So Far, So Good! Day 53, May 15, 2020

We made it out of San Antonio this morning after both of us did our morning rituals.  Carol with the Yoga and me with the run.  We had a superlative breakfast at the hotel which was part of the cost of the room.  Joe was our waiter and he said that San Antonio was beginning to emerge from the lockdown but that downtown (which is where he had another job) was still dead as a ghost town.  Joe was anxious to get work back to normal.  We were his only customers this morning.  We left him a big tip.

If you are ever in San Antonio and near the airport, needing a place to stay, I would recommend the Crowne Plaza.  It wasn't perfect but the staff was absolutely wonderful!!

So we got out of town at around 11 and headed through the Texas Hill Country.  If you have never  been there, you might want to put it on your to do list.  We stopped along the way for a little shopping in Kerrville, TX.  Picked up some supplies:

Picnic lunch and pit stop and enjoyed some of the scenery

After miles and miles of no cell service but beautiful Texas landscapes, we pulled into Fort Stockton, TX where we located a hotel and dinner.  Long day, good food and beer.  On to Albuquerque tomorrow.  We have decided to make a beeline to the Grand Canyon -- the South Rim Overlook appears to be open.

The people in this part of Texas are sort of 1/2 face mask and 1/2 not.  I guess it is probably the same as anywhere else.  There is so much open space out here, it seems like folks are ready to get back to work, especially in the small towns like Kerrville.  

Check in with you all tomorrow.  

Sitting in LaLa, Waiting for YaYa Day 52, May 14, 2020

Yep. This is it. I’m going.  Leaving on a Jet Plane. Please don’t shame me. I considered this decision very seriously and finally decided I had to get outta this place! My girlfriend called and asked me if I would go with her to pick up her new/used car in San Antonio. The story is that she has a friend in MX who has a Lexus and for some reason, having to do with her citizenship status, she is not allowed to register her Lexus. So my friend Carol needs a new car so she will buy it. Her friend is driving it to San Antonio where the transfer will be made and we will drive home from there. This will not be an all day, all night drive. We are planning 5-7 days.

The picture above is the Reno airport at 8;15 am. Not too many folks.

So we made it to Las Vegas.  There were only 60 people on our flight.  There was definitely some social distancing and some face mask wearing going on there.  We flew Southwest.  No in-flight service and you had to have a face mask on the plane.  We arrived in Las Vegas with a bounce -- literally, and for me to say that considering where I come from Reno -- turbulence capital of the world.

Las Vegas airport was pretty much deserted too.  The interesting thing about this situation is that no one is in a hurry.  No one is pushing you to exit the plane.  We were all able to social distance (6 feet apart).

We arrived in San Antonio, again to no problem with overcrowding.  The car arrived with the ladies that ferried it up here.  We had a couple of beers in the room, dinner and now to bed.  Incredible and boring life we are living but I am 1100 miles from home!!

This is the first day I have had on a facemask ALL. DAY. LONG.

I gotta say, it was not good but it was okay!!  

Carol got her car today but I think we need to go to the Lexus dealer tomorrow and make sure it is road worthy.  That should eat up some time . . . .  who knows where we will be tomorrow night.  Hopefully somewhere in West Texas!!

Day 51, May 12, 2020 -- Pickleball, Hair Appointment

I didn't post yesterday but I did do a lot.  First up, working out with Michelle and the zoom crew (24 of them).  Then I met Cirila at the tennis courts and we played pickleball.  I am beginning to like this sport and I was hoping that she would too.  My choices of exercise are beginning to bore me -- and I am ready to move on.  Guess what?  She did!! Cirila even chose to challenge herself more by hitting the ball left handed.  We split a couple of games.  I won one and she the other.

Afterwards we shared a cup of coffee and some conversation on the back deck of my house.

Russ and I went out to breakfast this morning at Josef's in Reno.  The Governor has moved into stage 1 of re-opening in Nevada and that includes opening restaurants.  The experience was kind of weird because all of the waitresses had on masks -- as did we when we weren't eating.  I guess this is just going to be this way for awhile.

Following breakfast I took myself for my hair appointment -- another opening in stage 2.  The rules were:  Wait in your car til you are texted to enter, wear a facemask.  It was also different and kind of cumbersome -- but the finished product was definitely better than when I went in there.

Thank you Jenna!! 

Tomorrow I have another HIIT set with Michelle and a game or two of pickleball with Cirila to look forward to.  In the meantime I am reading The Splendid and the Vile  by Erik Larson which, although interesting, is taking a lot of concentration on my part.  It's history and it is English (not USA) so just that much distance causes me angst.  It is about Churchill and his family and WWII.  Does anyone else ever get headaches from reading too much?  

It is not that I am getting too comfortable being at home but rather I am beginning to be afraid of going out.  I don't think that this is healthy either.  What is more important, my mental or physical health??  Something I am pondering right now.

Day 49, May 10, 2020 -- Happy Mother's Day!

We celebrated last night with an outdoor fire pit cocktail party at Montana & Uriah's backyard.  It was really nice to socialize for a change.  Even if we were 6 feet apart.

It was a lonely Mother's Day today.  For the past 5 years we have participated in the Reno Mom's on The Run - 5k which is to benefit cancer research and treatment.  It has always been a thing to look forward to and the whole family participates -- some of us walking, some of us running and some of us just cheering on.  This year it was postponed to an unknown date.  So my daughter and I did our own private Mom's on the Run -- venue a couple of miles apart.  Her time was 10 minutes faster but we both got it done! Congratulations Montana.  Look how far you have come!

Here is what I got for Mom's day from my Grandson. 

Tomorrow pickleball and zoom workout. 

Day 48, May 9, 2020 Kinda Bored-How about YOU?

Or am I depressed?  This un-socialization process is really getting to me.  Who knew how much I depend upon other people?  I have been reaching out to some of them and some of them are calling me back.  Others not so.  I am wondering why I miss them that care so little to return my calls, etc. 

Enough of the pity party.  I gotta get out of this place!!

My girlfriend sent me a text this morning asking if I was up for a road trip to Texas to help her buy a new/old car. This sounds like my kind of adventure.  We would fly to San Antonio, pick up the car and begin a trip home.  What an opportunity to get out of the doldrums. I can't pass it up!  I tried to go to AAA to get a map of Texas but they were closed so I ordered a map from Amazon and it should be here on Monday.  I'm in charge of finding any and all fun stuff to see on our way back.  Plans are still tentative.  I'll keep you posted.

I went to the grocery store today to help a neighbor and look what I found! 

Things are pretty bad when you get excited about seeing toilet paper in the grocery store.  Looks like things are starting to return to normal at least as regards to paper products.  We'll see.

Day 47, May 8, 2019 - Gale's Birthday and California enters stage 2!

Nothing but good news today!!  I got an extra workout (Michelle kicked our butts again today!) and just afterwards picked up a news item from the Sierra Sun that they are offering COVID tests over at the North Tahoe Visitors' Center in Kings Beach.  This is somehow connected to the fact that California is now entering stage 2 of recovery!  Read about it here:

Sierra Sun Article Stage 2 for California

What that means for citizens of California?  You will have to read the article!! 

Our Governor in Nevada has not entered stage 1 yet.  That is supposed to happen Saturday.  I understand that restaurants will be able to open for 50% seating (pickup and delivery is preferred), hairdressers/barbers can open with strict guidelines.  No bars, nightclubs or casinos yet.  Oh yes, I made an appointment for a facial at Nicole's first available!! June 5.  Looking forward to using the gift certificate my daughter gave me for Christmas!


Happy Birthday to my dear friend Gale Etchells.  So wish we could celebrate but we will make it up to you -- promise!

There she is -- at the Baja Carwash -- Isn't she BEAUTIFUL?

Still trying to keep my life "normal" I enjoyed the back deck and the book I am now reading - "The Splendid and The Vile" by Erik Larson for a couple of hours.  Russ planted flowers, tomatoes and beets today so we will actually have some home grown stuff this fall.  We also re-arranged the second bedroom, working towards having "my little place" while still being able to accommodate overnight guests.  Still a work in progress.  

At 3:45 pm I headed over to the local tennis courts and met up with my new pickleball friends.  It was 84 degrees so the hour spent pretty much soaked my clothes but it was a good workout and I am beginning to get the rules -- the skill, that's another thing.  Going back on Monday at 11am.  It was fun and something different.

Tonight another zoom meeting and shot with my daughter and her husband.  Just a check in and rapidly becoming a great tradition.

Day 45, May 7, 2020 - lots of ZOOM!

Had a nice run this morning along Plumas street.  There is plenty of room for me, the bikes, the moving cars and the parked automobiles.  What a beautiful day in Reno!

Here is my popcorn ball tree in the backyard.

I'm waiting now for a couple of Zoom meetings.  One with my college friends who will be logging on at 2 pm their time while it is still morning for me.  The other is at noon our time with a few ladies who are in a virtual book club.  We don't all read the same book, we just talk about what we can remember of the books that we have read since the last time we met.  I swear that while I am reading the books it is clear as a bell but about a week after I have finished, I am already forgetting what the thing was about. 

While I was working out in the basement this morning as it happens, I was laying right next to the paper shredder and noticed this information on its top. 

At first I thought it was an insult to my intelligence but really, it is a reminder to everyone and it is in a universal language.  Can you figure out what it is trying to tell you?

I got out of the house today and am trying to make some arrangements to ship kids books to Uganda.  One of my online running buddies says that since they have been on lockdown, the kids are suffering with no educational materials.  I went to the post office and, as usual, the employee there was little help.  But she did tell me that we could not use the USPS to ship to Uganda right now.  So, I am at a stalemate.  

But wait!  one of the other friends of this fella indicated in FB that she wanted to help.  So I sent her a message and asked her to be my friend.  She lives in New Jersey and she has a contact that normally ships to that area of Africa so I am hoping she can either turn me onto that contact or I can ship the books to her and she can package them up and include them.  The power of social media.  I'll keep you all posted on the outcome of this.  

I got a text last night from one of the ladies that I approached about playing pickleball.  They invited me to play tomorrow (Friday) at 4 pm.  Should be a scorcher but I am anxious to get on the court and practice.

News flash, the Gold Hill Hotel and Restaurant in Virginia City, NV has begun to take the money that has been pinned to their ceiling off so that they can survive.  The lack of tourism up there has left them in dire straits too.

Here's some good books that I learned about in my book meeting:

Lost Vintage by Ann Mah

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (I have read it and this is a good one)

Becoming, Michelle O'Bama

The Murmur of Bees (didn't get the author)

Book Woman's Last Fling by John Dunning

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (my suggestion and really good)

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (my suggestion and really good)

By the way, under the subject "did you know?" here is something that I learned.  Not exactly sure of its veracity but I have run into the inability to purchase an ebook when I try to do so on my cell phone (Iphone).  I have tried through the kindle app and through the amazon store app but they both say that I can't buy the book through this app.

This, apparently,  is because Apple wanted to charge Amazon a fee per book.  Amazon apparently said no-no.  Like I said, this is the only solution that makes sense to me but you go ahead and try it yourself (if you have an Iphone).  I bet you get this message -- This app does not support purchasing .....If you have a droid I am pretty sure there is no problem.  

So since I have an Iphone, I have to purchase my kindle books directly through my kindle.  They still show up on my kindle app on the Iphone but I just can't purchase them there.

Oh, I got this information from google.

Business.

enough for now