Unexpected Pandemic Positive

I needed to renew mine too and was really surprised that I could do it online without the vision test or getting a new photo. (Not that either of those things would be an issue. My glasses that I wear to drive were new last year and I was glad to not need a new photo due to my Covid hairstyle—or lack thereof, LOL.)

DH had to go transfer a title at the DMV and he said the wait for an appointment to get a license renewed was two months.   

I had to renew last year in person, and told the clerk, maybe we should update my weight to something more accurate? And she said no one cares about that and kept on going without making any updates.

I love all of the new curbside pick up options! Especially for garden and house stuff, having someone else gather it all and load it into my car.

Hahahaha same here!! My licence expires on 8th January, and when they sent me the renewal letter last month, they said that due to COVID they were not getting people to come in to get a new photo taken, so I will be keeping the exisiting photo. So yay, I still look like I'm 43yo and it's 2010!

Where are my jowls? 

By the time I have to renew it again, I will be 63yo and still look 43.

My mammogram + ultrasound appointment, which normally take 2 hours, only took 1/2 hour.

We are saving so much money! No eating out, no impulse purchases, no retreats, and so on. This is good because it means we were and are able to help younger daughter out with bills and the like as she goes through chemo and cannot work as much as she usually does.

My friend and I realized that taking our lunch to Starbucks and sitting under the awning in the rain with food and a drink is totally enjoyable.

I have learned that walking in the rain is ok and that getting fresh air during the winter helps me sleep better. And all of that has made me realize that I shouldn’t be scared of a dog. I’ve always said I hate being outside in the winter. I don’t love it but I don’t hate it and now know that it’s good for me. So we have a puppy on the way this month and my kids are overjoyed.

In general, the pandemic has been full of positives for me. Many of my obligations outside the home just stopped at the same time I started dating a wonderful man. This afforded me more time to concentrate on my home, child, animals, and relationship at a time when I would have been run ragged. I started a new job working remotely (permanently) for a company that really didn't have remote work before all this, and they implemented remote work right, so it was a smooth, easy transition. I had a car accident due to a medical issue the week the day before everything moved remote here, and working from home allowed me the time to figure that out and purchase a car without the need to figure out transportation.

Don't get me wrong, the negatives are really negative, but life has been different in a good way.

I really enjoy working remotely, but have come to appreciate my one day in the office a week.

Spending time with my dogs, getting a new puppy at the beginning of quarantine gave me the ability to train her much more quickly.

Curbside pick up and delivery options. Especially delivery. I live in a semi-rural area and we used to have one pizza place that would deliver to our house. Now our opportunities are basically endless.

Focusing on home projects. We have remodeled a bit, redecorated, making better use of most of our space because we are home all the time. In the spring my backyard area will have a major overhaul, since I spent most of last summer there and will likely do the same this summer.

Outdoor eating. While I only ate out a few times this summer, I thoroughly enjoyed sitting outside.

I have learned how to use my instant pot (FINALLY) and am become a pro at baking bread.

I was able to renew my handicap placard online no doctor signature needed. Good for another 5 years