MyNewChapter101

April 5th, 2020 - Day 18 Day 18 on lockdown.  Let's just call it what it is.  The authorities are calling it "mandatory stay at home". But in reality it's a lockdown, stay the heck at home unless you absolutely have to leave the house i.e. go get groceries then wear a face covering.  As well we should.  I am.   Here is Sam and Mia, my quarantine buddies.  I am so glad to have them with me.  I can talk to them and they'll meow back.  Actually Mia more like yells at me. Lol.   They were so confused at first when I wasn't leaving for work but we've settled in to our new return and they let me share my bed.  The only annoying things they're doing is walking across my keyboard and insisting on playtime when I'm trying to work.  Both very annoying.  So I bought a $35 remote control toy with feathers attached.  It arrived from Amazon today.  I charged it up and...Mia just watched it and Sam is a little curious but...

April 1st, 2020 - day whatever.... Okay, it's day 14.  Two weeks!  Ugh 😝.  Had someone told me a year ago we would be going through a pandemic, I wouldn't have believed it.  I'm reminded often of how I took life for granted...how easy it was to go grocery shopping, to my art supply store, to meet my best friend for coffee, to church on Sunday morning, to work.  I could hug a friend and while I've been a germaphob for years (nurse thing) and have always been a huge handwasher, I haven't ramped it up to this degree to the point where my skin is dry and raw.   What I would give to have my normal life back.  It'll be a long time before I complain about having to grocery shop, groan about my commute to work, or even think about skipping church.  I long for normal.   Meanwhile, here we are.  I remind myself to count my blessings of which there are many..so here goes: 🔸I am asymptomatic 🔸So are my kids, grandkids, my family and fri...

Our new norm.... Wearing masks when you must venture out... but mind you this does NOT mean disposable masks and definitely NOT N95's as those are desperately needed by healthcare providers on the front lines.  A cloth mask will work or even a bandana will do in a pinch.  Here's a link to a good tutorial:.  How to make a cloth mask The idea is to protect yourself and others as some are asymptomatic COVID19 and have no idea.  That population could be anyone, even you or me.  So stay home, wash your hands, practice social distancing and protect yourself and others. NY Times article on wearing face coverings

Yes, it's okay and healthy to laugh!  Here are a few outlets for you...all PG rated. The Holderness Family  on YouTube.  If you haven't checked them out, you must.  Penn and Kim Holderness and their two kids make the best videos. Their music video parodies are hilarious and a welcome distraction.  They're also on Facebook and Instagram. Binge watching your favorite comedies on TV.   If all else fails just Google "autocorrect fails".  That outta do it 😂.  

March 31, 2020 - day 13 Tonight I "zoomed" with my kids and grandkids in Texas.  Highlight of my day.  

March 28th, 2020 - Day 10 It's Saturday and I'm wiped out. Physically, mentally, emotionally.  I am living COVID19 daily not just personally but professionally with my patients.  I am worried about them, about my countless friends that are healthcare providers on the front lines, about my two nieces that are also hospital based.  I feel the weight of the world and yes, I've cried this week....over the plight of America's nurses and doctors working without adequate PPE, over the deaths in Europe and NYC and yes, with one of my patients.   I realize I've been living in my PJ bottoms and T-shirts...daytime jammies and nighttime jammies.  So tonight I did my hair and yes, it helps a little.   Tomorrow is a new day...at home.                        At least my hair is fly

March 27th, 2020 I took these pics on my way to pick up my groceries.  Amazing and eerie.

March 26th, 2020 - Thursday Day 8 on mandatory stay at home order: 1. my weekly trip to the grocery store has become the highlight of my week. 2. I have become more of a germaphob...if that's possible. 3. today I learned the importance of checking the oven before turning it on if you haven't used it in a while.  Btw my rosemary olive toast rocked and good to know that the smoke detector works. 4.  it's so important to do your hair, put on a little makeup and put on a bra every morning 😁,  5.  I think Mia and Sam are used to having me here 24/7.  I'm happy for their company, trust me. 6.  it's okay to cry. 7.  it's healthy to take a break from the coverage and immerse yourself in something that'll make you laugh until you hurt yourself. 8.  I am so proud to be a RN and the way people have shown support and concern for all healthcare workers across the country warms my heart, 9.  I am so grateful. Grateful for my family, my friends, my communi...

March 23rd, 2020 - day 5 I scored some pasta today at the store so tonight I stuffed my face.  After a week of canned soup, cereal and whatever frozen food was leftover in the freezer section, this spaghetti tasted unbelievably good!!!  Buon appetito!

March 22nd, 2020 - Sunday Day 4 of ordered mandatory stay at home.  Here's my thoughts summed up: 1. Online church was really good this morning, 2. It's raining again, 3. Spectrum cable outage sucks 😖, 4. The neighbors downstairs are so loud.   5. Running low on a few groceries.  Strategizing on best way and time to try to get them.   6. Trying to figure out how I'm not going to gain back the weight I've lost.   Just another day in quarantine. Here's a few pics of my one outing to the grocery store, Starbucks drive through and a social distance quick visit with my daughter Amy.  I waited 25 minutes in that line. Don't judge lol This is as close as we got <sigh> And of course..my housemates lol Sam and Mia are adjusting to having me home.  At first they were a little confused I'm thinking.  Sam would pace and Mia would well...yell at me.  Just stand there and yowl at me.  Probably ...

March 20th, 2020 Mandatory stay at home was ordered here in California, effective on March 19th, 2020.  For how long?  No one really knows.   So my youngest kid flew the coop, left the nest a few weeks ago meaning I'm alone for the first time....ever.  And now I'm a-lone and can't leave  😳 So I'm trying not to think about this long term.   Just one day at a time.  I am reminded of my blessings: I'm still able to work from home, I'm safe, my kids are safe.   My first week of telecommuting is a wrap.  It's Friday and this has been the longest, most stressful week I can remember thanks to COVID19.  But I am so thankful my company moved us quickly to home based and that I'm still able to work.  Mia and Sam seem happy (and maybe a little perplexed?) that I'm home full-time and yes, the commute rocks 😁 The challenge of working from home with my  velco kitty Mia Also, I got quite the surprise yesterday....

March 16th, 2020 Here's an update from my empty nest.  It's been an unprecedented chaotic few weeks to say the least.  Life has certainly been turned upside down recently.  A huge loss after my sister Patti succumbed to breast cancer on February 25th, saying goodbye to my youngest son and daughter in law just one week later as they departed for Wisconsin, and now....a pandemic.  It's a huge deal and everyone's lives have been turned upside down.  I am now hunkering down along with everyone else I know.                               My new office So glad I turned Will's old room into my office/craft room because I will be spending A LOT of time here.   Overall, it's not so bad living alone.  Dirty dishes don't magically appear in the sink when I'm gone: 👍.   I'm not subjected to loud heavy metal: 👍.   I no longer have to stand outside t...

March 13th, 2020 On March 11th, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID19 as a pandemic.   COVID19 has reached Italy and the numbers of those affected, hospitalized and dying are exploding.  It is shocking, sad and very scary.   People here in the US and in Southern California are in a panic raiding the grocery stores and hoarding supplies has become a thing. The paper goods aisles are completely ransacked. It's insane.  Toilet paper is no where to be found.  I am eyeing the few rolls I have and thinking I'll need to ration.   My company is making preparations to move us all to home based.  I am so concerned about our patients and our N.P.'s and M.D.'s that are seeing them.  There is a Nationwide shortage of PPE they need to stay safe.  It seems the public have been hoarding masks (including N95's), gloves, hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes.   This may get ugly.   Me, Sara...