fingers crossed

Patrick arrived this morning. How wonderful to put out a plea for help over the weekend and have it arrive first thing Monday morning. Patrick explained exactly what he was going to do and why. Better than my copper wool and foam, he mixed concrete and stuffed the holes with that. He replaced the wall insulation with rock wool. I've never felt rockwool before. I assumed it would be rough. It was soft and thick. He covered up the panel with drywall. He showed me that my garage door was NOT the problem. 

I want his company to replace my kitchen. I am "socializing the concept" of my new kitchen and I'm definitely sold. The bad news is that replacing a kitchen, in addition to costing a fortune, takes a month of not using your kitchen. The good news is that making it a foot wider should not, in itself, cost a fortune. Also good is that you can design it to fit your shorter half. 

I'm feeling such relief. I'm waiting to hear the sounds of anyone still around and my fingers are crossed. 

The European Union has barred vehicles that are registered in Russia or Moscow-aligned Belarus from crossing its borders.


Slovakia set a S-300 mobile anti-aircraft system to Ukraine. In exchange, the US will place a Patriot missile defense system in Slovakia as backfill. The Ukrainian military already has a supply of the S-300 systems so they are familiar with them. 

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) announced a new initiative to support Ukraine over the next two years. 



The coronavirus lockdowns in China have reduced demand for oil and the prices have fallen. 


Italy signed a deal with Algeria to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. Italy said it would team up with Algeria on the development of renewables and green hydrogen. 


John Lennon's son Julian always said the only time he'd ever sing "Imagine" would be if it was the end of the world. He sang the song as part of the Global Citizen's social media rally, Stand Up for Ukraine. Other participating celebrities included Ellen DeGeneres, Bruce Springsteen, and Billie Eilish. 

That incredibly brave Russian TV journalist, Marina Ovsyannikova, who held up the sign during a live broadcast, was just hired by the German media company WELT. She's a freelance correspondent for the newspaper and TV channel.