday post so people browsing the reader will immediately know your post is stream of consciousness and/or pin it as a widget to your site to show you’re a participant. Wear it with pride!!

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours.  Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!


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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Thursday, April 23rd, 2020 – Sincere Thanks

 

My day today so far–1:38pm: 

I totally dropped the ball on yesterday’s post. By the time I thought about doing it, which was after midnight, I decided it wasn’t worth the overwhelming effort. And in my defense, I did publish a post yesterday with Wednesday in the title, so you knew what day it was anyway, right?

I’ve spent most of my morning trying to promote my new book. Ain’t as easy as I thought it would be, even at 99 cents. You’ll find links to read the first two chapters at the end of this post.

So. Sincere thanks.

All around town I’ve been seeing red ribbons tied close to the roads. They’re to show appreciation for the frontline healthcare workers.

So very heartwarming to see. I wish I had a red ribbon to tie outside my own house. Maybe I can find something to use in my mother’s sewing stuff.

Speaking of which, I haven’t been back since last Friday, but I plan to go and pack some more when I’ve finished writing this and had my lunch. I should call her, too. I haven’t heard from her in a couple of days, and I’ve been too busy …

The regrets just keep piling on. What to do? My best, I suppose.

Is your community doing anything to show support for doctors and nurses? Let’s spread some positivity, shall we? 🙂

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!

Chapter 1 of my new book, “Saddled,” is here!

And if you’ve read Chapter 1, Chapter 2 is here!


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An important article from The New York Times that may save your life

I read this article this morning. It contains a lot of valuable insight on what ER doctors are seeing in Covid-19 patients. But I thought it was missing a few important points that you might look for at home.

Here’s what I wrote on Facebook with the attached article:

 

Reading this article from The NY Times might save your life.

But …

It doesn’t tell you everything you should know.

At the end of the article, the author suggests buying a pulse oximeter (shown in the photo), but not everyone will be able to find one or afford one. As the mother of a cardiac patient who has had numerous pneumonias and RSV, I can tell you what I look for, and what triggers our trip to the ER where, 90% of the time his x-rays show that he needs to be admitted.

As the article states, Covid-19 patients tend to have low oxygen levels by the time the shortness of breath starts. Here are the ways you might be able to detect the otherwise invisible symptoms the article describes. Unless you have an underlying condition that lowers your oxygen levels every day of your life, these might help. Note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR A NURSE.

Blue lips, fingernail beds, and duskiness around the eyes: Are you healthy now? Look at yourself in the mirror. Check the colour of your lips and your face in general. Look at your fingernails. All the colour they should be (pink lips and fingernails if you’re Caucasian)? This is your baseline. If your oxygen levels drop, some or all of these will change. Your skin may take on a dull, shadowy tone, like dusk as the sun goes down. It does not mean panic and run to the hospital! But if it persists and you have other known symptoms of a cold, you might want to call your doctor or health unit.

Indrawing (subcostal retractions): When we can’t get enough breath into our lungs, we breath faster and deeper. As the article suggests, people aren’t detecting that they’re doing it. Indrawing is when the belly pulls in beneath the rib cage. It’s easier to detect in children, so keep an eye on your kids, too. Again, if there are any other symptoms and if it persists, especially when at rest, contact your doctor or health unit.

Tracheal tug (suprasternal retractions): Much like indrawing, this happens when we’re not getting enough air into our lungs. It affects the area just above the collar bone. As WebMD describes it, it’s “When the skin in the middle of your neck sucks in” when you breathe. My son, being a heart patient, has this all the time when he exercises. I only worry about it when: he’s not stuffed up with allergies; he’s not exercising in any capacity; AND when he’s his normal energetic self.

If any of the above are present combined with unusual fatigue or signs of a cold, I contact a doctor. I believe these are things we should all look for, after reading the article.

Again: I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR A NURSE. I’m just a mom who has nineteen and a half years of experience watching my son for signs of pneumonia every time he’s sick.

I’m only sharing these symptoms that I look for in my son because COMBINED WITH OTHER SYMPTOMS, and according to the attached article, they may help you detect Covid-19 IF YOU CAN’T GET YOUR HANDS ON A PULSE OXIMETER. If you can, rely on that.

Note also that this is not an exhaustive list of what to look for, but it might help you to detect what your body isn’t readily telling you.

Here’s the link to the article again.


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One-Liner Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 – Some truths don’t age at all

Photo: Misty old cemetery art, with a hand coming out of the ground. Text reads: “Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you’ll die of a misprint.” ― Markus Herz (1747-1803)

If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, like Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com


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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Tuesday, April 21st, 2020 – Rest

 

My day today so far–11:59pm: 

There will be rest for the wicked!!

Of that I am both sure and determined to make true.

Soon.

I spent yet another day editing, but good news! I’m finished!

Which means maybe tomorrow I can get caught up on a few things I’ve been putting off. Like packing my mother’s stuff.

I posted the first chapter of the new book on my fiction blog. If you’re curious about what I’ve been working on, click here.

I get the feeling that when this month is over and the book is released, my mother’s room at the retirement home is empty, the A to Z Challenge is finished, and we’re all still stuck at home, I’m going to miss being so busy. Life is so frenzied right now, I barely have time to think.

Enjoy every minute, my friends. Especially if you have your family close.

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!


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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Monday, April 20th, 2020 – Quite

 

My day today so far–11:59pm: 

I’m quite miffed at myself for failing to get a post written on the day it was supposed to be posted, yet again. Not as much for having failed myself, but for having failed you. I’m sorry. (Which is partially an ingrained Canadian thing.)

Alex and I went for a walk this afternoon. Aside from that, all I did was worked on my editing. Almost done. I swear I’m going to take a couple of days off when all this is finished.

Except I’m still going to have to pack my mother’s room at the home. It’s been three days of slogging away at my computer and nothing else done.

So stressful.

But you know what’s not stressful?

A cloudless blue sky.

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!


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What Day is it Anyway? Sunday, April 19th, 2020

My day today so far–11:59pm: 

Day two of not changing out of my pajamas.

I’m beginning to wonder if I need more pajamas.

I did a thing, though.

It’s a book.

A funny book.

A romance book.

Get it here.

The price goes up April 28th.

Thank you. 🙂

Back to your regularly scheduled posts tomorrow.

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!


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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? #SoCS Edition Saturday, April 18th, 2020

 

Aaaand, I didn’t do any better today at getting my post written early.

But I’m motivated now. I’ve decided after I publish this that I’ll open a bottle of wine. Because I’m celebrating! I’m not finished my final proofread of my new book, but I did get the description written, which is huge!

I’m definitely finding that practice makes perfect (okay, maybe not perfect, but not too bad) when writing blurbs. I’m hoping this will turn out to be a good one. One that’ll sell some books.

Proofreading is another thing I find I’ve become much better at with practice. Where to stick in a comma has become automatic, for instance. I used to have to think so hard.

Practice is the word of the day for Saturday, but I had no idea what I’d write when I came up with it, and I still don’t have any idea what to write. It seems all my idea energy went into my blurb earlier, and now I’m out of them. Bereft. Blank.

I didn’t make it out of my PJs today, so I didn’t get any packing done at the retirement home. My mother called me this afternoon to let me know she’d be having supper at the hospital. As though she hasn’t had every meal there for the last month, almost.

Dementia really sucks.

I’m going to try to go around to the hospital and call her from my cell in hopes of waving to her. Me on the ground, her on the fifth floor.

Better than nothing.

Everything sucks.

Except my new book!

Gotta focus on what I can do rather than what I can’t.

That’s a good mindset to practice, don’t you think?

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

This adaptation of #AtoZ2020, #WDIIA and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is brought to you by all three. To join us in the SoCS tradition, click the following link where you’ll find all the instructions and the other participants’ posts in the comments. It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2020/04/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-18-2020/ Or you can link to this post if you just want to write a What Day is it Anyway? post.


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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Friday, April 17th, 2020 – Oh, Right

 

My day today so far–10:57pm: 

Oh, right. I’m supposed to write a post for AtoZ and my own WDIIA thing. In my own defense, it’s been a day. A tiring day. You know the kind.

Alex and I managed to get out for a walk this afternoon. We went past the little library, and the roll of toilet paper was either still there, or someone has been restocking it.

I spent another hour and a half in my mother’s room at the retirement home. Made another small dent in the packing. She has SO much fabric and half-done sewing and quilting projects that I don’t know what to do with. I suppose I should give most of it away, but this is a terrible time to try to do it. The home is going to store the big stuff until the lockdown is finished, so I don’t have to worry about carrying that out of there by myself.

I called the hospital today to try to talk to my mum. The nurse said she’s been very tired all day. She put me through to the room, but my mother didn’t pick up.

I’ll try to do better tomorrow with the blogging thing.

Stay safe and healthy, my friends.

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!