Priorities in a Pandemic

by annemariedemyen, posted in career

Typically my priorities are not an issue. They usually work for me and generally suit the needs of those around me. Lately my priorities and those of others seem to be rather at odds.

My main priority throughout this current global pandemic is to avoid contracting Covid-19. My second priority is to insure that I am in the best health possible to survive Covid-19, should I contract it. I am mid sixties, asthmatic, have COPD, and have recently recovered from pneumonia. My husband is working in a plant where there is substantial risk of a COVID-19 outbreak and the possibility of his bringing that risk home. Placing my health first seems more than reasonable at this time.

I have taken a leave of absence from my work as an estimator/project administrator at a construction company. There is always substantial stress due to the responsibility of my position and the office politics of the company. Stress is not under any circumstance helpful for controlling asthma. There are also the environmental issues in an office that is part of a construction warehouse/workspace. These issues are also not at all good for controlling asthma. The fact that I am to retire at the end of July should make it all the more reasonable for me to take a leave of absence. Realistically, how much difference would it make if I am gone now or in three months? Everyone has known since last July that I would be retiring this summer and they have had nine months to prepare accordingly.

I have been home for three weeks. I have responded to emails, texts and phone calls regarding work. This week, my boss decided I should be willing to work from home in an official capacity, or go into the office to work for a couple of days a week. Needless to say, this conversation did not go well.

I understand that everyone has their own priorities. I understand that my boss is concerned about the commitments he has made to customers and the future viability of his company. I understand that he is stressed. So am I, and right now my priority is to take care of myself.

I am staying home and I am focussing on my health and well being. 🥀

Happy Birthday Kat

by annemariedemyen, posted in family
Kat 7 Yrs Old

Today I received an email from our veterinarian. The email came to my email address but it was actually directed to my little dog, Kat. Apparently her birthday is today – who knew! I always think of her birthday as being the day in June, seven years ago, when she came to live with us.

Baby Kat
Quarantine Kat – we are getting there but her haircut is a work in progress 😂

Doing My Part

by annemariedemyen, posted in life
Pink Super Moon – April 2020

I am not into witchcraft but I do follow a witch on Instagram. She is the sweetest person, shares my love of nature – especially trees, and she uses her witchcraft to help and heal.

Today, Ashley was doing an all day, full moon, spell for everyone who has been struggling to deal with Covid-19. As a prayer of healing for all, she was burning candles from 9 am to 9 pm.

Ashley invited anyone who was so inclined to join in with her at any time. I decided that, witch or not, I would join hands and hearts with Ashley tonight.

Thinking of You🥀

Local News in a Pandemic

by annemariedemyen, posted in life

I generally avoid watching televised news, particularly our local televised news. The quality is less than impressive, the content is questionable, and on a slow day, which is most days, they repeat it to fill time.

For the past few days, our local news providers have been on a new kick. I do not know if this is only here, but lately our local news seems obligated to include a ‘news’ clip of some parent who hosted a drive by birthday party for their poor child, who has been forced to sit out their birthday alone – in their +/- million dollar home.

Rather than calling reporters to take in this spectacular effort to convince your darling child that, even in the midst of a global crisis, they are the centre of the universe, I thought I might throw out a few alternate suggestions – for a birthday celebration or any other day during this difficult time.

1. Teach your child that over seventy thousand people have lost their lives to the corona virus and that by staying home, and forgoing a birthday party, they are doing their part to protect themselves and others from a deadly disease.

2. Teach your child that any parades should be reserved for heroes – ie doctors, nurses, medical support staff, truck drivers, supermarket and pharmacy staff, those serving free meals to those in need – all who are out there risking their own lives, to serve others

3. Teach your child to be grateful that their isolation is being spent in a beautiful home, with food on their table and family to care for them – unlike those who are in crowded makeshift medical facilities, sick and alone except for busy and exhausted care givers.

4. Teach them to do something for someone else – make a meal for the family, call a grandparent, help entertain and care for younger siblings. Even very young children can be taught to contribute in their own age appropriate way.

5. Teach them to become politically active by writing a note to a politician asking them to save lives by closing down non-essential business like non-emergency construction projects and factories and plants that are not producing essential products. Teach them to stand up to those who put money and power before lives.

There is no reason, why families cannot celebrate a birthday – even during a pandemic. They can still have presents and cake, phone calls or face time from extended families and friends, special family time together. However, I do not think anyone needs a birthday parade, I think that in our current situation it is in poor taste, and I for one definitely do not need to see it on a newscast – local or otherwise.

Date Night

by annemariedemyen, posted in life

It wasn’t our typical Friday ‘Date Night’ so we had to get a bit creative last night.

Dan and I picked up KFC and a case of Molson’s Canadian, the we went home to watch a movie. We watched ‘The Kitchen”. It looked promising. It was about three women taking over the Bowery when their husbands went to prison. The first hour was ok but it pretty much unraveled after that. I managed not to fall asleep but I was bored to brain fog by the time it finished.

Considering the state of the world right now, we are blessed to be able to have a nice evening together. I don’t drink beer but I love KFC and spending time with Dan so it was all good. As date night’s go, I will take this one as a win.

Take care out there!

Dan’s Album

by annemariedemyen, posted in life

Our weather has reverted to winter misery so I am in the house trying to keep occupied. I went through the photos on my husband’s phone to see how he views the world. (with his permission of course – I do not make a point of rifling through his phone😲). Enjoy!

Checking out Amanda’s new Expedition. Love the color!
Demolition day at Dan’s highschool.
Nightmare (Souris Swinging) bridge from my early childhood.
The new Souris Swinging Bridge. No more nightmares😊
Son Dan with his son Cason – cool how Dan’s shirt matches Carson’s pants🙄
A picture from Dan’s sister in Costa Rica – safety first🥺
Our little old monster pool
Making pipe
Jeep cleaning day👍
Porta-potty?

That is it for today. Have a great day and stay safe!

Another Day in Paradise

by annemariedemyen, posted in life

My husband is working a couple of nights now. When I am home, nights are rather frustrating as I try to avoid doing anything that will make sleep any harder for him than it already is. Finding ways to be quietly productive can be a little challenging but I found a few tasks to fill my day.

Took Kat for a walk – it was a bit windy.  Had a short chat with my favourite neighbour. That was a bright spot in my day.
Cleaned a glass ball I got from my sister Denise, years ago.
Cleaned the wind chimes I got from Mom.
Made cookies
Cleaned the bamboo plant & container
Cleaned the spice  shelves

Of course, I got up to speed on all of the local Covid – 19 news.

We now have 176 confirmed cases in Saskatchewan. We keep our numbers down by a. Testing people we are sure will test negative. B. Not testing people we are sure will test positive. And C. Not processing tests for people in Regina

Of 176 people who have tested positive, 142 are between the ages of 20 to 64. Keeping non-essential factories/plants and construction sites running is not a problem. 🙄

Of  the 176 confirmed cases in Saskatchewan, 55% are male and 65% are female.  New math?

The federal government introduced a plan to pay 75% of wages for companies whose revenues are down 30% or more due to Covid-19 . Unfortunately, for companies that must stay open, revenue is not necessarily the problem. There is considerable expense involved in meeting regulations that are currently in place for any business that is still operating. For contract work, you don’t get to charge extra because your costs increase, which could be a problem for many businessed. However, our federal government has come up with a lot of financial programs to help people and companies weather this storm, so we should be grateful for the effort and hope that anyone who legitimately needs help will get it.

No idea what I will do tomorrow to keep busy.  Whatever it is, I will be sure to do it quietly. 🤫

My thoughts and prayers are going out to anyone who needs them tonight. There are so many whose lives have been lost or shattered and we have so far to go. Take care out there🥀

Silence

by annemariedemyen, posted in family

Another day with Dan off to work for twelve hours. For the most part I would rather have him here, mostly because he would not be out at that virus infested plant right now, but also because I miss his company.

The one thing that I do not particularly miss when Dan is off to work is the noise. Dan is one of those people who gets up in the morning and turns on the television. He comes in from work and he turns on the television. In the summer, he has a television in the house and one in the garage. From morning to night, when he is home, we have noise in stereo.

I love silence, although pure silence is virtually impossible to achieve. As I sit here, Kat is snoring, the refrigerator is humming, the clock is ticking, the wind is blowing, the birds are chirping, and occasionally I hear a vehicle drive by. I can handle all that as it is just muffled background noise.

Television, is just noise – some shows worse than others. Mostly Dan watches the worst ones. In the evening, he will watch law enforcement shows like “Live PD”, “Ultimate Wrestling”, “Dragon’s Den”, or “Forged in Fire” (to name a few). Generally he flips from one to another. Eventually, he falls asleep on the couch with a death grip on the remote. 🙄

The thing with silence is, if you get tired of it, you can fill it with sound. The thing with noise is, you cannot fill it with anything. It is just there, destroying the silence. I miss Dan when he is working, his television – not so much. 🥺