Hey everyone. Sorry for going dark for a few days, but like many people in the USA and around the world, I’m adjusting to my “new normal.” When I say new normal, I want to be clear this is only temporary.
I’ve been working from home since last Wednesday. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years, yet I’ve always had jobs that required me to go to an office each day. I work in healthcare but I’m not on the front line.
When the directive came for “non-essential” (those not in direct patient care) staff to stay home came, I had mixed emotions. It felt weird packing up my laptop and a few supplies. I wondered how I would handle the adjustment. Would I run out of things to do each day since a few of my duties require me to be on-site?
A week has passed and I’m busier than ever. I have a couple of new projects. I’ve spent a lot of time on web-ex conferences, Teams meetings, and calls. I’m able to communicate with co-workers via email, text, or secure messaging. The days pass quickly. But I do miss the one on one contact.
On the plus side, I save hour’s drive time each day. I’m saving money by not stopping at my favorite fast food restaurant for breakfast each morning. I don’t have to put on makeup or dress up. And I get this cute little fur baby coming into the room during the day to “check” on me. (For the record, my other fur baby, Little Bit, stays hidden during the day, but he comes out to cuddle in the evening.)
But still, there’s only such much one can take form sitting inside the house. It’s been a week since I’ve been anywhere. Some of the days were cold and rainy, but on Tuesday after I finished work, I was able to sit outside for a while. This was the scene from my front porch.
Pretty nice, huh?
I’ll be around sparingly for the next few days or weeks. But I’m confident we will get through this crisis and will go back to our regular normal.
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35 Responses
Joan, I’ve been wondering about you and John and your furry babies. But it’s not like I’m an everyday social media champion. Glad to hear you’re still working but from home now. We’re all making adjustments, aren’t we? Even though we are routinely home each day, it seems strange that we can’t just jump up and go any time or place we want to. In OR, we’re under a shelter in place order which carries a 30-day sentence and $1200 fine. So, we order our groceries online and either have them delivered or do a driveup for pickup. Today was my first day out in the community since the order went into place, and it was rather morbid seeing everything looking dark and empty and the highways free of heavy traffice. I do believe we’ll come out the other side of this with perhaps better community connection and understanding. I’ll be thinking of you and yours, and I’ll try to stay in touch a little better than I have. Blessings and prayers!
I try to look at the positive and do hope we come out of this with a better appreciation of our neighbors and friends. Although we’re not under mandatory shelter in place statewide, people are encouraged to stay at home. Restaurants are closed to dining in. Movie theaters and gyms are closed. Schools and universities are also closed. And of course, there are the hoarders who have cleaned out the grocery store shelves. Some things are hard to find. But we will get through this. Take care of yourself, Sherrey!
Beautiful view you have, Joan:)
I think this new normal is taking us all some time to adjust. It feels like Christmas now when my husband finds stuff we need at the grocery store.
Isn’t that the truth? Some things are hard to find (or nearly impossible). I still don’t get the massive toilet paper hoarding. Fortunately, we were stocked before this thing hit.
I’m glad you are able to work from home, and what a bonus to have a view like that.:-)
Thanks, Priscilla. Without modern technology, working from home would be impossible. So I count that as a blessing.
I have my doubts about returning to normal, as I think life will be a bit different when this is all over. We will be different, that’s for sure…
I suspect you are right. It will be our “new” new normal.
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie ~ Authors.
Thanks for the reblog, Jaye and Anita.
That sure is a lovely view, Joan. I’m sure you’ll adjust to your new normal soon enough, and I understand the upheaval. It feels different being ordered to do it rather than it being your choice too. Hubby and I are on strict self-isolation due to my asthmatic flare up at the moment, but at least we have a good garden to walk around and sit in, and for a change, the weather is co-operating. Sending hugs your way 🙂
I’m sure it does feel different. So far, there isn’t a mandatory shelter in place for Texas but many counties and cities have issued one. We’re nearing 1000 confirmed cases in the state, mostly in the Dallas and Houston areas, but there are 21 in our county. I (and most healthcare workers) expected the count to rise this week due to the availability of testing. But hopefully, we’ll flatten the curve soon.
You have a great front porch view. I would love that. Especially if it was raining. I find that to be the most relaxing.
I used to work from home and I enjoyed it. No dressing up and driving to work. My commute was twenty steps from my chair to my office. We didn’t do video chat at that time, so shorts and a t-shirt was my wardrobe. Saved me a lot of money. We used interoffice secure messaging as well. And, I was never bored. I think I had more to do working from home than when I went into the office.
I am sure we will come out of this and be a better society because of it. Perhaps people will be a little more kind to one another.
Just my two cents.
I’ve been busier than ever! I have a couple of new projects because of the COVID epidemic which have kept me busy. I disable my camera for video conferences. 🙂 But I do like wearing sweats or capris.
I hope you’re right in that we will come out as a better society.
Hoping your exile is temporary. We’ll get through this, but I think the style of America is going to change permanently.
I agree. I think we’ll see some permanent changes. Hopefully for the better.
I’ve worked from home for the past 20 years, so this isn’t really an adjustment for me. It’s quiet and my furry co-worker is fun to be around. With hubby, it’s a different case. He starts working remotely tomorrow, and he’s not looking forward to it. We’ll see how it goes. Our weather just took a turn for the better, and it was wonderful to get outside yesterday. Hope you have another sunny day, Joan!
So far my husband is working. If he was home, he’d be going stir crazy. It might come to that, but he can’t work remotely. It would be home on vacation or else. Hopefully, if that happens, we’ll have good weather so he can work in the yard.
Aren’t we lucky to have our furry coworkers? 🙂
Ah, a calm voice in a panicked storm, and a positive outlook, too. Just what I needed this morning after all the Chicken Littles on the news.
The picture of your yard is lovely. But I bet Tucker and Little Bit put more smiles on your face than the outdoor view. 🙂 For the record, both pics made me smile. Thanks for that.
Those Chicken Littles get to me. And the press… don’t get me started. We need to do some yard work, but I do like my view. And you’re right my two kitties bring me a lot of joy.
What a beautiful view, Joan. East Texas has its own special brand of amazingness! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Jan. Pity this pandemic had to happen at one of the prettiest times of the year.
It’s rough being told you have to stay home, but it could be worse. (That’s what I keep telling myself.) Stay healthy! 🙂
Thanks, Rachel. I feel the same way. Things could be worse. I could be sick or worse. Take care of yourself.
HI Joan, we are all being forced to stay home too. Our government has put the army on the streets and at the shopping malls to enforce compliance. We can’t even walk our dogs so it is a bit frightening here. I think they [gov] is really worried about looting and demonstrations by our people.
It hasn’t come to that here, but lots of people are ignoring the stay at home. And if we go to mandatory lockdown, I fear things like that could happen. These are strange times, that’s for sure. But we’ll get through it.
I saw today that both Prince Charles and Boris Johnson have this virus. Very scary.
That is scary. Several members of our congrass have the virus.
We are under orders to stay at home, as well, Joan, but Mark is considered essential and has a pass to tend to his building in downtown Orlando. Though his high-rise office building is a ghost town right now, with only some tenants having skeleton crews at work, his job as Chief Engineer is imperative to keep the building functioning properly throughout the ordeal. Therefore,he has to take precautions when he arrives at home, in order not to expose me to anything he’s come in contact with. (I’m in a high risk group, complicated by some health/medical conditions). On the plus side, his trip downtown now only takes about 10 minutes, compared to the hour it takes with “normal” traffic.
For myself, I think working from home is the best thing since sliced bread! I’ve done it for years, through several different occupations, but being a writer is the ultimate stay at home job. I LOVE being able to work at any time of the day or night that suits me, not having to worry about what I’m wearing, being surrounded by our cats (one of which is a black and white tuxedo cat with a pink nose, much like your beautiful fur baby pictured above), and being 100% my own boss. I hope you’ll become more comfortable with your work from home status as the days roll by. Just think–by the time you’ve decided for sure that you love it, it’ll probably all be over and you’ll be going back into the office again. 😀
Good luck on adapting for now, and stay safe! 🙂 <3
I’m adjusting, Marcia. Funny how I’d always wanted to work from home, but in a way, I miss going into the office. But you’re right, when I do go back, I’ll wish I was home!
We are perverse creatures that way. 😀
I’m adjusting to my new normal too. I’ve started working from home on Monday, and for some reason it’s busier than when I am at the office. I think it has to do with all the texts, emails, back-and-forths, etc. for various projects.
Our weather has been sporadic. Whenever it’s nice out, I go for a late afternoon walk, but we’ve had a few days of straight rain that have kept me cooped up inside. I haven’t gotten in an automobile since last Sunday. I’m hoping we don’t have much more than another week of this.
Glad you have Tucker (and later, Little Bit) checking in on you. Raven does the same. I think she’s very confused that both my husband I are home during the day when we should be at work!
Both Tucker and Little Bit were confused at first. But after a few days, they settled down to their routine. Both of them were clingy on Thursday. Tucker never gets in my lap while I’m at my desk, but guess what? He did.
I’m glad you have Raven as well. I got in my car yesterday morning and drove to my local fast food restaurant for a sausage biscuit. (Drive through, of course.) Strange days for sure.
BTW, I meant to comment on your gorgeous photo! What a splendid view. I’ll bet you get all kinds of birds and wildlife visits! 🙂 <3
Hi, Joan! That is a gorgeous view! We’ve all had a lot of adjustments to make, and I wonder how much of the ‘new normal’ will become permanent. I’m confident we’ll get through this, but in the end, this experience will change us––hopefully for the better. Stay safe! <3