On The Road to Extended Stay-at-Home
/I was just starting to get into a groove with the stay-at-home order. I can now do Pilates via Zoom 3 days a week, I’ve got a routine to my '“Kitchen Studio,” and I’m enjoying more quality time with my fur babies!
It came as no surprise, when on March 31st Governor Pritzker extended the stay-at-home order to April 30th. As of this writing, state officials estimate we won’t see the peak of the coronavirus in Illinois until mid to late April. There is so much still unknown, I just figure we’re in it for the long haul and I’m planning accordingly. We watch covid-19 updates and the Governor’s 2:30 press briefing every day, but try not to be inundated with coronavirus news 24/7. That’s not good for anyone’s mental health. It’s great to see Mayor Lightfoot’s sense of humor with her stern warnings to #StayHomeSaveLives. I couldn’t resist jumping on the meme bandwagon!
Since the safest way to stay healthy is to stay home, I wanted to do something to help folks stay positive and entertained to combat cabin fever. What I came up with is a weekly on-line feature called “Fabulous Fur Babies!”
So many of us are pet owners, and this is a unique situation where we’re spending a lot more time with our canine and feline friends. My weekly feature will offer advice on everything from caring for our pets, to how to adopt or foster a pet during these challenging times. Any topics you’d like to see covered please add them in the comments section!
As we turned the corner into April, nature was oblivious to the pandemic and spring blossoms popped up right on schedule. The bright and colorful blooms conveyed a sign of hope.
Taking advantage of the warmer days can be challenging while practicing social distancing. I can enjoy the sun’s warm rays while letting my pups run around in the backyard. I’m still hoping to read a book or two during the stay-at-home order. Reading outside is a twofer.
I’m trying to get out at least once a week to shoot and edit video of traffic issues (at a safe distance) to stay up-to-date with my transportation coverage. This time of year, there are plenty of construction projects to cover, for first responders and other essential workers on the road, as well as those who simply need to go to the grocery store or pharmacy.
Another odd phenomenon many of us are noticing as we work from home - having a hard time knowing what day it is! In fact, I almost forgot my work anniversary on April 3rd, marking 31 years at ABC 7 Chicago! Looking back at the celebration last year, it truly made me miss working alongside my morning show family.
This weekend brought stricter guidelines for venturing outside the home. It is now recommended to wear a mask, especially at the grocery store. I followed those guidelines, as well as disinfecting my store-bought items from one side of the counter to the other once I brought them inside the house. I lost count of how many times I washed my hands in-between.
I also found time to relax. Before this crazy time, I could never find enough time to watch a movie, or a documentary. This weekend I did both! If you have Disney+, I strongly recommend watching the 6-part documentary “Imagineering.” It goes behind the scenes of the making of the Disney theme parks from the perspective of the creatives known as Imagineers (a cross between imagination and engineers). It’s fascinating!
I also made time to deliver a couple bags of groceries and other goodies to my Mom. She opened the garage door, I set down the bags, she came out and we chatted at a safe distance. I was incredibly happy to see her, but at the same time, heart-broken that I couldn’t hug her and spend time visiting.
After this is finally over, how many things will we NOT take for granted any more?