AUGUST 24, 2020

Day 3373 of Working from Home

Though so very grateful to have job that I can do from home, the novelty has worn off. Big time. I want my office, my patch, my people. And my two perfectly aligned screens set upon my sit-stand desk.

Still loving the commute though.

Mascara habits remain remarkably in tact. You’ll no doubt be delighted to hear that I even continue to wear a bra and underwear though I understand for some folks, WFH is a game changer in the comfortable clothing dept.

Worky work is still being completed, projects still keep coming and though it may bore the pants off most people, I am constantly challenged on how to process pensions and benefits for people taking weird leaves, being laid off, and generally not sticking to or being able to stick to being a boring old full time employee. I like those folks, they keep the record-keeping things simple. But these are not simple times. And processing lay offs of some of our staff gives me a metaphorical slap upside the head to quit even thinking about complaining. It’s not me being laid off. For now.

The latest update on the health of the dog-shaped slippers is that she is not doing great but not quite at death’s door either so we keep going with a buffet of medications (and I know she’s not too bad yet because she reminds us when the pills are due as it means turkey slices). As long as that little stumpy tail still wags and she’s eating and drinking and happy for her very short walks, we keep going.

Our building site of a home is now mostly complete, kitchen renovations done, dust mostly gone and rather stylish new rooms have reappeared. Which means that rather than move my desk set-up every 3 days, my home office is now static in the dining room and my Zoom meetings feature some sexy new wallpaper as the backdrop. Not only did we swear we would never move again, we’re never painting or reno’ing again either. You heard it here first folks.

It’s been hot. Damn hot. Like, real summer weather, that by May I thought would never actually materialize. And so next year we need air con! But it’s nice to notice summer weather and get out into it every day, top up the tan and even if that means having lunch on the back deck, and with a wobbly bottom lip, bear witness to the guy that bought our old house rip out all my 12 years of gardening, flower beds and shrubs, and take the whole lot back to a square patch of grass. Sometimes moving round the corner is not the best idea, but I did cheekily ask him if I could rescue my blue iris’!

Still continue to plough through lots of tv. Looking forward to Mulan coming out, though the cartoon version is my favourite Disney movie so it’s gonna have to be really good.

Our bubble slowly expands. Dinner here and there with a select few.

Glad I do not now have school aged kids as I really don’t know what I would do in September, but hey, good luck everyone!

The virus continues in little pockets around us, masks are the new fashion statement for 2020, and I’m exhausted by conspiracy theories, but utterly entertained with an inexhaustible supply of bloody hilarious and witty memes. These are saving my sanity, one on-point barb at a time.

Visited a mall this week. Tons of parking spaces, woo hoo . Mask - check. Sanitize hands 16 times in half an hour - priceless.

Following US politics is too easy here as we are so close, and it’s like car-crash tv (or Twitter), but is safe to say it’s been a complete shit show and I just want the orange toddler in chief to go away now, please and thank you.

Fifth month of working from home has not resulted in weight loss, but amazingly, no gain either. Good ol’ Weight Watchers has been abandoned for now and gonna have a go at Noom. Which is essentially calorie counting with added psycho babble for the chubbily endowed.

Had lunch with my work gang today and it was just lovely.

Took a day trip to the mountains with Mr. M yesterday, had a wander, a mooch around Banff and Canmore and marvelled once again at the natural drama in our doorstep. Nicky, it’s a year since I was last there!

Absolutely no sign of returning to campus. I honestly wonder if it could be another year from now. Watch this heavily disinfected space.

Am being forced to take vacation days, which finally feel like a proper break this week. An odd day off here and there doesn’t work, and checking the laptop is too easy. Should be studying right now but it’s too sunny and I might have to pay to shift an exam as I have no brain capacity or inclination to hit the books. I’m doing a Certificate that is work related and I must be the slowest student ever. Might get it before I retire!

I want to go swimming. How quickly do you think the nose droplets from others are zapped by chlorine??

We all also want to visit the UK. Catch up with peeps. Give them a hug. Who knows when that will be an easy-ish option? Or affordable? Back in May I optimistically thought Xmas might work, but now I think not. All this vacation to use and nowhere to use it. For the record, I don’t just want to hug people in the UK. I wanna hug everyone!

How are you guys all doing?