How is your life changing?

[bethzaring]

A lot of my friends are weeks post being fully vaccinated. The biggest change for me is playing bridge in person for the past two weeks with my neighbors. Other than that, life is still mostly locked down. Trips are limited to the grocery store, once a week. I am content cooking all the time! and do not think of going to a restaurant or movie theater. DH's careless clients just finished a quarantine because one son tested positive with the UK variant. Apparently the family took this seriously and no one else in the family got the virus. And by today the family of 5 has departed for other countries, so Dh can work in peace and calm. I'm not expecting to go to any dance venues until the Fall, if then. We wear masks when ever we leave the house and plan to do that for months. We had our first friends over for dinner last week but will not do that again for a while; it was a special event for our friends. It will be hard for me to give up Covid precautions. I really don't want to get the virus and possibly have long term side effects.

How are you folks coping?

 

[Lee Vining]

Wife is an RN and has been working her days off and holding over after working 12 hour shifts.
It's been tough for her.
She's been exhausted and it's drained the house of her energy and presence.

Her hospital is administering the vaccine for free and picking up the labor cost and that's rolled over the multi-million dollar mark.

So the hospital is withholding contributing to her pension plan because they don't have the money and that'll mean she'll have to put in a few more years to meet her retirement goals.

This will eventually be behind us and wifie will resume her love of Botox, sleep, fussing-over, combing and polishing her dog:

 

[Katie H]

Glenn and I are pretty much stay at homers so the restrictions haven't had any real impact on us. Both of us have been fully vaccinated since last month and, pretty much, do what we've always done save for wearing masks when we do go out.

We're happy doing what we always did pre pandemic.

 

[Just Cooking]

We are up to date with vaccinations.

The main change in our lives is wearing masks and using hand sanitizer, everywhere we go. I believe that will continue, for us, for the foreseeable future. We are careful and comfortable in public.

We dine out frequently.

Ross

 

[Andy M.]

After getting my vaccination, I felt able to relax a little. I no longer have the constant anxiety about catching the virus. Still cautious. Don't want to get even a little sick.

SO gets her second shot tomorrow. My daughters and SIL both have their first shots. GS is 14 YO so he can get his vac when the vaccines are approved for 12-16 year-olds. I am hoping for that before he goes back to school. At least before the holidays.

When everyone is protected and we can get together and hug and I can play with my grandson. Then I'll be a happy man.

 

[Lee Vining]

We are up to date with vaccinations.

The main change in our lives is wearing masks and using hand sanitizer, everywhere we go. I believe that will continue, for us, for the foreseeable future. We are careful and comfortable in public.

We dine out frequently.

Ross

I like to dine out too.
Restaurants here are simply ordering restaurant supply pre-cooked entrees', thawing, heating and serving them. Abandoning their usual inspired fare.

I can do that at home.

We were Jones'in for Lobster Tail and finally found a little joint in the Ft Mojave Az desert that did it right:

 

[Just Cooking]

I like to dine out too.
Restaurants here are simply ordering restaurant supply pre-cooked entrees', thawing, heating and serving them. Abandoning their usual inspired fare.

I can do that at home.

We were Jones'in for Lobster Tail and finally found a little joint in the Ft Mojave Az desert that did it right:

I would be so happy to find a similar Lobster Tail joint, here in Missouri. One of my dining disappointments in MO.

Most of our favorite dining places here have had some degree of in-house dining for a few months. Strong restrictions but, an opportunity to have good eats locally. I have yet to find a good lobster tail dinner (or any saltwater seafood, really).

Ross

 

[Cooking Goddess]

Lee, those tails look great!

Glenn and I are pretty much stay at homers so the restrictions haven't had any real impact on us. Both of us have been fully vaccinated since last month and, pretty much, do what we've always done save for wearing masks when we do go out.

We're happy doing what we always did pre pandemic.

Except for still needing to finish off complete vaccinations and ripening time, this has been our live before and after shelter in place conditions.
*********************
We have probably bought take-out more from the two local joints we've patronized in the past, but we did only take-out from them before Covid. There's only one restaurant we would go to several times a year, our favorite Irish pub. We liked going there for our anniversary, which didn't happen this year We were there only once during this pandemic for a quick bite of beer and potato pizza. I just told Himself, though, that once we're both fully vaccinated we are going back there for the full shebang: shared appy, full dinners, shared dessert - and maybe a pint or a fancy cocktail. Gotta make up for lost time.

 

[GotGarlic]

Life changed drastically last spring when the schools were suddenly closed in March. DH is a science specialist and started working from home right after that. He was doing Zoom calls in the dining room while I hung out in the living room or kitchen, listening in It was fascinating listening to him run and participate in meetings. I got a much better idea of what he did all day.

Another major thing that changed was the end of our neighborhood's monthly cocktail party/potluck. I really miss those. And one of our favorite restaurants closed early on We used to go there at least once a month, for their Sushi and Tunes night with sushi specials and live music. We usually met up with neighbors there, too.

And of course, all the Master Gardener activities I was involved with were canceled. Some of that has started back up again recently, but our meeting space is rather crowded and we have a lot of elderly members, so we haven't had in-person meetings yet. Hopefully soon.

DH and I are fully vaccinated and past the two weeks, so that eases my mind. Looking forward to when we can socialize more.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Slowed down my eating out a bit, but otherwise nothing changed except the masks. Oh and the quarantining of our frail elders.

 

[Bitser]

We live in a remote spot—35 miles to the nearest town. But the isolation wears on us. We're both vaccinated and have started hosting friends for dinner, which is nice.

But my age is catching up with me: I worked outdoors most of my life and enjoyed paddling whitewater, ski mountaineering, ice climbing, and that sort of thing. But these days, I get stiff and sore from tilling the garden. Exercise helps, but I'll never be really fit again.

 

[cjmmytunes]

Mom and I were vaccinated in February and March. Went like a charm except for sore arms. Still stay home a lot. Mom had a couple of tele-health appointments and HATED them. I don't mind them.

 

[skilletlicker]

For the first time since the pandemic onset, today I returned to Mediterranean Grocery, my favorite specialty grocery store. Got Palestinian Zaatar from Lebanon, Turkish sumac, Morrocan sardines, Bulgarian feta, Greek olives, Tunisian dates, and pomegranate molasses imported from California.

Forgot olive oil and labneh so goin' back tomorrow.

 

[Cooking Goddess]

That's a really nice looking place, skilletlicker. The one Mediterranean shop closest to us, about 20 miles or so, is small. Many of the things they sell can be found in closer grocery stores, but I do like to haul up there when I need small amounts of specialty spices. They have a wide variety in bulk - just buy what I need!

 

[Roll_Bones]

We had a very hard year. First the pandemic. Then we lost our daughter. Then we lost my wifes best friend. Then I got served with a lawsuit. (since settled)
We are fully vaccinated. Our oldest daughter thinks the vaccine is a government control method. I am trying to get through to her, but SO's influence trumps mom and dads advice I guess.

 

[taxlady]

How has our life changed? The living room is full of empty Amazon and other boxes. We have some stuff that needs to be sorted and a few good boxes would be handy, so DH started saving these "good boxes". Then it got out of hand. Now we are working on breaking them down and hauling them out to the recycling, but the bins only hold so much. Pick up is once a week. It's slow progress, but we will get our living room back to usable. And everything takes longer to do as we get older.

 

[Just Cooking]

We had a very hard year. First the pandemic. Then we lost our daughter. Then we lost my wifes best friend. Then I got served with a lawsuit. (since settled)
We are fully vaccinated. Our oldest daughter thinks the vaccine is a government control method. I am trying to get through to her, but SO's influence trumps mom and dads advice I guess.

My heart goes out to you.

Ross

 

[Lee Vining]

First day free of back pain in months.
Prepping to head up North and visit the Disney family museum.
Then take a one day break from my diet and visit the prime Rib room in SF.