Random 3 for February 7, 2021 – Obstacles, energy, homebody

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All that snow – Last week we had a huge snowstorm. We had 26 inches. At another time it would have been blissful (like when I was 6). Now not so much. We are packing to move. Early on we emptied our shed (for fear it would get snowed in) and got most of the outside or colder work (like cleaning the attic and garage) done. However there were a few things that escaped us like our two hose reels complete with hoses on them. My electric bird bath (keeps the water from freezing) had a cord to the outdoor outlet. That cord is under three foot of packed snow so it will be sacrificed (or as we like to say “a gift to the new owners.” The beloved husband dug the hoses out. All is well until we think of something else that is buried under all that snow.

About that energy level – Every year when I go to the doc for my annual he asks me how I’m doing. I’m always fine but lacking energy. He did some blood tests that showed everything normal. He says it’s a normal part of aging. (I hate to hear that because how can I be aging when my innards feel the same as they did decades ago?) This move has shown me what lack of energy feels like. Really! My sister-in-law is the belle of the ball. When she goes out (before the pandemic) she’d be having a great time and all of a sudden she says, “I have to go home now. I need to lay down.” Just like that she is gone. I have always been surprised because it just happens. There is no working up to it. Now I am there. I’m going well and all of a sudden I have to lay down or I will collapse in a heap of body flesh on the floor.

A strange side effect of the pandemic – I don’t want to go anywhere. I used to enjoy a trip to the store but I dread it these days. I have a list of “must get” for the new house. Important things like a shower curtain. These are items I’d rather see in person. I’ve ordered on-line all I can. I hope when this ends I will be able to shake that “stay at home” disorder.

So how was your week?

 

96 thoughts on “Random 3 for February 7, 2021 – Obstacles, energy, homebody”

  1. I know I could muster the energy to make a move and I see your house in photos versus my house … my house is very small but I seriously wonder how two other people lived here, plus a bird. Yes, I live alone, but still …. I often nod off while at work … my work is often boring, most of the time anymore it is boring, but I also nod off proofreading my own stuff. I walked and shoveled today. When I finally sat down two hours later, within ten minutes I nodded off. What happened to that boundless energy back in the day? I should have bottled it.

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    • One house I moved into a long time ago was vacated by a woman who was retiring to Florida. First a month before settlement, she pushed it back. Technically we could have backed out of the deal but then we’d be house hunting again. We had to get an apartment in the interim. When we finally moved in there were a lot of ticky tacky wall hangings all over the place. I asked WTH? The realtor said she thought we might like them. Maybe in 1950 someone would have but I went through with a trash bag.

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  4. Aging is a lot like the DMV, a great equalizer of the masses. All we can do is the best our aging vessels will permit. Hang in there, moving makes us all seem so overwhelmed, whether we’re retired or a young whipper-snapper. Good luck with the move (which as I recall is later this week?).

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  5. Unlike you, I do have a pre-existing condition that affects my energy level, namely my body doesn’t absorb iron or B vitamins properly. I’m supposed to take daily supplements, but add depression and guess what? It took me a couple of weeks to figure out why I felt good mentally but exhausted physically. Now I’m back on my supplements and here’s hoping this time I an stick to the regimen.

    I say that because I am a personal shopper for Instacart. Saturday I felt really good and I worked ALL DAY either shopping and/or delivering groceries. I had planned to also work some Sunday but I woke up and felt like a Mac Truck had run over me. I can still outmaneuver those younger shoppers (mostly because I know the layout of the store), but they can go at it way longer than me.

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  8. Well, my human hates going out too, I like to think that she just can’t stand being away from me, but I’m not sure that’s the case. And I have always been an advocate of naps. Naps are power. Take them often. A good beam of sunlight can do wonders as well. I’m sending you hugs and good thoughts and warmth.

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  9. 26 inches of snow is crazy! I’ve always been a low-energy person, worse as I get older, but now that I’m retired, I find an afternoon nap to be a truly wonderful thing. It restores my energy and I can stay up later reading, otherwise I’d probably be in bed by 10. Good luck with your moving…..you’re in the home stretch now!

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  11. I remember big heavy snowfalls where I grew up. Can’t say I miss them.
    My energy is fine when I am out and about but too many days of being home alone with just the cats, as wonderful as they are, can be a downer. 😾

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    • I much prefer less snowfall winters. Last winter was one of them. This one has been quiet until last week and there are more snows in the forecast! We need a balance which we are not getting now.

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  12. Wishing you good success this week, Kate. Moving is stressful. Moving in a pandemic with snow on the ground, even more so.

    I don’t discount that as we age our energy shifts, and sometimes dramatically, but I am noticing many changes, and I’m wondering how current life conditions have made everything more stressful, thus energy drains! I think it will take quite a while for us to establish patterns that even resemble what we were doing and thinking in 2019! And then again, yes, age! I think the jury is still out! 🙂

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  13. But…. but …. your brain is a bundle of energy, Kate. As long as your brain is fit and shows on your writing, all is good. As for the body, be like a cat. Take plenty of me time napping.

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  14. More snow? AAARRRGH….Well, hope your Super Bowl Sunday has something tasty to eat (I’m a carb person under stress too… but I really need to put down the chips…sigh)
    A massive arctic front is supposed to hit us Wed or Thurs. See. leaving those Christmas lights under the palm. trees may actually have been a good idea…not up to wrapping them.
    I love the electric bird bath “gift” to new owner. Made me smile. (and there’s a huge robin poking around the yard now…guess it is working with Molly who has been doing far too much scratching in the dirt today…rounding up nice fat earthworms for friends?)
    Pandemic numbers are down, vaccines more available, but the media driven panic is just as bad here. We’re not going out unless we have to – we could schedule a vaccine, but it’s not the one that seems best for us (and I am not going to a massive mega site with a massive line and wait for hours among massive numbers of people), so we are waiting. So far so good.
    You’re doing good, too. You’re going to make it to the new home and then massive relaxing session.

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    • 🙂 Heavens! The new people do not get the bird bath! Just the extension cord that connected it to electricity! 🙂 We are not that nice! Hard to get an appointment for a vaccine here. If you do they are very organized in that there is no waiting. However, getting the damn appointment which must be set up on-line is nerve wracking. Been trying for 2 weeks now.

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      • Somehow I get this hilarious image of the new owners discovering the extension cord and wondering….
        (Will they think it’s a new way to discourage snakes from arriving? The imagination runs wild!)
        It takes forever to get appointments here – then it’s crazy land after that at the site…unless you’re a long term patient of a doc’s group…the big doctor groups attached to the big hospitals are much more organized….and it’s a real medical staff giving the jabs.
        Your time will come!!!!

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  16. I definitely have what you have described as “stay at home disorder” …. I am hoping my love of food and shopping for food will win out at some point. I miss dining alfresco in a big way. Your sister-in-law is my kind of gal. Kate, you are a moving machine. I would find the snow to have undone me. 26 inches of snow is mind-blowing. Our week was spent snoopervising two whiny negative lazy man babies painting the exterior of our house.

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    • The snow did undone me. Big time. Originally I wanted to move by the end of January and that would have worked but my husband didn’t think he could get his workshop dismantled by then. Fingers crossed that there are no more monster storms. We had 4 inches today and there is more on Thursday which makes it nerve wracking but we are at the end.

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  17. Isn’t it strange. I’m sort of worried about having the stay-at-home disorder. Plus, after putting off so many things that need doing for a year, they’re all piling up. I’m going to be too busy, but like you I may not have the energy to get it all done.

    Twenty-six inches of snow! Wow! It’s hard to imagine. I just ordered a book called The Children’s Blizzard. It sounds good. And the thing about reading, it helps you imagine things you might never experience.

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  18. Being busy with physical work is a blessing and a curse as we age. I push it during gardening season. I understand having to stop for a moment or two. 🙂 It will be a relief to be in the new house and be able to take your time putting things away. Yes, I’ve ordered more things on line this year than all my years added together. We do our curbside grocery pickup tomorrow morning. Take care and rest when you need to.

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  20. If I were a murder/mystery writer, your post would have given me an idea for hiding the body before a big snow storm and then moving. Perhaps the new owners will allow you to come back once the snow melts to survey the property. I think once spring arrives we’ll all feel revived. Be careful in the snow!

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  22. We haven’t been to a physical store in a long time. With these new virus variants, we are doing curbside pickup only for our groceries. Anything else is online or goes on our “when it’s over” list. I’m curious what you are doing with your fish? Since they are in winter hibernation (probably not the right term for fish) I wouldn’t imagine they’d be easy to re-home. But, it sounds like the new owners probably don’t want them.

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  23. I can relate to the part about aging. I used to be invincible, now all it takes to knock me out is one greasy slice of pizza 😆 My week was good. I finally got my wedding ring re-fitted and it fits perfect, YaY! Have a great week!

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  25. This pandemic has lowered my energy for many things as well. I, too, am hoping I feel more like going out and doing all kinds of things when that is possible again.

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  26. Hi Kate, Your posts giving me the continued story of your moving, nudge me forward on my purging around the house. Thank you! I am hearing more about the “energy” thing this year. You have a lot on the go, Kate, and preserving your energy and recharging is a good thing. Bad, of course, when you want to get things accomplished. Hang in there. You are moving forward. Stay at home” disorder….great description.

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    • I have become so much better at purging. I wish I would have started the process as ruthless as I am now. The bottom line is we don’t have as much storage at the new place so I need to plan accordingly. Just today I realized that I will need a different kind of birdbath that attaches to my deck rather than the ceramic standing one I have. I already moved that one to the new house and now I have to find a home for it. Argh!

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  28. I don’t think of staying at home as being a disorder. It’s what a reasonably prudent person does now. Plus it is the middle of winter so staying at home is kind of the done thing. Come spring and a new house, I bet you’ll be back out there shopping for your “must gets.”

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    • I sure hope so. I had some relatives that had what seemed like agoraphobia and I worry about that. You are right though. I tend to hibernate during the winter anyway so how can I tell the difference? I don’t like shopping partly because of other people and the virus. I’ve been dodging it so far but I haven’t been able to get the vaccine yet.

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  29. Hi, Kate – I’ve also been avoiding physical stores at all costs these days. My reasoning has been less about concern for the virus (although there’s that too) and more about doing my best to stay clear of cranky people who are totally over it. Although I am really not hoping for snow, a good snowstorm could keep more of them at home. Hmmmm?! Sending good luck wishes for your move.

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    • I’m prudent about my errands and clump them together rarely running for only one thing. It’s just that now I don’t want to go at all. Maybe because it’s winter and I’m normally less likely to flit around then and partly I’m trying to stay healthy. I’m hoping things will be better in two months or so. Even if life doesn’t return to how it was, it should be easier.

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