Poetry for the pandemic

On the Other Side

(Lynn Unger)

Through the looking glass,

down the rabbit hole,

into the wardrobe and out

into the enchanted forest

where animals talk

and danger lurks and nothing

works quite the way it did before,

you have fallen into a new story.

It is possible that you

are much bigger—or smaller—

than you thought.

It is possible to drown

in the ocean of your own tears.

It is possible that mysterious friends

have armed you with magical weapons

you don’t yet understand,

but which you will need

to save your own life and the world.

Everything here is foreign.

Nothing quite makes sense.

That’s how it works.

Do not confuse the beginning

of the story with the end.

A Day in Quarantine Life

A Day in the Quarantine Life

First of all, I must say that my life in quarantine is little changed from non-quarantined. I am mostly a homebody by nature and my hobbies and interests are mostly not socially oriented. Anyway, onward to a day. 

I like to plan my day; I’m not the free spirit who follows the mood of the moment. When I let the mood set the pace, the mood mostly leads to naps and overeating and nothing gets done.   

I get up between 6:00 am and 6:15 mostly because my two cats demand it. They vocally assert that they will die of starvation at 6:30 at the latest if I continue my sloven ways. So first things first, feed the cats, feed the dog, let everyone outside. Shower if it is a shower day—every third day—dress, and clean up the bedroom. Set Roomba going and get a load of clothes going in the washing machine.

Breakfast is usually a hard boiled egg, a piece of fruit, and whole wheat toast. Clean up the kitchen. Exercise with Mary Ann Wilson’s Sit and Be Fit at 8:00 am.

I usually have a cleaning task each day in addition to the normal picking things up, dishes, laundry, and litter boxes.

     Monday—Clean Master Bathroom 

     Tuesday—Clean out a cabinet, drawer, or closet

     Wednesday—Clean out garage or porch

     Thursday—Clean front bathroom

     Friday—Financials and Grocery List

     Saturday—Grocery Shopping (Online order, curbside pickup.)

     One day a week we usually go to a park for a morning walk, depending on the weather. And since this is Houston in the summer, we go early.

As soon as the chore for the day is done, I sit down with my current book and a snack of fruit and cheese.

Lunch is usually leftover something. I like to get everything set up for making dinner before my afternoon siesta. How I appreciate a nice nap! A major benefit of being retired. 

Afternoons are a hodgepodge of quilting, reading, and  writing. Cook dinner, clean up the kitchen, and set up for breakfast.

I used to watch the PBS evening news but recently stopped. I just can’t stand it right now. Evenings are Netflix, Amazon Prime, or listening to audiobooks or podcasts. 

Bedtime is between 9 and 10.

Get up and do it again.

June Menu

June Menu

1. Out

2. Bacon Sandwiches, Oven Fries 

3. Slow Cooker Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup 

4.  Baked Cod/Salmon, GMP, Salad 

5. Chicken-Spaghetti Casserole 

6. Steak, GMP, GB

7.  Leftovers 

8. Out 

9. Macaroni and cheese, Corn 

10. Schwan’s 

11. Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Veggies 

12. Oven BBQ Chicken, Beans, Salad

13.  Schwan’s 

14. Leftovers 

15.  Out

16.  Scrambled Eggs, Canadian Bacon, Toast 

17.  Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup 

18.  Baked Fish, Oven Fries, Salad 

19. Chicken Tenders, GMP, Mixed Veg

20.  Pizza 

21.  Leftovers 

22.  Out

23.  CB Hash, CSC 

24.  Schwan’s 

25.  Fried Shrimp, FF, Coleslaw 

26. Schwan’s 

27. Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad 

28. Leftovers 

29. Out 

30.  St. Wieners, Corn

Update on Weight Loss Project

When I went for my annual physical last December, I was told that I needed to double the dose of my blood pressure medication.  I knew that my BP was so high because I had gained so much weight. So in addition to doubling my dose of Lisinopril, I determined to lose weight. 

I decided to eliminate sugar from my diet. The big sources of sugar for me were Cokes, orange juice, and desserts. The first few days were complicated as there was sugar in my salad dressing, in BBQ sauce, in bread, and many other items.  I switched to Coke Zero and dropped the orange juice and dessert. (I had to stop the Coke Zero because I had an unusual reaction to aspartame. I now drink iced tea sweetened with Sucralose.)

I weigh only once a month and my goal is to lose 3 pounds per month. I started at 202 pounds and have lost 18.8 pounds. It has been a learning experience but not really difficult. I keep a container of veggies to munch on and have two pieces of fruit every day and eat my normal food. So far, so good. 

Exercise is Sit and Be Fit 30 minutes daily. 

Poetry for a Pandemic

In the Time of Pandemic

And the people stayed home.

And they read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.

And they listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. 

Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed.

And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

—Kitty O'Meara

My Predictions

Over the months of May and June, U.S. deaths will average 2,000 per day for a two month total of 120,000 deaths. Add that to the current 68,000 and you have 188,000 dead.  I expect July, August, September, and maybe October to be less deadly with outbreaks scattered around the country. By late fall and early winter, the corona virus will be back in strength necessitating another country wide shut down. If past viral trends repeat, the second wave will be more severe than the first. It is possible that we will be better prepared with adequate PPE, a more timely response, and possibly antiviral medications. In that case perhaps the number of deaths will be somewhat lower. It isn’t over, not even close.

Now add in the effects of climate change—>wildfires in the west and hurricanes on the coasts.