With everything that's happening these days..sometimes I still need some pinching, is it for real? I remember only February this year I woke up excited while preparing to be finally moving in, and the last thing I knew, the world shifted to something really new. No more waking early to get to work, traffic is bearable the least, check points,barricades, police everywhere, no people flocking to the malls, coffee shops are empty, people concerned about hygiene and when that sounds like heaven, it has also some repercussions: no more travelling outside your city, no more get-together, no more celebrations, no handshakes, no hugging, no kissing. Everything that we always do to intimate and gather now everyone do separate and scatter. Let me share a rundown of our pre-quarantine to lockdown days and how we spent our days working and being at home!
Valentines Day
First quarter was a milestone, our 2nd valentines date with a simple dinner, window shopping for plates and glasses, table covers etc. (yes very much adulting) then coffee afterwards. We also welcome the newest member of the family- Summer the fluffy, hyper, golden retriever. I remember writing about it before when I recall the fond memoirs of our old aspin Shanshan here.
I LILY love you, but buuuuut now accepting potted plants and greens too!
I guess I will miss eating out, ok tbh not much
Throwback: Here's a captured photo of what I wrote on my blog.
Here's the 8-week-old fur baby we named Summer.
The warm memories of our childhood, summer days were about playing and having fun. Better days in summer days...that's exactly what we named her for.
Finally Home
Come February, we finished packing our bags, bade goodbye to our apartment neighbors who turned friends and drove to what we could finally call our "home". The past months we have spent our weekends setting up the place, it was exhausting physically and financially but it was all worth it. Thank God for your grace! So the first 2 weeks being at home went very well, except that the Summer was a bit stressed with the new environment, and that we are away most of the day when at work. I feel sad every time we had to leave her behind, but guess no choice. By 1st week March, the quarantine news was looming in, but initially we were planning to have our house blessing. We decided to move ahead with the house blessing by mid of March.
Thank God we did, because the week after, the city was under locked down.
Picture with Fr. Eric after the blessing. Grateful that family was able to graced that
simple thanksgiving!
House blessing gift is the best! Hand made gift from Lee, thank you dear babe
The start of Quarantine
The first few days dragged so slow, it was quite a change! I remember waking up thinking what's going to happen now? It felt like I have withdrawn from something important, I didn't know how and where to begin and it feels unreal that that this is how its going to be in the next days.
Finally, when reality settled in, I've come to accept this truth. This pandemic is real and deadly, staying home is the safest thing to do. Thankfully , I read online how to kick off work from home scheme, starting with setting my area for work. So feeling refreshed, I set-up my work station, near window because I enjoy a good view as well an alcohol within reach, but not the alcohol you have in mind.
Working from home is the new norm,
I could work in my comfy pambahay! How cool is that?
And of course, books keeps my mind away from all these stressful news.
Sometimes I wear my on-site shirt less the hard hat of course
to keep the motivation, also an eyebrow and lipstick to complete the look!
So after a while I have my new morning routine, a mandatory 30 min walking-running with Summer, prepare breakfast afterwards and start work by 830. Somehow by 2nd-3rd week we managed to adapt to the new normal, since we were still advised to WFH. What felt weird first turned well because somehow I enjoyed the idea of working home. Imagine being able to work in my comfy short and shirt, make my own coffee, share lunch with the hubby except of course if internet is being a pain! Afternoon strolls after work with Summer, I didn't imagine that I would be doing this on a weekday when I'm used to coming home late, oh how grateful I am indeed. Quarantine turned quarantreats!
Afternoon strolls and solitude with Summer
Sunday mass at home, always blessed with good health and work.
K-drama weekend is LIT , crushing Hyun Bin from CLOY!
Another milestone, first birthday at home, quarantine style
Happy birthday from a social distance my love
By 2nd month, Daryl and I finished the DIY shelves for our compiled photos, I made a scrap book of our pre-wedding dinner and even re-modeled our room! So much we have accomplished I am grateful for the times we have during these q-days. Taking care of Summer also kept us busy, and boy we are just glad! Who needs summer when sunny fur pup keeps warming our hearts with cuddles and belly rubs!
Quarantreats
One of the most valuable skill I got to use more while in quarantine is cooking, because there's no where you could buy foods these days. Hay naku, these days when you crave it, you cook it. So beginning of quarantine, both take turns to cook. Like when I'm stuck in a web meeting, Daryl cooks for lunch or dinner while I take my turn when the hubby is occupied with work. Here's what we had for our quarantreats, to keep the boredom away!
My breakfast in a pic, black coffee and perfectly made sunny side,
peanut butter on the side!
Weekend treats are made of pasta and home made lumpia
Shrimp with garlic and butter paired with Mung beans with pork
Something healthy as well ampalaya and ensalada
Definitely the house specialty, did someone ordered for Carne prita?
Usual perfect fish medly and veggie
Obviously we enjoy pasta and lechon kawali
Some local food- Batchoy in the house!
P.S. We take picture because now a days this is the only way we communicate with our family, and friends. So foods are snapped and shared to our family's group chat, di ba?
The New Normal
Now a days, being healthy is everyone's priority. Coming from grocery or anywhere outside home, we always make sure to take a bath first, practice good hygiene, wash hands often and sanitize like crazy! I'd like to think ang masakit ko mas lapit sa pasma mong, funny single liner, di bale praning basta di kaging. This pandemic has taught us to take extra care about cleanliness, but also in the brighter side learn to appreciate every little thing we took for granted before. Like the mere fact you could talk to a barista in coffee shop, exchange good mornings to people you meet, the full shelves in a grocery, Sunday mass, eat out with family, eat out with friends, taking trips, friends you could hug when you say hi and bye. Quarantine has isolated us in the world we have comfortably lived and enjoyed. These days, we learn to appreciate social media because we are able to stay connected to people that we care about. Chismisan and kamustahan done via messenger or a more improved platform like Zoom.
Virtual meet-up and catching up with friends
Weekend bonding with family like how's your diet so far? Urgh.
These days, I've also turned to trend by becoming a plantmom too,
taking care of plants are so invigorating!
Trying to stay fit as much as possible, biking, badminton,
running with Summer, anything to keep me active.
Appreciating the littlest thing, like this Jco donuts after 4 months.
So worth the calories!
Enjoying the Vet visit after a while with this fur thing
Sweet sweet Summer
And how much you've grown during q-days!
I think I've been over-feeding you?
Most especially, grateful that we are in this together
Quarantine. Such an overused word these days. I remember reading this from "Love in Time of Cholera" how quarantine came to be. Quarantine comes from Latin word "quarantena" which means 40 days. After the great plague in Europe, all ships, passenger and crew are required to be quarantined or be isolated for 40 days for any symptoms of diseases.
Indeed, being isolated, quarantine has given me personally a great amount of time to do a lot of reflection which aspects in our life matters to us. I am grateful for this time to be home. I am blessed to know what it's like to work from home, like the rest, you have to acquire the routine and somehow I'm getting the hang of it. I am grateful that everyone in the family is safe and healthy, and that alone, is a blessing I'm thankful everyday.
So while we don't know how this one ends, here's my prayer and wish to everyone that you may be in good health... physically and also mentally. May you take care of your health by getting enough rest, take a pause from all the stressful news you hear everyday, eating well, literally and eating well for your soul by a tantamount of prayer. Remember to take your C's and most importantly, be human. Be considerate. Wear your mask and shield, sanitize at all times, and remember to physical distance. If others don't practice it, you do it anyway! Protect your self to protect your loved ones. Join me in prayer, snipped from my daily dose of prayer from The Feast.
Dear Lord, thank you for this day, please help your people to stop the spread of this virus. I ask that you guide our path today, most especially our thoughts and actions. Please be with us, and help us navigate to whatever that comes our way. Most especially, help us to reflect and live out our lives in a way that is honoring you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Here's me on the first day I drove to office after the Q-days.
Do I look too happy to be outside?
Oh, the joy of being able to enjoy a good ramen.
Grateful to the people in this shop!
Stay safe, stay healthy, stay sane,
itsmelory (^.^)
No comments:
Post a Comment