A Little Random, but not Really

Wow!  What can I say?  The word I have been hearing multiple times a day for over a week now regarding the coronavirus situation is unprecedented.  We are in uncharted waters.

Here in my area, we have 69 confirmed cases, but that is probably a gross underestimate due to the lack of testing, and due to the fact that some people may think they have a cold or flu.  Thankfully, most people will recover, but please, if you have shortness of breath and fever, get checked out!

I am not in panic mode yet, but the city is getting that way.  The Austin South by Southwest music festival was cancelled.  Even the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (and concerts) were closed for the first time in their 88 year history.

Today, all bars and nightclubs in my area have been closed down by order of the county.  And schools are closed until, at minimum, April 10, but they will reevaluate that about a week before.  Our malls and grocery stores closed early today and will continue to do so unless they close completely.   A few restaurants are closed, but that number will probably grow.

My husband, among many others, is working remotely for the foreseeable future.  My part-time retail job is still open, but my daughter's company has closed their doors for a while.  I feel so awful for her.  And to top it off, the wedding planning for November may have to come to a halt.  We had five or six appointments set up for later this week, but that may not happen.

Have you seen the news about a guy who stock-piled 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer and trying to resell them on Amazon and eBay?  They shut him down for price gouging.  Thank goodness!  I don't like when people do that.  He was whining about being unable to sell them (He got $70 for one bottle).  Oh, boo hoo!  He finally donated them

But I'm going to be optimistic and say that this time next month, we will be getting back to normal.  Please, God, let that be the case.

Feel free to link up with Stacy like I am doing!
Falling asleep as I type.

Sunday Synopsis

Sara's Game by Ernie Lindsey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not a bad book. I was surprised. I had read somewhere (I don't remember where) that this was a good psychological thriller, and I found a pretty good deal on the trilogy, so I dove right in.

Sara Winthrop's husband left for work one day two years ago and was never seen again. He just disappeared. Sara continued working at the video game company, which sounds pretty exciting... until she has to play the game in real life. One day, as she is leaving work, there is a note under her windshield. It says, "Do you want to play the game?" If she wins the game, her children, who have been taken from their schools, will be returned to her.

From that point, the reader is off on a wild ride with three levels designed to physically and mentally challenge Sara, even though the ending has already been determined.

While I liked this book, I did have to swallow a few details that were more than just a little unbelievable, but it did leave me guessing for a while, and it did have a satisfying conclusion. I think that the character development could have been better. I have the other two books in the series, but the first one didn't leave me dieing to read them, so they will have to wait.

View all my reviews

Random Tuesday Again!

Hello!  Hello!  I'm linking up with Stacy for some randomness.

I can't believe I went two whole weeks without posting anything! I've been wanting to post my Sunday Synopsis, but I just can't get through a book that I like well enough to talk about!  Hopefully, I'll have something this Sunday.

Yes, I am retired, but I'm busy as ever!  Doing some crafts and sewing, working about 25 hours a week at my part-time job (remember, since July, I was working this job plus teaching, now just the fun job!), spending time with family, making wedding plans with my daughter, helping my son look for a job, getting a good night's rest most nights,  and doing a little bit of nothing, too!  Life's great!

Except for this coronavirus mess aka COVID-19.  I don't know anyone that has it, of course, but I've been listening to my sister stress over an upcoming long vacation/cruise to Tahiti and Hawaii.  I don't think I would travel right now.  She can't get her money back, but she can get travel credits.  My husband was told to work remotely one day last week so they can test the network activity with large numbers of people remoting in to the servers in case it comes to that.  Hand sanitizer is completely gone from most stores, although I don't really think that will help.  I'm just not really sure how to feel about it all.  I just hope this passes before the wedding.  We only have 8 months.

How about your community?  Any big fear of the virus or any preparation for just-in-case goin on?

And now this...

This cracked me up!  Maybe I'm showing my age!

So thankful I'm not teaching anymore!

Again, maybe showing my age with a musical pun!

If you're from the south, you can relate!

Till next time!

Random Tuesday

I'm linking up with Stacy.

By the time you read this, I should be a grandmother! Our daughter's labor is being induced, and the little one will make his or her entrance soon! Can;t wait to know the gender!

I've been wedding planning with my other daughter  We decided to go with a particular photography who just signed a contract for my daughter's wedding day  Darn it!  The first one we both liked turned out to be too expensive  So we are back at square one there.  We've reserved her venue.  And - exciting news - she said "Yes!" to the dress this weekend, so that's another big check off the list.  But I'm not posting pics of it yet.

Ex-husband is being a butt about the whole thing.  Doesn't want to help pay for the wedding.  Maybe I'll save that info for another post.

I get to do the table decorations for the reception.  I did all the decorations for the baby shower (different daughter), and everyone loved it, so I think I can do it, and I have plenty of time!  On that note... some funnies!

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Random Tuesday (barely)

I'm late, but it's still Tuesday for 22 minutes, so I'm going to link up with Stacy for some random fun.

Well, I didn't watch the Superbowl, but I have an excuse.  I was at work.  The game was over about15 minutes after I got home.  I saw part of the half-time show in bits and pieces, but now YouTube has the full show.
 

I had heard it was good, but I had also heard it was not a "family" performance.  What did you think?

The baby shower on Saturday went well.  It was a co-ed shower, but most of the older men didn't really want to be there, but we did get them to do a few activities.  Much of their time was spent outside with the dos, though.  LOL

Some activities we used:  paint a bib or a onsie, guess the gender of the baby (although no one will know until it's born), The Price is Right, Baby Trivia, Guess the number of M&Ms in the baby bottle, and Late Night Diaper Messages.  Oh, and gifts, of course.  And food.  It was fun, and I think the couple enjoyed it as well.

The daddy-to-be's mom.

I really have to get serious about the upcoming wedding in November.  We have 91/2 months to secure a reception video, wedding gown, bridesmaids and groomsman attire, mother-of-the-bride attire, florist, photographer, and caterer.  Hopefully the caterer and the cake will be part of the venue.  They have secured the date and the ceremony space, so we've had a little progress.

I'm getting ready to leave for a long scrapbooking weekend, Thursday through Sunday, and I can't wait!  First, I have to work a shift tomorrow, then leave the next day.  It's been too long.  I wish we could do 2 or 3 a year.  We started our annual trip (my sister and I) the year my father died.  It brings us closer.

And now...

I love puns!

Sad, but true!

Huge cake fail!

Have a great week!