Spring Break 2020 Part 2 (or The Pangolins Revenge)

Spring break part 2 kicked off with a nice foggy morning. Some people did not seem to care for this. Worldwide panic mixed with some gloom just wasn’t a cocktail many could swallow. I guess depression has settled over many of the populace. I wish I could help these people find a little bit of joy but for some it’s just not happening. Curmudgeons, like Jimmy. All I can do is share some of mine & hope that’s enough. I understand it. The weekend grocery store trip was enough to drive the joy out of me. Nothing on the shelves. I went to 3 grocery stores to cover my small list of 7 items. I wasn’t a happy camper. Why people? No eggs, milk, chicken, potatoes, green beans, etc. How annoying. One think that I have learned through all of this is that Jimmy is a f***ing epidemiologist.

St. Patrick’s Day. Did you wear green? I’ll pinch you if you didn’t!! I got it covered with a green clover pin. Later, I was given some beads by Jamie. She also made cupcakes for everyone that wanted. I’m not sure her intention, but cupcakes were a good idea considering the current state of things. In a looney world we still need to have a little fun in life. I say bring out all the good you can get. Be it cupcakes, silly glasses & beads. I did my part with cookies. My friend Elicia in purchasing forgot to wear green. I told her to be careful, someone will pinch you. But in the end we hooked her up with some beads. She was protected from pinches. I did find it rather interesting that St. Patrick’s Day went over so many people’s heads this year. A lot of people were only reminded because of the beads and pin I had on. Everyone’s head is somewhere else these days…

Not even the threat of COVID-19 could abate my wife’s thirst for booze. She said: “Do you want to get a drink?” So I said sure, I’ll meet you there. It wasn’t just because it was Patty’s Day. It was because she had an awful day at work. You see, she works in a nursing home and during these troubling times things have gotten very weird for nursing homes. They are on lock down. No visitors, which means no family. This does not go over well for everyone. Getting cussed at by resident’s family members. Have them burst into tears because they can’t spend time with loved ones. They are also taking away so much from the residents themselves. No more group activities. No more communal dining. They are basically prisoners in their own rooms. This isn’t easy and they are not staffed to be wardens. She has a big heart and this mandate is breaking it. Not to mention coworkers don’t seem to give a s***. Oh yeah, and she could easily be placed in quarantine. She would have to live at the home if a confirmed case does show up. That’s a lot of stress.

So the bar was a sad place. There were people trying to have fun but there was an eeriness that was so unfamiliar. No handshakes. Sing on door saying capacity of 50. Please stay 3 feet apart. An impending doom was in the air. For the people working, it was palpable. They might not have a job in the immediate future because bars & restaurants are closing all over the country. It is very likely that our trip on Tuesday will be our last for who knows how long. The foreseeable future…

Wednesday was so weird. Everyone heard different rumors. They are shutting down the university. Everyone goes home. It was giving me a headache. Leroy really wants his “virus vacation”. I feel if he doesn’t get it he is going to be really upset. The amount of calls coming though asking if we will be open. I don’t know. I have no answer for you. Maybe? Maybe not? I don’t really want to be sent home. I like the structure. I might complain some about the place but I still like being able to come. Most of my socializing is on the campus. Outside of work it’s really only Bekah and I for most of the time. Also, if everything is closed I sure hope I can maintain my sanity at the house. I’m not the type that sits still. I’m on the move constantly. ADHD.

And at the end of the day the death blow was landed. If you are over 60 or have a preexisting condition you are to go home “until further notice.” Great. I felt kind of sick. I needed a drink. How long exactly is that? Who can say? I kind of felt like I was getting kicked out. Is this going to be the new normal? Looks like we are treating this like it’s the Christmas holiday. Only on call personal working and pretty much everything else on lock-down. I’m on “pandemic leave.”

Day one of “pandemic leave” was not so bad. I picked up beetos (burritos). I went to work at 7:30 to finish up projects & discuss what’s next with my boss. Yes, I am to stay home. If they need me he will call because I am close and I really don’t want to be off work. I get set up to work from home if needed. I probably won’t ever NEED to work from home. But just in case I can. Have to call IT because my computer wouldn’t recognize me. They were on the ball. I’m good to go. Turns out the IT guy that helped me was also working from home. What next… I clean the house. I go to Hobby Lobby and pick out stuff to make a mosaic. I think I made a coaster? I go by Lowe’s for a house plant. I run to HEB to make my daily shopping update to my campus family. Saw a man with a cart full of Cheetos…. Wish I had taken a picture. I get a call from the office. They need my help with a device my boss has never used. I saved the day. We talked a little more about how operations would run. Sounds really boring. Maybe not being able to go to work isn’t so bad? I went for a 3.6 mile walk. It was kind of hot. It was also therapeutic. The dogs are going to love this because what else am I going to do but walk. Oh, I guess lift weights. I did that off and on throughout the day. Maybe this will get my doctor off my back. Tired of him telling me my workout routine is that of a 80 year old. I don’t think he understands how many flights of stairs I climb, but oh well. I need to start making list of projects and try to space them out. I can’t remember the last time I took the time to see the sun set… I also did not have a drink until after 5. You should all be proud of me. Left to my own devices, and such. Bars & restaurants are going to close, it turns out. Friday at midnight. My poor service industry friends left in turmoil. I guess I’ll be making some fun lunches. I will also not go broke during this strange time. Oh wait, they deliver booze now…

Day two of “pandemic leave”. I set my alarm an hour later. Why get up so early. 8 is a reasonable time to get out of bed when you don’t need to be anywhere. Also, half my living room has turned into a home gym since all gyms have closed. I don’t need that in the morning so I am best sleeping though it. First thing I did after finishing my coffee was head to HEB. I needed one thing but I was mainly going out of morbid curiosity. It was a real s*** show. These people were shopping with a frenzy that I have never seen. Like, I might get my arm bitten off reaching for the eggs that were flying off the shelf. Utter insanity. It was kind of f***ing scary. Ravioli day. No ravioli. No plain Cheetos either. Only flamin & jalapeño. Guess Cheeto man didn’t like the heat. Went to the bank, they are changing their hours. Went to get my oil change. They wouldn’t let me out of the car. Communication through a crack window. Bizarre, but I get it. Hit the liquor store. Lots of people shopping for it only being 10 o’clock. Employee said once the Governor announced the closure of bars yesterday they got hit hard. Made as many sales on Thursday as they make an entire weekend. Called my mom and she said she had 10 rolls of paper towels. I was down to 1 so I made a trip for 4 rolls. We visited for a while. Got home and had an hour to burn before Owens vet appointment. I decided to do something I am never allowed to do: mow the grass! That’s a big no-no. That is how Bekah wins her fit-bit challenges. I think I’ve maybe mowed the front lawn 5 times in the almost 2 years we have lived here. Insane, right? Owen was overly excited about his trip to the vet. Strange how different our dogs are. Hazel hates the vet while Owen just wags his tail. After the vet trip we take a little walk along the river. On the way to drop him off I realize I have not planned for lunch. I make another trip to HEB. It’s not a nightmare. Funny how things have changed. The mornings used to be easy shopping and now it’s the afternoons. Anyway, I run into some campus friends, Miss Needy and her dear daughter. I get my goods and get the hell out of there. They actually had potatoes. What to do now? I decided another walk couldn’t hurt. Another mile down and it’s 5 o’clock. I guess I’ll make a drink. It’s f***ing Friday! We made it! Cheers!!! I am finding positive ways to pass the time. No reason to be in the negatives. This is out of my hands. We are hear on a daily basis so live it that way. I recommend fresh air. It’s doing me wonders.

BTW, spring flowers are in bloom. My favorite Lily park is beautiful right now. Not with Lily’s, but all sorts of plants in bloom. At least if my mood ever sinks I know where I can go to find some beauty to bring me back. I know, I tend to enjoy the simple things. I suppose that’s a blessing.

I’ve decided Coronavirus is the pangolin’s revenge. I’ve always been partial to the pangolins. I donate money to their cause. I own 3 pangolin t-shirts which I wear proudly on World Pangolin Day every 3rd Saturday in the month of February (If anyone wants one, I’ll hook you up). I feel sorry for the little guys. They need a voice. Some are saying that’s were COVID-19 derived from. The number 1 animal on the black market. They are just too docile which makes them easy prey to poachers. Believed by some Chinese to help with male impotency. They are butchered for their scales by the 100’s a day just to give some rich Chinese man an erection. The scales are made up of keratin. You know what is also made up of keratin? Human fingernails!!! If they want to fight flaccid genitalia so badly maybe someone should tell them to start eating their own f***ing fingernails! One positive thing to come out of this, other than the meme’s, is that pangolin scales are not such a hot commodity. Poor little guys are fighting back.

I’m cute, I snuggle and I don’t help with flaccid genitalia.

Jalapeno…

The same chicken I made last week with the McCormick Grill mates. Made some green beans with Italian dressing to go alone with it.

St. Patrick’s Day would not be the same without some Irish cuisine. I was almost going grill some shrimp but it was brought up that I usually make a meal to coincide with the holiday. I could not get that out of my mind the rest of the afternoon. I know, that’s how busy I have been at work. Ashamed of myself, I decided I would brave the stores and see if I couldn’t find what I needed for Shepard’s Pie. I usually use a pea, corn & carrot frozen mix but guess what? No frozen veggies at the store. All gone but the lima beans. A little defeated I too the chance of looking for fresh veggies. I was in luck, they had what I needed. Such a simple meal. Steam the veggies, add meat. Cook till done. Add tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire & a dry red wine. Cook down. Season with some herbs, salt, & pepper. Blend some flour with water and stir into beef mixture to thicken. I did not have real potatoes or pie crust because I could not find any… I found powdered potatoes so I heated them and poured beef mixture on top. This was quite possibly the best Shepard’s Pie I have ever made. The fresh veggies made a world of difference.