COVID-19: DAY 52 SHELTER IN PLACE MAY 7 2020

The month of April was like a blink of an eye.  Now, we are in my birth month, this was supposed to be a big deal for me.  I am turning 40 in a couple of weeks and I was looking forward to my dream destination, Morocco.  Of course the trip has been cancelled.  I've read articles that say international travel won't resume until 2021 so I have changed my 2020 travel bucket list to just having a picnic by the beach on a beautiful California day.

I do pray that the last 52 days, with all it's challenges and seemingly unending bad news coming from all over the place, that you have learned things about yourself that you wouldn't otherwise learn.  Me, I learned all the more that I can live with less.  Over the last couple of years, I have really minimized my clothes, shoes, and bag shopping.  The last new t shirt I bought for myself was in December 2018.  I have bought a couple of pairs of pants that replaced worn, ripped (in the wrong places), unusable pants.  I still find myself looking at a lot of expensive purses and watches, but never had the courage to splurge.  I have heard a lot of people say, 'You deserve it for all the hard work you do.' I try to not to think I deserve anything.  All the I have is unmerited favor from the Lord.  I don't want to think I deserve anything.  

I learned how therapeutic cooking is for me.  When I feel the lowest, I turn to cooking and it cheers me up, even more so when I see the satisfied faces of my family who appreciate what I had just prepared.  

I learned, I really, really, really, don't like walking.  But I do, sometimes, because the dog drives me to guilt with those sad puppy dog eyes, begging to be taken for a walk around the neighborhood.

I learned, I really need to pray more, read the bible more, and hear Him more.  I don't know what happened to me, but the last couple of years, I just wasn't the same in my spiritual journey.  I will do my best to rekindle my relationship with the Lord.  

COVID-19: DAY 43 SHELTER IN PLACE APR 28 2020

Today started out like any of the past 43 mornings, but by afternoon, I have been sucked into loneliness stronger than I have felt since the shelter in place started.  

Don't you try to talk yourself out of what you feel? As if you have no right to feel those feelings.  Sometimes I feel ungrateful for having so much and still feeling like this.  There are billions of people out there who have it far worse than me.  But none of that gives me relief. 

So I went and took my husband's car for a drive to the supermarket.  To simply go 25 miles an hour in that car is a disservice to the engineers that made that car possible.  So after my daughter and I did some grocery shopping, we went out into the freeway just to drive around, at times, I let the car drive itself.  Rules say we can't go past 5 miles from our residence, so I quickly turned around and headed back home where work awaits.

Work.  That's another situation that is making me frustrated nowadays.  I work for nothing.  I sit and listen to complaints from customers and earn nothing.  Zero. Nada. Zip. I don't know how many people would work for free, so I understand my wholesalers when they need to charge a fee for their services. I got so frustrated at one of my customers and blew him off, politely still. Urgh!  It would have felt good to just blow someone off today.  Tell that person to take a hike, that I am not taking any crap from him, especially if I am not being paid for any of their crap.  But of course, I can't.  That's not the real me and that is not who God wants me to be.  Yes, it's a struggle to know God and know what He wants me to do when every fiber of your being just wants to do the wrong thing.  

To let off a little more steam, I cooked Pad Thai and the result is the best tasting pad thai I have ever cooked.  After I cooked, I had knives, pots and pans everywhere and before my mom can nag me about the mess I made, I told her, 'don't tell me about the mess I made because I will clean it up. I will enjoy my food and then clean up.'  She knew I was in a foul mood.  She didn't say anything. 

Now I'm enjoying a glass of wine, which for sure, will be followed by another glass, then maybe sleep will come faster than before and I will wake up and these feelings will just be a distant memory.  

COVID-19: DAY 41 SHELTER IN PLACE APR 26 2020

I have accepted that this is the new normal and I don't want to go back to how it used to be.  Today I feel resigned that this is life and we are facing a future so vastly different from the past.  

I have not been sleeping well.  I slept at 4 am today and woke up at 8.  I'm trying to stay awake and resisting the bed's call for me to take a nap so I distracted myself and made mango sticky rice from scratch.  If it was warm enough, I'd grow the mangoes myself.  I have plenty of time.

On our trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand last year, we took a full day cooking class at an organic farm where we learned to cook 5 different dishes, each person can choose the 5 dishes they would like to learn to cook.  On the top of my list was learning how to cook Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice. We were picked up by our local guide at our hotel and taken to the local market where the cooking instructor gave us an introduction to the most common ingredients used in Thai cooking.  Since I grew up in the Philippines, I was familiar with about half of the ingredients she showed, the other half, I was familiar with because I just like to cook.  She asked me, 'Are you a chef?'  My daughter answered for me and said, 'Yes! She is a chef'.  Ok, I'm a chef.  The kid sometimes has more faith in me than I do in myself.  I'll take that title, thank you very much.  

Zabb E Lee Cooking School Chiang Mai

Picking Butterfly Pea Flower Shoots

Learning to cook Pad Thai

The cooking class was a fun and memorable experience.  We learned about ingredients and made curry paste the traditional way, with mortar and pestle.  Even my husband, who really isn't much of a cook, enjoyed the experience and even used the skills he learned to whip up a Thai dish for us a few months ago.  

  

Today, I made Mango Sticky Rice for the first time since our trip. I should have used more butterfly pea flower to make the rice a richer blue/purple color.  I bought the pea flowers during that trip to the market because it was anew ingredient that I have never used before.  I also bought Kafir Lime Leaves but left it it Manila when I  checked customs and realized I cannot bring the leaves to the USA. 

Cooking this today really lifted my spirits.  I do not draw, I only play a little bit of piano and a sprinkle of guitar.  Cooking is my creative outlet, and gives me so much joy when the people I love get to enjoy the dishes I make.

  

COVID-19: DAY 31 SHELTER IN PLACE APR 16 2020

Everyone at home is healthy.  Everyone at home is bored.  But we all know how important it is to stay home and prevent this disease from spreading.  

Easter was very different from what we have been used to.  Our family usually goes on a trip for Easter as it was also Michelle's spring break from school.  But we stayed home this time, attended church online, cooked and baked a cake for our dog, Ash, who was also celebrating his 5th birthday.  He doesn't care about the food.  What he really wanted to do was walk off leash at Fort Funston and dispense all his energy but Fort Funston is closed. All dog parks are closed. 

I'm going to try to be productive today.  Make pie crust, clean the kitchen, go to home depot and get some gardening supplies. 

What books have you read during this lock down?  I started another Jeff Wheeler series.  If you haven't read any of his books and if you are into fantasy (think Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings), I think you will enjoy it.  

COVID-19: DAY 24 SHELTER IN PLACE APR 9 2020

Last night, my little family prayed and talked about Passover.

We are not Jews, but Passover has never felt more important to me than it did last night.  We prayed for the blood of the Lamb to cover our family, for the spirit of sickness and death to pass over our home.  We thanked the Lord for all that we have.  

We told Michelle, she will always be blessed more than she needs and because of that she has to always find a way to be a blessing to other people.  Now, more than ever, as we see families we know who are struggling in this health and economic crisis, and we have to do our part to help.  Together, we will overcome the new challenges we face.  

COVID-19: DAY 21 SHELTER IN PLACE APR 6 2020

I think I finally realized the root of my sadness during this pandemic.  It is not being made to stay home (I like staying home).  It is not about missing the people I love who do not live in the same house as I do.  What truly breaks my heart is seeing posts from people I know, many of them Christians like me, that encourage people to be silent, to 'stop complaining' about the lock down or the lack of preparedness the government has shown throughout this pandemic.  They want people to SHUT THE FUCK UP.

Yup.  I said it.  

"Stop complaining.  Just follow the rules and pray for our leaders.  It is for our own good."  Fuck that shit.  They can easily say that because none of them wake up in the morning and wonder about where their next meal will be coming from.  None of them wake up and go to work and have to decide which of their patients deserve that last ventilator at the hospital.  Their statements come from a place of privilege, totally disconnected from the reality that it is not only the COVID 19 patients who are suffering.  More people will suffer from the lasting mental and economic impact this will have on the world.

I am not saying they don't care.  I know these people have good hearts but what upsets me is that because something does not directly affect them, then they won't advocate for it.  Isn't that completely against what the Bible has called Christians to do?  Isn't that being selfish?  They all hide behind the verse about praying for our leaders, as if you can't pray for your leaders and tell them when they are failing miserably at their jobs.  If nobody tells them they are doing something wrong, then how will they know to do a better job? 

Leader: Do you think I am making the right decision?
Christian: Aaah, I will just pray for you. I will just support you decision, because that is was good Christians do, we like to follow the leader, you know? 
Leader:  You mean, you don't know if what I am doing is right or wrong?
Christian: I know if it is right or wrong.  I went to school and highly educated and I read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation many times throughout my life. I know a lot of things, but I am not going to tell you what I think. It's not important what I think but I should just pray for you and the government.  
Leader: So you can't have an opinion? 
Christian: My opinion is I have to pray for my leaders and not complain.     

Will not God use us?  If enough of us speak up for those who can't speak for themselves, I think the leaders will finally listen.  Sure, prayer is our number 1 weapon.  But it is not our only weapon.  We can see, we can hear, we can feel when something is wrong.  We can't just sit around as if the only action we can take is to pray.  Again I am not making light of the power of prayer but is not the only weapon in the artillery.  God has called us to love others as we love ourselves, so if we advocate for ourselves, shouldn't we advocate for others?

COVID-19: DAY 19 SHELTER IN PLACE APR 4 2020

I am feeling much better today!  Whew!  I was worried that I will slide down the slippery slope of sadness.  After I cried to my husband last night and told him my fears and frustrations, I felt better.  Thank the Lord for my husband!  Also, he did not work today, so I was able to spend time with him. We even ran errands together!  Running errands feel like date night now.  Oh how times have changed!  We wanted to go for a nice drive but the weather wasn't really cooperating so we decided to just head home after our exciting trip to the post office and to my cousins house for some extra gloves.  

When Michelle and I went to the market on Thursday, we had a list on hand to buy the things we needed for the house.  I really wanted to cook our favorite Peruvian dish, Pescado alo Macho.  Its fried Branzino with a seafood cream sauce and we always order this at the local Peruvian restaurant not far from our home.  I have never seen Branzino at the Asian market so I was to replace it with Baramundi, also from the sea bass family.  As I was walking along the fresh fish section, the Branzino caught my eye!  I should have bought more of this fish since this is a family favorite.  But I don't want to buy more than I need (no hoarding!) so I just bought 2 of the fish.  It was a big hit for the family and already shared the recipe with my cousins and friends.    

Pescado alo Macho Recipe:

2 Whole Branzino, cleaned, salted to taste, dust it with a little flour, deep fry

Sauce:

Half a pound of Mussels (half shell) 

1 pound of Clams

Half a pound of Shrimp

1/3 cup of water

1/4 cup Cream

2 ounces dry white wine

Onions, chopped

Garlic, minced

Bell peppers, diced

1/3 cup frozen peas

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat your oil in a pan, saute your onions until translucent about 3 minutes.  Add the garlic, clams, mussels, shrimp and water.  Cover and bring it to a simmer.   Clamshell will open once cooked.  Stir and add the wine, bell peppers and green peas and simmer for 3 minutes.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  

Plate your fried fish and pour your sauce over the fish.  Best eaten with white rice.  Enjoy!

COVID-19: DAY 18 SHELTER IN PLACE APR 3 2020

The first thing I saw this morning was an article shared to me by my best friend.  It was an article about a particular Chinese restaurant at Davis, the one I frequented when I was in college.  Ding How.

I would eat here at least once a week, usually on Fridays with my dad, who picked me up to go home to the Bay Area on weekends.  My dad loved how a big platter of food with chow mein, fried rice, an egg roll, and your main dish was only $7.  You have soup before your meal and fruit afterwards, too.  We would each order a lunch special and have food left over to take home to mom.  Ding how had the best hot and sour soup and Fisherman's soup.  I loved their prawns in lobster sauce and their 'happy family'.  I remember during my freshman year while I lived in the dorms, I would ride my bike and order a whole roasted chicken with the sauce on the side and I will eat that whole chicken all week, reheating it in my dorm room microwave.  

My best friends also learned to love this place throughout my 4 years at UC Davis.  We would have dinner here whenever they dropped me off on Sunday nights.  The food was consistently good and inexpensive.  Perfect for broke college students like us. Even after college, I would bring my husband and daughter here, a dinner stop after snowboarding in Tahoe.  

Like a COVID-19 patient on life support, Ding How is also struggling to survive. This disease has wrecked lives and livelihoods.  I pray that they will find a way to stay open and continue to serve the community for many more years.  I pray this not only for Ding How, but all the small businesses that do the best they can to serve their communities.

Today I cried to my husband, all the pent up sadness and frustration I have been feeling these past several weeks.  The mind and heart is more fragile than the rest of the body.  While my body has stayed strong, I am struggling with emotions that have been hard to shake off.  I am hardly working, there is not enough work.  I have two employees in Manila and one here in California.  The employee in California, I have laid off for now.  She will be receiving unemployment and has her family to provide for her needs.  But my Manila team, they are the only ones in their family currently working.  If I lay them off, there will no longer be a source of income for their families.  So instead of me doing the work, I have them do it.  The unemployment checks I receive, I will use to pay for their wage.  I am thankful the Lord has blessed my husband's career and he is able to provide for our family, even if our business is not able to earn at the moment.    

The situation in the Philippines has left me heart broken.  A third world country, desperately trying to ward off this hideous, microscopic enemy.  The poorest of people have no means of earning a living will the whole metropolis on lockdown.  Cities and towns in provinces across the country have a similar ordinance in place as well.  Local governments have given out food rations:  5 kilograms of rice, 2 cans of sardines, 2 packs of instant ramen, a small bottle of hand sanitizer.  How can a family survive on these rations?  There are news of families getting between P5,000 and P8,000, but it varies depending on where you live.  Because of this variation, I am 100% sure, without a doubt, local politicians will line their pockets with the money that was supposed to go to the public.  Why can't the government announce that each family gets X amount of food rations every X number of days, and each family gets X amount in cash.  Then say, 'If you get any less than this, your local government is robbing you of the help you are entitled to receive!' But of course they would never announce anything like that.  Corruption starts from the lowest government position all the way to the very top.  No one is spared.  NO ONE. Isn't it sad that while the people are starving, these greedy m*f* still think about stealing from the people?  

It is true.  You test a person's character with power and money, unfortunately for the Philippines, everyone in government has failed this test.  

COVID-19: Day 17 Shelter in place Apr 2 2020

I didn't realize, being in a home full of people, even the people I love the most, can be so lonely.

It is day 17 of our shelter in place order and today was such a sad day.  It was somewhat productive.  I was able to shop for groceries, exercise a little bit and learn a little bit of German, but I had no will to work on my project.  I just wanted to sit and do nothing.  I felt terrible and felt guilty especially when I see my husband working 12 hour days, his income being the only source of income for our family for now.  But I felt like I needed to just be sad today and let it pass.  I hope it passes very soon.

I don't know how hard other people are taking this situation.  Don't get me wrong, I am not taking everything I have for granted, I know I am blessed beyond measure.  This whole situation is sad. I am sad.  

COVID-19: Day 15 Shelter in place March 31 2020

We now have about 180,000 cases of COVID 19 here in the United States.  The president's hope of opening the economy and the country by Easter has been replaced with the projection that we will hit our peak in two weeks.  

I have been outside only a few times during these last two weeks.  I really don't want to catch and spread this virus so we are doing everything we can to protect ourselves.  I was supposed to go to the post office today, but I decided against it and went to the mailbox instead.  

My biggest struggle right now is parenting.  Michelle is 13 years old and I do not know if I am properly handling this "pandemic parenting".  She is on 'spring break' right now, so no online classes.  She is in her room pretty much all day, watching Netflix, Youtube or making Tiktok videos.  We watched Knives Out last night, an effort to do something together as a family.  We really enjoyed the movie.  I asked her today if she wanted to watch any more movies but she shrugged and said,'I don't know, Mom.'  She does not enjoy reading, another thing she inherited from her father. We tried to play board games but none of us are really into it so we ended that quickly.  I teach her how to cook, she still walks the dog, but I feel like we are not interacting enough. *sigh* She is a good kid.  I know she is, but I don't know what kind of lasting effect being locked down inside the home for weeks on end to anyone's mind.  I am starting to get restless myself!

COVID-19: Day 9 Shelter in place March 25 2020

One of the most recent news going around is this Filipino senator Aquilino Pimentel, who tested positive for COVID-19.  While he was waiting for his test results, he breached  quarantine protocols and took his wife to the hospital to give birth. He put his family and the hospital staff in danger!  I understand wanting to be there for your wife when she gives birth but during times like these, damn it, use your common sense!   He broke the law and he apologized, and that seems to be the extent of it.  What can the rage of citizens do against a rich and powerful man?  Whilst a homeless woman was arrested and placed in jail for being out on the street (she is homeless!) during the quarantine.  Nasan ang hustisya?

As much as I love the Philippines, I cannot stand the injustice.  This is the reason why I don't think I can ever live there again.  I am afraid that I will be corrupt and I wont even feel remorse for it because corruption is embedded in every aspect of life. If you a poor, there is no justice for you.  If you are rich, justice is on your side.  The scales of justice always tip favorably towards those who have money to spend.  

I'm not going to pretend I have not benefited from this.  While our family is not rich like the senator, we have more than enough and can get things done expeditiously if we chose to use corrupt avenues to get things done.  We have used these avenues in the past, everyone there seems to accept that this is how things are done.  It is wrong, but if you want to get anything done, they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.  You are desensitized to the corruption that goes on around you.  There is a "secret" rule book people use and you can pay to use that rule book.  

Now that the Philippines is under quarantine, the divide between the rich and the poor is even more prevalent.  People can't go to work, so they don't get paid.  There is no unemployment insurance, not even a flimsy safety net to help them in times like these.  You can get a loan from Social Security Services, but your wages will be garnished once you start working again.  When you work paycheck to paycheck, having to pay a loan is another burden you must bear.  

Here in the United States, the economy may go down but there is confidence that it will bounce right back.  For the Philippines and its people, it's not going to be that easy.  

Speaking of America, our legislators have agreed on a stimulus package to help Americans through these troubled times.  I hope we get some money from the government.  We need help, too, as our business is not doing well. I am thankful that the Lord blessed me with a husband who is blessed with a job that allows us to save some money.  I am thankful my husband has the wisdom to save money for times like these when we need help.  

I have two employees in Manila.  Business has been super slow and I know my niece and I can manage it even without assistance from our Manila team.  But I don't want to let them go because none of their family members are able to work right now, their employment in our business is the only way they can earn a living and put food on the table.  


I really pray this ends soon.  This will end sooner IF WE ALL STAY HOME! I hope you do your part.  

COVID-19: Day 7 Shelter in place March 23 2020

This introvert still misses people. 

I do not miss the loud sounds at work.  I do not miss the constant hustle and bustle of people going about their days at the mall.  But I miss my friends and my relatives.  My cousins and I have a group chat going and they really do brighten my day, but after 6 days of being cooped inside the house, cabin fever is really starting to set in.  

But I know I have to do my part. I do not want to get sick and I don't want to get my family sick but being stuck inside will mess with your head.  


The last time I was in room full of people was when we went to the St Thomas More Cioppino Night fund raising dinner.  That was a good night!  So much food and drinks with a few of my favorite people.  

COVID-19: Day 6 Shelter in place March 22 2020

I had the day off yesterday and today and I was able to actually get some rest, albeit, not enough sleep.  I noticed that I have only been sleeping an average of 6 hours since the Shelter in Place was announced.  I don't think I am more anxious than the average person, so I don't know if my lack of sleep is due to the corona virus situation.  

There are over 30,000 reported cases of the virus in the United States but thankfully, we have not had too many deaths from it.  It feels wrong to say "thankfully" to that last statement.  I don't mean to disregard the lives of those we have already lost, I know each life is precious.  But compared to the devastation that Italy is facing right now, I am thankful that our state (California) has chosen to act relatively quickly to try to be a step ahead of the virus.  

Today, my husband took the day off from work and we decided to take the dog for a walk around our block.  We have a huge block, probably an average of 3 to 4 suburban blocks so it took us about 30 minutes to walk around it.  It was a bad call.  Dog was scared of the noise and was reluctant to keep walking just a third of the way thru (we made him walk still) and my allergies started to act up.  I was miserable by the time we got home.  I hurriedly hopped in the shower to get rid of the pollen.  So beginning tomorrow, no more long walks for the dog.

Someone we know is under observation for COVID 19.  I pray that it is nothing more than a cold or a flu.  But I think where they live, anyone who show even mild symptoms are placed under observation.  I don't want to worry because worrying won't help. 

The other day, I wrote that airports might close either here or in the Philippines.  I think we are indeed moving in that direction.  I read this morning that only Filipino citizens will be allowed to enter the country.  Foreigners are being asked to leave.  There are still thousands of tourists stuck in the islands as domestic flights have been suspended (ferries and buses also cancelled), so they have no way to get to an international airport and try to get home.  It is a total mess.  In the last two weeks, I think I only had 2 or 3 clients who decided to proceed with their flight.  This week, I might need to start cancelling those who are traveling in April.  

If someone stumbles upon this blog right now and you are still not practicing social distancing, I plead you to stay home.  You might not be gravely ill, you may be asymptomatic, but that doesn't mean you cannot infect the people around you.  It has been widely reported in the news that it is mostly the elderly that dies from COVID 19, but other perfectly healthy individuals can get very sick, too.  It could lead to permanent lung damage and/or death, even if you are young and have no pre-existing condition.  Think about your parents, your grandparents, think about the people you love.  This shelter in place is the only thing that will protect us for now.  While they are testing medicines to fight the virus, there is no silver bullet, no vaccine to protect us. We are all vulnerable.  I don't know how else to explain how serious this matter is.  The fact that states are telling its people to stay home, countries locking down, thousands of people dying. This is serious.  You may think it doesn't affect you, it does.  No one is immune to this.  It will affect your life one way or another.  

COVID-19: Day 4 Shelter in place March 20 2020

I was not able to write anything yesterday because I have been incredibly busy with work.  Travel is down to almost zero (no new bookings in a while) but my customers who have booked their trips prior to this pandemic still need assistance.  So while I make no additional income by helping them now, it would be wrong to just leave them out there to try to figure this whole mess out.  

I am exhausted.  Working from home makes you work longer hours because when you remember to do something, you power up the computer and do it and you get tied up and start doing other things.  What was supposed to be a 5 minute task has turned into another hour of work.  

But today, I'm taking a day off.  I did work a little bit but most of the day, I'm just relaxing.  I did manage to exercise today, some Zumba, squats and weights and I did a tiktok video with my daughter. =)  A friend of mine is a certified cross-fit trainer and she gives me exercises that will work with my limitations (RA).  I have lost 8.5 lbs in the less than a month and I plan to lose more during this shelter in place.

I can't wait to do another cooking show on Instagram Stories today.  I am really looking forward to that.  Cooking is therapy and I am excited that I can share some of the skills to my friends out there.  

The US government is getting closer (I hope) to figuring out the details of the CoronaVirus Relief package.  I pray we get some help from the government.  Everyone needs help.

There is one confirmed case of COVID 19 in my hometown in Cavite so early this morning, I spoke to my brother and gave him instructions to buy more food and prepare to lock down for more than 1 month.  No one should leave the house unless absolutely necessary.  

It is the situation in the Philippines that has me extremely worried.  Healthcare is not very good over there.  The few world-class hospitals are in Manila and have limited capacity.  They have a quarantine in place but it is not properly enforced.  There are too many exceptions and Filipinos are notorious for being stubborn and disobedient to the law.  There is no unemployment insurance that provides safety net if they lose their income due to circumstances like the one we are currently facing.  The poor (a majority of the people) will now have to decide if they should continue to work and risk getting sick in order to put food on the table, or to stop working a starve.  

To top this off, politicians are still squabbling.  Citizens criticize and complain constantly.  The inequality between the poor and the rich are even more obvious when facing a crisis like this.  Test kits are readily available for the rich and famous, while the average person needs to be critically ill before they get tested.  

Maybe that's how it is here in the United States, too but to a lesser degree.  Movie stars and athletes seem to be getting tested more quickly while others have to jump through hoops to get tested. 

California declared a state-wide shelter in place policy yesterday.  It really looks like we are going to be stuck inside for 8 weeks.  In my gut, I also feel like some of the airports will be shutdown in less than 2 weeks, either here in the United States or in the Philippines.  Cases in the United States jumped to 14,000, with a 1.6% mortality rate.  There are now more deaths in Italy than in China.  China is starting to recover.  Their data, supplies and manpower is now being used to help countries all over the world.  I really do hope and pray the nations help each other out.  No one wins by being selfish during these times (so stop hoarding people!!!).

COVID-19: Day 2 Shelter in place March 18 2020

So Day 2 has been very much like day 1.  Except, I started to do a cooking show on Instagram Live (if you want to follow me, @thisismimie, you better send me a message first because the profile is private).  

My first episode had 3 viewers.  I cooked Oatmeal Arroz Caldo which is basically savory oatmeal.  This dish, if you can tell by the name is rice cooked in a pot of chicken broth with garlic, onion, ginger.  Instead of rice, I used oatmeal and placed a hardboiled egg in it for protein.  I think I may have shared a recipe here in the past.  But below is my finished product.

I had better success in viewership during the dinner episode.  =) I cooked Shrimp Sinigang which is shrimp in tamarind broth.  I plan on doing more of this during the lockdown.  I like that I get to interact with people and share my cooking skills with them.

Tomorrow, I am going to cook Cajun Prawns.  


The President of the United States signed the coronavirus relief legislation into law.  Based on what I read, Americans are going to get money from the government to help in this crisis.  I just don't know how the money will be distributed, but I know everyone is hurting and needs help.  I pray we all set aside greed and selfishness and do what we need to do for the GREATER GOOD.  

COVID-19: Day 1 Shelter in place Mar 17 2020

Well, I better write about what is going on in the world as my foggy memory will totally mess it up for me and ruin the stories I tell my future grandchildren!

The world in under a state of panic.  Several nations have closed their borders, cities have a shelter-in-place ordinances, people are canceling trips, people are panic buying hundreds and hundreds of rolls of toilet paper (more on this later) and storing food like we are facing the Apocalypse (maybe we are, it's day 1 of our lockdown after all!).  All this because of COVID-19 or Corona Virus, a virus similar to the flu but as this is a new disease, there is no known medicine or vaccine.  About 4% of people who get it, die from it, mostly the elderly.    

COVID-19 started in Wuhan, China when several employees of a market fell ill.  It is suspected that the virus was passed from bats to humans and while bats are immune to it, humans are not.  Conspiracy theorists, on the other hand, believe this disease was man-made, especially after a novel written in 1981 called, The Eyes of Darkness, described a flu-like disease that started in Wuhan, China.  You can read the excerpt below.  But experts say that is just coincidence, that we give too much credit for what man can do.   After all, the Simpsons predicted Donald Trump would be president and well, let's not get me started on the president.  That means we, we haven't developed a disease to kill each other yet, we have semi-automatic guns for that (wow, where did that come from?). 

So the elderly is at a high risk of not being able to fight this disease, so do those with chronic illness and have a compromised immune system (hello!).  Kids and healthy adult are the ones who are mostly asymptomatic and likely to be the ones spreading the virus because they don't know they have it.  Symptoms include dry cough, fever and body ache.  Every hour of every day since the last week, I ask myself, 'Do I have this virus???' I do have a dry cough, no fever and body ache though so I haven't switched on the panic button.  

Confession:  I have been, for the past 3 weeks, slowly accumulating food and supplies for my family.  I did not panic buy!  I did it very slowly.  I read the news a lot and when I read that the FBI is starting to stockpile surgical masks and hand sanitizers, I bought some of it for my family.  Then I bought groceries, and then 2 days later, more groceries.  I think have been to the supermarket twice a week with a semi-full shopping cart each time.  There's 7 of us here at home, so we need a lot of stuff.  But then, there are people that HOARD toilet paper, and canned goods, and rice and everything else you can possibly think of!  Lines outside the Costco start forming at 4 am!  Shelves at grocery stores sit empty!  If you want to buy toilet paper, good luck with that!  I have just another big package of toilet paper saved up, so I instructed people in the house to think that the toilet paper in the bathroom is the last one we have!  It's amazing how all of a sudden, 1 mega roll of toilet paper lasts 24 hours in our bathroom, it has now been 36 hours, and we are only half-way thru 1 roll.  

My husband and I are working form home.  I have been working 12 hour days for the past 9 days.  A lot of work, for little to no income. We have a travel agency and our industry has been severely affected by the coronavirus.  No one is traveling unless they absolutely have to.  I issue refunds to my customers based on the airline guidelines.  But every industry is hurting.  The whole world is hurting.  Many restaurants are closed or only open for take out or delivery.  The world is going to be a different place when this is all over.

But at the same time, the world needs this break.  Pollution in the air and waterways are at an all time low.  I read a news article that with China being on lockdown and factories being closed, clearing the air has spared more lives than those lost in China due to COVID-19.

I miss hanging out with friends, family and church family.   But we are blessed we have the technology to see each other through video chat.  Despite all that is going on, we have to learn to count our blessings