Overdue Gratitude

Hello, hello. I am here after two months. I have been meaning to write my gratitude but did not get myself to sit down and actually type and post it. My daughter turned 21, an adult but still young at heart and spirit. She is my forever baby and youngest and smallest. 

We celebrated 2020 style, just me and her in Estes. We stayed in a condo with a nice view. The place was by the stream and the water was not all frozen yet. We could hear the water flowing with its relaxing nature sound. We walked outdoors in with the cold breeze. Surprise, surprise, we were the only ones outdoors. The masks, I must admit, felt good to wear as our breath, at least, bouncing back on our face felt warm.

Paul and I celebrated our two-months anniversary in a neighboring state and ordered takes-outs. We hang out (in?) ate, drank, and talked. The drive was beautiful passing by packs of rams unsuspecting of the cars passing by.

We finally got our professional wedding (and video) shots. They are all beautiful in my eyes. The memories are even more beautiful and the photos are great reminders.

I got my first of two COVID-19 vaccines. I have never been so excited about a shot in my life for myself. But here I am, forced to sit down a day after. I have chills, fatigue, and left arm pain worse than after getting a flu shot. Whatever I am feeling, it is still better than getting sick from the gruesome COVID like my patients suffer from. 

Outdoor with Leaves (and Fire)

the trailer making experiment--

the texts are random, 

and we are not in Mexico. :)

In the unique climate of Colorado with cool morning and eves but up to the 80's-warm during the day, my vegetable garden seems confused about the weather. Should they strive or give up? The tomatoes and eggplants seemed to stop growing. The thermometer changes in such a wide range. The leaves continue to fall but not all at once. 

I took it upon myself to make raking and blowing leaves my Saturday workout donning a headcover, glasses, mask, long sleeves, and long pants. I must look suspicious with a powerful weapon--the leaf blower only to be defeated by the strong wind and nature the next day. By Sunday morning, it looked as though I did not clear the leaves the day before. What more? The strong wind seemed to have blown the whole blocks' neighbors' leaves to the end of the cul-de-sac, in front of my house. But at least, I had a proof--some 8 bags full of fallen leaves. Nevertheless, I have a list of gratitude to share.

• Workout from clearing the fallen leaves
• Audiobook, podcasts, and music to block the noise and entertain me while working
• Live mass online to listen to
• Fire table to warm us while eating outside in the backyard on cool autumn nights
• Smores
• One or two friends visiting after a few years
• A leaf blower, rake, lawn paper bags, and garbage day
• Proctor online to watch me take my midterm exam to the comfort of my home
• Funny shows on TV (I like Schitt's Creek, Married with Children, Friends . . . )
• Cheesecake delivery, pecan cheesecake was so good!
• Chinese food delivery
• Online shopping and delivery people
• New decors for the house Paul is sharing with me -- pillows, and wall decors stuck up high on used-to-be bare walls
• An extra (body) pillow (because Paul does not like small decorative pillows on the bed).
• Everybody in the family is staying healthy

Resistance

What resistance's about? We think we know

We watched the media, and they said so

The resistance's not fresh, but dark and deep

Let's pray from sunrise until we sleep

Whichever side we are on, our fate we own

Stay kind, do good, we're not alone