03/26/2020, Thursday

Thank you, Ceci. From what I've read, this cancer will never be curable but it can be managed. And like you say, some people do, why not her? I'm not the biggest optimist but I'm trying my dangdest at it now.

Same with my dad's, it's being managed for now, but in the meantime, he enjoys every day as the gift it is. I so wish the same for your sil!

As Bonnie is doing confronting issues of mortality, we've had a few conversations in our house. It's possible DD could have brought us covid, she's only been here 5 days, 10 more to go. DHs store is considered essential, so once vacation is done he's back at work. Last night I told husband that whatever happens to any of us, there can be no blame about who gave the virus to who. Upwards to 70% of us will get this eventually. And how it plays out for each of us is going to depend on how our particular immune system confronts it. I, for example, appear to have pretty healthy immune response. But I have also had pneumonia 3 times, the last time related to H1N1 flu. The only thing we can control right now in our house is that, if (when?) one of us gets covid, is that we will not transfer it further, because we are sheltering in place.

The sun peeked out for a moment this morning, but has slipped behind clouds again. It was a pleasant surprise to see it this morning when I pulled back the curtains. It rained yesterday, so we went for a short walk with rain coats and umbrellas.

Last night we were able to hook up with DS and his girlfriend to play some online games. One of them was a word game, where you would use your phone to answer a question like, the strangest thing about my imaginary friend is .... or the worst flavor for a snocone is ... And then they appear on the shared screen and players vote on the best answer (people get different questions and you don't have the option of voting for your own). Our food theme was all American. We had pancakes for breakfast, left overs for lunch, and for dinner, cream of tomato soup (made from scratch, turned out pretty yummy), grilled cheese, and chocolate chip cookies. To help us with portion control, I only baked six cookies, and froze the rest of the dough.

My daughter has an online date to watch Grey's anatomy with a friend , so today's theme is hospital food. Breakfast was oatmeal, lunch is "vending machine" sandwiches, dinner is "cafeteria" burgers, (DH is going to go for take out), and of course, jello :)

I have cream in the oven, with hopes it will become clotted cream. After reading many recipes, it really boils down to this: pour some cream into a dish, and bake it at a very low temp (175, 185) for 8-12 hours, cool overnight, pour off the liquid whey (which I will use as part of the liquid for scones), and enjoy.

For someone who is posting on a weight loss maintenance board, I sure am talking a lot about food! I am maintaining so far, I think eating real meals is helping me not to snack excessively.

Keep looking for small moments of joy wherever you can in these trying times.

I love all of this so much! So many good ideas! Thank you. :)

Really like the "cooking only six cookies and freezing the rest of the cookie dough" idea.

Looking forward to hearing how your clotted cream works out.

BTW, I am "dressed up" for my weekly outing to town today, and I am sure I will win.

Jello is the devil's dessert! Fruit flavored boiled hoof/connective tissue juice. Can you tell I od'd on Jello after my sleeve surgery and if I see it again this century it'll be too soon?

Haha, they gobbled it up. When I make jello, I substitute 1/2 cup of cream for the cold water, and it makes a creamy layer on top. Maybe that makes it more palatable :)

Another one of my coping techniques is wearing at least one brightly colored item each day.

Remember your shoes. I was reading this morning that it theoretically could live on your shoes for 5 days, so best not to wear them in the house.

Good reminder, Ceci!

I keep all my outdoor shoes (meaning outside the house for any destination) in the laundry room tucked under some shelving. I am not allowed to wear those anywhere in the house. And since I currently plan to leave the house only every 7 days, I think I'm O****il, of course, the CDC tells me something has changed. Which will likely happen. Because it has changed and will likely keep doing so. Boy, the stuff we don't know yet that we'll learn, eh?

I keep seeing these posts about how much we'll enjoy being back in society after this blows over and all I can think is how hyper-aware I will be of germs forevermore!