march misc, shelter in place:

March 2020 will go down as the month life changed so drastically for so many.  Some reports are saying we probably had the community spread here in the U.S. as early as January.  It has been an adjustment, but I think our family has managed pretty well so far through this.  I'm so thankful I've been able to keep everyone well-fed and the house clean and continue homeschooling the boys, but it's definitely challenging to not be able to go out freely or without a lot of planning.  I have an entire protocol for my visits to the grocery stores, but am also flexible, as something might be out of stock or, in my last trip, there can be emergency closures of the entire store.  I miss going to the Asian markets and Costco, but the local ones just don't have a lot of space or the same constant cleaning that Safeway here does.

They joke that the introverts are in la la land, and the extroverts are getting a taste of what introverts have to feel every day.  In our family, we have a mix, and it is interesting to see the different effects on everyone.  Naomi and Isaac are the extroverts, and they happen to be the ones who had to have their parties canceled and struggle more with not going out.  Lucas is a complete introvert, and he hopes this quarantine goes as long as possible.  I would say Manny and I are semi-social introverts.  I used to be a true ambivert, but I think in my 40s I've become much more introverted.  I would count Nacho an extrovert if there was such a thing.  He is so extremely friendly and really misses his walks where he gets to be pet by strangers.  He is happy to have Naomi and Manny home more, but Manny has work and Naomi has school still, so he sometimes sits outside the rooms and looks sad.  But the sunny (but not too hot) days he goes outside and enjoys his sunbathing.

Manny mostly works from home, but he will have to return to the labs soon (his company's labs were deemed an essential operation).  Naomi's high school decided to go with Google over Zoom, and I hear there are a lot of technical issues.  The Wi-Fi wasn't working for her, so she is using the ethernet cable.  I know Manny misses the faster work connection as well, but he is working hard and getting it all done.  So far we've managed to not interrupt him except one time the boys had a fight.  Sometimes Manny lets Nacho in, but then he's loud and snorty as Frenchies, are right when we need him to be quiet, which he usually is.

Every day I think of so many things for which I'm thankful.  Manny and I are doing well.  Everyone loves having him home.  Nacho happens to be a dog that does not need to be walked much and has a place to poop in the back.  The boys were already homeschooled.  We have spotty Wi-Fi, but Manny had bought this super long ethernet cable, and it works for Naomi's school needs.  We have a roof over our heads with three toilets.  The sky looks so blue.  I have managed to buy two weeks' worth of food each shopping trip.  I am still able to connect with friends through chats or calls.  We happen to have fabric face masks from the fires of previous years.  My friend also went in with me on a Master Class deal so we could take classes online from celebrities and experts for half off.  My first order of business was learning how to make a fruit tart and French custard for Naomi's next birthday.  French cooking is so precise and I think requires more skill than any other cooking.  I'm also planning to take some writing classes.

Some random photos:

Sticky rice.  I was using up the sweet rice, arborio rice, rice pilaf, etc., as white rice was in short supply at the stores.  Now there's plenty of rice, but still no toilet paper when I go.  We don't eat that much rice/carbs anyway.  And some surprising things are usually out of stock, like heavy whipping cream or yeast.  I think many people have taken up baking and biking in this pandemic.

Lucas is learning percentages and decimals, but sometimes I review long division.  I have had to learn the new way of doing math to teach it, and I also teach the old way.  I do like the more conceptual approach of Common Core math.  It is more in line with how I was teaching math to Naomi anyway.

Isaac showing me the heart he peeled.

Nacho looking for food, but he doesn't reach the table.

The bread aisle.  This was at 7:30 a.m.

The toilet paper section.

Nacho waiting for Manny while he works in the room.

Isaac is pretty good at rhythm video games.

Nacho worked hard to drag his bed into the room to sleep, even though it ended up upside-down.

Nacho still looking for food.

Hailing!

Manny's Monday-Thursday lunch always consists of chicken breasts in some kind of sauce, cooked greens, romaine lettuce, cut raw veggies, some fruit, and fat-free Greek yogurt.  He recently started adding protein powder to the yogurt.  Most Fridays we have been ordering out for lunch.

For dinners, usually I serve several dishes Chinese style, including maybe two or three entrees, soup and maybe extra vegetables.  Or sometimes I'll do the American big slab of protein, veggies, and potatoes.  I never realized how much Manny would like Taiwanese pork chops.  All these years I never made it, and now he says he doesn't want them cooked any other way.

I also make tacos, burritos, and enchiladas (though tomato sauce has been in short supply).

It's interesting to watch people broadcast from home.  Bravo to all of you!

isaac's 7th birthday:

We had to cancel Isaac's birthday playdate due to the shelter in place order.   I'd originally invited two of his friends and their families to an indoor trampoline park.  He was upset when I broke the news to him, but then said he realized he was taking out his feelings on me.  Very self-aware kid.  So then I felt I could not fail him on this Minecraft block and pickaxe cake that he had asked me for months ago.  Eggs were already selling out, but I managed to get some and set some aside for his cake.  The cake took me two full days, cutting out and applying almost 500 squares of fondant individually.  Coloring the fondant is actually the most challenging part.  This time it was that as well as making the pickaxe, which I did last.  I just drew it freehand and then cut it out and covered it with aluminum foil.  It was difficult to adhere the fondant to that, so I just did one side.  I'm sure there is a better way.  Then taped it to a straw and stuck it in the cake.  Isaac wanted it to look like it was breaking the block.  I sized the cake down to just a 4-layer 4" cake.  Glad I did that!

Manny suggested we get Isaac his favorite cheese pizza from Pizza My Heart, which was a great idea.  Target, though delayed like everyone else, delivered us our party goods the night before his birthday.  With the Target card, you get free shipping and 5% off everything, and the Minecraft items were on sale to boot.  We got Isaac a couple of magic trick items he wanted.  He also wanted a certain stuffed cat which came in the mail later.  Grandma sent a card, gift card, and money.  He was happy!  

Isaac liked being able to celebrate on the actual day of his birthday.  I had told the kids we'd celebrate in the afternoon, but Manny had a major escalation at work, so he needed us to do it earlier.  Isaac was still in his PJs, and we just changed his top.  I hustled and got everything ready in time, except I didn't have time to clean the kitchen more.

I seem to do no right in Isaac's eyes lately.  He thought I was about to touch his pizza with my hands and get him sick (I think he was anxious because of the coronavirus).  I said I didn't even touch it.  So he was upset because he had said that I was "about to," not that I did.  He was accusing me of accusing him of accusing me.  I had to leave him with Manny to calm down, since on the other hand Manny can do no wrong.  Worked like a charm.  Naomi felt bad for me, so she came over and said she thought I did a nice job with the party.  She's sweet.  I came back after that brief break.  He was happy with his presents and the painting Naomi made him.  He loves cats, rainbows, and cupcakes.

Lucas ate separately because he can't handle the way Isaac talks.  I miss when they used to be so close.  They'll be close again.  Lucas just forgets how he was when he was that age.

The night before, almost done.

Got Lucas his favorite--veggie pizza.

Happy birthday, Isaac!

Seven candles would have been risky with the pickaxe, so I went with one.

He loves those giant slices!

Cake starting to sink.

  

I'm thankful!

Thank you, Naomi!

Thank you, Grandma!

From the better camera on Manny's work phone.

But oops you can see he didn't have time to change out his PJ pants.

And oops you can see the other side of the axe.

st. patrick's day:

Our city locked down on Tuesday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day.  Schools here had begun closing their buildings the Friday before.  Manny had gone in to work even that Monday.  And then just like that, we were all told to stay home.  At the time, I figured it's three weeks, and then it would be lifted.  The boys continued with school at home as usual, and Naomi had a week off as they prepped for distance learning.  But now I don't know when it will end and am adjusting to the new normal.  On the one hand, I'm not rushing around in the mornings or afternoons, but on the other hand, it is busier and more complicated to plan for shopping trips, for example.  Isaac was sick for a few days prior, and then Manny and I caught it that week.  It was just a slight cold, and no fever, so figured we were not part of the growing number of COVID-19 patients here.  

Panic shopping had set in already.  Friends and family were reporting not even being able to find yeast, let alone bread.  Eggs were out, meat was gone, and many frozen or shelf-stable items were gone.  When I went that week, I got one of the last two bags of flour and some of the last of the tomato sauce.  Still, we ate pretty well, and I didn't feel the strain of shopping until I went two weeks later.  By then I had to have gloves and a mask on as well as game plan for entering and exiting the building.

Pistachio muffins.

Bread aisle.

Toilet paper section.

Krispy Kreme St. Patrick's Day special (they picked the dozen, free delivery).

More green food--my bacon avocado toast.

Tacos for lunch.

Traditional corned beef and cabbage.  I snagged one of the last corned beefs from the market.

before the lockdown:

The days before the lockdown seem so long ago now, even though it hasn't even been three weeks.  In hindsight, we probably didn't take action as early as we should have, myself included, even though I was the one telling friends to take it seriously early on.  We didn't heed the cautionary tales and success stories from other countries.  At least I've heard that we (in California) appear to be flattening the curve with some success.  What does flattening the curve mean?  It means we don't want to overwhelm our health care system, or even more people will die.  If we ease the curve, more patients will be able to get the care they need.  There will be less strain and risk for the doctors and nurses caring for them, because we need them.  It is not about fear.  I'm not afraid.  The orders and helping hands are coming from a place of wisdom, compassion, community, and consideration.  

Bringing a meal of meat, sweet potatoes, noodle salad, and tofu to a family from church with mom on bedrest.  They requested foods with iron to help the pregnancy complications.  They tragically lost their twins.  I am not sure if they were able to have a funeral.  Many funerals have now been postponed or cancelled.  I can't imagine all the compounded grief many are going through. 

People were beginning to panic shop.  This is the Friday before the shutdown, so before they began distancing the people in line and limiting the number of people in the store.  At this point I think gatherings of over 80 or 100 were banned?  Pretty sure there was more than that inside.

I got there at opening time on a Friday.  It took me about 20 minutes to get inside and then another 15 minutes in this line.  They handed us one pack of toilet paper per cart and said they would run out completely within the hour.  I feel very grateful I got the t.p. days before the lockdown.

Naomi hung out with a couple of friends and bought herself this bunny on sale.  School was to be closed for three weeks (of course now they've gone to distance learning for the rest of the year).

Last outing with Naomi (except we walked Nacho once).  Also did a little shopping and used her Old Navy gift cards from Grandma.  They were disinfecting and wiping down the store, which was almost empty.  I'm thankful it was, because now I know it was too risky to go.  I want to say I was rewarding her for her straight A's, but really, it was just to have a chance to talk and build some more positive memories.

Thankful for this ramen and time with Naomi.  I went home and spent more time with the boys and Manny individually as well, but who knew we wouldn't be going out again for a long time?