Category: Is it just me?

My Current Situation Part IX

It’s the season of what we like to call “Fall” in New England.  The days are short, the air is brisk and the leaves are “falling” from the trees.   I happen to like this season because the temperatures in Connecticut tend not to be too extreme plus it’s a great time to enjoy backyard bonfires.

 

It’s also cold and flu season so I scheduled my flu shot this coming week at my place of employment.  I was advised by my Primary Care Physician to get the Shingles shot this year which by the way comes in two separate doses.  I’m well over 50 but for some reason was advised to take care of it this year.  Our local pharmacy (Walgreens) made it real simple for me.

 

The drawn-out Covid pandemic (which could easily turn into a “Twindemic” with the upcoming Flu season upon us) is still causing me to pause as to what activities I should or should not participate in.  For instance, I went to see Erykah Badu a few weeks ago at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, CT because the people in charge were asking all attendees to be fully vaccinated and wear their masks.  However, I skipped going to an outdoor festival in Hamden, CT because there would be children there under the age of 12 who, at this time, cannot be vaccinated.   Decisions, decisions…

 

And as far as work goes I am currently in month 15 of working hybrid for the News 8 local sales department and I’m not mad about it (smile).  You see I enjoy working from home every other day because it keeps me in the practice of dressing up to go into work in the first place (smile).  I am forced to put on a nice dress or blouse and skirt every other day.  Otherwise I would just live in yoga pants and baseball caps (double smile).

 

I also get to touch base with my fav co-workers and experience a change of scenery from the home decor.  But working from home also has its perks:  those aforementioned yoga pants and baseball caps, no commute, noontime walks and healthy lunches.  Truth be told I actually work harder when I’m working from home as I still get up at the same time every day but on those days can begin at least an hour earlier, multi-task at lunchtime and end whenever I feel like it (after quitting time) since I’m already home.

 

 

Being a true fan of  Social Media, I am noticing more and more posts of people in general spending quality time with their families and their friends.  In my opinion the notion of Family is back in a Big Way and it is very apparent.  If nothing else comes from this pandemic, it will have shown us that Family and Relationships are truly what we all have been missing.

 

 

TVFL readers, have a Great Week.

 

 

My Current Situation Part VIII

There was a small window in time at some point in July of 2021 where life was beginning to feel a little normal, albeit, the “new normal,” as masks were flung off, dressy outfits were put back on and baseball caps were sent back to the ball field.

 

 

 

Then along came Delta, it sounds like a movie title but instead it’s the name of the new variant that is quickly turning our everyday lives into a mini nightmare.  The medical doctor on the last WTNH News 8 segment I watched explained that even if you are fully vaccinated, you can still catch and/or transmit the COVID virus –  Yikes!  It’s no wonder that it’s spreading like wildfire.

 

 

 

And now the Connecticut Department of Public Health recommends that all state residents go back to wearing masks inside public buildings.

 

 

 

Yes.  Again…Wait, Really?!?

 

 

So as of today, me and my fellow News 8 Account Executives continue to work (masked up outside our cubicles) in the same hybrid fashion we started about 14 months ago.  Call me crazy but I happen to like working 50 percent from home and 50 percent from the office.  I have even created a cozy home office in one corner of my dining room that easily fits my desk, office supplies, desktop computer, office chair, printer and work files.  I can’t lie: I’m not looking forward to going back to work in the office 100 percent of the time.  Especially since I’ll have to face those crazy, unhinged drivers every day as opposed to just half the week.

 

 

Being the Optimist that I am though, I take a deep breath and remember what I am truly grateful for: I am truly grateful that me, my family and my loved ones are all healthy, fully vaccinated and presently living Covid- free lives.

 

 

 

And I certainly hope and pray the same for all of my TVFL readers.

 

 

 

My Current Situation Part VII

I am writing this blog post on a semi-wet and blustery Sunday afternoon in the month of May.  We are having a true Spring this year and it’s not easy getting used to.  Also it’s been 14 months since the pandemic officially started in Connecticut and although some things have changed, others have not…

 

 

This is the 7th installment of a (hopefully) limited series of blog posts related to my Covid 19 experience – but 7 is my lucky number so I’m going to go with that (smile).

 

But first things first, I am still working hybrid — one day operating from home, the next day from my News 8 local sales office — which I absolutely love doing but I fear the end is near…

 

 

…the state of Connecticut is fully opening up on May 19th which is a pretty good sign that things are moving towards what is being deemed, the “new normal.”

 

 

 

I can’t lie, I want the “old normal” back and I promise not to complain about anything anymore (double smile).

 

I’m also still attending my church home, Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church, via Facebook live.  There’s something to be said about hearing and learning about “The Word” virtually from the safety and comfort of your own home…

 

 

 

And I still work out 5 days a week at I Love Kickboxing in North Haven, CT.  What has recently changed at ILKB is this:  there are no more mask optional classes (just mask-mandatory) nor are there any more limits to class sizes.  So with the arrival of earlier sunrises in Connecticut, these early bird class sizes will sometimes swell to capacity.

 

 

 

I’m also super excited to announce that I am now fully vaccinated so a simple mask is my new entry point to getting some of my life back, Yay!

 

 

I’m not going crazy though.  I am slowly easing myself back into my new life.  Pre-Pandemic I was Go-Go-Go, trying to cram everything in all at one time without once stopping to take a break.

 

 

Nowadays I’m learning to appreciate the simple things in life.  Things that bring me love, peace and joy.  I’m also planning for my retirement over the next 4 or 5 years where I will look forward to enjoying a much slower and leisurely pace.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

TVFL

 

 

 

My Current Situation Part IV

The season of Fall happened about 3 weeks ago in the state of Connecticut and with it comes decreasing temperatures, lots of fallen leaves on the ground, dark skies and squirrels running amok.   Soon I will be packing up my golf clubs in advance of the next season:  Winter.  But for now I am still managing to hit golf balls despite the broken twigs, crispy leaves and tree debris.

 

 

 

Fall for me also means it’s time to head back to the kitchen.  Anyone who knows me knows cooking is not my thing but I do enjoy cooking when Autumn arrives…

 

 

We have also finally entered Phase 3 in the state of Connecticut which means that restaurants can serve folks indoors at 75% instead of 50%  capacity…

 

 

personal services, hair salons, barber shops and nail salons can also operate at 75% percent capacity, indoor performing art venues at 50% capacity, and churches and other places of worship can have 50% capacity, capped at 200 people.  All, of course, with masks and social distancing…

 

 

Working hybrid continues for me and my colleagues on the News 8 sales team.  What this means is we are split into 2 teams and half the team works from the office on one day and the other half of the team works from the office on the following day.  The managers all go into the office each and every day.  It has been like this since mid-March 2020 when Covid 19 totally rocked our world.

 

 

The Presidential election is quite literally right around the corner so I encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote.   It’s more critical now more than ever…

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

My Current Situation – Part III

We are now entering the 6th month of living in a pandemic and needless to say, things have changed for me in Connecticut… here’s what I’m noticing:

 

Masks are still required when you walk into any workplace/school/retail store/restaurant/bank etc. (which, by the way, is not a problem to me…)

 

 

Gyms continue to operate at 50% capacity which forces me to work out from home on an online app 3 days out of the 5…and go to my gym I Love Kickboxing (at 5am) the other 2 days..

 

We Local Account Executives at News 8 continue to work from home every other day in a team hybrid fashion and to be honest, I’m not mad about it (smile).

 

 

Zoom calls (the way we now converse with each other and with our clients) are beginning to feel “natural” and “the norm.”

 

 

And I just returned from an actual vacay in Delaware where we drove to visit family and because I brought my latop with me, I did not miss a beat on my work load…

 

 

Virtual church is becoming “a thing” now, I can hear ‘The Word” from Pastor King at Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church right from the safety of my living room…

 

 

As far as golf goes, social distancing was already in place so other than having an electric cart all to myself, not much has changed there…

 

Self Care is becoming extremely important during this anxiety-ridden time…I am not feeling guilt at all about taking out quality time for myself as often as I need it…

 

 

And finally, my father and sibs mean the world to me so catching up with them via consistent family Facetime chats has become the best part of my week (smile).

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL