A few weeks ago, Christie the cat was very ill. She was on antibiotics for 10 days, and the medication seemed to help her. Earlier this week, I took Christie to our veterinarian for a follow up appointment. She gained weight, and the vet technician did another blood panel. We got the results back on Thursday. Thankfully, Christie’s white blood cell and liver count is back to normal. Her kidney values have held steady, too. The antibiotics worked! I thought we might lose Christie, but she bounced back (yet again)! Being a cute super senior cat is hard.
With that, here are a few more updates:
Mocha Monday's
For the last month, Logan and I having been going to our favorite coffee shop for mochas and fresh coffee beans. This little adventure has turned into “Mocha Monday’s” — a weekly ritual that we love! It feels good to get out of our apartment, and the ritual has a semblance of normalcy. Plus, it's nice spending time with each other.
I miss writing in coffee shops and meeting friends at cafes. Someday we'll have a vaccine for COVID-19, and I’ll get to do those things again. For now we’re getting takeaway coffees and having coffee with friends from a distance. And last but not least, I'm looking forward to cycling to the coffee shop once the air quality improves!
Postcards—The New Instagram
Over the years, my relationship with social media has been fraught. In 2018, I deleted all my social media accounts (except for Instagram). I stopped using Instagram in 2018, but I started using the app again in late 2019. Since then, I’ve used the app sparingly. As of this writing, I haven’t shared creative work on Instagram since May 2020. I log onto the website occasionally to laugh at funny cat videos, and that’s it.
Postcards are my new Instagram. I love sending short notes to friends and family in the mail. Also, the COVID-19 crisis affirmed how uncertain life is, and I don’t want to spend my free time on social media. Besides, I don’t need an app to keep me occupied. Writing postcards, cooking, working out, and bird watching bring me oodles of gratitude.
Finch Friends
I checked out a bird guidebook from the library, and according to the author, the birds that I spotted a few months ago are Lesser Goldfinches. Logan told me that the males tend to be brightly colored because they are trying to attract the ladies. I love watching these guys! I thought about getting a bird feeder, but I decided not to buy one because I don't want to feed the squirrels. Our finch friends love to land on the water faucet outside our bedroom window, so I put a small bowl of water out for the finches. I hope they like it!
Rock the Vote
This week, the most exciting thing I did was vote! I knew my ballot would arrive soon and I did a happy dance when it arrived in the mail. Fun fact: in California you can sign-up for a ballot tracking system. The state will notify you when your ballot is mailed, and you can log on to make sure it’s counted. We’ve been voting by mail for over a decade. It’s safe, easy, and I’d love to see the U.S. adopt a standardized vote by mail system. Voting by mail is more complex than it should be.
Regarding propositions: I usually follow the California League of Women Voters’ recommendations. I support their mission, and trust the organization.
For readers who have been following me for years, you won't be surprised that I voted for Democrats in this election. Go Biden/Harris!
Regardless of your political affiliation, I hope you vote. And, that you rock your vote early!
With gratitude,
Tammy Strobel