Mini Sheltering-in-Place.
Good morning. It’s a rainy day here in our neck of the woods. It doesn’t help that there’s no sunshine, but on the other hand, we need the rain. So I’m going to don my big girl pants and not let it get to me.
I’m currently contemplating how to structure my time. With so much home time ahead of me, should I put a loose structure in place? And if so, what would that be? I am usually okay with letting the day unfold. Aside from blogging every single morning, the rest of any given day’s structure is relatively undefined. Obviously, at some point I eat lunch, I vacuum every other day, I do laundry. I read. But I’m thinking that I might experiment with more defined segments of the day.
Obviously, when I can finally get outside to garden and do garden clean-up, that will help. But that’s most likely a couple of weeks away.
Any thoughts on this? Are you finding the need to impose some sort of structure to your days?
Meanwhile, we watched Moonstruck last night. We needed some happy. It’s such a gem, there’s not a false moment. Great screenplay by John Patrick Shanley, direction by Norman Jewison, and a brilliant cast. It’s on TCM On Demand, if you think you might want to watch it.
Still reading The Sisters and I’m rather riveted. Don’s reading about the Arctic and is also reading M Train by Patti Smith. And every afternoon I am privileged to listen to him play his guitar. It’s very calming.
I hope you’re all well and that you’re finding ways to enjoy these days at home.
Happy Thursday.
In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer . . . Calmus
Happy Spring
Lovely. Thank you, Anne! Take care.
I am trying to set larger goals so when this is over I can think I actually accomplished something. I don’t think I could do a daily schedule…too much like work. I feel like I should be doing something but I guess staying home will be my way of helping.
Trying to appreciate each day and to be thankful.
Eileen
So many things I want to start on involve going to a store and that’s out for the time being. Yes, be thankful. Love you, cousin.
Bonjour Claudia,
After weeks of rain, the sun is shinning here at last :o) and we can garden and be outside. We consider ourselves privileged to have a garden because the outings are very very limited and regulated here. There are so much beauties to admire in nature. I am never bored with it.
Hope you can can enjoy your garden too.
Keep safe et bon courage à toi et à Don.
I love my garden, unfortunately it’s still too cold at night here to do anything yet. But soon! Stay safe, Helene!
My grandchildren and I are keeping a Covid 19 journal. I’m the family genealogist. Among genealogy groups, we’ve been talking about how we wish our ancestors had left more journals of what everyday life for them was like during the 1918 flu epidemic. It helps give them and me a purpose.
I also have just finished a novel, my first in more than twenty years! I had signed up for a writer’s conference during which I would pitch it to two agents. Now I’ll go back to cold-pitching and being in the slush pile. I’m working on my Twitter page, working through a book on Twitter for writers. This week, I’ve revised my bio and learned to use Phonto, an app that allows me to add a tagline to my header. I’ve been sending versions to my art-minor granddaughter, whom I’m also helping study online for a calculus test in one of her classes. (I majored in physics before switching majors, and, at 70, it’s so gratifying to have a granddaughter see me as a capable person.) My book club is trying to get up and running on Zoom before Saturday, when we would have normally had a meeting at the local coffee shop. My novel-in-progress group is doing the same for the Sunday meeting that was scheduled. I’ve group texted with both daughters all day yesterday. They’re women who are normally too busy to do such a thing. I also texted back and forth with a writer friend in NYC and one in Chicago. I called a friend who loaned me her veil for my wedding 50 years ago. I talked to my cousin in another state. It’s sad, but I’m trying to keep connected and learning. Moving forward with my goals. I’m immuno-compromised in a state where most believe this is a hoax and inflated, so this is Day 11 for me, as I self-isolated early. I came here today because I wanted to let you know how much it’s meant to me to have a kindred voice coming to me here in a deepest-red part of a deep-red state.
You have been busy! Good for you, Linda. I lost two great-aunts in the flu epidemic and I have letters from my Grandmother to her adored youngest sister, who was one of those who died. I don’t think they cover that specific time, however, as Grandma came home from nursing school to nurse her family through the epidemic. I just know it was devastating for them. Two daughters gone within days of each other.
It’s good that you’re keeping busy and creative and learning new things, Linda. And thank you for your kind words.
Yes…structure seems to be a key word in this household. We were discussing this last night…and now all three of us (one son is currently living with us), have our own tasks. After we finish those…we can work on helping each other on larger tasks. But…I’m not getting too crazy, because retirement is about doing things slowly to me, taking your time, enjoying the task. We’ll just have to see how things go.
But, I am going to make a concerted effort to exercise everyday. Just like before, only with a slight increase. Being home all the time could make me lazy…and I can’t have that. Course if I vacuumed every other day like you, that would count, wouldn’t it?
Ah…decisions, decisions. Take care! ;)
Vacuuming is supposed to be good exercise, Donna. I hope it is, as that’s all I’m getting right now! Take care.
Yes, I am planning some structure too. I am trying to accomplish something everyday other than knitting, reading and cooking. The yard is not ready for me yet, so the closet cleaning has begun! The upstairs storage closet is done except for the shelf I can’t reach. It feels good to open the door and see order!
Closet cleaning is a great idea!
My closets are in pretty good shape overall because I did a mass clean out when Don was away doing Margaritaville. But I’ll figure out something to do. Today it was vacuuming, folding clothes, and watering houseplants. Plus the blog. Take care, Judy.
this is my favorite miniature house! I just love it. the openness and colors!
it’s fresh and modern but warm and cozy too.
I’m at heart a monk. so I’m not really changing my day to day. just my normal.
I love to have a small meal. to read a good book. to meditate. to clean my apt.
to stretch for exercise. to take a refreshing shower. to listen to favorite music.
to watch a little ‘happy’ tv. meaning very little news. just enough to keep informed!
and that’s pretty much it. it’s all good. and to remember . . .
my favorite phrase to live by! . . Keep Calm and Carry On. XO
I’m sort of a monk too but for me it’s the knowledge that I can’t go out that gets me. So I have to keep fairly busy or my head will be filled with worries. Glad you’re doing well, my friend. Take care.
Structure definitely helps me. For me and my husband, it’s governed primarily by work hours since we’re both working from home. My work team, a group of 15, has a few communications platforms we’re using – one for work, and the other for some fun and sanity. That helps a bit to make up for not getting to hang out with each other during the day. During my down time I’m reading, doing some creative arts, and currently watching season 3 of “The Crown.” My husband and I are also watching “Hunters” on Amazon Prime – excellent. So far, so good, but we’ll see how we do for the long haul. Because it is going to be a long haul. Take care, everyone! This blog and many of the comments are a bright spot in my day!
Oh yeah, did I mention that we’re having a blizzard today in metro Denver? Yeeha!!
It’s good that you’re still working – that really provides structure, Jayne. It is going to be a long haul. Well, not that I like blizzards, but at least you’re safely at home! Take care.
Southwestern Ohio, 55 degrees. Taking daily walk with grandson (who lives with us). We have nice chats while walking, noticing things around neighborhood that we usually pass in car. We have little structure, sleep late, try to eat at regular times., read some, he does art work or school work on computer. He is bored! Today his scheduled dr appointment will be by phone, that should be interesting.
I imagine most kids are bored being home all the time. It’s such a stark change from going to school every day! Thank you and take care, Jan.
My days in quarantine are no different than my days out of it, apart from higher anxiety and not being able to just have someone come by — or head out with reckless abandon. Rick and I are trying to see each other once a day and keep physical distance but we’re both on the edge of symptoms (Is this enough to be a symptom? Am I having sympathy symptoms? Is it anxiety? How are YOU defining fever?) so we may stay in our respective homes tonight. Anything that happened occurred a few days ago, maybe a week, so we’ll see. I’m just very grateful I have a previously scheduled doc appointment tomorrow and another next week.
Basically my schedule is: Get up and immediately make bed; blog, read blogs, answer mail. Then feed Lizzie (which sometimes I do first if I sleep late). Do any dishes left over. Watch the last half hour of Perry Mason (if I’m really indulgent, the whole thing); back to computing. Then, I might work on my book or genealogy till lunch. Then watch the task force briefing (new activity). After that, it is more at the computer or take a walk or go to the basement and sort things. Yeah, except for the briefing, same ol’, same ol’. !
I’m having lots of allergy/sinus issues, but I’ve been having them for a while now. So I know what it is. Take care of yourself, Jeanie.
I forgot to tell you on this post how much I adore the overview of the cottage. It looks so real, I’d like to move in!
Thank you!
Rainy here too and cold so it’s nice to be inside. I was just speaking with my therapist (via phone) who suggested some kind of schedule. So far I like just drifting, but at some point I think I will need some shape to my days. She suggested looking at online classes and of course movement of some sort. Since I’m an introvert with social anxiety, I feel a little comforted right now that everyone else (well, the thoughtful ones) are now home and I’m not such a hermit. Or at least I’m part of a community of hermits. Do your doll house projects not call you right now? I think the cabin might be a soothing thing to work on. For me, I’ve only been isolated to use the term very loosely since Tuesday so it still feels like a vacation. I’m sure there will be lots of changes in my outlook. Thank you again for sharing your days in whatever form they take. You’re a comfort.
They’re calling but not too loudly. I’m going to eventually start back in on the stones for Dove Cottage. I just can’t quite get motivated yet. Right now, I’m doing a lot of reading. Take care of yourself, Nora.
Hi,
Not sure if you saw that Jimmy Fallon is doing an “At Home Edition” of his show. Last night his guest was Lin Manuel Miranda and they are raising money for all the folks involved in Broadway. Knowing this is close to your heart. To donate go to BroadwayCares.org/help2020. Cathy
Thanks, Catherine. Don has collected for Broadway Cares in the past. Take care.
Yay! The sun came out! And it rained gently for a week beforehand so the earth is lovely and díggable. I kind of wish I’d stocked up on bricks and sand for a path I’m planning (I’m always happier in Lowe’s or Home Depot than the supermarket) but there are plenty of weeds that need eradicating! Who could have imagined I would ever be grateful for weeds?
I found myself wondering if I’d be able to buy impatiens and mulch this year. It all depends on how long this goes on. Thanks Cristy and take care!
I love Moonstruck! I recorded Rear Window, The Man who Knew too Much and several others than I can listen to during the day when reality gets too stressful. I too am planning a more structured day while in stay-home mode…thinking of 2 hour chunks….read, chores, nature walk, etc. Stay well!
I own a copy of Rear Window but our DVD player isn’t working! Ah well. Take care of yourself, Melissa!
Your doll house photo made me smile. It took me a minute to remember what it was.
I am trying to have an exercise schedule. Walk in the morning and pool in the late afternoon. Chores and projects in between. Luckily I am ready to stay home for a bit. We have been too busy lately. It won’t be long before I am ready to be out again.
We need rain here too.
I’m already read to be out, but I’ll have to toughen up a bit because it’s going to be a long time before I can be. Take care, Kay!
Rainy and chilly here today, too. I’m actually finding the unstructured time a lovely relief. Have been doing a lot of reading and puttering and decorating for spring.
xoxo
It’s starting to get to me, Melanie. The rain and gray skies don’t help. Take care!
The fiction book I have just started and you might like is The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown – publ. in 2011. Not much of an attention span right now. This morning, I went to Walmart for a few groceries during their new “seniors’ “ too-early 1 1/2 hr. and hope to have not caught anything.
Writing a blog every day adds a huge amount of structure to your day ! It sounds silly, but one thing I do is to put on earrings ! About twice a week, I drive to E. Point Beach where the Thames River joins the Fishers Island Sound. The water there is quite rough and beautiful. Most days, I can look over to E. Long Island…
Love Moonstruck.
I wish we lived nearer to the ocean. It always calms me. Don has been very good about taking walks. I need to do that more. Take care, Connie!
Two straight days of rain and damp cold. Miss the sun so much and I find it colors my whole day when it doesn’t show. Having been retired for a year and a half now, my days had their own rhythm to them that suited me. Now, with husband working from home I’m realizing I need to switch up the rhythm a bit. He has his door closed if on the phone but I’m still hesitant to run the washer or vacuum. So instead I’ve set some goals: walk a certain distance each day, make some progress on my knitting project, etc. You’re my role model for my latest goal: stop watching cable news! Today was my first time trying that last part. It’s great and I thank you that.
Take care.
Kay
Same here. Rain. Glad you’re cutting back on the news, Kay. It makes a difference, doesn’t it? Stay safe.
I am not having a good day. Could I just please retreat into Don’s studio and live in a doll house world, insulated from scary stuff going on in the bigger world? Pretty please?
Sigh. I’m sure it will be like this, ongoing; the highs and lows; I hope I can spread out the days instead of one day good, next day not so good.
It doesn’t help that I have a pounding headache but that’s been there for a month; I think I’m sleeping tensed and I’m probably going throughout my day with clenching. So, I’m trying to work on it. My asthma is worse at night and it’s flared up for weeks now, so that also disturbs sleep. It’s important for all of us to stay as healthy as we can right now. The mantra: Good sleep. Employ the stress relievers. Exercise. Eat well. Do something to be productive. Do something to get relaxed. Drink your water.
Every day, my husband and I say we’re going to fine-tune a schedule and make these weeks count (we know what we should be doing); but, so far, we haven’t got it together quite yet. The biggest thing is getting out of the habit of turning on the TV (wondering what’s happening next, since the news seems to be changing by the hour…but what good will that do, except to upset us further; because, at this point, we’ve done all we can do; we’re home; we have supplies; that’s it).
Like Chris Cuomo said on CNN last night … we’re all afraid we’re gonna get the virus. It’s the uncertainty. I didn’t just need to see another pop-up on the computer that our Calif governor warns that HALF the population of our large state will be infected with the virus within two months. (Now, see, that’s a dire prediction, and in respect to your blog and your request, I shouldn’t have just written that down. But hopefully it won’t be at all that way in the majority of U.S. states. And maybe California will get lucky.) I don’t think most anyone can wrap their head around what exactly a ‘long haul’ means; of being shut in place for much longer than anyone could anticipate. Maybe we’ll get a miracle; for instance, the drug therapy used for other viruses being able to have effectiveness on Covid-19 (until we get a vaccine). Let’s hope so! (‘Cause I also just found out that my pneumonia shot is ineffective with this new coronavirus strain. Darn.)
This morning, more back & forth on the phone, trying to get our mail-order drug program set up (for mine; husband’s is done, up & running). I think/hope we’re finally done; I’m not sure; the company’s 800 number (HQ/call center) was shut down due to ‘travel restrictions’ which I interpret to meaning that people can’t work from home and they’re not having all those phone people in one big room in their cubicles anymore. This is a change in just 48 hrs. So, I’m having to deal with the local pharmacy themselves; but they said their lines of customers in the store are diminishing, which gives them more time to work on this sort of mail/home-delivery thing, working with their customers by phone and USPS. But it sure made my headache worse.
Anyway, one phone call leading to another in general from the time I got up this morning but I don’t even know if it would help to be in a quiet cabin off in the woods right now; it’s internal and I need to tap down the irritability/nervousness. Stress monster! My cousin called who’d be coordinating any efforts on our behalf should my husband and I both fall ill (‘what if’ scenario), and that became a complicated conversation because how do you rope in somebody to every aspect of your life, with how you pay the mortgage, how you pay other bills, how do you feed the outdoor/wild cats, where’s the key to this & that; at what time of the month does income happen; where is the offsite storage facility located; who again is the personal lawyer; how do you activate the long-term heath care policy: whew; is our life, mine and my husband’s, THAT full of details for somebody else should they have to step in? Yes, just is. Mental fatigue!
My 50-yr-old cousin has her own problems, trying to isolate her 87-yr-old mother-in-law in a town an hour away; two of her kids are home now from college (idle, without jobs), probably til Fall; they’re competitive swimmers and the community plunge is closed down, so they now can’t keep up their practicing either (the pool shutdown also put my cousin out of one of her paying part-time jobs because she works there); so … there’s just no one who isn’t being affected by all these abrupt changes in daily life & work, is there (!!) … it’s everybody and everywhere … actually, my cousin is completely unemployed now (this has happened in mere days) because her other paying part-time job in a wholesale distribution business also suspended operations due to the virus outbreak (the only one working in the family now is her husband although half the staff has been told to stay home [the ones with underlying illness; the women who are pregnant; etc.]) and he expects he’ll be working from home after this week. (I hope his business/company stays viable; I can’t imagine what it would be for this family if he loses his job, too.)
Something that’s bothering me in my environment is that we’re a little cold this week in SoCalif; stormy; every day is a chance of rain. And people are home more and more; they rush to get their fireplaces going, and I know it’s cozy and calming; but, between that and the outdoor fire pits, my asthma is in high gear and I can’t keep the smoke out of my old, leaky house. I’m surrounded by 50 fireplaces in a tight neighborhood circle. I’m trying not to be annoyed; I understand the need for home comforts right now. But my house smells like a chimney and smoke is one of my worst asthma triggers.
So the only way to keep my mind off of just too-too much stuff swirling around my brain … is one foot in front of the other; get busy with the day’s smaller stuff. I’m gonna go figure out late-late lunch here at 3:30pm-ish; rearrange another shelf; there’s always laundry; my husband’s out there between drizzles, pulling weeds and sanitizing some cartons of stuff we got two days ago. He’ll walk the dog. I need to pay bills but I’ll save that for tomorrow. I know we need a better routine, but we’ll start tonight by not having the TV turned to the endless news coverage (I again remind myself). No matter how hard we’ve been trying, we keep finding ourselves doing this, TV goes on, then off; on, then off again; and, of course, with my husband, he’s always got the phone with too much social media, and that’s not helping either (he’s been over-sharing with me; I told him I don’t want to hear/read any more coronavirus jokes; it falls flat with me right now).
Most of us haven’t been thru anything like this before; we can’t adjust immediately, but we will do so eventually. It’s not a time to project into the future for us at home; it’s a time to live in the now, in the day. Home is not our prison; it’s our protector. Fear is a hard thing to corral. It makes everything worse. This isn’t imagined, though; the epidemic is a fearsome thing. We’ll all do our best, but it isn’t easy.
Just noticing that I am not doing what I’m saying; I’ve got all kinds of tasks to do but, frankly, I’m not in the mood (the one mood left me where I was looking forward to tackling home projects!). So, how do you get in the mood? Just have to make yourself do it; make the start. Then, once into it, follow thru. Baby steps lead to bigger steps. I had some things written down, but I’m going to do a better job of that tonight; I’m going to write down all the things to do, but really mark it with deadlines in the timeline, so that projects don’t lag. Need to quit mulling and talking about it; just DO it. Being retired doesn’t mean being lazy. We need some firm week-to-week goals. It’s how we’ll cope better.
Take it a day at a time. Map out your day. Stay away from the news. Cancel those news pop-ups on the computer. Much love.
Trying to keep busy and not constantly hearing all the news. Watched a movie concerning Lady of Knock in Ireland during the famine. It was quite moving , sad and frustrating how there was food to have but it was shipped out of Ireland.
Marilyn
It’s 24/7 COVID-19 on the news and none of us should be watching it except to check in once a day. I’m not even doing that! Good idea to keep busy, Marilyn. Soon we’ll be able to get outside and do some work and that will help. Thank you!
Moonstruck has been an absolute favorite of mine since day one. Incredible in every way. During a dental visit the dentist was having difficulty removing my crown and repeatedly asked his assistant for a bigger and bigger instrument. I spontaneously yelled out “bring me the big knife” (Ronny in the basement baking scene upon meeting Loretta). The dentist couldn’t stop laughing.
Thus far I’ve learned this about myself during this crisis. I’ve learned that I’m going to be the world’s biggest woman. My husband thought the answer to stocking up was a stack of boxes of cotton candy Peeps ! I’m doing my part. Secondly I’ve learned the true color of my hair…..who knew !
Aha! You never know what you’ll discover when you have to shelter in place! I’m afraid I might join you in the weight gain department!
Huzzah to Moonstruck. It makes me very happy. Take care of yourself, R!
Thank you for making me laugh!!!!
We have to laugh right now!
I’m wondering if any of us would fine “Groundhog’s Day” funny to watch anymore after this. Your mentioning Jennifer Ehle reading P&P reminds me I haven’t watched that series for almost a year, so I’m due. Yay!
We had damp and fog yesterday but I took a walk anyway. It was miserable. The only good thing was now the runners and bikers don’t should out “on your left” or whatever. Now they run/ride waaayyyy around you. Heard it’ll be a warm spring so hopefully we can all be out in our backyards soon enough.
K.
Well, I never particularly liked that movie to begin with. I realize I’m probably the exception!
Fingers crossed that it begins to stay warm, Kay. Take care.
I am working from home so I have that structure right there, but what I have come back to after a time of skipping it and haphazardness of morning and evening prayer and the key part, at least for the morning, is my community (church) coming together. Maybe schedule calls with family and friends at a set time? I’m also doing “morning meetings” with coworkers where we just catch up. We used to sit around my desk with our hot beverages and now we do that remotely.
We’re finding our way, Leanne. I guess we’re all adjusting to this new normal. Take care of yourself!