No, really this time it's real.
What you didn't know I retired??
Well back in February I hit full retirement age (FRA) as I prepared to retire, 6 contract to hire job (out of Houston) popped up that 100% remote and had flex time so I left the job at the Air Force and started the new one.  During the interview/hiring process I told them about the BIG WALK and that I would be gone for the month of May; they agreed to it.

While walking and relaxing during my time in Scotland I realized that I really wanted to do what I want to do and that I would probably not hire on, full time, when the contract was over - IF they offered it. I was going to propose possible part time contracting work.

​Then during my COVID recovery time, after I got home,  an idea came into my head about a web application (this is "the thing" ) and I realized I really wanted to work on this more than the "day job". I spoke to the parties involved and the decision was made to do it.  

I gave notice and July 22 was my last day. 

I have started the development process with days of looking into if it should be a desk top, phone/tablet, or web application; asking people for input on functionality; what new tech to use; finding libraries to use for the functionality; should it be subscription, shareware, or donation-ware; and so many other things that needed to answered. 

I started, changed, and started over again for the first few days or so as I tried things and then I finally set my ideas down and got to coding. 

So what's the thing?? Well... I am not saying yet but a few people know so IF you know, please don't say anything in the comments, if you comment.

Now, 2 months after having contracted COVID, I think/believe/hope it is over for me. 

Two weeks ago I was very tired all the time but it seemed, at times not as deep and the thinking issues were intermittent during the day but I certainly had focus issues in the evening. The phantom smells(s) - mostly of smoke were still intermittent but I noticed they happened at night, usually after dinner.

Last week I started to feel normal in the sense of not having the fuzzy brained with lack of concentration issue every day. The sudden wave of tiredness come over me, also during the day, every day and certainly at night was lessening.  

This week, it now being Friday, and I can say I feel "normal" as the majority of the symptoms are gone! I have been doing some coding and my concentration is amazing to the point that I worked until 8pm one night and had no issues the next day.  

I shall still take it easy for the next few weeks to ensure that it's really really over. 

Here is yesterdays Texas counts showing our 2+ years of the pandemic. 

It's now a month+ since I tested positive for COVID.
I am still tired, brain fogged, confused, having phantom smells, the occasional fever and some feelings of depression. 

​Having done more reading I found an article about how "they" are seeing that people who take longer to recover (i.e. long COVID) are those who continued to work and did not rest enough. Some people have told me it has taken 2-3 months for them to feel fully recovered.

With this information, I shall be resting for another month and at that time if I am still showing symptoms I will contact one of the Long COVID Clinics in the area to see what else could be done.

​And for something else, here's a temari I just finished. I started this one back in 2021 and stopped due to the tendonitis in my right thumb. I was planning on finishing it after I returned from The Big Walk. I started to work on it but as we all know, now, I got COVID and then realized I was making too many mistakes that had to be undone so I only worked on it when I felt good. It is a C8 and comes from one of the Japanese temari books but I can't find which one at the moment. 

It's now 3 weeks since I came down with the plague and 2 weeks since I finished the anti-virals. 
This week I have been feeling a bit better but my brain focus and concentration has been crap and still come 8 or 9 pm I am dead tired. 

I was hoping to go for a short walk and see how my hip was doing but it never happed until yesterday. I actually woke up in the morning not feeling physically tired and rather clear headed. The day job got rather busy but at 6 pm I was still feeling good so out I went. It was warm (96 F) but not horribly humid; I headed down toward the lake which is just under a half mile to see how I felt and I was doing good but I did think my breathing was a bit shallow and I made an effort to take deep breaths - no chest issues or coughing I just didn't think I was getting as deep a breath as I should. The good news is/was that my hip never pained me! All told I did 1.6 miles and worked up a mild sweat. 

Tomorrow I will take another COVID test to see if I am now negative; 4 more arrived in the mail, thank you U.S. Goverment my taxes are at work!

As I said in the prior post, I caught COVID and was prescribed the antiviral Molnupiravir and I was to take 4 pills, twice a day, for 5 days. Which I did but for the first few days I still felt like crap and was having horrible sweats at night so I was taking very hot showers every morning to clean up and to ease the aches and pains I was still experiencing. Then there was the brain fog and mystery smells; some loose their sense of taste and smell but no, I kept smelling bacon and smoke. Additionally I was tired most nights by 8 - 9 pm and would go to bed and zonk out within a few seconds!

This past week was all about recovery since I was done with the antivirals.
On Sunday I felt good enough to go grocery shopping with Erich and yes, we wore masks!
Then on Monday I did "go back to work" - I am working 100% remote so I did start a coding task but it was slow and confusing at times as to how I would go about working up the solution. I did make progress and towards the end of the week my head was clear enough that I went back through what I had done and refactored it all to be cleaner and more efficient. 

I did NOT go for any walks or do a weight workout during the workweek but yesterday I went for an easy Pilates workout which went. Afterwards I did a quick trip to the grocery store since I was near it and again I was surprised at the prices of things. Later, inn the afternoon I realized was falling asleep while reading a book (exhausted) and so I took a 2 hour nap; I am not a napper as I usually either can't fall asleep for said nap or if I do I then can't fall asleep at bedtime.  Come 10 pm, last night I was tired again and had no problems sleeping.

While I was on The Big Walk, I kept my eyes on the Texas COVID reporting and it was slowly going up. While shopping yesterday I did wear my mask, again, but I am quite surprised that the majority of people are NOT wearing masks! Yes, the Texas numbers are still below 5K but if you look at this chart, it is going up! 

...And to be safe, Erich got his second booster.
​

FRACK!
I woke up over the weekend feeling like crap - sore throat, plugged ears, light sensitivity, runny nose, slight fever plus I had a crappy night's sleep and I thought "this feels like I had another booster" then it's OH SHIT, I bet I have COVID.

Having carried some of the home tests around with me all around Scotland, I pulled on out and took it. Sure enough it was positive.

I told the shop elf to stay away and to get me tea and a box of tissues. I settled myself into the family room and said I would go stay there all day and I would sleep in the extra bedroom to keep distance from him because IF he got it we would both really suffer.  

First thing I did today was call the doctor for a Telemedicine appointment. I showed him the test results, said I was vaccinated and twice boosted and went over what symptoms I had including the 103 fever and my blood oxygen level was down to 94 which isn't bad but I am normally around 98. He said to keep monitoring it and if I was having issues breathing to call back or get to an emergency room.  Then we discussed taking an antiviral and he was going to call one in to the pharmacy next and I was to isolate for 5 days!!!

The pharmacy called an hour later and the shop elf picked it up. The medication is Molnupiravir and I take 4 pills, twice a day, for 5 days.

SO that's what I have been doing for the past 4 days and this morning I woke up almost feeling human; no cough, ears clear, no fever, blood oxygen up to 98 and I slept through the night.

Looking back I have to wonder where/when I picked it up but thankfully I did not test positive when I took the test prior to coming home as I would still be there! When walking around Edinburgh I wore my mask in buildings and when near crowd; I sat alone in restaurants and away from other diners. I wore my mask when I was in the airport(s) and plane(s) except when I ate food. This article discusses how people who are fully vaccinated and boosted seem to have a fast reaction when exposed.

Again I was up at 0600 and I had a in-room coffee, put my final items in the carryon bag and hauled everything down to the lobby by 0630 where the desk called for the taxi which arrived at 0700. The driver loaded my bags in the back and off we went to the airport. It turns out the airport is small - it only has one runway and one terminal; San Antonio Airport is larger. But because it is smaller it is crowded! I got in line to check in and I waited almost an hour to get to the desk; I was glad I arrived early as the line was only getting longer!

Finally done with checking in and giving them my big bag, I headed up to departures and to go through security. It was another long wait to get everything scanned, put back in the bags and my shoes back on.

Once in the departure hall, I had time to grab a coffee and ate a protein bar and FRACK I get a text saying my flight time is being delayed from 1045 to 1145. A little while later another text comes through saying that the flight was delayed until 1245; thankfully my connecting flight from Washington D.C. to San Antonio had a long layover so that flight would not be missed. 

Eventually we did board and I was on my way. After lunch I took a nap and then read my book until I landed in DC. From there it was through immigration and customs and then I settled into the United lounge until it was time to catch the connecting flight - which was also delayed! 

The shop elf was waiting for me at the luggage carousel - YIPPEE . We headed home and I was asleep at midnight. What a day!!

I woke up this morning at 0600 so I could grab a quick breakfast and then head off to the airport for my flight home. I checked my phone for any updates and there was a text message sent at 0300 saying my flight had been canceled - WTF!!! Oh I was fuming. 
Now, the UK and lots of Europe had been experiencing flight cancellation issues these past few days due to flights being scheduled and the airlines 1) overbooking and 2) Pilot and Attendant staffing issues but I had not seen any news mentioning issues with flights to North America so I thought it would be ok. Oh how wrong I was. When I went to the website and tried to reschedule my flights and could not. Then I tried calling and I was on hold for 45 minutes and was disconnected. I went back to the website and this time I was able to reschedule for tomorrow, Friday but I could not get seats so back on the phone I went and after another hour on hold, I was able to get seat assignments, I had been worried about getting a seat assignment because with the flight being canceled and the chance of overbooking I did not want to risk not getting a seat and having to stay again. Once that was done and I was calm I went down to the hotel desk and was able to extend my stay for one night and reschedule my taxi for the next morning.

Having taken care of the travel arrangements, I headed out wander up another close and did some scotch window shopping.

​After coffee and a croissant I headed to the National Portrait Gallery on the other side of the city. I decided to go there because during my stay with Mike and Elisa we watched the show Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year - 2022 and the winner was awarded a commission which was now hanging there.  The building was the best part of the visit as it is a massive red brick building built in 1889 in the neo-gothic style; if you like architecture it is well worth the visit.  I saw the commission which was in the main hall and was rather disappointed as it looked flat and not a vibrant as what was shown on the show; I think it was how it was lit. Then moved on through library and the galleries and I came to the conclusion that many of the Scottish Royals and the Clan Chiefs were very ugly (see picture of the child below).

I was getting tired, having been up so early, so back to my room I went for a rest and shower. 
I went down the street for dinner and treated myself to a ginger beer, haggis and cheese plate. 
Time to get to bed for my flight tomorrow - I HOPE

Before heading out for the day, I had to take the Covid test (24 hours before flying) via video to show I was negative; which I was. Then I headed out.

My plans for the day were as follows

• Museum on the Mound - History of the Bank of Scotland
• National Museum of Scotland - which now had the Natural History Museum which was closed for the renovation 15 years ago
• Dovecote Studio - a weaving and tapestry studio which had an exhibition on wallpaper
• Tartan Weaving Center

I walked up to the street to museum and was a bit to early for them to be opened so I took a detour and had a morning cuppa and a pastry; then a walk up the street to the Museum on the Mound. The museum was free and there was so much to see - it ran the gamut from forming the Bank of Scotland; minting the coins; the development of paper bills and printing them; forgers and forgeries. 

Next up the National Museum of Scotland. The shop elf and I were at the National History Museum 20+ years ago and loved the Mineral hall. When we had a chance to go back we found that the museum closed the day before for a major 5 year renovation, expansion and consolidation into the National Museum of Scotland.  My plan was to go to the mineral hall to get some pictures for the shop elf and to then go into the Kingdom of the  Scots hall which covers the history of Scotland.  Sadly to say the Mineral hall is no more, it was replaced with The Restless Earth which investigates the geological processes that constantly shape and reshape the planet. The few minerals they did have on display were poor; OUR collection has better specimens.   As I left the hall I wandered into another named Making and Creating and there were modern items - vessels, jewelry, sculpture, etc.  made of ceramic, glass and metal that I loved looking and one I recognized right away - a piece by Myra Mimlitsch-Gray who I took a class from when I was at Haystack.

Next up and not far away was the Dovecote Studio. When searching for things to see I Googled "weaving studio" and this places was in the results. It's is an actual tapestry and rug studio with an exhibition hall. The current exhibition was on William Morris Wallpaper. To be honest I really didn't want to see an exhibition on wallpaper at a weaving studio but I do like some William Morris textiles and of course the Arts & Crafts movement but was I surprised as the exhibition was more about the development and making of wallpaper which I found so much more interesting. I saw massive woodblocks; hand embroidered, hand painted, hand applied gold leaf wall papers; and leather and paper embossed papers. 

The last thing I did was walk up the road toward the castle where they were setting up the bleachers for the Festival and the Tattoo; my goal was the Tartan Weaving Center where you could (note the tense) walk above the weaving floor and see the looms at work. It's not a weaving center anymore there are no looms just  floors of woolen knitted or woven goods for sale and lots of cheap tourist souvenirs. I was horribly disappointed. I did not take a single picture.

As I headed back down the street I passed an antique jewelry and silver shop so I stopped in for a look and WOW was I glad I did. There was a case of gold and silver items that were amazing. I asked the shop keeper about them and asked for permission to take two pictures one of the gold broach and the other of a silver tray which he agreed to but not of the rest of the shop for security reasons. Note: I have found most will give person for pictures, I explain I am a part time metalsmith and chaser; they appreciate being asked before taking the pictures so they know that I am not there casing the place. This certainly was a bonus thing to see.

I then slowly wandered back down another close on my way to my hotel and decided to get dinner in a Nepalese restaurant. It was wonderful but it was time to get a good night's sleep since tomorrow I was heading home.

Because of the flight schedule mess up back in March, I was flying out of Edinburgh and thus I planned to travel down to the city a few days early so I could do some extra visiting - well today was that day.  

The plan is to get the train in Inverurie to Aberdeen then transfer to the train to Edinburgh. With my hip still being in pain and having a large and small(er) suit case I put what I would need for just the Edinburgh section in the smaller bag so I don't have to keep digging into the large bag. Then the smaller bag can convert to a backpack so I could keep both hands free to move the larger bag. I would have to do this especially in Inverurie where I have to go up and over the train tracks ON STAIRS to get on the other side for the train. 

My train was at 1245 but there were disruptions due to a contract dispute and with a change to the schedule, I was aiming for the 1200. Mike, Elisa, and I loaded up the car at 1030 and headed out at 1045.  We arrived at the train station in plenty of time and the train pulled in around 1145 so I could get on and settled in plenty of time.

I arrived in Edinburgh in the late afternoon at Waverly Station smack dab in the middle of the city. I was glad I had reserved a hotel by the train station so I did not have far to go with my suitcases.  After settling in to my room it was time to go for a wander and find a place to have dinner.

I wandered up the close (i.e. alleyway) stairs just behind the hotel which wasn't a great for my hip but I went slow. At the top I found a few pubs and restaurants but I was interested in the The Whiski Rooms which also had a shop! I probably spoke the guy in the shop for 30 minutes about my likes and dislikes and how I was looking for something new to try. After going over a few, I splurged on a limited edition bottling from Octave because the tasting notes were so different from anything I had ever seen. Afterwards I headed into the restaurant for a wonderful dinner of venison. As I was leaving I noticed that the bar had been faced in copper so I went over and took some pictures, of course.  

I then went back to my hotel, took a very hot shower and settled in for the night.