Rudi and I tested positive for COVID today.

We’d both been under the impression that spring allergies were plaguing us, an assumption reinforced by local meteorologists who assured us that the region’s pollen charts had suddenly skyrocketed off the charts last week. Rudi’s symptoms are worse than mine, again, in keeping with how we experience allergies (also, boy), so we’d been dosing with allergy meds and largely continuing on with our daily business.

In fact, the only reason I tested was because I was supposed to hang out with my most cautious friend and since I was snuffly I proactively sought to assure him there were no concerns.

Had it been someone else, I probably wouldn’t have given it a second thought. And that’s how we assume we caught it. Because someone else assumed and didn’t test and brought their germs out with them.

Because we’re still careful. We’re vaxxed and boosted. We’re masking indoors and outdoors in crowded spaces (like the farmers market I visited this morning just before testing). I haven’t eaten indoors since … Salt Lake in January … although Rudi has. I have a relatively small footprint — thanks to remote working — and can give someone a rundown of pretty much every place I’ve been since last Sunday.

So, long story short, if you think your allergies seem particularly bad this year, it’s probably worth cracking open a rapid test (and I recognize I say this from a place of luxury in a city where tests are free and plentiful and handed out at most of our branch libraries) and making sure before you run out to the grocery store or work or a kid’s event.

And for goodness’ sake — keep wearing your mask so people like me don’t accidentally make you sick, too!

Rudi’s off coaching (March is the month when he’s away most), so I’m on my own this weekend. Here’s how I’m hoping to fill it:

• Knitting on my Sock Madness sock
• Waking up the garden and planting peas
• Watching or listening to the UConn women’s basketball game
• Reading
• Going back to Planet Word with a friend I hyped it to
• Shopping (or, at least, browsing) at my local bookstore’s member sale
• Picking up veggie sausages for red beans and rice at the farmers market
• Doing laundry (Rudi picked up quarters before he left yesterday)
• Spending time outside

How are you hoping to spend your time this weekend?

Unlike the previous two weekends, this one was just two days. Amazing how short that feels, particularly when the workweek feels so stressful.

But it was filled with lots of good things:

On Friday, Karen and I spent several hours on the phone. Yes, we saw each other just last weekend. That’s part of the magic of our friendship.

Saturday, I spent some time outside in Georgetown. Spring flowers are starting to bloom. I discovered a bakery I like in Virginia had set up an outpost in the neighborhood back in November without my noticing and that another had closed just last week. I knit a bit and read.

On Sunday, I headed to the farmers market, where I bought the ingredients for a gardener’s pie (which Rudi turned into a delicious meal for us tonight). Then I ventured down to Lafayette Park next to the White House for a rally in support of Ukraine. I got a lesson in flags of the nations that broke away from the Soviet Union, saw lots of flowered headbands and embroidered clothes, and was overwhelmed by what a large Slavic expat community there is in the area. As always, moments of song were the most powerful, with a group of mostly older women singing at the back of the crowd, and the Ukranian national anthem brought the crowd to their knees in unison. A college-aged woman sobbed through an interview, and I suspect (but was too far away to confirm) that she was worried about family back home. My heart breaks for those in danger’s way — and those in safety who can only wait to hear that loved ones have survived another day. It puts any hardships in my own life in stark perspective.

How was your weekend?

See you on the other side of my birthday!

My birthday weekend has arrived. I’ve done no formal planning, short of taking Monday off from work. But here’s how I think I’ll spend at least some of the time:

My friend Neal and I are going to do something outside on Saturday. It’s still supposed to be ridiculously warm for February and he’s even more cautious about COVID than I am. So maybe we’ll explore Kingman Island or something like that.

I’ve got some books to read (I started four the other day in an effort to figure out which one would stick first) and some more to pick up at the library.

And I really want to do some baking. Some cookies or brownies or a cake… Since weather is expected tomorrow night, that’s probably a good time to make some comfort food.

On Sunday, it’ll start with the farmers market.

I’m thinking I might head over to Planet Word in the afternoon to see if I can score a day pass. It opened during the pandemic, and I have yet to add museums back into my repertoire. But it’s one devoted to language and that seems an appropriate gift to myself.

I’m going to plan on watching Around the World in Eighty Days and All Creatures Great and Small on Masterpiece on Sunday, plus some Olympics and a movie or two to stream (I caught Legally Blonde tonight) in the meantime. I might even pull the knitting out of the bag and work on it.

Monday, maybe Rudi and I will just head to the movies for the day. There are several things playing, and I’d like to think daytime movies aren’t too crowded. The zoo and the museums aren’t open on Mondays, so it’s either that or go for a drive. There will be pizza for supper and a stop for ice cream at some point, since you should never turn down free ice cream on your birthday.

What’s on your weekend agenda?

One of the things my parents gave us for Christmas was a smores maker that you can plug in. It’s a kitschy gift, but precisely the sort of thing that I adore. We didn’t get a chance to test it out during January, because while eating gooey chocolate and marshmallow sandwiches may make you feel better about a loved one’s demise, it’s tough to pack the cooker in your carry on.

Tonight, though, we were both home, neither of us had meetings or activities, and we’d had a healthy diet otherwise for the day, which meant overindulging for dessert was not only allowed, but encouraged.

In addition to the maker, my parents also outfitted us with our first few rounds of ingredients, including jumbo marshmallows. This makes eating a little more challenging as you’ve got to worry about leakage on all sides of your dessert, but also means you’re pretty content with two.

Thanks, Mum and Dad!