It is the desert ya know

Mid week we had an excessive heat warning out. Wednesday through Friday were the worst days so far. We went to the pool on Thursday for an hour and I got sunburned. Half hour at a time is as long as I really should be in the sun with my fair skin. But the water felt so good. Well Friday I didn't go to the pool at all and Mark went in the evening. He tans and I burn. My mornings are usually busy since it's the cooler part of the day. But when we go to the pool in the afternoons, I'll have to cut the time shorter, I don't want to burn again.

Murphy is singing very well throughout the day. It's not continuous but it is loud and a pretty song. He isn't as messy as CarlAnn and will eat almost anything I put in his cage. Which makes keeping the floor in area clean easier on me.

The last few days I've had neck and arm issues that are slowing me down. This morning, again, I can hardly lift my coffee cup or turn my head. It seems odd that knowing what was causing my arms pain, has made it worse. Or maybe knowing has made me more aware than before. Either way it's not going to go away. I was hoping that it wouldn't get worse so quickly.

Places of business are opening up and the virus is rising at a faster rate than before.  We are not going to stop our safety measures anytime soon. Let the foolish people deal with the consequences and stay away from us. But boy I'm sure looking forward to eating out again. Take out will have to do for some time yet.

Male Crested Gloster Canary

Friday one of the ladies in a canary group that I belong to, told me of a bird store in AZ that had a gloster canary. So I called and yes indeed she had a male crested gloster canary. After asking Mark if he would mind driving to Apache Junction I asked her if she would hold it for me and I would come and purchase the bird the next day. She sent me a couple pictures so I got to see him first too. Just what I as looking for.

Saturday morning we loaded up the truck, Lola, my female canary, extra cage, munchies and water and we set out across the desert to Apache Junction. Being a holiday I was concerned about traffic, but there wasn't nearly as much as expected, nothing like it would have been in MN this weekend. It took us three hours and one missed turn to get there but we made it safely. PTL

The lady that I talked to on the phone had put my bird in a separate cage and put sold on the cage. When we got there I was looking at my bird when she came up to me and asked if I was from Yuma. After answering her with an excited Yes I am, she said she was happy we made it safely. They put the bird in a small   cage for transport. I didn't know that birds do not like those cardboard boxes pet stores use. We even got to keep the cage, it's part of the initial cost. And it may come in handy, who knows

The drive home went well with no missed turns and it was a nice safe ride too. Once home I started to tear down CarlAnns cage to get it cleaned and disinfected for the new bird. The new bird took to the cage well. He seems to really like it too. And he really loved the food and water I had in there for him. He ate and ate and drank and drank. By 7:20 he found his corner for the night so I covered him and let him sleep.

Sunday morning I turned on a video for training a canary to sing. It helps a young bird find their voice. He had a few cute twitters but the real belly song came during online church as Pastor Tom was giving the message. Mark and I looked at each other with big smiles. The little bird sure has a big voice. I was so happy to hear him sing and Mark was very happy that I had my singing male bird. As the day went by I came up with a name, out of the clear blue I started calling him Murphy. I've no idea where that came from, but it fit him well. The rest of the day Murphy sang loudly off and on....in between eating and drinking. Murphy is not as skiddish as CarlAnn was, he lets you watch him, even when he is taking a bath. And boy does he love to splash and enjoy the water.  I need to put up a backsplash for him. 😆

Yes, I am one very happy lady, thanks to my loving husband.
I love the crest on the top of a glosters head, it looks like a cap and makes them so unique.

Doctor

Mark just had his second consultation with a doctor via the phone. We were both pleased with Dr Wylie too.  From the sounds of it virtual doctors visits will be a norm around here. Loved hearing that. For now it's phone and virtual because of the virus. But virtual visits will be here to stay. We got   good reports on the lab work too and to keep doing what I can to keep my love healthy.  The doctor also gave a very impressive review of the cardiologist that Mark sees in June.  I had heard that the cardiology department in Yuma is excellent.

New loveseat

The delivery men wore masks and were super polite. They had to take the patio door off to get the old beast out! And even at that it was tough for them to do. But they got it out and the new love seat inside. They even helped put the protective covers on the legs so the floor wouldn't get scratched. How nice. There is actually room to walk around the couch now. Maybe we will even be able to open the front windows this winter. And I now have some place to sit besides my power lift chair when I need a different position.


The ends recline making it even more versatile. Too short for Mark to stretch out on when he has trouble sleeping at night. But this morning I found him sitting in it reclining and snoring away. So it must work for him in that position too. I can even get at my record player now! Yep, most all of my records survived storage in MN for those three years. The ones that didn't make it, weren't ones I really cared about anyway.

Full days

Friday morning Mark had a phone appointment with a doctor to renew his meds and set up an appointment with a cardiologist. He is way past due! The cardiologist will call as soon as he has an opening. Sooner than later I pray. Once he was feeling better we went for a ride. And ended up at a furniture store that had just opened up after the go ahead from our idiot governor. We were met by a masked owner and asked what we were looking for. He took us to that area so we didn't need to go all over the store. We knew exactly what we were looking for so no need to browse. We found a nice loveseat that fits my back and neck perfectly and is very comfortable for both of us. Both ends are reclining too. It will be delivered on Tuesday. Masks will be worn or they won't be coming inside. I do have extra masks if needed.

Saturday was a busy day as well. It started with me going back to the doctor with another bladder infection. He said that it probably came back because of an underlying bacteria that didn't go away from the first antibiotic. So this time I got a stronger one. Thank God for insurance or those new pills would have cost me over $100 for 20 pills. The big Pharma's should be sued for trying to kill us, by not being able to afford our meds. Insane.

In the afternoon we went to WM to pick up our online order. But on the way Mark had to stop at the furniture store that we were in yesterday. Mark headed towards the loveseat we bought and we sat down. When the manager came over to us he was laughing so hard when he saw us. We told him we were practising how we would sit on the loveseat for church next Sunday.  Yep, we're nuts. As it was on Friday masks were worn by all. We felt safe in there. And he had just opened his store on Friday too. By the time we got home it was time to pick up my meds.

Our pastor told us that in three weeks or so they would be opening the doors for Sunday service. All the while practicing social distancing. They will also continue online services for people like us that are not ready to be in and around people. The number of people with the virus is climbing. The testing is proving that the spreading of the virus is not done yet.

The pool in the park has opened and Mark is taking advantage of that. Also staying a good distance from anyone else that may be also in the pool. As I've said before no one in the park practises social distance or any kind of precautionary measures. Once my infection clears up I'll be going to the pool for exercise as well. Boy do we need the exercise!!  😬 Fat is not attractive!

A few happenings

This week has been lower in temps and actually cool enough to open up the doors and windows in the evening and through to mid afternoon. Wednesday's high was only 89º and the morning was a cool 62º. It's so nice being able to open up and let some fresh air inside. There aren't any days like this come summer.

Monday we got a new Air Fryer Oven 360. It has more capabilities and room than our previous one. With all the extra cooking we felt that this new one was a good choice. And it was half the price of what we saw it was on a tv commercial. It takes up a little more space of my already limited counter space, but I worked it out to not be a big issue. Yesterday I made blueberry muffins using the bake option and last night cornish hens using the rotisserie option. Both turned out great.  It takes less time to preheat, cook and cool down than the big oven. So to me it's a win win. I can see using this not only a lot in the hot summer months but the winter months as well.
Yesterday Mark suggested that I go ahead and find a male canary. Not sure he is ready for all the "singing". CarlAnn may think she is singing but she can't carry a tune in a bucket. More squawking than anything else. But she has a cute personality. I am trying to sell her because we don't want to breed and raise canaries and no room for a second cage. Although it's looking like I had better figure out where to put a second cage by the end of July. Once the new bird is here, he will have to be in quarantine for 14 days to prevent any possible illness to CarlAnn and her to him. I do have a little cage that can be used for that. It too will have to sanitized before the new bird can use that cage. I'm super excited and nervous at the same time. Nervous because I don't know how Mark will take to the "singing".  Which could last longer than what it is the CarlAnn does. 😃

Later in the day the office called to tell us that they have opened the pool. Of course it's cooler now.  Mark is anxious to get in there but I'm waiting until it gets warmer again. We both like to go when no one else is in the pool and with the COVID still active and none of the other residents here practise social distancing, we will stay away from them in the pool too. We use the pool more for exercise whereas the others use it as a social time. So it's nice when we are alone.

This morning is nice and comfortable so I opened up the doors and windows again today. I also have plans to make a cake before the temps goes up too far. Right now it's 72º at 8:30 and not much of a breeze. We are really enjoying the weather this week. 😎

From a bird brain for bird shit.

Got this in the mail today and put it where it belonged..... on the bottom of the bird cage where it was meant to be. Since it was already full of shit, what's a little more. It fit perfectly and could not have been put to better use.

Heat is on on Hump day.

We are currently in an excessive heat warning today and tomorrow. Highs around 107º. Ouch that's warm for this early in the season. We have no intentions of going anywhere so we will stay inside with the a/c running. 😎 I'm so happy that I got the laundry done yesterday morning.

Yesterday morning, bright and early, was the first time in almost two months that we went into a Walmart. We usually shop at the one in the city, on line, which is larger and less congested than the one in here in the foothills. But we needed some things that don't show on the online availability. We were very pleased to see that they actually  only allow so many in the store at one time. They have associates at the doors monitoring the people going in and coming out. There are arrows on the floors indicating which way to go down an isle. Yes, they are one way only and markings all over reminding of social distancing. We felt very comfortable getting the toilet paper and baked goods that we came for. Almost every shopper was wearing a mask and all the associates were wearing masks and some with gloves wiping things off with disinfectant. We, of course, wore our masks and only touched what we put in our cart. Very impressed with the WM on Pacific Ave. At least we were at this time.  Usually when we go to pick up our order there are many people going in not wearing a mask or staying the distance.

So happy

After months of hauling jugs of water from the dispensary, we now have good drinking water. Wednesday Mark put in our new RO system under the kitchen sink. The one we bought when we first moved in didn't make the water good enough for me to drink. I drink a lot of water each day, not pop or coffee, but plain ice water.  The one he put in on Wednesday is a 5 filter vs the two filter one that we had. So there is quite a difference in taste.  The water in Yuma is very salt laden making it undrinkable. Even with the new water systems that Yuma put in two years ago, the water is only good for cooking, bathing and doing dishes, which is better than it was.

The installation took a couple trips to the hardware store, as must plumbing projects do
Here is what Mark had to say about his trips to the store for parts:

So yesterday I was installing a new RO system to purify our water and need to go to a hardware store to get provisions. After entering the store it became obvious the store was not practising the use of PPE as no masks or even face shields were being used.

I found the materials needed and proceeded to the checkout line. There was an older gentleman ahead of me talking to one of the floor assistants discussing how all the liberals are mad and how he has never seen a trumper that was mad.

Instead of moving forward in line the two just stood there talking till finally a clerk told the young floor assistant he was needed elsewhere and asked the gentleman I was behind to move forward so she could check him out.

Again neither he nor the clerks were wearing a mask. In fact I was one of the few in the store that was. After being checked out myself I headed out the door only to hear some lady tell her husband to put on his mask as she saw me come out the door with mine. I remember thinking how do they expect to control the spread of the virus if you do not support wearing protection.

So today I read the local state paper online and the Republican Governor once again extended the stay at home practice, limited what stores can be open and said if you must go out to wear a mask. Of course several of his republican legislatures are demanding he recant and open Arizona back up.

His comment to them was something like this. I met with a fortune 100 CEO of an Arizona company, and he told him as a reflection of the retail industry 30% want the stores open to shop, another 30% will not shop until there is a vaccine and the remaining 40%, and majority, want to shop but will not until they can be reassured they will be safe going out shopping.

The Governor closed the interview saying that he and the CEO both agreed that you will only lose money  if you open your business to it serving only 30% of your customer base. And so Arizona will follow the CDC recommendations attempting to meet and control the curve we have been striving for so far.

Good Job Governor!