Author: robertjames1971

I'm wicked tall.

9:50am on Day 20

Good news, everybody! Our long national nightmare is over! This morning’s Covid-19 home test came back negative! I’ve been symptom free for a week already and now I have a negative test to go along with it!

This is the final post (probably not ever, but for now) that will be tagged “Live Blogging Covid” and I am really happy about this!

I can go outside again!

I can get the car inspected!

Well… that’s nothing to be excited about. Way to kill the mood, Robert.

Happy negative test day, everyone!

Change My Mind

Daily writing prompt
What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?
View all responses

Topics about which I’ve changed my mind. Well, off the top of my head there are bunch that I can think of. On closer inspection though, are some of them more as though I convinced myself that something was true only because the reality didn’t appeal to me? I’ll explain along the way.

  • I once believed that I would always be alone, romantically speaking. Jen proved me wrong and changed my mind. I am extremely pleased to have been wrong about this one. My question though is, did I really believe I was going to always be alone or did I just convince myself that was the case because it was safer to believe it than to ponder the reasons behind it? Something like that at least.
  • I once believed that I didn’t want kids. Harry and Bellana changed my mind. I don’t have kids of my own, but if you search through the history of this little personal blog you’ll find a few thousand posts where I mention that I can’t possibly imagine loving kids more than I love my step kids. I have to assume it’s possible, but I feel like to do so would result in your head exploding. Again, I was very happy to have my mind changed on this subject. Also, I may never have truly believed this one but instead convinced myself that it was the case to avoid being hurt by the reality. I don’t know and I don’t care. I am very happy with how things turned out.
  • I used to think that fascism was a historical movement with no connection to current reality. Boy was I wrong about that. Consider my mind changed.
  • I used to think that god might be an actual thing. Those days are over. Mind: changed.
  • I used to think that given the choice between traveling to San Diego or Los Angeles the correct choice would be Los Angeles. Now all I want is to go back to San Diego and then never leave.
  • I used to hate country music with the furious passion of a thousand burning suns. I still do. I’ll never change my mind about that one. That one is fundamental to my being.

There you have it. A few topics upon which I have changed my tiny little mind.

UML Hockey

Last year I made an attempt to follow my old college’s hockey team. UMass Lowell is a Division 1 team playing in the Hockey East division. After years of boycotting I finally let myself be a fan again. It didn’t really work out. I listened to a few games on the radio here and there but I never made it to the Tsongas Arena to see a game in person.

I will try again this year.

The first game is tomorrow. If I have the links right, this should be the radio broadcast. If that link isn’t working I will try to get it off of the team’s schedule page, which is here.

As always, the Boston Bruins will get most of my hockey focus, but they don’t start their regular season until the middle of next week. UMass Lowell is playing in Anchorage tomorrow and Sunday nights. We’ll see if I can tune in.

Home Grown Peanuts

I so want to do this next Spring. I’m pretty sure I won’t, but as of right now I really want to. I just need to learn how to protect against the rodent wild kingdom in my yard.

I really want to grow my own peanuts next year. I do, I do.

8:51pm on Day 19

Things to do if I test negative tomorrow…

  • Get the Mazda inspected. It’s only three months late.
  • Grocery shopping. Instacart has been fun and all but it will be nice to not have half of our groceries be the wrong things.
  • I want to say go out shooting photos, but it’s supposed to rain all weekend. If we get a little surprise sunshine then maybe.
  • Return a couple of items to Best Buy and Amazon.
  • Change the mask, hose, filter, and tank on my CPAP machine. I will do this even if I don’t test negative, but I figured I’d add it to the list so I don’t forget… again.
  • Pick up a copy of EA Sports NHL24 which was released today.
  • Watch the first episode of season two of Loki with Jen. Again, not Covid related but will happen anyway. I wonder if Harry would be up for a group watch?

Here’s hoping tomorrow sees the end of this ridiculous virus that’s kept me locked up for almost three weeks.

Photo a Day Post

Today’s Photo a Day photo is a candle because I am getting tired of using guitars and cats every day and I can’t leave the house and use something else. Sigh with Covid-19 frustration.

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Alternate

Maybe I’ll test again tomorrow and then I’ll be able to leave the house and see the world again.