TOO MUCH TV

Coronapurchases
I'm lucky enough that I am still working, and working at a job that I love!  Unfortunately,  I also bring with me a ton of debt.  So, Corona is a welcome respite from normal expenses like eating out, or my favorite, Dunkin' Donuts.  It also means no gym for me (I had just joined the Y and was so excited about the classes).

Also, though I am surrounded by hills and hiking--I don't love working out with a mask.  Plus, I have plenty of time on my hands.

Hence...here are my big corona purchases:

A tiny keyboard for a small space!

1) A child's keyboard and piano lessons from my niece Olivia.  She taught me middle c, scales, and sent me 2 songs to learn:  Over the Rainbow and When the Saints come Marching in!  I texted her back and said "I love these songs" and she wrote "I figured you would!"  I don't have children and I don't plan on stealing anyone's...but I do really get a kick out of being an Aunt.


2)Library Books
I have been watching too much tv for my little brain.  Going on to Facebook, People.com and avoiding Instagram.  I have been missing biking, hiking, eating out, etc...even though I can still do those things (well, not eating out)! So, I decided to load up the old ipad with a ton of books.  (Normally, when I don't have anything to read, I grab a Harry Potter or Little House and re-read those series).    Now, my closest friends know that my fast reading skills are a huge point of pride (is there a test I can take to prove how fast I was, and if i was continuing to improve).  Read during Corona:  All the Besty-Tacy-Tib books, Loretta Lynn Biography, Stephen King's The Outsider,  Tina Brown's Biography of Princess Diana, shoot...I'll have to get up to check my ipad to see what else and my coffee is the perfect sipping temperature so I'll have to delay.  Anyway, I've read a ton LESS than watching TV and realized...my brain is turning to mush.  Let's get the reading going!

3) Podcasts
I do listen to a ton of podcasts:  favorites include:  The Daily, Again with this, Pod Save the Queen, Startup. I was on "happier in hollywood" but haven't felt like listening to that lately.

4) A rebounder!  (That's what they call a home trampoline!)  This will hopefully solve my mask fitness problems...ha!  Anyway, I couldn't assemble it because the net was too tight so I hired a neighbor to put it together and he finished it this morning!  There are exercise routines in the booklet that I hope to try tmw.  This particular rebounder is made in germany, with exercise routines that are very german and I am german, so I am looking forward to trying their routines out! (The Beagle was also a bargain---they let me have her for free because she was a rescue!  There was a nominal fee, but it was worth it!)

It's a trampoline, not a rebounder.  Stupid.

I can't wait to try the ball one!

There is no way you would ever be this serious on a trampoline.  They are so much more fun than that and you can wear crazy socks!

5) A rug!  From Aldi!  It's so cute--a rag rug in bright colors. I re-arranged furniture yesterday and hope to find a home for it.  My big bitch about my apartment is I don't get much light. So, I decided to set up a little reading and writing nook in the corner by the window,

Club Chair courtesy Winnemac Yard Sale, Grey pouf Courtesy Samsucks Pop-up program via CB2, Painting courtesy Crate and Barrel floor sample.  Fluffy dog bed courtesy Amazon, price upon request.

and I'm happily sitting here now with 5 of my favorite things:  a cup of coffee, a fake pendleton blanket my mom got at a garage sale that I immediately grabbed in the after-death clothing swap, this big white club chair that my mom and I got at a yard sale across from my old condo, a grey poof used in a pop-up shop that I worked at last spring, and plants. I could go on and on about the bargains in my apartment (my coffee table was on clearance, the piece of art above my chair was priced at $600 at crate and barrel but I got the floor model for $60, my mcm desk I got at an old lady's apartment sale for $120, the fuscia rolling desk chair I got from the curb, the turquoise vase I got from the giveaway library, the teal couch I hunted high and low for and got at Macy's on sale during the memorial day sale, the poufs I got at Crate and Barrel outlet, these curtains are from Andy and John and works great, the hanging lamp is from Corey and Mo, the copper cocktail shaker is from Aldi and I've given at a gift to 3 of my nephews, the mirrored side table was from Crate and Barrel outlet, on clearance). I am CHEAP!  And proud of it!  Anyway, no furniture purchases during Corona.  Though it's very tempting!  Instead, some re-arranging.

Mid-Century Modern Desk Courtesy Estate Sale on Winnemac in Andersonville, Large Monitor courtesy of neighbor John and Katie for watching their dog, Fuschia Rolling chair courtesy curb lawn (or neighbor ?)

Turquoise vase courtesy Giveaway library Team Rodney, Mirrored side table Courtesy Crate and Barrel Outlet, Copper Cocktail shaker, courtesy Aldi, Console stand courtesy neighbor John and Katie's recent move

Curtains courtesy of Andy and John, courtesy of their former landlords in Chicago

Console courtesy curb lawn, JC Penney stereo courtesy of JC Penney xmas gift card from my nephews, records courtesy of Eldridge 70's collection and garage sale finds)

Coffee table, Pouf (in the background Aldi candle set in fireplace)

8p Ring the Pots!

Here in LA, I live on a residential street, and all around me is a square of "town".  It's very similar to my old neighborhood back in Chicago, Andersonville---residential street tucked between commercial streets.  When I lived in Andersonville, all of my closest friends were within 2 miles--so we called going to Clark street "going to town".  In college, if you went to downtown Oxford, it was actually called "uptown" and I still have dreams where I'm going "uptown".  Growing up back in Elyria, we could easily bike or walk to school, downtown Elyria, the library, etc.  I like to strap on my backpack or load up my bike with empty bags and head up to the neighborhood grocery store.  Though here, in LA, I don't have a walkable Aldi, so I have to drive to the magic place.  I don't particularly like strip malls or commercial shopping areas: I'm a little snob--I like them cute, and walkable.

Anyway, where I live in LA is Los Feliz...and it's pretty fancy.  Homes around here cost a lot more than I'll see in my day, and the rent is super-high for my little one-bedroom apartment. 

But here's the thing---every night at 8p up at the end of my block, all the neighbors gather and do a clapping/shouting/bang on a cowbell/pots and pans tribute to front line workers.  I like to go on long walks at night, and more and more, I find myself drawn to that corner.  Someone chalked out a welcome/come join us.  I have no idea who in the vicinity is or isn't a first responder...it's something people like to do so I follow along like a little lemming.

One night, someone took out their trumpet and started tooting away on their balcony. I couldn't see the player..but as a fellow trumpeter, I really appreciated the effort.

Another bangs out notes on their keyboard, and another neighbor made a big banner on their balcony that reads "Hope" or somesuch. I guess I should take a picture of it.

It's been really lovely to make it part of my day when I can, and how wonderful to see the human spirit shining through. I was jealous of all the people in Italy who were singing from balconies...so I can go up the street and wipe out some of that fomo.
Video here

Some other fun community-type things:
THE BUCKET
My apartment faces a courtyard:  neighbors have rigged up a "pulley" system to move a bucket between the 3rd floor and 2nd floor.  It's like the neighbor mailbox in LITTLE WOMEN!  They recently got a longer rope so I get to participate!  We exchange food and return tupperware and it makes me so very giggly when we pass the bucket.

MJE
We have a little lending library in our apartment building:  People have been leaving masks, TP, food items, muffins, puzzles, etc and of course, there's books.  I kept eyeballing one book that was there forever:  a Fannie Flagg.  But, I thought "I've read that".  Finally, during the pandemic, I grabbed it.  I opened up the front cover and saw written in there "M. J. E".  It was my mom's book! (MJE = Mary Jane Eldridge.  She died almost 2 years ago and it still SUCKS!  So, she comes up a lot in this blog!  Anyway, we loved to call her MJ.  I don't she liked it so that made us even more excited to call her that.) I must have put it in the lending library during a prior purge.  I was delighted and then, of course, was delighted by "The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion".   She's a really great, joyful writer and I fell into the world she created in Alabama and Wisconsin.  HIGHLY recommend! And lesson learned---don't give away your Fannie without looking under the cover!

THE PICKLE FLOP

When I take a longer walk, I go around the block to a street called Dracena.  It's LOVELY--filled with old California Craftsman Bungalows, old-growth trees, sidewalks with tiny hills and cracks from roots breaking through...it's like a dream street for sentimental old me.  Anyway, lots of neighbors hang on their front porch, and Pickle loves a good show-off moment..so she pauses, and then flips on her backside in the grass on the curb lawn, rubbing and turning like a horse without a saddle, or a lady without her bra...and the world loves it.  I act like I don't enjoy the attention (I DO! I ALWAYS DO!) and it always makes me laugh.  Everyday. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Craftsman

VALLEY GLEN, PLEASE
Andy and John live in a really fun neighborhood called "Valley Glen".  Every Friday during the pandemic, the neighbors gather at the Cul-de-sac in front of Andy's drive for Happy Hour. I was at the first one, and got to meet many of the mostly middle-aged and senior neighbors.  Many of them have been there for years...so have a great deal of pride.  I was invited up each week---but finally made it this week.  (When they ask Andy and John--they say "where's that lady? I love being called an anonymous being..It makes me laugh!).  Anyway, the lady showed up, and they had set up chairs, coolers with snacks, and drinks. I pulled up, and asked "how are things here in Van Nuys?" and they all playfully admonished me and said "It's VALLEY GLEN".  I think they like to avoid saying Van Nuys because it was such a hub for porn production, and there are kids around? Anyway, one of the fellows is quite a gabber. In the course of 10 minutes, I was reminded that he's a musicologist professor at Occidental College, is currently learning to play an 8-stringed Bulgarian instrument, lost 38 lbs on Keto, his hair is still naturally dark brown and he has a lot of it, and is 70.  He's my favorite of the neighbors!  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambura_(instrument)

After, we had turkey burgers that Andy made.  Andy likes to pretend he knows how to work a grill...but he kept forgetting to check the turkey burgers.  I know from my time with the Weber grill master at Sunset that one should never flip a beef burger...just let it cook. Don't push down on the meat to release juices...even though it's a really satisfying sound to hear that sizzle.  Just keep that grill cover closed.   https://www.weber.com/US/en/kevin-kolman/weber-26112.html

But a turkey burger requires a bit more attention. Mine was certainly well-done.  But, what was even better was sitting there visiting with Andy and John and Pearl and Pickle.  They have transformed their backyard into an oasis.  We caught up on how our families are doing, how we all are doing and it was a damn delight.

Our friend Gillian came by our building to drop off puzzles to share.  She's a good pal of 3 of us, so we met out front and did a socially-distanced visit.  Oh my god it was fun.  We had to keep parting way for people in the sidewalk (my one neighbor flips her lid when she sees someone without a mask. It's very important to her...and she is very passionate about it.  I don't like to tell people what to do (I just like to think it inside my head) so I enjoy when she fights her reaction.  She wears her heart on her sleeve and it's a wonderful quality.  So, that was pretty fun).  Anyway, we talked about life, quarantine, old people, moms, how the increase in technology has brought relationships closer, etc. What a wonderful visit!

(Gillian has been keeping us entertained with her cooking show:  https://www.instagram.com/gillianbellinger/?hl=en )

Happy Mother's Day

I woke up late and came out to the couch to wish Pickle a happy mother's day!  She's a dog, so I don't think she celebrates it much.  When I first got her, she had just been spayed, and they suspected she had been a mother.  She also had a few breast cancer lumps, so those were removed (she wears a pink harness to represent breast cancer awareness).  Anyway, Pickle was very sweet and wagged her tail and gave me one of her big pickle smiles* (Pickle's lips are shaped into a smile naturally, so I don't think she's actually smiling, but her tail wagging usually means she's content).  I grabbed my coffee and put my hair back in a clip and hopped on a zoom call.

It was wonderful---my BFF Kristin's mom, Mrs Roth,  was having her 75th birthday--so they set up a "surprise" party via zoom!  My other BFF, Amy, was on...so was her mom, Mrs Petersen.  They were our Girl Scout leaders in Elementary school, and were just wonderful. 

A ton of family and friends, and I stayed on the whole time because it filled me up with love and it was just plain hilarious.  Many of the people were of a generation not used to technology---but they were all trying to log in, and make the most of it.  The younger people kept their snide remarks to themselves (Ok, Amy and Kristin and I texted about it on the side)...and Mrs Roth, in true form, introduced everyone, asked about everyone and deflected any question about herself.  That's the way we were raised in Elyria. 

In the end, it was Mrs Roth, Mrs Petersen, Kristin, Amy and I.  I knew I'd start to cry if we didn't keep it jokey...and so we told stories and gossiped about our girl scout camping trips, high school and us not being good girl scouts to all of our teachers.  I couldn't help but feel there was one square missing on the zoom call.  But, I really wanted to soak up the love and affection and fun...so we told lots of old jokes and remembered the good times.

I don't feel as sad as I did right after my mom died.  I don't feel desperate. But I do miss her.  And I've been really homesick for Ohio.

Don't get me wrong---I have a really great job, an amazing community, and I'm healthy and able to pay my rent. There's plenty to be grateful for.

So, this year, on Mother's Day, I'm thinking of my mom. I'm thinking of my Aunt Barb, who passed away last week.  She and my mom are probably up in heaven, celebrating Mother's Day in a modest way, and catching up on the last two years.  Mimi and Pa, Grandma and Grandpa Walsh, Uncle Richard, Grandma and Grandpa Eldridge, Aunt Flo, Mrs France...they are hanging out and watching over us and maybe playing cards?  Or reading. 

Anyway, this generation is slipping away a bit..now we're the aunts and uncles.  And thanks to my mom, and all those guys, we know what to do to make it through this Covid and you know, deaths without funerals and the sadness of the world.  Just keep on charging on.  Write cards and send them out.  Make actual telephone calls.  Show up to people's birthdays, and celebrations and such. 

So, today, I was on a zoom call, I'll see my friend Tim and John for a little bit and go on a walk with my friend Lauren.  Yesterday I cleaned, and organized and wrote and worked on my puzzle and read two books.  Tonight, I'll read some more, maybe take a nap and think of all the moms who take care of us...

Here's a picture of my mom and Aunt Barb (and my sisters)

Adventure? Adventure!

I guess I should mention that we are in the time of COVID-19 and the pandemic.  This horrible flu that eats lungs and causes death started in China, and then moved to Italy and Iran and then tore through NYC's suburbs and now we are all hiding from it.  Too many people need to be hospitalized, and schools shut down and we all are supposed to stay home, and only go out for essentials.  We can go on walks, but not to the gym, nor to crowded hiking trails, etc.  Everyone lucky enough to still have a job (like me) is encouraged to work from home.

Well, I'm now on month 2 and I live alone (though in a very friendly building) and today, we lost a family member.  It's my Aunt Barb, and it wasn't from the Covid...at least not that I know of.  Anyway, she had Parkinson's and other stuff, and had a horrible fall and broke her wrist last year.  She had such a strong spirit.  She seemed to have an affinity for little pickle...she used to have a beagle when we were growing up, Sybil. So, back in the day before everyone started dying, when I was home visiting in Elyria, my mom would take Pickle over to go see Aunt Barb and Uncle Tom.

I called her and Uncle Tom last week to chit chat, and she was, in true Aunt Barb fashion, only asking about me and Pickle and I could barely get either of them to tell me how they were. 
That was my experience of Aunt Barb to a tee.  Always asking about you, and then really digging deep...asking follow up questions and just the best listener.  I feel for her 6 kids, for my uncle tom, all the grandkids and the countless number of people who had her as a teacher at St. Mary's in Elyria.  And how do you do a funeral?  How on earth is that done now when we can't go to churches or funeral parlors and shouldn't...

So, I was feeling a little sad...had a wonderful video chat with the Elyria Gal Pals, double call with my sisters and decided to hit the road.  Which brings me back to this time of isolating physically.  I've been purposely ignoring the news in order to keep spirits strong when I can.  We lost another family member to Covid, and so it's just a lot with all the talk of ventilators, and respiratory therapists and ICU and all that is so similar to my mom's experience.  One system starts to fail, so you pump her full of drugs, and another system tips into distress and ICU was just haywire.

I know I shouldn't be risking myself by hitting the road. If there was an accident, that pulls resources from others who need them.  In fact, there was some kind of accident on the side of the mountain road, and half a dozen sheriff vehicles were there surrounding a steep dropoff.  But, dear devoted readers, that fresh mountain air, driving west and then up the mountain (am I in the Sierra Madres at that point?) and seeing view after view of valleys and peaks and a giant blue mountain lake...girlfriend needed a breather.  Pickle enjoyed it too...I think her little beagle nose was going nuts for bears, raccoons, etc.   I enjoyed the spring flowers, the flowering trees, and walking the back streets of Big Bear Village. I always find the backs of buildings, the alleys and the parking structures more fun than the front...and I was well-rewarded on this ramble, as I cleared my head, said some prayers for my family and found 2 beauties of pine cones.  I felt connected to the world, my heart was full of both joy and sucky sorrow...and Big Bear lake was beautiful.

I drove home before it was dark, enjoyed my favorite road snack (Chili Cheese Fritos and Diet Dr Pepper, with the Diet Dr Pepper at car temperature---mmmmm yummmm) and am now home on the couch.

Much love to you Aunt Barb--I know you will get to see your parents and family and tell my mom we are all doing great but we really miss her.

xo

May Day

It's Friday, May 1.  I woke up in such a good mood today despite some sad news back home:  and the sun is shining, my dog was snoring and work was good and I just felt happy.  I got very ambitious and took a morning shower and threw on a dress for the weekend.

And then I thought about why I'm so happy and I think it's tied to May Day.

When we were little, my mom encouraged us to make up baskets and pick flowers and leave them on our neighbor's doorsteps.  Kitty and I would create baskets of colored construction paper, and fill them with dandelions, daffidols, whatever we could pluck that had popped it's head out in the spring air.

We'd go around to our neighbors:  The Oates, the Johnsons, The Millers, the Briscoes, the Kubas and leave a little basket on their door, ring the bell and run away.

I have a pretty clear memory of doing this at the Oates, and Nancy Oates must have seen us and thought we were playing ding dong ditch, and yelled at us to stop ringing the doorbell.

Kitty and I were very polite and even a bit shy back then, so it really surprised us---there was this contradiction of what we intended vs what was perceived by the receiver.

My mom loved these old time German-ish traditions, and she also loved giving flowers as a gift.

I remember when the 25th anniversary parties rolled around--she'd always give a rose bush.  And, when the daffidol mound at Mimi's (her mother, my grandmother)...she'd have us pick them at Sunday brunch, and then take them to our teacher's the next day.  I felt shy of doing that---like, is this weird?

But now I realize that because Mimi was a teacher, and two of my aunts, my uncle were all teachers, she really encouraged us to be thankful for the service of that education.

Anyway, here I am in LA, typing away in my little apartment, looking out at the beautiful geranium I love and thinking, how lucky we are to have flowers in the world.  I'm really missing Ohio and Chicago and you know, humans but these flower cheer a girl up.

Happy may day!