Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[monkeydawn]

Question for Sunday 3/22: What 3 good things that has happened this past week?

Very nice weather most days. It was so good to be outside and have windows open.

Neither of us are showing any symptoms. My husband still has to go to work (works in a power plant) so it's not like we can totally isolate.

I bought a Plumeria stick in Disney Springs in December of last year. I have really babied this thing. It lives with a heating pad wrapped around it and I carry it around all day to where ever the sun is. It had this strange sprout which looks more and more like an actual bud! I was prepared to wait a year or two before seeing it flower. I hope it opens but I am excited to even have the bud (with what looks like a bunch more following).

 

[AuntieMe3]

Yesterday was a rough day for me, I have pretty bad anxiety and I'm a hypochondriac in the best of times so right now I'm in overdrive. I'm pretty sure I have coronavirus (I do not...lol) but I'm giving myself an upset stomach with all the worry. My daughter goes to therapy sometimes and she told me yesterday..."mom, maybe you should go to therapy."

We went for a walk the other day and that seemed to help relax me so I'll have to make sure we do that again.

I'm in such a bad place I couldn't think of three good things yesterday so I'm forcing myself to do it today...

1. We're are all safe and healthy(although apparently not mentally...lol).
2. My husband and daughter jobs are safe during this time. My hours have basically been cut to nothing but my paycheck was just "extra money" so it's not essential and my job will still be there when this is over.
3. Our dogs are super happy we're home all day, everyday right now.

 

[AuntieMe3]

Thank god DH has a very long meeting at the office today. He is driving me crazy. Days with nothing to do is not a good thing for him.

Same...my husband keeps saying he loves staying home but actually he does not....lol He was going bonkers. Today he started at his new job site(he's in maintenance for an "essential" service) so I think he was thrilled to get out of the house.

 

[Searc]

Can you access the coils in the back? Sometimes a good vacuuming or dusting solves the problem.
My mother had baseboards installed in the kitchen after the new appliances were put in (she gut rehabbed for the first time in her late '80s). This was an unforeseen mistake because now the fridge cannot be moved w/o removing the baseboard. I'll get around to it eventually but know it will be a PIA.

DH vacuums the coils twice a year. It only made the weird noises for a few minutes and has not since then. I think I'm probably more aware of weird noises right now. lol

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

I wish it was warmer here because then we could be spending time in the garage, cleaning, organizing and getting rid of a bunch of stuff. It was only in the low 30's here yesterday, so that will have to wait...maybe this upcoming weekend.

And I wish it was colder here. Then I could spend time outside on the porch. It has been in the high 80s all week. LOL

 

[lovemygoofy]

Good afternoon Disers and Happy Monday!
It feels like day 483 of social distancing doesn't, it? My class was loong and it will be a struggle for me to do this online and not be tempted to peek in on DIS or other things while class going on. I hope I can stay strong.

So today would have been my grandpa's 99th birthday. He was one of the strongest influences in my life and probably more so now then ever. He was very steady as you go guy that married fiery red head Irish woman and had 7 gorgeous children and whole bunch of grandchildren. I lived my grandfather and he really taught me a lot about giving back and the greater is more than the sum of the parts. From the time I was old enough to be able to do something semi independently I was out packing boxes for the homeless or making coffee at the hospital. All that stuck with me obviously and now I'm in profession of trying to help heal and give to more. I'm good with the impact he had.

Now onto this afternoon. We went to the veggie/fruit store Fresh Thyme. Some of you in the South would know it as Sprouts. I was scared to death because my asthma and my immune system compromised. I do not in any shape or fashion like to be scared. I do not like thrill rides that make you feel like you are falling, or scary movies, or haunted houses. My fight or flight is FIGHT and I'd likely take out the zombie in a haunted house. Today I could feel my fight kicking in and I'm at the store and I can see these other scared people and I just got more angry. It's such a scary and worrisome time. I'm home now and we are stocked with lots and lots fresh fruits and veggies and I have more coffee beans. I can't expect to fight the zombies without proper caffeine.

Dinner tonight is beef and broccoli with lots fresh veggies, on cauliflower rice (unless I sub in my eat your feelings pasta) and some potstickers

My grateful things today:
Those working their behinds off at the grocery stores and knowing they have to be just as nervous.
Internet is going strong for the neighborhood
Chocolate. Bless the person that made chocolate as I sit here and let my flight or fight settle down with some coffee and chocolate.

Now onto question of the day and see how the others are!

 

[lynxstch]

Good afternoon Disers and Happy Monday!
It feels like day 483 of social distancing doesn't, it? My class was loong and it will be a struggle for me to do this online and not be tempted to peek in on DIS or other things while class going on. I hope I can stay strong.

So today would have been my grandpa's 99th birthday. He was one of the strongest influences in my life and probably more so now then ever. He was very steady as you go guy that married fiery red head Irish woman and had 7 gorgeous children and whole bunch of grandchildren. I lived my grandfather and he really taught me a lot about giving back and the greater is more than the sum of the parts. From the time I was old enough to be able to do something semi independently I was out packing boxes for the homeless or making coffee at the hospital. All that stuck with me obviously and now I'm in profession of trying to help heal and give to more. I'm good with the impact he had.

Now onto this afternoon. We went to the veggie/fruit store Fresh Thyme. Some of you in the South would know it as Sprouts. I was scared to death because my asthma and my immune system compromised. I do not in any shape or fashion like to be scared. I do not like thrill rides that make you feel like you are falling, or scary movies, or haunted houses. My fight or flight is FIGHT and I'd likely take out the zombie in a haunted house. Today I could feel my fight kicking in and I'm at the store and I can see these other scared people and I just got more angry. It's such a scary and worrisome time. I'm home now and we are stocked with lots and lots fresh fruits and veggies and I have more coffee beans. I can't expect to fight the zombies without proper caffeine.

Dinner tonight is beef and broccoli with lots fresh veggies, on cauliflower rice (unless I sub in my eat your feelings pasta) and some potstickers

My grateful things today:
Those working their behinds off at the grocery stores and knowing they have to be just as nervous.
Internet is going strong for the neighborhood
Chocolate. Bless the person that made chocolate as I sit here and let my flight or fight settle down with some coffee and chocolate.

Now onto question of the day and see how the others are!

Happy 99'th birthday in Heaven to your Grandfather. Sounds like he was a wonderful man, and that a lot of his good qualities were instilled in you. You made me laugh at the 'can't expect to fight zombies without proper caffeine'!
I am also grateful for the people who are still working. Everytime I have been in a store lately, I make sure to find some of them and say thank you for the job they are doing. Most of them look at me very surprised, as I get not many people are complimenting them, most are just griping about the shortages/outages of certain products
Even though being home 24/7 with hubby is proving challenging, I am more than grateful that he is still well enough to be working from home, and keeping himself busy.

Without chocolate, I doubt a LOT of us would be having a harder time,,so just keep eating it and drinking your coffee, and the rest of us will be right here with you Tina!

 

[Searc]

And I wish it was colder here. Then I could spend time outside on the porch. It has been in the high 80s all week. LOL

That's just mean.

 

[violina]

Question 3/23: Who was a positive influence in your life and how?

Happy 99th to your grandfather @lovemygoofy. To answer your question, I'd say it was my paternal grandmother who was incredibly kind, open, and just all around a wonderful person. She is often who I wish I could be most like -- though I have a temper that's more fitting of my mom's side of the tree. Nonetheless, I often try to be like my grandmother when I approach things.

Things I'm grateful for:

• Baby is napping. Though, I'm afraid of how that will impact his sleeping later.
• Hot chocolate later tonight!
• Listening to an audiobook while the kiddo is sleeping. I'm behind on my books so this is quite helpful.
• The morning meditation videos that Monterey Bay Aquarium has been putting on their YouTube.

 

[Kitty 34]

Positive influence......my Mom; she taught me how to laugh.

She and I sat on my porch this afternoon.....6ft apart......and it about killed me not to walk her back to her house holding her arm so she wouldn't fall. She does have a cane tho. But still.........

 

[dish rag]

My father. An amazing man, father and husband, he’s very looked up too. How he achieved what he did coming from poverty is amazing. I have never once heard him complain. And my granny, his mother. How she did it especially in those years is something.

 

[DuskKodesh]

Gonna be a weird one but in answer to today's question I'd answer my middle school art teacher. I was a meek thing, bullied pretty fierce. He pulled me aside, counseled me during lunch period for two years. He taught me that things would get better, that people will come and go but the people that mind don't matter and the people that matter never mind. I learned eye contact from him, social skills, art appreciation. It's all stuff that stuck with me. He also helped other kids. A girl that came out as pregnant he helped her tell her parents, one kid who was really poor he helped arrange donations to his family. He was still the best person I've ever met.

 

[lynxstch]

My positive influences were my maternal Grandmother and Great Grandmother. I was a child of divorced parents, and by age 5 ,the daughter of single mom who had to work all the time. My Grandmother and Great Grandmother were always there for me. They are the ones who taught me to love unconditionally. They were my rocks, my guidance, and my shoulders to both lean on and cry on. Both have long since passed away, but I always think of them fondly, and know that they are up there watching down over all of us now.

 

[lynxstch]

Gonna be a weird one but in answer to today's question I'd answer my middle school art teacher. I was a meek thing, bullied pretty fierce. He pulled me aside, counseled me during lunch period for two years. He taught me that things would get better, that people will come and go but the people that mind don't matter and the people that matter never mind. I learned eye contact from him, social skills, art appreciation. It's all stuff that stuck with me. He also helped other kids. A girl that came out as pregnant he helped her tell her parents, one kid who was really poor he helped arrange donations to his family. He was still the best person I've ever met.

Not weird at all. Everyone should have at least one teacher in their lives like you had. Bravo to that teacher!

 

[chickapin parterre]

I was mild stutter in elementary school, I think it was more related to stress or perhaps an auto accident I had as a 4 year old....anyhow, had limited therapy from the age of 7 to 14. And by the time I reached 14 it was gone though I could not pronounce words...for example antithesis , I could not hear it only see Anti Thesis.

So my freshman year orientation before school started there was an assembly to schedule classes. My mother was with me and when she heard Speech Class" she signed me up, thinking "therapy" , not knowing that Speech class was a definition of competitive Forensics, a competitive debate and oral presentation in high schools across the state of Oregon. you train on the scholastic level to be a professional speaker as a 14-18 year old.

I can just imagine what the Forensics coach thought when I walked in the classroom as an improvised student and had a trait of poor oral skills. Not once in the three years that she coached me did she pull me aside and say " this is not for you." Instead I received rare one on one instruction in writing, researching, and presenting my prose speeches and oratorical skills. i competed for all four years and was never successful to overcome my fast rate of speech, inablilty to pronounce words. But twice a month I stood up in front of perfect strangers and gave my speeches in the competitive venues.

Without her positive influence in my life I would have been a logger in the Oregon Cascades, never attend university, never teach school, never grasp the power of pouring desert rain and the beautiful treasures to be found. And for sure not writing special feature articles. But I did attend university and successfully competed with several awards on the college level speaking tournament, with the same coach my high school teacher competed and trained under...and he was her positive influence to give her direction in university.

40 years later That teacher had a watercolor exhibit in Oregon and I went to visit the gallery just last summer. I wrote her a long thank-ful letter and left it with the staff sharing with her how I used her as a role model in my classroom.

 

[Meriweather]

My parents.....they encouraged me to go to collage and do well. It was very important to them since neither one of them graduated from high school

 

[flyingdumbo127]

My own Grandpa was someone so dear to me was my Grandma. I was Blessed to grow up with them both. Grandpa was quietly kind, everyone loved him and he would reach out to help anyone. Grandma was more of a spitfire but her love was amazing and steadfast. I have realized as an adult that truly Grandpa was my first Witness to Christ in his actions.

Three positives for today:

1 Getting to text with a few friends and receiving an email from another.
2 putting together a jigsaw puzzle with my Dad despite 1 piece being missing Still fun
3 Looking forward to going quickly to Target tomorrow and then the laundrymat. It will be nice to get out briefly.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Hello!! I want to tell you what happened today. It was so very quiet. DH was downstairs working from home. I was upstairs listening to Sanjay Gupta on Dax Shepherd’s podcast. All of a sudden, I heard the most awful amount of noise! Cars honking and lots of traffic on our very quiet street. I just thought “ WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?!?!” I look outside and it’s a parade of cars. All decorated. Balloons! Streamers! Flags! Signs on cars that said “ we miss you!” Must’ve been 40-50 cars. I look down the street and kids are standing in front yards waving. It was all teachers driving the cars. THE TEACHER PARADE! I see online that this happened lots of places this week. It was just the most heartfelt thing I’ve ever seen.
Also, I wanted to ask a question. Are any of you doing this online ordering of groceries when you sign up for a time and drive over and pick them up? Without going into the store? I haven’t ever done it but I’m not going into a store any time soon. I plan to try it this week.

 

[NYCgrrl]

My mother.

Didn't make it to Little Italy today but maybe on Wednesday. Made a tuna nicoise salad for dinner tonight.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

My middle school English/homeroom teacher, Ms Mack (who, if I remember correctly, married my middle school teacher, Mr. Jarvis that year!). She actually listened to what I had to say, not only in class but out of it as well.

Also, my high school guidance counselor, Ms Feinberg. She was much like Ms. Mack. Always there, ready to lend a hand or a shoulder to cry on.

Without those two, school would have been 10x harder, and honestly, I'm not sure I would have made it through.