Janet's Blog

Like so many of you, I am tired of hearing about Covid-19. As I look back to 2020 and the intervening years since then, I can't help but think that our government, along with many others throughout the world, may have overreacted, insisting on too many, perhaps unnecessary, restrictions. However, the fact remains that I am currently quarantined at home because, for the first time, I officially have Covid. I would never have known I have Covid except that it morphed into a sinus infection. So, I dutifully made my way to Urgent Care because I knew I would need an antibiotic to get over it. And, of course, I had to have a test to rule out Covid and Influenza A. Except, even though my vaccinations are up-to-date, the test was positive for Covid. My Covid symptoms have been minimal, probably because I’ve been vaccinated: some fatigue, some sneezing, and a headache that won't quit. Initially, I passed off those symptoms as my normal allergy symptoms, aggravated by the windy condition...

We like to think that we are civilized people, here in the US in the 21st century. For the most part, we have been living busy, predictable lives. We work hard, and we play harder. Until just a few months ago, every minute of nearly every day has been scheduled, and we have been stressed by our ceaseless and, in our opinion, decidedly worthwhile activities. Now, our stress is caused by something different: the uncertainty of these unexpected, unparalleled times. So many things have changed in just a short time: our job and school situations, our limited ability to travel or gather freely, our inability to seek services and products we once took for granted, and our sense of freedom and personal safety. Was it really only four months ago that our biggest concerns revolved around our families' activities and favorite sports teams?  Now, we have been coerced to stay close to home and cooperate with new rules that have been totally foreign for most of us, until now. We don't like t...

I love Easter, and everything it brings. I love dying Easter Eggs with my grandkids. I love to watch them find hidden eggs outdoors on Easter morning, or inside when the weather doesn't cooperate. I love gathering with our extended family to celebrate with an elaborate meal and fancy china. I really love gathering with my church family to worship together, to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. I love to hear the sound of a full congregation, lifting voices together in harmonious praise of our glorious God, who took our punishment, and then rose again on the day we commemorate as Easter Sunday. None of those things will happen this year. Because of our COVID-19 social distancing guidlines, we will be forced to celebrate Easter differently than we ever have before. Levi, Victoria, and I may dye a few eggs, if they want to. We plan to hide some candy-filled eggs in our yard on Friday, before the predicted snow arrives this weekend, and watch from a safe distance while the grandki...

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a can of crescent rolls, like the one pictured, and put it in the refrigerator, so I could make some Tostada Pie, which uses crescent roll dough as the crust. I noticed the can in the fridge just a few days ago, and decided to make Tostada Pie the next day. Imagine my surprise when I opened the refrigerator to get the can of dough, only to find that it was missing! I looked everywhere--behind the romaine lettuce, on the door shelves with the ketchup and milk, even in the vegetable crisper, but I couldn't find it anywhere. I pulled the freezer drawer open, and checked carefully, just in case the cylinder had rolled itself down into the freezer, but still no luck. Next I asked Victoria, and then Levi, if they knew what had happened to it, but they both insisted they didn't have a clue about the whereabouts of the missing crescent rolls. I texted Bill, but he didn't know where it was, either, even though he remembered seeing the roll can...

Here we are at home, socially isolated to prevent the spread of COVID-19, that new coronavirus that suddenly appeared in China a couple of months ago. Never in my lifetime have I ever experienced this kind of reaction to a virus. It seems as though the whole world is quarantined.  Except for Levi's therapy and an occasional trip to the grocery store, we are staying home most of the time this week, and into the near future. We are not really quarantined, since none of us are sick, but the kids and I are isolating ourselves at home to help prevent the spread of this new, nasty virus. Bill is going to work as usual, with some recently added COVID-19 protocol, in an effort to provided essential TV and internet services to the homebound people who need it now, more than ever.  Yesterday, when I took Levi to the hospital for his appointment, we had to don face masks because I drove to an appointment in Fort Collins last week; since then, at least one health care worker the...