It has been a few days since anyone has checked in so I thought I would give an update.
Today is the first day in nearly a week I have not weeded the garden or front yard. There is still more to do but there will be more days next week for that.
Instead I spent lunchtime eating outside listening to my neighbors pool waterfall. I haven't noticed it before and it was so calming to hear. The weather is perfect and now that I have planted some flowers in the backyard, it is pretty and peaceful, especially with that water feature of theirs running. I am thankful for that moment today.
I still find myself cleaning. Today it was the glass table tops in the backyard and organizing under my bathroom sink and drawers.
So far during this modified lockdown in AZ, I have organized 2/3's of my pantry, organized and sorted my vitamin-first aid -essential oil-herb -homeopathic cupboard (yea, I have a whole cupboard for those things), a bathroom, my desk, weeded and gardened and cleaned my patio furniture.
I still have half a pantry, and my own closet left to tackle. Oh and the garage. I need to do that before it gets hot. There is more to do, but I am going to start with those things next. My 20 somethings have tackled their bathroom and gone through lots in their bedrooms.
I have found some useful things for the pandemic in my cleaning. A brand new mini pack of antibacterial wipes, some cleaning supplies hiding in the garage, brand new lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap ( lots of soap) 3 new face mask kits, 2 new scrubs and new nail files. I may have everything I need for my girls and I to have an unexpected in-home spa day.
The "wave" has yet to hit Arizona hard yet. It will and it will catch us off guard because we are really behind in testing thanks to our Gov. who still thinks golf courses are essential businesses. So, I know this is the calm before the storm. Apparently, I am trying to get my house ready for what is next. And if all 4 of us are going to be living here together during the pandemic, may as well take time to smell the roses and destress when possible. And clean.
I am grateful for each day my family is in good health and can spend time together. This is a major gift.
One thing I love besides making meals together is how we are also gathering around the piano and singing. We are learning new songs, 4 part harmony, and singing together. It is beautiful.
@lovendures There was something so comforting about reading your check-in and learning your routine. I love you loving the sound of the neighbor's waterfall and your simple sorting and cleaning and discovering buried treasures. You made me smile.
I've got several routines that I rotate according to the day:
- online modern dance classes (soon tap & flamenco will be added)
- Bike ride in the neighborhood with my husband
- Call a friend - I even wrote a list, which should take 2 weeks to get through, then back to the top
- Cooking up a storm (Beet poke anyone? How about gluten free soda bread? Or lasagna?)
- Each week I post one of my recipes to FB, and I also review something I'm binge watching (this week's recommendation: Unorthodox on Netflix)
- Sit out back in the sun, read a book (today a local woodpecker came by - was on a tree right next to me)
- Spring cleaning (one task at a time)
- Other household projects we haven't had time for
- studying tarot stuff
- naps (what the heck - I got nowhere to be)
Tonight we had family dinner with my daughter and her boyfriend. He's still working at his essential job (car mechanic), and they go back and forth between our garage and his mother's house, so I've had to ban them from the house for now. We had dinner outside on the deck, the two of them on one side, the two of us on the other. It was a little chilly, but sunny and breezy, and our deck is under the biggest ficus tree in the neighborhood (we call her Godzilla the Ficus), with hummingbirds flitting by...
I've had to give up walking my dogs because all public areas are closed and the sidewalks are too crowded. Luckily they're small and don't require a lot of exercise, and are happy to poke around in the backyard and roll on the grass there.
Grateful for the little things, also grateful for technology that lets us communicate and interact without endangering each other.
I have been falling asleep a lot during the day lately. I find myself to just not be able to stay conscious with so much whirling about in my troubled mind and soul. My body and mind just want to escape.
It's like a circuit breaker goes off.
I found myself a new therapist, and am grieving the loss of the old one.
My daughter still will not interact. Even though I am high risk. Even though I wrote to say I miss her. And had to again ask ex to make sure she is ok, to dig a little deeper. She is newly diagnosed with anxiety and medicated but refuses therapy. I'm certain she is not feeling as chipper as she is acting around my ex. Anyone who already has anxiety, is behind the eight ball in this harsh new America.
I went to change my name back to my maiden name only to receive super complicated directions to do so. I have been married twice before and changed my name twice before, but I don't remember it being so complicated and the echoes of those losses are threatening to overtake me.
How is it possible to have so many complicated arbitrary emotions, all at the same time? So many false paths?
I am mindful to keep my spirits up and some hope alive. It is a short & slippery slope into depression for me. I really want to feel happy in these dark days. Despite these dark days.
You are really reaching out and trying this is wonderful. Changes are hard enough but gosh so much is going on now that you sound so much better than you were when your energies were off kilter.
Sometimes to give us bigger wake up calls or bring in new understanding terrible things seem to happen in groups or even all at once.
Your daughter is not yet in a place to be open but keep reaching out and when she's ready you'll know. Its good you are checking in on her and trying!
One of the most powerful things we can say to another after the trauma and pain of unforgiven separation is to ask for a release between you. To simply say the words another needs to hear.?
I'm sorry.
Please forgive me.
I love you.
Thank you.
Say them to yourself now. And then someday to your daughter. ?
Love love love to you dear ghandigirl ?
Peace.
Amazing how things change in 24 hours. I now know 5 people in 2 different households who have COVID-19. 2 Confirmed cases and their family members. This in a state that has hardly tested anyone. They all live within 3 miles of me. 3 had mild symptoms, fever for 2 days and loss of smell and taste and a cough. One had a high fever for 2 weeks, body aches, chest pain but not pneumonia (yet). He also had gotten better for a bit and then sick again before improving. The last has felt with moderate symptoms for over a week.
A PA friend of mine who has been reading the CoVID-19 medical boards mentioned that if you have been battling what you think may be the virus, improve and then get worse again, you need to consider heading to the ER ASAP if you don't improve again within 24 hours. That second wave can be VERY serious.
On a different note, does anyone feel like they are on a cooking show?
I feel like some days I am cooking meals with ingredients I must "make do" with. Ha ha. You know, here are five ingredients, egg, carrots, oil, tomatoes and cilantro, now make a gourmet meal.
Ok I have more than 5 ingredients, but I am now noticing I am needing to get very creative with what I have to avoid boredom and to provide nutritious meals. Very glad I have a lemon tree out back because lemon can be added to so many dishes.
Now for a last note. I still find at least 1 thing every day that stops me in my tracks for a moment regarding this virus. Today I was trying to wrap my head around the fact that everyone I know is navigating similar things right now. How is our food supply? What is our TP situation? Is that sneeze still from pollen? How is our mental health?
We will always be able to relate to anyone and everyone now.
Hi eveyone. Just thought I would check in from Ky. I thought I was doing ok but I had a weird experience Monday. I have been sleeping a lot lately,I guess i am like @ghardigirl, short circuiting. I envy (and sometime dislike) you organized people that are doing all this cooking and cleaning, projects, exercizes etc! I am as low energy as I can get. I have read about four books, mystery novels to distract me. I woke up Monday morning feeling stiff and sore. As the day went along it got worst. Not a sore muscle pain but,the best I can discribe it a radiating pain. I couldn't get comfortable in any position at all. My wellness advisor suggested hot bath with epsom salts which helped for about anhour. I finally took two Aleve and some CDB oil and went t o bed with a hot pack. I hurt from my knees to the middle of my back. I woke up Tuesday and felt fine, no pain or stiffness. I believe it was from all the stress and anxs . I stopped watching TV (except the Spring Baking Challenge) and reading the internet. I feel like I finally hit overload on th circuits and my body said shut down.
On a sad note I am sitting here waiting to hear from the Vet if my old outside cat I share with my neightbor is going to make it through his kidney infection. We took him Monday when he quit eating. The vet has closed his office to traffic. We had to call whenwe got there and they came out to get him. I am so sad that I might not be able to hold him if it's his time to go. When I bought my house in 07 he was living outside with his girlfriend. Both had been trapped and neutered. I set up an outside house for them. I took about a year for SAndy to let me scratch his ears. We lost his gf in 2012 but he stayed around. He loves my neightbor and even follows him when he goes for a walk around the hood. He started coming into our houses when it was cold or wet. He gets along fine with my two boy cats. Last month for the first time he climbed onmy lap and slept. He is the sweetest boy with the biggest purr. I'm sorry to go on about something that in the sceam of things is so unimportant but I'm heartbroken. I have ben sending him love into the universe.