Life in Lockdown...

Well...here we are - I guess 2 full weeks into the Lockdown/Quarantine Life.  It fucking blows.


2 blogs back I wrote about COVID-19 and now we're now over 600K cases and over 30K deaths worldwide.  US having over 130K of those and almost 2500 deaths.  It's growing every day.

Along with all the other shut downs I mentioned before - we are now only to leave our houses for essential stuff like if you work still at the office (I go in once a week right now), grocery shopping, pharmacy, healthcare.  That's basically it.  We can go outside and walk but pretty much just in your neighborhood because all state parks, playgrounds and courts have shut down.  We shouldn't be visiting our loved ones in person.  I can't go hug my mom.  This is destroying me.  Tuesday I'm going to go pick up a box from her that she'll leave outside for me and I'll say hi to her through the screen door from 6 feet away.  Social Distancing.

The grocery stores now a bit more prepared are only letting a certain amount of people in at a time, some have latex gloves for you to put on before you go in, you wipe down your cart.  There's cones in some stores to keep you 6 feet apart when standing in lines.  The checkers have all had sneeze guards installed.  It's fucking weird.

I got gas yesterday and they have latex gloves attached to the pumps.  One per person but you have to wear them when pumping gas.  The liquor store we went too has a hand sanitizer you have to use before and after you deal with the checker.

When we walk on the sidewalks we are always stepping into the street or falling single file to allow for passage of each other but not too close.  People are cool.  Nervously laughing and saying hello as they pass.  We're all in this together.

Many restaurants are now selling grocery like items.  Meal kits.  All have take out selections of course but they're getting creative.  Pat and I are trying to order from local restaurants a couple of times a week to make sure we support them.  Some places will even sell you booze to go.

It's so weird our neighborhood streets are full of cars all the time because everyone is home.  When you do drive somewhere there's never traffic.

We now do meetings at work through Zoom and Microsoft Teams.  I've started Facetiming with people rather than texting and calling so I can see their faces.  Tonight I'll have my 1st group virtual happy hour.  This got me through yesterday:

Love!

I never in a million years thought I would see us as a country, hell the world, be in a situation like this.  It's taking such a toll on us, on our economy, on our world.  When my anxiety is too much I rely on my family and friends to help me through it and it now has to be through a computer or phone screen.  We can't touch each other and human contact is so important.  Our society thrives on interaction and that's been taken away.  The nurses and doctors are going through so much and my heart goes out to them.  Grocery store workers.  So many folks who have lost jobs.  Unemployment has hit millions. People are dying.  People are scared.  People are losing their minds.

This is a horrible piece of history but we need to document it.  I'm an empath so my documentation will always be from my heart.  But I know I need to write.  I'm going to try.  We are all trying our best but damn is this so hard and it's only week 2.  We're probably in this for at least another couple of months.  It changes every day though so who knows.

For now - I'm trying to capture "Quarantine Life".  So here we go:

I am lucky to live across the street from Weir Canyon Hills - so we have some beautiful hiking and walks we can still do:

Pat and I were already starting to enjoy cooking in our huge kitchen but now even more so.  We have to get creative sometimes because it depends on what is available.  Our shopping trips usually now consist of if they have xxx we'll make that but if not we'll make zzz.  One shopping trip when meat was low he was able to score some steak!

Heart Shaped Steak

We got a random Rib Roast one night

Taco Fixins

Pat and Betty Crocker are becoming very close

I'm officially working from home now except one day a week and luckily my mom had an extra desk/chair set.  It's already killing me after one week so yesterday I did have to order an office chair that I'm hoping arrives this week.  Going from 2 monitors at work to a little laptop is really difficult.  My job is not meant to work from home and there's a lot I can't do, but hopefully we can make do for now.  If this thing goes on too long I may need to talk to Chapman about setting me up with more equipment but let's hope that's not the case.

These 2 are pretty stoked we're around more though:

Lots of walks/hikes happening.  Pretty sky sometimes and it seems some folks are taking to "Chalk the Walk"

We found ourselves doing a whole lot of nothing.

Pat got a Family Adventure Challenge Book (He got us a couples version too) but sadly we can't do many of them because it's going out and to places - but - there are a few that are like "rainy day" ones and one of the family ones was we had to pick songs that the others had to lip sync and perform.

When I went to work my one day last week it was so sad and desolate when I walked to the cashier.

To the right are the dorms.  This is usually a bustling intersection

Working from home is still taking alot of adjusting.  Tabitha is actually venturing downstairs more now that she knows I'm here and Seymore paces all damn day.  These Zoom meetings are also such a trip!

Why aren't you petting me?!

Whatcha doin?

Face Off

Were you trying to work?

This conference crew wanted to do a sunglasses group Zoom Photo

Did I mention we take lots of walks?

My mom had picked up a random clearance item one weekend months ago saying "Maybe you could do this with Elise or something?"  Welp - we did.  Tye-Dyed some stuff!

Elise's came out the best!

There's also a really cute thing some folks are trying - it's called "Find the Bear" or something...and basically you put a stuffed bear in your window so all the littles that parents are dragging around the neighborhoods now can have something to look for and count!  How adorable right?  Of course we had to partake.

Spotted my 1st bear!

I dug out my pink bear and put him in our Laundry Room Window!

Pat and I baked together.  Today we made Apple Cinnamon Muffins!

He smiled after this I swear..

Shane and Danelle gave me a puzzle for Xmas.  I was flattered because it's a Women's March puzzle but I hate puzzles.  Shane and my mom have always been the puzzle folks.  Danelle said you can do it with Elise, well she hates puzzles too.  So does Pat.  I thought...well...we're stuck at home, why not just put it out and we can all sort of work on it when we feel like it.  Pat and Elise are totally into it. Ha!  I'll have to post the finished product if we ever make it there.

So there it is for now.  I have a feeling this is going to last awhile and I'm sure I'll post another Life in Lockdown Blog with updates and random crap we're finding to do at home.

It's a really sad and scary time and I don't know what's going to happen with the economy, with my friends jobs, with mine, I don't know.  It's all very unknown and terrifying.  I hate that I can't see anyone, hug my family, go out.  We're all grieving together and yearning for normalcy again.

But I am so very grateful that my friends and family are all healthy.  That my mom has Stacey and Stacey has my mom.  That I have Pat and we're navigating this together.  That I'm not alone in my caboose.  That Pat and I both still have jobs.  That grocery stores are still open and restaurants are trying to stay open with take out and delivery.  I'm super grateful for internet and social media and the ability to see and talk to my loved ones.  I'm grateful we can still walk around outside and I'm near beautiful trails.  I'm grateful.  I'm freaking out and I'm terrified and my anxiety is crazy and I'm sad.  But I'm grateful too.

Hang tight my friends.  We're all going through this together.

This is a hard one but I can't give up hope

Artists Way Week 10 - 12

Well, this is not the blog post I really wanted to write but I'm not going to be able to finish the Artists Way.

This is due to the ridiculously scary times we find ourselves in due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic.

Basically we're on lockdown - so there goes my Artists Dates.  Yes I know, I could get creative and do home style Artists Dates but honestly when your trapped in your house, and I don't live alone, you can't really keep coming up with different Artists Dates.  I can basically go on a solo walk or hike which I already am doing all the time because I need to get out.

My morning pages have turned into just writing about my fear and anxiety to all related Coronavirus.  It's fucking awful.  But also not helpful because my blood pressures rises with each word I write.

So - I basically went ahead and read through the last 3 chapters and took note of the tasks.

Once our lives all get back to some sense of normalcy I think it will be more feasible to do something like this.

But - I do have some take aways.

I need more creativity in my life.  I had really wanted to take a class or classes as my Artists Dates so many times then the world shut down.  It'll open up again and I'm on it!  Whether I do them alone or not, I'm going to do them.  I want to take some cooking classes.  I want to take a make your whatever thing a ma bob class at Michael's or Joanns or Dragonfly or wherever so I will.  They cost money but I think that would be more fun than blowing it on some stuff I do now.

I also have decided I want to write every morning.  The Morning Pages weren't really right for me, but I have a book called Writers Book of Days and it's a book that has 365 Writing Prompts.  I'd like to work that into my morning routine.  I'll get started on that once I'm not waking up in panic attacks as I am now.

My new living situation gives me more opportunity to get out.  I let myself get lazy when I lived alone and I have an active boyfriend who thrives on not binging in front of the TV so he'll help me get out more.  I also live right near beautiful trails and walking areas so I have no excuse.

I want to blog more.  Although I won't be getting out to too many adventures for a while, I can write about other stuff and I hope to do that.  There may be a "What we've been doing trapped at home and trying not to go stir crazy" one coming up I'm sure.

So as disappointed as I am to stop this process before it's completely finished I know it's not because I quit but rather the world decided to turn upside down right during about Week 8 or 9 of my process.

It was inspiring to see how much my friend jumped on board and I'd actually like to maybe try this again with a group of people. 

So there you have it.  I didn't come away empty handed and I enjoyed the process much more than I have in the past.

Thank you for following along on my journey!

COVID-19...

We are in the middle of something I have never seen before, nor my parents generation has seen.

Coronavirus or the 2020 version known as COVID-19.

It's worldwide.

I'm not sure what this blog is going to be about or why I'm writing but I felt the need to write something because I really don't know what else to do at this point.

It's fucking terrifying.

Everything is shutting down.  Like everything.  All so fast too.

Let's back up...back in November some dude in China contracted this.  Today is March 18th and it's worldwide.  At this point there's over 200K cases and over 8K deaths.  Currently China, Iran and Italy have been hit the hardest and when it started popping up in the US our dumb-fuck president was like "It's no biggie" and now it is.

Like really is.

The last couple of weeks have been insane.  When I posted this food blog it was starting to get bad, but seemed like - Well...this is going to suck...but it'll blow over.  Then about a week ago the NBA shut down it's season because a player tested positive.  Tom Hanks is over filming in Australia with his wife and he tested positive.  The other sports teams started to follow suit.  MLB cancelled Spring Training.  Over the weekend Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knotts all shut down.  All these emails started flooding our inbox stating that "Due to the COVID-19 we are shutting down, or limiting contact or super cleaning our stuff...."  It's officially a pandemic now.

So then...people over 65 or with respiratory issues are to stay at home.  Panic shopping has been going on and for some reason toilet paper is the 1st to go. WTF?  Chapman along with all colleges move the kids to online schooling rather than in classroom.  The next day or so - all K-12 kids are sent home and are to be taught online.  Chapman now moves it's staff to remotely working (Except me because I'm "essential").  Broadway went dark.  Now there can't be gatherings of over 50.  Movie theaters shut down, all events are being cancelled through May.  Now no gatherings over 10.  Bars, Wineries and Gyms are shut down.  Restaurants are only doing take out - no dine in.

You guys...it's just been over a week.

Last week we went from kind of joking at the fact that people have to be told to wash their hands and stay home when sick and why aren't these people emailing us already cleaning their shit to "WHAT THE FUCK IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING?!"

Last Friday night I got a bit worried seeing all the panic shopping and suggested to Pat we better go to the store.  I wasn't panicking but I thought we should go ahead and get our groceries for the week.  I hate crowds. They give me anxiety and I hate handling them alone.  We walked in...hmmm...not bad...then started seeing

It's only got worse.
It seems it's hard to find TP (impossible actually), Bread, Sanitizer, Eggs, Meat, Pastas and then random stores are out of random shit.  Stores (Especially places like Costco) have had to limit the number of people in the store, set up hours for the elderly and change hours to try to re-stock.  Amazon is also out of everything.  Thought you could be smart and order online?  Think again.  The stock markets have crashed multiple times and don't even think to look at your 401k.

Now here I am.  Working alone at Chapman because everyone else I work with is now working remotely.  Pat braved the grocery store early this morning in a line 30 deep to get in and got a few things.  I hit up Mother's and although they were out of my vitamins I did get some stuff.  I text Pat last night when I scored some spaghetti at the local liquor store.

There's no traffic.

Human contact is halted.  We have to now practice "Social Distancing".  You're not supposed to shake hands or hug.  At my Physical Therapy appt today we waved at each other - and btw they shut down tomorrow.  When I went to mothers they had gloves for us to put on when we shopped.  The liquor store guy wiped down the credit card machine with alcohol after I used it.  People are walking around in masks.  A guy came and wiped down my office around me today.  This fucking thing is spreading like wildfire and I haven't heard anything about it getting better.  My anxiety is through the roof as I'm sure is everyone.

I don't know what we're going to do.  I'm not worried about getting sick, but I'm worried about catching it and infecting anyone else.  I don't want to be "One of the cases in OC".  I don't want to get someone sick that this could kill.  I don't want to be in isolation for 14 days.  I'm a social person!!!  This whole Social Distancing is already killing me.  I've cancelled all my social engagements.  My lunches with my dad.  Happy Hours.  Dinners.  Play Dates.  Halted.

We're stuck at home.  Yes, we can go outside but it's been fucking raining!!  But even then...for how long?  Pat and I have his kiddo on the weekends, and now a few days a week home from school (maybe more if her mom has to work more).  How do we entertain her?  How do we entertain ourselves?  Our upcoming vacation is going to get canceled.  Mom had to cancel her big tea and now Easter.

My chest feels like it's in a constant state of being squeezed.  My heart breaks for my friends who have lost their jobs.  I have so many friends in the entertainment industry and food industry.  They are all jobless.  I'm not even sure how long mine can hold out for - I mean I'm "Essential" right now, but if money isn't being raised...then what?

I'm having trouble sleeping.  I cry off and on.  I'm just scared this is going to last too long.  It's already too long for me.  Our world is crashing around us and it seems most of us are wandering around going WTF just happened?

This week I'm going to try really hard to be positive.  To find things for us to do at home.  To learn how to use Facetime and Zoom and all that technical shit so maybe I can do virtual happy hours?  I'm super grateful I live with a good man.  If I had to live alone and go through this I really don't know how I'd fare.  Having Pat by my side as we try to navigate through this is saving me from completely falling apart.

But you guys - this fucking sucks.  I don't know how long it's going to go on for.  They're saying months.  I can't imagine our economy surviving that.  Let alone those of us who need human contact and social interaction to not fall into a severe depression.  And of course - it's a fucking virus that sucks and could kill people so there's that.

I'm scared.

I don't like this limbo.  This no one really knows what's going to happen.

I'm worried.

You're not alone my friends.  I'm here to talk, to cry, to I guess drink wine together while we talk on the phone or the computer or something?  Sigh.

I'll try to end this blog on a positive note.

Good things to come of this terrifying pandemic from Hell:

• A lot of peeps are thrilled to work from home
• Introverts are stoked
• This will be a time to get creative - coming up with things to do at home
• I do see kindness amongst the madness - a young man gave an elderly couple his package of toilet paper when they realized none was left.  Artists/Dancers/Musicians are making online videos we can watch and participate in.  Celebrities are reading stories.  Stores are trying to cater to the elderly.  Internet Companies are offering free services to kiddos who need it.  People are stepping up and offering to shop or pick up things for those who can't.
• Pets are fucking stoked.
• We'll get outside more and be in nature (once the weather lets up)
• Friends are checking in on Friends
• The last few trips to the store have felt a bit like Scavenger Hunts and Pat and I get excited and share with each other what we found
• Once I settle down a bit I look forward to see what creative projects I'll come up with
• People are saying teachers should be paid millions more after having to now home school their kids
• There are organizations stepping up to help those being affected by this
• Museums are offering virtual tours 

There's good mixed in with the horror.
Let's hope this thing gets under control.

Stay well my friends!

Artist's Week 9...

Coming up on the end of this here pretty soon!

I kind of wish I could sit here and say - I have learned this or I have had a total revelation because I swear it seems some of these people do, but it doesn't seem to be that way for me.

I will say I want to stick to an Artist's Date after this is done and it has really made me want to get creativity into my life more often.  I also think I may tackle Writers Book of Days each morning rather than morning pages so that's something.

Speaking of morning pages - I did them all but two mornings.  Pat and I got up at the same time on  Sat/Sun morning and we never get to enjoy mornings together, so I didn't want to sneak off and write but rather enjoy our morning together.  But this week we were to read our morning pages.  As expected, there wasn't much in there I don't already know.  I was really hoping to spot something.  We're supposed to highlight anything that sticks out.  The only thing I actually highlighted was my "Spinning" issue I seem to have now when I wake up.  I wake up before my alarm and my brain just starts spinning.  I hate it.  I'll need to figure out how to tackle that.  But it was basically I hate my job, I was freaked out about the move and my cat then I was trying to adjust after the move. 

There was some goal work in the tasks we were supposed to work on - I didn't really because I honestly don't feel I have a solid goal.  I do think I'll just be coming back to these sorts of tasks later on when I get a more solidified schedule here in my new life.

I thought I was going to have to skip my Artist's Date this week...hello COVID-19 ruining our lives and shutting our world down - and I thought "oh maybe I'll bake something!"  Yeah, no.  So my Artists Date was just a walk by myself on Sunday morning.  Well..not totally alone:

So unfortunately nothing really to report on this week.  I'm about to throw in the towel because this Coronavirus/COVID-19 is fucking terrifying but I haven't yet.

OC Restaurant Week Launch Party...

For my Xmas Presie Taylor got me one of my favorite things in the whole wide world - food.  Seriously anything related to food I'm so in!  So he got us VIP tickets to the Launch Party for OC Restaurant Week!

OC Restaurant week begins today, but on Saturday they had a Launch Party where all the restaurants participating in Restaurant Week are there with some of the samples that they will be serving.  There's also wineries and other cocktail booths.  We got to spend the day wandering from table to table sampling the delishusnus!!!! 

The VIP tix got us an hour earlier entry than the GA and it was awesome because it got crowded fast!

It was down at the Mariott in Irvine Spectrum and it said to dress in "Cocktail Attire".  So fancy day date with one of my besties!!

We had to valet (FYI - the valet kids at this place are morons.  Seriously.  They did not know what they were doing, were rude and just plain clueless.  So thumbs down there) but once we got in line it was smooth sailing.  We got our wristbands and were sent in!  1st thing was our fancy Red Carpet photo!!

We fancy!

We then dove in.  I don't know if it was because I was hungry, excited or both but I was like EAT ALL THE FOOD NOW!!!!!

I of course wanted to write everything down and photograph everything but that just didn't happen.  I did get some though.

Fig and Olive was our 1st stop.  Holy crap - so good!  The gal working the table was super nice too! 

Shrimp Crostini!  OMG.

My kind of shot

Then Taylor was like BOOZE!  So we hit up Rancho Capistrano Winery 1st.  We were to go grab our own wine glass (that we got to take home!) that we used to sample the wine throughout the day.  I got a taste of their Rose.  It was yummy!  I've actually been there before I realized.  It's down in San Juan Capistrano!  Yum!  Taylor hit up the Vodka bar and got a refreshing cocktail made with all organic juices!

We then hit the Celebrity Cruises Wine Bar and I tried their Rose - also yum!  They were serving Cambria Estate Winery wines and now I want to go up north and visit because the wine was delish!

Happy girl has her wine

Next up was this little Gnoochi dish.  Holy crap...SO GOOD!!

Libby you would love this!

 We then grabbed this yummy little pasta dish that I believe had pork.  Very Italian flavored.  It was an interesting blend of almost BBQ and Italian flavors.  So good!  This may have been from Prego.  I'm not sure because we ate like 3 things right there but I remember that name.  I loved everything though so if you're looking for places to go - all was yum!!

Like a fancy spin on a simple pasta!

We found another photo op!

Fancy!

We then got this little yummy strip of thinly sliced chicken with artichoke on top.  Nothing fancy or special but so good!!

Can I have 10 more please?

Of course had to get a pastry!  (My gut is already screaming at me to stop)

So good

Next up was a Squid Ink Seafood Pasta from Davio's.  Holy crap you guys - this was incredible!!!  Now you have to be a fan of fish.  It was actually too fishy for Taylor but I loved it!!

There were lobster and scallops and oh my god so yum!!!!

I had seen people walking around with sliders, and I was on a mission to find those and I finally did and OMG.  These were from Jimmy's American Tavern.  They had beer as well, but of course I was sticking to wine.  But you guys - this slider.  I have to say I think this may have been my favorite.  I love sliders so much, and this was made with Waygu Beef and some kind of jalapeño jam (which I was worried would be too spicy but it wasn't!) and a giant slab of bacon and other stuff I don't even remember but damn!  It was also served quite pink which I love!

The boyfriend and I need to hit this place on a date night!

Then of course more tear up my gut delicious desserts!!  Damn!!

My GAWD.

By this point we decided to head outside as it was getting a little crazy inside. 

Pretty Ice Sculpture!

I instantly spotted champagne with berries in them so I was all over that.  It was a Chamborg/Champagne Bar.  Um yes please.  And they gave me a free little tote of goodies which I later found out contained a nail file, T-shirt and fluff ball keychain!

I wanted one of those cupcakes but I was getting full!

This also let to a photo shoot with Taylor helping me get a new FB Profile pic! Ha ha ha ha!

Windblown Fancy

There was  Maker's Mark bar and Taylor wanted to get himself a free Moscow Mule cup - so in line we went.  Such a cool set up!  They had donuts on the wall and were like - "Pairs great with the whiskey!"

DONUT WALL!

These guys were rad

A bit more food - there was a really great ravioli and meatball sample!  And while I was add it grabbed the Shrimp Fettichini sample since it was getting crowded.  Yes I'll double fist with food.  Yum!!

Let me inhale this real quick

I spotted some Bacon Wrapped Dates - um - hell yes.

Can you even?!

My last food grab was Melissa's Produce.  Smart gals placing the name on there so I remember!  I got a little mango salsa and wow!  Probably best mango salsa I've ever tasted.  Super fresh and light!

Like a fresh little top off!

At this point we both pretty much hit a wall.  The event was 1-5, but it was now 3ish and we were pretty much done.  Full and overwhelmed.  It was also getting really packed in there and the food had now been sitting out and started making us think...mmmmmm...I think we're good.

I must also add - we sat down and people watched for a while because - you guys - the best place to people watch.  It was a mix of people who did not get the cocktail attire memo, or mis took that for hooker wear.  I mean it was a sight.  Lots of folks with lots of work done to their faces.  I mean alot.
Just an idea of what we witnessed was along the lines of:

• Lots of women squeezed into teeny tiny dresses
• One gal thought workout clothes is the same as cocktail
• There was an Asian Barbie who was leading around a little posse of people like a tour guide.  I wonder if these were like her minions or something.  She kept squealing and hugging people and got louder the drunker she got.
• Speaking of...people were getting hammered.  I hope they Uber'd.
• A gal in a Beetlejuice looking jumpsuit with her cellphone sticking out of her boob was trying way to hard to impress this group of younger loud drunk people
• Zipper dresses are back
• There was a dude talking very loudly to his posse about everything he thinks he knows about.  FYI - he knew nothing
• Ripped jeans are also apparently cocktail attire now
• Women dressed in barely there dresses and giant heels serving booze is still a thing
• People are fucking rude - like most of the attendees were snooty, rude, unsmiling people
• One gal grabbed my arm when she heard Taylor say the word quarantine (FYI we were talking about my cat) and said "Does someone have Coronavirus!!!"  My god woman...back off.
• I think the vendors loved Taylor and I because were friendly and said Thank You.
• There was an adorable little posse of elderly folks - they dressed like my grandparents did when going to church.  They greeted each other by bumping elbows.  They laughed and hugged and were swooning over everything they ate.  I loved them and hope that is me when I'm that age.

That's the observations in a nutshell.

Then some vendor whipped out a giant fucking pan and started cooking a paella.  I swear half the people ran over to get in on it.  I think he was a famous someone or other, but I was just fascinated by the ginormous pan!

I wanted to just jump into this

Then I had to take a picture of this..because it was weird to me.  But there was Porsche in here.  Very excited people were having their pictures taken in it.

Apparently Porsche likes food too

Taylor and I had a blast.  These types of events always make for such good people watching because you get a combo of the fancy rich people and the people who really want to be rich and fancy and try way too hard.  But the cool thing is you also get some legit foodies and those are my people. 

All the vendors were very cool and should pat themselves on the back for how they handled this crowd, cooking, keeping everything clean and sterile, making these beautiful presentations of food and they were all so good!!!  LIKE SO GOOD!!!  There wasn't one thing I didn't like. 

Thank you again to Taylor for taking me on another fun delicious adventure!