QUARANTINE MEME

Had to add it ....

QUARANTINE CONUNDRUM

Unfortunately, I have people in my circle of life that are ANTI any measures to slow down (and prevent) Covid 19.  One highly educated person feels it is psychologically damaging (to them).  One feels it is a government conspiracy allowing bad people to mask their true intentions by covering key body language.

First of all, I wear a mask in public, not for me, but for YOU.  Every one of you.  I am educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.  No, I don’t “live in fear” of the virus; I just want to be a part of the solution, not the problem.

I don’t feel like the “government is controlling me;” I feel like I’m being a contributing adult to society and I want to teach others the same.

The world doesn’t revolve around me. It’s not just about me and my comfort.  If we all could live with other people's consideration in mind, this whole world would be a much better place.

Wearing a mask doesn’t make me weak, scared, stupid, or even “controlled.” It makes me considerate.

When you think about how you look, how uncomfortable it is, or what others think of you, just imagine someone close to you - a father, a mother, grandparent, a sister, a child, a grandchild - choking on a ventilator or respirator.

I simply ask myself if I could just suck it up a little longer for them.

QUARANTINE BLOGGING

I think I have been in lockdown too long.

It irritates me to see people in my condo complex flagrantly ignoring masks and physical distancing.  I tried to get in a walk today but every person who was out wanted to talk ... and not from 6 feet away.  Two groups were sitting in lawn chairs, MAYBE 2 feet apart, no masks.  I was invited in but said "Sorry ... I'm still doing quarantine guidelines and staying 6 feet away" and cheerfully waved.

I decided to pretend I was talking on my phone and simply waved at people as I passed them.

Maybe I need to buy a shirt ....

I am very, very cranky.

EARTH DAY 2020

I think Mother Earth loves having us in lock down.  

People in northern India are reacting with awe at being able to see the Himalayan mountain range.  Brazil has hundreds of hawksbill sea turtles laying eggs on their deserted beaches.  Air pollution is decreasing every where, every day.  Fish can now be seen in the canals in Venice.

Carbon monoxide emissions are down 50%

Beijing air is no longer green (yes, I was there and it was GREEN)

Now .... if we can just figure out how to live without creating so much damage to Mother Earth after the quarantine.

QUARANTINE INSPIRATION

Actually, I have a lack of inspiration.  Even though my past seven years I have turned into an introvert and a lover of stay at home, it's getting a little old now.  It's been just a little over five weeks.  How did Anne Frank do it?  Two years?  With seven other people. In 450 sq ft?  Kinda makes me feel bad about complaining ....

I did my first online, have delivered shopping excursion.  Walmart.  Nine day wait and it was mainly for flour.  I signed up to be "invited" to use Amazon/Whole Foods for fresh things ... no response yet.  Everyone here is cooking up a storm.  Lasagna, creamy potato soup, chef salad, homemade cornbread, chocolate chip cookies, crazy noodle chicken soup (three different kinds of pasta to choose from ... as we had 1/3 cup of each from leftover projects), homemade waffles, berry shortcake, taco salad, and I can't remember all the rest.  Since I'm living in my pajamas, nothing is too tight!

WLLO Village is filling a lot of my time.  Past Council Chair is stepping down on Tuesday.  It's a good thing (for most of us).  But she got us up and running although alienating a good many volunteers along the way.  The incoming chair has spent a lot of time and effort putting together a virtual farewell for her.  A member donated 100 personal care packages (for 12 villages .. we got 6!) and they were so well received.

I hosted our first weekly Coffee Tea and Thee on Friday mornings at 10:00am.  Via Zoom and it was actually fun!  There are so many fun things we could do but no one is stepping up to be a host.  We have about 3 meetings a week online so things are busy behind the scenes.

The boys are loving home schooling because the parents are making it so fun!  Mostly outside on nice days (we've had 10 in a row!).  Usually some physical activity rewards after 15-20 minutes of learning.  Last night was movie night ...  Mom and Mr. 6 in the master bedroom watching Dr. Doolittle and Dad and Mr. 9 watching a WWII movie and they camped out in living room together.

I think Snickerdoodles today!

Take that, quarantine!

LACKADAISICAL BLOGGING

lack·a·dai·si·cal

/ˌlakəˈdāzək(ə)l/

adjective: 

lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy."a lackadaisical defense left the Spurs adrift in the second half"

Similar:  lazy, lax, unenthusiastic, halfhearted

Yup.  Writers block!  And with all this time on my hands!  I have at least 15 more international trips with Mr. Ralph ... but I get bogged down going through the 30,000 photos.  Yesterday I deleted at least 5,000 almost duplicate photos.  iPhotos put some in Smart Albums and Event Albums and I deleted all of those (the photos are still in my library)

Like everyone else ... I'd just like to go for a two hour drive in the country to look at Spring flowers!!!

VIENNA

Typically it is a 4 hour drive from Straubing to one of the company’s largest distributors in Vienna.  Unfortunately, the President (Geo W Bush) and his wife were landing and all entries to the City were blocked.  For hours.  A great thing about Europe, all cars have satellite radios so we were alerted to the delays!  We met Harald for a 10pm outdoor dinner.

Then we had to wind down every alley to get to our motel … as most main streets were still blocked for the Presidential visit.  We got in at midnight!

The men had business meetings during the day so I had some leisure time to enjoy the buffet breakfast.  Every breakfast in every country has a coffee urn labeled “Weak American Coffee”!  The rest of the world drinks espresso or cappuccino or some such.

Our hotel was right downtown in the midst of all the shopping.  The stores were CLOSED to the public while Mrs. Bush shopped.  When she and her bodyguards left to visit another store, we were welcomed in.

Vienna is where I learned that you are not allowed to iron in your room!  We were going to the Opera that night and I had to pay $12 to have my skirt ironed.  Some hotels have “laundry” rooms with one washer, one dryer and one ironing board.  But then you have to have local coins ….

The Opera was stunning and even hotter since we were high up in a balcony.  I don’t even remember what we saw.  The acoustics in the building were phenomenal considering it was built in 1869.  Then we made our way down to the Hotel Sacher to enjoy champagne and a Sachertorte.  

The Stephansplatz is a square at the geographical centre of Vienna. It is named after its most prominent building, the Stephansdom, 

Vienna's cathedral and one of the tallest churches in the world.  Such historic buildings being kept alive.  

Harald's wife entertained me for one afternoon and included a visit to their home.  Most homes are much more modest than US homes.  Seeing how other countries LIVE was of great interest to me.  And sure makes me appreciate wherever I live.

In Hong Kong, the wealthiest person I had ever met (at that time) lived in 800 sq ft for four people.

Oh!  Never mind.  Hong Kong is another adventure!

GERMANY with MR. RALPH

OK, I finally calmed down and picked several photos from our two nights in Germany.

We flew from England to Munich, then an hour car trip to Straubing where our guide and Regional Manager (Romano) and his family lived.  Another of my concerns about this trip is the speed on their highways.  Poor Romano!  I asked if he could go 80 mph or less.  Most European highways are smooth as silk and people were passing us like we were a pylon.    By the second day, I caved and said go safely.  Much of the time it was 100 mph.

Did I mention the heat wave going on over there?  Like 100+ degrees most of our trip.  It's not common to be so warm for so long, so most hotels turn off the a/c in the middle of the night (or raise it to 80 degrees).  After the first night of restless too hot in a small bed (we had a King at home), we took turns getting up and turning the a/c back on.  Every few hours.

Having coffee in the lobby the first morning

Straubing is a beautiful old town near the Danube and was founded in 14 BC.  Yes!  BC.  After the fall of the Roman Empire, Straubing was officially a German city in 1218.  This corn fed Ohio girl was just in AWE of the preserved buildings.  Especially churches and Gothic towers and courtyards.

Romano's wife was an esthetician and ran a little spa right downtown.

I should have kept a diary.  Some of these stops are not easy to remember.  At least iPhoto tells me the city!

Lunch (outside in the heat and you have to ASK for water and BEG for ice).  I had a white asparagus salad.

That evening we ate at their local pub and slept very well, despite the lack of a/c!

SORRY!

Sorry I got side tracked while looking through 40,000 digital photos to post about the next leg of my European adventure.  Memory lane!  So many happy thoughts and I just plain ran out of gumption to blog.

Until Thursday ....

DRIVING THROUGH EUROPE

My first overseas trip with Mr. Ralph was in 2006, starting with the wedding of his regional sales manager, in England.


Ian and Gilly.

Bangers and mash followed by Strawberries and Devonshire cream.

As you might guess, the air travels and meet ups at airports was screwed up due to a plane on fire at the airport where we were supposed to land.  Other work mates were driving or flying in from other places.
The first night we had fish and chips at an authentic pub ~ 100+ years continually running.  It was delicious and just as I envisioned ... served on paper with vinegar!

The buildings are so old!  Our hotel had doorways that even I had to duck into.

 

After a weekend of fun, we went visiting customers for the next two weeks!