A Pandemic Flashback & The Promise of a Christmas Tree … From Florida

Because of a large water main break near his Boulder office, The Weed is working at home this morning. It’s a bit nostalgic.

The Weed is working at home this morning, and it’s sending me.

Sending me back to the dog days of the pandemic that had us jockeying for office space at our old house and bickering over who should be doing the dishes during their downtime.

There’s a water main break near the campus where The Weed works in Boulder. This has caused the closure of several major streets and speculation about what caused the break.

Note: I have a theory. If you haven’t heard, there’s a new football coach in town and rumor has it he travels with a large entourage and some nice luggage. #CoachPrime #Louis

Sure, The Weed could ride his bike to the office. The howling wind, bringing in cold temps would make it a challenge, though.

Sure, he could walk. Seriously, we don’t live far away. Still, he likely would have to stop at his favorite coffee shop, and then not make it into the office for another hour or so. The Weed loves his favorite coffee shop.

So, we’re conducting business in our respective home offices and flashing back to our forced in-home togetherness of a few years ago. <shudder>

Those were the days of scouring the Internet for Lysol wipes and latex gloves. The days of racing through the grocery store, trying to stay 6 feet away from the nearest masked-up, haggard shopper. The days of counting down our dwindling paper towel supply.

I don’t miss those days. I really don’t.

Still, having The Weed home, conducting business in his very serious business manner, is kind of nice.

Luka and Layla are stoked to have him here. They have both left my side to check on him, ensuring his coffee cup is full and there is a soft, snuggly puppy at his feet.

And, if he’s home long enough today, he will be able to receive the fresh Christmas tree we ordered for delivery. The fresh Christmas tree coming to us straight out of Tallahassee, Florida.

Yep. You read that right.

We’re the clowns who ordered a Christmas tree thinking it would be some majestic specimen coming to us from a free-range farm in the Montana wilderness.

No dice. We’re getting a Florida tree.

I have no idea what this festive collection of branches will look like once the FedEx driver muscles it onto our porch. I’m just happy to have a tree again this year.

Last year, we decided to celebrate sans tree because Luka was new to The Weed Compound, and we suspected trying to potty train a puppy with a tree in the house was not so wise.

This year, we caved. I have a carpet shampooer. If there are puppy potty training woes, I can clean up well enough.

So, bring on the Florida tree. We’re ready for it and whatever promise it might hold.

This is about as far as I’ve gotten with holiday decorations this year. That all will change today when our fresh Florida tree arrives. For better or worse.