Thoughts during the apocalypse, Part 27.

A work in progress: Turning a recording into a podcast takes patience.

It's been a while since the last compilation of these thoughts, I know. It's probably because we've fallen into a rut as the pandemic runs its course. There may be moves afoot to restore some semblance of normalcy elsewhere in the nation, but we remain on high alert here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and, aside from the sudden ascension of golf to an "essential" activity that just had to be re-opened (sarcasm intended), not much new is happening.

Things have fallen into a monotonous pattern here. If not for the occasional deviation to produce a podcast (see photo above), I might go stir-crazy.

I know, I probably have no business complaining. After all, I have always lived a solitary lifestyle. If anything, I am probably more well-equipped to handle this sort of isolation than a lot of people I know. There are some individuals with whom I'm close and I've heard from most of them on a fairly regular basis during these eight-plus weeks -- with one notable exception, which is heartbreaking -- but all of them have their own worries and responsibilities, and I don't feel the overwhelming need to add to their burdens.

The podcasts are fun. Most of the ones I've done since February have been timely and informative, touching upon how the pandemic has affected my guests' lives and their jobs. If you haven't listened to them, I recommend that you go to the left-hand side of this web page (web browser version, not mobile) and click on where it says, "Podcast Central!" It will take you directly to my main podcasting page and there are links to all of them there.

The most recent one, with Mansfield High School football coach Mike Redding, brought more than 500 views to the web page and 140 first-time hits on the podcast in just 24 hours, an all-time record. And today, I'm putting the finishing touches on my third podcast featuring Foxboro High School girls' basketball coach Lisa Downs. It's been my first opportunity to speak to her since her team was named "co-champions" of the state Division 2 tournament because the coronavirus crisis forced cancellation of the championship game.

Lisa's third appearance will be posted probably on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. And again, it's timely because one of the topics is her work with the Foxboro Discretionary Fund's food pantry, which has become an essential resource to Foxboro residents in need as the pandemic lockdown continues.

Who can't use a good mug?

Among the 23 episodes of "The Owner's Box" thus far, there have been 13 guests, either in-studio or recorded from remote locations. Obviously, since March, the second seat inside Fulton Pond Studios (a/k/a my dining room) has been empty. And as of Saturday, that means I have been entrusted with another task -- the effort to make sure all of my guests get one of my spiffy new "The Owner's Box" coffee mugs. Yes, I've had some 13-ounce mugs (for that extra gulp of joe in each cup) printed with the podcast's logo and they look terrific. And seriously, who can't use another coffee mug?

Once Amazon delivers the order for packing boxes, I'll be in business. Some may think all this effort is pointless, but at least it's giving me something to do instead of staring out the window wondering when normalcy will return.

Now, some other thoughts as the days fall off the calendar...

This is what 15 yards of fresh mulch looks like. It's a lot.

** As I looked around the yard earlier today, I realized that something I had planned will not be taking place this spring.

It was exactly two years ago today when I ordered 15 yards of mulch from our town's most reliable provider, Flint Farm, and set about the task of restoring several areas of my yard that my mother and father (mostly Mom) designed to be mulched instead of grassed. I originally envisioned it to be a two-day task until the truck dropped a veritable mountain of mulch in my driveway, and as it turned out, it took me nine days to complete the task -- not bad for a pudgy 64-year-old.

I was thinking I should do it again this year, as I need to restore the color of the mulch and to knock down some of the weed growth in the cutout areas. But as you're aware if you've been reading this, I've been struggling with my left knee for much of this pandemic period after stepping the wrong way off a frost heave the first time I mowed.

I'd probably see an orthopedic specialist if not for the fact that I don't want to go anywhere near a hospital right now -- a combination of fear of infection and the presumption that they probably need the space for individuals that are really sick. And I know the first thing the doctor would say: "Lose weight." It's a vicious circle, knowing that I need to exercise to lose weight but I can't exercise because my knee has become so painful.

I can still mow, however -- and probably should today, as bad weather is forecast for tomorrow. So I'll strap on the knee brace and get it done a little later. But the heavier lifting of mulching? That will be put off until next year.

Hard to believe I will be 67 when that happens. I really should take off some pounds before then.

** The other home-improvement projects will continue as expected. First, I'll be finishing two sets of wooden steps in the back of the house with a marine-grade varnish. Have to sand them down a little, but I'm not sure I have a sander. I should; my parents had two or three of everything and I didn't throw everything out when I moved in five years ago.

The second task will be to re-seal my driveway again. A few of the cracks I sealed last summer have re-opened, and weeds are starting to pop up. It's not as tough a task as it sounds, and I'll probably hold off until a weekend in August. The good thing is that I probably won't need to use as much sealant this year as I did last year, when the driveway was particularly thirsty.

** This week's binge-watching guilty pleasure has been "Harley Quinn," the animated episodic saga of the Joker's girlfriend from the Batman comics -- or, more accurately, his ex-girlfriend, as portrayed by Kaley Cuoco. The first season is being shown on the SyFy network after its initial release on the DC Universe pay-channel, and it's unedited, incredibly profane (the F-word is frequently used by all of the characters except the Caped Crusader), and riotously funny. Not at all for the little kiddos, though.

All for today. Time to start wrapping up the knee and getting the mower warmed up. See you soon. Stay safe.