Saturday the 19th: Rainy, gloomy day. I’m writing from beneath a wave of melancholy and inertia. Not to worry: I’m fine. Just whining, as is my wont. I’ve been wondering how other clinically depressed people are faring these days. There are no answers yet, according to The Washington Post:
Data hasn’t quite shown how people diagnosed with mood disorders such as anxiety or depression prior to the pandemic are coping, according to experts. “One of the challenges with depression is that it decreases motivation. It takes away a lot of our energy.”
Well, yeah, duh. We knew that. This is why my kitchen floor remains dirty.
Crossword clue of the day: ____ cloud (source of comets) = Oort.
Dog attempt of the day:
This morning, when I tried to fix a critical system issue on my blog (updating the extremely outdated version of PHP, Molly), my site vanished, so I spent over an hour with tech support. Turns out I need to migrate Bloggy to a new server, which will now cost me more than double what I currently pay. This is getting to be an expensive hobby.
Isolation Activity: On my new Charmin Mega toilet paper package it says that one roll of theirs equals four of the other guys’. My hypothesis is that that’s untrue. I have started an experiment. I will track how long it takes to go through one of their jumbo rolls and compare it to Costco’s brand to see which lasts longer. Highly scientific approach.
Sunday the 20th: Hard rain continues to pound on the roof and my windows are speckled with running drops. That reminds me of my favorite Tolstoy quote which I’ve posted on this blog before. Here’s part of it:
… all these drops moved and changed places, sometimes several of them merging into one, sometimes one dividing into many. Each drop tried to spread out and occupy as much space as possible, but others striving to do the same compressed it, sometimes destroyed it, and sometimes merged with it.
“That is life,” said the old teacher.
War and Peace, Book 14, Chapter XV (1812)
I was hoping to go to the farmers market today for this week’s fresh stuff (one stall has the best fresh Alaskan salmon), but the weather is foul for that long walk. Anyhow, I want to wait till I have a good mask, since I think that’s the socially responsible thing to do. (My old N-95 from last year’s Camp Fire is pretty tattered.) So instead, I talked to Ma. She is sheltering alone, which has got to be so hard. We always yack on the phone regularly, but now I’m hoping for a daily check-in for the duration of this situation. As you know, she is such a whiz with crosswords that she can do them in her head, even without seeing the thing. I give her a clue and any letters in the answer, and boom, she’s got it. This morning she solved two crossing clues at the same time, remembering even the placement of their common letter.
I have two Zoom chats today: one with my daughters and the other with members of my old Irish dance team. Guess I’d better brush my hair first.
I wonder whether you’d find any mood value from a sun lamp, since you’re having to be cooped up indoors more than usual.
Oort?! Come on, guys!
There’s got to be a better way to host Bloggy than that option. I would help you with it myself, except that I haven’t had the energy to do that for my *own* blog, let alone anyone else’s. If I ever do figure it out for my own blog, I’ll let you know how.
That is an excellent Tolstoy quote.
Very appealing doggies!
I am so very impressed with your canine portraits….and curious about your models? Where do you get your inspiration (not meaning to be deep or anything like that!)? I don’t think you understand how very talented you are! And I agree with Molly–great Tolstoy quote. Perhaps this is the season/year for me to re-acquaint myself with the voluminous writings of T. And I look forward to your scientific TP experiment. I don’t know what Costco purports, but their rolls do seem “generous” if not quadruple!
I’m hoping your blog and drawings are helping you through your state of mind. Do the best you can honey!
I love your pup with the ball.
I love that you call yourself mom daily. I used to call my dad everyday. It warms my heart.
I dig that quote!
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