Lucky Leprechauns

Westli LOVES green. So it seemed extremely appropriate that we celebrate the luck of the Irish, traditionally associated with green in the U.S., that also happened to fall on a Wednesday… traditionally associated with W-W-W- Westli in our home. Our little Leprechauns were very busy. They crafted a rainbow paper chain and a pot of gold, made havoc out of the box of lucky charms we purchased and threw streamers all over the house. We knew it was Leprechaun mischief because they left their footprints on walls, doors, windows, and the toilet seat (where they turned the water green AND sparkly!) They also turned the water in Wes’ cup green! Shenanigans were had! They even flipped over our rumba, Henry, so he couldn’t clean anything up!

Wes got such a kick out of most of it. But it did make for a rough day. These kind of things are always a double edged sword around here. While he is excited about “holidays”, he just can’t really handle the changes or disruptions in what he normally expects from the day. We vacillate from the extreme celebrate of these days to no celebration in hopes of not throwing him off. I wish that we could find a nice balance where there is just enough celebration to keep him overjoyed and rewarded for having interest and happiness, but not so much that he can’t function for the whole day. Perhaps one day we will find it.

1Year Ago

A year ago yesterday was the last time that my kids spent a day in a classroom. For them, this was the beginning of this nightmare. COVID 19 became a real part of their vocabulary. Life as they knew it completely changed. I could count on my two hands the number of times since then that the kids have left our home.

The prospect of beginning in person hybrid learning next month comes with fair amount of anxiety for them. It’s not quite like I think you might imagine it to be. The kids have finally found a place where they know what to expect from CDL and they have a routine. The idea that we should uproot all of that now, when the end of the school year is just two months away, is not being met with welcome arms from anyone in our home. Our school district has been pretty tight lipped about what to expect from this “hybrid learning” too. What we learned just a few days ago is that they will go either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday from 8:45 to 11:45, and then are expected to complete those days in CDL. The logistics of figuring out how to get them there and home alone is pretty ridiculous. We have decided that we will drive Ava, Liv and Tay who all attend the same school now. In theory they will be in the same “cohort” having in-person learning on the same days of the week. Wes will have to take his bus. We thought there was low risk here since he already takes a special bus for kids with special needs. But this means that Wes will be on a bus for at least 60 minutes, probably more depending on how many stops the bus has. All for a 180 minute school day. I have a lot of reservations about this plan. It seems pretty ridiculous to me at this point.

Jon calculated it out, with hybrid learning starting on April 12th, our kids will have a maximum of 16 days of school for the whole year. At three hours a day, well that is 48 hours in class and 16 hours on a bus.

As I reflect on this last year, I am still in shock by how little we now “know”. It feels like so many big questions still hang around every corner. I spend my weekends “off” volunteering my time at the airport mass vaccine clinic. I think I vaccinate about 12 patients an hour give or take. At that average, I vaccinate about 50 people every shift. So far, I have completed 5 shifts, so 250 patients. I feel really good about that. I had one known “moderate exposure”, where I cared for a patient without sufficient PPE due to PPE shortage and inadequate recommendations. It happened on April 3rd. I was so angry about it. It was my second shift back to work after my medical leave. I spent my whole leave worrying about how I would protect myself (and more importantly my family) from this horrible new virus. So part of me was angry that I wasn’t successful, but more was angry that compromises were being made by the health care industry. My safety was calculated against predictions about what might come and how much PPE supply was available. This was clear early on, but with the CDC under what amounted to gag orders by 45, technically speaking, the hospital was protected under the context of “following guidance”.

Most of the last year, I have spent feeling angry. First at the hospital for keeping PPE from me while I came to work every day exposing myself and my family to whatever might have been there. Then at people around who ignored social distancing and masking, and at 45 who spewed out so much shit information that emboldened those who ignored recommendations, slowed our understanding of the virus and its spread, literally spread it with their ridiculous rallies, and I could go on. At least now, I feel like my small role in vaccinating approximately 250 Oregonians, is something moving towards beating this virus. I’m finally doing something to fight back. Not that I haven’t been doing so all the long. I have shared information that I found reputable and trustworthy, I have led by example, and I have treated many patients in hospital with known COVID infection. Not to mention that I voted that a*******e out of office. I have been fighting for the better part of year, and combating misinformation. But only now do I feel a little bit like its working.

Candlelit Dinner

I never really thought one could get tired of candlelit dinners, but I’m unequivocally tired of candlelit dinners! This morning we woke to lights near the back of our house.

This the main stage in our neighborhood, it has been dark too. I imagine it was a priority due to the number of traffic lights and four lanes of said traffic, but we took it to mean that things were finally progressing.

As the sun set tonight and darkness ensued yet again, it is obvious that our conclusions were wrong.

Even Coco isn’t amused.

Nature is Cruel

In a cruel twist, nature dumped three days of mostly frozen “rain” on us. It began on Friday, a work day for me. Jon has been driving me to work on Fridays for nearly a year now as we think riding the Max is unsafe in an uncontrolled pandemic. So this Friday was only different due to the two inches of snow, freezing drizzle, and a colleague’s request for a ride. It felt like such a heroine feat just to get to and from work! I was grateful that I didn’t have any other scheduled work days. “I can ride this out” I thought.

Cue dramatic music…

Saturday morning our world was encased in no less than an inch of ice. I did a workout in my iPad, then took a hot shower. Less than twenty minutes later the power went out. It has been out since. I thought the house was a bit chilly before my shower, so I turned on the fireplace, after we lost power, it went out too. We thought our gas fireplace was not operational without electricity. So the next 28 hours got colder and colder. We dressed in 3-4 layers and covered with blankets, hoping for the power to come back.

Eventually I got cold enough to start looking for ideas. I thought about building a real legit fire in my gas fireplaces (yep, we have 2). In researching this terrible desperate idea, I learned that most gas fireplaces can work without electricity. So then I went down the rabbit hole trying to figure out why mine were not working. Turns out the previous owner left batteries in the back up trays. Those batteries corroded, badly, everywhere. We replaced the batteries and cleaned up as best we could, no luck. I was just about to take up my terrible plan when I decided to look up how to clean alkaline corrosion. Vinegar. Blessed vinegar! Scrubbed then down with vinegar and voila, heat.

Then I felt pretty stupid, but warm.

The next day I was boiling more water to clean dishes when I got another notion. Why not run the hot water out? Let’s just see what we got?

Yeah, so the water heater is gas. No electricity required. Boom baby! Heat and hot water! Happy Valentines Day!

In a hot minute all the ice melted, but still no power. We finally were able to walk the dogs too. And our neighborhood is a wreck. Huge trees down everywhere! Two days later, and there are two in particular blocking 2 ways out from our house. There is no sign of power anytime soon. Tomorrow, sort out the freezers. I think we might have gotten away with 2 maybe 3 days, but 4 is a hard stop. Everything has to be eaten or tossed.

Calmness Whispers

This afternoon (on my coast anyway) I tuned in as the President and the Vice President commemorated the lives this country has lost to COVID 19. The tears that rolled down my face were my body’s way of releasing the toxins of the last four years. I felt a calming as all the pent up fear, turmoil, and stress literally leaked out.

I am reminded though, that I am adaptable and resilient. Though I have never ever wanted to test these traits, this moment in history has nonetheless provided opportunity. I believe that America too will show its resilience. I won’t sugar coat the reality, however; the divide in this country is vast. I do worry about how or if unity is possible.

Graduate Work

One of my projects last term was printed out and hung in the halls of my unit. I feel really proud and humbled to have this moment to share what I learned from my research with my colleagues. I can’t thank them enough for uplifting me and supporting me as I try to achieve my goals. I am so lucky to have a great work family!

Titanic Returns

It’s been a really long time since Taylor has said or done much with his Titanic obsession. But recently his Lego miniature model fell and when repairing the damage, a light was reignited.

This knex model spans nearly 5 feet and includes an ocean simulating platform allowing it to sink and split in two! I’m happy to see him creating again!

Numero dos

I did another thing! Five days and I can enjoy up to 95% immunity! Now I will be deployed to give the gift of immunity to others!

Another Goodbye

In 1962 my father, the handsome fellow to the bride’s right, served as best man to the other handsome fellow pictured here. The groom, Bob Muthig and his wife Darlene, remained close friends of my parents through the end of their lives. Yesterday on the fourth anniversary of my Mom’s passing, Darlene lost her husband of 58 years.

I’m personally not much of believer in the afterlife, but if you are, then you and I can enjoy the thought that these three are sitting at the pearly gates right now sharing a heavenly beer and reminiscing about the “good ole days”.

I didn’t really think that my heart could hurt more yesterday, but I was wrong. As much as such a reunion might sound appealing, it comes as pain and heartache to those that loved him here on Earth. I send you my most sincere sympathy. I know the sadness and loss that you are experiencing. I think it is a badge of love that we wear forever. A scar of a life lived fully with love and memories that cannot help themselves but to float up to the surface when you least expect it.

Darlene, Tracy, Kim and all that loved Bob find peace and healing soon.