Quarantine: Where You're Not Totally Different, But Also Not The Same.

Hey friends!

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from each other! Hope you all are staying healthy, staying inside and staying away from people you don’t live with as much as possible.

I don’t know why, but Quarantine makes me REALLY tired.

If it were a normal period of time, I would be wide awake. I’ve been sleeping, I’ve been exercising, I’ve been getting sunshine (though nobody has told my skin). Yet, it’s not a normal time. It’s Quarantine, so I have every excuse to be constantly sleepy without reason or explanation.

The point of that sidebar was, sorry I haven’t been here to keep you busy! I’m back now, with 1.25 weeks worth of things to say.

Abnormal - It’s the New Normal!

First, let’s talk about how the abnormal is now normal. We’ve been Quarantining for so long that I don’t remember not Quarantining. Me, who never made coffee at home, now makes a mean pot of coffee, cause Quarantine. Me, who always ate leftovers for lunch, now whips up a lunch meal - you know those classic meals that taste best at lunch: grilled cheese, BLT, tuna melt. The lunch meals that you only eat on the weekends when it’s not Quarantine.

While I can’t wait to get back to a normal (abnormal?) routine, go to work, shower regularly, I also think it will be odd. And I have a feeling for a small period of time after Quarantine ends, I will be late A LOT, due to the previously mentioned sleepiness and lack of leaving my home. SORRY BOUT IT.

But, now that Quarantine is our new normal, I’ve had time to reflect on a lot of my new normal habits. They’re not exactly different. But they’re definitely not the same. They’re like the same-ish. Or if we’re being fancy, same-modified...same-ified.

So what exactly does same-ified mean?

It’s the at-home version of whatever you already did.

And I don’t know about you, but even the things I exclusively used to do at home, I’m still doing differently now. Maybe just to entertain myself? Who knows.

Different for No Good Reason

For example, I’m not a gym person. A large percentage of the reason I hate working out is because I’m too lazy to leave my home. It’s such an event to gather your things, get in your car, drive where you’re going, actually do the thing, and drive home. As you can probably tell from that list, that’s four extra things. I don’t like extra things, because I can barely stand the “actually do the thing” part.

Anyway, moral of the story, I always worked out from home, even before I was forced to by Quarantine.

I’m a Zumba gal. Because it’s like dancing at the bar. Minus the drinks, the cute outfits, the friends, and 70% of the fun. But still, it’s way better than most of the alternatives (Running? BLEH. NOT FOR ME).

So, in these Quarantine times, I could continue my at home Zumba videos like business as usual. But for some reason, QB and I have taken up dancing in the kitchen while using cans of spaghetti sauce as weights. Again, we have weights. But it just feels more “on-brand” with the current times to stick with spaghetti-sauce dancing.

Also, yes, it’s as goofy as it sounds. Just ask our neighbors who have spotted us through the windows.

What else have we been doing but in same-ified form?

Video Chats - And They're Here to Stay

Family and friend hangouts! Like nearly everyone else, we have taken to video chat to have our wine nights, game nights, _____ nights. And I’ll be honest. I kind of love it.

QB & I participated in a game night with my family using JackBox games and it was bomb! See below for photographic evidence (sorry you are so large in said-photo, Steven & Lauren).

Why I'm Now a Loyal Video Chatter

I do love hanging out with people, but just like my gym struggle, sometimes leaving the house is SO HARD. And sometimes having people come to you is even HARDER. Especially if you’re really sleepy and you’re trying to politely kick someone out.

(Spoiler alert: there’s no polite way to do it. My go to is, “I hate to kick you out, but I’m kicking you out.” Also sorry Salena, for all the times I’ve fallen asleep on my own couch while you’ve been over. I didn’t even have the decency to kick you out with words…all you got were the snores.)

So I’m digging the video chat thing. And I plan to keep this around for long-distance family and friends even post-Quarantine. Looking at you, my entire family, who can no longer not include me in things. I expect you to video chat me and put me in a floaty while you swim. Decide amongst yourself whose device will be used for this treacherous task.

Also, I have to hand it to QB, who has already done this long before Quarantine. Turns out, it’s called video games. I used to make fun of him and say things like, “Why don’t you actually go out and do things.” But now I get it.

“There’s a New Club In Town Called Just Dance. Wanna go?”

^ That’s actually what QB said to me, when he invited me to join him for a night of Wii Just Dance. But it was so fun and clever! Seriously, I got dressed up in a clubbing outfit. I didn’t even know I owned a clubbing outfit, but then I found a white romper that I bought for my bachelorette party and never wore, because me + white is a terrible combo. UNLESS I’M IN MY OWN HOME! I looked GOOD and I came out of the night completely unstained! And, as usual, I was the Just Dance queen.

We Can’t Forget About Food (#NeverForget)

Probably one of the biggest differences that impacts QL’s QL (Quarantine Lisa’s Quarantine Life) is the food situation. I love to eat out! I like supporting local, but most importantly I like eating food. Food that I haven’t cooked. And I like doing it in a place that is not my home.

The funny part is, starting on February 15th, QB and I paused all eating out. We were saving money for a (cancelled) trip and were waiting until the first week of April to eat out again. Well...y’all know how that went. So, we actually haven’t set foot in a restaurant in 2 MONTHS. If you know me well, you know that’s like 1 month & 3 weeks too long.

Thank GOODNESS for takeout, cause ya girl was getting antsy for a cheeseburger and an enchilada - both of which never taste as good when you make them yourself.

P.S. Support Local!

As a plug, I would like to remind you that if you have the means, please continue to get take out from your favorite LOCAL establishments. Especially those which might not have as much business. If you see a local place that is selling out day after day, maybe put that on hold for another favorite which needs some TLC.

Bringing Home the Dining Out Experience

But in addition to the takeout, we’ve found out it’s actually fun to cook a fancy meal at home. Not to mention, MUCH CHEAPER. Plus, QB and I tend to get tense in high stakes situations (AKA situations that involve food) so if we can do it and enjoy it, you can too.

For a bonus activity, dress up in fancy clothes, set the table nice and have your dog dress up as a waiter and serve you. Just kidding, we already tried that and Rex was a really terrible waiter. The food never even made it to the table, and he looked awfully suspicious with his drooly, drooly mastiff jowls.

So that’s basically our new normal. Or at least the glamorous parts of our new normal. Behind the scenes, QB’s hair is REALLY BUSHY, I have not held up my end of the “shower daily” deal and our dogs bark a lot.

Cheers,

QL