The past year

"In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive".

Lee Iacocca

I think many will agree this 2020 had been a year of adversity but I am very thankful Gabe and I are healthy and staying busy.

Gabe decided when the springs were shut down he needed  something else to keep him busy. He started riding his bike in the neighborhood. After awhile it became boring. He searched the web for another bike, one he could do long distances. Bikes were impossible to purchase in our area so he turned to the web. The perfect bike was found and ordered BUT it was going to take months before it was delivered. He rode his neighborhood bike and waited patiently for the new one. Notification was sent that the new bike was on the way. Delivery was on a Saturday. He waited and didn't go anywhere expecting delivery. It never came. Fed Ex said it was delivered. It did go to someone, but not us. We believe it was stolen. 

The purchase was on Pay Pal and it wasn't a problem getting our money back.

Back to the drawing board for another bike. None in the area to purchase so back to the web. He couldn't order another bike that we believe was stolen, they didn't have any in stock. He found another and the order was placed.

It was another LONG wait but this one was delivered! Success.

He still rides the neighborhood in the mornings when he doesn't dive. Sundays he does around thirty miles total. He said he's still in training.

Max still goes in once a month for laser treatments for his hips. It's working. He's able to move around and seems not to have any pain. We gave him CBD for awhile but it didn't do much. He still limps but is happy and always looking for a treat.

He also had two horrible hot spots that would not go away. Vet gave us medication but it just wasn't cutting it. We remembered Flowers of Sulfur. We had a jar  Gabe purchased on amazon. It works great! Healed up the sores and hopefully that's it for hot spots this year!

Me. Well, in March I was an active person. I went to yoga, volunteered at Christian Services plus loved going to Planet Fitness. All that changed as I watched the news at the gym when WHO declared the pandemic.

Florida never closed down. It was like, what pandemic. I would shop extra early. Some stores had senior hours. That was the extent of my activity, grocery shopping.

Sewing has never been my forte but that didn't stop me from learning to make masks. You Tube is a great site! I made quite a few masks for people I know. 

Our yard got plenty of TLC. I weeded and planted. 

Baking has always been a great stress reliever. I'm lucky Mey's hubby loves my baking. Our oven wasn't working and needed to get an new one. The one I loved was on back order until February 2021. I picked one out that they had in stock and it was delivered in a week. Horrors not being able to bake! 

We did go to the beach. April we had to cancel, the beaches were closed to walk on so why go. October we went for a week and it was fantastic. LOVED it. I walked the beach from sunrise to sunset. The beach is my happy place. 

We are almost finished with 2020- I don't think there is anyone that will be sorry when it gone.

The pandemic has bought out the best and worse in people. Thank God for the helpers. Nurses and doctors. To me they are the persons of the year. Day after day seeing people die alone. It must be horrible to witness. 

You would think people would be kinder now. How hard is it to wear a mask? 

As I write this our friend Richard is still in the hospital. He has covid and exacerbated other issues. His wife Mey also caught it but not in the hospital. We were tested since we are with them everyday and very thankful both of us came back negative. Mey should of been admitted to the hospital. She's a tiny lady and lost 30 pounds as I write this. I think that brings her down to about 80 pounds. Wish she liked sweets, I would be baking up a storm.

A horrible storm hit our area on Christmas Eve. Power was out in many areas till Christmas day. Our neighborhood was out a few hours. Many trees came down and families that live in mobile homes had damage.

One thing I want to change in 2021 is make less baked goods. I'm going to try healthier recipes.

I hope 2021 will bring the world back to health .

“It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.”

 – Doe Zantamata