Washington State is still on “stay home” restrictions because of COVID19. So I’m staying home, like a good kid who follows the rules. Once a week, I get in the big white truck and drive to the post office and the bank and the grocery store and the local food co-op (for fresh vegies and fruit) and the gas station and sometimes a hardware store. Then I come home with my treasures.
Up until a couple of months ago, I used to jump in the truck at the drop of a hat and go to whatever one store I wanted, any old time I wanted, never thinking anything about it, many times during any given week, and sometimes more than once a day. Now I plan my once-a-week outing so I make one circuit around town to each place I want to go. And I’m liking this!
My truck’s gasoline consumption is about 30% of what it used to be. I don’t have to deal with traffic or find parking except once a week. The mileage on the truck is significantly less so maintenance costs will be less, and the truck will last longer. My stress level is lower. And I have much more time at home to do stuff … house projects, yardwork, listening to music, reading, doing the dishes. 🙂
During the first two weeks of “stay home”, I watched more television than I used to, but I rather quickly tired of that. Luckily for me, I happened to check my email on the very day that the Timberland Regional Library was going to close their doors temporarily for the “stay home” shut down. They gave us only a part of one day’s notice. The email came in the morning … they closed at 5pm.
Johnny on the spot, as soon as I read that email, I jumped in the big white truck and drove to my local branch of the library (in Lacey, WA) and checked out about 20 videos and 10 books. Talk about treasures! The library promised they would not charge over-due fines for at least a month after they re-opened, so I would have plenty of time to watch and read everything I had borrowed.
Well, we’re going on 60 days of “stay home” now, double the initial 30-day restriction, and it may continue. I’ve read all the books and I’ve watched almost all of the videos … I have two videos yet to watch. As usual, about half the books and half the videos were enjoyable for me.
I wondered if you folks might like to know what videos I liked. Many of them have to do with travel or geology or history or nature. Several of them are PBS shows (Public Broadcasting Service). The videos may be available for free on the PBS website, or you can join their “Passport” system for $5/month and access many hundreds of shows online. I joined and have been watching several series online, as well as the videos I have at home.
But … back to the topic, here’s my list of the library videos that I enjoyed a great deal.
Olympic & Mt Rainier, National Parks of the Northwest – Ambassador Video Productions
Boys of ’36, for gold, for country, for each other – PBS, American Experience
Leave it to Beavers – PBS, Nature
Olympic Peninsula (lots of great info about things in the area other than the national park/forest) – Hatzoff Productions
America’s National Monuments, The Geologic West, 4 DVDs, Ambrose Video Pub. (There are two other 4-DVD sets in this series … the Historic South and the Legacy of the Great Plains)
The Women and the Waves, a documentary surfing film, Film Works Entertainment
Earth Days – how “Earth Day” came to be, a Robert Stone film, PBS, American Experience
Pioneers of Television – PBS, 4 videos
Over Washington – Topics Entertainment, KCTS Television
These videos may be available at your local library, or you may be able to get them by using your library’s “interlibrary loan” system. I live on the west coast of the USA and have been successful asking my local library to borrow books or DVDs from libraries all over the USA, and Canada, and Scotland and England. As well, some of these videos may be available for free online on YouTube.
Speaking of YouTube, I have also been watching videos online. One of the most charming is this one …
How many books she has! There’s something to be said for a life with less “noise”, with fewer distractions. A simpler life can be just as fulfilling … maybe even more so.
I’m sure looking forward to having the “stay home” restrictions lifted so I can go camping. But here at home, after the “stay home” restrictions are lifted, I suspect I will continue my once-a-week shopping circuit. It just makes sense. It’s so much more peaceful. And it’s so much better for the environment, for the earth and the air and the water … for all of us.
I have a bit of Irish ancestry in me. Those ancestors are from the same area in which Margaret Gallagher lives. What a very special treat to find this video on my computer this morning when I woke up.
Henry
Henry, I’m so glad. What a lovely surprise that must have been. 🙂
We love our libraries and did the same as you did as soon as we heard they would be closing for this “spell”. And we too found that video about Margaret Gallagher to be fascinating and charming. What a great life and a wonderful person.
Margaret Gallagher does seem like a wonderful person. If I ever get over the sea to Ireland, I might just have to stop by for a chat. But if you get there before I do (or before Henry does), please let us know. 🙂
We get groceries once every two weeks, Ann. Otherwise we are at home just like you, just like we have been told to do and we too are likeing it. We have neighbors who are still going out for a coffee latte every day or two and we sure can’t figure out why that is so darned important, why risk your life? And why break the law? Stay home! We are even going through old boxes of odds and ends from years ago and getting rid of most of it, this feels really good too. My wife has started taking an online painting class and is using old cans of paint from the garage and painting on old plywood that I have cut down for her. Maybe I’ll try my hand at that too except she’s so good at it.
Sure appreciate you still doing this blog even if it isn’t about camping right now. You’ll get back on the road soon, don’t worry!
I don’t know one human being who doesn’t have “stuff” that they could divest themselves of … good idea, Tim. Throw it out! 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement about the blog and about camping. I’m hoping maybe in June to get out to a campground somewhere and snap a few photos to share.
I am of Irish descent too though I don’t know specifically where my ancestors lived. This sure makes me want to find out.
We love our libraries in Canada. They provide so much education and entertainment.
Right on Tim … everyone stay home!
Janey
I have a bit of Irish in me as well … aren’t we wonderful. 🙂 I found my father’s mother’s birth record from Ireland (Anna McNamara). All it says is “the River Shannon”.
Libraries are the best. 🙂
I feel like I could listen to Margaret all day long. What a delightful accent.
It is so amazing since we have all been expected to stay home about how clear the skies are, the sunshine hurts my eyes as the light is so much brighter! It is kind of cool to extract some good things out of all the isolation – and as you say learning to dove-tail errands into one big loop and then just going once a week is a big change, and yet has trained us to make due with what we have. Now, if I just knew how to cut hair!
I will go back and see what Margaret Gallagher says about that……
Oh yes, I think so too now that you mention it, she has such a nice voice and a lovely accent (though I bet WE have an accent to her ears), and she sounds so comfortable and peaceful. Sometimes I think I try too hard to be comfortable. Maybe a simpler life would be more comfortable per se. Ha! yes and filled with brilliant sunshine. 🙂
The day that our barber and hair dresser shops open up will be wild, won’t it? I think I’ll lay low for a week or so.
I love libraries and books and the education and entertainment I get from them. I’ve tried using digital/audio books and they just don’t work for me. I want a real book. I have been learning Spanish and get children’s books in Spanish from my local library, but also get books from other libraries around the US, and lately I’ve been ordering adult books from libraries in Mexico. The inter library loan system is terrific. And Margaret Gallagher is simply a gem. 🙂
I love real books too Ruth. When I have tried audio books, I fall asleep immediately. I know a little Spanish, never thought about getting adult reading material from Mexico … thank you, I’m going to try it! 🙂