12.17 2020. Life happens ......

Most likely you have heard the saying that "Life happens while you are making other plans". That could sum up this year for me and many others. I know that I am not alone in this. The pandemic had a way of taking care of most plans. 

My plans this year included a trip to Rome to see the holy sites, a birding trip, my volunteer trip to Honduras and to spend my birthday in a European Christmas market. I have always wanted to do that - visit a European Christmas market. The city did not really matter except that I was thinking of visiting a country where I have never traveled. That would satisfy two goals - a new country and a new experience. I had almost confirmed  the travel plans last year before the coronavirus took hold of our lives. I was that certain that I would be traveling in December. O such plans! Every birthday is a big one at this stage in life, but this one was really a milestone. I wanted to celebrate in style.

So if I cannot go to Europe, then I thought I would go to Maine for my birthday - closer but safe. All set, reservations made. Looking forward to walking along one of my favorite coves and towns in Maine. In November the new travel restrictions were placed on us and I guess that I just do not feel comfortable traveling when we are supposed to stay home and safe. We are not supposed to travel to a red covid state, and with the exception of Hawaii, they are all red states. OK, so no European Christmas market, no quaint Maine bed and breakfast, what about a lovely dinner in a local restaurant. Stay local and support our own. Sounded good to me. Reservations made. Plans made in my head. Finish work, feed the boys, then a nice quiet but special dinner. Sounded great. O what plans.

First we had a snowstorm and instead of sleeping in, I was outside shoveling snow 18 inches deep. OK, no problem, still have dinner plans. Happy birthday to me. Will get the car shoveled out, the walkway is clear. I am all set.  Will make it to dinner.

Working remotely has never been a problem and today should not have been a problem. We had no power outage, so what could go wrong? Well, I'll tell you what went wrong. No internet connection on the computer that I use for work that allows access to the larger files and programs. I had an internet connection on a small computer (my Microsoft surface that I love but less capacity and not used for work) but none on my work computer. How can that be? They were sitting right next to each other! Talk to each other - please. But to no avail. The work computer did not recognize any internet site anywhere. Not the neighbors and certainly not mine in my house! Are you kidding me????? I had to download new programs and access special websites on the small computer. And the computer phone was not working either. What a day. Finally caught up at the end of the day. We always catch up at the end of the day! That is why it is the end of the day!

Now I could really use that dinner! Called the restaurant to make sure they were open and not closed because of the snowstorm. O, what was I thinking. They closed yesterday because of a "covid incident". Are you kidding me? So I bundled myself and the boys in our warm clothes and went back outside and finished shoveling another porch and more of the driveway. More to clear off the car as well. It is good exercise. But what about dinner? Wasn't this a special birthday? Wasn't a celebration in order?

Well, my options for dinner were leftovers, a frozen dinner or pizza. Pizza it is. The boys like the crusts and I enjoy the store - bought pizza. So I pulled out my good china and stemware (why not?), had a nice glass of wine and a wonderful pizza dinner and salad as my special birthday treat. The boys were good, I called my Mom and it was a wonderful night afterall. I didn't need to travel to Europe or Maine to have a nice birthday - but I would have liked to see if it made it feel more special. That is what next year is all about. It is good to have dreams and goals and plan for next year. Never lose hope! 

We had fun outside early in the morning. Shorty, my Yapese dog from that tropical island, loves the snow. While Fionnegan and Gunnarr had second thoughts about going out in the snow, Shorty plowed ahead and made a trail for them. Once the little ones had a path, they did much better and all three were sniffing through the snow for most likely mice or moles or some little creature. They are a delight to watch and that in itself is a nice birthday present.

Here is my Shorty under the bushes and trees, having fun. He is really good at allowing me to dress him in a sweater and coat.

Fionnegan is very reluctant to play in the snow. He seems to like it the least. Gunnarr is trying to coax him to come and play. Fionn was outside all of two minutes and already his front leg is out of one PJ suit and sweater.

Snow on the hemlocks, causing the bows to touch the ground.

Lots of snow. This is a birdbath.

Shorty leads the way. Good boy.

Fionnegan and Gunnarr

Fionnegan. He just wasn't that into it. Clothes falling off, snow bunnies on his hair, he probably just wanted us all to come inside and play with him. And play he did when we went inside the house.

Gunnarr with a snow covered face and nose will follow me anywhere. I need to keep an eye on him as he would like to go through the gate if I am going going out. Sit, stay. Please.

My dear Shorty. Loves the snow. He is so much fun - we can run through the snow and he likes to play chasing games with his brothers and me!

Not the best photograph but they are probably feeling like - glad we are dry and inside the house! They love to sit on the landing. It is a good perch for them and they can see everything inside the house from that vantage point.

All in all, a good birthday. 

My best wishes are with all of you to stay safe and healthy and have a little fun. Even if you are confined to your house. We can find joy if we chose to find it wherever we are.

Stay well..