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jenni_blog1. Are you an Essential Worker?
Not at all. Except to my immediate family.
2. How many drinks have you had since the quarantine started?
None! I don't have that much booze in stock - just some liqueurs that nobody ever wants. I keep eyeballing the Creme de Cacao which I can add to a glass of milk when I feel the need.
3. If you have kids... Are they driving you nuts?
I have a grandson who is the worst mess-cat! He is also mildly autistic and cannot abide loud noises. He's holed up in the basement (don't worry, it's finished and comfortable) but I need to vacuum down there and can't because of the noise. If he'd only go outside for half an hour! But it's rained the last few days and it's cold outside. Other than being messy and having the odd argument here and there with my husband (who is senile) he's been fine.
4. What new hobby have you taken up during this?
I've been reading more - mainly opinion and think pieces on just about everything that interests me. And reading cookbooks and online recipes! I've tried a few different things too. I want to make my own yeast and bread from it! I made my own Kombucha - it wasn't perfect but pretty good.
5. How many grocery runs have you done?
Three I think. There's a small grocery outlet we like that carries almost-expired gourmet foods at a huge discount. We've been able to find things there that we couldn't elsewhere - like toilet paper, bread, coffee, tea and all sorts of condiments. They are also great for frozen products - I bought the most lovely brioche buns and bread from there out of their frozen section. I resisted buying Easter chocolate and regret it now. The local grocery stores are a bit scary to shop in now - they are restricting the number of people they let in which has resulted in long line-ups outside. Luckily I was able to order Easter chocolate online from Amazon and because I have Prime it was delivered the next day - for free.
6. What are you spending your stimulus check on?
My husband and I do not qualify for the Canadian CERB cheque because we are retired and receive pensions. But we're OK. We also have savings, several credit cards and a line of credit.
7. Do you have any special occasions that you will miss during this quarantine?
We will miss many sports events that we like to watch - mainly the Olympics, tennis and golf tournaments, but mostly soccer matches and baseball games! But luckily nothing else planned this year - no weddings, special anniversaries or that sort of thing. We will miss our daughter coming home though. She's stuck until the quarantine is over. And going to our son's baseball games! His league is suspended for the season too.
8. Are you keeping your housework done?
Ha! No!! I did start off doing more than usual but now I've fallen into a slump. I really must get off my butt and start doing a better job of cleaning. Part of it is because one of our cats - Fluffy - badly needs a grooming and is constantly shedding large tufts of fur everywhere. Right now I consider changing the towels in the bathrooms and kitchen daily to be a major chore. I've been keeping on top of the laundry but that's about all.
9. What movie have you watched during this quarantine?
No movies. I've added a few to my list on Netflix. But I've been binge-ing TV series. My favourites at the moment are South Korean dramas. They make the best ones. Some I recommend are Vagabond, The K2, The Lady in Dignity, Signal, Voice, The Lies Within, Because This Is My First Life, The Fiery Priest and Crash Landing on You! I'm also becoming partial to Turkish dramas such as Winter Sun. Highly recommended although the writing dropped off a bit toward the end. And I always recommend Scandi Noir. I'm getting away from American shows except for Ozark and a Prime show called Carnival Row. Crime, horror and sci-fi are my favourite genres but I am not averse to some romantic stuff like Secret Affair (a steamy k-drama featuring incredible piano music, which makes me long for my own young Korean toy-boy) and an adorable Swedish series called Bonus Family. There's also a fantastically entertaining New Zealand show called Brokenwood Mysteries. Lots of humour and engaging characters.
10. What are you streaming with?
I have Amazon Prime, including Acorn, and primarily I stream with Netflix.
11. 9 months from now is there any chance of you having a baby?
Seriously? Not only am I now a senior and past the age of fertility but I had a hysterectomy in 1997. As for adoption, I already have a 17-year-old grandson who lives with me.
12. What's your go-to quarantine meal?
Pasta. Usually spaghetti but tuna casserole is also a good one. And I made some curried beans and rice the other day. My go-to meals are always comfort food.
13. Is this whole situation making you paranoid?
Not really, except when I go out to do the shopping. I hate going into the supermarkets. Each time I think, "Is this the time I'm going to catch it?", even though I wear a surgical mask and a pair of gloves.
14. Has your internet gone out on you during this time?
It did once but came right back again. My sister has lost hers for large parts of the day but it did get fixed.
15. What month do you predict this all ends?
For some reason I am thinking November but I really have nothing to base that on.
16. First thing you’re gonna do when you get off quarantine?
We will be going on a hike out in the forest or down by the lake!
17. Where do you wish you were right now?
I wish we were up north in our own place in the Muskokas. My husband's niece and her husband live in Huntsville. We were there last September and at that time were considering moving there as well. It's paradise even though they just had some snow a couple of days ago.
18. What free-from-quarantine activity are you missing the most?
Hiking in the great outdoors. We tried but all the parking lots are roped off and there is security presence on every trail.
19. Have you run out of toilet paper and hand sanitizer?
I have plenty of hand sanitizer still, but rarely use it. I prefer soap and water but the purse-sized sanitizer is good for when I have to go out, even though I wear gloves. I did run out of toilet paper, yes, but for only a brief time. We had Kleenex although I didn't want to flush that down the toilet. I started using damp washcloths to clean myself and they worked very well. I just rinsed them afterwards and dropped them into the laundry so I could use a fresh one each time.
20. Do you have enough food to last a month?
No, not at all. It's not necessary. Our grocery stores are well-stocked and they are controlling how much people can buy to discourage hoarding. There is also Amazon for non-perishable goods such as tea, coffee, canned foods and packaged stuff. I had also been ordering food delivery from Wal-mart which was working well until they started getting booked up weeks in advance. Now there are never any open delivery spots to be had!
Not at all. Except to my immediate family.
2. How many drinks have you had since the quarantine started?
None! I don't have that much booze in stock - just some liqueurs that nobody ever wants. I keep eyeballing the Creme de Cacao which I can add to a glass of milk when I feel the need.
3. If you have kids... Are they driving you nuts?
I have a grandson who is the worst mess-cat! He is also mildly autistic and cannot abide loud noises. He's holed up in the basement (don't worry, it's finished and comfortable) but I need to vacuum down there and can't because of the noise. If he'd only go outside for half an hour! But it's rained the last few days and it's cold outside. Other than being messy and having the odd argument here and there with my husband (who is senile) he's been fine.
4. What new hobby have you taken up during this?
I've been reading more - mainly opinion and think pieces on just about everything that interests me. And reading cookbooks and online recipes! I've tried a few different things too. I want to make my own yeast and bread from it! I made my own Kombucha - it wasn't perfect but pretty good.
5. How many grocery runs have you done?
Three I think. There's a small grocery outlet we like that carries almost-expired gourmet foods at a huge discount. We've been able to find things there that we couldn't elsewhere - like toilet paper, bread, coffee, tea and all sorts of condiments. They are also great for frozen products - I bought the most lovely brioche buns and bread from there out of their frozen section. I resisted buying Easter chocolate and regret it now. The local grocery stores are a bit scary to shop in now - they are restricting the number of people they let in which has resulted in long line-ups outside. Luckily I was able to order Easter chocolate online from Amazon and because I have Prime it was delivered the next day - for free.
6. What are you spending your stimulus check on?
My husband and I do not qualify for the Canadian CERB cheque because we are retired and receive pensions. But we're OK. We also have savings, several credit cards and a line of credit.
7. Do you have any special occasions that you will miss during this quarantine?
We will miss many sports events that we like to watch - mainly the Olympics, tennis and golf tournaments, but mostly soccer matches and baseball games! But luckily nothing else planned this year - no weddings, special anniversaries or that sort of thing. We will miss our daughter coming home though. She's stuck until the quarantine is over. And going to our son's baseball games! His league is suspended for the season too.
8. Are you keeping your housework done?
Ha! No!! I did start off doing more than usual but now I've fallen into a slump. I really must get off my butt and start doing a better job of cleaning. Part of it is because one of our cats - Fluffy - badly needs a grooming and is constantly shedding large tufts of fur everywhere. Right now I consider changing the towels in the bathrooms and kitchen daily to be a major chore. I've been keeping on top of the laundry but that's about all.
9. What movie have you watched during this quarantine?
No movies. I've added a few to my list on Netflix. But I've been binge-ing TV series. My favourites at the moment are South Korean dramas. They make the best ones. Some I recommend are Vagabond, The K2, The Lady in Dignity, Signal, Voice, The Lies Within, Because This Is My First Life, The Fiery Priest and Crash Landing on You! I'm also becoming partial to Turkish dramas such as Winter Sun. Highly recommended although the writing dropped off a bit toward the end. And I always recommend Scandi Noir. I'm getting away from American shows except for Ozark and a Prime show called Carnival Row. Crime, horror and sci-fi are my favourite genres but I am not averse to some romantic stuff like Secret Affair (a steamy k-drama featuring incredible piano music, which makes me long for my own young Korean toy-boy) and an adorable Swedish series called Bonus Family. There's also a fantastically entertaining New Zealand show called Brokenwood Mysteries. Lots of humour and engaging characters.
10. What are you streaming with?
I have Amazon Prime, including Acorn, and primarily I stream with Netflix.
11. 9 months from now is there any chance of you having a baby?
Seriously? Not only am I now a senior and past the age of fertility but I had a hysterectomy in 1997. As for adoption, I already have a 17-year-old grandson who lives with me.
12. What's your go-to quarantine meal?
Pasta. Usually spaghetti but tuna casserole is also a good one. And I made some curried beans and rice the other day. My go-to meals are always comfort food.
13. Is this whole situation making you paranoid?
Not really, except when I go out to do the shopping. I hate going into the supermarkets. Each time I think, "Is this the time I'm going to catch it?", even though I wear a surgical mask and a pair of gloves.
14. Has your internet gone out on you during this time?
It did once but came right back again. My sister has lost hers for large parts of the day but it did get fixed.
15. What month do you predict this all ends?
For some reason I am thinking November but I really have nothing to base that on.
16. First thing you’re gonna do when you get off quarantine?
We will be going on a hike out in the forest or down by the lake!
17. Where do you wish you were right now?
I wish we were up north in our own place in the Muskokas. My husband's niece and her husband live in Huntsville. We were there last September and at that time were considering moving there as well. It's paradise even though they just had some snow a couple of days ago.
18. What free-from-quarantine activity are you missing the most?
Hiking in the great outdoors. We tried but all the parking lots are roped off and there is security presence on every trail.
19. Have you run out of toilet paper and hand sanitizer?
I have plenty of hand sanitizer still, but rarely use it. I prefer soap and water but the purse-sized sanitizer is good for when I have to go out, even though I wear gloves. I did run out of toilet paper, yes, but for only a brief time. We had Kleenex although I didn't want to flush that down the toilet. I started using damp washcloths to clean myself and they worked very well. I just rinsed them afterwards and dropped them into the laundry so I could use a fresh one each time.
20. Do you have enough food to last a month?
No, not at all. It's not necessary. Our grocery stores are well-stocked and they are controlling how much people can buy to discourage hoarding. There is also Amazon for non-perishable goods such as tea, coffee, canned foods and packaged stuff. I had also been ordering food delivery from Wal-mart which was working well until they started getting booked up weeks in advance. Now there are never any open delivery spots to be had!
