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STAY AT HOME DIARY: WEEK 6

The #stayhome isolation is giving me a case of Covid-19 related hypochondria. A pulled muscle, cough or sneeze is not something alarming, under ordinary circumstances.  But when I woke up with a sore neck last week, it had me worried until I realized I’d spent too much time reading my kindle.  Consequently, I looked online and found that I could order a kindle holder, but it probably wouldn’t come very soon.  Anyway,  I’d never use it once the lockdown is over, because I prefer hard cover.  Just wonder when that day will come.   Stay At Home Diary: Week 6:

The closing down of meat processing plants has me concerned.  Some of us lived through meat rationing during World War II, and it was not pleasant, unless you like Spam.  I guess it’s popular  in Hawaii, but to me it tasted like  a combo of salt, fat, and rubber.  I won’t eat Spam again, no matter what.  I’ll go vegetarian with beans, lentils and other grains.

One high point of the week was a teleconference with our local Mayor.  When people asked if all our city improvement plans were going down the drain, during the Covid-19 crisis,  he had a great response.  “We haven’t stopped, ” he said. “We’ve just slowed down.”   I liked that slogan….a combination of caution and optimism, striking just the right note.    Who said small town mayors from Indiana were dummies?  He  sounded far sharper than Trump, in my opinion.

On my weekly shopping trip, I noticed that fewer people are wearing masks.  I can’t imagine why they are beginning to relax. Guess they’re just tired of it. Some grocery stores are doing a better job of following CDC guidelines than others.   I won’t shop anywhere that  doesn’t provide their clerks with  masks and a Plexiglas barrier at checkout.

Major scare late Friday night.  Got a call from a tenant in a property I manage that he had a leak in his bathroom that was spilling into the downstairs apt ceiling.  What horrible timing! How many plumbers are available on Friday night?  What if they weren’t working at all during the pandemic?  Put in a call to my plumber, and had a fairly sleepless night.  But he texted me next morning and said he would be out to fix it.  Feeling fortunate to have a good relationship with this company,  who has been there for me many times over the years.  Plumber are first responders, too!

What would we do without plumbers during the covid-19 crisis
Plumbers are first responders, too. What would we do without them?

My oldest grand daughter’s birthday was Saturday. The night she was born seems like yesterday. Never thought I  would live twenty-eight more years after that.  I’ve been blessed with lovely grandchildren.  They will always remember the spring of 2020!

It’s been a great week for gardening.  Meijers had lilies on sale for half price, and I planted them right before the rain came down.  Tomorrow, I’ll try to transplant some Hosta if the rain lets up. Notice a lot of people out working in their yards.  We should see some pretty landscapes this summer.

Looks like we’ll have another week of grim statistics and politics, but as our mayor said. “We’ve just slowed down; we haven’t stopped.

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Recycling: We called it Making Do

As children coming of age in the forties, we had never heard the word “recycling”.   For most families emerging from the great depression,  and  going into into World War II,  we called it  “making do.”

For instance, Tupperware was invented in 1946, but it wasn’t until the fifties and sixties that it became popular. Before that, we reused grocery store food containers to store leftovers:  Cottage cheese buckets,  margarine bowls—anything that could be washed and dried.    Tupperware parties were all the rage, but it was expensive.  It didn’t cost a penny to re purpose sturdy containers.    And most of us did.

 Cloth diapers were still used,  With two babies in diapers,  I spent a lot of time washing and folding them.  But I didn’t have to spend money on plastic diapers.

Cloth dishtowels are environmentally friendly, and save money.    They’re more absorbent, and feel softer.  I use paper towels only for draining fried foods–maybe one roll per year.

Yes, I’ve succumbed to paper napkins. But I have fond memories of using cloth napkins as a child.  My mother painted clothes pins with each siblings names to keep them straight.  And the napkins  were washed every week.

Computers, wireless phones,  or others electronic devices weren’t available, so there was nothing to recycle.  As a result,  our main source of  free home entertainment was television.    No one paid for Netflix, HBO, or streaming services.   If we wanted more entertainment, we went to the movies , a concert or live theater performance.

Hand me down clothes were welcomed.  If they didn’t fit, they could be altered.  As the youngest of three girls, I seldom had a “new” outfit except maybe at Easter time, when we all dressed alike.  However,  even my older sisters wore hand me downs. We had 2nd cousins all over the Midwest.  Every year, they sent boxes of their outgrown sweaters and dresses, and we were thrilled to receive them.

Flower seeds were cheap, and  started plants from nurseries were considered a luxury. Cuttings  and starts from other gardeners cost nothing.  My husband lived on a farm, and  his mother  generously shared  her wide variety of plants and flowers,   Consequently, even a poor person could have a beautiful garden, if they had the time and energy.

Darning socks.  Yes, people still did that , even in the fifties.  There was something called a “darning needle.”  My husband’s grandmother was shocked when I said I would never darn a sock.  And I never did.  I guess I was ahead of my time.

Brown paper sacks from grocery stores  could be repurposed  to wrap packages for mailing.  Or storing things in the basement or attic.  Because brown paper bags are recyclable, they don’t fill up landfills with plastic.

In the early 20th century, women repurposed feed sacks for dresses. We called it making do.
Recycling: we called it making do.when women made dresses from feed sacks.

Farm wives repurposed feed sacks to sew men’s shirts , women’s dresses, towels, and other household necessities.   If you lived in the city, you got the sacks from your country cousins or friends.  Those  pretty cotton materials were  soft to the touch,,and immensely comfortable.

It looks like the Coronavirus pandemic is going to throw us into a recession. Hopefully not a depression.  Perhaps we should take some lessons from the past,  and recycle the old fashioned way by Making Do.

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COVID-19 HAS CHANGED SOME LUCK

Have you ever been on a cruise?  If not, why?  For most people, the reasons are financial.  Even though cruises are a “good deal,” they’re still beyond reach for the average middle class person struggling to support a family.  Other reasons are because of motion sickness, poor health, whatever.  But you still have to hear someone you know raving about the cruise they just took or are going to take.  That’s all changed now.  No one envies the “lucky people” who got stuck on cruise ships this year.  Covid-19 has changed some luck. 

If you’re retired, you probably know of people who can afford to live in luxury, senior living facilities.  Those posh places with gourmet food,  swimming pools, fitness centers and the like.  Sometimes you’ve envied their life style– the congregate meals and activities they enjoy, while you’re stuck in your own home.  Still worrying about trash removal, lawn care, shopping, cooking, and cleaning. That’s all changed now.  Those folks are stuck in their apartments with meals being delivered to them on trays.  In your own place, taking care of the yard and cleaning your house provides much needed exercise.  You’re able to go outside and take a walk.–to come and go as you please.

Some luck has changed. Be thankful for what you got.
Some luck has changed.

If you’ve ever worked in a middle income job you may have wished you were a doctor or nurse.  Those people not only enjoy high salaries,  they seldom lose their jobs.  That’s still the case, but the trouble is, many of them are getting sick and dying during the coronavirus outbreak.  Health care workers are risking their lives every single day that they go to work.  They really aren’t very lucky, right now.

Do you live in flyover country?  Big city dwellers on both coasts have looked down on you forever.  Who would want to live in a dull place like Nebraska or South Dakota?   You may have envied people who have glamorous jobs and enjoy the excitement of big cities.  Trouble is, they’re all crammed together in a very small space.  It’s called population density, and if you live in a western state or a dull little town, you’re chances of getting sick with Covid-19 are much, much less.  Because you aren’t living on top of each other and breathing in infected air every time you step out your door.

Covid-19 has changed some luck.  This isn’t a time for schadenfreude.  No one  should enjoy the misery of others. But if you’re one of the lucky ones who hasn’t  come down with the virus, count  your blessings.   Stop comparing yourself to lucky people. Be thankful for  what you’ve got. 

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IS IT OKAY NOW TO BREAK THE LAW?

Since they’re letting people out of jails and prisons because of Covid-19, does it mean  they’re free to break the law? Obviously, not. But now,  police seem less likely to care about lawbreakers who defy civil code.  While out for a walk. I saw a homeowner pour gasoline on a pile of wood and light a fire in his backyard. This sent huge clouds of black smoke  billowing out  across the neighborhood. But when I called the police to report this code violation they seemed annoyed. “We’ll check on it when we have time,” the dispatcher said. Obviously, he didn’t welcome my call.

In these difficult times, I can understand that first responders are dealing with far more urgent situations.   However, my city has always been lax about  code enforcement. If you call to report a neighbor’s  violation, the police take your name and it goes on your record. Twenty five years ago, I called the police about a neighbor’s barking dog keeping my family up all night. That’s still on my record. I guess it means I’m a chronic complainer. Also, they tell the violator that “a neighbor” complained about them, which doesn’t make for a friendly situation.  That’s probably why most people hesitate to complain about barking dogs, unmowed lawns and wood smoke from burning fires, to name a few.

The police department seems to forget that Code Enforcement is an important function of local governments to accomplish community goals. Code Enforcement helps empower the citizens of their community to create and maintain safe, healthy and attractive living and working environments.

The fact is that breathing in wood smoke can  be irritating if not downright harmful. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fine particles of wood smoke   “can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose and illnesses such as bronchitis.”

Bonfires in city backyards pollute city air
Is it  okay now to break the law? Wood smoke pollutes city air and is prohibited by most civil codes.

These fine particles are also linked to premature deaths. The EPA advises that anyone with congestive heart failure, angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or asthma should steer clear of wood smoke in general. Children’s exposure to wood smoke should also be limited, as their respiratory systems are still developing and they breathe more air (and air pollution) .

I know,  the coronavirus is a much more serious threat than wood smoke,  But on the other hand, if a police officer stops to check on someone’s illegal fire, at least they aren’t walking into an infectious indoor environment.

Celebrate Earth Day April 22

Just because we’re all preoccupied with Covid-19, it shouldn’t give others a free pass to violate civil codes. Or does the pandemic mean they can break the law, and get away with it?

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STAY-AT-HOME WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Yesterday was our 32nd wedding anniversary.  We were over 50 when we married, and certainly didn’t rush into anything.  Both of us had come out of long marriages and painful divorces.  We had dated for two years before we decided to tie the knot.  It wasn’t an easy decision, for various reasons. But here we are still together after all these years.  My husband is an incurable romantic, and he’s never missed sending me a card, taking me to dinner, and bringing me flowers.  But this Stay-At-Home Wedding anniversary was a challenge.

On Wednesday, while  checking my email, my husband asked me to give him a couple sheets of white computer paper.  I wondered what he was planning to write, but decided it was his own business.  So I didn’t ask. And he didn’t tell.  That afternoon, I went out to the yard and found a clump of daffodils in bloom.  I brought them inside, and arranged them in a vase on the coffee table.

Our Stay-At-Home Wedding Anniversary was sweet
A homemade card. Flowers from the yard. A perfect Stay-At-Home Wedding Anniversary

The next morning, my husband presented me with a card while we were having coffee.  He had made it himself, with the help of some pretty stickers on the front.  Inside, was a picture of us together during our younger days.  It was at a happy event—I think maybe taken at the Beef N Boards Theater in Indy. And he wrote me a love letter, which meant more to me than the most expensive Hallmark Card.   That afternoon, we found some old 45’s and his son brought us over a record player.  We spent a couple of hours sorting through his collection, listening to Broadway shows, and reminiscing.  With all the  restaurants  closed,  our usual evening out wasn’t possible.  Instead, I fixed his favorite Swiss Steak .

.A homemade card, flowers from the yard, music, wine, and good food.  Our Stay Home Wedding Anniversary was a good one.

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7 lessons learned from COVID-19 crisis

Looks like we’re flattening the curve on coronavirus cases.  The end isn’t here, but it’s coming. In a couple of months, we’ll be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  But things will never be the same. Here are seven  lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis.

1. Saving for a rainy day is good advice.  I know it’s not possible for everyone. Stuff happens, and you find yourself in a hole, living paycheck to paycheck.  I’ve been there, done that, and  know how it feels. And yet, many folks who could have established an emergency fund didn’t.  They maxed out their credit cards on boats,  trips to Disneyland,  eating out, and other stuff they didn’t really need.  I hope their unemployment and stimulus checks tide them over now.  But when they finally get back on their feet,  they really need to cut out some of the unnecessary spending.  And make it a point to save a certain percent of their income for a rainy day.

2. You can keep ripe bananas in the frig.  Shopping habits changed the past few months. Instead of going to the grocery several times a week, we had to cut it down to once or twice.  Planning ahead was a necessity.  And if you bought enough bananas ahead of time, they were apt to spoil before your next trip.  My husband and I split part of a banana  every day—him for his cereal, mine for smoothies.  Although you’re always told you can’t refrigerate ripe bananas, the fact is, you can—for a couple of days.  The skin may turn dark, but the inside is still fresh and sweet.

3.  Everyone should wash their hands more often. Many of us were lax about that.  How many times have you seen someone leave a public restroom without washing?  But I think everyone has it in their heads now:  Washing your hands will keep you from getting the flu, colds, and other types of infections. If you didn’t know it before the covid-19 outbreak, you know it now.

     4.   Higher education is more important than ever.  During the past decade, I’ve met many bright young people who dropped out of college because they could make so much money in tips at upscale restaurants.  Those people are now drawing unemployment.  Those with college degrees  are more likely to have jobs that pay them to work from home.  Others who learned a skilled trade find their services in high demand. A two year degree may pay off  just as well as a four year degree.    If you have the academic ability, get some training and education beyond high school. Don’t rely on tips to fulfill your dreams.

7 lessons learned from COVID-19 CRISIS. Immunity, education, saving, good health habits, sunshine all have an effect
Open office space can be hazardous to your health.: 7 lessons learned from COVID-19 crisis.

5.  Open spaces offices are bad for your health.  70% of modern offices have no walls.  You’re forced to  work close beside other people , breathing in whatever they’re breathing out in the way of viruses .  It’s been shown that open office spaces make people less productive and healthy. Without walls or barriers in front of you, a virus can spread very easily. Companies should  go back to providing offices or at least cubicles, where  employees can enjoy a little peace, quiet, and cleaner air.

6. Find some  old fashioned pastimes that don’t require wireless.  Jigsaw puzzles, cards, board games, crossword puzzles, just to name a few.  Or creative activities like painting, sewing or woodworking.  There could be a national crisis that involves an internet blackout.  What will you do to pass the time, then?

7. Unfiltered sunlight is good for you, in small doses.  Sunscreens prevent cancer, but they also block the production of vitamin D.   Vitamin D is important for a good immune system. Doctors now recommend that you wait 15 minutes before applying sunscreen if you’re out in the sunlight.

Americans are resilient and smart.  They will make it through this crisis and  also learn their lessons.

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Stay At Home Diary: Week 5

I thought we were weren’t too stressed about the lock down, but I think the anxiety of the coronavirus is causing  a few somatic symptoms.  I used to have panic attacks when I was a teen, so I remember what they’re like.  This week, I woke up and felt one coming on again.  Luckily,  my “Calm”  App was there to get me through it.   Just a few deep breaths and I was okay.   I’m having flashbacks to WWII and later,  the polio epidemic that paralyzed so many young people when I was growing up.   My husband is a diabetic. Now, he’s having problems controlling his blood sugar.  Although he seems outwardly calm,  the stress may be raising his sugar.  He will have to call his doctor next week.

Tornado in nearby  county this week. 70 mph winds here.  Blew our mail box down and broke it.   The mailman drove right on by without delivering our mail.  I called the post office, and the next day, we got a packet of mail tied with a string which said, “box down.” This is not a good time to install a new mailbox.

Venturing out once a week to shop  in my coronavirus gear.  Cap,  glasses, face mask, gloves.   Muslim women who wear burkas don’t have to worry about all that.  They’re already dressed for the pandemic.

Forgot it was Easter week until too late.  Got online to order Easter Crème Eggs from Fannie May for all my grandchildren, and it turns out you can’t have them shipped any more.   For the first time in their lives, my children did not receive any Easter candy from me.  I sure miss seeing my youngest grandson with a smear of chocolate on his face.  He does love those chocolate bunnies.

On Easter morning, my girls arranged a group skype.  We had never done that before and it felt very cool.   But then, they pointed out that Skype is so outdated that they almost forgot how navigate it.  Seems everyone uses apps like Zoom conferencing.  They think that’s probably beyond my technological capacity,  but I’m going to watch some you tube tutorials and surprise them.

Slim pickings in our daily newspapers on Easter Sunday.  No grocery store ads.  Reporters have been furloughed, and there are fewer pages to read. We used to spend an hour going over both papers, but this Sunday it took about ten minutes.  At least we can still read the funnies

Geese in park don't worryabout coronavirus
Geese in the park aren’t worried about COVID-19.  Stay At Home Diary: Week 5

Still walking when weather permits, and trying to get 15 minutes of unfiltered sunlight every day it doesn’t rain.  Geese in the park aren’t worried about coronavirus.  And a robin is building a nest in the bush beside our porch.

 Life goes on.