Quarantine Day 23: Fun Before Work

Recently I posted about a puzzle I was doing. I did the sky first on this particular puzzle because it is my least favorite part to do. The reactions I got were funny! People had never seen puzzling done this way.

Well, I don't normally do puzzles this way. Normally I do the boarder edges like everyone else I know then fill in from there. But my philosophy in life is to get the stuff I want to do the least out of the way and then enjoy myself afterwards.

I have to say, Quarantine is making that motto a bit tougher. Having not "worked" for the first two weeks of Quarantine, I got a bit lazy. I coped by reading and video gaming and puzzling and cooking.  

I would sleep in for an hour or so and then relax. I would then spend my late morning and evening planning for the weeks and grading late work. And completing work for the two courses I am taking (online) at the moment.

I don't think I can get used to this fashion of doing my life. It makes me put off things much longer than I would prefer. Laundry. Don't need to do it yet. Dishes? There aren't many just yet. Mail piling up? All my bills are paid so this is all junk. It'll get cleaned soon.

It is starting to already drive me a bit nuts to be cluttered, so I am likely going to go back to my normal work first play second mentality. It feels so good to have things done and then relax without the on my back!

What about you? Has your life changed in this way since we went on lockdown?

Quarantine Day 18: Balance - the Yin & Yang of Tuesday

I am one of those few fortunate folks who have a group of high school pals that still stay in touch. While not always great at consistent communication, we've been good about checking in on each other. We've had a group message string going since Illinois went on stay-at-home lockdown for The Pandemic. There has been lots of sharing of pictures, kids projects, funny memes and laughable moments. We need a little levity to keep our brains and anxiety from despair in a world turned upside down...or is that outside in?

One of those moments came yesterday. On our Monday Rollcall chat, one of our members wished everyone a, "Happy Tuesday!" It was hilarious. I think my favorite response to that was from one of our Ohio members, which read, "I thought it was tuwednesfriday. It is Marpile 45th, right?" We know just when to throw a funny in the mix to cover for gaffs. BALANCE.

But the friend who thought it was Tuesday gets a break. She is a teacher in higher ed and had wrapped up posting final grades around Midnight the previous evening. Not to mention, adjusting plans for her online course to accommodate students who aren't necessarily used to online courses.

In the midst of my 12 hour work day yesterday, getting plans ready as quick as I can a few days ahead and a last minute change of plans I wanted to implement today, I could totally relate. My word of the day yesterday was: BALANCE.

Unfortunately for my Professor friend, her never-ending Tuesday didn't end well tonight. Her 1898 home with old sewer pipes decided this was the moment to wreck havoc and pour sewage into her basement about ankle-deep. In conversations tonight to help calm her down and find some positivity, the poop puns poured out and it got us laughing. In her words, this was the longest Tuesday of her life. My response was, Oh Crap... BALANCE.

There are times when I am sure people think I spend way too much time online. I admit I do. I know that even when I watch the news at night, I need to be doing something on my phone or computer. This isn't really new for me. Even in high school (or church) I learned that I listen better if I am DOING something. In high school it was writing down song lyrics. In church it might be surfing Twitter. Either way, I am still tuned in. But all this online activity, particularly with the My Peak Challenge fitness subgroups I am a part of, I've had dozens of conversations I could be a part of and people to check in on or have check in on me. It makes such a difference. It boosts morale and enforces positivity.

I hope each of you are finding balance as we go through this new normal. Keep up the social distancing, hand washing and (let's be real) online ordering.

Til the next installment,
KB

Quarantine Day 9: Snow & Survival in Uncertain Times

Day 9
Sunday
March 22

I promised myself I wouldn't work until Monday. But I found myself all day drawn to getting going. I am not a procrastinator by nature, at least about work. So I searched ideas on how to start students back on learning after 2 weeks off while only being accountable online. I have a plan. I'll start putting it "on paper" tomorrow.

I'm still fighting with my dog, who has been dealing with bad allergies since Thanksgiving. He licks his tail raw and today also was licking his paws. The battle is off and on. I've been drugging him with Benadryl plus an ointment on his ears/tail and a salve I found online for hotspots. I'm a believer in herbs/oils so I'm' throwing it all at him. I think he is due for his next allergy shot. Will call the vet tomorrow to see if that is possible still.

I had my first issue with asthma today in over a week. I assume it is because the weather changed drastically overnight. Being allergic to weather change PLUS the trees that are blooming PLUS mold that could creep in when it is wet is likely the cause. I should probably get back on my weather meds that I couldn't get for a few weeks at the pharmacy but now have.

On the sad side of news, I got news this evening of a friend who is in the hospital. She has been since Tuesday, just after I last chatted with her to check in. She is a Senior, but a fit and energized one. For her to say she is weak and tired is a lot. Doctor says it is pneumonia. I don't know what to think. With all else in the air right now this is bad.

If you are reading this & can help, I set up a GoFundMe for her. She still works but with a hospital stay & likely time at home to recover after, she won't have that income to depend on.
I appreciate your donation. She also welcomes prayers, if you are a praying person.

March 16 2020 - Quarantine Day 3

I missed my daily blog yesterday. I tackled one of the deadliest tasks for myself - cleaning the air purifier. Felt like it was needed. Allergies are a bit worse today because of it. But peace of mind prevails!

Today felt like a typical evening or weekend night.

I worked on homework for both of the classes I am taking (IT Fundamentals and an Ed Tech class).
I made a bunch of meals, including some from my new Hello Fresh box!
I played a bit of Civ VI on an advanced level. I'm not very good.

I took long walks with the dogs, despite brief snow and chilly temps. He ate something he shouldn't have so was a bit out of sorts today. But he bounced back around 9pm tonight.

I cleaned. Again.

But I also did a lot of social calls.
I talked to a friend who wakes up later due to medical conditions who inquired if it was safe to get an Egg McMuffin at Mickey D's.
I Facetimed with my parents in Florida who went to final doctor appointments today. It is apparently too hot to take a walk there until dusk. Oh, I wish!

Most importantly I chatted online with Italian friends. People who were to be my roommates (maybe still will, but I am losing optimism) in Scotland in May/June. We walked about Boris Johnson's press conference today. And Nicola Stergeon's press release and how poised it was compared to Johnson. But mostly I heard from them that things are really bad there. Not for them, specifically, but for Italy. One of them expressed her sadness that the rest of the world, the US included, are not taking drastic measures soon enough. Italy was a major lesson in that regard, and they don't want their suffering to have been for naught. Sometimes words can convey deep emotion. That was how it felt today.

So what will tomorrow bring? Hopefully another productive day. A good day.

Be safe.