Random 5 for March 29 – Corona virus, routines, stupid people, Zoom, pond

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My kitchen counter centerpiece. The new reality.

It’s all different – This week a blogger commented said that she was finding it hard to write about anything but the virus. I realized even day-to-day stories are different. Nothing is as it was, at least not here. I get my dose of stupid people from the news because I don’t go out and see it first-hand. It will be a time to be remembered. #stupidpeoplearestillhere

Hanging on – For me keeping at least one routine is comforting. The gym is closed and so is retail therapy (at least the fondling merchandise part). I’m working to get my daily steps in although it’s harder when the weather doesn’t cooperate. #lovingmymocha #gottawalkgottawalk

Speaking of stupid people – In a nearby town, the police busted a “corona party.” There were 47 people with a DJ in an apartment partying their butt off. I want to say “thinning of the herd” but these aren’t the people who get thinned. The host was given a citation. A whipping would have been better. #Darwinlaughsfromhisgrave #didn’thismamateachhimanything

New technology – We have a group of folks who get together once a month for game night. It’s canceled along with every other fun thing. One of the group is a teacher (thanks Regina) who has had to learn Zoom. She taught us how to use it and we will have a Zoom gathering later today. Necessity is the mother of invention. I am reminded of that over and over. A lot of things will change. This is the nudge for resistant people to accept technology and all the good things it can do. #youcanteacholddogsnewtricks

On a happy note – We had a few warm days this week and we “opened” the pond. Technically it’s open all winter. I took out the bubbler and winter de-icer (which we didn’t need at all this past winter) and put the waterfall on. This never goes smoothly because over the winter you can get leaks in the hoses or something doesn’t work and that all happened. It took us two hours to figure out that a washer on a hose attachment was the problem. (My DIY friends in Brittany know this very well.) #aspotofparadise

So how was your week?

72 thoughts on “Random 5 for March 29 – Corona virus, routines, stupid people, Zoom, pond”

  1. I had my first zoom session this week and loved it. Planned to use it to communicate with the students. Unfortunately, we just got a warning that it has serious hacking and security issues – pornographic stuff was popping up on people’s screens. So be careful about using it. (Unless, of course . . . )

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  2. Hi Kate, Our community is pretty good overall, although we had some incidences with teenagers on the weekend. All seems quiet during the week, and then I guess they couldn’t take it. A great deal of peer pressure and news embarrassment and reinforcing the “why.” Overall, seems to work, around here anyways. Many proactive measures taken early on. Except for the #stupidpeoplearestillhere even on our Island. We have been doing some Zoom gatherings, too. Take care and stay healthy.xx

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    • Initially there were some “groups” walking/running in the park but there was a lot of publicity about it and I haven’t heard anything. I stay to my neighborhood and people distance. No hugging the dogs anymore.

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  3. My problem is not so much groups of people getting together as irresponsible individuals. I still go for walks in the neighborhood and I have to psych out people coming towards me… are they going to give me space or are they going to continue on their current trajectory and pass too close! Many times, even though they have room to move over, walk on the grass, walk around a car, etc… I am the only one moving over just to protect myself. Fortunately there is very little traffic now so I can jump off the sidewalk and into the street at a moment’s notice to give myself adequate distance… it’s self-preservation out there! Stay well, keep safe…. and carry on!

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  4. Many people think it is all hype – I cannot believe they could think that given the statistics! Maybe 3 weeks ago, before all colleges and regular school went to e-learning, Michigan State University was the first school to close in our state. That was a Thursday. They scheduled nothing until the following Monday so all the kids went to the bar and partied all weekend. SMH -this our future. But the same thing happened this past weekend in Virginia – partying on the beach, so the Governor took it out on the whole state by issuing a stay-at-home order until June 10th – yikes! Good for you with Zoom – I’ve never tried Skype on this computer.

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    • Some people are in denial and kids be kids. We’ve had too many people in the parks walking so they closed the parks. I’ve stayed within my neighborhood to walk and I rarely see more than 2 or 3 people. Now I need more good weather!

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      • I don’t see how they can be in denial – I see a lot of that and I want to shake them! There was only one other person in my park this morning. This woman walks all Summer and she walks in scrubs. We just say “good morning” as she is Hispanic and does not speak English well. So I don’t know what she does to require wearing scrubs, however … she was wearing a bandana over her nose/mouth. Mad me think “should I be doing that?” I understood it was better not to do that unless you had a compromised immune system. The neighborhood is an option for me – I did that until I discovered the park 18 months after I started walking. I have parks two blocks away, but no walking path on them, but no one is there, just grass and trees. I hear we will get high 60s end of the week – yay!

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  6. I tell ‘ya, I want to talk about anything but the corona virus. I agree that life is different now, but to write about it all the time… really? I dunno.

    I’m not big on video anything so while Zoom is having it’s day, I’m still sitting here using my words on the screens. Wonder how long I’ll be a holdout about that?

    Had difficulties commenting here, btw. Second try seems to be working.

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  7. Let us know how your zoom meeting goes. I haven’t made the leap to it yet or Duo, or Skype or Facetime. Haven’t put makeup on in ages. My poor hubby. 🙂

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  9. I hope the zoom experience went well. It’s become a daily thing with me. I teach from my house and then connect with others online.
    To be honest, I find it intrusive compared with driving out to meet peeps. I am too availed right now 😂

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  10. I have to use Zoom for a meeting tomorrow. The trouble is–and I’m ashamed to admit this–I’m not familiar with my laptop and my desktop doesn’t have a camera. From the beginning (3 or 4 years ago), I had trouble using my laptop. So finally I gave up. Now I just use it to watch Amazon Prime. Now I have trouble maneuvering around it and finding things. I guess I’ll have to figure it out tomorrow morning.

    I agree, it’s hard to find anything to write about that’s not related to the corona virus.

    Are you going to show us some new pictures of your pond?

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    • The pond is looking ratty right now. Two semi-dead groundcover shrubs don’t help. I had planted bulbs around the pond hoping to get a pop of spring color but none came up. It may be too moist for bulbs. The lily fronds are hitting the top of the water so there will soon be some cover. The marsh marigold are blooming so that’s a spot of yellow. I’ll see if I can get a good photo this week.

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  11. My yoga studio has been using Zoom for online classes since the studio had to close a couple of weeks ago. That has saved my mental health … for the most part anyway 😉 I’ve been going to this studio since January 2012 so I actually cried when the owner told everyone that she would have to close it out of concern for her instructors and students. Then someone suggested Zoom and it’s been wonderful! The silver lining for her is now friends and former students from outside our town are able to join the classes. Win, win 🙂

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  13. I’ve had a couple of Zoom meetings and have scheduled a happy hour with friends tomorrow evening. Even an introvert like me needs to see the smiling faces of my friends now and then. We would like to get my MIL set-up but that might be too challenging for her. I’m glad things are warming up in your area. Thank goodness we can still enjoy our yards.

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  14. The wildlife is now the highlight of my day. Last week we had a possum raiding the dog food at 7 AM. He was a bold one! Good thing he also ran fast instead of playing dead; the dog was not happy about Mr. Possum Pirate.

    I think I know the kind of Mamas who raised that Coronavirus party idiot (#covidiot): the same ones who partied here all St. Patrick’s Day weekend and now whine on social media about not having toilet paper.

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  15. For some reason the “technically it’s open all winter” line made me snort. Kind of like our screened porch, which should be cleaned in the winter also, but we wait until spring. Good grief, 47 people crowded into an apartment?! The height of stupidity. – Marty

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  16. I love the comment about putting all the Covidiots on an island. Yes, please. And, I almost fell out of my chair when the Mayor of New Orleans said the government should have emphasized the seriousness of the virus and she would have cancelled Mardi Gras. Really? You spun the wheel to get the tourist income and lost. I’ve watched some training sessions on Zoom but never tried it. I may have to see how difficult it is. Take care and stay safe.

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  17. Our week was pretty good. We found burger and grilled… something normal. I have always loved grilling and sitting with SSNS with a glass of wine. It felt like heaven. We did a group FaceTime Friday at 5pm with SSNS two brothers and their wives… we had such a fun time. It took a virus to get us together like that. Maybe now we will take time out for one another.

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    • I’m glad it’s going well for you. I’m looking forward to our Zoom experience later today. We have eaten very well during this (not that we don’t always). Today is drizzly and dreary so I’m making soup. Burgers on the grill sounds wonderful!

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      • Well, we still have TP and each other so that works for me. But I have to wonder how long we are all going to tolerate this self isolation. We are starting to see people breaking it here in our little neighborhood. We rode our bikes the other night and there were around 30 people playing pickleball at the courts. No words. Jerry just told me that somebody cracked down on them.

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  18. I saw a video of a neighborhood where people were sitting in their individual driveways playing bingo. People get creative.
    I’ve heard about the corona party…I also read that in NY people are throwing pot luck corona parties and visiting “speakeasies.” My suggestion is to take all of these people and put them on an island somewhere. They serve no useful purpose to society. If they die out over a period of time we’ll all be ahead of the game. It’s insane.

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  20. This weather, and kitten watch for Hannah, have made me not very productive on the daily steps, I’m afraid. Had a couple good days this week, but it is so hard to feel motivated when it is wet or dreary. I was walking a couple days ago across the street from one of our parks and there were a bunch of kids practicing soccer kicks, while their dads (I presume) stood in a circle and chatted with each other. WTF.

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    • People be dumb! I checked for a Hannah kitten alert this a.m. but didn’t see it. I am making the 10K steps each day (so far) but that’s it. It’s hard when the weather is lousy and I have to do them all inside. I miss walking at the mall. There were at least 2 good walking days this past week but today is not looking good. I don’t like to walk when it’s damp or drizzly or cold.

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      • I just don’t have a lot of energy on cold, damp days, and with no clients to force me to walk, and Gracie being quite the diva about lousy weather…well, it hasn’t been getting done. Hopefully some better days, weatherwise, and otherwise, ahead. And hopefully some kittens too. Gads, what is this girl waiting for???

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  23. We live in a fairly “spread out” County – and until a few days ago had no active virus cases anywhere. Found out this morning that we now have six in the County of which ONE was a 20-year old who had “visited a known hot spot for the virus” then come home (and probably spread the virus). I’m guessing college student who just couldn’t resist Spring break in Florida! We’re doing our thing as instructed but the grocery shortages are a little depressing – senior hour is a joke – some mornings I’m the only senior among the non-seniors in the entire store! We’ll get through this I’m sure but there will be lessons along the way we won’t ever forget – neighbors helping neighbors…..staying in touch with friends and family more frequently, etc. Stay safe Kate and everyone!

    Hugs, Pam

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    • We’ve been shopping early in hopes that shelves are stocked and see lots of young women (probably moms?) at the same time. It’s not the assigned senior day though. It just takes one thoughtless (or clueless) person to bring it to a new area.

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  25. Trust me, you don’t have a monopoly on stupid people which seem to be EVERYwhere (jeez, talk about a virus!). 😬 I heard of a Corona party in one of the suburbs which really was surprising since the level of fear seems higher in the ‘burbs and I’d have thought they’d be running around buying up TP and wearing hazmat suits.

    My siblings just started using Zoom this week to keep in touch as we’re spread out all over the country and wanted to keep an eye out on our 89-yr. old parents. Despite a couple of minor bugs (operator error) it’s pretty cool and simple enough (plus if your family is like mine, there’s always one person in the group who knows everything (or thinks they do). Hang in there, stay well and connected and keep smiling. Cheers to a good week with mocha lattes.

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  26. With the weather so nice the past couple of days, I’ve been on the hummingbird lookout. So far, nothing but I know they are on their way. I’ve been sending daily videos to my mother, so she doesn’t forget me. Enjoy the pond!

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  27. Our lock down is getting stricter. It is my birthday today and I wish I could celebrate it with my children. I am trying to stay calm but I am very aware of how many of my friends and neighbours are over seventy with health conditions. On the plus side I made my first ever video conference call this week. Quarantine would be unimaginable without the Internet. I have toilet paper and toilet cleaner but still no flour.

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  28. By necessity, we all have changed how we now ‘live’ our ordinary lives. I often grumble about my lack of technology expertise, but find myself now being grateful for what I DO know! I can’t help but wonder, once this if finally all over, whether the changes we’ve been forced to make will continue, or if we’ll all go back to our ‘old’ ways?

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    • We won’t go all the way back to the old ways. Some industries will change for sure, like education. Our city has a lot of underprivileged kids without access to either computer or internet and they are scrambling to get it for them so they can continue to learn. With public places like libraries closed, some people don’t have access.

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