WORKING FROM HOME

"Where's the mouse?" ~Merry

It's hard to believe that tomorrow we will be turning our calendars to August 1st, and entering month six of our new Covid lifestyles. For me, August 14th will mark 6 months of working from home.

If there is one group that has benefited the most from our new normal, it is without a doubt our pets. I've head that people think that pets will go through withdrawal when/if we all go back to our old routines, but I don't know if we will go back to the way things were completely, even when we are able.

The pet in our house who is benefiting the most is not our spoiled (well loved and cared for) cats, but our little budgie, Moonie. And we have noticed the difference.

Our before Covid routine
I leave for work about 6:30am
Rob gets Moonie up between 7:30am-8am (his cage is in a closed room and covered at night)
Rob leaves at work around 1pm and Moonie gets put back into his room until around 4:30pm when I get home from work. He's on a dresser with the radio and light on, but no real window.

Covid routine 
I get Moonie up at 7:15am and put him on his normal spot on top of the fridge. I'm working in the kitchen so he has me for company. After the cats have their lunch, usually when we do, they go to the bedroom for their afternoon siesta. We now shut the door and move Moonie to the table, we now refer to this as his "table time", and he loves it. He's right by the kitchen window, and we noticed he's more active with his toys, bath and tweeting during this time. He's right by me, all afternoon, and we enjoy singing along to the oldies together. His table time will not be taken away, it's a part of his routine now.

Moonie enjoying his "Table Time".

Merry and Molly during their afternoon siesta. 

Here are a few pics I've posted on social media accounts during the last few months about working from home with pets.

I have this issue with both cats every morning. 

"You need these papers? Now?" ~Merry

This doesn't really apply to our cats, they like having us home, but it made me howl with laughter.   

Hope everyone is keeping healthy and safe, here we go into month six.......

FEBRUARY VACATION

 I'm well into week 8 of working from home, physically distancing and what everyone generally calls the "lock-down". I've been thinking a lot about the "stay-cation" Rob and I had in February. We decided to take a week off in February to break up the winter, even though we weren't  going anywhere. We did do something on this week off to make it feel very "vacationy" for me. We ate out at a restaurant almost daily. It was a way to give me a break from meal planning, grocery shopping and cooking.

I'm not lost on the irony of this. Grocery shopping 3 months ago was a breeze compared to the anxiety inducing, I need a drink after I get back from the freak show it is now. I'm meal planning and cooking more then ever, as at the moment, Rob and I have lunch together daily before he goes to work. I sometimes find myself daydreaming about that magical week off back in February, where people brought me food and drink of my choice that I didn't have to shop for, cook or do dishes!

I started that vacation week by meeting up after work on the Friday with a girlfriend at a favorite local spot, "Toast on Bloor". They make a lovely Taffy Apple Martini, and that's how I wanted to kick off vacation!

Taffy Apple Martini at Toast on Bloor

Below are a few pics of the food and drink we enjoyed that wonderful week off......

Pierogies

Pork Schnitzel Dinner

 V's Schnitzel House is another favorite place of ours, and we enjoyed this meal there while on vacation. We shared both entrees. They have remained open for take-out and we have taken advantage of that during this time. Rob and I are both still working, so we get take-out once or twice a week from local places, we both feel it's the right thing to do. 

We joined some friends for brunch on a Sunday at Milestones. Remember how lovely it was to meet up with friends for a meal? I can't wait to do that again.

I enjoyed the Mushroom Soup and Crab Sliders at Milestones.

Winterlicious was going on the week we were off, so we visited The Chop House for the first time. I don't remember what I ate, but I know they made a wicked Martini, and I'd go back just for that!

My delicious Martini and Rob's Moscow Mule.

Rob got to pick a restaurant too! He picked a place in Rexdale he like's, Jolly II. They have been in business for over 30 years, and the food is good. We had a very enjoyable evening there.

Wine and a Lemmy!

We shared Calamari. 

Chicken Parmigiana for Rob. 

Spaghetti and Meatballs for me!

I'd been wanting to go to an old time diner type place, so we checked out Wimpy's. It was ok, but it didn't have that diner feel, and they weren't playing oldies music. We did enjoy our Root-beer Floats though.

Root-beer floats.

Toast on Bloor is one of our favorite places to go for breakfast, and when we are off during the week, we always go at least once. They offer a great week-day breakfast special, so we each get that and an order of their delicious French Toast to share. We look forward to returning.

Love the breakfast at Toast On Bloor.

I miss this French Toast. 

We also enjoyed a meal at Red Lobster one night, and I do love their Mango Mai Tai's!

Mango Mai Tai

My dinner at Red Lobster. 

Valentine's Day happened to be the Friday we were on vacation and that was the day we visited a new restaurant for both of us. We had never been to a Ruth Chris Steakhouse before, and I was really looking forward to it.

My Valentine themed Martini.

6oz steak with 2 lobster tails.

We also had starters and shared dessert. I was impressed with the food and the service. I made up my mind while enjoying my second drink, that this is where I wanted to go for my birthday. My birthday is a little over a month away, I'm hoping that birthday wish comes true.

Valentine's Day Cake

We picked up a cake from Bake Sale to enjoy for dessert over the Family Day long weekend. They haven't been opened during the lock-down, and I've actually baked a couple cakes, but I prefer theirs.

Rob and I are on vacation next week, we were suppose to be flying to Las Vegas for 5 days on Sunday. Though I am disappointed that our trip isn't happening now, we are still looking forward to the week off. This stay-cation is going to be very different then the last one, but we'll do what we always do, make the best of it. 

WORK & WORRY

Whatcha mean I'm in the way?

I feel like we are in a real life episode of the "Twilight Zone". I know I don't need to explain myself, as no matter where you are in the world we are all dealing with the same thing, COVID-19. Life is very surreal right now.

This is my second week working from home. I am grateful that I can work from home, but I miss the regular routine. I miss the camaraderie with my team, my weekly lunch at my favorite sushi spot, and the bi-weekly coffee/tea social with co-workers. I do go into the office one day a week, but nothing feels the same right now. 

Even though I am working from home four days a week, I am trying to maintain my "normal" schedule. I still get up at the same time, I get ready for work like I would if I was going into the office, and when it's that time that I would normally leave to catch the bus, I leave the house and walk around the block three times before I come back into the house and login to work. Rob jokingly refers to this as my daily walk to work. I need to do this for my mental health. 

And then there is the worry. I worry every time Rob goes to work that he practices physical distancing, I worry about my Father in Nova Scotia who is in his 80's, has health issues and lives alone, I worry for my friends who are trying to balance working at home and caring for their children, I worry for my friends who have lost their jobs and have financial stress, I worry about having an unexpected health or dental emergency during this time. I know worrying about things I can't control is a waste of time, but it's hard not to.

I know this situation is not forever, and I need to keep reminding myself of that and role with whatever comes my way.

Excuse me Molly, but I need that mouse.

Even in all this darkness I find myself looking for the daily bright spots. Our pets are thrilled to have us home so much, it's nice to have lunch every day with Rob before he leaves for work. I look forward to the 7:30pm neighborhood nightly hand clap for health care workers and those few minutes of across the street chat with neighbors.

Our decorated door.

I asked my friends children to draw some pictures for our front door as part of the neighborhood window walk. It's nice to see the children's artwork in the windows and on the front doors when out for a walk.

I love Facetime!

I had a Facetime coffee date with my niece last Friday and we have another one scheduled for this Friday.

I feel a little bit of normalcy on the weekends, as Rob and I pretty much kept to ourselves anyway, but I know we are both looking forward to those things we all took for granted before; get togethers with friends, going to our favorite restaurants, holiday meals with family and shopping when and where we want. 

I know we will get there. We are all in this together. Reach out to friends and family when you need to, try to do something daily for your physical and mental health. Better times are coming. 

My new temporary work space.