The Lighter Side Cafe - Monday 3/23 - Sunday 3/29/20

Hi Sue,

Thanks for opening today and hi to Pam and Ann. 

Nothing new since last night’s novella I wrote. Lol

i didn’t really rest too well and I’m back at work at my kitchen table today! 

Ill check in later.  Sue, I saw the Silver Sneakers message in my email so I shall check it out!
i had shredded wheat and a banana or breakfast with 1% milk.  Off to a healthy start.  Have a good one!

Hello friends!

I slept very well last night and woke before my alarm this morning. It is sunny and very warm today--82 at the moment. It is laundry day and the last load is in the washer, so I am chugging right along.

We face-timed with DD3 last evening and her anxiety is through the roof. Her boss called and wants her to come back to work, her DH was still not working from home and the only kids in daycare are kids of healthcare workers, so the daycare owner is not recommending they send the kids back right now. She cried, I cried and tried hard to make her feel better. We are both very aware that it may be a long time before we see each other in person again. By this morning, things had improved. MI governor ordered shelter in place, so she won't have to go back to work and her DH has been told to work from home also. I also suggested she look for some online or tele-counseling. She does take medication for her anxiety.

DH's wound care doctor had ordered a removable walking cast for him to wear to help take pressure off his wound. He picked it up today and it's the wrong thing. He called and the provider will have the correct one over-nighted and hopefully, he will be able to pick it up when he goes for wound care tomorrow. It's a 40 minute drive and today's was a wasted trip.

The pork loin came out great! All I did was put it in the crockpot on low and pour a can of rootbeer over it. It simmered all afternoon and was easy to shred. I put it in a pan with bbq sauce and simmered until warm. We had it on a bun with air fries and sauteed yellow squash and had enough to freeze for another meal + lunch leftovers for one day this week. Tonight will be black-eyed peas & sausage with brown rice and some sauteed shredded cabbage. I add just a tsp. or so of olive oil and a clove of garlic saved from my favorite Garlic Expressions salad dressing. When all the dressing is gone, I save the garlic cloves that are leftover in a small container in the fridge and use them for flavoring different dishes.

Ann - Glad all is well with you and Carl and your shopping trip went well. I feel for your friends--added sadness at an already difficult time.

Sue - I knew you had snow, as DD3 posted a pic of one of her "new co-workers" with nose pressed to the window looking out at the snow. I'm with you on stores still being open, but I guess they were trying hard to stay afloat and not have to lay off employees. Such a stressful time! Exercise is definitely a plus, both for WL and stress relief. I'm glad you have other options on snowy days.

Judy - It gets harder and harder to face-time with precious family and not get teary. Good idea about virtually playing with DGKs! The lack of traffic is strange, even in my quiet neighborhood. I have started noticing every vehicle which passes, simply because there are so few. The description of your turkey dinner had my mouth watering!

Today marks one week we have been socially distant. It hasn't been as bad as I anticipated, but strange none-the-less. I think it is bothering DH more than me, which is funny, since I am the social butterfly. His medically-related trips today and tomorrow will help, I think. As soon as laundry is done, I plan to spend some time reading in the green room.

Hi all, 

We had quite a bit of snow today! It looks pretty and freshened up the scenery.  Mother Nature chugs right along and pays no attention to viruses just like kids, pets and animals.  We had a very pretty red fox dash across the snowy yard at dinner time.

Today I dashed into  my office to pick up a few things especially checks from donors that really shouldn’t sit for too long. I brought them to the right place in our office - however no one was working so I put them in the dropbox. It did feel a little bit creepy going into the office which was like a virtual ghost town. I saw our college president briefly and another vice president and that was it. They didn’t stick around long either and it’s a good thing because our governor called for all of us to stay home.  It’s not a law yet but pretty much a requirement that all but essential businesses will now shut down. I do think it’s kind of funny that one of the essential businesses here are liquor stores, but I guess there would be a riot if they closed down too!

 Pam, I’m so sorry that your daughter is feeling such a level of anxiety, but I’m glad that she is now at home alone with her husband. Maybe she can access an online therapist and someone to talk to to help her through this scary time. It’s so hard to be away from our love ones when they’re going through such a tough time. I’m sorry your husband received the wrong walking cast after all of that running around, but I guess this sort of thing happens sometimes and I’m glad it will be corrected tomorrow. Doesn’t it seem like a lifetime ago since this started and not just one week?  My DH was saying that we’ll never be able to look at big crowds again and feel comfortable.

Wising all a good morning once again. We took advantage of the senior shopping hour at Hannafords and picked up all that we didn't get to bring home yesterday. Now we are all set for awhile. I keep a running list and when it's filled up, we shop.

Carl is out there right now as I type plowing once again where the snow plow came to block driveways Such a pain, but oh well...it's part of the beauty of living in 'snow-land'. Judy I also think it looks so pretty! It surely must be odd seeing your place of employment so sparse, Judy. Glad that you are able to work from home. Brings in $$ plus keeps your mind occupied.

I've made my hummus, wiped down the bathrooms and kitchen counters and dry mopped the kitchen floor. Once Carl gets back, we'll enjoy a cup of coffee (or 2) together and walk LuLa while we pick up the mail.

Stay safe and prayers continue.

(((Sue))) my heart goes out to you your DH and all friends and family involved. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

I pray that you enjoy your walk.

Be gentle with yourself (((hugs)))

Oh Sue! What heartrending news! I am sure you and DH are both in shock. Be alert to any signs of infection in DH or yourself and seek medical advice early on. Keeping you both in prayer.

So far today, I have managed to get dressed, do a yoga session and eat a brunch/lunch of leftover bbq pork on a whole wheat roll and air fries and a bit of shredded cabbage with Garlic Expressions dressing. I also did quite a bit of emailing and my cousins wife has mailed 60 masks she made that we will give to hospice and DH's wound clinic nurses.

Our governor held a televised question and answer period last night and one of the panelists was a psychiatrist I worked closely with. I reached out today and he is sending me some info for DD3. I am really worried that her anxiety will spin out of control.

I plan to have some outdoor time this afternoon. It is still mostly cloudy, but very warm-- 79 now and 84 predicted. DH will need help getting sweet corn planted. He has already been in the garden way too much, against doctor's orders. We strongly feel that growing as much as we can will be good for us and for family and neighbors with whom we share.

Praying all of us stay healthy!