I just thought of something I’d like to do for a goal for 2022, and since it’s already mid-January, I’d better get started! I think I’d like to try doing art at least once a month. I haven’t done anything since the early days of this blog in the early 2000s with the collage book I started then. I used to be so crafty and artistic. Now I just LOOK at other artists’ work on Instagram instead of creating my own. Heck, even my mom paints and she’s in her 80s, so what’s my excuse?? It’s an excellent idea for a kickstart, don’t you think?? I won’t box myself in on what KIND of art…anything goes. I can draw, paint, collage, whatever, as long as it’s art for art’s sake.
I’m so pleased I thought of this.
Martin was making fimo rings today. He started while he was in Detroit, and requested a bunch of clay and jewelry-making supplies for Christmas (which he got), and I think he’s already had several sessions in the kitchen, making and baking, mostly rings. And Karin asked for, and received, a gift certificate for a silver-smithing course, because she ALSO loves rings. 😀 My mom used to make silver jewelry when I was a teenager….maybe it runs in the family!
I’m not really interested in jewelry-making, but I miss my artistic self. I have whole chests and boxes and closets full of supplies, even though I’m sure some of my paints and inks are probably dried up, but if last year’s goal was about kickstarting my physical self with monthly 5K walks, then this year’s goal can be about kickstarting my artistic self again. Yay!
I just have to figure out WHERE to do it, though I guess I can take over part of the dining room table as needed, since we aren’t entertaining. I can’t use my art table because it’s currently my work office and we got sent home again starting this week to work from home full-time until further notice. Restrictions are tightening here once again, and it feels like everyone I know has had COVID in the past month. Eeesh.
My booster shot was on Tuesday morning, and I got Moderna (didn’t have a choice), even though both my previous shots were Pfizer. When I asked the nurse about it, she said having a mix was shown to be more efficient and preventative. I was a little wary though because everyone I know who had Moderna was really sick after their shots. I did the Alvedon “trick”, taking 2 tablets 30 minutes before my shot and 2 more 30 minutes after, and it really seemed to help. I had no symptoms at all with my first two shots, not even a sore arm, and on Tuesday, afterwards, I didn’t notice anything at all either…until close to bedtime when I felt a little achey. So, I took another Alvedon and went to bed.
Usch då! Chills, and then flu symptoms the whole next day, including fever and aches. I was supposed to be working, but I was late getting started, and at 10:30 I sent a message to my team telling them I was sorry but I had to go lie down. I slept for an hour and then got up, had lunch and managed to work for another 2 hours before surrendering again to bed. But today, despite moving slowly again this morning, I felt fine. No more symptoms, and it seems to have passed.
Martin also got his booster shot on Tuesday, though later in the day, and he was also symptom-free until Wednesday morning. He went into work with Anders as he started at 7:30 am, but his boss sent him home after just a couple of hours, and he stayed home today too, just to be on the safe side. We have been waiting to hear about how to get his previous shots into the Swedish system because Sweden doesn’t recognize non-EU-country vaccinations and supposedly there will be the possibility to transfer them sometime in February. But he had his shots way back in March/April, in the US, and didn’t want to wait anymore, so he just registered to get vaccinated as if he hadn’t already had his. The nurse asked him why he had finally decided to get vaccinated and he mumbled at her about just moving back from abroad, etc. So, he has a booster now, and will probably get a 4th shot in 6 weeks or so, before the rest of us start waiting for our 2nd boosters! Now, we just need Karin to get her booster, and we’ll all be up to speed.
We’re almost done watching The Last Man on Earth, which is about a post-pandemic world (comedy) and I want to watch Station Eleven next, which is ALSO about a post-pandemic world (drama), but I’m not sure I can convince Anders to watch it with me. The pandemic is everywhere and, apparently, never-ending, so why not embrace it, eh? Urgh.