I’m usually really careful about coming close to anyone but tonight, Larry, who is the driver who’s taken Kelly airport numerous times, stopped over and wanted Paul Hunt’s phone number. I invited him in without thinking. Since he’s a “driver,” he’s exposed to a lot of folks. He didn’t wear a mask and I doubt that he ever does. I just hope he didn’t bring the virus into my place.

I was never really “close” to him … maybe four or five feet. I am now concerned about the exposure. I should have been more careful. He only stayed five or ten minutes.

I washed my hands as soon as he left, but he really hadn’t handled anything. Nevertheless I’m now uncomfortable.

I’ll see how I feel, but I think I’m going to self-quarantine for awhile. I’d hate to find out that a few minutes of carelessness contaminated me. I’ll wear my mask if I’m around anyone. I don’t want to risk passing it on.

He looked healthy and didn’t show symptoms, but it’s hard to tell.

I used to be a competitive photographer. I belonged to the Photographic Society of America (PSA) and won lots of recognition with my nature photos.

But over the years, music took over our lives and my photography was pushed aside. Sure I would take grab shots with my cellphone camera, but nothing to brag about.

Recently I’ve missed my old hobby.

The camera I used to use when I was at my best was a film camera. Now everything is digital. I do have a Panasonic DMC-FZ18 Digital which has some capabilities but it has a steep learning curve.

Rather than try to relearn a dated camera, today I bought a fairly simple to use Nikon. It is supposed to be one that is good for someone like me, who doesn’t want to take forever to accomplish the skills for lovely pictures. My new camera is a Nikon D3500 DX-Format DSLR with two lenses, a Nikkor 18-55mm and a Nikkor 70-300mm. I hope it’s as easy to learn as they describe. One thing good about learning today is the online aspect. Youtube has lots of tutorials so I’ll have help.

Some things have changed since the start of the Covid-19 virus. My list of things that don’t really matter any longer keeps growing.

Examples:

Jewelry – I don’t care if I wear 14kt gold or anything precious. I have thousands of dollars in gems and precious metals, but why would I want to wear it? For whom?
Clothes – Stylish clothing no longer matters. Most of the time no one sees me, so wearing a robe all day would be ok. Because I’m bored, I do buy new stuff but it’s always roomy, loose and comfy.
My nails – Before the virus, I had them done every couple of weeks, but now I don’t want them manicured. I saw how difficult it was to grow them back to natural.
Meals can be simple and that’s fine. I haven’t been in a restaurant for five months.
Perfume and deodorant are for me alone. If I like it ok, but that’s where it ends. Why bother when I’m the only one who enjoys scents.
Wearing a bra is a rarity. I put them on only when I’m going out and wearing something where the lack of a bra would show.
I still care about myself enough to change my bedding and wash my hair on approximately the same schedule as pre-Covid, but I’ll bet there are a lot who don’t bother. No one sees us.
I have my cleaning guy come in every two weeks. I don’t want my place to smell like an old lady’s home. I want it to be fresh, but the virus makes it difficult. One 78 year old lady lives here. No one else is ever inside.

I remember when I was designing websites. (I had 13 sites at one time.) Back then, I was very good at using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to create sites that did what I wanted. I had the methodology for web design pretty much mastered, but I’ve forgotten most of it.

I wanted to line the two photos of my little dogs up but I can’t get them to be even. Not a severe problem but it bugs me.

The little dog on the left is Willow, who was born on June 2nd, 1998, and died April 29th, 2011.

On the right, it’s Sophie. She’s my baby now. She was born on September 12, 2018. She came to live with me on December 4th, 2018.

Because it’s just the two of us, I’m really close to Sophie. Yes, I loved Willow. She was smaller but she was closer to John. Sophie is on my lap most of the time. I don’t know what I’d do without her.

I moderate a Facebook page called Kings Point Sun City Center Residents. Today I copied (but I revised slightly) a message posted to Sun City Center Residents facebook page. The person posting said that the Covid-19 numbers in Sun City Center and Kings Point had skyrocketed since last weekend.

Since I am aware of a couple situations where the virus was found I felt safe believing this report. I knew for sure that the virus had been found in my eye doctor’s practice and also in my primary care physician’s office. I also heard of a situation where a lady in a neighborhood I’m very familiar with did not report her positive test results and played pickleball.

So I posted a very non-specific variation of the report which had been on the SCC Facebook page.

Immediately I was asked where I’d acquired the statistics. I said from another website but I included a disclaimer explaining I couldn’t verify them and I was just posting the information in hopes of making folks more aware of the continued risks and I said personally I’d be staying in more.

I finally got so fed up by folks saying no one should post what they can’t prove that I deleted the whole thread. (Hey, in the first line I had said I CAN’T VERIFY this information but it seems wise to be aware and more careful in case it’s true.)

The Covid-19 stats are going up. I’m sure of that! Reminding folks to be more protective seems wise.

It wasn’t worth arguing with folks who wanted PROOF!

I wonder if the karaoke nights (on Tuesdays) and the Rockin Rendezvous (Thursdays) will ever happen again at the South Clubhouse. I’d be tempted to go (provided the number of admissions was severely limited). I’d wear a mask. It would be nice to see folks having fun.

I guess I should go to the pool more. At least there, I see folks socializing.