Hibernation - Day 12

A couple of days ago I commented critically on Orange Lake closing two golf courses but leaving two open.  Got an email last night that they have closed all of their resorts until at least April 16.  That's more like it!

In May we will be able to book Orange Lake for January-February 2021.  We will likely do that to make sure we get the weeks we want, but may later put them up for sale if the international travel or Florida health conditions so dictate.   Hopefully, generate a significant profit to make up for losing our winter vacation.  Whatever will be, will be!
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You know, it's a funny thing.  Forced isolation makes you think of, understand, and appreciate the importance of the things you have.

When I broke my back and spent six weeks flat in bed I was somewhat helpless - couldn't handle my body functions without nurses stepping in.  Pretty embarrassing and you lose your pride very quickly, which probably helped me to begin to realize how important my family and friends were to me, and (in some cases) me to them.  Because of this I think I became a better person (of course these ratings are relative) and I came to look upon my accident as a blessing, despite the ongoing discomfort.

Similarly, I have had the same thought processes going on this week.  Spending time with the same person, isolated in 960 square feet, for 24/12 and counting, makes you realize what your relationship with your partner is all about.

Despite the ongoing concerns that we all have, on the bright side I am indeed fortunate to be shut-in with my love.  No arguments, no harsh words, no demands, lots of laughs, support for each other when needed (or even when not needed).  I am indeed a lucky man!   Thank you Mardi!  And, thank you Ed Strecker (the matchmaker).

Disclaimer:  For the purpose of this study, I have classified the nasty names that Mardi has called me during our card games as "humour".
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And, Roger has forwarded the picture I requested from his wedding day (today is their anniversary - best wishes once again!).  

Reminds me of Cast Away - he must have washed up on the beach.  Kudos to Lynn for saving him!
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We had a "visit" from Kathryn and Anna today.  

Shouting back and forth from the balcony and waving isn't too satisfying but at least we can be family for a bit of time.  Anna is fortunate - her computer game business is doing fine and these days could probably be considered an essential service anyway.  Kathryn is a bit more concerned - she is living with a couple who are (Petra) and likely will be (Joe) working in the hospital environment.  More risks there, but I have told her that getting a mild case of the virus and obtaining longer term protection might be the best result anyway.
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We got started on cleaning windows today, but we're going to leave the outside glass on the balcony for a day until it gets a bit warmer and the sun is shining.

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ca va bien aller - it will be fine!

Hibernation - Day 11

If you have enough time on your hands you can figure out how to improve things.  I had been putting my thoughts together in email and then copying to the blog.  I like the blog better because the pictures can be slotted in where they are being talked about, rather than all showing up at the end.  But, today I decided to try it the other way - write it on the blog and then copy it to email.  Much better I think.
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After I posted yesterday, Mardi sat down at the keyboard and played.  This is something that she has done infrequently and, usually when I am not around.

Sounded nice.  If this repeats I may have to get the accordion out of storage!

My Fishguts buddies and I haven't played music together for several months as well.  Our next scheduled get-together will be in late June, at Lake Weslemkoon, for our 44th Annual Invitational Bass Classic.  So far it hasn't been cancelled, but that will likely change.
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Have to share an email I received from Al Knapp, who has a very unique (some might say strange) sense of humour.

"Here is a true incident that made my day yesterday and I thought it might give you a laugh.

While on my walk yesterday I came upon a man who was around 30 years old putting up a child's swing in his front yard. He had just thrown a rope over an overhanging limb of a huge old tree on his lawn. He didn't see me as he was facing in the opposite direction. I said "I hope you are putting up a swing. I know things are bad right now but not that 
bad !". He turned to look at me with a puzzled look on his face then broke into hysterical laughter. A moment later as I was walking away he said "that is really dark" then once again started to laugh.

My job was done."

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Spent some time this morning watching Charlie, the Roomba, vacuum the floor.  He got confused at times, but made it back to his home base before his battery ran out.  Fascinating - OK, I'm desperate!
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Following up on yesterday's stats, the U.S. is having a 4% death rate versus total cases, whereas Canada has a much lower infection rate and just a 1% death rate.  How each country adds up the infected totals could alter this a bit, but we're still coming through this in somewhat better shape.  Let's hope it stays that way.  Thank God for our health care professionals and our health care system.  Be safe!
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Tomorrow is wash the windows day.  I get the ladder part.
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Ca va bien aller!  It will be fine!

Hibernation - Day 10

After yesterday's post I received the following message from Roger.

Sorry to hear you’re moving this to your blog.  I have found it much more convenient here.   It’s much like Face Book where if people don’t want to read it they can just flip past, rather than hunting and digging to find all communications from various folks (one less platform to contend with).  It’s also where Gary posts his fine reports also, so helps find both easily.  

Hope you 2 are surviving well.  We have found it not so different than our daily routines, just substituting swimming with walking and very limited trips for goods. 

While we are technically the high risk folks I feel more sorry for the younger folks whose daily lives have been much more affected.  

Stay safe and reconsider keeping your reports here.

Best Regards,

Roger Craig

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Roger and Lynn celebrate their fifth anniversary on Tuesday so in their honour I'm taking his advice, but I'm also posting it on the blog..  You'll just have to delete if you don't want to read it here.

Best wishes brother and sister-in-law!  If you have it handy, please send the group the picture of Lynn dragging you across that Hawaiian beach - it's amazing what the sea washes up on shore!  

Roger doesn't mention it but I'd guess that he's spending a lot of time on his E-racing league.  Hope you're winning lots bro'.

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Also received a note from Monica:  She thanked Mardi for touching base and we found out that she and Jim not only were stranded in Costa Rica for a couple of days due to the coronavirus, but they were in Crete on 9/11.  Remind me not to travel with them!

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We're bored to tears.  Playing SkipBo a lot even though Mardi has lost heavily the past three days (don't tell her I mentioned this).  

We stand out on the balcony and watch (very few) people walk their dogs or watch the waves.  I feel sorry for Mardi - she's completed her initial 14 days of isolation but is still stuck because of me.  Just 4 more days to go.

The news is almost entirely about the virus.  No sports (reruns don't satisfy) although there are some good movies from time to time.

It's fascinating (and sad) to watch the U.S. self-destruct over the virus.  We have 10% of their population, but our deaths so far are at about 3% of theirs - significantly less.  Good work Canada.  Good work Canadians.  

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The waves were pounding last night and the lake is still angry today.  Our shorewall is fine...

... but the end of the street has a drain into the lake and it's a bit more vulnerable there.  

Luckily, by the time the wind reached its high the waves were heading east along the shore.

Hibernation - Day 9

I commented yesterday that I am putting out these missives to be creative.  But in reality, it is to 

stay connected, to reduce stress and salvage my sanity.  

I don't do Facebook as Mardi does, which is a valuable tool to stay connected.  So I will continue in 

my own way, but after today I will move my musings to my blog.  That way, you only need to deal 

with it if you want to.  Check out dorsalsdiary.blogspot.com if you wish to continue to receive these 

communications.  I know some people have had trouble commenting on that site - if you want to 

comment and have difficulty, send me an email and I will add it to the blog (with your permission).

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Mardi tries to make at least one phone call a day to stay connected with the world.  She has made 

sure to connect with each of her laid off employees to thank them for their loyalty and support and 

make sure they are safe and well.

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Today is the day that Mardi and I planned to leave Florida.  She would have flown down last night.  

We intended to drive to Myrtle Beach the first day, golf there and then move on to New Bern, North 

Carolina, golf there and then finish the drive home.  Sure glad we aborted those plans!  For one 

thing, she wouldn't have been able to get a flight and I would be driving home alone under more 

risky conditions than I faced when I started my return eleven days ago.  And I would have been 

playing golf at unhealthy courses for the past week (see the next item).

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And finally, following up on my observation yesterday, another message from a Florida golf course 

we have played.  (I initially said that there was no info on sanitation, etc.  Greg has pointed out that
if I had opened it up the info was there.  Nevertheless, they are still open and risking the health of
the public).

Book Now

Book Your Tee Time

At Sanctuary Ridge Golf Club

Being on the golf course is a great feeling. The first step to getting on the course is booking a tee time. The second step is to enjoy that time.

View more tee times

Hibernation - Day 8

Is it my imagination or are there less Spam emails coming through since this virus started?  Haven't seen any in several days.  Also, a lot less calls to sell timeshare as well, although I have been diligently blocking those numbers as the calls come in.  You have to look for positive things during this scourge.

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The U.S. is now the country with the most coronavirus cases in the world.  A study by the University of Washington School of Medicine estimates that it could kill more then 81,000 in that country and not end until June.  I assume that's if Trump doesn't make things worse in the meantime.

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A first today - a doctor visit over the phone.  Fired my previous heart doctor because he wouldn't listen.  This new one is much better.  Spent about a half hour going over my history and we concluded that I was in good shape (fortunately it was audio only) and didn't need an appointment until at least September when the medical scene will hopefully have returned to normal.

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Also ordered my new license plate sticker on line.  I'll really miss the lineups at Service Ontario .

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Going for my walk now (599 steps in circles around the apartment).

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Got an email from Orange Lake today.  They are closing one of the 18 hole courses and one of the 9 hole courses, but one of each is still open.  Reduced rates too which should attract more virus carriers.  Florida has a staunch Trump supporting Republican governor - they'll be one of the last states to get realistic.

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"They will come Ray.  Build it and they will come".  Watched Field of Dreams again today.  I've been there twice.  First with brother Roger on our western excursion and later with Mardi and grandson Sean, who got to run the bases.  Perhaps because I played catch with my dad, who met an untimely end, it's an emotional watch.

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Spent some time on the balcony watching some dog walkers.  They are keeping their social distance but the dogs aren't.  And they were petting each other's dogs.  Some risk there?

Kathryn Craig	Fri, 27 Mar, 20:38 (20 hours ago)
to me, Gary, Jo-Ann, Barbara, Roger, Matt, David, Barry, Maurice, Ron, Judy, Mardi, AJ, Greg, Jim, Susan, Al

Good question about that.   Touching the hair?!     The dog cannot get the virus so that part is safe.

I talked to the vets. 

Kathryn 

Jim Maguire	27 Mar 2020, 20:53 (19 hours ago)
to me, Gary, Jo-Ann, Barbara, Roger, Matt, David, Barry, Maurice, Ron, Judy, Kathryn, Mardi, AJ, Greg, Susan, Al

Thanks, Bud.  Emails such as yours ground us, and remind us that life will go on.  Maybe we will even have a Trumpless future.  Maybe Apple will abandon autocorrect.  It took me 10 minutes to write this brief replay (see what I mean?).

Jim 

Hibernation - Day 7

Yesterday, an article in the Spec commented on the local golf courses staying closed for the 

indefinite future.  The same day I received an email from one of the courses that we play in Florida, 

advising that they are now sanitizing carts after each use, and asking golfers not to remove the flags

and to take their ball out of the hole with their gloved hand.  Knowing golfers, those rules will mean 

nothing.  I assume that if you register as a single they will still match you up with three other 

golfers/strangers - so much for social distancing!  And, other golf courses are not likely changing 

their routines at all.

And, I suppose that if any course down there tried to close they would be castigated by the rabid 

Republicans for not listening to Trump.  Glad we're all home now!  

Don't want to be a pessimist, but it's quite possible that the only golf Mardi and I will get in this year 

will be in David's back field.  We'll have to maneuver around 50,000 discarded Easter Lilys though.

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Although the coronavirus is nothing to be concerned about according to Trump, he is now talking 

about stationing troops along the border (25 miles back). Supposedly it's because of the virus, but 

dimbulb says it's because China dumps a lot of steel over the Canadian border (so I suppose his 

troops are going to be trained to identify Chinese steel - it's the stuff with funny lettering guys).  

Nevertheless, I think troops are a good idea - then Greg and his buddies can also deploy to keep 

the covid carriers at bay this summer after Trump's policies fail to contain the virus.

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Just got word that Jim and Monica Maguire have made it home from Costa Rica after a concerning 

couple of days of delay.  Welcome back!  I've added you to the list so you can be bored like my other

readers.  Stay safe!

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Mardi had a social distance visit from A.J. today.  Nice to see another member of civilization up close!

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After two days of crushing Mardi at cards, I was jolted back to reality today.  

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Walking around the apartment, I did an amazing 378 steps today.  Mardi's count was 1,057.  We also

spent a few minutes on the balcony in our coats, watching folks walk their dogs.  We're half way to 

our 14 day obligation and only partly insane so far.

Mardi Bullivant	Thu, 26 Mar, 20:54 (2 days ago)
to me, Gary, Jo-Ann, Barbara, Roger, Matt, David, Barry, Maurice, Ron, Judy, Kathryn, Susan, Jim, AJ, Greg

The "partly insane" bit only applies to me.  Bud has lost it entirely.  He seems to be going in circles - 

lots.  378 steps worth.

Bless him, AJ called and offered to pick up groceries.  I did have a list and he did fill it.  Pot-roast 

coming up in a couple of days.  

Hibernation - Day 6

Looks like half the U.S. is going to catch the virus on Easter Sunday when Trump encourages them to go to church.  And we thought he was dangerous before!  Looks like we'll have to keep the border closed to Americans for quite a while.

My car purchase, as expected, will be delayed.  Chris Hughes has been laid off and the dealership salesroom closed.  Oh well - not planning any long (or short) trips currently.  New van not "essential".

Had a good day at the card table yesterday and today.  Not permitted to gloat though - need food and drink.

We've settled (mostly) on Easy Listening on Stingray.  Even danced to some of the music last night.  

Gary Parker has circulated the following story about Florida's response to the pandemic.  Makes you wonder if Florida will even be a safe Snowbird destination by next winter.

https://www.macleans.ca/society/life/escape-from-florida-my-2400-km-drive-back-to-the-sanity-of-canada/

Put my coat on and sat on the balcony for a half hour or so, soaking up rays.  People here are obeying the social distancing thing.  Saw several swing out to walk on the street when they met someone coming toward them on the sidewalk.  Even keeping their dogs a social distance away from other dogs.  Good to see.

Hibernation - Day 5

Or, as Mardi dejectedly points out, her day 9.

Enjoyed my morning coffee to the tune of two leaf blowers operating outside.  I hate those things, but today the sound was somewhat reassuring.  There is life out there after all.

Mid morning, Kathryn called.  She was out in her car and needed a dad and Mardi fix.  So she drove over and we waved to her from the balcony.  

Then it occurred to us that this was a shopping list opportunity, so Mardi emailed it to her.

The downstairs doors open automatically for visitors now - one less opportunity to transfer germs to buttons I suppose.

There are lots of dog owners in this building.  As I watch them walk their pets I wonder what they will do if they are required to self isolate.  Cheat perhaps?

Hibernation - Day 4

After the hair trim yesterday, I put the accelerator down on my card playing.  Made a big gain, but ultimately went down to defeat.

After four months of play, we have each won 5 games.  I have a narrow lead in score - 4435 to 4210 - the equivalent of about 4 hands.  Which proves I'm a bit meaner than Mardi - SkipBo is a nasty game!

It takes about a half hour to play a hand of SkipBo.  And, it takes 15 to 20 hands to complete a game (to 500).  It is a game of strategy mixed with evil.  You are trying to get rid of your cards, while at the same time preventing your opponent from using theirs.  Mardi has coined some particularly nasty names for me during play. 

Sorry to inflict this trivia on you folks, but it's my way of pretending I'm still part of civilization.

Cancelled two doctors' appointments this morning - one that was scheduled during the isolation and one the day after it ends.  Found out that they were going to cancel these routine appointments anyway.  No problem - two less chances for me to be exposed to disease.

David and Kathryn have both offered to pick up groceries for us.  So far we're still OK.  And as you all know, the rye is well stocked.

It's now time for me to go for my walk.  Circle around the dining room, living room and kitchen.  Reverse after a few trips.  Will finish this email later.

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OK, I'm back.  While on break I won three hands in a row at SkipBo.  Not too popular at the moment.

Civilization is beginning to break down.  We're having trouble agreeing about what music to play on the TV.  Stay tuned .

She is however still feeding me.