Metro Manila and other areas with high cases of Covid 19 have been under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) for 46 days. It is hard to remember what happened in the first week of ECQ aside from binge-watching Netflix shows. It is even harder to remember what life was pre-ECQ. And I only have wistful thoughts of the carefree existence pre-Covid 19.
But, like most people who continue to follow government and health agencies’ guidelines, I have stayed home, worked from home, studied Spanish from home, learned from home, cooked at home, exercised at home, and entertained myself at home. By doing these things, I think I have kept my body and mind healthy (or at least I am not crazy yet). Also, I have learned new things while quarantining.
1. Dr. Anthony Fauci is a rock star.
Dr. Anthony Fauci is the Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Fauci has served six American presidents, including the current occupant of the White House. As one of the world’s leading experts on infectious diseases, he was one of the researchers during the AIDS epidemic and is now one calm and sensible voice of reason during the Covid 19 pandemic. When he speaks, I listen. And millions of others do the same thing.
After a joke in an interview, Brad Pitt played Dr. Fauci on SNL. And there is a petition to make Dr. Fauci the sexiest man alive! Dr. Fauci is a world treasure.
Thank you, Dr. Fauci and to all the health workers, front liners, and backliners!
2. I am a Cuomosexual.
Like Trevor Noah and Ellen DeGeneres and thousands (or millions?) of people from around the world, I am a new fan of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his younger brother CNN anchor Chris Cuomo. The Cuomo brothers’ admirers are called Cuomosexuals. It started with a banter and ended up with a semi-regular viewing of Gov. Cuomo’s coronavirus update. I smiled when they argued who their mom’s favorite was. I laughed when Chris showed their family photo where the governor had a belt buckle that could be used as a substitute for The Lasso of Truth. I was worried when Chris became Covid positive, then his wife, and then their son. I was glad when they did well and became Covid free. And the voice of the governor is like a security blanket that tells me tomorrow will be okay. The world will be a better place.
3. Videos of dogs and cats are addictive.
I started watching a video of a Samoyed and a Norwegian Forest cat a few weeks ago. They are named Milky and GB, respectively. Milky is sweet and always seeks the approval of GB. GB is smart, does not care about rules, and a snob and a half. GB is TR’s spirit animal. Their owners seem like nice people who spoil them with toys, attention, and love. Milky and GB reciprocate by being cute and tender. Awwwww.
4. I do not watch Netflix as much as I thought I do.
I thought I watch Netflix at least 20 hours a week. But I do not. Right now, the only show I watch is The Last Dance. I have Zombieland Double Tap, Coronavirus Explained, Absurd! Planet, The Silence of the Marsh, Middleditch and Schwartz (I love Middleditch), The Final Year (of Barack Obama), and The Willoughbys on My List. I have watched The Final Year, the first ten minutes of Middleditch and Schwartz (I plan to finish it soon), the first 20 minutes of Zombieland Double Tap, and finished The Willoughbys. I have two on the Coming Soon list: Michelle Obama’s Becoming and White Lines. I feel the pressure to watch more Netflix. Hahaha.
5. Webinars are fun!
With a small sample of webinars (and videoconferences) that I have signed up for, I can say that they are interesting. Once, I signed up for a one-hour webinar but it stretched into a two-hour virtual class. And I did not mind at all. Presentations are brief but informative. Presenters are knowledgeable and accommodating. I have signed up for five more webinars (until May 12) to take advantage of this quarantine period. I recommend it to others. Find a topic that interests you or a topic that is so out of your comfort zone to learn something new.
6. When life gives you eggs, do not make flan.
This is a work in progress. I spent a few hours cooking today. I made spaghetti with tomato sauce, sliced hot dogs (we have no ground beef), mushrooms, a lot of cheese, and chili powder I bought in Osaka. It turned out better than expected and we had it for our late lunch today. Then, I made not one, not two, but three leche flans (I did not want to adjust the recipe because I want the canned products to be used right away). They were cooked separately and the two turned out not so cute. TR did not approve them for public consumption. The third one is the most presentable. In terms of taste, the first one is decent. I assume that the other two will taste the same.
7. TR is a great model.
Speaking of TR, the little muse of this blog is the only adorable model with a single expression plastered on her dinky delightful face. She is the subject of a number photo shoots which appeared on this blog. With Juan’s help, TR has crossed over from still to video. She wants to be the biggest little star. Dream big, little girl! 🙂
8. I cannot read a book.
I tried. Not that hard. But I tried. My attention span has dropped from 1000-page books to 5-page articles.
9. My smart watch counts sautéing as steps.
I discovered that when I was sautéing the onion and garlic for the spaghetti with tomato sauce mentioned in learning number 6, my smart watch counted my hand movement as steps! I normally take my watch off when I do household chores, so it was a surprise that I gained a few hundred steps by cooking.
10. Alcohol makes me happy.
Not the one for drinking. I am referring to 70% isopropyl or ethyl alcohol solution. With the scarcity of alcohol in Metro Manila, we finally bought two bottles of 150 ml 70% ethyl alcohol solution after 45 days in quarantine. We are fortunate to have enough stocks of hygiene products pre-covid (buy them on sale or when there are buy-one-take-one promo, but not too much of anything). I have to mention that it did not cost me an arm and a leg to buy those two bottles. And they are pink, so they are TR-approved.
Stay home. Stay safe. Save lives.