14 March 2025

It is hard to believe that five years ago yesterday Employee was sent home from work for "two weeks" to flatten the curve. That turned into over a year. Looking back on that fiasco, those of us in The Hermitage STILL question all of it. Especially those buying cases of toilet paper and creating even more panic! 

This has been such a trying week. We have done things we HATE doing, and NONE of us want to do, and feel that there should be someone else here to do them. Nevertheless, they are getting done.

Astronomer stayed up FAR too late last night. Well, into the early hours of the morning. AND she kept reporting on the eclipse! 

That led to a VERY morose morning. Everyone was dealing with mental and emotional issues. No one could get their act together AT ALL! Most were out of bed by 11 though, and after a small breakfast Chauffeur asked if anyone wanted to go for a drive. She needed to finish putting 100 miles on the carriage and it seemed as though doing that might help. And off they went...to the other side of town. Alas, there were no donkeys. Forty-two degrees must not be cold enough for them to be out of the mountains. Such is life. 

Driving to and from we tried some karaoke. Also name that tune and band. They missed one. Oh, well. They got all of the other ones! When The Partridge Family came on, singing, I Think I Love You, we were near Queen's oldest daughter's salon, so stopped in. Just for a few minutes. When the "perm" arrived, we left.

Gassed the carriage at the local thrift mega store and fueling station. Gas was only $3.29. Hmmm...Thankfully we don't have to buy it very often. We were almost at the 100 mile mark on our expedition, so Chauffeur took the carriage to be smogged. Another bane of our existence. EGADS!!! Thankfully, Disciple sent up SEVERAL pleas over this issue. Ten minutes later it was declared that the carriage passed! Chauffeur thanked the attendant, and we all got back in the carriage. As Chauffeur drove the few blocks to The Hermitage, everyone broke down. NOT just for the trial of smogging the car. Not for the trials of the week. Not for the trials of the month. NO. OH NO. The dam was broken. Things that have been hanging around in some of the minds and hearts of those in The Hermitage let go. Let go big time. Some could hardly breathe. 

We have SO MUCH to be thankful for. We are SO blessed. We have seen Gods hands in our lives. We have witnessed tender mercies. We have had many answered prayers. We know that each of us are known personally. We know we are loved. This has been a tough one lately. We thought we would grow old with someone. But it doesn't seem to be in the plan yet. We believe Queen's children love us, and hope that it isn't out of obligation. We don't believe it is, as they treat us all very well. But we get in these moods...and then it is all downhill. 

Ornithologist is still keeping an eye on the bald eagles at Big Bear. Can't believe they are covered with snow yet again! Jeez! 

Baker didn't forget Pi day, she just didn't make anything. Sadly, she didn't feel like doing that. She usually makes coconut cream, key lime and a lemon cream cheese...and an apple. Maybe next year. Maybe next week. Who knows. She is touchy right now.

We are listening to it rain outside. THAT is always a blessing. Maybe it will calm us all down.

And so, here we are with an anniversary of the "Pandemic" yesterday, Pi day today, and tomorrow is the Ides of March! Then next week we can wear green. NOT our favorite color, BUT we have Irish in our blood, so feel the need. Hopefully next week will bring some sort of normalcy and order. If that is even possible. We hope so. We NEED to get that.

And so we have come to the "Redistribution" part of the week. Hopefully they will be worth checking out. Have a great weekend...