The Re-opening of the B and B

So about 6 weeks after D2 and Jonathan's cheap ass landlord jury rigged an AC fix, the 1970s era air handler broke again. It was never really properly repaired -- it cooled ok, but rumbled like a train, to the point that the next door neighbors complained. Alas, the landlord was determined to avoid the cost of a new unit, and this am it stopped again. He had ordered a new one, apparently, but in the time of Covid parts are scarce, and so is now waiting to do what he should have done years ago -- update the damn thing.

The happy result for us is that D2 and Jonathan and their enormous puppy Betsy have decamped back here to Villa Wifey, and it's great to have them.

D2 is set up in our dining room, and we overhear her using her "professional voice," as D1 calls it. Jonathan is in the library doing finance. It's actually preferable for them to their own place -- which requires both to share a single area, and sometimes the business calls interfere with each other. Before the latest AC fail, I had actually suggested they come her to work, where there are separate rooms. Fate moved my suggestion along.

I realized I was running critically low on gin and mezcal, Jonathan and D2's choice of adult beverage, and I ordered a Total Wine delivery for later. I prefer to use local liquor stores, but my last order the guy acted like he was doing me a favor by delivering "We usually have a $300 minimum," he said, so Total Wine gets my business.

Assuming the rain stays at bay, we'll take Betsy on a long walk after the kids are done with their work day. She's used to daily visits to the dog park. Here, our aging strange rescue and Special needs Spaniel have play as the last thing on their dog minds. Betsy keeps trying to interest them in some frolicking. Bo, the Spaniel, slinks away, and Vienna growls and snaps at the much huger dog.

D2 says that at home, Betsy sleeps all day while they work, but here she has all the new smells and loose clothing to sample and chew.  She is loving and adorable, though.

The plague continues to surge here in South Florida. Today's news reported a new record number of deaths -- most in Palm Beach County. Dr. Eric predicted this -- he knew the high infection rate would take a special toll on the aging population, many of which are his patients.

At some point, the damn virus will have to burn itself out. That time just doesn't come nearly fast enough.

Our friend Elizabeth, a nurse practitioner in Orlando, celebrated a birthday this week. She's dealing with the plague at Orlando's biggest hospital. She said she never would have predicted saying this, but she truly wished she could fast forward time -- at least until mid November, when hopefully the plague will lessen, and maybe the national embarrassment of a president will be voted out of office.

I just keep focusing on trying to savor the moment, constantly counting my manifold blessings, and asking the Big Man for an end to the plague.

And for now, two blessings and their oversized dog appeared in my house. So today is a fine day.