Do you ever get to the point that life has gotten so far away from you that you don’t even know how to begin to make excuses?
That’s how blogging has been for me these past couple of weeks. A combination of factors that I rationally know are out of my control but are nonetheless stressful, plus long lists of specific things that need to be done, overlaid with general anxiety about world issues such as the weather and that damn impeachment trial. (Seriously — how could any sentient being think 45’s behavior was anything but inexcusable?!) But that one, at least, is in the rearview mirror for now.
I know this is a first world problem, so I apologize in advance.
Dear Husband (DH) and I are in the midst of renovating our soon-to-be-one-and-only-house, which is rapidly being gutted. This is all good news, though it means we are renting a townhome/apartment in another location and need to drive out periodically to pick up mail and make sure there are no contractors lying insensate under a random beam.
Meanwhile, we are trying with no success to date to get on a Covid vaccination schedule. We have signed up in both of the counties where our house and rental are and neither has resulted in an appointment since the state has nowhere near enough supplies for everyone who wants to get it.
On the good news front, our Texas house went under contract within a day of our lovely realtor — who is DH’s oldest daughter — notifying a few agents that we were preparing to sell it. Everything would be proceeding smoothly if it weren’t for, oh, deadly ice storms, massive amounts of snow, power outages, etc. We’re thankful not to be living there but worry about friends and family who are coping with this.
Selling the house also means having someone else pack and ship it. Anxiety-producing because a) we have a lot of things we hope to sell or donate and can’t manage this ourselves, and b) we have to relinquish all fantasies of control over the specifics of the process. I’m trying to adopt the attitude that “stuff is just stuff” and if something gets lost or broken we will replace it. But this is not helping me sleep at night… I’m not counting sheep, I’m counting boxes.
I guess, like all of us, I have to put my faith in whatever powers-that-be may exist, know that we will eventually be on the other side of pandemic-related stress, and just hunker down while managing the few small aspects that are within my control.
If anyone has any good tips for patience after this year of endless upheaval, please share!
olderfatterhappierdotcom 
Trying ti keep busy is a good approach to this lousy situation. Too much sitting around isn’t good, even in normal times. Doesn’t sound as if you’re doing much sitting around, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s an excellent point. Part of the difficulty is the inability to do a lot of outdoor activities when the weather’s nasty. A good walk is a good distraction!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, I am so impressed with your renovation the entire house! We have upcoming kitchen and bathrooms to do. But since contractor work during covid is an iffy proposition (both health & safety and just getting one to commit), we’re resigned to waiting till this fall at the earliest. But you’re doing it the right way. Good luck on all of that, including the TX sale. – Marty
LikeLike
Thanks, Marty, and good luck with your remodel as well! It’s a bit daunting, to be honest, but the house is 30 years old, and rather than do a little at a time it made more sense to bite the bullet and fix up everything at once. – Alisa
LikeLike
You have got a lot on your plate, Alisa. Moving, renovating an entire house, and not being able to pack up your old house yourself. We were set to have three bathrooms re-done last summer, paid the contractor half the cost etc., then Covid started to get worse and we are on hold. Taking care of houses is so stressful. The Senators who voted not to convict Trump were thinking only of getting reelected in their districts full of Trumpites. They put that above doing the right thing. As they say about Karma – everything counts…..everything. Trying to get the Covid vaccine IS stressful and frustrating, but wearing a mask(s) is almost as good a vaccine for now. Congratulations on the quick sale of your house – how many people go into contract the day their house goes on the market.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right that wearing a mask — or two — and continuing to maintain distancing helps tremendously in lieu of the actual vaccine. I’ll keep reminding myself of this; thanks! Good luck with your bathroom(s) remodel; isn’t it frustrating to start a project and look forward to the results but be unable to move forward through no fault of your own? I feel your pain!! xx A
LikeLike