Overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings, don’t even know where or how to begin. There are intuitive people who know everything is connected far beyond what the eye can see, and then there are other people. Not a real fan of other people at the moment. Not sure where the blindness comes from. I long ago traded feelings of invincibility for vulnerability. Don’t possess strange American arrogance sayin shit like, “That won’t happen here.” Have not been granted good immunity. Definitely feelin humanity. My shine is connected to a collective dimmer switch.
So I present to you these happies.
Last weekend, we went to five stores and we got the toilet paper.
I know what’s important, so I also got the last box of Dreamsicles.
The girls, apparently bored out of their minds, snapped artful Polaroid shots of one another.
One night, they made DINNER.
My new specs arrived.
I can do all things through these specs. Drive, text, type, write on paper, look up at people, even when reading the captions on the tv, the images aren’t blurry — both things at the same time! Magic.
One boss brought me orange slices,
and the other boss brought his puppy.
Only the orange slices stayed still.
One night we had pizza with the bad-for-you cheese sauce.
Today, The Mister began working from home. Remember how the boy had his command center in our dining room? Now this:
This morning when I left the house it was 64 degrees and Blanche was covered in maple buds and the very air smelled of spring and hope.
I am feeling fortunate, in spite of and because of the icky state of the world. I hope this Friday finds you feeling fortunate, too.
You know, maybe you didn’t read The Stand.
joeyfullystated 
Don’t call it blindness. Blindness is a physical disability. Call it IGNORANT or DELIBERATE.
Blind people are not ignorant.
It’s like when the priest at Mass says “all rise” while standing right in front of me with my walker, sitting on the handicapped second row pew. I never do, but wonder when the miracle will happen.
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Ignorance seems right, you’re right.
I’m certainly open to miracles ❤
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Both a great comment and funny too…
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I am worried. In ignorance I did things two weeks ago that I would not repeat. Anyway, did the store thing (two) on Tuesday afternoon. Found that because I could not find what I was looking for (one thing), I bought other things (not much) because they had lots. Revising my thinking. Saw a guy wearing a mask and gloves. I thought he was over reacting. Now I think he was not.
Going to learn how to use all the ‘techy’ stuff so I can do stuff (like meetings) from home. Good time for gas to be cheap since I got nowhere to go. Lucky is good. So far, I’ll take it.
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I’m on an eighth of a tank, so I hope gas is cheap here, too.
Coulda shoulda woulda is a waste of energy. Hopefully you’ll be fine and no regret need bother you.
The techy stuff is impressive, how much we can do from afar, but as with all techy stuff — ONLY WHEN IT WORKS PERFECTLY 😉
Stay well, Bill!
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Went to see daughter and the grands last weekend. Glad I did, but didn’t quite realize the risk. Now we just hunker down and washy-washy hands, etc.
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I understand. *has sandpaper hands*
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Glad you are okay. I DID read The Stand. We are a “Shelter in Place” state now. We have a lack of toilet paper although the husband found 2 packs (4 rolls each) at the local liquor store. We’ve had some groceries delivered and I’ve gone to the store to get others. Daughter is working (assistant teacher) from home and son has gone to work two days (I drove him so he didn’t take the train) and so far so good. Thanks for the update, Joey. I think about you when you are not around. Oh yeah, I’ve been walking the dog.
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That’s so nice, Janet. Thank you ❤
I read The Stand, too. I'm still shaken all these years later.
I think eventually we will all be Shelter in Place. I am glad you're well and helping your son avoid the contagion. TP at the drugstores is rationed here, maybe try one of those?
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Pretty specs for a pretty lady. ❤ I read The Stand. Twice. Many years ago.
Happy to have TP.
We're technically into our second week at home, having started after school Thursday. Many to go, I suspect. But I agree. We're lucky.
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Thanks! Good luck toughing it out at home 🙂
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Ahh, we’re good. You too! 🙂
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Left my house 9 times last year, so this whole “shelter in place” bs has me completely unfazed. Obviously. But I dont have the concerns that most do, so theres that.
Im glad youre able to make the best of it, and yall are safe. I know its stressing a lot of folks out. Its like these people dont even know how to be with themselves 😛
The glasses are cute btw. 🙂
Happy weekend, & be safe.
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Thanks! I rarely have a day where I don’t leave the house and I don’t like it, so I have no trouble stayin in AT ALL. The kids tho – they’re havin a real hard time. Like being grounded without the pleasure of having committed the crime to deserve it!
Take care you!
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As an introvert with mental illness, this whole thing is cray 😜 cray. Social distancing is no problem. I discovered TP when I moved to North America. We used water and soap to clean every time we go number one and two at home. Bring Kleenex or any soft paper should we need it outside the hope. Yup, Go out, smell the air, get plenty of Vit D.
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I enjoy not leaving the house apart from work. I was home for the better part of 15 years and home is always happy for me 🙂 Very glad to have the tp!
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We, too, are fortunate. Also, we have orange slices, but of the “off the tree” variety. This year, the orange crop is awesome. So, sweet, and juicy, and orange-y – and they peel so easily. Seedless, yet. Oh, and plentiful. Very cheap. The best I have EVER had.
And that’s my game plan. Focusing on what’s good – the good that was good before, and the good that’s still good. Which is quite a lot in my isolated slice of the globe.
Be well.
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I was on the Cuties (Do y’all have those? Easy to peel babies?) Today I picked up some navels 😀 They were not cheap, but I am fortunate. I love citrus, especially when I am home, at my leisure, to peel them 🙂
You stick to your happy thoughts! I’ll keep my attitude of gratitude cause it makes me feel better!
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I think your post title is where I’m at. Lord knows it’s hard to feel happy at the prospect of school closures and the ramifications but we are so much luckier than many so I’m trying not to whinge too much.
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Yes! I’ve had a few complaints, but life is just better when I focus on the good stuff 🙂
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I love your expression in those new glasses – that was worth the trip to your blog (which is always worth the trip). The idiots are always among us, they just shine brighter in times of crisis. It’s OK, the rest of us will get by, And, if we didn’t, they’d be left on a world full of folks like them – what kind of hell would that be?
Stay safe, Joey and all the Joey clan. We will get through this. It won’t be easy, but there are Dreamsicles for the tough times.
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Thank you!
I just finished a Dreamsicle! Tonight The Mister grilled us some steak, I roasted some asparagus, sauteed some squash and peppers and washed that down with a delicious porter. And Dan, because of the plague, I’ve gone and bought ChiChis margarita in a bottle 😉 I shall eat, drink, and count my blessings!
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There you go! I hope you guys can continue to carry on somewhere near normal. As near as you can get.
I had pizza-to-go and my own Coronas last night.
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I learned long ago to not take most people seriously. We are vulnerable as a country because we are currently being lead [term used loosely] by a clown. Elect a clown, get a circus. The aforementioned people who I don’t take seriously got us into this mess, but I won’t sit around and fret about it. Instead I’m doing what I can by writing simple/silly blog posts and checking in on people who I think might need some encouragement. And cleaning out our closets. I can’t save the world, but I can attempt to add a bit of light, and tidiness, in my corner of it. Stay safe, be well.
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Elect a clown, get a circus. Ain’t that the truth. Take care, Ally.
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Thanks, loisajay. You take care, too.
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That phrase is magnificent. “Elect a clown, get a circus.” It’s aces. The Mister and I are going to repeat it to everyone as the opportunity arises.
Tidiness is SO satisfying! The girls cleaned out their closets this week, too! Good for the chi 🙂
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Making do with groceries and supplies including TP which I brought from another state thinking I might need it. Thank heavens for being paranoid because those other idiots are out there hoarding it and there’s not a roll to be found. Trying to keep busy each day, but the mental piece is the challenge. If this involved a plan with a deadline, I’d be good, but because of its nature, it’s a wait and see. I don’t do well with wait and see, but I think I will need to dig deep because its all out of our hands. Love Dan’s comment about the ‘idiots among us’ which is what I thought every time I saw the spring breakers not heeding warnings and probably extending this ghastly experience for all of us. Stay safe, and I like the glasses too.
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Thanks!
I also struggle with “wait and see” scenarios, so I’m with you there. Best we NOT imagine anything but the best.
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So happy about the TP, Joey. New specs look great! Hit all the stores this week and it went well. There is still kindness in this world, even if it takes watching someone’s meat-laden shopping cart while he scores us two big boxes of TP–under police guard, I might add. Sheesh, what have we come to. No reason in the world for me to go out. My (former) coworkers are all working from home now. They text me micromanagement by Zoom meeting is worse than micromanagement in person. Take care of you and your family. So happy to see you this morning, Joey. Stay safe.
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I do not experience micromanagement. Have I mentioned I love my job? Zoom *shudder*
I am so glad you found what you need. Meat man and police guard — wild! After Moo came in to tell us her friend Abby has no English muffins and there weren’t any at her shop, my husband panicked and bought two packages. (Wouldn’t call it a hoard, but I did ask WHY? He doesn’t want to run out. I thought maybe he would drop them at Abby’s but no, lol!)
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I think we all have to look for the bright side of our new normals where we can. Dreamsicles sounds like a great place to start!
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Yes ma’am!
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I have the TP, but also bought those Cottonelle wipes and, I kid you not, sensitive skin baby wipes. I am not a baby, but I am sensitive, so… PSA: There were zillions of diapers and wipes on the aisle so no babies will be harmed by my buying two packs of wipes. You have the nice people at the work with the orange slices and the puppy. I can report that my previous place of employment complained about money lost, giving not one iota of care to what’s actually going on (not unexpected). It’s like looking back at an old boyfriend who you knew wasn’t good for you and being so happy you dumped his ass. Nice spectacles. Glad you can see. Be well, Joey World!
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I am so glad you dumped his/there/that ass! Yes! My work people are 99% fantastic at me. Female boss indicated we may well be on lockdown by next week, and she said we can come in or not and Mentor said she may go in Monday and put files in the cloud and we may work from home. Not clear. Very laissez faire, but also, the things which we do suddenly do not have deadlines, cause plague, which is unprecedented.
I am glad you got the wipes! I must say, I was concerned for babies, as I have also been concerned for people who would like to eat today, but no food for them because hoarders. We went today for some fresh things and I am glad I keep bread in my freezer, cause Tara, there was NO bread of any sort in the aisle or the bakery! Boy, I’d like to see the kind of storage these hoarders have. Not happenin here in the bungalow 😉
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My former thinks clouds are only for rain, though we did have said cloud-with-work-inside, which I accessed it from home many a time (see: snow days when I was told to come to work and said, “F*CK NO — you don’t pay enough and I buy my own health insurance so *sticks tongue out*). I like the laissez faire approach, what with half of me being southern/Louisiana stock. I hope that this less crazitude attitude stays somewhat in some form after this plague hath ended. Life don’t have to be all crazy busy, y’all. We had some loaves of King size bread in our aisle three days ago. I was surprised — wouldn’t hoarders take the largest loaves and leave the smaller ones? There was also a large quotient of blueberry whole grain English muffins. There are simply some things we won’t eat apparently, even during a pandemic.
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Right. Blueberry is for bagels, not English muffins!
I’m struggling with what to do when I’m well. The office situation seems to have grown complicated and conflicting.
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I’d say I’m surprised about the complicated conflicting office situation… but I’m not. Sorry to hear that, Joey! My governor told us to stay home for 2 weeks. I hereby make you an honorary Pennsylvanian! Then I ‘ll hereby order you to STAY HOME!
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Scary times. It feels like we’re living in a Sci-fi movie🧟♂️ we made our last trip to town this week for supplies and plan to hunker down on the homestead until this thing passes. We’re in Washington State but fortunately we’re in a rural area far from Seattle. I figure this virus will go one of two ways: it will either disappear as Sylvia Brown predicted, or we are in for several months of waves of the virus until we have therapeutics or a vaccine. I hope for the former and fear the latter. Be safe😷
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I’m glad y’all are in the sticks. At least as long as you’re not ill. Your governor is amazing! I am impressed with his work to add beds for the infected!
We went out for fresh vittles today, it was okay. Used a lot of hand sanitizer 😉
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Yay for TP spottings! This is the first time it’s really registered what an advantage those all-boy households have right now. I particularly love the Jumanji pic — very creative of your girls!
Not buying masks was one thing I felt okay doing, but now I’m looking at appointments for the girl — one this week, one next — that can’t be cancelled and I’m feeling a little squirrelly. Can’t do anything about it now, though, so we’ll just keep on muddling through. Stay well, Joey!
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I’m intrigued by this, because Moo is supposed to see the eye dr on Tuesday. I went to pick up mine and Sassy’s specs this week, and the staff was literally cleaning the whole time I was there. I finished at the table with the mirror and eye dr cleaned. I took a fresh pen from a box, signed my slip, and the lady told me to keep the pen. Then as I left, another lady cleaned the door behind me. I feel good about that place, but overall, I’m still nervous about us going.
YES! More women at home, WAY more tp use!
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“Overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings” yup I know EXACTLY how that feels. I have a major post in me over all of this, or perhaps a rant, but every time I sit down to put it into coherent sentences…nothing comes out.
On a more pleasant note, the new glassed look great. Good call on those frames.
Stay sane and safe out there. “Not happy but fortunate” should be our collective Mantra for the next while 🙂
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*glasses*
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Thanks! I love my new glasses!
I welcome reading a good rant, so when the words all settle, I’ll come read it. I can’t process it all. Now, were y’all here in my living room, I’d make drinks and we could just vent all night, but writing needs SOME structure. Stay fortunate, Norm.
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You look amazing in your new specs. I love this song. I liked the Stand but one thing it did not have was orange slices. As long as there are orange slices there is hope. Enjoy your weekend.
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Thanks so much! I love that song, too. I once read that it’s Stephen King’s FAVORITE song, and I thought, gee, that guy has good taste 😉 Orange slices really do help!
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Oh I like your new glasses! They look good on you.
Glad y’all are doing fine, as are we at the moment.
Our stores are out of a lot of stuff, too. It’s so crazy with the TP situation. Who would have imagined that would be one of the most sought after item! Well, if we run out I have many boxes of fabrics, which will work just as well.
Keep happy and safe! ❤
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Thank you!
I am so glad y’all are well too. Not knowing how sick any of us could/will get is nerve-wracking!
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Love the new specs, Joey! It’s fabulous when you can see everything. Also love your kids’ photos and the meal they made (I am hungry and if I could pull it through my computer screen, I would).
I understand about the other people. The ones who party on a beach or go visit grandma after they’ve been partying on a beach or who still think this is a hoax. It’s so irresponsible and although I’m not a physically violent person, I’d like to slap them all.
Glad you found the TP and hope your entire family stays well and virus free.
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Thank you. Being able to type here and look up at the tv is amazing!
Someone I KNOW really did think it was a hoax! I was so galled. Writings for another time, mayhaps.
I know! I wanted to yell at my tv, at those partying beach youth — OMG DO NOT GO VISIT YOUR GRANDMA BEFORE YOU LEAVE FLORIDA! Crazy.
Your cats must surely enjoy you being home 🙂 Stay well!
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You look quite striking in your glasses!
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Do go on ❤
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For every crappy story about how people are reacting these days, there are many more about how people are supporting each other to get through this. I try to read those in abundance! Now, if only I could also find the TP… but I did finally get eggs yesterday, so there is that! Stay well 🙂
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Right? You’re right! I cling to those happy bits — like a 90 year old lady who didn’t suffer much of the sick and got well, like the people in Spain going out at 8 to applaud the medical staff in their city, like the people who left huge tips at restaurants. I crave more of these stories 🙂
Enjoy your eggs!
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I love getting new specs! Love yours. We’re under total quarantine and it’s really going to hurt a lot of people. Have TP but no eggs! My kingdom for a chicken or two. Take care.
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I’ve seen eggs everywhere I’ve been. I feel bad for your egglessness. Stay well!
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Great song choice, and I love the new glasses.
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Thank you!
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May I borrow the puppy ?
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Haha! Likely not 😉 Everyone wants some of that flufferdoodle 🙂
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Well the thing I missed about this Happy post is your cussing… which makes me happy. Solidarity in using cusswords properly, as so many people do not. Technically our state is the stupid state so our governor acted only on threat of not being reelected and has not gone far enough. *sigh* But we are self-sequestering and can easily do this — live together, work together, no employees. My relatives are dead now or far away.
A perspective on shortages… we are going to donate some gloves that are all smalls (bought for someone working in the biz that is not longer) but we can’t buy XL for Mitchell — we don’t use the hospital gloves but still. people ate going crazy. We were going to order them a couple weeks ago then shit happened and now we can’t get them. Your new glasses are cute and so is your face!
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Thank you!
Well that sucks about the gloves. I’m so sorry. I’m glad you’re donating your smaller ones ❤
We have a very small office, and it's not open to the public. I rarely have face-to-face interaction with clients and (for some reason!!!) they've not tried to make appointments as much lately 😉
Best to you!
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“Not a real fan of other people at the moment.” Yup. The dim-switchers are everywhere.
Stay well, Joey et al. Health is EVERYTHING right now.
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Thank you. Introvert on, Joanne! And snuggle Theo kitty 🙂
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Be well, Joey. All we can do is be careful and continue to appreciate our little world around us!
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Your new specs are very nearly worthy of your beautiful face. Great specs! I’m happy for you that so many places are empty of people. Very good situation for those of us who don’t people happily. As a friend of my daughter says, shiny liners!
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Thank you, Marian. I miss some people, but not enough to jeopardize the whole herd. Shiny liners — what we should all look for 🙂
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LOVE the specs. I finally broke down and got the damn bifocals. Still getting used to them. They make me feel a bit drunk.
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I can’t wear mine to drive in the morning, but after I’ve worn them all day, I can drive home in them. It takes some time to adjust.
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Great dog picture. Seriously.
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Thank you! Puppies don’t pose
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I suspect you caught the spirit of the beast better than if it had.
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I’m glad that you were able to find TP. Those little wins help with the gratitude list. 🙂 I love the new specs. Plus, I’m sure it’s awesome to be able to see “all the things”. It looks like your daughters are finding creative ways to adapt to their current world. 🙂
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Thanks! It’s hard on them, but they do seem to be adjusting.
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Ahh, look at you in your new specs. Simply astonishing.
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Thank you! I do love them and I love seeing all the things
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