Winter Storm Finn was a very blustery thing. Sena got a video of our backyard, though, which presents the calm after the storm. The heavy snow makes all the trees bow, as if in homage to nature, whatever its form.
That said, we’re hoping Winter Storm Gerri tones it down a little.
We got our first snowfall that stuck around yesterday. We didn’t have to shovel because it melted off our sidewalk and driveway shortly past noon.
On the other hand, the snow drew the birds out for the berries in the trees. Cedar Waxwings and other small birds feasted in the early morning. Whether they got the winterberries low to the ground or the ones high up in the trees—they got them.
It snowed the better part of the morning. It caught some Iowa drivers off guard. There were pictures in the news of cars rolled over on their roofs in the ditches.
But the birds made out like bandits.
Music Credit for YouTube Video:
Eternal Hope by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100238
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Remember that Beignet mix and rolling pin Sena got back in May? She got around to making them yesterday. The use by date was November 1, 1892! No, sorry, actually it was November 1, 2023.
The day started out pretty cold and it even snowed. Birds and squirrels acted like they never saw snow before.
Anyway, we also tried Kauai Coffee for the first time in our Keurig machine. The pods look really different, but they worked. The flavors are subtle but they go well with Beignets. We’re not sure why they looked more like fried green tomatoes when they were done.
Beignets are delicious. Have plenty of powdered sugar on hand!
It’s snowing today, starting this afternoon. It’s not a blizzard. It comes down slowly and peacefully. Occasionally I see people and their kids and dogs out walking in it, likely grateful for the fresh air. It’s hard to be stuck indoors, self-isolating because of the COVID-19 epidemic. We play cribbage.
Sena tried the grocery pickup thing in order to avoid crowds. She ordered yesterday and picked up this afternoon. For the most part, the shoppers did OK. We noticed that as she was ordering, items would be sold out even before and sometimes after (we found out later) the ordering was done.
But we were able to get toilet paper.
This epidemic changes your life in many ways. I’m in the latter stage of phased retirement and I’ll go back on the consultation-liaison psychiatry service in April. I expect it to be busy, but I’ll likely not do as many face-to-face interviews, depending on the situations in the emergency room and the general hospital.
I probably won’t carry around my camp stool, which I use to sit with patients when I interview them. It’s just another item that the coronavirus can stick to.
We’re told not to wear neckties because they’re germy, but I gave that up a long time ago for banded collar shirts. But now I’ll have to remember to keep my arms bare up to the elbows.
We’re also reminded to avoid elevators so as to maintain social distance (6 feet or 2 meters, roughly). I’ve been taking the stairs for years. Many people avoid the stairs.
I’ve gotten used to handwashing because I’m a hospitalist. I’ll wear masks a lot more frequently as well as don and doff personal protective equipment as needed more often.
I’m older and I worry a little bit about belonging to a higher risk age group for COVID-19 and being exposed more. On the other hand, I’m pretty healthy compared to a lot of patients younger than me.
I’m glad the next generation of doctors will be taking over, though.
I usually never notice how pretty the snow is.
Go Retire Psychiatrist 