The Year of Living Covidly

We are fortunate in Peoria to have free and easily accessible COVID testing at a parking lot, downtown near the Civic Center.  I know because I have had to avail myself of it three times: in June when we wanted to drive my parents in our car for three hours; in July when one of Luke's football teammates tested posted; and most recently, yesterday, when I was feeling a little punk.   The process is very easy. Workers, like the man above, have you fill out a one page form. You give it back to him and then wait in a line of cars. The workers who administer the tests are in the tent. Just like at the doctor's they have you double check the vial they are using, to make sure it has your name and birthdate on it. The first time I was tested, I did the nasal swab myself. But the other times, the workers did it. They swipe the swab inside each nostril a few times. You stay in the car for the testing. Drive thru testing. For once, I picked the fasted moving line and only had to wait abo...

Everyone deserves a little DQ This was the summer that we kind of kept to ourselves, or when we ventured out, it was often behind a mask. Still, some nice moments in Summer 2020. We created some yard signs for St. Mark's School and put them up at about 175 places. I was fortunate to be able to attend 4:30 Sat. Mass and livestream it on Facebook, since the shutdown for COVID started. Luke turned 17 with a socially distant birthday party at Bradley Park. Many beautiful sunsets. And beautiful peonies and other flowers. These and following were at the Western Avenue Greenway Project. Flags are waving on Memorial Day weekend at St. Mary's Cemetery in West Peoria. And look who I found hiding near one of the graves. Helped mom put in impatiens in their beautiful backyard.  Enjoyed meeting our friends the Bucks for lunch at their Lake Bloomington Place. Luke got to go kayaking! Went hiking with these two dudes to Farmdale in East Peoria for the first time. Beautiful spot with miles of ...