“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 927 (Friday) – sales and tasks

The drive to work started early and the route taken was the one that goes through the university traffic and past the Post Office and the high school. The reason for the route was to stop at the Post Office, which, according to the website, opens at 7:30. Before 8:00, I entered the quiet, dim, near dungeon-like space of the Father Morrisette location.

A small woman in a red turban stood in line with a box strapped to a rolling cart. Several feet further back, stood a man, then me with my package. There was nobody in an official capacity in sight for a couple minutes until a woman appeared from the back room. By then, there were six of us in line. She tapped her fingers on a keyboard with what seemed like a bit of drama, raised her head to look at the line and said, “Computer is still down.” Technology. It’s great when it works.

I left. The box had been sitting on my dining room table for a week, and it would have to wait a bit longer. Just beyond the Post Office is the high school and past that is the parking garage, and I was at my desk early. 

Quick sale score!

Around 2:00, I bolted from my desk and made a dash for the Post Office. The timing was treacherous, as the high school releases a swarm of students to waiting buses and parental autos at around 2:30. The transportation convoy was already lining up.

The Post Office was functional, the line was short, and I was out of there in record time. This allowed time to go to CVS for the prescription. A call had come in that it was ready. The pick up was as speedy as the postal drop off, and a few minutes was taken to grab some of the multivitamins and the lower dosage D3 that will be needed in nine weeks after the high dose regimen. The buy one get one free special was still in effect. 

On the way to the register, I ducked down an aisle to look for candy, but found the Nature Valley granola bars I like instead. And they were on sale for $1.99, a price not seen for about four years. Talk about good luck. 

In just a bit over 30 minutes, there was the quick walk to and from the garage, two errands, and a great sale. It was the most productive break since CVS left downtown. Back at the desk, the first 50,000 vitamin D dose was taken. And away we go on the vitamin adventure. I also realized there was a $2.00 coupon on the pharmacy receipt that could have used on the other items. Now, I'm tempted to go back and stock up big on vitamins and granola bars and use the coupon.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 926 (Thursday) – an hour

Yesterday, there was a medical appointment that involved blood work. This morning, lab results and a message from the healthcare provider were received. One of the tests was for Vitamin D, and my result was noted as “very low” at 13 (the normal range is 30 – 100). There was a message about a prescription for Vitamin D 50,000 IU to be taken twice a week for 8 weeks beginning immediately, then over the counter Vitamin D3 2000 IU daily. Seemed straightforward.

There was a plan to take an afternoon break and visit the pharmacy, but like most of my “take a break” plans it was derailed by the usual series of brush fires at work. After the day of remote work, there was a quiet and patient hour spent waiting on the couch for the 5:00 traffic to abate, and shortly after 6:00, a trip was made to CVS.

Pale pink clouds outside CVS.

At the Pick Up counter, my business was stated. There was no prescription ready for me, nor was there one in the system or in process. I was sent to the Consultations window where another tech checked her computer and told me the same thing. And I was dismissed. The medical office portal was checked and a message left about the nonexistent prescription.

Nearby, in the Vitamin row, dozens of “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” tags blocked the view of shelf after shelf of merchandise. It was like opening the little flaps on an advent calendar to see what was on the shelf behind them. The mission was to find the highest voltage of D3 on the counter to take as many as needed to hit the 50,000 level (after running the plan by the pharmacy team).

Armed with a bottle of D3 10,000 IU and a big bottle of Multivitamin gummies that would be free under the sale, there was a return to the Consultation window. Four people were in line and there seemed to be a lengthy consultation underway with the first person. The vitamin bottles were returned to the aisle and I left, empty handed. It was pretty outside. The sky was brushed with pink with a delicate silver sliver of moon that doesn't show up in photos. 

The next stop was Market Basket. Pumpkin flavor ice cream has been lodged in my brain for weeks since the Nick’s Swedish Style light ice cream people sent a message about the BRAND NEW Pumpkin Spice Swirl flavor. The ice cream freezer had no pumpkin flavor in any brand, including Nick’s. Concessions were made. A store brand container of maple walnut was chosen. 

Barely ten steps away, the end of the express check was found, possibly 25 people deep. So was every other checkout lane. Apparently, Thursday night is a big night for grocery getting. Standing in a forever long line for ice cream in a flavor I didn’t even really want was not happening. The ice cream was returned and I left.

The route home also included Hannaford, where the parking lot wasn’t packed, so the stop was made. Again, there was no pumpkin ice cream from Nick’s Swedish Style or any other. Once again, there was an empty handed departure. Thanks for nothing, Nick's.

There may have been a grumbling soliloquy in the car on the ride home. The theme was “that’s an hour I’ll never get back.” And I’ll probably get to go back to the pharmacy tomorrow. Hooray!

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 925 (Wednesday) – padded life

Pamela Sue Martin as
Fallon Carrington (1980s).

From 1981-89, Dynasty aired, with John Forsythe, Joan Collins, Linda Evans, and Heather Locklear (who was later on Melrose Place and other shows). The story's wealthy characters were regularly draped in gowns, jewels, and furs. Cleavage was popular. And shoulder pads. 

One year during the run of the original Dynasty, a colleague and I dressed as Alexis Carrington Colby and Krystle Carrington at work on Halloween. We worked in the IRA Department and normally we wore suits, skirts, or dresses, but on that day, we wore cocktail dresses to work. One was a royal blue strapless, topped with a fur coat, the other was dusty rose satin with giant shoulder pads. 

Both dresses had been made by me to wear to weddings, back in the day when I sewed. We accessorized with rhinestone necklaces and drop earrings and looked like we were ready to head to a gala at 9:00 a.m. on a weekday. We looked fabulous. It was fun pretending to be super rich. 

Since 2017, a remake of Dynasty has been running. It has a cast of actors I don't recognize, except for Grant Show, who used to be on Melrose Place. The characters still wear expensive clothes and there is still a crazy level of arguing, scheming, and conniving, just like in the original version. 

Elizabeth Gillies as
Fallon Carrington, 2022.

Fashion has cycled around again, at least on TV, and big shoulder pads are abundant in the 2022 season of Dynasty just like in the 80s. The model thin women glide around on their designer stiletto heels and have shoulders that make them look like linebackers. 

I remember the days and the clothes of the 80s. Somewhere in the house, there is a drawer of shoulder pads of varying thicknesses, the last relics of a wardrobe of a lifetime ago. They had been removed from the original garments before laundering, and had snaps sewn on for reattachment. The clothes they once belonged to are long gone, but the pads are ready for the next revolution of the wheel of fashion. Bring it on. 

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 924 (Tuesday) – soup and news and stuff

Cabbage soup with stuff.

The remote work day meant it was soup for lunch. Soup is a great lunch reserved for remote days when there is no danger of a container spilling in the work bag in transit. Today, it was cabbage soup from Sunday, beefed up with some roasted brussels sprouts and broccoli and the kielbasa and potato stir fry. Sunday’s cooking effort paid off, but by tomorrow it’s probably a certainty that I’ll be quite done with cabbage for a while. The rest of the soup was already stored in the freezer for later. 

Work was less frenetic than Monday. Busy, productive, and less stressful. Small blessings. After work, it was Finnish language homework and Woodoku, which I’m sorry has been reactivated on the phone. Talk about a time suck. One minute it’s 6:00, then suddenly it’s 8:30 with nothing to show for it but a string of low scores in a dumb game. On the bright side, very often while playing Woodoku, ideas are percolating in the background and new ideas are born.

While Hurricane Ian was said to be at Category 4 and bearing down on Cuba and then Florida, I was watching Kevin can F Himself on demand on AMC. It originally aired Monday night. Every station break featured a ServPro commercial for water damage cleanup to make things “Like it never even happened.” Coincidence, or brilliant marketing? I don’t know.

In other big seasonal news, there was a recall on some candy corn made at a Massachusetts company because egg wasn't listed in the ingredients. Not the candy corn!!! What really needs a recall and total destruction in the Candy Kingdom is NECCO Wafers. Those things are gross.

Mahkit Baskit!

The latest notable Central Mass prop sighting on Kevin Can F Himself was a hoodie worn by the title character, emblazoned with, in perfect phonetic spelling of Massachusetts speak, Mahkit Baskit – “Moah fah yah dollah.” And now I want one, too. 

And I’m pretty sure there isn’t even a Market Basket in Worcester, so hooray for whoever scored with the MB brand placement. According to the website store locator, the closest store to Worcester is in Oxford, 10-ish miles away. And yes, I love looking things up on a whim. 

And good luck to the people in Cuba and Florida. It sounds like Ian is no joke.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 923 (Monday) – rain watch

Last week in Finnish class, as it rained for the second week of class, slamming onto the roof and nearly drowning out the lesson, the teacher said it generally rains every Monday while she is teaching. So far, so true.

Today, it was sunny most of the drive from Lowell to Leominster, but I could see heavy, gray clouds looming up ahead on the approach to Fitchburg. Thanks to slightly tamer 5:00 traffic than the past two Mondays, there were a few minutes to spare and a stop was made at Big Lots to grab a couple things. Loaded up with gnocchi, spiced apple cider packets, and Raspberry Zinger tea bag, a moment was taken to pause outside the car, catch my breath, and appreciate the dense cloud bank which was settled over the area of my destination. 

Clouds over Fitchburg.

Once in the car, it began to rain. My umbrella was at home on the kitchen table. That’s pretty much what the entire day felt like. I had taken the stairwell at work to the first floor on a errand and realized the pass card required to access the stairs or the elevator for the return trip was still on my desk. When leaving for the day, I entered the stairwell and realized my coat was still draped over the back of my office chair. Opening the heavy stairwell door to go back, I hit my foot with the door and put a big scratchy gouge in the toe of my favorite Steve Madden boots. 

I won’t even get into the multiple (4? 5?) short-notice, last minute requests that crossed my desk throughout the day. So, yes, when it rained and I was umbrella-free, I just laughed.

Further down John Fitch Highway, a rainbow appeared to be rising from the Civic Center, but there wasn’t a chance to get a photo. I thought I’d see it at Saima Park, but the trees were too tall and the bit I could see was faint and the rain was becoming heavier. Later, in class, someone said they saw a double rainbow.

It seems the teacher has been right about the rain, and is 100%  for the first three weeks of this session. It rained during the first hour of class, slapping down on the roof, but eventually eased up. By the time we ended class it had subsided to a light rain, which was great news for the ride home. Last week’s heavy downpour with rumbly sound effects and lightning resulted in poor visibility and a white-knuckle trek through Fitchburg. Not far beyond the city, it stopped for the rest of the ride home. Thank goodness.

Arriving home tonight, the ground was wet, indicating it had rained, but the driveway didn’t have the giant puddle that lingers after a big rain. We need the rain, we are finally getting some rain, and it is good. And now the Monday Montachusett area rain watch is in effect.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 922 (Sunday) – domestic mode

It was a day for chillin’, and not just the weather. With the fall session of belly dance class cancelled, the day was free. With no reason to leave the house, it became a day of domestic, umm, tranquility. The first plan was to lay on the couch and read all day, but the cooler weather inspired cooking, and Betty Crocker mode was fully activated instead.

Roasted deliciousness.

The laundry was started extra early to avoid the bedtime crunch and adrenaline surge of “crap the sheets are not on the bed.” A store roasted chicken was chopped for Winston’s food mix-in and the carcass put into the pot to start the bone broth. Brussel sprouts and broccoli were tossed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar and roasted. 

Kielbasa, cabbage, onion, and potatoes were sauteed in the activation of winter food mode. Cabbage and onion were chopped and a soup started with onion soup mix, water, milk, mixed frozen vegetables, and some of the roasted brussels sprouts and broccoli tossed in. Containers were filled for the freezer and the fridge. 

King of the couch.

While the kitchen experiments were underway with the heat generating kitchen appliances, efforts to get warm took a physical form. The chairs from the deck were taken into the shed for the season. Canine Overlord royal poop was harvested from the front and the back yards. Half the wild Evening Primrose along the deck property line was pulled, filling the yard waste bin. There was a brief flirtation with the idea of mowing, but it began to rain before the mowing commenced. The trash was packaged and set at the curb for Monday pickup.

Winston alternated between playing the go outside/come back inside game that keeps me on my toes, and swaddling himself in the blanket on the couch. For a smallish Canine Overlord, he can stretch out and take up a lot of real estate.

Wild wins it!! MYLEC Cup
Women's Tier Champions 2022.

Things got exciting a little after 7:00 p.m. when my sister texted to tell me my niece’s ball hockey team, which is in New Jersey at a tournament, was playing in the finals. The game streamed live, with an announcer and instant replay. I saw most of it on the laptop, and it was exciting to hear the announcer saying Sheridan's name throughout the two periods I saw. 

It was a fast-paced game, and my eyes were glued to the laptop screen watching #46. In the end, Watatic Wild won the first place trophy, ball caps, and banner for the National Ball Hockey League's first ever Women’s Tier Championship. Good work Wild! History in the making!

Despite being laundered at 9:00 a.m., at 9:00 p.m. the sheets are still not back on the bed. Hopefully, the adrenaline rush from watching the ball hockey final should propel the final household task.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 921 (Saturday) – chill

The cooler temperatures are hanging around. Maybe this will be the year that we enter fall and stay there, instead of jumping back into summer temperatures and out again. We’ll see. Another wave of warmer summer temperatures would be fine with me, because I’m not psychologically ready for fall yet. I sort of forgot to do most of the summer things. Again. It’s a troubling trend.

Professionally
styled.

The September gas bill under the budget billing plan finally paid off the usage from heating the house last winter. Last winter was pricey and this year looks to be even worse. The electricity provider sent a letter last week with the chilling news that the rate is increasing about a gajillion percent for this winter and suggested enrollment in their budget billing program. There are very few appliances left to unplug when not in use, so the winter electric usage probably can’t be reduced further unless I start lighting with candles or just going to bed once it gets dark. 

This morning, the house was 60 degrees and felt seasonally fall chilly and not spring warm. The wind blew against the bedroom windows and it was reminiscent of the dead of winter as the sweater drawer was ransacked while dressing. In the end, a winter base layer and shirt were chosen for the day.

The heater was turned on in the car for the ride to Worcester for a long-standing hair appointment. My hair was trimmed and blow dried and is shiny and smooth, but the real star of the visit is always the amazing scalp massage during the shampoo. The professional blowout will look great and slick and cool until I wash and style it myself, and then it will be back to the usual battle to tame it with the blow dryer and large barrel curling iron.

Over the course of the day and while I was out driving around with the car heater on, the temperature in the house rose to 65.  It did this all by itself, aided by the curtains that had been opened to let the sunshine in and lowering the storm windows on the porch.

An arbitrary target of October 15 has been set for the earliest heat activation date. It will be a real challenge to see if this can be achieved. A test of fortitude. A case of city woman against nature, accompanied by fervent wishing for a return to temps in the 70s or even 80s. The couch throw blanket was pulled out a couple days ago, and the winter puff has been on the bed for at least a week already. The worry is, if I'm this chilled at 60 degrees, will I be able to survive the winter? And why am I so wimpy?

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 920 (Friday) – wedding day

Entrance to the
 ceremony site.

In the way that work expands to fill the time allotted, so did the preparations for attending the wedding. There was showering and hair drying and coffee drinking and news and the rest of whatever Netflix show was on Thursday night. 

The outfit of red pants with a black lace overlay and a shiny top had been mostly selected days earlier, then doubted every day after and was very nearly changed to one of the dozen black dresses hanging in the closet. The whole thing took about seven hours, basically the entire time from getting up until it was time to leave. It crowded out the other penciled-in tasks like visiting the ATM and getting gas. Oops.

It was chilly, in the 40s, and windy when I got up, so dresses were ruled out and the pants were definitely in. Part of the nebulous vacation day pre-wedding plan was to maybe have my nails done, but that was ruled out due to laziness. A red color was chosen from the many bottles in the closet, and then the bottle wouldn’t open. Rubber jar openers were tried, applying polish remover to the cover, running a knife around the cover. And then the whole neck of the bottle snapped off. This will have been the last usage of that full bottler of OPI “Meet and Jingle.” Danggit.

Dad, Brittany, and
the most amazing gown.

The wedding ceremony was outside, and it was a bit windy and chilly at 50 degrees. It's the time of year of could have been 100, it could have been 50. Birch trees behind the wedding arch swayed in the wind. At least it hadn’t been pouring all day like on Thursday. 

The bridesmaids, dressed elegantly in long black dresses, filed in through the stone arch and down the aisle. The groomsmen and the groom were stationed at the front.

When Dad walked the bride in, it was stunning. She wore a ball gown with train in layers of tan and white tulle with a black lace overlay. It was stunning. She was gorgeous. There were tears from more than a couple people our side of the aisle. 

The reception ballroom tables were set with a custom cookie at each place setting. The Magic Mirror photo station was fun, capturing three images and spitting them out in a photo print. Appetizers were passed around during cocktail hour.

My sister and I failed to wander the room, which resulted in never seeing the wedding cake. Shout out to Table 11, which had a fun group, including a Facebook friend previously only know in cyber (hey Matt, nice to meet you IRL!).

Many photos were taken and a shocking number of them came out blurry, but other than that, it was a great event. The setting was beautiful, the food was tasty, and there was a good vibe throughout. Congrats to Brittany and David and their beautiful wedding and reception.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 919 (Thursday) – thurs-yay

Once a month, remote work Thursday is capped with Boozy Book Club night. Tonight was the night. At 5:00, I logged off and stepped away from the computer. Winston, who had not eaten most of his breakfast, awoke from his day-long lounging on the floor behind my chair, ambled into the bathroom, visited his food bowl, and ate the remainder of his breakfast.  

Based on the evidence encountered first thing this morning, he was likely not feeling well. He had barked me awake at 2:00 a.m. to go outside, and instead of waiting for him to come upstairs, I climbed upstairs to return to bed, figuring he would come up when he was ready. Or not. He had just gone out to potty, so we should be all set until it was time to get up for real.

There was tossing and turning and swearing and an overactive monkey brain that lasted for what felt like hours but I didn’t want to confirm it by checking the time because it had the potential to piss me off. Thoughts ran the gamut. Paranoid and likely imagined slights at work. Running through the work project to-do list. The dead mouse discovered in the bathroom closet earlier on Wednesday. The potential dozens of family members of the deceased mouse in the closet. Worries about the weather and what to wear to the Friday wedding.  

It felt like six solid minutes of sleep had been achieved between 2:15 and 6:15 a.m. when I stumbled downstairs. Upon entering the kitchen, the first thing seen with the one eye that was open was a puddle on the floor next to the rug under the table. A few feet away sat three well formed oval poop offerings. A clean up operation was needed before the coffee could be started. While turning away from the kitchen cabinet, roll of paper towels in hand, the puddle of vomit straddling the doorway between the kitchen wood floor and the bathroom tile was noticed. Good morning! Poor doggy. 

After work, after Winston’s dinner and insulin, it was time for me to head downtown. The first stop was La La Books for the October book club selection, then next door to Warp & Weft for the September meeting. The book was The Elephant of Belfast, a historical novel about an elephant. In Belfast. Apologies for the spoiler.

One fun part of book club is the different viewpoints. There are a couple people who voice well thought out, insightful observations about character development and plot lines and who could probably be professional book reviewers. Then there is me, with my illuminating contributions like, “The chapters were long.” Some in the group liked the lengthy descriptions and cinematic feel. Others thought there was too much time spent on surrounding events not directly related to the main character. It is always interesting. And there are appetizers. And drinks. So, yay!

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 918 (Wednesday) – garbage and carnage

There is a doorway on the walk form the garage where a person used to camp. He could be seen laying on his side on a blanket, smoking a cigarette and asking passersby for money. There is now a "No Trespassing" sign posted on the door, and a nasty, seemingly permanent urine scented wet mark on the concrete. IT seems the doorway has been reallocated from living room/bedroom to toilet.

Doorway space and snacks.

This morning on the walk, it was noticed that there was an unopened cereal bar and three ziplock bags with cookies and other snacks neatly set at the edge of the stoop. They were still there on the return trip 9 hours later. It is a typical downtown scene lately – stains, unappealing smells and abandoned food. Sometimes it’s a partially eaten sandwich, chunk of fried chicken, or salad remnants surrounded by wrappers and take-out boxes. Often, there is a trash barrel just a few feet away. People are slobs. 

Once safely ensconced in the quietude of the workplace cubicle, it was a lot of the daily sameness with occasional bright spots of not the same. Blah, blah, work, blah. Monthly full team meeting. Work. There was free pizza at lunchtime!! Blah, blah. Oh crap, an important Word document edit was hidden in a comment field and missed in the “accept all edits and stop tracking” document update. It was eventually found quite by accident. Oops. And apologies to the two reviewers who received files and then an "oops" message and then more files. 

At home, while fetching Win’s food from the bathroom closet, it was observed with a respectable amount of horror that the new mousetrap baited with peanut butter and set last week had an occupant sprawled upon the floor that was not there in the morning. Sorry, little gray rodent. And ewwww.

Now there needs to be a corpse relocation operation and I am sufficiently grossed out that it has already been delayed for the past three hours. Hopefully, it can be accomplished using the handy poop pickup tool which has also been enlisted for outdoor rodent corpse removal several times now. I really hate mouse season.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 917 (Tuesday) – sweaters and soup

Soup!

Thank goodness the wardrobe changeover started a week or two ago, because the weather seems to have flipped a switch this week and changed over to cooler. The wardrobe thing has been in fits and starts, dribs and drabs, and isn’t done yet, because, well, just because. The bit that has been done was mostly taking lightweight summer blouses out of the closet and filling the space with what appears to be a flannel obsession. Lightweight cotton cardigans were rotated out of drawers and replaced with cool weather, warmer counterparts. 

This allowed me to easily dress for the chilly weather today. Of course, being a remote day made it easier, too. And it wasn't exactly 40 degrees chilly, just no longer summer weather chilly. It was nice to open a drawer knowing what was inside and finding what I wanted instead of rifling through storage bags and the cedar chest while swearing.

Veggies and angel hair.

In addition to warmer fabrics in richer, darker colors, the chill also sets my mind to winter food – heavier and heartier. Soup season started over the weekend with a container from the freezer of who knew what from Lord only knows when, which is my favorite way to start. The mystery container revealed itself to hold potato and mixed vegetable soup which was extended with a can of cream of mushroom soup and chunks of chicken from the perpetual stream of chicken for Winston’s meal booster.

Winter food supper season kicked off with roasted brussels sprouts, mushrooms, broccoli, and onion, sautéed with butter, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar, then tossed with angel hair. So yummy. What a difference the cooler weather makes in motivation to cook. And the temporary fix on the broken tooth that is allowing for pain free eating. Small things, big joys. 

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 916 (Monday) – a day

At 4:30 this morning, I was inexplicably awake. It was not pleasant. After some tossing and turning, more sleep occurred, and then at 6:00 when the alarm went off, there was zero desire to get out of bed. Of course, adult life intervened and the bed was abandoned. The usual weekday in the life of this adult launched into full swing. Kibble was measured. Office attire was selected. Coffee was prepared and consumed. Lunch, which had been pre-packaged on Sunday, was retrieved from the refrigerator.  

Lobster salad mini croissants
and brussels sprouts.

Not much later, around the corner from the house, it was remembered that the small containers of lobster salad, roasted brussels sprouts, and mini croissants were still neatly stacked on the counter. A quick turn was made into the Family Dollar parking lot and a return to the house made to retrieve the lunch items. Thank goodness it was remembered before arriving at the garage. 

The pointy, jagged broken tooth has had dietary benefits in the form of a lack of interest in eating. Even sitting quietly aggravated the tongue, and talking and eating were very tricky. It's amazing how frequently my tongue rubs the teeth on that side while talking. Oy.

The usual crunchy granola bar breakfast was abandoned for days and only one meal was consumed Saturday and one on Sunday. A remedy to spare the tongue from shredding was found in the medicine cabinet in the form of a dental bleaching tray, which provided a barrier between the tooth edge and tongue.  

After several morning tasks were handled at the office office, the dentist was called. An appointment was available for 12:30. Thank goodness. Unfortunately, the dentist is located in Fitchburg, because apparently, I like to torture myself as much as possible by keeping certain health and personal services as far from home as possible. A half vacation day was taken to accommodate the appointment and the travel to and from. The lunch was taken from the office refrigerator and stowed in the work bag. 

The midday trip to Fitchburg had light traffic and was largely hassle free. It was a fifteen-minute wait beyond my appointment time before I was seen. Of six patients who passed through the waiting room, I was the youngest one on site. It was moderately terrifying seeing my future hobble before my eyes.

The good dental news is the visit went well, the pointy shard was filed smooth, a temporary patch was applied, and I can talk and eat without pain and fear of bloodshed. The bad dental news is, because of how the tooth broke, there is a need for a root canal and crown. This news was not unexpected, but that didn’t make it less unpleasant.

Back home, a pain free lunch was enjoyed. It was delicious.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 915 (Sunday) – tori day

There was a plan for the day. The Finnish Club at Saima Park was holding the annual fall tori (market) and car show, which had been on my calendar for weeks. Along with vendors selling traditional straw ornaments and birch bark pieces, holiday ornaments, books, and gift items, the tori usually has my three favorite booths, a bakery booth and two gift shops that have Finnish candy.

The bakery booth is usually busy selling out of a lot of Finnish coffee bread, rye bread, and rusk, which is cinnamon seasoned, hard-toasted slices of coffee bread. The rusk is basically a bakery version of crack and once you have one slice just accept your fate. You will keep eating it, so don’t bother pretending there will be any left. Just kiss the bag goodbye.

Last year at the tori, I bought some treats. There was salmiakki, a strong licorice, and Finnish chocolate bars with salmiakki. I got only a small amount of each, because I’d never had it and didn’t know if I would like it. Turned out I love it, and now I need a discounted direct connection to Finnish salmiakki treats, because it is a little pricey.

Despite being ready to leave the house at 9:00 to arrive at the tori for the 10:00 opening, it didn’t happen. Mom had called about our plan to meet and the news of a flat tire on her car that was being dealt with and derailing her tori plans. Meanwhile, I was running through my bank balance and assessing what I would likely spend on frivolous Finnish baked goods when I really needed actual groceries.

There was also the now near-panic situation of what to wear to an upcoming wedding. On Friday. This Friday, just a few days away. Spending time at the tori suddenly felt like less of a good idea when I should be in a store getting groceries and then freaking out about what to wear to a wedding on the first full day of fall when it could be either 100 degrees or 40.

Instead of the Finnish market, it was the local Market Basket for me. It had been at least a month since the last “full shop” and the list was long with basics. I don’t know if this was a typical MB Sunday, but today around 11:00, it was nuts. In addition to the basics, several luxury items were discovered. There were no fresh, in-store roasted chickens to be found in the usual heated display (they were still spinning in the roasting machine), but some chilled roasted chicken parts were found, right next to some cooked, chilled lobsters. The time stamps on these items indicated they hade been put out just minutes earlier and I felt incredibly lucky. The imagination ran wild with ideas for lobster embellished dishes. 

Angel hair with lobster.

Within an hour of arriving home from MB, it was full-blown Betty Crocker mode at The BungaLowell. Brussels sprouts had been trimmed. Potatoes had been sliced. These had been tossed with olive oil and seasonings and were nearly ready to emerge from the oven in all their caramelized glory. Then it was back out into the wild with a quick trip to Nashua and the retail wonders of Daniel Webster Highway. 

The first stop was Savers, which used to be an incredible source for cool items for home and wardrobe. Lately, the store features prices that are higher than those in store selling new items. There was more success down the road at TJ Maxx, where a brand-new top was bought for less than the cost of the tops in Savers. Victory was achieved in the form of a crucial garment for the outfit for the wedding.

Within a few minutes of arriving home again, Winston was fed, and my own sumptuous meal was underway. Angel hair and butter, cream and cheese sauce was prepared for the lobster. It was delicious. The rest of the lobster meat was mixed with mayo for lunch on Monday, mostly because I lost the energy to make the lobster macaroni and cheese that was imagined when debating the lobster purchase. It will be a couple days of fine dining before the normal lazy suppers of potato chips or ramen resume.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 914 (Saturday) – race day

At 7:00 this morning, the weather thing on my phone said it was 46 degrees. The bedroom window was open a few inches, it was chilly in the room, and it was perfect for sleeping. It was tough to get up. Once up, the thermostat showed it was 65 chilly degrees in the house with no other windows open. It was time to chug some hot coffee.

There were plans to be out and about downtown at the Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race. Attire was chosen based on being cold inside the house – a long sleeve tee shirt and a baseball style jacket. There was a chance of roasting when the temperature warmed up in the afternoon, but it seemed better to wear a jacket and risk being too warm part of the day than to be cold all day.

Alice in Wonderland team.

My friends arrived to fetch me and off we went. On the drive downtown, a family walked down the Merrimack Street sidewalk with a young child skipping along in an Alice in Wonderland blue dress. Then there was a Mad Hatter costume spotted. 

A bit further along, a large group was gathered in front of the library, with most people dressed in Alice in Wonderland themed costumes. There were countless playing cards, chess pieces, Red Queens, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, and of course Alice. We later learned it was an escape-room-style immersive experience. Downtown sure was busy. 

Awards!

We caught a bit of the pre-race celebration and then the rollout of the machines for the "Bone-Shaker Alley" race along the cobblestone streets downtown. The creativity in the people-powered machines is impressive. Gears, tires, chains, tank style treads, floatation systems. Some had one operator, while others had several. The creatively styled awards for a variety of other categories (including "Best Bribes")  were displayed in a dusty window.

From downtown, it was a short walk to the mud pit, where the people powered machines traveled through deep mud. Race spectators mixed with Alice in Wonderland characters on the walk to the Jeanne D’Arc mud pit. 

After the mud stage, we debated the options to get to the river for the water challenge. There was a long walk to the river, a long line for a shuttle bus to the river, or we could drive there and hope for parking. Driving won, and while walking back to the garage for the car, we talked about lunch options and debated visiting Mill No. 5 for the Oddities Marketplace, which we also wanted to do.

Grilled cheese with tomato soup.

An immediate lunch break won out, figuring we could plot our next move over food. Downtown dining with sidewalk tables and adult beverages won. At Fuse Bistro, we sat at a picnic table and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. The grilled cheese sandwich with tomato basil soup was delicious. The Maine Beer Company Lunch IPA reminded me of the taste of Mummu's long beloved Schaeffer beer. 

We finished eating at the time the water event was scheduled to begin, and wondered if we should try and get over to the river. Instead, Mill No. 5 won for proximity, just two-ish blocks away. After wandering around and browsing in the converted mill building, it was back to the race area for the return of the machines across the finish line. 

The day had action. Excitement. Many cute dogs to gush over. Competition. Lunch. Nice weather. What a great day. I almost forgot about the pointy, freshly broken molar that is threatening to shred my tongue to ribbons before I get in to see the dentist.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 913 (Friday) – dental drama

It began as a  slightly above average morning. The dressing and departure process moved along and somehow, I accidentally left the house 10 minutes early for work. 

Thanks to the knuckleheads blocking the intersections at Aiken and Lakeview, Bridge and VFW, and French and John, the garage arrival was at the usual time of 8:15-ish, destroying the morning glow. Along the way, there may have been some swearing. Also, possibly a one finger salute and an assertive horn honk. Maybe. This is not a confession. But, IF it happened, it was deserved. 

The long route was taken from the garage to the coffee shop in order to blow off steam and maximize the step count for the wellness plan Step Challenge. It’s day five, and, as a testament to my shockingly sedentary lifestyle, the total step count currently stands at the target for mid-day for day three. Maybe I can walk ten or twenty miles on Saturday and Sunday to make up some steps. Also, maybe I will be crowned the Queen of North America and the army of flying monkeys ordered from Amazon of the dot-com will finally arrive. The likelihood of these outcomes is about equal. 

The workday was quiet. Tasks were completed and crossed off the list. There were two of us in attendance on the entire fourth floor, one on each side. We made a lunch plan and split a Formaggi pizza from TreMonte, conveniently located across the street. 

After the morning commute, it was a blissful, mostly stress-free day. The ride home was slightly less infuriating than the morning ride. Overall, it was a nice day for the working segment of the schedule. 

After work, there was the cheerful welcome home greeting from the Canine Overlord, followed by the preparation and serving of his royal kibble, lovingly embellished with homemade chicken bone broth and chopped chicken. He has been most agreeable to eating his food this week and it feels like a cosmic set up for a plot twist/kick in the ass. Life has taught me to never, ever, become comfortable with anything. 

Snack time.

While watching a show that included a wine tasting and feeling chilly on the couch, it felt like the perfect moment for a glass of vino, which generally elevates my normally low body temperature. While in the kitchen pouring the wine, it suddenly felt like a good idea to raid the baking supplies and mix an accompanying snack of nuts, chocolate chips and raisins. This was likely due to the absence of any other legitimate snacks like chips, cookies, crackers, or ice cream. 

While enjoying the homemade trail mix directly from a depressingly utilitarian plastic container, something suddenly had the wrong mouth feel – too jagged, too hard. It was initially assumed to be a piece of pecan shell. It turned out to be a chunk of tooth. Oh, and a bonus piece of filling. It’s been several months since the last dental drama and violent assault on the wallet, so perhaps it's simply the next option on life's expensive wheel of fortune. Heaven forbid there should be ever some financial or mental breathing room.

At least the dentist is open on Saturdays and a call can be placed tomorrow to schedule a visit. But come on. After the nonsense of the past couple years with the week of jaw paralysis from the ridiculous cycle of 18 x-rays at a routine visit and the pre-pandemic popcorn broken tooth that led to the ill-fitting crown, failed crown, and eventual expensive extraction, I’m kind of over the dental crap. All of it. I’m pretty sure this isn’t even a tooth we were “paying attention to” which means there is likely more bull crap ahead with the other potentially problematic teeth. Shoot me now. Seriously. Please.

On the bright side, there is no pain, just some very sharp edges and the risk of a shredded tongue. Yay!?

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 912 (Thursday) – dinner and show

Crazy Noodle at Blue Taleh.

The night featured dinner downtown at Blue Taleh (Crazy Noodle with tofu for me) and a performance of The 39 Steps at Merrimack Repertory Theater down the street. Our group was three, two current bankers and a retired banker, and we relaxed and chatted over dinner before walking over to the show for a laugh. 

MRT always a great job with their sets, and tonight’s show was no different. There were fun effects with lighting and sound and the show was a bit zany and reminded me a bit of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which I loved as a teen. The cast did a terrific job handling multiple roles.

The weather had been crisp and autumnal and a leather jacket was grabbed before heading out. Thank goodness. I was chilly in the restaurant, and then during the second act of the play, an air conditioning vent kicked on overhead and I was really cold, even with the coat over my shoulders. 

Stage set for The 39 Steps at MRT.

The theatrics didn’t end when I left the theater. As I sat at the red light at the bridge on University Avenue, clad in my leather jacket and long sleeve winter top, two college-age girls stood at the street light waiting to cross. 

Completely unfazed by the chill of the 56-degree weather, they were dressed in tiny denim cutoff shorts, itty bitty string bikini bathing suit tops, sneakers, and summer weave straw cowboy hats. When the light changed, they western danced diagonally across the intersection while I shivered in the car. Oh, to be young again.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 911 (Wednesday) – mixed bag

Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of being back in the office and the switch to hybrid work. It was also the one-year anniversary of one of our team members. Because most of us are in the office on Wednesdays, today, there was cake. It was delicious. There was almost a jelly roll, too, but it met an untimely demise when it tumbled onto the asphalt parking lot. So sad, but an entertaining tale when we heard about it.

Hybrid work life has been a mix of mental and physical adjustments It’s been good. It’s been challenging (read "sometimes sucks"). 

Remote days are great for uninterrupted productivity and proximity to a stocked refrigerator and pantry. Online meetings are better from home thanks to having a built-in camera in the computer. The network connection can get wonky and accessing files takes longer, but nobody is around to hear the swearing. It gets lonely. The commute is nonexistent, but the days tend to start earlier with a login instead of a commute.

Cool sculpture downtown,
September 14, 2022.

Office days are great for human company and downtown walking breaks with interesting sights. They stink for the time suck of traffic and garage parking, interruptions, and office noise (especially sitting near the kitchenette and printer). Online meetings are difficult due to having to use the cell phone and speaker phone.

The world of office work has a new reality and is still evolving. Hopefully, the rough edges will smooth out instead of getting pointier. Within the office we have certain levels of control, but outside, the journey to the office seems to have gotten thornier.  It was a nice year of light traffic while it lasted. The past couple weeks have seen a sudden return to pre-pandemic volumes, stupid drivers blocking intersections and snarling traffic, and the accompanying road rage levels. Adrenaline is good, right? But probably not the ulcers.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 910 (Tuesday) – trash night

It was a crazy long day, which started obscenely early. At 12:45 a.m., I got up to use the bathroom. Then Winston wanted to go outside. Then the fun began.

A red, regular-sized, not-SUV vehicle came down the street and executed a turn in the middle of the street in front of the house. It swung close to the fence and the front end knocked over the yard waste barrel, which had not been emptied in the trash day festivities. It seemed deliberate, or maybe the act of an impaired driver. The lid came off and the barrel fell to its side in the driveway.

The car then traveled the space of the shared driveway to the neighbor’s house, cut close to their stone wall, and tapped their wheeled trash bin, pushing it forward. The driver moved up alongside the bin and an arm extended from the open window and grabbed the top of the barrel. There was a bit of fumbling, and the car was driven away. With the bin wheeling alongside the car, held by the hand out the window. 

I went out and put the lid on the yard waste barrel, set it upright, and returned inside, went upstairs and got the phone. The car returned and made another three-point turn in front of the house, then headed back up the street. I reconsidered the wisdom of leaving the yard waste barrel on the street and pulled it to the end of the driveway close to the house and the empty trash and recycling bins.

Just taking someone's
trash bin for a drive.

The car returned. The headlights shone onto the storm door where I stood and I wondered if they thought it was a ghost and wished I was wearing a floaty, ghostly nightgown instead of drawstring pants and a tee shirt. This time, as the turn was executed and the car drove off, I saw that an arm was extended from the passenger side, clutching and dragging someone’s round plastic yard waste barrel on that side of the car. It bumped along the road and against the side of the car. Multiple cell phones were illuminated in the vehicle as if there was filming taking place. 

I was the audience for four acts of the hijinks. In Act IV I got a mostly obscured photo. The police were phoned at Act III, but the call dropped. Multiple times, often without ringing. Thank goodness it wasn’t a big emergency. Someone from the station called me back after Act IV of the performance and there was a complete conversation and a promise to send a patrol car over to “attempt contact” with the vehicle.

It was over except for the wondering. Is this the latest Tik Tok challenge? Frat House prank? National "take a stranger's trash bin for a ride" night? Is there a yard full of trash bins and yard waste barrels being held for ransom and what is the ransom? And the biggest question -- why did they not remove any of the three neighbor bins which are still in front of my house? Cripes, I cannot catch a break. All three still stood in front of the house at daybreak. And sunset. And even still.

It was hard to get back to sleep after that. There was the wondering. There was the paranoid worrying about retribution after potentially being seen in the doorway. It took a couple hours to get back to sleep, and then, just a few hours later, it was time to get up for work. Ugh.

The ruler of the workday seemed to be Mercury Retrograde, which began on the 9^th. There were problematic documents that suddenly opened as “read only” and wouldn’t allow requested edits to be made. Problematic content reviews. Network connections that kept dropping. Sudden changes requested to already approved content. Keyboard keys stuck. And so on. 

The day bumped along like a trash bin being dragged alongside a moving vehicle. It could be a long and interesting stretch until October 2. And will there be more trash bin thievery?

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 909 (Monday) – Finnish line

Today saw the start of a new adventures. Or more precisely, an enhancement to an ongoing adventure. After work, it was the first night of a ten-week, in-person, beginner level Finnish language class.  I packed a brand-new spiral bound notebook with a blue cover that is sort of like the blue in the Finnish flag and my favorite blue stick pen with blue ink.

I’ve known about the classes for several years, but the time was usually too early in the afternoon to work with work. This time, it lined up better with a start time after work. The hardest part might well be the hustle to get there in the midst of 5:00 traffic. 

Several of us have been learning with Duolingo, which is a good tool, but the self-study thing is kind of hard and lonely. The familiarity of Duolingo was helpful for making the sound of the language familiar, but an in-person teacher is significantly better for explaining the rules. Unlike the Duolingo lessons, we didn’t discuss cats who are Vikings, but we did learn a little about the KPT rule where there is no aspiration on those letters.

There are 13 of us in the class, and a nice mix of people with varying reasons to want to learn Finnish. A couple have Finnish spouses, most of us want to travel to Finland, and a couple have already been and want to return with knowledge of the language.

It's fun to have a thing to do that has a finish line of sorts (ha, ha) – better Finnish language skills and an endpoint at ten-weeks out. It’s fun to be doing it with a group of people who are pretty much at the same knowledge level. If it works out, there is another level to which to look forward. Jee!

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 908 (Sunday) – air traffic

Sunday morning noise maker.

The usual Sunday morning quiet was disturbed shortly before 9:00. A sound began in the sky and got louder and closer. I was outside in my pajamas and a chambray shirt, letting Winston out to the back yard. I saw it was a helicopter as it came closer to the house. In a rare doggy pottying event, the phone was not in my hand.

Once upon a time in Tennessee, I could recognize the sound of a Blackhawk or a Chinook flying over the house, but that’s because for six of those years I lived close to Fort Campbell, home of the 101^st Airborne, and they flew over constantly. I was also married to a retired soldier who would start talking about whatever helicopter was overhead the second he heard the first note, which was usually a bit after I did, because his hearing had some issues from his many years in the Army.

It’s been quite a few years since the heavy overhead helicopter traffic and home quizzes and I’m no longer well-versed on the specific sound profiles. The sound this morning was loud enough and raggedy enough that I thought for a minute I might be seeing a helicopter in distress spinning crazily on the way down to a rough landing. 

For about 30 to 45 minutes, the helicopter circled the area. The sound would disappear, and a few minutes later it would return. After the first very loud loop, it flew higher which was quieter. For several minutes, it hung high in the air between my house and the UMass North Campus. The best chance for a decent photo was the first loop when the cell was ion the house. Every time I heard it, I stepped out to the deck or the yard to check it out. Once, I even looked at the flowers on the deck that need watering.

The “Helicopters over Lowell” Facebook group was abuzz. Yes, that is actually a group, which I learned when checking to see if there was any news about the helicopter. There were eight posts and dozens of comments from people in the group who were asking about the helicopter and posting photos of the helicopter.

Deck flowers.

Multiple commenters said an abandoned car was found in the Merrimack at one of the bridges. Two different bridges were named, located on either side of my humble little ‘hood. The helicopter was with the Mass State Police. The car had been reported at 2:00 a.m. and when daylight broke, the only available helicopter was fogged in on the south shore.

And then, as quickly as the noise began, it was quiet. So was the Facebook group, and no additional info was learned.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 907 (Saturday) – more of the same

It was another day of more of the same. Coffee drinking fueled grand ideas that dissolved when the caffeine wore off. The wardrobe changeover was initiated. A stack of “least favorite” items were set into a trash bag for the next round of pickups by either Big Brothers Big Sisters or Epilepsy Foundation. Usually, I’m not ready when the email arrives announcing the trucks will be in the area.

Winston, the best boy.

Agonizing began over an outfit for the wedding in two weeks. There is nothing appropriate in the closet that seems correct for the season or the event which also fits. I used to love fashion. I sewed clothes and assembling outfits was a hobby. Now it’s a source of stress three office days a week every week for the past year, plus any other time I need to leave the house. 

It’s a huge temptation to take most of the current clothing to the back yard and burn it, but that would probably result in a visit from the fire department and result in having nothing to wear, which would be worse than having a lot of stuff I no longer love. That’s the sad part. There used to be fondness for everything in the massive closet and now it’s all just too familiar, too boring, too much work.

Housework was contemplated, but didn’t quite pan out. There was a minor accomplishment in taking some stuff to the recycle bin. There was also a trip to St Vincent de Paul then Marshalls to look for something to wear to the wedding. Nope. Nada. But Marshalls had tons of fun Halloween decorations I didn’t buy.

Winston has been better about eating his food the past couple days, which is a relief. It might have a lot to do with the addition of the roasted chicken, but whatever works. He really springs to life after eating and when coming in from inside. He trots over by his cookie bowl to wait for his good boy bit of a cookie. Then he lounged about in his bed, on the floor, and on the couch, interrupted by numerous trips outside. Some of the outside visits seemed more for something to do than because he needed to potty.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 906 (Friday) – large and in charge

It was a half-vacation day but once again and true to brand, it wasn’t all sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows. Ok, the weather played its part perfectly and there was ample sunshine and warm temperatures. Nice job, Mother Nature and thank you for delivering another lovely day.

Work was greatly productive and the morning flew by. Not accustomed to midday university traffic, I stupidly took the regular route home through the North Campus and was tied up in crawling, snarled lines of vehicles and heavy student skateboard, razer scooter, bicycle, and foot traffic everywhere.

The quick stop at the house was to liberate Winnie from his soggy diaper pants, let him outside, tell him what a good boy he is, and re-wrap him in a fresh diaper and belly band. The super important insulated lunch bag and ice packs were gathered and then it was back into the car for a ride to Fitchburg to pick up Win’s veterinary insulin from the vet. The vet hours and my work hours do not align very well. Like, not at all, thus the need to use vacation time. But he is 100% worth it because he is the best boy, best dog, best buddy anywhere.

Once the precious vials were procured and secured in the chilled bag, it was off to my sister’s house for a brief visit with her, Mom, and my middle niece. The youngest niece was already en route to Mansfield for a concert adventure to see bands I am far too old to know about. It made me sad thinking of all the wasted years of my youth spent working, dancing ballet, and not attending concerts. It just wasn’t part of my reality.

After the visit there was a stop at Big Lots for important and fun fall/Halloween items for a basket swap. The item gathering has been ongoing for a couple weeks and the random assortment is almost ready. It will be sent to a friend of a friend in Tacoma, Washington (whom I have never met) and I hope she likes it. Hot tip – Big Lots and Family Dollar have lots of fun and cool fall and Halloween decorative things. Everything I bought for the basket I would like to have myself, but I got sensible (<cough> frugal) and did not buy duplicates for myself. There will likely be regrets.

Once home, it was time for yet another random and unhealthy “supper.” There has been exactly zero interest in cooking lately and on Wednesday and Thursday nights supper was potato chips. That’s it,  just delicious, salty, slightly greasy, Market Basket store brand potato chips. Tonight, it was olive oil and sea salt ciabatta bread with seasoned olive oil, feta cheese cubes, and Kalamata olives. This was followed by the remainder of the chips and chased down with the beloved Finnish Original Long Drink while watching The Imperfects on Netflix. Single living is large and in charge at The BungaLowell.

“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 905 (Thursday) – overcrowded conditions

Overcrowded conditions.

I’ve not done much work in Ancestry-dot-com lately. It’s so easy to forget. There has, however, been a good amount of book reading happening. Book club has gotten me back into the reading habit, and also the book buying habit. The tally is now around “probably more books than I will ever read.” The bookcases have taken on an extra overcrowded, shabby, appearance. Clearly, it’s time to expand the bookcase holdings. 

It’s really time for quite a lot of things, but just thinking about it is exhausting because they are boring grownup things that rank low on the fun meter. Fall housecleaning should happen before it gets too cold. The fall clothes need to be pulled out and summer clothes put away. The closet and drawers are also overcrowded and a clothing and footwear purge needs to happen.

More urgently, an outfit needs to happen for a wedding in two weeks. In my former, more creative life, I would have been buying fabric as soon as the save-the-date card arrived. Now, in the too small house with no space for the sewing machine to live, the idea of carving out a space to sew is overwhelming. It’s easier to shop.

Maybe the first thing to do is establish a system of rewards and prizes for completion of the boring tasks. This will take some creative thinking, which really just sounds like more work. In my younger days, it was easy, and the reward for accomplishing (or avoiding) any and all chores was shopping. Now, shopping is less fun, which is good, with the overcrowding conditions and all.