Seriously, how many activities have you come up with to preoccupy your time while you’ve been in permanent quarantine mode, thanks to the never-ending COVID pandemic?
Try seven and I already mastered eating. But seriously, no matter what I do, it doesn’t take long before I’m bored with it. Or need a nap.
- Walk the dogs. Sometimes I walk them eight times a day, sometimes three. We walk the same blocks in the neighborhood, but for variety, sometimes we change directions.
- I’m obsessed with masks. As much as I dislike the feeling I get from lack of oxygen streaming in, I love all the fancy masks they’re making these days. I’ve accumulated quite a few. Still, I’m having trouble getting used to the covering on my face, though, if you ask me, it’s the perfect answer to aging, as I can hide my face and not worry about plastic surgery for that more youthful look, if you know what I mean. I wear a hat and sunglasses that hide all the wrinkles, so no one, I mean NO ONE knows who’s hiding behind my Foster Grants.
2. When the pandemic first began, and when we still thought it would be over in a matter of days or weeks, I baked. Breads, cookies, pastries, all kinds of sweets. And then I gained so much weight, I stopped cold turkey. I tried preparing dinners I ordered from Hello Fresh and had to say Goodbye Carbs. I can’t tell you how many potatoes, dinner rolls, tortillas and the like the nice people at Hello Fresh sent me each week. It was unsettling, making me think they had it in for me. Honestly, they must hate me. They really hate me.
3. Freelance writing: Now that I’m retired, I’m always looking for paying gigs for writers but you’d be surprised how this is not an easy thing to do. Everything thinks they can write. I, of course, know better. (It’s not true.)
4. Someone suggested, as I like to write, that I should every morning write the Morning News. After three days, I ran out of morning topics. There’s only so much you can say about birds outside my window.
5. While we’re on the subject you might as well know, I’m tired of jigsaw puzzles and reading. Instead, I have been taking naps. But then someone told me that napping is a sign of depression due to this glorious pandemic that we’re in. I said, “Great! Let’s sleep on it!”
6. For a while, my hobby was signing up for the vaccine, but I got an appointment on the second try and was completely vaccinated by mid-February. So much for this hobby. I’ve been looking for another one.
7. Good news! This morning I got a rush of excitement coursing through my veins when I discovered a new app that’s supposed to turn my photos and selfies into art. I was dubious at first, especially since there’s an annual fee involved, but hey, the first three days are free! So I tried it and I’m in love. It’s a great app and magically, it’s making all my photos look terrific. This could be the saving grace that might help get me through the rest of this pandemic. In fact, I’m so thrilled with this app, Prisma, that for the first time I’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, maybe it’s not a light but a match and that flame could go out any moment, but please don’t tell me if that’s the case. I prefer to keep hope alive.
Instead, enjoy this sampling above of pictures from my cell phone. You’re welcome!
Monica's Tangled Web 
Well it’s about time you popped in here! I used to use Prisma eons ago and then I got bored. I too walk my dog a fair bit but I think you’ve championed it beyond us. I too am bored of reading or sitting in front of the tv, laptop, phone. All these distractions. Anyway, let’s be grateful we’re alive. How good is that?? So good. 🤗👏
Monica, the good thing about walking the dogs eight times in a day is, you’re getting exercise, too! Not only that, but dogs have no sense of time, so they have no clue what you’re doing — they’re so excitable, they probably think every time is the first time!!
Greetings Monica.
Retirement!!
I took early retirement at the end of 2017 and it’s the best thing I have ever done, more relaxed now.
As for covid, it’s affected most people across the planet. For keeping amused during the lockdown I have my hobby of amateur radio, never short of somebody to communicate with day or night.
The wife and I are awaiting for our second jabs at the moment, the excitement is building.
Here I have been playing with some short bits of writing, mainly for amusement. But also restarted a novel I first started over five years ago, I have dusted it off and I am giving it another go.
You take care over there and enjoy retirement, personally i don’t know how I found the time to work before!!