My life has gone from quite quiet to sincerely silent. I hired a handyman to do some powerwashing and his equipment malfunctioned so the two days he would have been here have passed. Feels like I can’t even pay a worker to visit me.

I have given up the dating apps. I realize most of the guys want a boody call. I’m not ready to go to bed with anyone I barely know. I would rather be alone than try to fight off a guy who makes me feel cheap. I would be open to a gradually affectionate relationship but when a stranger expects to bed me, I am firmly opposed.

My days are routine. I get up by 8 a.m., get dressed, make my bed, make coffee, turn on TV and watch game shows and Lifetime Movies. During the day I play on-line euchre, answer emails and usually post to my blog. I typically head to bed about 8:00 p.m. and read or watch TV until about 11 p.m. I wake up frequently but a few pages of reading puts me back to sleep.

Some days I do laundry. I have a few other chores I try to stay up on. I keep my condo tidy, I try to make sure Sophie is well cared for. Of course I have to think about meals and about once a week I shop for groceries. I have been slowly organizing my closet and eventually I want to get rid of boxes piled up in the garage that are full of items to be donated so I can do more out there.

With the virus numbers still too high, I’m afraid to go to my card games or dances. Maybe next week I’ll go back to karaoke but not dance with anyone. (Since I’m rarely asked, it gives me a good excuse to be a wall flower.)

I do have an ODPC (Original Dulcimer Players Club) annual meeting on Saturday (on Zoom). On Tuesday I have a hair appointment, and once I have my patio cleaned and the furniture back in place I can get some sun, especially since it’s not as humid and promises to be even better as we get into October. Maybe with less humidity, I’ll even go to the pool. It’s still pretty hot today (87 degrees) but should soon be more comfortable.

I never anticipated my life would be so dull. Surprisingly I still have a good attitude, but my total solitude is all too obvious to me.