HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Well, Reds? I have no idea. Jonathan and I are not budging from our house. I bought lentils. I don’t even like lentils. I take my temperature every day. Twice. My hands are raw from washing them. (I have since learned that moisturizer is okay.) I am doing TV stories via Zoom from my study. (The lighting stinks.) I am trying to write a book, and I am having a very hard time focusing. On anything.
Everything is so bizarre that it replaces every prior use of “bizarre.” An ex-intern of mine, she’s maybe now 26? Just emailed me that she’s visiting Boston two weeks from now, and did I want to meet for lunch
I gasped. LUNCH? MEET FOR LUNCH?
But for today--is this what we want to talk about? Jungle Red is such a treasured place for us to be together. We’re used to not seeing each other, right? And we’re used to talking about everything. And we will be here. This is our community. So what should we talk about today? Reality or distraction?
HALLIE EPHRON: I find my mood swinging from terror to obliviousness. We’ve just never seen anything like this before. Reality? What even IS it?? I’m sure the full impact hasn’t hit me. I know, I know, that’s not what’s going to keep us from jumping out the window.
Jerry and I have been Facetiming our granddaughter for a few hours each morning. I teach her math and reading; Jerry does science and drawing. It’s really been sweet, though her little brother (4 years old) keeps melting down in the background.
I can only do reality for so long, then I need distraction.
JENN McKINLAY: Welp, my people are all under foot. I try to tell myself that someday I’ll look back on this time with gratitude for hours spent together. Sure. The reality is that trying to write while the interruptions are many is giving me what? Strength of character, the patience of a saint, or a slow burning frustration that may erupt on the unsuspecting? I’d go with all of the above.
Today, needing distraction, I forced the fam on a nature walk to get them out of the house. I should have locked the door after them but instead I went with them on a hike through the desert and
 |
| This is not Jenn's bunny. This was in Hank's yard. |
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Oh, Jenn, that sounds so nice. I’m just now recovering to a point where I could go on a walk for pleasure and the weather’s been unrelentingly gray and wet here in Maine. I’m actually looking forward to being about to tackle my bete-noir: the yard work!!
In many ways I feel staying at home hasn’t hit me yet because I’ve been sick. But as I get better… Friday evening I asked the Smithie if she wanted to go get take out pizza, and she looked at me like I suggested ordering BBQ Puppies. Even pointing out it would be helping a local business didn’t budge her. Instead, I took the money I would have spent and bought a giant bag of dog food (online, of course) to be delivered to our local animal shelter. So I feel pretty coronavirtuous. Still wish I
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I am all for distraction. This last week has been quite an adjustment, to say the least. There has been lots of online grocery shopping and cabinet organizing going on here. It seems like everyone I know is organizing their pantries!
Otherwise I’m very fortunate to live so close to my daughter and her family, so that we can talk over the fence and go for six-feet-apart walks. And my daughter keeps me entertained by posting daily videos of my four-year-old granddaughter, who is loving having mom and dad home. She wakes up every morning full of enthusiastic plans for all their activities for the day. We should all take note!
Today, I’m hoping to settle into the “new normal” and get some writing done.
RHYS BOWEN: I think it’s the uncertainty that
is harder than anything to take. John and I are self isolating. I’m nagging
about washing hands and “no. You may not just pop to the Dollar Store for
tissues!” Our daughter Clare is wonderful and brings fresh baked bread,
groceries as well as chocolate and wine. So it’s a pleasant imprisonment and I
actually have tons of work to do— book to finish and page proofs ( and tax at
some stage). It I’m enjoying some time for treats too. And Britbox-
working my way through every British mystery series!
And chatting with friends online makes it so
much easier.
We take paper towels soaked in Clorox when we
I read such a good article in Medium today about this pandemic. Here’s a snippet that rang very true, spoken by a man who’d been held as a prisoner of war. The interviewer was interested in why he’d survived when others didn’t: “I never lost faith in the end of the story, I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade…
“This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end — which you can never afford to lose — with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”
That tension — between the faith that we will prevail and the brutal facts of our current reality — became known as the Stockdale Paradox. It’s what Brené Brown calls “gritty facts and gritty faith.”
And it is exactly what we need right now.
I recommend the article to you. https://medium.com/@kailacolbin/how-we-will-get-through-the-pandemic-58b0440cd388
HANK: Lucy, thank you for that. It is very
Things may be uncertain, and frightening, and frustrating, but we can’t change anything that’s happening at this moment. I’m all for the distraction, but I’d also like to hold on to what you said, Hank: “We are all here.” Yes, we are. And for that, I am consummately grateful . . . .
ReplyDelete‘Joan, I am so grateful to start every day connecting with you!
Delete:)
DeleteI'll be back later today to say more, but someone posted that their preacher in his online message Sunday said that we all must find our anchors to weather this time. I think I have some great anchors, and one of the most steadying is the comfort and company I get from my book friends in the mystery/crime community. From the reliability of this blog greeting me every day with so many amazing people to talking online and on the phone to people from this community. It keeps me positive and involved.
ReplyDeleteExactly, dear Kathy! And so wise —xxxx
DeleteThat was me who posted Kathy, and it was our minister here at MCC Key West who talked about anchors. His message is on Facebook and he'll be giving another one live on Sunday at 10 if that would appeal to anyone...
DeleteLove the idea of finding our anchors, Kathy. I feel fortunate to have really good ones.
DeleteLucy, thank you so much for letting me know it was you. I was going to look it up later and come back here to add who it was. Wasn't it Steve Torres who said it? I thought the anchors suggestion was spot on.
DeleteThere is only so much I can take. I get most of that from my job, which is being impacted by all of this. As of right now, I have a job, but we will see if I still have one by the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm sticking my nose in books and rewatching movies to escape reality.
But tomorrow, it's back to work from my dining room table.
Good for you, Mark! You can do it. and we are always here!
DeleteI was six blocks away when the Murrah Building was bombed, and I thought that was the worst time I would ever experience.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't.
We, too, are self-isolating. Presently I am watching the local news, seeing how cases are popping up in nursing homes, senior citizen housing areas, and we now have 68 cases in Rochester, about a third in hospitals, and a third of those in ICU.
Community response is amazing. The Chinese American community donated about 70,000 masks, one of the local distilleries has stopped producing booze and is making hand sanitizer, providing it at cost to medical facilities. Hickey-Freeman, maker of men's clothing, has closed but is providing raw materials to anyone who can sew, to make masks and gowns. Many of our restaurants are providing take out and delivery but so many more have closed. One bakery is making only bread, delivering to senior citizens in the neighborhood, no cost.
Mostly people are either staying home or keeping their distance. Unfortunately we have had to isolate ourselves from our dear neighbor next door, recently widowed. She refuses to stay home and out of places like the cable company and grocery store even though Julie has offered to keep her in groceries, and the cable thing was just not necessary.
We are getting out for walks with the dogs, and Saturday we got drive thru burgers and drove to Lake Ontario, to enjoy the sunshine and air out our souls. We both are finding it hard to concentrate, and we search for funny and mindless things on TV. However, do check out Little
Fires Everywhere, most excellent if not even remotely funny. Reese Witherspoon has an Emmy in her future.
All my children and most of my grandchildren are in Texas and most are staying home. My daughter and my grandson's wife both have essential jobs. I pray for their safety every day every hour every moment.
We have everything I need in this house. Except our families. Depression, which has never been far from my being, keeps rearing its head.
But spring will come and so will my neighbor's daughter, both later this week I hope.
We are still experiencing sub-zero temps overnight, Ann, so the snow and ice is not yet melting. I'm crossing my fingers the weather gets warmer, so that there are more significant signs of winter leaving and spring arriving. In the meantime, I am really enjoying watching the birds feed on the suet we hang out. That Pileated Woodpecker is a beauty.
DeleteI hear you, dear one! My theory right now, is one day at a time. You absolutely never know, and that can be good, right? One day one step at a time. Xxxx
DeleteI'm finding writing a great respite from the outside world, and the longer days and sunlight a comfort.
ReplyDeleteBut I owe some people giveaway prize books and I don't want to go to the post office. Must figure out online labels. We've had mice show up in our kitchen overnight for a few nights but I don't want to go down the block to the hardware store for remedies. And the shelter is temporarily out of adoptable cats - plus, should I even go there?. Instead I now COMPLETELY clean the countertops and put away every bit of food before I go to bed. It's become a new ritual.
Good for you, Edith, for digging into your writing. You must have very strong routines that are helpful at times like this...As for the giveaway books -- leave them on your desk; no one is going to die from not receiving their prize! ...and I'm so sorry about the mice. They are unwelcome visitors in your kitchen -- and should be self-isolating in their own domicile, anyway! Maybe leave them a note to that effect?
DeleteI agree, Edith! Prizes can wait, nobody is expecting the world to work the way it did in the past. At least you can be in touch with the winners, and tell them the scoop. As if they didn’t already know it. :-) And I agree, I am suddenly scrupulous about cleaning.
DeleteEdith, I had those unwanted visitors about six months ago, so every single thing in my pantry now goes in a sealed container. I sometimes think it is taking me twice as long to cook anything just because I have to find and free the ingredients first. But of course it is worth it. And we haven't seen any signs of visits from them since. Oh how I detest those little visitors!
DeleteEdith, you don't have to go to the PO to mail books. Go to usps.gov and it is rather self-explanatory. Then drop package in mailbox and off it goes. I'm not saying you should do this but isn't it nice to know you could if you wanted to. You will need to weigh your package or at least have a good idea what it weighs and you will want to use media rate.
DeleteEdith, here's an easy mouse remedy, shared with us by a friend who has one of those "critter gitter" businesses. It's more humane (if any solution is) than the glue traps, and much easier to deal with than traps, especially since it's possible to capture multiple mice at a time.
DeleteFive-gallon bucket, about five inches of water in the bottom. Peanut butter smeared on the inside rim, with a couple stripes downward. A ramp of some kind to the rim (a yardstick works well.) The mice climb up for the peanut butter, which entices them, then when they reach inward they fall in and drown. To reset, dump it out and refill again.
We have used this at the farm for years, because every other kind was a one-time use, plus sometimes the mice dragged the traps into inaccessible places. We have had as many as four mice in a bucket at once.
It's not fun, and it's icky, but it's very effective, cheap, and infinitely reusable.
Edith, I now have the cleanest kitchen ever! Every surface washed several times a day! I wonder if will carry over when we return to normality
DeleteWell, I finally took Hank's recommendation about The Man Who Invented Christmas. I watched it last night and it was pretty entertaining. Though at least twice I said out loud (to myself), "How did this guy get any writing done with all the endless distractions?"
ReplyDeleteAnd it is hard to get a break from reality when you can't even tune into an episode of The Flintstones and it turns out to be the one where Wilma and Betty get the measles!
I'm mostly self-isolating at night, but I'm able to go to work still so the daytime sees me at my job making money so I can pay bills...YAAAY for that.
I'm doing what I can to keep positive but it isn't always easy. In a self-interested way, losing out on doing the things I normally do is a real pain. I'm not numb to the reasons why it is a good idea, but that doesn't make it any less a bummer.
I try to check in on a different group of friends/acquaintances each day to see if they are okay. So far, everyone seems good.
Slipping off to my worlds of murder stories or music helps take me away for a while so that is good. And as I wrote on Wicked Authors, I'm hoping that I can get some extra writing done alongside reading some ARCS for review.
Oh, Jay, so glad you watched it! And how does he get all any writing done with all those distractions… Welcome to writing world! It’s perfect.
DeleteHank, I can totally relate. I can't focus on anything well since returning home from San Diego last Tuesday. Everyone said I could catch up on my reading while self-isolating. But guess what? I have not read a single book in 5 days! Whereas, I have been able to listen to 2 audiobooks which I usually can't stand to do. It helps that one of the audiobooks is Michelle Obama's Becoming which she is narrating herself.
ReplyDeletePart of it was jet lag but also anxiety as I see my normally bustling downtown neighbourhood turning into a ghost town. And I now have some symptoms of COVID-19 so I definitely can't go out at all, not even for a walk! Feeling antsy and restless for sure.
Take care everyone, and thank goodness for social media and blogs like JRW to keep me connected with a great bunch of people.
I hope you don't get sick, Grace! And that you can get back to reading.
DeleteGrace, can you email your physician with your symptoms? I think that would be a good first step. He'll want to know your temperature, quality of cough and quality of breathing. Please do this. If you can't email, which might be faster, then please call. xox
DeleteGrace - sending you all good thoughts and hoping you can follow Ann's advice about getting in touch with your physician. Do take care!
DeleteI just talked to a friend and her husband who had it… They think because they could not get tested… And they said they are fine now. They said it was not terrible but no fun… They must’ve had a mild case. so you know what to do, right? Rest rest rest and drink fluids and take Tylenol. You don’t need me to tell you this. Take care, and keep us posted, OK? Xxxxxx
DeleteThanks, Edith, Ann, Amanda and Hank for your advice. We have a telehealth number for Ontario to speak with a health professional 24/7 during this crisis. I did this yesterday. My symptoms so far are on the mild side (cough, fatigue, aches, slight fever now gone) so they recommended I continue to self-isolate and I don't have to go in to get officially tested.
DeleteOf course if the symptoms worsen, especially related to breathing problems, I will have to call them agai.
Take care Grace and I agree with contacting your physician. And please let us know how you are feeling!
DeleteWe are here with you while you take care of yourself and get better
DeleteTake care Grace.
DeleteGrace, I'm glad you called the telehealth number. Please don't hesitate to call them back if your symptoms worsen. I'll be checking in with you to see how you're doing.
DeleteGrace, good luck with this, and speedy recovery.
DeleteTake care, Grace.
DeleteOh my goodness, I can relate, Hank. I haven't read more than a few paragraphs at a time, and even flipping through writing and gardening magazines isn't grabbing my attention. Watching endless episodes of Grey's Anatomy is providing an escape for the moment.
ReplyDeleteI've been working from home since last Tuesday and, while I'm loving the shorter commute (from bedroom through the bathroom to the kitchen and then my work desk in the living room) and no longer having to iron my work clothes, I'm finding the new rhythm of my days challenging to accommodate to -- I hadn't realized how much I valued leaving the house to get to work and then having face-to-face colleagues to work with! Sheesh, I'd better get a grip, because I'm in for at least six weeks of this (and likely more if the news is even halfway accurate).
My mother (91 years old) should be home this evening from visiting my brother in Holland. I'm hoping to feel more settled once I know she's safely back in her own suite, self-isolating, of course, for the required 14 days.
Like others have said, I'm grateful for this JRW community and the morning touch point via this blog. Hang in there, everyone. I'm striving to manage my own expectations of myself -- just getting through the day is an accomplishment at the moment. Be kind to others -- and to yourself.
I think that is so wise! We should be kind to ourselves, and just do what we can do, and if we need to watch TV, all good. We can do the rest of it later, and that is a good thing !
DeleteDistraction is the operative word for so many of us. I hope your mom will soon be safely home and you can check that box. Xox
DeleteI hope your mom comes home as scheduled. Two of my brothers came back from traveling in the last week and each time I felt that I could breathe more easily.
DeleteI don't often comment here, but read JRW every single day. So, in Texas, the bluebonnets and other wildflowers are blooming! They are lovely and almost came up overnight with the rain we've had. I've been taking solitary walks in our neighborhood (we're kind of out in country near Austin) and breathing the fresh air, waving to a few neighbors that I see and shouting hello, and getting used to my husband working from home. My usual volunteering at two local libraries is at a halt as they are closed. My print reading is not as good as I would like, but I'm going through a lot of audiobooks and that's helping. I posted pictures of the bluebonnets on my blog the other day and on Saturday shared pictures of flowers from all over the place - pictures I had taken on trips in the past.
ReplyDeleteI know that we will get through this. I try not to worry about our daughter, an experienced nurse who works in labor and delivery at a local hospital. She can't take her work home and may have to 'remain in place' at some point. Babies - they will insist on coming on their schedule and they don't care about nasty viruses. Ha! So, each day, I walk and breathe and pray and try to check on other family and friends by phone and breathe and walk some more. Take care everyone. Be sensible with yourselves and I'm looking forward to coming to Left Coast in New Mexico in 2021!
So glad you checked in, and prayers for your daughter! We just heard from a friend who has TWO pregnant daughters, one who must have a c-section. very scary times!
DeleteYes, when we go out for walks, I always try to wait and say hello across the street to the people… It seems like some people have decided not to talk to each other, too. I don’t want to lose that little momentary connection with strangers.
DeleteI am totally unhinged from my routine and reality... witness that I failed to add to this blog. SORRY, HANK! Kay, Bluebonnets! I've only seen them in paintings. Taking solitary walks here, too. The silver lining has been 'teaching' my granddaughter each morning - we go on Facetime and I have her for an hour, my husband for an hour. Math. Reading. Drawing. Dancing. It's fun, but I'm guessing it's going to get old...
ReplyDeleteHallie, YOU DID ADD, LOL. Our minds are just scattered from this stress. Hang in there! xox
DeleteHallie, you did add! And I am so relieved that you are confuse :-) I spend my entire day wondering if I did things, and I have done so many things twice
DeleteHank, about your hands, you should try to wash them with goat milk soap bar. It is very mild and effective. It does not dry out the skin's naturel protective barrier. It is what I use because I have very sensitive skin.
ReplyDeleteReality and distraction are both necessary for me. Being informed but not too much to not induce anxiety. Try to do what has to be done, read , walk, watch TV. It is a fragile balance. Thank God for family, friends and this blog ; keeping in touch becomes more and more important.
Yes, I am using very mild soap… Thank you! I will look for goat milk soap… I bet I have some somewhere! And I read that we should not forget to moisturize, and that is safe!
DeleteI’m trying to focus on the little things- not too successfully, but trying. We got snow last night— so I’m trying to enjoy not having to go out in it to work today! Yesterday my whole family had a virtual birthday party for my niece, which was chaotic and not perfect technically, but so much fun!
ReplyDeleteLast week I was so busy figuring out how to teach online that the week is a blur. In the misery loves company category, it’s helpful to hear that some of you are having trouble reading since I did too. Over the weekend I cut myself off from reading the news, and it did help. I’m ready to escape, I think, after a week of nothing more than reality!
I SO agree! We are--seriously--rationing TV news watching. And that is ME saying that! It is NOT helpful. xxoxo
DeleteI made my own liquid handsoap and it gave me such a satisfied feeling--as if I was actually doing something useful to protect my family. The two youngest cats have taken to lying as close to me as possible whenever I sit down--and that's a comfort too. Like everyone here, I alternate between panicked thoughts, disbelief, faith, and fear for my loved ones. I count this blog among my blessings.
ReplyDeleteFlora--that's great! How do you do that?
DeleteAnd aww...we are blessed by you, too. ox
Hank, there are many recipes online. All you need are some slivers of bar soap and water. Of course, if you have extra bars of your preferred bar soap, you can use those also. I wondered why I saved those slivers....
DeleteOn the one hand, I feel like I have had a relatively easy time of it so far. Up until now I was still slipping into the office once every few days, though effective at midnight tonight we, too, are under a stay-at-home order. I have chosen to go into the grocery store for myself, but I have done it during the first hour they open in the morning, right after the night's cleaning and restocking, which eventually came to be the time set aside for the "elderly." (Struggling to accept that the coronavirus definition of that includes me!) I'll let you in on a little secret: it was mainly older people in the store at that hour anyway. I have always enjoyed cooking as a creative outlet, so I have been cooking homemade meals each evening. And my husband and I have been out walking in the neighborhood daily, where we get a fair amount of more-than-six-foot-distant social interaction. Yesterday someone in the neighborhood arranged for us to meet at the park at the edge of the neighborhood for a prayer service. We stood all around the perimeter, much more than six feet apart, and a neighborhood kid who plays bagpipe stood in the center and played a few songs then we just all stood in silent prayer for a while. It was emotionally and spiritually fortifying.
ReplyDeleteOn the challenging side, I am trying very hard to remain productive for my employer during at least a lot of regular business hours, but I spent most of last week working the bugs out of all the technology. I THINK (hope?) I've reached the point where I can be more effective this week. Our 26-year-old son is currently living with us and since he came here to transition from one career to another, he had taken a job at a gas station/convenience store just to keep some income flowing while he sorts it out. Well of course that is considered an essential service, so he still works out in the world several days a week. He is pretty paranoid about infecting us, so I truly do believe he is doing everything in his power to manage the risk, and I just trust the Lord for the rest. And truth be told, even though things have gone remarkably well so far, I'm beginning to ACHE for some alone time. Love them both, but...yeah. We've really been together A LOT lately, with no end in sight. Like many of you, I have actually seen my reading diminish rather than grow so far, and I REALLY want to figure out how to turn that tide.
Still, I have to say, overall I feel blessed and try to stay focused on how relatively easy we have it.
Susan, that is so beautiful. I imagined that service--and it was lovely, and even helpful, if it only existed in my mind. xxo
DeleteI've been thinking that my life has not been affected very much, other than not being able to go to the library, but I guess I don't have much of a life. It was beginning to feel like Spring here; I had buds on the daffodils. But woke up to snow and more is expected. Yay. So I haven't been too worried. My granddaughter just wants to be able to go back to school and my grandson just wants to be able to play with his friends.
ReplyDeleteThen they had to tell us on the news that the tick problem has already started so be careful if you even step out the door! And people are buying guns like crazy. That is scary!
"we just want to..." Shows how much we didn't notice our ordinary lives.. Poor tads!
DeleteHere in Harrisburg PA my husband is working from home; he consults with CEOs and they’re all very stressed. To keep the hubs from internalizing all of the CEOs stress he and I are working out in our living room. I’m listening to STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel which is a bit like listening to fiction intersect with reality.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Emily! Wow--that is a different kind of difficult-his poor brain and all the uncertainty. You are wise to do the workouts--and loving to do them together!
DeleteThe Stockdale Paradox is absolutely true. A local cinema put a message on it's marquee - We will get through this, Pittsburgh. And we will. It won't be easy and maybe it won't be pretty, but we will.
ReplyDeleteWe, too, are looking at how to incorporate take-out and local shopping into our budget to support local business. The dog still gets his walk every day (or twice) because he'd go bonkers. I'm going to have to go do the grocery pickup this week. Things just have to get done.
I think the hardest hit is my son. It's his senior year of high school. Spending it in self-imposed quarantine is not how he envisioned it. He's just hoping the worst is over by May and they get to run graduation ceremonies.
The incessant rain does not help my mood, nor does the fact that my house is full of people when it is normally just me and the dog. But losing myself in a good book (just finished Lori Rader-Day's latest last night, so good) or a puzzle on the iPad is good. I'm watching TV with my boy. And I spent most of Saturday online with 900+ people at the virtual Murder & Mayhem in Chicago and had a blast.
Oh, and I have a book to write and one releasing in August.
It will end. When I don't know, but it will. We just have to hang in there.
The soon-to-be- grads--it is so world shaking, particularly, to have that rug pulled out from under. I keep imagining all of our rituals, like graduation all happing in one glorious day--or, okay, week--in the near future. Please congratulate him for us!
DeleteWill do. xo
DeleteWe connect with the kids on a more regular basis, I spend more time preparing a decent dinner, and my husband is in heaven with a different opera streaming on metopera.org every evening at 7:30. The puppy will grow out of his puppy habits (this morning he snatched a banana off the counter, peeled and ate it). I will plant herbs in my deck pots and once again snip fresh basil, tarragon, and parsley for dinner.
ReplyDeletePEELED IT??
DeleteLouie's a talented little guy. Attacks the desktop mouse on a regular basis, too.
DeleteI wish I had something to add to cheer everyone up. There is a visual in my brain from an old movie with a "slap" and a "snap out of it!" but I can't place it. We all have very good reason to have the blues and there is no "snap out of it!" forthcoming.
ReplyDeleteThis blog has been very helpful to me. The one thing I have begun to do that has taken my brain elsewhere, I've begun to do short reviews on Amazon of books I have finished reading. Because it is something that my author friends appreciate, I feel like I am giving something back for the joy that your stories are giving me. I also will soon be circling back to books I finished last year. I hope that seeing sweet reviews will bring some cheer.
Stay well, everyone.
Judy, what a great idea! And I guarantee all the authors will appreciate your effort!
DeleteMOONSTRUCK!
DeleteAnd yes, Judy, HURRAY! That is SUCH a great idea! Thank you!
DeleteSocial media is helping. Our family has set up a group on Marco Polo (an app I'd never heard of before) so we can share video messages and stay in touch. Someone set up a Facebook group in my town for people to share information and needs. The county chamber of commerce has published a list of local restaurants that are doing take-out and delivery and another Facebook group is for people to share experiences with those restaurants and encourage others to support the businesses. I plan to do take-out once a week to support a particular restaurant. I did some grocery shopping early yesterday morning and am set for a while so, other than some solo walks, will probably be home-bound for a couple of weeks until the next grocery run. I'm an introvert so the "pause" New York is under won't bother me too much -- for a while.
ReplyDeleteTake good care--and make sure to come visit here!
DeleteDearest Reds, what would we all do without you? It is such a comfort to know this little community is here for all of us every morning, with discussions about so many topics we all enjoy. Thank you for your steadfastness.
ReplyDeleteMy own lack of ambition lately had really mystified me, until I starting reading that others are also lacking motivation right now. That's actually comforting to me, to know I'm not alone. A friend posted a question on Facebook yesterday, asking what everyone was working on, with her own little projects listed. I could not bring myself to confessing to reading all day, and napping every afternoon. On the other hand, being well rested is vital to our health, right?
Part of the problem here is that it's been so blamed WET for so long, and chilly to boot. I have a ton of outdoor projects to do, but it's too muddy to do them. Our yard has still not recovered from being a construction site, almost a year later, thanks to all the rain.
As of tonight at midnight Ohio is under a stay-home order, which will actually be a relief to me. I've only left the house for food in the last couple of weeks, but my husband thinks he can roam all over the place, and he has not been as careful as I have--he even invited someone over last week. I just went to the early "elderly only" shopping at Krogers (with forty million other oldsters), and now I'm done. I have a prescription I have to pick up sometime this week, assuming it comes in, but that can be done through the drive-up window. And we surely have enough stuff to keep us busy around here.
All three of my daughters are scattered all over: Virginia, Michigan, and now Oregon. We have been group texting, but the middle daughter suggested we have Zoom conferences on a regular basis. I'm so excited to "see" them all. My oldest daughter is a nurse, and although the department she heads at the Detroit hospital is closing down for the duration, because she has experience she is going to have to go back into some kind of patient care. Since she was an ER nurse, she will probably be called to do triage, which is on the front lines of the virus. This is opening my eyes wider to the dangers our medical personnel are facing right now. Prayers would not go amiss.
Karen, sending good wishes and prayers to your daughter. All of our health care workers on the front lines are going to be our heroes.
DeleteIt has been so wet here, too, and now that it looks like it might actually get warm enough to plant a few tomatoes and veggies in the bucket garden, it looks like we will be sheltering in place. I wonder if nurseries (garden centers) are deemed an essential business...
Karen, I say 'Mothers of Nurses' unite - ha! Prayers will definitely be given for her and all our 'front line' people. I've been trying to not to overwhelm my daughter with too many check-ins - she was supposed to work last night so I have to wait until 4PM or so to text her for an update. Big hugs to all here! Virtually, of course...
DeleteZoom is quite amazing.. and yes, we are do grateful to have all of us there. xoxoxoo . I wondered about tomatoes, too, Deborah...
DeleteHank, Lentil Salsa Soup. Couple of carrots, chopped, an onion, chopped, garlic to taste, finely chopped, all softened in a tablespoon of olive oil in a pot. Add 6 cups water or stock, 2 cups of your favorite salsa,1 cup of lentils, and a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil,then lower heat to a simmer. Cook, stir occasionally, for about 45 minutes until the lentils are tender. That's it! This is in my regular soup rotation.
ReplyDeleteOh, hmm..really?? I am such a lentil newbie. SO--you mean dried lentils? May be we should have lentil day here...xxo THANK YOU!
DeleteThat sounds good, Kerie! I also have some lentils waiting to be used.
ReplyDeleteLentil day!
DeleteLate to the party again!
ReplyDeleteHank, I was laughing at your 26 year old friend who wanted to meet. Perhaps she meant FaceTime? We bought dry lentils and made homemade lentil soup with lots of veggies! The thicker the soup is, the better. I love it when it is thick! Though I am not a big fan of soup, I love Lentil, tomato basil soup. carrot ginger soup and French onion soup with soy cheese. In Europe, I could eat that yummy potato leek soup without getting sick from the dairy. It is hard for me to focus on reading, though I finally got into a children's novel written by Matt Haig (one of Meghan's favorite authors).
Hallie, that's cool about you teaching math and reading :-). How fun!
Jenn, glad you and your family could go on nature walks. Unfortunately, they had to close parks in the North Bay (Marin county) because many people were not following the social distancing rule. If it was a family standing together, I think that would be ok. In this case, many strangers were standing too close to each other!
Julia, I am so glad that you are starting to feel better! PLEASE STAY HEALTHY! Find out if the pizza place will deliver pizza to your house? Some restaurants do have curbside pick up only?
Deborah, I bet Wren is very happy to have her parents at home with her. As hard as it is for kids to have shelter in place, I was thinking the silver lining is that their parents get to stay home unless they are working on the front lines like Lucy's children.
Rhys, I LOVE Britbox. I have seen many mysteries. Queens of Mystery is a new favorite. Another new favorite is Shakespeare and Hathaway, which is quirky.
Lucy, many of us have anxiety. I am trying to keep my spirits up by chatting with family and friends. Staying busy. So far, I have baked pecan vegan cookies from Ellie Alexander's 31 Days of Cookies recipes. I baked vegan scones from a gluten free dairy free scone mix from the local organic store. I baked gluten free dairy free pumpkin bread.
Diana
Diana--you are so kind. She did not mean FaceTime. She sent me her photo from Florida, on the beach, and
DeleteI wrote back and yelled at her. :-) Very sweetly.
Hank, this reminds me of when we yelled at our elderly parents for going out after the shelter in place order for people over 65! I was just reading how some young people are not taking this seriously! Look at what is happening now in Italy.
DeleteEverything is surreal. I was telling my sister the other day (on the phone) that it is like when someone you know dies. It is unreal and hard to believe. You're in denial for a while. So far things are okay. I'm an introvert so I can stay home happily and entertain myself. Lots of books to read. My husband, however, is antsy. He's the one doing the shopping and chores. We take walks and walk our dog. There are lots of walkers these days!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I'm enjoying is being an empty nester for the first time in years. Our granddaughter flew home for a few days between terms at her culinary school. And guess what? She is still there in Ohio. She had an ear infection and couldn't fly. Now her school is suspended until April 6. I have a feeling another postponement is imminent. Anyway I'm relieved I don't have a 19-almost-20 year old marooned here. And our 42 year old son went off to bootcamp last week, just a day or two later than scheduled. We haven't heard anything from him but I'm not concerned. I have a feeling phones were locked up for the first few weeks of training. I remember when he went in the first time, back in 1999. No letters or visitors were allowed for the first few weeks of training. So I texted him the other night, but no response, and I'm sure that's why. The last text I got was on Wednesday; he'd landed in Oklahoma City and was about to board the bus for Ft Sill.
So, empty nest here and not complaining.
SO much going on! And I am sure you are right about the communications.. let us know when you heard from him! xxx
DeleteI'll do that!
DeleteSo wonderful to catch up with all the comments and feel so connected. As "jail" goes, this is a very comfortable one but I am unfocused and anxious. We have no elderly relatives now to worry about. WE seem to have become the old ones? - How the heck did that happen? But our adorable small granddaughters live downstairs and have no school. Our daughter comes to our spare room to work from "home". Our other daughter is really struggling with health issues and an active 3 year old and day care closed and husband going to work. And yes - yes! - we are glad to help all of them. I am figuring out how to make alcohol wipes as we did not quickly buy a big supply when we could have. (But we finally obtained a big bag of flour! Yay, procrastibaking) And I am monitoring the news(which I usually do NOT do, trying to find out what is next) Not much space in my mind to work out a new book, something different for me and not exactly clear yet.So. So, I am reminding myself about being here, in NY, on 9/11. I watched the 2nd plane on tv, in real time, a few miles away. Did not lose a loved one, home, job, but it was all around. It was important to turn the tv OFF, do the jobs as they appeared, hold loved ones close. And I am, like so many of us, looking for beauty and laughter. And friends, whether IRL or digital. Sending all of you warmest thoughts and remembering this is not forever.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Triss! A lot to juggle. You found FLOUR? Big score. xoxoo
DeleteWegman's, the beloved upstate NY supermarket chain (from my husband's home town) which recently opened a big store in Brooklyn. Flour restricted one to a customer.And even they did not sanitizing wipes.
DeleteTalk about unfocused...I did have a project to mention. We have a dollhouse my father made for my little daughters, a sort-of replica of our house. It is fragile now - the glue dried up - but none of us can bear to throw away this memory of grandpa and all the fun they had with it. Most of the furniture is still there and now the grandgirls show some interest.And have moved all the furniture to strange places, too! So I dusted, repaired, sponged, figured out what is lost or beyond fixing and ordered some new items. Fun and a chore completed. An antidote to the real world? You bet.
ReplyDeleteAWww...that's lovely-- Keep a photo journal of it, and we'd love to have you blog here about it so we all can see it!
DeleteI would love to. Thank you, Hank
DeleteI just got home from cleaning out my office at work--not that I've been fired, but because we are rescheduling all the concerts for the rest of the season, and Dallas is under a "shelter in place" order. So the office is closed and--added joy--we're all going on half-pay on April 1. Which will just about cover my house payment and health insurance. I'll cope, but I'm here to say that indigent widowhood sucks.
ReplyDeleteOH, honey. There are no words for this--except IT HAS TO BE OVER SOON. And then we will all talk about it, and say we were there. We will have our own St. Crispins Day speech . We really will.
DeleteWhenn I retired I tried to do something on weekdays besides reading, watching TV, and being on the computer. However, that used to include lunches with friends and errands, not just cleaning. I started to feel punished so I backed off. Also, I started calling people because living alone is hard in times like this. I appreciate blogs like this, Facebook friends, e-mails, and texts but hearing people's voices is the next best to seeing them in person.
ReplyDeleteTHE PHONE! Who would have thought. I have been on the actual phone, or facetime, more than ever. Thank goodness it exists!
DeleteThis entire event is very disorienting. I've had the concentration of a gnat. Started a lot of great projects since I was on vacation, but then left them hanging when the next great project came along. Today was back to work day - I work from home, but now, the office I am attached to is closed and everyone is working remotely. I was grateful for the structure the day job will give my time, and I'm grateful, and lucky, that I my job remains unchanged.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where or when all of this will end, but I do know that we will make it through and will find good in the horror.
I do think structure is a good groundwork. More than you needed to know, but I actually make a schedule each day. Otherwise...GNAT CITY. xooxo
DeleteLate, but I'm here. I get to go to work here in the not so sunny San Francisco bay area. I work in a home care office, I don't see patients, I'm back office but I luckily get to leave my little hole five days a week. Like others, I take my temperature daily. it's required in order to work. I entertained my colleagues last week with my sub-normal temps. The 94.6° was on my first day was a little lower than normal even for me. They returned to my "normal" sub-normal temps during the week. My isolation is limited to two days but those two days are alone. I've always loved my living alone just not when my alone is devoid of any human contact. I haven't touched my crocheting in two weeks. I couldn't hook up to the feed for our streaming church service yesterday. My adventure this evening was to take a 3 minute walk to the little Mexican market around the corner. Yesterday I watch the rebroadcast of two Giants baseball games, one of which I actually attended. I've survived two firestorms. I lost absolutely nothing to those disasters. This is not the same, absolutely different. Okay, thanks for letting me talk. I think maybe I'll try a little crocheting this evening.
ReplyDelete