Perimenopause/Menopause...

This shit.

Ladies am I right?

Like WHAT. THE. FUCK.

I know Perimenopause is the before - then after you haven't had a period for 12 months, you're in menopause. But whatever. They're one and the same to me. And she's a nasty bitch.

I thought I'd go ahead and just share/bitch/vent/talk a little about this here because no one else seems to want to. Men don't actually believe us when we try to explain what we're going through and what our symptoms are. Dr.'s are doing their best (If you get a good one) but there's literally like no research/funding for women's health in our country. The fact that - if you have a vagina - you're just shoved aside, not listened to, and not equal in America - is just the goddamn burden we've been dealing with for how long?! 

So, here's my journey. I'm right in the throes of it.

I had a hysterectomy in May of 2023. They did leave my ovaries, so not the entire kit & caboodle, but they took everything else. It didn't go great for me. I had major gut issues for months after that, and my body pretty much decided to revolt against me. It also seemed to kick me into full gear for this damn menopause journey.  - Side note - what pisses me off is I wanted a hysterectomy in my 20's/30's. I've had nothing but issues with my lady bits and I never had the desire to have kids. So take that shit out! But nooooooooooooooo God forbid I have a choice over my own body. I was just told "I may change my mind" and pushed out the door. Well guess what? My issues got worse and worse and finally in my late 40's they took it out. May have had a better recovery if I had it done at a younger age - but fuck you America's Healthcare.

Once my gut somewhat recovered (This was after a stint doing Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy) I realized I was having all kinds of other weird stuff going on. My sex drive plummeted. I used to be a very sexual person and that just seemed to have died. I started feeling super alone, depressed and ragey. I also had this growing tire around my midsection that I could not get control of. I eat well. I exercise more than the average person. Yet I gained like 25 pounds. I was put on Lexapro to fight the depression, but I was just gaining weight and not feeling any better. Sometime in late 2024 my Dr tried the estrogen patch, thinking I was probably perimenopause. It didn't do anything it seemed, so I stopped that. Also quit the Lexapro since that was just adding to my weight gain.

Then I seemed to be getting UTI's every single time I had sex and sometimes even just for the Hell of it. I was the lube queen. I've dried up like a damn desert down there, so I gotta get help. I was sent to a special Gyn-Urologist. She was basically a Urologist but specialized specifically for women. After a few failed ideas she had she said to take a microdose of a UTI antibiotic right after I have sex. Guess what - it fucking worked! So now I have what I like to call my "Sex Meds".

The weight was still lingering and nothing I was doing was working. Then this wave of GLP's started becoming a thing and every damn person I knew was on one. My Dr. thought I would be a good candidate for just a tiny dose, because as she said - I was literally doing everything right. There's been more and more great things coming out of the studies of these. Hell one of my friends said it cured her colitis! So I gave it a go. It seemed to be helping me in some ways. I was eating less, losing weight at a very slow rate and it actually cured my "hangry triggers" so that was great! No more barfing when Jami got hangry! 

But my body was still being weird. I almost felt like a foreigner in my own skin. Back to the Dr I went. I love my Dr. She'll try anything and send me to whomever. She now figured it was time to pass me off to another OBGYN - this woman is actually deemed the Menopause Queen. I'm in.

So I find myself in her office listing all the weird shit that's been happening. "My body aches, and my joints - like I walk my dog and it feels like I ran a marathon. It's not like the normal soreness, but it's weird and achey". She nods. "Yup. That's musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause."  You ladies heard of this shit?! I tell her my ears itch. She nods. I tell her I just itch on my face. She nods. I tell her I'm breaking out again. She laughs. She then says "You feel like you just want to jump out of your own skin because your body doesn't feel like yours?" I actually teared up. Finally. Someone who understands!

She starts listing off things to try, paths we can take. She's going to do bloodwork to find out if I'm fully in. Update - I so am. My estrogen is just gone and my ovaries are shriveling up. She mentions some things and says "These aren't FDA approved yet, but there's plenty of research that says it works. But you know they'll push 15 meds through if it was for a man!". I like her.

So over the past year, I'm still on the GLP because it works really well with the Estrogen patch I'm now on (this time the right dose). There is a plan to ween off the GLP because I don't want to move up in dosage due to my troublesome gut, and my Dr agrees. I'm at a good weight, and once I get back to my usual workouts I can maintain with the ween off method. But I'm also now on Progesterone that's supposed to help me sleep so that I can actually get up and work out in the morning which I haven't been able to do because of exhaustion. And I'm soon going to be giving a testosterone cream a go because that can help with sex drive, lean muscle mass and energy.

So that's where I am. I'm on a cocktail of HRT and it really does seem to be helping. It's still damn hard. My eyes are super dry. I'm still tired even when I sleep. And I'm hot all the fucking time. And the GODDAMN BRAIN FOG?! Like why do I just not remember fucking words anymore?! But the aches have gone away, the mood have quelled for the most part (Although if one more person says "Everything seems to be menopause/excuse, you know you can just be getting old?") I may punch you in the dick. Because yes - that's usually men. You asshats don't think I know the difference between just being 50 and something entirely foreign and weird and wrong?!

And look  - I don't mean to trash men here, but educate yourselves. If you care about us you'd learn about it a bit more and know we're not fucking crazy. Our bodies and our hormones are basically in a fucking war with each other inside our skin making us feel like we're going to turn inside out. Oh - and again - our country gives zero fucks about women's health so all we got is what are Dr's/Scientists that actually care have found out on their damn own.

So there you have it. How you ladies doing? Know we're in this together! I'm seriously thinking of putting together some kind of a gathering of woman to just share our journeys with each other and help us all realize - You're not crazy. You're not alone.

2025 Recap..

Welp.

Yet another not great year.

I always hate to start out the blogs like that, but man - we've taken a beating this year. Our country is in shambles. Every person I talk to is going through something. Something not great. I feel similar to how I felt after the 2020 year - just beat up and spit out. Lots of exhaustion. Unfortunately lots of struggle and sadness. I feel the need to be very raw and honest with this recap, because sometimes I feel like people feel the need to always be positive no matter what. Like we're actually shamed if we post real/raw stuff. Pushed to always be positive, etc. But you know what - it's ok to acknowledge when something blows. Don't hide your feelings. Let them out so you feel less alone. We need to stop being so worried to talk about things when they're hard. I actually would really like to see more shit like this - more honest and raw posts about how things are just too hard sometimes - and that's actually ok. It's life. Life has ups and downs. So -  2025 really was just a brutal goddamn year. There I said it. And I certainly mean it.

 

The 1st six months of the year we were in the traumatizing battle of seizures with our poor Poe. Losing him in July was absolutely devastating. I'm still not over it, and sometimes think I'll never get over it. I can't even begin to explain the toll it takes on a person. Sleepless nights, constant anxiety and fear, that feeling of being so out of control and not able to stop this horrible disease from attacking such a perfect sweet soul. And in the end to fucking lose.

 

I also can't even begin to fathom the absolute shit show that our country is in right now. It's almost unbelievable yet here we are. The hatred. The anger. The fact that our country is being run by a demented piece of shit man child and nothing is being done about it. All year, I see Dems, people in power, hell even alot of Republicans at this point saying "It's not ok. Fuck this guy" Yet NOTHING IS BEING DONE. Like ok people - we know - he sucks - he's horrid - BUT WHAT THE FUCK DO WE DO TO FIX IT?! I'm exhausted. I have no fight left. If anyone - and I mean ANYONE - tries to get into with me I leave the situation or sadly in some cases have left the relationship. No. There's no more excuses. I refuse to hear them. Fuck off with your conspiracy theories. Fuck off if you still support the current administration. Just fuck right off. I'm done. Like SO FUCKING DONE.

 

We lost some great people this year. Like a lot. It was so sad.  David Lynch, Gene Hackman, like one of the best Popes we've ever had, Ozzy, Robert Redford, Jane Goodall, Diane Keaton, Malcolm Jamal Warner and then the horrible murder of Rob Reiner and his wife. Like WTF. And that's just naming a small amount of the wonderful people we lost.

 

Oh and let's step back and look at the friggin world right now. The many wars going on. I just can't. It's not great.

 

So where do we go from here? I don't know. I'm not going to lie. I'm scared. I'm tired. But I'm trying. I'm trying so hard to find the joy where I can. To spread kindness. To be a good person. Because I guess right now that's all we can do. Turn our focus back inward and see what you can do to better the little circle that's around you. Hopefully that can grow and spread just like a ripple in a pond. And when it gets too hard or too shitty - grab a drink and grab a friend or 10 and commiserate together. Because the one thing we are not -  is alone. Reach out. Get therapy. Talk to people. Speak up about feelings and kindness and good.

 

And here we go - 2026.

 

Already on the horizon - Pat and I turn 50 this year. 50. WTF. There's a trip on the books. I want to write more. Geocache more. Battle this oh so bullshit thing we call menopause. Move more. Help more. Do my damn best. So here we go....  

 

 

There's not many highlights in 2025 but there were a few. In May - the one and only time we had a small ray of hope that we were actually going to be able to get a handle on our poor Poe's seizures, we took a great trip to Paso. I love it up there. It's so damn good for the soul. We also took another great trip with some dear friends again in October. We're sharing a wine club membership at Austin Hope and figured let's see if we travel well together when we get our pickup  - and we certainly do!

 

Tianna and Scott

Another highlight was our Thanksgiving trip to Joshua Tree. This trip was very special because we found my Papa's desert house! It was a great few days away.

 

Us in Joshua Tree with the new pup that Pat just had to have - Rascal

But the biggest highlight of the whole year was our trip to Zion. This was truly the one stand out of 2025 that was just amazing. It was a few months after we lost Poe and I wanted to get a trip in to somewhere that we wouldn't normally be able to go if we had a dog. So Zion was it. We tacked on a Vegas stopover eating at the delicious Hell's Kitchen. Then spent a glorious beautiful few days in Zion. We booked it a bit last minute, so spent a bit more than we would usually on a trip but it was worth every penny. From the E-biking through the canyon, hiking the narrows, waking up to the sight of the mountains, I could go on and on. This went into my top 3 vacations I've ever taken in my life. It was just perfect.

I've been doing really good keeping up my monthly blogs, dropping in photos of that months happenings. I love to go back and see all the great memories we've been making. It helps my old ass remember and re-live the good times. And although this year is one that I'll happily not think back on too much - there were many wonderful moments spent with friends, family and finding joy.

 

As we start this new year, I wish for nothing but joy, laughter, happiness, and just fucking goodness for you all and us. 

 

Happy New Year Friends! 

  

  

 

 

Please God, Universe, Mother Nature, who ever is out there - LET 2026 BE GOOD TO US....

Almost hopeless...

I feel very heavy this morning. Exhausted. Sad. Heartbroken. Disappointed. And worst of all - hopeless.  Don't worry, I'll come out of this, but I'm allowing space to feel defeated right now. 

I'm so sad that our country is majority in favor of a man who fuels hate like wildfire. Whose an arrogant, delusional, hateful billionaire that for some reason people stand behind. Don't talk to me about the media skewing what I see. Don't talk to me about you actually believing that this horrible person gives any sort of shit about anyone in this country - including you who voted for him. I'm so fucking tired of people saying "Don't let politics interfere with your relationships". If you voted for this beacon of hate that says something about you as a person. That says to me, that you don't care about the rights of everyone in this country and I'm never going to be ok with that. It tells me that you would rather put someone in the White House that has turned politics upside down and into a hateful circus.

Don't get me wrong - I'm perfectly aware that politics is it's own monster. It can be shady, deceiving, I can go on and on.  But I always held out hope - that my vote, my voice would be heard in things that matter. Things like equal rights for every damn one regardless of gender, religion, sexuality, color. We're all humans and we're all equal. My priorities and passions are to help others, to care, to be equal.  He is the opposite of all of that. He has brought out the ugly underbelly of hateful, angry, racist, fascist people of this country that has broken my heart to see how many there actually are.

I've lost faith in our country.

I was losing faith in humankind, but I see the messages of hope. I see the heartbreak and feel the sadness. There is still so many of us out there who care, who want to help, and that let's my tiny flame of hope still burn.

Do not try to change my mind, or how I feel, I will walk away. I'm absolutely done.

My focus now is going to be re-centered and trying to continue to practice kindness in these difficult times. I am hear if you need to grieve, if you need an ear, if you need a hug, if you need some wine. 

Take care of yourself my friends.

 

California is officially "Re-Opening"...

June 15th.

The apparent magic day for us Californians. 

Basically all the mandates in place are being tossed and it's a damn free for all.

I felt I needed to throw out a blog.

It's been really weird since we crossed over the year mark a few months ago of when this damn thing hit.  I go back and read the blogs I wrote about it and Jesus have we been through it!  Pat yourselves on the back.  We fucking made it.  Not unscathed, but we're here.

As the vaccine roll out has been happening it has made a huge impact.  Our cases and deaths have gone way way down and hospitals are back to normal again.  I'm actually pretty impressed by how well we seem to have done.  We're not out of the woods yet and the pandemic isn't over, but I am finally actually feeling a bit hopeful and not just cautiously optimistic.  

From my understanding - no more social distancing.  No more capacity limits - except I do believe there is some rules and what not in place for any type of huge events.  No more masks for vaccinated people.  Now - you still will wear them in medical places, schools, public transportation and if any business is still requiring it.  I have no clue how people plan to respond to this.  Personally I'll always still have my mask on me, and plan to still wear it if any business I go in have a masked up staff.  I just feel it's polite.  I think we'll still be wearing them here at Chapman.  Chapman is requiring vaccines now for all returning in Fall when they plan to fully re-open back up.  Those of us vaccinated don't have to get weekly tests anymore thank GAWD.

It's such a trip.  I hated the word "New Normal" but that's where we are.  We've gone from total lockdown and terror to opening right back up with some changes.

I must say though - being able to see my people again (slowly but surely) has been amazing.  I would say 90% of my friends and family are vaccinated.  So we've been easing back in.  Here's some precious highlights:

 

Mother's Day!  We got to hug all up on our moms!  We had them over for a Sunday Brunch that we made for them.

Moms!

Moms!

My monthly brunches with Julie!

Love my Julie

My Photo Adventure Group had a Park Day!!

Couldn't have asked for a better group to have my 1st group gathering!

I get to love up on my 95 year old Grandad!!

Elise got to have an in person 6th Grade Promotion!  Socially distanced and masked but still!

Other moments not captured on camera - Monthly Happy Hours with friends, Friday lunches with dad, eating inside a restaurant, and really just being able to hug people again!

So yeah - it's weird.  It's a new normal.  But thank you to Science and the Medical World and people finally getting on the ball, we're making progress. 

We still have a long road ahead.  Lots of complications with so many things.  Lots of political battles.  Lots of people just being dicks.  There's also a huge mental health toll.  In fact there was a great article I was reading about "Languishing".  It's a new term you can read about here.  I found it fascinating and right on to what so many of us are going through.  Business are having new struggles - a lot of folks are staying on unemployment right now since there's been so much "stimulus" help they don't want to come back.  I'm pretty sure that's coming to an end soon though.  Lots of people getting breaks on rents/mortgages will be ending.  Depression is at an all time high.  Alcoholism is on the rise (I need to cut back my damn self)  There's just a whole lot of so much shit to deal with still.

But I'm so glad we've at least turned a massive corner.  I feel there is a light now.  We've been in the dark for a bit over a year but my hope now is we keep moving forward.  Fingers crossed.

In the meantime - be grateful.  Take nothing for granted.  And for gods sake be kind.  Too many people are going through too much shit and we have to be kind to each other.  

Love you friends!

Pandemic Ponderings are still.....pondering...

 Welp.

Here we STILL are.  

We just had the year anniversary of the 1st person who contracted COVID in the US.  We're rolling up on the year anniversary here in a little over a month of when our country shut down.  And here's the count as of today:

Orange County:

236K Cases   2,638 Deaths

US:

3.19m Cases   37,203 Deaths

World:

99.4M Cases   2.13m Deaths.

Awesome right.

I'm so done you guys.  

Every day - wake up having massive anxiety.  It has subsided a bit thanks to the CBD oil my friend sent me from Vital Body Therapy.  I tried a bunch of different ones and this one seems to help me a bit, but damn.

We get tested weekly now at Chapman.  So once a week I get to walk over to our health center, sometimes stand in line, fill out a form, get sent to a room where a nice nurse has me tilt my head back and they swab both nostrils.  I'm always happy when I get the gentler lady as oppose to the aggressive one who seems to like to really get in there.  I then go stare at my phone for the next 15-30 minutes having heart palpitations hoping they don't call me.  (They only call you if you test positive).   So that's a fun weekly routine.  Yes, I'm grateful I work for an institution that offers this - but JESUS it's really anxiety driven ya know?!

I then wander back to my empty offices and basically empty building to work through the day, blasting music out of my computer to drown out the depressing silence and wonder if anyone else exists anymore.  The two days I work from home, I do everything in my power to try to stay focused in my uncomfortable make shift work corner.  It's basically impossible.

Every other week I have a Zoom "Booze Day" with 3 other co-workers that I miss dearly.  It's been such a saving grace to at least have a drink and see their faces through a computer screen.  

 

The pets join too sometimes!

 

It's just so depressing.  I feel so disconnected and alone and un-appreciated because I'm basically now the UA bitch since only "essential" peeps can come in, so my job is now doing random shit for everyone else they can't do from home.  "Parking Lot Pass-Off's" is the only time I see anyone in person for a nano second behind masks from their car windows.  I did see a co-worker whose on campus the other day when I picked up a check and we ended up talking for like 45 minutes.  We were both just so happy to have contact with someone! 

Our state is a fucking mess.  Our Governor can't seem to make up his fucking mind and bounces back and forth with total shut down to sort of shut down with colored levels.  But no one gives a shit.  The last shut down people just kept on doing business as if there wasn't a shut down.  No Outdoor Dining?  Fuck you guys we're doing it anyway!!!  So when he lifted the latest "Stay at Home" order it really doesn't seem like anything will change around here because no one was listening to it anyway.  Plus it's so confusing!  We got put on the Order because our ICU's have 0 capacity.  Um....they still do?!?!  Why are we re-opening?  Should we have never shut down?  There are no clear answers and it's making everyone confused and crazy and pissed off.  Fingers are being pointed as to the reason we're skyrocketing in cases and numbers...Gatherings!!  Restaurants!!!  Grocery Stores!!!  Not strict enough Mask stuff!!!  But seriously - WTF is it?!?!  Why can't someone in charge figure it out and make it fucking right!!!

The only hope in sight is vaccinations are starting to be distributed all over.  They have a couple of big pods where people can go, but it's also a bit of a shit show at the moment because of course everyone is super overwhelmed.  Apparently the app to make appointments sucks.  It's a nightmare to get through, etc etc.  It's just over 65, healthcare workers and first responders on the list right now but still.  It sounds like a mess.  Hopefully that will get under control soon?

We also have a new president.  THANK GAWD.  I know things can't get fixed over night, but just hearing normal press briefings, seeing Fauci's face back up there and an administration that's listening to science and doctors and saying - "Yeah....we gotta fix this shit" is hopeful.  But damn there is a long way to go.  I saw posts of so many of my people crying with joy and excitement and happiness during last weeks inauguration but honestly I'm still having PTSD from the last 4 years and until shit starts actually changing I just can't cry tears of joy yet.  I will say this though - watching a woman be sworn in as VP did make me happy.  The fashion was amaze-balls.  Lady Gaga's side eye to Pence was brilliant.  The Bernie image (which is all of us) was glorious.  It was a good day.  But still - let's see it happen right?!

Pretty cool...

I'm trying so hard to be safe, but to keep my mental health on track, but to be respectful, but to do the right thing, but you guys - IT'S EXHAUSTING.  I have friends who have not left their house since March.  I have friends who judge people who do.  I have friends who honestly seem a bit careless.  I have friends who say you should do this and not that and this is right and that is wrong and how dare you!  But you know what?  I'm at the point where this is no right or wrong.  I mean yes - be safe.  Wear a mask.  But if you have to visit people for your mental health - do it.  I'm sorry if some think that's wrong, but there are those of us in this world who NEED SOCIAL INTERACTION.  I wear a mask.  I keep my distance and keep the visits outside.  But even my therapist has told me - do it - be safe but do it.  You need to.  I miss all my social interactions because I had many and will again, but there are a few I just need to see now.  So I do.  Safely.  But it's just a couple.  I still see a lot virtually but it's just not the same.  But it's needed for sure and godamn if I'm not grateful that we have the ability in today's age to do just that.  Thank you Zoom and FaceTime!

 

Pat and I were trying to still have date nights on Friday nights, but it's just not the same ya know?  We're home.  We tried dressing up a few times even though we were at home, but it gets old fast.  I never realized how much going out was such a thing.  My brother and sis in law did sign us up for a Murder Mystery thing you do at home with clues and internet, etc but the damn thing was so hard we ended up getting super frustrated.  It was fun at first and talk about a weird way to bond....getting pissed off but not at each other. Ha!

My hottie smart boyfriend

It started out fun!

Lately we've kind of started a park trend.  We try to get out once a weekend with the kiddo to a park so she can ride her bike, we can take the dog and I can geocache!  It's been a really nice excursion and we've found a whole bunch of new parks which is also very cool!

I'm super grateful to not be living in the caboose anymore.  I can't tell you how amazing it is to be warm!!!  I've got back into my morning stretch routine.  I try to get out and hike or walk every day if I can.  I'm trying to work meditation back into my life.  I'm sending more mail which seems to bring people joy and me.  We're all trying.  

It's tough though.  Major fatigue is setting in.  I'm so hoping we see a legitimate light at the end of the tunnel real soon.  Never in a million years did I think I'd be writing blogs like this.  For a damn year now.  Hang in there my friends!  All we can do is just weather this storm together.  Love to everyone!

 

2020 Recap...

Do I even bother?

My GAWD.  2020 has been one of the most difficult years in probably all of our lives.  Who ever would have thought we would end up here.  It's created the oddest world to live in right now.  Masks are worn everywhere.  You shouldn't go anywhere unless essential.  Don't mix households.  Don't party.  Don't gather.  Hospitals are at capacity and going over.  It's fucking awful you guys.

Worldwide over 80 million cases and almost 2 million deaths.  United States has over 20 million cases and almost 350K deaths.  Just California is over 2 million cases and over 25K deaths.  I'm pretty sure we're fucked until at the very least - Spring.  The holidays have and will push us over the edge.  It's just so sad.

I'll be returning to work on Mon (after winter break) - the only one still.  My office is so weird and quiet.  It looks like the rapture hit.  I listen to my music loudly, talk to myself and get startled once a day by the cleaning gal.  It's just so odd.  I don't know when our staff will be coming back.  It certainly doesn't look like soon.  They'll be starting to test those of us who are "essential" weekly now.  I guess that's good right?  But everytime I get tested I have massive anxiety for that half hour waiting for results.  Lord.

But all we can do is look forward right?  So I'll try to hit the positives as we roll very cautiously into 2021.

2 vaccines are out and starting to be distributed so that's good.  Gives us somewhat of hope on the horizon.  I figure after we have probably a horrid January we may start seeing a downswing?  There's no more holidays...no more reasons for people to travel and get together.  We have a new president who will actually be a president.  Vaccines will continue rolling out...so fingers crossed.

2020 started out really good actually.  I began the Artists Way  Once life is somewhat normal again I'd like to re-visit that, I was actually enjoying the experience more than before.

I did a couple of fun food tours with Taylor.  Had a great birthday.  And moved in with my boyfriend.

Then March hit - FUCKING COVID.  

Let's just say the tough stuff and changes and adjustments that come with moving in with someone (when you've lived alone for almost 10 years...) get amplified when you get locked down too.  The world shut down about a month after we moved in together, so let's just say that's been a rough ride.  We're in a good place now though.  We got help and learned a lot more about each other.  We've made this place a really good home I think!  The three of us have gotten used to each others ways and we're doing well.  I'm very happy here and WARM! 

This whole mess did inspire me to do a Lockdown Life - a series of blogs that I'm really glad I wrote.

I've also been utilizing Zoom, FaceTime and Microsoft Teams.  It's been a god-send to be able to do all kinds of virtual things.  It of course isn't the same and kinda weird but I have so needed my people and we're so lucky to have these ways to do so!  I also have "patio" visits with my family and a couple of closer friends.

But 2020 was brutal.  It took my Tabitha.  It took my brothers best friend Matt.  It took my good friend Kim.  It took so many people to COVID.  It sparked a huge BLM movement after more senseless killings of Black people.  All music/theatre/events are gone.  So many people are out of work.  It's been a goddamn shit show.  

But I digress.  It's hard not too because we're still in it.  So - I really sadly don't have a whole lot to re-cap on, but we did our best.  We did do a few safe trips away.  I've learned to cook - and I'm pretty good!  We've gotten outside ALOT.  Done a lot of Geocaching.  And fallen into some pretty relaxing routines.  I also have to mention it's been really cool seeing all the creative ways people are coming up with trying to deal with this crap.  Lots of restaurants have meal kits and new ways to do take out.  There is a lot more alcohol to go options!  Delivery and things like Instacart have spiked.  Drive through movies made a come back.  Lots of drive through events.  We did a Stranger Things one that was rad!  All kinds of "Social Distancing" ways of still trying to do what used to be normal.  It's been pretty inspiring.

We're all doing the best we can.  So I'll end with some favorite pictures over the year!  Take a gander at some of moments of joy:

 Pre-Pandemic: 

Went to the snow in Jan!

I think this was our only Adventure Group Outing of 2020

My birthday

Pisces Trifecta

Taylor and I got a couple of Food Fun in before it hit

Pandemic Times:

We have become rad cooks

Been hiking alot

Social Distancing Park/Geocaching Days

Elise and I went pink during Lock down

We were able to use a pool all summer by ourselves!

Went to Lake Gregory

Went to Idyllwild

Went to Julian

Did a pretty damn good social distance Halloween

Did some drive through fun

Halloween Safely at Knotts

Xmas!

New Years Eve - Pat surprised me with Yagi Sushi! 

 

So there it is friends!  Probably and I hope the worst year to ever experience.  Let's hope 2021 brings us out of this mess.  Hopefully with a new president in place, vaccines on the way, people being safer - we'll get there right?!  

Stay safe my friends!  Spread the love and kindness - we need it more than ever right now!  Crossing our fingers for light at the end of a very dark tunnel.  Love to you all!!