More pandemic updates and a big birthday

Trying to find things to do during a pandemic is not easy. Since going out shopping, visiting family, or going to a restaurant are not available at the moment, we have been doing what we can to keep busy and keep connected.

Wendy, Sally and I were able to set the stage for a Yahtzee night with our friends Terry and Theresa. We did it using the online meeting software Zoom. They sat in their home, while we sat in ours, and we played Yahtzee (a dice game) together. Physical distancing, but not social distancing. We even set up the webcam so it was on top of our living room TV, so it felt like we were right there with our friends. Life sized! Sally won the whole thing with her beginner's luck!

Yahtzee night!

I have been continuing to make an effort to get back into doing stained glass. The large project I have been working on for a long time (4 years...) was still there and called to me again last week. I have been doing what I can to move it forward, while my fingers have been doing their best to try to stop me, but progress is visible. This project is for our friends Mel and Murray and I plan to finish it before the end of the pandemic restrictions.

It is a custom Northern Ontario scene with deer, hills, trees, water, rocks, etc.

Our hiking hobby has taken a beating, and not just because of my health. All of our local trails are closed to prevent people from getting too close. Many times we have seen people sliding their bicycles under these new barricades - they clearly are not capable of reading.

Our wildlife has been active and getting around, even if we haven't. The deer are out all the time, as are the turkeys. Yes, turkeys. Big things walking down the street, flaunting their newfound freedom from all those pesky humans hogging all the streets.

My 56th birthday happened last week - and if the doctors are correct, that may have been my last. I thought I would spend my first pandemic birthday doing interesting things. The first thing, after a web conference with students and some marking, was to make my own birthday cake. I made my favourite - poppyseed cake with a walnut cream filling.

Early in the morning, our friend dropped off for me a Cuban cigar on our front step. I know, I don't smoke, but it was a bucket list item to have a Cuban cigar in Cuba... that trip didn't happen because of my health. Our friends went and were able to bring this one back for me. Of course, what better day to try something new than my birthday?

Not long after, another friend dropped off (safely, without interaction) some refreshments for Wendy (the Coke) and I (the not Coke). The day was looking very promising and I hadn't even finished the cake!

Here it is cooling.

It didn't turn out to look the way I wanted... but it tasted great. The sauce was too thin and it kind of mushed out the sides.

Later in the afternoon, it was quite nice outside, so I did smoke the cigar and have a beer. The cigar smelled good! Maybe I should try a pipe next...

To compete with fire, Wendy decided to roast marshmallows at the same time. I still made more smoke than Wendy, though.

We had an online drop-in birthday party that evening on Zoom, with the same setup as our Yahtzee night. It was a lot of fun and seemed to become somewhat of a drinking game, as people popped up on screen. It was wonderful to see everyone and hear how they were doing.

This is the view that we had from our end of the party. For a while there, it look like the intro to the Brady Bunch, sometimes looking more like Hollywood Squares. For those not familiar with those TV shows, check them out online. It was bewildering, but it was a blast!

I was very happy with my birthday party and I think we made it a full and very memorable day.


Since my birthday, life has not slowed down! The next day, Adam's friends Neil, Mike, and Nick sent a package over with something liquid inside... he has some very thoughtful friends and they selected a very good scotch to commemorate an important milestone. Thanks, guys!

Wendy was lamenting that her hair was getting out of control, so we decided that I could take a stab at cutting her hair. She was definitely apprehensive about what was happening where she could not see. I said that it didn't matter how well it turned out, as she would be working from home for a long time to come... surprisingly, that comment didn't help much.

A nervous look...

No blood was drawn, and the initial apprehension gave way to a reasonable first time result of me cutting her hair (I have cut Adam and Parker's hair for years).

Not bad... can still see the pink that I put in for Wendy several weeks ago.

Not sure if she will allow me to do it again, and I am considering whether I should have her cut my hair in return...