Wow, life sure got kind of crazy and scary all of a sudden, huh?
I’ve been monitoring the covid-19 situation since Seattle because the epicenter in Kirkland was minutes from where my best friend lives and of course it spread to Seattle, where my family was. My 98 year old grandma lives in a nursing home in Seattle, too, so that of course is on my mind. Thankfully they have shut down all visitation.
I have basically been home all weekend “social distancing“. No gym. No swimming. I went to the grocery store at 8pm Saturday night to avoid crowds and just get normal essentials.
I already had a decent supply of stuff in my pantry to get us through a few weeks if need be. Having grown up with grandparents who grew up during the Depression that mentality definitely got ingrained in me. Always Be Prepared. You just never know.
And amidst all of this, it snowed!
My work has mandated a work from home (for those that can) until further notice policy, which is good news. And Michael’s work did it a few days before mine. We are both lucky that we have that option. A lot of people don’t and that is absolutely heartbreaking. I am so devastated for the people whose lives are going to be ruined by this crisis (lost jobs, lost wages, lost everything…).
Work is weird. I work in a place that serves the public and some departments are considered “essential” so it makes it hard planning on whether or not to close. I am glad my specific job can be done 90% from home (and I already worked from home once a week so I had everything set up and ready–a lot of people are scrambling now to try and get it going on short notice).
Portland is shutting down most things. Libraries and a lot of businesses are closed.
It’s been really hard not getting sucked in the social media loop and getting more and more anxious. And getting angry at people not takin this seriously and going out to bars and restaurants and clubs…seeing people smashed into a club in Nashville and New Orleans over the weekend made me really angry and scared.
I am considered one of the people who need to be careful. I have asthma. I also have a history of pneumonia. I was hospitalized 20 years ago with pneumonia and almost died, so it is a very scary thing for me.
Saturday I did weights and a kettlebell workout and then ran on the treadmill in our basement gym. Thankful to have that option! It wasn’t the best workout but it was better than no workout.
Sunday afternoon we went for a hike in Mary S. Young Park in West Linn. We’ve never been before and it’s a fantastic park with lots of dog-friendly and kid-friendly trails. It was the PERFECT remedy to being cooped up in the house all weekend.
I’ve cancelled Logan’s Batman Birthday party for next weekend. It was both an easy and a hard decision to take. I am bummed out and disappointed on behalf of Logan but my hope is that we can just post-pone it a few months and then have it then. 🙁
Things are scary right now. We all need to be careful and STAY HOME. Protect our neighbors. Protect our loved ones that have compromised health. And stay SANE!
bethh
The times are so strange!!! I’m a little selfishly sorry the libraries closed with no notice – I had THREE things on the way that I’d had frozen for a long time. This seemed like perfect timing for books I’d been holding off for months. Oh well, small in the grand scheme.
I’m in NE and at least two of my closest businesses are shifting to pickup/delivery only. I feel a bit duty-bound to order from them at least once a week while this goes on!
It’s a bummer about your kiddo’s bday but definitely the right choice.
Lisa Eirene
I get it! All our libraries closed. I am so glad that I get my library books through the kindle!
That’s great that you are still doing pickup/delivery. I am going to try and do that when we can. It’s hard.
Lori
We have shut everything down here in NY. Too many people aren’t heeding warnings, though. I live in a more red area of NY and lots of “it’s just a cold” attitude here. We already work from home, so no adjustment needed there, but I am concerned about what will happen with our businesses since we supply wants versus needs. Time will tell.
At least the outdoors is not closed and getting out and hiking, biking and walking is all still possible!
Lisa Eirene
It’s good you already work from home and can just hunker down. I hope the drastic measures NY is taking helps. Getting outside helps too! We are taking lots of walks here.
Marianne
It is absolutely crazy here! WDW is completely shut down and all the other tourist traps. Plus hotels and it looks like a ghost town. But since it is spring break here in Florida people are going to the beach!! Now they have shut down the beaches. Since the gyms are all closed I am doing some you tube videos which are pretty good and running outside. It’s hot here all ready in the high 80’s.
Lisa Eirene
I saw the pictures of everyone at the beach! Nuts! At least the beaches in Oregon people aren’t near each other. LOL
Geffen Myers
Unfortunately, my job doesn’t lend itself to work-from-home, but, fortunately, our office staff is only 10 people and we’re just rotating in and out so there’s never more than 2 of us here at any given time. One of our ladies is in her 70s, so we’re clearing the whole place out for her to work solo on Friday and Sunday. Meanwhile, as office manager, I’ll be here every other day than that and making the most of the Lysol wipes I happened to score at the hardware store!
I, too, am bereft at the loss of my library, as I am only a paper-book reader, but I’m trying to look at this as a great opportunity to re-read some of my very favorites. I’ve never re-read the Harry Potters, so this is the perfect time. If I finish that, maybe make my way back through the Dark Tower series. Lots of possibilities when you have a ridiculous…er…vast home library!
Hope your family stays safe and healthy!
Lisa Eirene
That’s good you guys can rotated and that you are taking care of your most vulnerable coworker.
Are you on Facebook? You might join your local “Buy Nothing” facebook group and ask if anyone wants to trade books while you guys are all home. I’m part of my local group and it’s awesome. Lots of great free stuff!