I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of this whole pandemic thing. We got Alice (my mother in law’s) permanent residency card, and I haven’t been anywhere since.


I used to think it was fun staying home. I don’t anymore.

I paint and swim, watch Netflix and sit on my ass.



I think I need some new inspiration. What keeps you going?
DOS TORTAS

Writing postcards, staying politically active. Watching the four areas in the Atlantic that could become storms–can’t drive to North Carolina until I see where they go.
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Thank you Karen. My postcards from Mexico would get there next year. 😂😂😂
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Personally:
Staying AWAY from Politics and TV (don’t have one), reading positive books, visiting POSITIVE people, painting hearts on canvas. Gardening.
I think channeling our “Inner Frida” and making the best of things when we are hurt and struggling and in pain is good. The painting and drawings are a great release.
Many artists that I follow had a “Covid Period” of ugly and dark paintings for months.
At least you live in Paradise and have the ability to get out on the water or travel nearby.
My angst is not being able to travel. And yet I started a successful Travel Group during this Covid year.
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My husband and I have crafting interests to occupy our days that we are home. I create greeting cards and he builds wooden kits. He is on his 24th kit since the pandemic began. We do travel having just returned from Padre Island. My husband has health issues that have moved us to keep enjoying the time we have and not stay home completely. I miss my friends and hugs and seeing faces and smiles.
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Welp. I’ve got a broken ankle, so unless I want to navigate the very long gravel path through the selva to get to our car, I’m, well, stuck and will be for another two weeks. Prior to that, a trip to Chedraui to buy groceries was exciting. Until it wasn’t. Before the beaches closed there was snorkeling. Until there wasn’t. Now there’s just one big “nothing.” I’ve rediscovered jigsaw puzzles and thank goodness we’ve got an Amazon Firestick and can watch our beloved Cubs. I’m pretty sure my dreams look like some of your your more recent pieces of artwork.
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We were running our business from home anyway so not much has changed and village life is snail’s pace at the best of times. But I know what you mean. It does get tedious. Hang on in there!
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One thing that keeps me going is my writing group. We didn’t need for a while, but then we started meeting outside, well distanced. There are only six of us, so even though we are sitting at a distance from one another, we can hear each other lead and we can discuss each other’s work.
I also meet once a month with a book group again, outside and well distanced.
I have had a few cookouts, of sorts. Only four of us at a time. Each of us grills her own dinner and we sit on my patio, will separated. Two of the women are a couple, and the other woman is my tenant so we are together anyway. So I only need two small tables for us. Sadly, it eventually got too hot in the evening to do that should I am, after all, in the desert.
I have had a few visitors also and we sit on my patio, but only if it’s in the morning in the shade!
I have been on Zoom a number of times. I attended one pre-writing workshop, I attend weekly gardening and gossiping meetings, I attended a birthday party, and I’ve attended some library presentations.
I have had lunch twice on an outdoor patio at a restaurant. Another friend and I have met twice for lunch in a park. My lunch mates and I sat well distanced. And twice I have had meals with a friend on her front porch, again, well distanced.
Not normal at all, I miss the hugs.
I went camping with friends once. We all stayed separately. Since I don’t have a tent I actually slept in my SUV with my dog. My dog wasn’t pleased. She likes her dog door and she likes to control her house and yard but I know she liked it better than being left behind for the night! And so did I.
I’m going to be extremely brave in a few weeks and actually stay in an old hotel. I researched it well. They require masks in all public places, but each room has individual heating and cooling systems and has operable windows.
I plan to throw open the windows as soon as I get there, and because my room is on the second floor where it’s secure to leave windows open, I will then leave for an hour or two. When I return, I’ll wipe down surfaces and use my room as needed. The hotel is across the street from an actual running river. I haven’t been around Water in so long since I didn’t get my Mexico visit over the winter and my sister visit to Lake Michigan over the summer. So I am extremely excited about this trip!
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You are inspirational! While I’m sucking my thumb, you’re out and about. Thanks for all the ideas!
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Out and about, but very carefully. And always in with a mask unless I’m in an outdoor park and so well distanced that it’s truly not necessary. And on the patio of a restaurant I scoot my chair way back so I have a good distance.
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Hi Alex!
Well besides doing some SOMA as you noted 😂, I read a LOT, including some fascinating books on social justice, and play with my lifelong food fetish. Spend a lot more time than usual planning healthy meals, shopping online/curbside pickups for daughter and me…. while she toils away at dshs on Covid work as an epi. Then I cook and enjoy all that food! Make Irish soda bread often. Yardwork, zoom exercise classes, zoom socials and misc art projects help kill some time. I’ve lost 15 pounds not eating out….or drinking those margaritas! Yes I miss normal life but I am blessed to have a good life still and I donate to others who are not so lucky as much as possible And I love all your artwork! Best to you and Lisa!
Shirley
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Hey Shirl. Please hug your daughter for me. I can’t even imagine. I did my first online buying that was delivered to my house! A new iPad since my old one is acting up and is old by electronics standards. Should keep me busy for awhile. Maybe we could zoom sometime.
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Yes let’s zoom sometime!!
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