Wednesday, April Fools Day 2020

Weight 124.6, WW Bluepoints 12.

Is covid-19 just a April Fools joke? Wouldn't that be nice. Sometimes I think we are living in an alternate reality lately.

I slept soundly last night so my frame of mind is better. DD got home safely. Nothing planned for today really except walking, reading, walking...

Welcome to heaven Mama Ella!

Stay safe. Love you all!

Oh- It's April now? Good Lord. I don't think I've paid attention to a calendar since....

So a good day to begin.

Off to the kitchen to start the coffee. Kurt will saunter down directly and feed the pets (we are expecting kittens any day now- these the product of the mighty and magnificent Copticaticus and a stray female (for want of a proper name "Blackie") who, up till about a week ago would let no one get near her. Now, as if by magic, she is a most affectionate critter, and seeks our attention. We were worried she would remain distant and the upcoming kittens skittish and difficult to socialize. Blackie is an excellent 'ratter' and so then, will be her offspring.

Sunny and 70 today. Time to bake goods and take them into town for DS#1- Other than phone calls, we haven't seen him since his return. It's been difficult convincing DH that the kiddos are off limits for up close indoors encounters (he thinks blood relation renders the virus ineffective- silly thing!)

Other than that- I'm adopting your list, Liz. I should add some house cleaning to it- but, well- nope.

Am thinking of you all - stay well. (And take it gently, today, Devon.)

Oh Peps I'm so sorry to hear about Ella.

And for Diane O., Liz DD, and others worried about their kids, I cannot imagine how it would feel to not having them here to hold tight. To be honest, I've been feeling a bit too close to my kids recently. We're all stir crazy! But you have helped me to see how much better it is for them to be at this age where I can look after them.

Took a nice long walk yesterday afternoon. Definitely helps to break up the day. Yesterday's high was 64 but it felt really good with the sun and almost no wind.

Weight: 163

Last night's dinner was meatloaf, leftover potatoes and green beans.

We (I) have been doing this for about 3 weeks now. If the peak is in another 3 weeks, that means 3 weeks to get there, 3 weeks to get back to where we are on the curve now, and another 3 weeks to get back to where we were 3 weeks ago, right? I know that no one really knows but it's the light that I keep trying to focus on. That puts us right around the start of June. But it's all over the map--I've heard everything from good in mid-May to not until August to maybe okay in August but ramping up again for fall/winter. Ugh. Back to my one step at a time I'm still just trying to make it to Memorial Day.

But as this looks like it could be a marathon, I'm thinking I may have to change my approach. I'm getting antsy and not in the "vacation quarantine" mood anymore. How are things in stores? I stocked up for 3-4 weeks when I went last. I'd like to do the same again but with limits on items I'm not even sure that's possible. And yet it looks like this next month is when we'll really want to stay out of stores.

At the same time, if I cannot stock up, and I'd like to eat healthier anyway, I wonder if grocery pickup or shipt will still be available and if that's a better option, especially in order to have fresh and healthier foods to eat.

SIL still in hospital. Please pray or send good thoughts. She isn't talking rationally and I'm not sure if that's a side effect of chemo or what. It's a terrible time for her to be in this position. Her doctors are not exactly able to be totally on top of it and when they do speak to her she's having a hard time remembering what they've said and no one can be there with her to help.

I think we'll do potty training tomorrow.

Thinking of your family, it does seem so cruel that your sil is enduring chemo in the midst of all this.

Sending love and strength to you all x

Yes, we don't need any April fool's jokes this year. We've already had enough pranks, thank you very much. One funny post I saw: I didn't mean to give up this much for Lent. Too true.

Taking a coffee break with you all. Thank goodness we're all here together. I feel like we're quarantining together, and whenever I need some human interaction, I just come into our group. And while we're all together, you also bring me to new places when you describe your days. What a blessing.

Still coolish here in the Bold North. Might hit 60 next week, but hanging out in the 40s this week. If it's not raining, we're getting out for a walk.

This online distance learning is pretty intense right now. I thought I'd be bored, but there is plenty to do. In fact, I'd better get back at it.

More later!

Trying to console my NYC DD. Her beloved patients are dying and being loaded into freezer trucks. Incredibly angry at all of the self centered people who didn't get it when it was obvious to the blind. WTF

Try not to be too angry. Remember at the beginning there was a lot of conflicting information. I was slower than most of you to get on the Play It Safe Bandwagon.

NYC is a unique situation. It is one of the not too many places people live in super close proximity. When I lived in NYC I lived on the 12th floor of a 1920s building on the upper west side. No way I could maintain a 6 foot distance on the elevator. NYC has the widest sidewalks I have ever seen, and still during rush hour and lunch time mid town sidewalks were wall to wall people. The sheer density in population, and as Ann pointed out, the unique living style in NYC, and it being a center of international travel is most likely why cases have spiked so rapidly. I think with all they have in place now, we will see a drop in COVID19 cases there soon.

New Yorkers are resilient people and they do come together when push comes to shove. I remember as a young man realizing how much friendlier and helpful New Yorkers were than San Franciscans. Being forever the optimist, I hope your DD has seen the worst of it. I'm sorry you can't braid her hair for her. That would help.

There will never be enough we can all do to repay your daughter and the other first responders. This is not what she, or any of her colleagues signed up for. And yet, they show up. How, how, can we ever thank them? I'll start by thanking you for raising someone who runs towards the emergency instead of away from it.

Well said DD - Couldnt agree more. I often find it hard to articulate just how i feel in times like this. I si****ching the news, seeing those amazing front liners as I call them caring for all these critically ill people - day after day and night after night. The volunteers who are in doing whatever they can. And the people like you Diane O - who are sewing tirelessly to try and keep them all safe. I am in awe of you all and proud to call you my friend x

It was brought home to me yet again yesterday when I saw my own GP after the nurse had given us our flu shot. She looked pale and drawn as she looked at my wound. I asked her if she was ok. Her response physically yes - mentally its very hard. I cant begin to imagine. Shes working huge hours at the practice and then she also looks after at least one nursing home - so finishes her day and does rounds there as they are in lockdown. I just wanted to give her a huge hug and comfort her but obviously I cant. I have been thinking of ways that I can help - get DH to deliver some freshly made scones maybe for all the staff working tirelessly. Drop a couple of meals off for them to take home so they can have a night off cooking? Its foremost on my mind today .......