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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 26, 2020 22:42:01 GMT
So here we all are, stuck at home through mandate or voluntarily. Beyond deciding whether or not to get dressed every day, how are we all spending our time? Let's see this as a safe zone, where we can share our worthwhile ideas along with the dumbest wastes of time without incurring judgment.  Some of us are probably already mining the book, tv, & movie threads. But don't forget about youtube, where you can watch people try on wedding dresses, do stupidly dangerous experiments, or teach you how to cook along with a myriad of other things. Today I discovered this channel and am completely hooked. You'll see that there are different genres and will probably want to go to the era of your youth to watch India discover certain classics for the first time. I've watched four so far, and what a revelation to see this young woman react to John Denver, Don McLean, Joe Cocker, & Patsy Cline for the first time. Keep in mind that she hasn't even heard of most of these people. I loved that she so totally "got" Joe Cocker, but was dumbfounded when she wondered if the Beatles' version of Help From My Friends had ever been released. Without further ado ~ www.youtube.com/channel/UCl6rkFLhFc7tXN8n8Wk_-vw/featured |
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Post by mich64 on Mar 27, 2020 3:34:49 GMT
I think my husband is going to wear the floors and carpets with the vacuum. If the weather co-operates I think we will be washing windows on Saturday. The snow has begun melting rapidly so outdoor chores will come next. We have approximately 16 shows recorded on the PVR so there is always something to sit down and watch in the evening.
We should also be able to begin our daily walks, the road should be in good shape with the snow banks melted off the sides of the road.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 27, 2020 3:44:53 GMT
Your husband is way too high-energy to take quarantine sitting down, isn't he?!
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Post by bjd on Mar 27, 2020 7:04:11 GMT
I already waste too much time at the computer but the non-stop Covid19 coverage on the various news websites sends me to YouTube to watch old music videos, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing, or old Dick Cavett interviews.
Speaking of Dick Cavett, only probably known to North Americans of a certain age, it's amazing how free spoken and liberal his jokes and comments were, and intelligent at the same time. I realize how conservative American society has become since then as well as how dumbed down.
Last night I watched bits of Robin Williams interviews. He did tell one interviewer that he used "controlled Tourette's".
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Post by onlyMark on Mar 27, 2020 7:30:40 GMT
I've partially given in to getting lost within the internet. Following links here and there into the maze and reading all sorts of things like pages of unsolved murders on wikipedia etc. Also on you tube finding long lost music I'd forgotten about.
There is a bloke on there who is an engineer and was converting a new van into a camper. He had very good videos of how he did it with all the technical stuff. Now he's finished it and gone off camping in Europe - but he's been caught out by the virus spreading and has taken the advice to go home, back to the UK.
He was in southern Portugal and has posted several videos of how he is returning and I'm (arrogantly unfortunately) shaking my head a bit at him because several times in the past he has shown not be totally experienced in travelling and now he is 'making a meal of it' in coming back.
Like a military exercise.
He's teamed up with three other vans and says he will come back in convoy because it is safer. He's been paranoid that he won't be able to cross the borders when all that has happened is he's been asked where he's going and then waved on.
He's having to do about 2000km but for some reason is travelling about 600km a day and it takes him god knows how many hours each day, For example he set off one day at 9am and didn't park up until 9.30pm and I don't have a clue what he's doing to take him that long.
It's as though he's trying to fight his way through a war zone when all he's doing is driving up a motorway and filling up with fuel from time to time.
Mrs M mentioned we'd probably just take turns in driving and do it in one go, buying some nice croissants on the way.
He's also said his travel insurance will be invalid now and wouldn't want to be caught out having to pay for treatment. He doesn't seem to be aware that is what the NHS EHIS card is for.
Yes, I know I'm a little dismissive of him but can't help it.
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Post by onlyMark on Mar 27, 2020 8:16:30 GMT
Mrs M may well have to fly back to Zambia, a flight is booked but we are waiting to see if it still runs or not. Whenever she does go away I tend to go on a little adventure somewhere - not now though. Nothing open, hotels shut and borders closed. Bugger.
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Post by mich64 on Mar 27, 2020 19:26:56 GMT
our husband is way too high-energy to take quarantine sitting down, isn't he?! Yes, correct Bixa! He is generally a high-energy individual, so he is finding it challenging but very aware of the importance of adhering to all rules of social distance and staying home as much as possible. Most of his energies are being spent in our home/property and he is currently outside at the deck at the shore of the lake tackling a levelling job he was expecting to do in April but he is finding ways to begin the task now. One of the good (and bad) things of living out where we do is being able to be outside with little to no worries of much human contact. |
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 27, 2020 22:40:16 GMT
the non-stop Covid19 coverage on the various news websites sends me to YouTube to watch old music videos, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing, or old Dick Cavett interviews. Yes! As I said somewhere else, we're now like people during the Depression, needing escapism. Really, I can feel my little mind skittering like a roach to keep away from the cloud of sadness this plague is visiting upon the earth. And true that Dick Cavett really was a witty and urbane bright spot on tv. He once said he had the opposite of paranoia in that he thought people were following him around wanting to be his friends. Mrs M may well have to fly back to Zambia Gee, Mark ~ do you follow the van guy in order to make yourself crazy and to have someone to yell advice at?  The guy sounds like a royal yo-yo. Are you uncomfortable with the idea of Mrs. M taking a plane right now, or secure that she'll take every possible hygienic precaution? he is currently outside at the deck at the shore of the lake tackling a levelling job he was expecting to do in April but he is finding ways to begin the task now. Mich, I guess your husband's health is back to 100%? Or do you feel you need to get him to slow down a little?
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Post by onlyMark on Mar 28, 2020 6:53:30 GMT
Are you uncomfortable with the idea of Mrs. M taking a plane right now, or secure that she'll take every possible hygienic precaution? Not really comfortable, no, but there are no excuses for her not to go according to her work. Especially considering Germany has about 51,000 cases and Zambia has 22 and that is where really her job is for now. She would in any case have to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. She'll do all she can to stay safe but there are always random factors. The concern I have would be there is only one airline, Ethiopian Air, who are flying to Zambia currently and they have severely restricted their destinations, so it could easily come when they stop and she gets 'stuck' there. But, she'll never get stuck unless there is some revolution etc (like we had in Egypt) that physically stops her leaving because the company grades the severity of any crisis in any country and once it passes a certain level, evacuation flight are ordered. Initially family members are asked to leave, the next level is they are told to leave, then employees who are not part of the core team are asked to leave, then told to leave, then the core team are evacuated. In Egypt it developed so quickly that all the steps were missed all the way up to evacuate everyone asap. I have concerns about her catching something on the flight out, but once there and due to the location she is, the precautions they take and the office procedures in place I feel she is reasonably safe. Just in case though, I've told her to tell me the PINs of her credit cards and password for her bank account. (joke).
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 28, 2020 17:24:11 GMT
Here's hoping that the company might decide that it's all too problematic, what with the airline & all, & decide that video-conferencing is the way to go. Well, also hoping that is something that would work with Mrs. M's job.
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Post by onlyMark on Mar 28, 2020 19:17:03 GMT
At the moment Germany is graded by her company to be a higher risk than Zambia and even though she has been video conferencing etc she knows that those there are wishing for their 'mother' to return (as there is no-one above her in the hierarchy for the country, and is also the boss of bosses in Zimbabwe) and soothe their fevered brows and so on. Give them guidance, have the authority to do things they can't, act as a link between them and the headquarters, act as a rallying point and so on and so forth.
Never mind the company position that she is going to a lower risk country, she'd probably go anyway - up to the point, if it gets to that, that the German government, through the Embassy, declare it is too dangerous and evacuate.
Anything less than that official level, then she is expected to go back.
I am working on a private contingency plan though, as you might expect, but I very much doubt it would get to that point. Best prepared though and may involve crossing a river at night.
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Post by mich64 on Mar 28, 2020 19:24:10 GMT
Mich, I guess your husband's health is back to 100%? Or do you feel you need to get him to slow down a little? Actually, he had his tele-conference appointment with his surgeon last month. After his review of 3 months worth of heart monitor strips and another 3 day monitor, his doctor was very happy to report that he feels the procedure was a success and that he does not require a second procedure. This condition will reoccur eventually but at the time he is not experiencing a-fib and feels quite well. He even dropped the dosage on one of his medications. It has been a challenge the past year to remind him constantly to take it easy but for now he is able to return to his normal activity level. (No cleaning windows today, a little too cool still, but the floors got another vacuum! Ha Ha!) |
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Post by htmb on Mar 28, 2020 19:27:18 GMT
Mich, that is excellent news!
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 28, 2020 20:02:01 GMT
Yes it is! Hooray and congratulations.  |
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Post by questa on Mar 28, 2020 23:13:45 GMT
A Little ray of light in a dark time...no, not dark...just monochromatic grey, time.
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Post by questa on Mar 28, 2020 23:36:19 GMT
Best prepared though and may involve crossing a river at night. You just can't do it the ordinary way, can you,Mark? Sneak across the river,meet fixer, change 2 donkeys and women's clothes for a gold antique French clock. Navigate by stars across the flood-plain to a certain nameless town. Donkeys given as a "gift" to a well placed military chap who sees to it that you and Mrs Mark are dressed in the women's gear and squirreled away in the next private jet leaving for 'Destination Alpha'. And, of course you have prepared for it! |
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 29, 2020 9:36:47 GMT
I think they prefer iPhones to donkeys now.
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Post by questa on Mar 29, 2020 11:32:41 GMT
Lets see you wend your way across the dunes with only an iPhone and no donkey, and all the border police waiting to see your give-away pinpoint of light if you turn it on to find direction. Even Lawrence dropped his compass in the sand and would have "done a perish" if Ali hadn't found him.
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Post by questa on Mar 29, 2020 11:52:08 GMT
So here we all are, stuck at home through mandate or voluntarily. Beyond deciding whether or not to get dressed every day, how are we all spending our time? Let's see this as a safe zone, where we can share our worthwhile ideas along with the dumbest wastes of time without incurring judgment. As we are coasting along here, would anyone care for a puzzle story game to play? It concerns an incident from the late 1800s. I describe a strange incident and by asking questions and getting answers from me or each other you can put together the logical story of what happened. It is a bit grim but not as bad as Jack the Ripper. If we stall, I will give you the next clue. Anyone want to play? If you know this story/game please don't blow it. |
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 29, 2020 13:26:52 GMT
Sure, let's give it a try.
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Post by whatagain on Mar 29, 2020 16:02:23 GMT
Ye
S.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 29, 2020 17:57:50 GMT
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Post by onlyMark on Mar 30, 2020 17:54:12 GMT
Imagine a square of grass about 50m a side, a couple of well established trees and some bushes dotted around.
Each side of the square has a large house in which are four apartments. The occupants range from a girl of three and her parents to an old lady of about mid 70's living by herself. In the other apartments, besides me and Mrs M are various couples, some older children and a general mix of people.
In one apartment is a couple where the wife is a PE teacher - currently with nothing to do.
At 11 o'clock every day (subject to weather) we nearly all now depending on who is around, which tends to be the large majority, socially distance together on the grass and are led through a series of exercises, led obviously by the teacher. they are simple enough for the younger kids to follow and easy enough for the older to be capable of.
Various conversations take place, mainly on the virus situation, exchanges of information and checking all are healthy and about 45 minutes later we say our goodbyes and return inside or go about our business.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 30, 2020 18:23:48 GMT
That is delightful, Mark, and the psychological benefits must be as great as those of the physical exercise.
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Post by mossie on Mar 30, 2020 18:43:52 GMT
Sounds just the job, I don't have that situation unfortunately, my exercise consist in doing two or three trips to the top of the stairs and down again as quick as I can. Takes a while nowadays but ups my breathing rate.
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Post by onlyMark on Mar 30, 2020 20:13:25 GMT
If I get chance I'll try and get a photo of the space/lawn.
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Post by mich64 on Mar 31, 2020 0:15:01 GMT
Upstairs windows got done today. Also, I baked a birthday cake for my love. Not the prettiest, but it tasted pretty good!
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 31, 2020 1:21:54 GMT
Happy birthday to your lucky husband, Mich! What's he going to do when he runs out of windows? |
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Post by onlyMark on Mar 31, 2020 9:25:25 GMT
The 'exercise yard' from my balcony. There's a good bird population as well, including small green parrots from somewhere who spend their winter here and many squirrels -  |
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Post by mich64 on Mar 31, 2020 19:17:04 GMT
Happy birthday to your lucky husband, Mich! What's he going to do when he runs out of windows? Well today he shovelled away enough snow to be able to get the car down the driveway. Then he cleaned the BBQ and relined it with tinfoil. Next was picking up all the downed branches from the winter season off the lawns. This morning he went to town and got groceries for his parents. I think he is done for today! |
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