Today is day 3,459 of being in self isolation or whatever they are calling it today. I started early on this stay at home quest because it turns out I have several of those pesky underlying conditions they keep mentioning are not good.
The other reason is that I am not a fan of hospitals. I’ve only had surgery once, and that was enough for me. So I plan to do whatever I can to stay home and stay covid free. I wear masks, stay away from everyone including family, sorry kids and grandkids, and wash my hands constantly. I have in effect become a covid curmudgeon.
Lately I’ve been pondering this dilemma of being stuck here on the “ranch” or actually in the ranch style house would be more accurate. It’s not so much the social distancing from other people that bothers me, you’d know this if you’ve read anything of mine because I am a bit of a loner personality within an extrovert shell. The thing that bugs me the most is not getting to go wander around in stores.
Yup, I am a wanderer. I am also a visual person, which means I like to see things up close. I hate sitting at a computer screen trying to decide if I want to order a new pair of slippers, (my main in the house footwear) or buy a new book. I want to hold the objects in my hand, look them over, smell them, see them up close and personal, all the things stores now frown on and discourage.
Recently while in a store that didn’t have curbside delivery, I picked up a bag of a new flavor of pretzels to examine them and see if I should buy them. I realized I had my hands all over them so to be a good citizen I placed them in my cart and bought them, it’s called covid guilt shopping. They turned out to be really good by the way. That was me as a shopper before covid happened. I’d wander through stores touching this and that, picking up things and looking them over, placing them back neatly on the shelf, that’s the OCD. I can’t do that anymore and it’s distressing for a person like me.
I am also beginning to wonder if my brain may be suffering from some of the consequences of being cooped up here all day every day with just the dogs as company and only being able to face time or call people. Some odd things have been happening, although with me, they may just be ordinary and covid may not be to blame, but I’m going to anyway because that also seems to be the current “thing”.
For instance the other day I sat out on my front stoop and removed all my nail polish. Later that day I took my shower and as I was drying off I noticed I had completely missed one nail. I had gone most of the day like that. That never happens, I’m a retired nail tech after all. Worse, it’s three days later and I still haven’t removed that one nails polish.
Then there is the ankle tan I’m working on. You know, it’s on those rare Iowa Spring days when the sun is shining and the wind isn’t blowing 50 mph and you go sit outside to enjoy the sun. You’ve got your house slippers and your leggings on, because let’s face it, who is going to see you anyway? Then later when you change clothes you notice you have this nice little tan line on just your ankles. I’m going to call it a covid tan. Mine is coming along quite nicely.
I’ve also done completely unexplained things, like bake Jay a peach pie. Ok, I used canned peach pie filling and a pre-made pie crust, but I did dump it in the crust and shove it in the oven, so I’m counting that as “baking”, even if he said it’s not if you don’t make the crust from scratch. He lived.
Another evening I made us a small batch of homemade caramel corn. I used microwave popcorn, because lets not get ridiculous here, but I actually did the whole stirring of the caramel in the pan forever and pouring it over the popcorn bit and toasting it in the oven on low for 2 hours. Who is this person?
I cleaned out some of the freezer, which in reality means I removed two old ice cream containers. I’d set them on the counter trying to decide if I should wash them out and keep them in case we ever need a gallon size container for something, or just toss them. Of course one fell off the counter and melted ice cream splatted all over the kitchen floor. The dogs got in a few licks and part of the floor got mopped, so there’s that. I felt productive.
Last night, actually is it considered last night when you wake up at 3:00 AM? Anyway, at 3:00 AM I was awake as usual and made myself a new “daily routine list”. I know what you are thinking, “Wow Toni! You must have a lot of ambition and things to do to make up a list like that!” Just slow down, it’s not what you think.
My list is like this: 8:00 – Feed dogs, 8:15 – make tea, 9:00 -read a Bible study chapter (something I’m trying to make a better habit of) and so on: eat breakfast, unload dishwasher, go outside, etc. You get the drift, plain ordinary stuff I “should be able to remember to do kind of a list”. The truth is I have become so bored with being at home I have found myself just endlessly staring off into space and then realize 5 hours have passed and I haven’t moved off the couch. The dogs have been giving me accusatory looks too, so I thought I’d try to step up my routine. In case you are wondering, yes, nap time is on there and it has the biggest time slot. The dogs join me for it every day.
So far this morning according to my list, I have missed the unload the dishwasher and go outside events, and now I am an hour late for my lunch. I hope it doesn’t goof up nap time.
Stay home and stay safe.
Until next time…
Toni