Right now

Right now... (an occasional (mostly monthly) meme, alternating from time to time with "The Current"). (Explanation of how this started & my inspirations in my first "Right now" post, here. Also my first "The Current" post, here.)

November was Full Month #8 (going on 9) of life in the age of COVID-19, with new cases rising at an alarming/record rate. :(  On top of dh's usual weekly trips to the supermarket for groceries and for takeout dinners on Saturday nights, we ventured out together (masks firmly in place) three times to the bookstore, once to the drugstore, and once to a children's wear store (to shop for a birthday present for Great-Nephew). We celebrated little Great-Nephew's first birthday with his parents (Older Nephew & his wife), grandparents (BIL & SIL), uncle & aunt (Younger Nephew & his wife) -- masks on.  

Late in the month (last week), I went to a local hospital for a COVID-19 test and bloodwork, and then returned two days later for a hysteroscopy and d&c. (Still waiting on the pathology results.) 

Otherwise, we've continued to stay close to home.

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Reading: I read 2 books in November (reviewed on this blog & tagged “2020 books”):

• "Amberwell" by D.E. Stevenson (a re-read with my DES online group).
• "Do You Feel Like I Do?"  by Peter Frampton.

So far this year, I've read 39 books, bringing me to 130% of my 2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 30 books. I have completed & now exceeded my challenge goal for the year by 9 books, and am (for the moment, anyway...!) 13 (!) books ahead of schedule. :)  You can find reviews of all my books read to date in 2020 tagged as "2020 books." 

Current read(s):   

• "Hoax" by Brian Stelter (didn't touch this one all month...!).  
• "The Blue Castle" by L.M. Montgomery (read & reviewed on my own in August, now reading along & discussing with my L.M. Montgomery Readathon group on Facebook over the next few weeks/months)(and enjoying it hugely!).  
• "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig. (This was the November pick for the Gateway Women book club -- which will be revealing its December book shortly... eeekkkk.... I haven't gotten very far into it yet...) 

• "The Young Clementina" by D.E. Stevenson (my DES online group just started this one). 

A few recently purchased titles (in both digital and paper formats):   

• "A Promised Land" by Barack Obama 
• "No Time Like the Future" by Michael J. Fox 
• "The Vanishing Half" by Britt Bennett 
• "Hidden Valley Road" by Robert Kolker 
• "The Answer Is..." by Alex Trebek 
• "Exciting Times" by Naoise Dolan (as recommeded by Mel ;)  ) 

Watching: We're now in the final season of "Downton Abbey," which we started watching together earlier this fall, every weekday afternoon on CBC TV (mentioned here). Not sure if they'll start at the beginning all over again when it's done, or replace it with something else? 

The last few episodes of  "Jann" aired earlier in November.  "Battle of the Blades"  also ended recently, after a six-week run. I would have been happy with almost any of the couples (figure skaters paired with hockey players, both female & male) to win -- they were all really, really great this year. The eventual champions were Olympic pairs medallist (and mom of a preemie baby girl, now one year old) Meagan Duhamel & hockey player Wojtek Wolski. The couples compete to raise funds for their favourite charities, and Meagan's winnings are going to support the Sandra Schmirler Foundation. Sandra Schmirler was a beloved Canadian curler who led Canada to a gold medal in the first-ever women's Olympic curling championship in 1998. She died in 2000 at age 36 from cancer, leaving a husband and two young daughters.  Her foundation's mission is to raise funds for hospital NICUs (neonatal intensive care units) and provide scholarships to junior curlers. 

Listening:  I haven't started listening to Christmas music yet, but will probably put on a few of my favourite CDs in the coming days, especially once we start decorating! 

Following:  The COVID-19 case numbers intently (as I have almost since the beginning of the pandemic), with an added focus now on my home province of Manitoba, where case rates have gone up dramatically since the summer. :(  There's a blank space in my Filofax calendar (week on two pages), and every Monday, I write down the numbers of total cases & deaths for the world, U.S., Canada, Ontario, Manitoba, Toronto and the region outside Toronto where we live. Comparing the numbers week to week (& over time) is sobering. 

Eating/Drinking:  Takeout dinners this month have included some of our favourites:  rotisserie chicken, Chinese food, wood oven pizza, and pasta with rapini, olive oil & garlic. Yum! 

Buying (besides books, lol):  Birthday presents (a couple of outfits, and some cash) for Great-Nephew. I took advantage of the Cyber Monday sales to buy some Christmas books & outfits for him too -- as well as some essential oils products that I've been running low on (since I won't be going to the store at the mall anytime soon). And some festive holiday season masks from Old Navy for dh & me (also on sale!).  ;) 

Wearing: I broke my usual rule about wearing yoga pants outside the house for my trip to the hospital.  ;)  Comfort rules (especially in situations like that)!  

Waiting: For the results from my hysteroscopy/d&c. The gynecologist will call me with the results... just before Christmas (of course...!). Praying that they will be good...!! 

Trying:  Not to worry too much. 

Also trying to think of some ways to make our COVID Christmas at home/away from my family fun & special, even if it's not the Christmas we had hoped for.  I'm still feeling too tired/crampy from my procedure to do too much yet, and that's kind of frustrating. :(  

Wanting: To do some Christmas baking -- some of the cookies & goodies my mom always made/makes at this time of year, and some recipes I've discovered and made on my own in the past. I'll probably share anything I do make with BIL, SIL & the nephews (I've gained enough weight lately as it is...!).  I have my recipe cards all set out, and I have the ingredients on hand to make at least some of them... 

Loving: My wonderful dh, who always takes such good care of me. <3 So, so grateful for him! 

Feeling:  Relieved to have the surgery behind me. A little apprehensive as I wait for the pathology results (so close to Christmas!).  Thankful for the welcome distraction of Little Great-Nephew's cuteness, in the photos & videos his parents post on social media. :)  Enormously sad that I won't be going home for Christmas for the first time in my life (and won't be able to spend much if any time with dh's family as consolation either!), because of the pandemic. 

And yet, still happy that it's Christmastime -- my favourite holiday season :) and a reason for some fun & joy, especially amid the gloom of a COVID-19 winter.