My younger brother remained away last evening, spending the night at the home of his girlfriend Bev. However, I never had occasion to watch a Christmas movie. I doubt that I will this day, either.
I hoped to resume shopping again early this morning at Real Canadian Superstore ─ I have not set foot in that direction since the latter part of August when they mandated the public needed to wear face masks. However, now that the province has itself mandated (as of the 18th of this month?) that everyone must wear face masks in grocery stores, I had nowhere else in which to shop for groceries where I could be face mask-free.
I don't think that I was to bed last evening any later than 9:45 p.m.; and this time, I refrained from rising into the midnight hour or the ensuing hour thereafter, as is my routine whenever I retire early. I was determined to gain sufficient sleep that when I did rise, I would not find myself flagging after a few hours and need to return to bed to rest before forcing myself away to shop.
I have to walk on these expeditions, since I do not drive; and the nearest Real Canadian Superstore outlet (Google Map) is ─ by way of street travel ─ precisely a 5.625-mile round trip foray from here. To be frank, I was somewhat unsure if I would be up to the journey after not having dealt with that distance for three months.
As it was to happen, I found myself so awake just ahead of 3 a.m. that no further sleep seemed likely, so I rose and eventually got to work setting up a second post at the new version of my website MyRetirementDream.com. My hope now is that if I work on the post daily, I may have it finished and published by mid-December at latest.
My destination store opens at 7 a.m., so I wanted to arrive there as soon thereafter as I would be able to arrange. The night had been dry, and though it was chilly out, it was well above freezing.
I believe that it may have been as late as 6:13 a.m. by the time I was on my way into the dark. It was a later start than I intended, so I hastened my pace.
All worked out ─ as I was within sight of the store, I checked the time and saw that it was but 7:01 a.m.
I had a face mask with me, but as yet in this false pandemic, I have not even tried one on for size. And I preferred to maintain that stance ─ instead, I had a bandana around my neck, set to pull up over my nose like some old-time highwayman.
Apparently the device was acceptable ─ no one in the store said aught. I must say, though, it dramatically hampered my breathing; and I was never able to see anything below my face, for the bandana effectively blocked that range of my vision.
In fact, after I exited the store and dropped my bandana down around my neck, my eyes felt strained ─ especially my bad right one. I don't know if I had been in the store more than 10 minutes, yet afterwards that strained sensation bothered my eyes for at least a half hour. It was honestly distressing.
It is most definitely not a 'healthy' experience.
I want to note that it was still very gloomy by the time I had gotten to the store, for the night had not fully given way to day. I love being out under such conditions! It makes me feel so very comfortably anonymous.
I don't recall exactly when I was back home, but it was probably around 8:20 a.m., and as yet neither of my stepsons had risen. My brother was not to show up until after 10 a.m.
Soon after that, I returned to bed, for I had quite badly declined. As well, since I practice intermittent fasting and would be unable to take in any calories ─ such as one of the craved rich, hot, caffeinated beverages I so enjoy breaking my fast with ─ I preferred seeking some of sleep's oblivion in place of sitting here at my computer and longing for sustenance. My fast precludes taking in any calories whatsoever until after the midway point of the noon hour.
I did nap, but only into the early noon hour. However, after I rose and came here to my computer, I managed to well exceed 1 p.m. before I finally relented and went downstairs for the delicious beverage.
My brother had returned to his own bedroom while I was napping, but he was soon enough back out; and as I made my way downstairs for that robust and revitalizing drink, he headed away for the afternoon. He and a few of the crowd he drinks with are heavily into the NFL games as that season advances toward the playoffs. I expect that the major part of my brother's interest lies with the Seattle Seahawks as a substitute and remote version of 'our' home team now that the CFL is long done for the year ─ unwarranted COVID-19 fears cancelled the entire season. (See CBC.ca: A sad day for CFL fans as Grey Cup Sunday goes dark for 2020.)
Hmm. I have just now realized that it is not yet much beyond 6 p.m. ─ maybe I can squeeze in a Christmas movie! But first I need to discharge some exercise I feel obligated to engage.
Yes ─ I am calling it quits for today.
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