Hah. I was online with son 1,000 miles away and he mentioned DIL was working right next to him on her laptop. When I said “XO” he quoted her reply: “that’s not very good social distancing”
Hit the local grocery store this morning. They delayed opening so plenty of people outside with little social distancing to be found. They limited TP sales to one pack per person. The gal behind me in line asked if I’d buy a second one for her. I said no, the limit is there for a reason. Awkward! Went to a smaller mostly produce store and things were much better.
But… H is high risk and recovering from surgery, so I decided I won’t be venturing out again and potentially bringing the virus to him. We have plenty of food and supplies to hunker down for a couple of weeks. And I’ve been wiping down surfaces and keeping my distance.
Have a jigsaw puzzle that I thought we’d do together while he’s recuperating, but will do it on my own now. It’s a picture of the kids he gave it to me for Christmas. Oh well, can break it down and he can do it too.
I went out today for the first time since Saturday, but only to go to the UPS store to mail my daughter a package of treats and medicine. I had planned to send her favorite mint brownies for St Paddy’s Day but in all the chaos last week forgot to make them and get them in the mail. Driving up there mid-afternoon, you would never know by all the cars on the road and busy shopping centers that people are supposed to be staying home as much as possible.
We had to cancel our traditional St. Paddy’s Day dinner at our neighbor’s house since we are self-distancing. I am going to miss my neighbor’s shepherd pie ?. Had I realized we were going to end up staying home, I would have bought the ingredients for our own “steak and stout (Guinness)” pie. No Irish meal for us tonight. At least we have mint brownies for dessert.
Just had a good laugh with Dh. We aren’t big fans of our next door neighbor, nothing major but just different kinda people (he did some annoying, unneighborly things when he moved in). He and Dh have both been outside doing yard work the last couple of days so friendly chatting from a distance. Just now I heard Dh on the deck talking but assumed he was on a conference call (he says the deck is his new office). I then realized he was talking to the neighbor and thought “huh, he’s going to be Dh’s new best friend.” Just as I was thinking that, Dh walked in and said, “Looks like I have a new best friend.” ? I guess on the bright side, we are learning to be on friendlier terms!
I am consolidating my old hand sanitizer (which is likely expired long ago) and using the small bottles to put in the recently purchased hand sanitizer into. It’s a large bottle and filled up many of my small bottles with lots left in the container for further refills.
Made oatmeal for Mom, H and me. D just woke at noonish and may eat her bowl of oatmeal from the fridge. S just drank tea (he’s not a breakfasted). Getting ready for 3rd COVID-19 webinar/conference in 2 days.
At some later point, may go to drug store to get mom’s calcium channel blocker refill and return library books before they close tomorrow for extended break.
I started my day with 20 minutes aerobic on my WiiFit ( my feet only hold up that long). Next I made lemon scones. Went to the post office to mail a few pairs of medical gloves to son in Seattle. Then I went to a park overlooking the bay to enjoy the sun and water and palm trees. Very few boats out (there were storms overnight) but there were a couple of helicopters flying around North Island Naval Base, maybe getting some training done. The Navy is starting to get positive test results- much closer quarters on military ships than cruise ships!
I felt so good that I skipped watching the mid-day news and did some laundry. Took a call from son asking if and how to disinfect the leather gloves he uses to grocery shop. Then took a call from my brother and had a nice chat. Learned he cancelled his prostrate surgery scheduled early next month. He has a fragile immune system and decided he’d stick with waking at 3 am every night. My offer to send him some lemons from our tree was accepted so I picked a number, which I’ll send out priority mail tomorrow.
Husband is out scouting to see if he can find open tennis courts; he has a few friends that meet each Friday but their regular court was closed by the park district. At least he can’t go to a bar afterwards; they’re closed.
How long will everyone stay out of restaurants and bars, even after those that close have opened? We typically go every Friday, sometimes both nights. I’m thinking at least a month, maybe more. How long are you going to social distance?
I think my son was getting a little batty today. His uni is only 90 minutes away. I told him we could go down and get his Xbox and his paints (He likes to paint as a hobby). Didn’t seem that interested tonight, maybe tomorrow. He’s been busy reading and finishing a novel, but it’s done now.
I think we’re going to pick a few of our favorite restaurants to support even if they go to take out only (which we have never done). I want them to survive, so we’ll order takeout and tip big.
I’d love it if social distancing between strangers became a thing, but miss my friends. So as soon as this is over, no more friend distancing for me.
Our family is virtually celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with my SIL and her husband: Facetiming a game of darts 
Took the dog on a long walk; called a friend in the neighborhood to see if she wanted to walk her dog as well, with each of us on opposite sides of the street. She’d just been out, but still chatted the next 45 minutes of my walk.
Spent a couple hours un-sewing and organizing my sewing room so I can work on bigger projects.
Had an online appointment. Made corned beef. Am making another batch of hamentaschen for DH.
DH worked from 8:30-7:00. He signed up for CBS Access to get Star Trek: Picard. Also watching Season 1 of NCIS. Some of the banter didn’t age so well!
Things change daily. Monday morning I got an email advising me that our meals on wheels program will be using staff only to deliver meals. No volunteers. So that activity is off the table. I didn’t know they had the capability to do all those deliveries with staff. I understand the motivation.
So here is today’s dilemma. I know they are desperate for blood donations because many blood drives have been cancelled and people are “sheltering in place” and cancelling appointments. I made an appointment to deliver platelets today, but as far as I can tell they have not adopted procedures at the blood center that I would consider appropriate. They are dealing with somewhat random members of the public all day and I don’t think they or the donors are wearing masks. You can’t avoid close personal contact with your phlebotomist. I am going to BYO (mask). I have 1 mask left in the garage - probably 10 years old - that I bought for a sanding dust creating project many years ago. It is N-95.
I was so busy while self isolating yesterday I was exhausted and went to sleep at 10am! Today I’m doing laundry (towels ) and then cleaning whole house. I’ll take the pups out for their walk after I’m done.
Then I think I’ll just watch TV.
My Nextdoor people were posting that a lot of our local grocery stores were restocked so finally got a few pounds of organic ground beef! Made tacos last night and doing a big pot of chili to last a few days.
Tomorrow is S’s 16th birthday. Poor kid, what a crappy way to spend it. Locked inside, doing online school. Will probably get takeout from one of our favorite mom and pop restaurants in our town and I do have supplies to bake a cake.
Meanwhile, D’s college was cancelled on campus for the rest of the semester on Tuesday evening. Classes cancelled BUT we are not allowed on campus to go get her stuff. Meanwhile, her car is sitting at DFW racking up $12 a day parking charges (since the 6th). Trying to figure out how to get her car out of parking and shipped up to us. Who knows when we will be able to go retrieve the rest of her belongings from her dorm.
Mimosas anyone?
That’s a real concern. My H has O- blood, which is the most-needed, but your info above is why I won’t encourage it.
My 89 year old mother is being cooperative and level-headed. Since she leans towards very expressive reactions to most things, this is a welcome development. Talked with her this morning about upcoming early April appointments. We’re both ready to cancel and reschedule them. The only thing I’m inclined to go ahead with is her ophthalmologist in May since her glaucoma has been changing from month to month. We’ll see what the situation is, where it seems to be trending, what precautions they have in place, and take it from there.
Just went out back to wooded part of our lot and lopped away at some underbrush under canine supervision. How do people manage yard work without dogs getting in the way?
My coworkers and I are texting around pictures of our pets to distract us from the horror of all this.
My office is closed for the next month, DH is working from home for the foreseeable future, and both kids have moved to online classes so we’re working on establishing a daily routine and not driving each other crazy. Yoga, frequent walks, reading, cleaning, and cooking fill the days.
Did a remote yoga class with my usual instructor over Zoom, got my hair done, and bought cake at a local bakery - trying to help these small businesses survive
Working from home this week. IT wants to change the way we log into VPN. Ugh. So far, it is working.
One law professor I know used to put a photo of a puppy or a kitten on the cover of his exam packet - pets are therapeutic and do help with stress (when they are not shredding the couch or puking on the heirloom rug). 
Working on my online classes, which start officially next week. I am one of those in-person diehards, though I do lots of stuff on Canvas–grading, assignments, discussion boards etc. But I have never learned much about virtual conferencing, videoing, etc., so learning curve time for me! When I learn something, it feels pretty good.
Today,I downloaded a new app and made a video for my students where I put up slides while they can see me and I talk about them, and posted it. Very proud, lol! haven’t planned anything synchronous yet, but I am signed up for a class tomorrow to learn online conferencing. Overall I have to completely redo the schedule for my classes to take into account the new delivery systems, the fact that we lost a week to prep, and the overall weird space I imagine my students are in.
Keeping me very busy!
I’ve had a very bad day, however, it started out well; I went for a 5ml hike (allowed in my county) with a friend - keeping a distance of approx 3ft and wearing a mask and gloves! I came home feeling good and a little less stressed - that was short lived!
H is working from home and was at the kitchen table conducting business, even though we have a home office! He stayed there much of the day, meaning I had to relocate.
My S is being uncooperative in coming home any sooner than the final move-out day of Sunday; he can do his finals online, but he wants to eke out every last minute of being on campus and the last remainers of his friends. My conversation with him was so stressful, as generally, I make no demands of him; he’s easy going and compliant, so this is a new side of him (good!), but not the time to flex his teen muscles! I’m terrified the airports will shut down, and his campus already has a confirmed case.
I started crying when I got off the phone and I’ve been in a funk ever since. I know this will pass, and I know my circumstances are better than many, but this is my reality, and today it s*cks!
Sigh!