Friday, May 1, 2020

But on the Bright Side ...


This has been a long and difficult week, but there have also been some bright spots. 

My SiL and her husband were involved in a fairly serious wood-stacking accident. He sustained a large gash on his head and had to adhere to a concussion protocol for three days after being knocked down by a cord of falling wood and a large iron pipe. She dislocated her shoulder and broke her ulna in her lower arm, but she's a family practice physician who is tougher-than-nails and maneuvered her own shoulder back into the socket after suturing her husband's head and worked a whole day at her office before getting her arm x-rayed and splinted.

But on the bright side, the local hospital is closing its respiratory assessment tent today after a decrease in patient volume. They have treated more than 520 patients in the last month, and that helped alleviate much of the strain on the ER.

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It took me almost four hours to procure food yesterday and I had to travel to three different stores to do it.

But on the bright side, the last store I visited was well-stocked with most things, the shoppers were adhering to regulations by wearing face masks and staying six feet apart, and now I know where to shop in the future.

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The weather here has been generally terrible with rain, flood watches, and 40 mph winds.

But on the bright side, the governor is re-opening state parks tomorrow, and there is no rain predicted for Saturday or Sunday.

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New Jersey's coronavirus numbers are horrendous, with more than 116,000 people testing positive and almost 7,000 deaths. 

But on the very faint glimmer of hope side, our horrible numbers may be plateauing, with only 2,400 new cases reported yesterday. 

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And because it looks like there may actually be more good news than bad, I'll leave you with three last bits of good news.

Ryan sent me this; it was delicious and gave me a new positive outlook this morning.

I saw a rose-breasted grosbeak at the feeder while I was typing this. 

And I caught an oarfish in Animal Crossing. Yes, I realize this is a game, but it's a rare fish and aside from grocery shopping, this may be my biggest accomplishment this week. 


Here's to a non-rainy weekend and a week ahead full of accomplishments for all of us. 

16 comments:

  1. Thank you for the reminder to balance out the bad with some good - and your good things bring a smile to my face! Especially a Grosbeak and an Oarfish!!

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  2. Oh my! That Scottish breakfast does sound so good. (Not sure I could/should do for breakfast, but...)

    Holy crap about your SIL and her husband. WOW! Glad they are both ok (though a bit battered and bruised). They are lucky.

    Sorry your grocery shopping was such an ordeal! Fletch is going out today - just for a few things (limes - a necessity). Hoping he has good luck and an easy time.

    Finally YAY for your oarfish! What a creature. Hope you can get out to a park this weekend Bonny - enjoy!! Happy May Day!

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  3. What a week, Bonny! I'm so sorry to hear about the wood stacking incident, but glad that all seems to have turned out OK. Your SIL sounds like a tough broad, and that is one of my highest compliments. Grocery shopping has become one of my most anxiety producing activities. I hate thinking about it all the time, trying to figure out where to get things, and then executing my runs. I realize that I have been terribly spoiled by having what I want when I want it, but it doesn't decrease my anxiety to know this. True food insecurity must be a crippling problem for so many people. Please take very good care and have a relaxing weekend. Be well!

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  4. isn't grocery shopping ridiculous? I hate it now. I switched my grocery stores. My favorite one (Giant) was too stressful and had empty shelves. Now I go to Weis market and reward them with buckets of money. They don't have some of my favorite brands but I can sneak into giant and grab a couple of things if necessary. I feel so lucky that I get what I need and most of what I want! That wood stacking accident sounds absolutely awful! Hope they heal soon.

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  5. Oh my goodness that wood stacking accident sounds awful - I'm so glad they are going to be okay! The grocery store - ugh. I did go to our local butcher shop yesterday and somehow timed it just right as I only had to wait in line outside for about 5 minutes before being admitted to the store. I was able to get chicken, steak, fish, shrimp and beer! Congrats on the oar fish! I've got that one 3 times but never managed to catch the elusive blue marlin and now that one won't be back for months, I believe. Oh, and I caught a tuna, too!

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  6. Ha! That's great... I just sent that recipe to Kate, just in case she hasn't had breakfast yet! Wishing you a "good news" weekend (I hope it continues).

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  7. Oh wow, what a week you have had. Sorry to hear about your family and the accident, hope they all heal fast! Shopping for food here has not been hard like you have it. My son in Chicago says it a chore now and takes hours. Hope you have a sunny weekend, we are in for rain and hail tomorrow, but we need the rain, not the hail.

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  8. The accident your SIL & her husband were involved in sounds awful! I hope they have a good recovery. Shopping for food is not good here in the best of times-we have Walmart and a fairly expensive local grocery chain. Usually my sister and I travel 45 minutes to either Champaign-Urbana or to Terra Haute once a month to get the good stuff; we haven't been to either stores since February. On the bright side, our Farmer's Market will open in two weeks with some kind of drive through service. Hope you have a good weekend!

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    1. The wood-stacking accident was scary, but could have been much worse. A large metal pipe that supported a tarp to keep the wood dry fell down, and in turn, so did the wood stack. My SiL is a tough broad and I aspire to be like her. I think I've got grocery shopping worked out now, but I just felt near tears when I got home after three stores and four hours yesterday. I do hope your food shopping improves in the coming weeks and you are staying well.

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  9. Pardon my language, but your SIL is a real bad ass! I hope they are both on the mend now and I'm glad it wasn't more serious. I'm also glad that in the face of all this bad news, you're still able to find the silver lining. I hope your weekend is dry and you have plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors!

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  10. Holy smokes! I am so glad that they are ok! I've been fortunate to do the elderly 6:00 a.m. shopping gig and the store has been pretty well stocked. I'm aiming for every 10 days. That cocktail looks a-mazing! I'm still waiting to make the white russian with the coffee foam you made on top. I have all the ingredients!

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  11. Oh no, what a challenging week! Hang in there. I think the sun will come out this weekend.

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  12. Oh, I hope you get out to the park, Bonny - it will certainly lift your spirits! and sadly, Georgia's graph doesn't have the same shape as NJ (not even close). Here's to a sunny weekend ... and a better month (and quick healing for your SiL and BiL - yikes! my shoulder hurt just reading about that!)

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  13. Oh Dear Bonny. That accident sounds perfectly awful! Thank God they will be alright. I think I'll send that game to zach! We have sunshine and 70s the last two days. It is so needed in my heart. The hummingbirds and orioles are back. Such joy. I want the owls to call tonight. Im on the porch. Its cool right now, but it is wonderful to be on the porch

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  14. That wood stacking accident sounds very scary. I am glad they are going to be all right. Like Mary, my shoulder hurts just thinking about it. I have been watching the stats for New Jersey and thinking of you. Man that grocery shopping sounds like an ordeal. Our stores are fairly well stocked but the one where I usually do most of my shopping leaves mask wearing up to employees so about a third are not masked. It is busier and some customers don't keep appropriate distance. Trader Joes' is smaller and better organized so I have been shopping there. I aim to shop about every ten days. I hope May brings better times for you and for all of us.

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  15. I too was stunned by the terrible wood stacking accident and in awe of your SiL and her ability to just carry on! Sending my best to them and happy hear they're doing well. I shop at my local grocer via their app and make do with what they send. I am grateful they have people who will pick groceries for me (I no longer order avocados) and allow me to drive up and leave with the treasures.

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