This is me on a Sunday afternoon, around 3:30pm. It was a beautiful day in Pittsburgh, 73F with returning birds chirping happily away.
(News alerts say thunderstorms are on their way in the next hour or so. I love a good storm, don't you?)
It's hard to believe that just 4 days ago, we awoke to 2 inches of snow on the ground and a frigid temp of 20F. My friend Diana said it was "Winter's Last Hurrah". I had a haircut appt at 10am, and walked thru a blizzard to get there.
Afterwards I sat in my barbershop another 30 minutes, waiting for the snow to die down. Just another Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
I tried going outside earlier today for a bit, but my scalp and face had a pretty adverse reaction to all the sunlight. Came back inside, laid down for an hour or so... it's just a waiting game.
I wish I had a clue how long these long covid symptoms plan to continue. Aside from a couple afternoons in early December and February, it's been a pretty constant battle since it returned September 12.
It makes me feel abnormal, isolated. I was already weird before all this, and this doesn't help!
I've never minded being a hermit, but when you don't have a choice... anyway, I just need to remind yourself, it could be worse. I am hoping, hoping this will end by summer.
Hey, can I include a little rant here? Do you see this "Very Local" app on my tv screen, second row, far right?
It's for locally produced programs--a little bit ago I watched a documentary about rehabilitating inmates by having them train guide dogs at the prison downtown. But I suppose my favorite feature is the news. It airs the most recent local broadcast from WTAE-TV, our ABC affiliate.
However, every commercial break--EVERY ONE--is for one of those cheesy, awful gambling apps you can download to your smartphone. I think those things are the absolute worst, and you just know some poor sucker is going to blow the few bucks they have for a hopeful "big score". Phones are too convenient for gambling! I think that people who want to use these apps should be required to register and prove they have the resources to waste if they're married with a family. End of rant.
Speaking of addictions, as long as my tv is up there... a couple weeks ago I signed up for "You Tube Premium Lite". It's $7.99 a month and allows you to watch everything on YouTube (with the exception of music videos) ad-free.
Those ads are what kept me from watching more than a few YT videos in one sitting. (They aired twice as many ads if you watched YouTube vids on your tv instead of your computer, so I never did.) Now I catch myself watching that YT app a good hour a day or longer. It's why I'm on here writing another blog post so soon instead.
Today I'm having a Sunday dinner of chicken tenders (I made a pan of these a couple weeks ago and froze 6 baggies worth), garlicky spinach and white cheddar mashed potatoes. A friend recently asked why I go to the trouble of cooking every day. She said if she was single like me she'd be having cold sandwiches or cereal for dinner.
What can I say, I like a hot meal to end my blog with. Thanks for letting me share. I wish I could share this chicken too--it's good.
Wow, that's summer weather here! No, I'm not a fan of storms, especially wind ones. And Mari doesn't like thunder--she's a wimpy cat. :) John put some youtube thing on my TV that doesn't have ads and is free; I have no idea what it is exactly. That dinner looks great! I've been making more of an effort to cook for myself and have been enjoying some loaded baked potatoes with chili. Since I live alone, I can eat as much chili as I want! (beans are not my friend) LOL
ReplyDeleteHaha, thank you Margaret--hmm, those loaded baked potatoes sound very tasty, don't be surprised if you see those here on a future post :^)
DeleteThat’s a good looking meal Doug. Your LC symptoms must be much worse than my issues as I am able to go out and push myself to do things. But I pay the price after in my recliner in the bedroom with an ice pack to my surgical site. I checked my insurance and I can get $2500 ( every five years) towards hearing aids since I have hearing loss due to surgery. I also have extremely loud tinnitus on that side and the hearing aid is supposed to help that. I’m sad that this is probably permanent, but I knew that. I read your blog about your Star Trek collection and am glad you have a hobby, even if you’re not as active with it now. I’m trying to get back into sewing, mostly doll clothes and accessories for my granddaughters dolls. I hope you have a good week and can get out some. Joyce
ReplyDeleteI was going to add that I have YouTube Premium. Not only for ad free, but so I can download videos. We have power outages down here, especially after a hurricane ( usually a week) and I like having a lineup to watch. Joyce
DeleteThanks Joyce, I'm glad to hear from you. I'm sorry for your hearing issues but I have to tell you, you're the one who inspired me to get YouTube Premium! I do love it ad free, I just need to turn it off after so long. I hope you're doing well. 🙂
DeleteOur news too. I worked with a woman who claimed that she won big bucks on these gambling apps. Thousands. 'Some people can't control themselves...' she could. She limited herself to $100 a day. She had five kids.
ReplyDeleteHmm. I just keep seeing 5 kids.
DeleteYour meals always look so delicious! Sorry you're still not back to normal, don't let it get you down! If you want to watch a delightful "movie" on YouTube, try LISTERS, it's about bird watching. It's interesting and hilarious and very well made for a film made by complete amateurs. It's really great!
ReplyDeleteBobi, so nice to hear from you, thank you. And I am putting Listers in my queue right now before I forget. Much appreciated. 😊
DeleteMaking those meals is good for you. Keep it up. How about inviting a friend over for dinner now and then? It would give you some company and share a good home cooked meal with someone who might not get that every day.
ReplyDeleteThanks dkzody, to be honest it's just too difficult to try and make plans with people right now. Last night I was feeling good. Spent the evening on the phone with a friend. Today, it's pretty rough. I just need some consistent good evenings before I can be social again.
DeleteAnother haircut? (Yes, I do go on).
ReplyDeleteI’m a bit of a hermit myself, but I can go out whenever I want. I really feel sorry for you and that bloody covid.
I have Ad-blocker on my computer and it works a treat for watching YouTube.
As for your friend – I guess there are people who like to cook (including me and you too) and people who use food as purely as an energy source. I don’t like to judge them (but of course, I’m going to) but I think they miss out on a lot. Besides the food, cooking can be a creative exercise.
Cheese in mashed potatoes – that’s interesting, and I do like garlic spinach.
I remember seeing a noted French chef’s recipe for mashed potatoes. He started with: “Take equal amounts of potato and butter…” Ended with: “This is a recipe you should only make once a year”.
The government here has restricted gambling ads and are thinking of banning them on TV completely, as we did with cigarette ads decades ago.
DeleteI don’t see what people get out of gambling, perhaps because my degree was in mathematics, which included a year of statistics. I know that the house always wins, so you’re just flushing money down the drain (or burning it up or some other metaphor).
Thanks very much Peter, enjoyed very much what you said here in both comments. Boy are we on the same page today. Hmm, I watch so little network tv, I just don't know how much gambling is advertised there compared to the commercials on these apps. I will definitely have to investigate further. And you're absolutely right, The House Always Wins.
DeleteYouTube Premium is awesome. I watch it more than regular TV now. I especially like some of the reaction channels, in which 20-somethings listen to music from the '60s-'80s for the first and realize how much better it used to be.
ReplyDeleteHi David! Thanks very much for sharing that (and I enjoy some of those too). I'm glad I'm not alone. :^)
DeleteYour dinner looks delicious! I am so sorry these symptoms continue to linger. I like to watch PBS ($68 per year) because I hate commercials. So many are just awful. Others I scream at the screen.
ReplyDeleteThank you Miss Merry, it's so weird last night I think he's doing pretty good tonight I'm in the middle of a prickly relapse. It's such a drag. Thank you for the kind words about my dinner, and this is wild, I was just talking about signing up for PBS a couple days ago to a friend of mine so I can see those Ken Burns documentaries again including his new one. You might have just inspired me. 👍🙂
DeleteHi Doug, your Sunday supper looks yummy! It is easy to fall into the sandwiches or cold cereal suppers I imagine if you are single. I enjoy cooking so I like to think that wouldn’t be me. We are enjoying having YouTube Premium. The commercials are so intrusive. Sorry you are having such a hard time right now. Take care Doug.❤️
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for reading and sharing Robin, always cheers me up when I hear from you. Well, today is Leftovers Tuesday, so you can see what I'll be having. 🙂 Please say hi to Chuck for me, take care. ❤️
DeleteChuck says hi back!❤️
DeleteDoug, my husband told me that he read recently that MELATONIN is recognized as an aid in fighting the long effects of Covid-19. I found this link for you to check out:
ReplyDeletelink text
"Melatonin is a potential option for treating LC19 problems because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain-modulating properties. Melatonin targets shared pathological pathways, offering a promising approach to reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuroendocrine dysfunction. The present mini-review explores the therapeutic potential of melatonin in the treatment of LC19, focusing on its effects on WPS and inflammation."
Worth a try. We both take it to help with sleep... and it SURE DOES. -Karen in Pittsburgh
Karen, thank you so much. Both you and your husband. I'm going to look into this today, if I have any results I'll be sure to share them here. Much appreciated. 🙂👍
DeleteWe both take the 5mg dose. I hope you have good results Doug. - Karen in Pittsburgh
DeleteI think it’s to your credit that you prepare meals for yourself so carefully . I am a real sloth in the kitchen , and worse now that it’s just me - but a box of Pringles is a balanced meal , right ?
ReplyDeleteSiobhan 😹
Thank you Siobhan, much appreciated. Some days I can go the extra mile, others like today it's pretty much can of soup.
DeleteI love a hot meal, too. When I moved to Kentucky for a year, coming home after class and making a hot meal and sitting down to watch a movie was The highlight of my day. Interestingly enough, I really only do that when I live alone. And our grandma took me to my first movie too, except it was grandma Barnhart & I saw “coal Miner‘s daughter” … The Time Machine is one of my favorites of all time too. I would also like to add that you look great… When I’m in Pitt. my skin Shrivels up and I look like a chalky dead person …there’s Practically no moisture in the air up there! (But it’s agreeing with you!)
DeleteThanks for sharing Courtney.. I do remember Grandma B taking you (and Donda) to Coal Miner's Daughter. Appreciate your kind words about my photo but my phone "auto enhances" my pics and I don't know how to switch it off. I do not look like this right now (I got giant black circles under my eyes from the long covid) but thank you...
DeleteI wish my phone didn’t do that too… That’s weird. I don’t remember Sissy being there. I think I was just so in love with being at the movies with grandma and loving that movie that I don’t remember anything else
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