#coronavirusjournal

[heymyungs]

While the world has stopped for the past two months, as we tried to make sense of the new norm, and in the midst of lost human touch and connection— I see glimpse of sincerity, care, and the struggle to express how human we are. How we are collectively helpless, emotional, needy, and loving beings— oh and such irony and complexity you feel under a bright sunny day in direct conflict with your current reality and the state of your mind. #coronavirusjournal (at My Neighborhood) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAW1b4ZlZ9jEVVIF3SBxJcsy0yXL9oht3E0K0s0/?igshid=hmkta7rxj3p

[myfirstpandemic]

Day 59 - Could’ve been worse

We are only a few days away from Co going back to school and I am pretty comfortable with this.  Switzerland has reported under 100 new cases for around a week!  It’s also very encouraging that Co’s class only has 13 kids and the teacher has already spaced the desks further apart.  Not all my friends are happy about the kids going back to school.  The feeling is that the kids are being used as guinea pigs to see if the virus will spread.  And this is a valid point, since our government has been giving us very conflicting information:

“Kids can’t get sick.”  

“Kids shouldn’t visit grandparents.”  But why, if they can’t get sick?  

“Kids shouldn’t go to school.”  So, maybe they can get sick?

My personal opinion is that since we have all been locked down for 8 weeks, those who were sick would have shown symptoms and/or recovered by now so we should be safe to come out of our cocoons.  I’m not under the illusion that the virus is not spreading anymore - and I still plan to take precautions - but the worst has been avoided, which is hospitals becoming overwhelmed and sick people not being able to get treatment, for whatever they might be suffering from.  In fact, at the beginning of the pandemic, I was worried about:

My family and friends catching COVID-19 in the dozens

Supermarkets closing and food shortages

Gas stations closing and gas shortages

Banks closing and a run on the banks

No electricity because the workers were sick

The Internet breaking down worldwide

Riots in the streets

With none of the above having transpired (so far), I am grateful and feel positive about the opening of stores, restaurants, schools, and gyms on Monday.  Let’s hope the number of cases does not skyrocket.

Social Distancing

Hubby went to his 2-man office.  Co had a playdate which included 2 kids of COVID-recovered parents.  Co and I went to the garage to change the winter tires.

Mental Status

With the sun shining, and the lockdown being lifted, it feels like everything is back to normal.  But then you are reminded by all the disinfecting stations everywhere you go and maybe one person wearing a mask. It’s a strange feeling.

Dinner

FRESH:  Peanut noodles with chicken (from freezer) and asparagus

[myfirstpandemic]

Day 55 - Quarantine 15

Many of the memes and jokes being passed around during the lockdown revolve around the inevitable weight gain that results from being at home, watching lots of TV, eating, and with few options for exercise.  I have tried to make an effort to take walks and do workouts from youtube.  I even had visions of myself jogging on nice days even though I hate jogging.  But the motivation just didn’t quite reach a high enough level for this, so no new running shoes for mama.  Luckily, I am blessed with a pretty good metabolism so my weight has remained stable.

However, my skinny-since-he-was-a-baby son has managed to put on some weight.  I am so over the moon about this and even joked that I love having a couch potato at home.  There was once, just ONCE, that someone described him as a chubby toddler, and I just beamed with pride.  Since then, it has always been one of my greatest stresses to make sure he is eating enough and growing normally because he’s on the small side and just not a big eater.  Even now, he’s not chubby by any stretch of the imagination, but there is a detectable new bulk on his usually thin frame.  

I’m not worried about him becoming overweight because I know he will be active again once school starts again and he has to walk/bike/scoot 1 km to school and runs around at recess with his friends.  And he will be doing Kickboxing 2-3x/week at some point too.  So for now, there is just more of him to love! 

Reference:  “More of Him to Love” from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical.  A very funny song that we like to listen to.

Social Distancing

First time I took Co to any store since lockdown.  We went to the Garden/Hobby store which was fairly busy.  We didn’t wear masks.  Then we went to the butcher to pick up some sandwiches for lunch.

Mental Status

Co and I have been getting into a lot of tiffs the past few days.  They don’t last long but we are both fuming when they happen.  

Dinner

FRESH:  Veggies and rice

FROZEN: Steak

[myfirstpandemic]

Day 50 - Open for business

This week, the first reopening measures came into play.  This turned out to be good timing for us because Hubby was in dire need of a physical therapist and a chiropractor.  Less urgent, but somehow also bumped to needing to get done today were haircuts for Hubby and Co.  I made the mistake of putting on just a bit of make-up, all excited to leave the house, and also put on a dab of lipstick.  I forgot that I planned on wearing a mask to take Co to the hairdresser.  Note to self:  lipstick + wearing a mask = not the best idea.

I was pleased to see that they actually require you to wear a mask upon entering.  If you don’t have one, they had a good selection available for purchase.  Hubby went later in the day and apparently they managed to cut his hair while he wore a mask!

Mental Status

Fairly positive and starting to feel “normal”.  Knowing that we have so many leftovers in the house, I was happy to try a new bread recipe and then bake chocolate chip cookies for the playdate.

Social Distancing

Co had a playdate at home.  All 3 of us were at the hairdresser.  Hubby went to the chiropractor.  Only 2 people allowed in the waiting room.  Hubby and I wore masks when out.

Physical Activity

Boho Beautiful arms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1FNRH-mG2E

Boho Beautiful Pilates (still too tough for me to do everything):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt2FyFYRmes&t=362s

Dinner

Leftovers

[myfirstpandemic]

Day 46+   Spring Break

Today is technically the first day of Spring Break, and we should have been on a flight from Zurich to Dubai to Capetown.  I saw the writing on the wall way back in March and just waited until the airline cancelled the flight.  I’m not sure if it’s true or not, but friends were telling me that if the airline cancelled the flight (as opposed to the passenger deciding to cancel), that I would get a full refund.  It probably varies from airline to airline.  The Emirates website doesn’t mention this clearly, although there is a page specifically related to COVID-19.  I have requested a full refund, let’s see what I get.

I was really looking forward to our first trip to the African continent and spending the 2nd part of it with some dear friends at the beach and doing a safari.  This was one of the few times I planned the vacation almost a year in advance, doing research, studying itineraries, booking flights, and PRE-PAYING hotels.  Usually we decide a few months before if and where we want to take a vacation.  Oh what a bummer.  

With that said, I will probably take a break from blogging unless something notable happens that I need to jot down.

Health Status

My condolences to my NY roommate’s father-in-law in Long Island who passed away from the corona virus.

Social Distancing

Everyone home all day

Physical Activity

I usually take a break on the weekend

Dinner

FRESH:  Leftovers plus fresh asparagus and homemade Hollandaise sauce

[myfirstpandemic]

Day 45 - Goals

I’m so happy I could tick another thing off my mental list of “things to try” during the lockdown.  It was also a win, because it’s the 2nd time I managed to get Co to bake/cook with me during the lockdown.  I’ve asked him SOOO many times, almost begging, but he was never interested in helping in the kitchen.  I almost banned playing with Lego just to get him to do something with me, but the appeal of macarons and him being in a good mood made him a willing partner today.  Sadly, this meant my vision of pink and white macarons went out the window.  i present to you, “Poseidon Macarons”.  Not too shabby for a first-ever attempt.

Health Status

All healthy, except Hubby’s back is flaring up.

Social Distancing

Co and I stayed inside all day as his eyes are reacting very badly to the pollen.  Hubby went cycling with Francesco

Physical Activity

Hubby went cycling

Co and i ran, jumped, hopped up and down the stairs for 10 min, an assignment from school

Boho Beautiful arms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1FNRH-mG2E

Fitness Marshall - Can’t Stop The Feeling - Intense! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5ffOxDIcwc

Dinner

FRESH:  Broccoli, Pan-fried Chinese Radish Cake

FROZEN:  Steamed Juicy Buns (xiao long bao)

[myfirstpandemic]

Day 44 - Tidying Up

Today was a very productive day for me because I didn’t have to cook lunch or dinner.  The lunch takeout from the Chinese buffet is such a large portion, that we can have it for both meals and is now a weekly tradition.  So, today was the perfect day to start sorting through my clothes the Marie Kondo way.  If you are not familiar with her method, she recommends emptying the entire closet and putting it in a giant pile.  Then it is important to hold each item of clothing, and one should only keep it if it “sparks joy”.  If not, then you should thank the item of clothing and then say goodbye to it.  (I learned this from watching the Netflix show titled “Tidying Up”.)

This was actually quite pleasant to do and I felt myself getting in the groove of sorting the clothes, and I was even talking to them after awhile.  However, I had to loosen the “sparks joy” criteria to allow for things that are good wardrobe basics as well as things I recently purchased or that were recently gifted to me.  I was quite pleased with my progress today, and have given myself one week to complete this exercise.  Goals.  One way I cope with the lockdown.

Mental Status

Tempers are short in general, but we have acknowledged this as a family and always apologize to each other shortly thereafter.

Social Distancing

I went to get the Chinese takeout.  An elderly couple came in after me and waited the appropriate distance away.

Physical Activity

Co and Hubby went cycling

I made around 50 trips between my closet and the guest room

Dinner

Chinese Takeout

[myfirstpandemic]

Day 43 - Book Club Junkie

Tonight was our 2nd Virtual Book Club meeting during the Lockdown.  I’ve been in this book club for a few years and really enjoy the ladies’ company and conversation.  They are witty, intelligent, funny, and even raunchy - the password for today’s Zoom meeting was “tits”. Also, our hostess-with-the-mostest is a kick-ass baker so we are always spoiled with some calorie-intensive treats on top of wine.  This Book Club is the reason I left my ex-Book Club where I found the ladies dull, bitter, and just plain not my cup of tea.  

More recently (late last year?) I was approached to start an English speaking book club at my local library which I felt was a great honor and eagerly agreed to.  I came up with a name and logo and everything, with the first meeting date set for March 26, 2020 i.e. Peak Corona Time.  So, that was unfortunate, but I managed to kick it off virtually anyways and we hope to discuss our first book at the end of June in person.

Just for my records and if you’re interested, these are the books I have read while in Lockdown:

Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides  <---  best of the bunch

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

All the books were very readable, I didn’t LOVE any of them, but if I had to choose which one was the best, I’d say The Silent Patient.  There are few books that I actually love, not that I’m a book snob or English literature major or anything, but the more books I read, the more I can discern a good one from a bad one.  The only recent ones I’ve LOVED, that I would read again, would be:

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

And possibly:  A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Health Status

Family and friends all healthy.

Social Distancing

Co and I went to the take-out window at the library and then popped into the local supermarket to get some ice cream.  Saw a handful of people from a safe distance.  Hubby went cycling with some friends.

Physical Activity

2.7 km walk with Co scooting to school library and supermarket and back

Hubby went cycling

Dinner

FRESH:  Chinese Radish Cake and Spare Ribs

FROZEN: Scallion Pancake that must be 5 years old at least