Well it hasn't really been 14 days, it's been less than that. It's been a slow rollout that led to this moment. Master is working from home, but there isn't a lot of work for Him to actually do. There's no sports on TV. It's like a vacation with no where to go and nothing to do and you had no way to foresee this or prepare for this particular moment.
Sure there are plenty of books He'd love to read, but no way to procure them since the library's are closed, as are all the bookstores. Certainly Master can source the books online, but He seems to prefer the action of holding a book in His hand and turning pages, as opposed to just holding the tablet device and swiping. He drove past "Dom" Depot the other day and found the parking lot far too crowded for His taste, imagined the store jam packed with bodies.
His hopes dashed, He returned home and said He would cook dinner. While mouse was convalescing from her surgery late last year, Master did all the cooking and oddly rediscovered that He didn't mind it so very much. As our lives returned to "normal" He slowly handed back those duties to His slave. Now, He's taken back the kitchen.
Meanwhile...
At first there was the normal amount of laundry, now with everyone home and frankly lazy, there's actually less of that to do, aside from the usual dusting, vacuuming and all those normal things. Everything feels odd to us. Watching TV and seeing the characters (some new, some old favorites) huddled together or throngs of people, feels off to us now. Our reality is one of self-isolation. We wave but say little to neighbors, aside from maybe asking how they're doing. What we mean is everyone healthy there?
We're taking things one day at a time. It's all we can do. Master will not send mouse out much, maybe once or twice a week for groceries. The stores are spotty, and things change. One week there will be plenty of crackers and the next time, none, but they'll have plenty of something else that was missed on the previous trip. Making a list has become useless because you never know what will be there. It's like having a mental list of endless recipes, and you click through the options. If only it were that simple. Usually it's more like, oh chicken thighs...Hmmm we can make something with that. Sure. What else? Veggies...maybe some potatoes? It's a crap shoot and that sucks.
At the same time, there's a feeling that while it feels like forever, it won't be, and yet, we all feel like we should be trying to do more to sorta 'enjoy' these strange times? It feels like when our daughter felt unwell when she was a toddler and spent much of the time sleeping. Each time, mouse would sit and often worry, but little else was accomplished. In day or so, the health of the child restored, mouse would think, "well that was dumb, should have rearranged that drawer or did a hundred other little things to take advantage of the quiet." Mentally you'd make that promise to yourself that you wouldn't waste that time, until the next time. Then you'd make the same promise again.
Take social distancing seriously because it will keep us all safe, from the person who works at grocery, to the brave who work in hospitals, who can't just stay home (and muse about bullshit like this post) and everyone in between.
A Final Thought
Animal shelters are emptying and that's a wonderful thing, many people with all the extra time on their hands are adopting pets. Again wonderful, but please before you run out and agree to this, take the time to consider what you'll do once the world returns to normal. It will return to normal.
Meanwhile...
At first there was the normal amount of laundry, now with everyone home and frankly lazy, there's actually less of that to do, aside from the usual dusting, vacuuming and all those normal things. Everything feels odd to us. Watching TV and seeing the characters (some new, some old favorites) huddled together or throngs of people, feels off to us now. Our reality is one of self-isolation. We wave but say little to neighbors, aside from maybe asking how they're doing. What we mean is everyone healthy there?
We're taking things one day at a time. It's all we can do. Master will not send mouse out much, maybe once or twice a week for groceries. The stores are spotty, and things change. One week there will be plenty of crackers and the next time, none, but they'll have plenty of something else that was missed on the previous trip. Making a list has become useless because you never know what will be there. It's like having a mental list of endless recipes, and you click through the options. If only it were that simple. Usually it's more like, oh chicken thighs...Hmmm we can make something with that. Sure. What else? Veggies...maybe some potatoes? It's a crap shoot and that sucks.
At the same time, there's a feeling that while it feels like forever, it won't be, and yet, we all feel like we should be trying to do more to sorta 'enjoy' these strange times? It feels like when our daughter felt unwell when she was a toddler and spent much of the time sleeping. Each time, mouse would sit and often worry, but little else was accomplished. In day or so, the health of the child restored, mouse would think, "well that was dumb, should have rearranged that drawer or did a hundred other little things to take advantage of the quiet." Mentally you'd make that promise to yourself that you wouldn't waste that time, until the next time. Then you'd make the same promise again.
Take social distancing seriously because it will keep us all safe, from the person who works at grocery, to the brave who work in hospitals, who can't just stay home (and muse about bullshit like this post) and everyone in between.
A Final Thought
Animal shelters are emptying and that's a wonderful thing, many people with all the extra time on their hands are adopting pets. Again wonderful, but please before you run out and agree to this, take the time to consider what you'll do once the world returns to normal. It will return to normal.
4 comments:
Hi Mouse, I enjoyed reading your update. It is a strange time for sure and I'm with you on the million little jobs one could be doing, yet somehow, it's not happening here either. It should be as I work for an essential service but are home due to being at risk due to a medical condition and unable to work from home.
Shopping is simply a nightmare, and there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to what products are on the shelves and what's gone. I stocked up before we went on lockdown here late last week so haven't had to venture to the shops yet.
It's wonderful animal shelters are emptying, but you make a good point, people need to think it through. Here too there was a huge increase in adoptions before the lockdown. Apparently our zoo animals are noticing the change too with no visitors and zoo keepers are spending more time with them and increasing enrichment activities.
Take care, stay safe
Hugs
Roz
mouse,
perhaps people could look into just “fostering” animals until things return to normal.
perhaps people can look into this?? thought it was a great idea for people who are home in the mean time but will go to work eventually.
just a thought. 🧐
We're in lockdown here. Hard to write with the kids about, so finding other things to do. Been a long time since I released a book.
Husband has been working from home for 20 years, so he's dispensing advice to people. I used to complain that he lived like a hermit in a den. Now I'm glad he does!
Stay safe. Jaye / DF
Hello All,
I really like Monkey Girl's suggestion. All in all, I wish people would always be more thoughtful in that way, and realize a pet will be part of your family for many years. With both of us working from home Lucy (kitty) has become every more spoiled. She's a senior girl and quite a lover, but she has discovered Daddy's daily webexes are quite interesting. She looks all around the laptop as if to find where all the voices are coming from, and then settles in on Daddy's lap. He is getting a lot of ribbing for this because he's a strict supervisor at work so the image of him cuddling a large Maine Coon cat is thrilling everyone, lol.
The store is terrifying! I get as much as I can of what I need and race out. I'm so worried when I'm inside it's hard to think of what I'm there for, although I have always shopped with a list, and still do, it's still difficult.
Ahhhh, stay safe all of you, it seems like it won't, but this too shall pass!
Fleur41
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