OCTOBER

 October is my favorite months.   I love the change of color of the leaves and Pennsylvania has many of them  Last Friday it was crisp and the sky was blue so the kid and I decided to take a Fall Foliage Trip into the Laurel Mountains, which is part of the Allegheny Chain in the East. 

We went first to look for a store we had heard about, the times and addresses were listed.   One of my biggest irritations is searching the internet.   Things do not die and go away.   The store we were looking for closed in January and there it was, in all its glory, on my search pages.  That was a real bummer.

Next we took US ROUTE 40   This is also known as the National Road, rumor has it that is was the first western route to Western PA.  In and about the time of the Revolution.   What we found and also did not find were that a lot of the shops had closed or gone out of business during the pandemic.  We did find a neat place in Chalk  Hill PA that consisted of The Countree Cupboard & Christmas Shoppe   I saw so many decorated trees, it was a small shop.   The trees were completely covered with ornaments.

Behind the Christmas Shoppe was CHRISTIAN W. KLAY WINERY  we had a sampling and after purchasing a few of my favorites we were off again.  This time up pa route 711 and found a gem of a restaurant.  BITTERSWEET CAFE   The food selections were seasonal and delicious.    The cafe was crowded with seating mostly outside.   WE did notice it had been written up as Have to Eat at place and it was true.   My daughter and I wondered where all the people came from on a Friday early afternoon.

By this time we were really getting tired so we drove up PA Router 711 and then on to Route 30.  Ligonier looked like a good place to stop, we will save that for another day post Covid.    Route 30 is a heavily commercial route and we were glad to get home

5 May 2020

Almost one month since I have written and everything is the same except it got warmer.    I have been reading about officials of health departments have been investigation pneumonia cases from the end of last year.

It appears that old blood samples have been used and the Covid 19 appears to have been in random cases, one in California and several in Florida.   These cases have no known contacts which means they were community acquired.

What this means is it was here long before the proverbial feces his the fan.   It will take some time buy in a few years we will know. 

These last two months have seemed like an eternity.   The cases in Western PA are decreasing and I hope soon we will have more things permitted to be open.  Who knows?

WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL 2020

I am certainly tired of 2020 and so is the rest of the world I might certainly add.   I can't connect with them but I am sure they will agree

We have not been hit hard here in Western PA   My daughters theory is that in our area the mass transit is mediocre at best and most of the people drive themselves to work.  So, this could possible be one of the reasons.   

I live four miles from the hospital where I worked but there was no mass transit to get you there.   The second reason is that the shelter in place has been in effect for almost a month.  Only essential workers were to go and the rest of us stayed home.

Husband and I went to the grocery store early this morning.    Had essentials to buy, we were able to find toilet paper, and paper towels.    It was a one to a person deal.    The store was lacking in baked beans, flour, disinfecting hand wipes and gel for hand cleaning.    WE did wear our masks which was not difficult for me because I had been wearing face masks for 40 some year at work. 

My upcoming doctors appointment has been changed to a telephone visit but I still have to get blood work done before that.   I will do that this week.   CAn't wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

3 APRIL 2020

It just gets crazier and crazier.     Governor Wolf just said everyone should wear cloth masks when they go outside.   Where are we to get them?    Fabric store are temporarily closed.  I checked for bandanas on Amazon and the delivery time is June to July????    Everyone are making changes without advising  how to implement them. This is just NUTZ 

Ove 8000 cases today in Pennsylvania.   Where do these people come from and how did they get the virus.    I am feeling like this is Armageddon.   If there is a disruption in the food supply it will be like the Wild Wild WEST and I can see why people are buying guns and ammo.

On the brighter side my husband was able to find toilet paper.  He found out that the local grocery stores restock on MWF 

NO SEW FACE MASK

Who knows what tomorrow.

SUNDAY 1 APRIL 2020

The two weeks have gone by and we are on course for four weeks more.   I walked on the treadmill today and sometimes I walk outside if the weather is warm.    I had been going everyday to YMCA everyday for about a year to do cardio and core exercises.  I really miss going there.

The numbers look worse with each passing day, especially in NYC   What I miss is going out for a pizza and a glass of wine, since I do not like beer.   I had to go to the vets this morning to get food for my diabetic cat.  Then on to Aldi to see if there was cat litter, which there was plus another few things for the next week menu. 

I haven't visited with my daughter for going on three weeks.   She does have a N95 mask now which she has to keep in her locker in a paper bag.  I read that some company in Ohio has a process where they will sterilize the masks that was approved by the FDA,  hopefully that will help.

I actually do not want to watch any more TV with all the pictures of the doom and gloom.  I am amazed by the amount of people who are not staying in.   I would rather be bored at home than sick and on a ventilator at deaths door. 

The numbers will continue to up unless everyone stays home.

SUNDAY 29 MARCH 2020

I think that 2020 will  go down as the most unforgettable year, or the most hated.  Definitely the most hated.   As the sickness and body count continues we are still imprisoned in the house.    Brief parole for going to get groceries and medical appointments.  Glad we both are relatively healthy.

Today we ventured out because I for got the potatoes on Friday.    We also got cookies and toilet paper for my neighbor who was running low.   I shop at Sam's and Costco so I do have a supply.   I will never again question my buying in large packages.

The doctors have set up set up teleconferences and I guess that is good but not for certain things.   Especially pregnant women,  they need their vital signs and to listen to the fetal heart.   A lot of the routine exams have been cancelled.  I guess you could always call in your weight.

I think about how I hate being in my house and I think how all the people who are positive or sick were wishing they stayed in theirs.  On to week three.

Friday 27 March 2020

Since I have no idea how long this will be I decided to date my blog posts.   The cases are escalating every day.   They are indeed doubling every two days.  Will it abate or is this the new normal?
I certainly hope not. Will it be a seasonal malady and everyone get vaccinations every year.  Will the anti vaccine people get this one.     Honestly, never in my life have I seen something spread around the world in such a little time.

Today I ventured out.  I drove to my daughters and gave her a gift bag of gloves, sani wipes, a few masks and some hand sanitizer.   I organized my closet and found these things that I had when my husband was sick with pneumonia.

Then on to the grocery store to purchase a few items including milk, potatoes and onions.  He wore a pair of gloves to push the cart and I wore one to grab things off the shelves.   The store was not crowded but I made a written list and left my phone in the car.   I used my credit card to pay for the groceries in order to avoid touching money.

There was not toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer or antimicrobial wipes.   Everything else seemed to be in order.   Alas, there were no donuts.   They are not making them at this time.  I am hoping that this Covid 19 will lessen with the hot summer and I think it will be a hot one.