by Judy Handley | Jun 1, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 153: Happy First Day of June with Family
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Weather: Beautiful, Sunny and Warm; Temp 73, Low 53 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Justin and family arrived late last night and this morning they tested to see if they still were positive for Covid. They all tested negative, so the first thing we did was to have a family hug. The weather could not have been better today, so we took time to enjoy sitting outside and just relaxed into a very laid-back day. Heather, Jonah, and Ollie came to visit during the morning, but Coco and Ziggy had already taken off for an explore down Main Street. Ollie and Jonah took off to find them and then Sam arrived. He took the SAT this morning and just stopped to say hello. He drove downtown and met up with the others. Later in the afternoon, after Heather and gang headed home for afternoon soccer games, JJZ&C and I went on a shopping expedition. They found out this morning that the dress Coco ordered to wear to the concert she is going to in Boston on Friday is not going to arrive in time. We first went to Hand in Hand, the thrift store, and then on to Mashpee. She did find a dress that will be a great substitute,
Ziggy found a pair of pants, and I did a little grocery shopping.
Then it was home for a wee nap and dinner. I had planned a big cook out, but Sam had a night soccer game in Boston and could not be here. So, we postponed that until tomorrow night and ordered out sushi tonight. Then we sat around the fire pit. This was a perfect first day of June with my family.
by Judy Handley | May 31, 2024 | Cape Cod, USA |
2024 Life Logs, Day 152: Waiting for Justin and Family to Arrive
Date: Friday, May 31, 2024
Weather: Sunny and Warm; Temp 71, Low 53 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Today was a day of getting ready for Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco to visit. With the help of Sam and Jonah, I am now moved into the studio apartment that is attached to the house. Until JJZ&C are Covid negative, I will stay here, and we will visit outside. Once they are Covid free, we can just open the panty doors and walk back and forth. It couldn’t be more convenient, and I am so grateful that Lynda is letting me stay here. Getting my things moved in was more of a hassle than it would have been normally as I had to move the ice machine for my knee, all of the containers of ice from the freezer that are used in the machine, ice packs, and my recumbent exercise bike. But Shadow and I are now all settled in.
Heather invited me over to dinner. We had poke bowls with salmon. Jed got home from his conference in Nantes, France last night, so I got to hear a little about Nantes. It was delicious and very much appreciated. And Justin just sent a text saying they are still an hour out. Can’t wait!
by Judy Handley | May 30, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 151: PT, Welcome Newcomers, and Guilty x 34
Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024
Weather: Overcast with Mist and Rain; Temp 63, Low 51 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty,
Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty,
Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty. Yep. That is 34.
I was at a Welcome Newcomers event from 4 to 6 this afternoon, and near the end of that time an Encore friend came in showing everyone his phone. There were exclamations of joy, and then I heard the word “guilty.” I had a moment of disbelief and then I had to go look at that phone.
Sure enough, our former President had really been found guilty on all 34 counts. From my point of view, our justice system proved itself to be just. Who knows where this will lead, but finally there is some accountability. The evidence was all there. I guess I just didn’t believe a jury would ever be able to come to total agreement. Yes, to the rule of law.
The Welcome Newcomers event was hosted by Encore.
After seven years in Newcomers, you move on to Encore. Some opt to end their participation, but most move up. This was our opportunity to welcome those Newcomers and it was lovely event despite the nasty weather. In the hour leading up to the event, the wind started gusting and a steady, misty rain set in. I had my second PT session from 2:45 to 3:45 this afternoon. Karen Baranowski dropped me at the hospital rehab center, drove to the event to drop off my contributions, and then came back to get me. I did a quick change after my session and off we went. Everything was just perfect and I think everyone in attendance did feel truly welcome. Lovely event.
Tomorrow will be spent moving myself into the studio apartment in anticipation of Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco’s arrival tomorrow night. Since they are doing a show tonight, I don’t know how early they will get started tomorrow morning. It could be quite late when they arrive as Friday traffic up the I 95 corridor can be brutal. If so, there won’t be much visited until Saturday, but it will feel really good to just have then here.
by Judy Handley | May 29, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 150: Public Policy Meeting and Ollie’s Spring Band Concert
Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Weather: Sunny; Temp 70, Low 57 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco did make it to Washington, DC, this morning, slept most of the day, and ventured down to the mall in the late afternoon. Evidently, they are all feeling good enough to be out and about. Hopefully by this time Friday night, they will be here.
This morning, I spent some time getting the house ready for the family visit. Then I had an Exploring Public Policy meeting this afternoon. The topic today was How to Talk About Climate Change. I led the discussion based on an article by Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist who says the most important thing you can do to fight climate change is to talk about. And I then went to Ollie’s spring 5th and 6th band concert.
I am always amazed at the quality of music performed by these upper elementary students. Their band teacher, Thomas Borning, does an incredible job. The 5th grade band plays, then the 6th grade band, and finally the jazz band. Ollie plays the saxophone in the jazz band and they were really good tonight.
They played three songs written by Mr. Borning, the titles all word plays on nearby towns: Plymouth Rocks, Mashed Peas (Mashpee), and Sand Witch (Sandwich). Afterwards, we made a trip to Smitty’s to celebrate with Ollie’s friend Simon and his dad.
by Judy Handley | May 28, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 149: Another Pity Party Day
Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Weather: Storm Overnight, Sunny Day; Temp 66, Low 57 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
The tiniest things can seem so monumental sometimes. I really wanted to take the shower curtain down to wash it before Justin and Jo arrive on Friday. I have wanted to do this since early winter. Back then my back was so bad that I just couldn’t climb up on the stool to unclip the curtain. So, I decided I’d get it done after my back surgery. But then there was a bout with Covid, six weeks of recovery time, six weeks of physical therapy, and then another surgery and more PT. That shower curtain didn’t have a chance of being done. This afternoon, I was very tempted to climb up on the stool to take the curtain down, but common sense prevailed. I am doing so well after the knee surgery that it would be truly fool hardy to take a chance on falling. But realizing this made me feel sorry for myself and question if I will ever be able to do the simplest things again. Thus, the pity party. I know I will get back to being able to do these things, but that doesn’t help right now. I can’t drive so I can’t go to the grocery store or anywhere without having someone else take me. That is just not my style, but it is the way things are. And it makes getting ready for a big family visit very difficult. Thankfully there is Insta-Cart who does my grocery shopping for me. It’s not perfect, but it gets the job done. I just have to stop feeling sorry for myself and celebrate the fact that I can walk without back pain, have a knee replacement that is well on its way to full recovery, and I have friends willing to cart me around. I must focus on celebrating the positive moments in my life. No more pity parties.
Lynda took me to my first out-patient PT session this afternoon and I got a ravingly good report. There are things I need to work on, but Matt, who was my back PT person, was amazed at the fast recovery. He literally spent a few minutes studying my incision and my whole leg. Then he declared that Dr. Kinkead, my knee surgeon, is his new hero. Thank you, Dr. Kinkead.
I spent some time this afternoon taking the plants I started in the living room under grow lights outside. This required walking up and down the three steps to the deck with plants in hand which is no easy feat. Stairs are still a challenge making this a very slow process. But I felt better once that was done because it makes a lot more space in the living room which will become one huge bedroom when Justin and family arrive. I was going to spend this evening making a list of all the grocery items I need to order and all of the things I need to do before Friday. But I got caught up in watching a recap of the final arguments in Trump’s New York trial. I’ll have to get to that list first thing in the morning.
I heard from Jo earlier saying that they were all feeling good enough to fly to DC this afternoon. But I just now got a text update. They made it to the San Juan airport, but with an entirely unhelpful security staff, they missed their flight my seconds. They are flying with all of Justins’ musical instruments and the electronic sound equipment. I imagine that was the hang-up. But, whatever, they are still sitting in the airport waiting for a late night flight to Ft. Lauderdale and then on to DC in the morning. Jo said the good thing was that they didn’t have to buy new tickets and that the kids are being troopers. I guess that is the glass half full version, but I cannot imagine that they are not all totally exhausted. Here’s hoping the rest of the trek to getting here on Friday goes a bit smoother.
by Judy Handley | May 27, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 148: Memorial Day
Date: Monday, May 27, 2024
Weather: Overcast, Fog Early and Late; Temp 67, Low 61 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
The annual Memorial Day observance on the library lawn on Main Street …
the first cook out of the summer in my yard …
playing on the beach to make sure we had some sand between our toes before the end of this day.
Heather walked in the parade this morning with the other town officials.
Jonah and Ollie marched with the Falmouth combined band in the parade.
When the combined band—upper elementary, middle school, and high school–and played America the Beautiful it was quite impressive. They don’t practice together, but the band directors are so coordinated that it all works. Sam did not march in the parade today with the Scouts as he has for so many years now. He stayed behind when the others headed downtown at 9 am so he could pick me up later. This was the first time in probably ten years that he watched the parade instead of being in it. He said it felt really strange, but I certainly appreciated the kindness of not having to sit outside for an hour waiting for the parade to start. Thank you, Sam.
After the parade, Jonah was off to Harwich for the final soccer tournament game, Sam spent the day completing a required reading assignment for school, Heather and Ollie attended the grand opening of the Falmouth Community Veterans Center and then completed Ollie’s first paid mowing job, and I took a nap to regain the energy to fix a family dinner. I really couldn’t let a Memorial Day go by without celebrating with the first cook out of the summer. We had marinated steak, chicken, portobello mushrooms, assorted veggies, and roasted potatoes with a salad straight out of the garden. It was warm enough to eat outside, but the closer to sunset, the cooler it got. Still, we had one more tradition that had to met. A trip to the beach. We went to Bristol Beach and boys played with a beach ball and a frisbee. It was so windy that the ball kept flying into the parking lot. We were the only ones there, so that wasn’t a problem. Just a nuisance. So, then they tried the frisbee and lost it in the ocean. Sam went in to try and retrieve it and got his summer initiation in the ocean.
Not a beautiful, sunny day, but a lovely day!
No word from Puerto Rico today. I am hoping no news is good news. But, I worry.
Ziggy found a pair of pants, and I did a little grocery shopping.
