Common sense - where is it?

Watching the news over COVID-19 and seeing panic.  Yes totally get it. People are dying and no cure or vaccine yet. What I don't get is people losing their common sense.  Stocking up on items for the year and wiping out items like hand sanitizers.  How many do you really need? Do you realize that by purchasing ALL of them off the shelf the next person has nothing? Seriously all those little plastic bottles in your home? Now the person you run into hasn't disinfected their hands because they had nothing to use, because they are all at your house. Common sense? Nope.

Masks! Don't get me started. Let's pay attention to how often we touch our face. A lot. Studies show when you wear a mask you touch your face more often because you are adjusting the mask. Feeling if it is still okay. You hand automatically goes up there. Hence you are touching your face more and what about taking it off incorrectly?  Hmmm..... infected yourself. Well done.  Leave the masks at the hospitals where they belong.

Yes wash your hands. Which you should have been doing BEFORE this. Get a flu shot. Can you imagine if social media reported on people dying who didn't get their flu shot like they are reporting on COVID-19!  Something to think about.

Last Facebook isn't the World Health Organization (WHO). So go to their site not your friends or any post that doesn't come from CDC, your own health department or WHO.  The rest of it is scare tactics to increase someone circulation.  Common sense.  Get your news at reputable sites.

Being on a team is a feeling

Recently we were having a discussion about being on a team.  That it is more than "Team A" or "Team B".  Mouthing or introducing X is on our team.  She/he glues us together is meaningless if you don't proceed to make that person feel part of a team.

Being on a team is a feeling. That you are part of something bigger.  If you proceed to say Sheila is alone this week even if X will be there also, than is X really part of this "team"?  I have heard individuals say oh I meant one of us isn't here.  That means Sheila is the only one on her team here as X doesn't factor into it.  Period. If you don't include X in conversations, as part of a body being present, than don't mouth they are part of your team to outsiders.  What they are is support people. Which is fine but say it like it is.

There is nothing wrong with support people - we need them. They do their job and yeah can be part of the glue to hold a "team" together.  But they are not part of the team is they don't feel it. If they are excluded from writing their names on cards, don't know who is off that day or covering.  Don't be a hypocrite and tell outsiders X is on your team. That says to X is that you want to look inclusive when you're not. That is is all about you looking like a "team player".  Say it like it is X is our support person we couldn't do without.

Being on a team is a feeling.  Don't mouth it and think it makes it so. Don't make introductions that are not true and belittle an individual. Say it like it is. If you can't make someone feel like they are on the team. Fine. But don't "mouth" it to others to look better than you are.

My rant.

The weekly challenge

We have set ourselves a challenge. It is to full a bag for goodwill. We are dividing our challenges into weeks to keep it simple. Week one is our closet. It is a transition time out of winter clothes and into spring. A good time to look at what you have been wearing all winter and decide if it is still in good shape, are you tired of it, no longer your style. One of us, not naming names, keeps clothes because they still fit and are okay.  The clothes are no longer her style or she was worn them for years and yeah they should go. Don't transition your winter clothes until you take each piece and decide if a keeper or not. We didn't put a "bag" size so a grocery bag or a garbage bag both are good. The week time frame was set for a deadline.


After that we are tackling the "junk" drawer in the kitchen, linen closet and outwear or entry way closet. Each will have a week. When we get through COVID-19 it would be nice to have completed some projects. To have something to show for being home just not I watched everything of interest on Netflix and ate. 


Being home more has made me (since I'm writing the post I get to put in some personal stuff here) more aware of my home. Things I like, don't like. I realize I have too much stuff. There always seems to be stuff on the bedroom chair and floors. Not all clothes, but books and paper. One extra thing on my list is to go through paperwork and shred taxes, receipts I no longer need.


If you can think of any other areas of the home that could do with a purging and/or organizing let us know.

Making the most of staying home

The world is in lockdown (or you should be). More time at home and seriously how much housework can you do?  Hmmmm….more apparently looking at the dust on the television stand. That said here are a few things we have been doing to make life more normal and/or keep sane.

• Book club - yep we are still doing book. It is viva Zoom but it works. We are actually thinking this would be a good way to continue during the winter months when it is cold and stormy. To stay curled up at home and Zoom. Beverage of choice.
• We have a standing date for Friday at 9 pm.  Whoever can make the call great. It is just a way to decompress at the end of the week. Also catch up and rant.
• Try and support small local businesses. Purchase gift certificates form restaurants for when this crisis is over.
• YouTube it.  Take a course - we have all seen free classes on Facebook. From Instagram, writing, drawing check them out.
• Challenge yourself #the100day challenge started April 7th but you could start anytime. One of us is connecting with someone via email, phone or snail mail every day for 100 days.
• Connect - this is the perfect time to sit down and write a letter or card. I'm sure we all know people who would love to receive mail. I would.
• Realize this will end and use common sense. To get through this we have to stay home and give our health care workers a fighting chance.  We have to be part of the global community. We have this - staying home with Netflix, social media, books, crafts classes - make the most of it.
• Stay safe and keep everyone else safe. We have this.

Some of us are struggling with so much time at home.  How do we entertain our children? Partner? Ourselves?  Some of us are working from home and trying to maintain a routine.  Here are suggestions. Stay safe everyone. We are all in this together.

1.      If working from home DON’T stay in your pjs.  Make an effort to shower and get dressed. Make sure you are drinking water and staying hydrated. Take a lunch break – which means leaving your laptop and moving.  If you can squeeze time head outside for a walk to break your day. Seriously you will be fresher and more productive because of this.

2.      Purge and organize.  Start your spring cleaning.

3.      Children – get them writing grandparents, aunts, uncle and/or favorite people letters and drawings. 

4.      Plant some seeds and start your gardening now.  Get the kids involved with the planting and what they want to grow.

5.      Do a puzzle the larger the better!

6.      All those pictures you have been taking – head on-line to Walmart or Costo or wherever and do a hardcover book.  Maybe of a trip? The year in the life of.

7.      Free on-line classes – come on they are out there

8.      Call a friend.  Call a parent. Call a grandparent. Call period.

International Woman's Day

On March 8th, 2020 we celebrate International Woman's Day.  Or I hope we celebrate it as women are incredible and not recognized enough.  That it is 2020 and we are still fighting for women's rights in parts of the world blows my mind.

That caregivers, mothers, people that put their children first are often putting themselves and society helps last.  That we still don't recognize the virtues that women have to offer and that they are often discounted as less than "male virtues".

That when women stand up for themselves and others they are often treated as aggressive not assertive, even by other women. I have found that women are often the worse critics of other women! Please there is enough for all of us out there. Don't begrudge anyone making it happen.

So for International Woman's Day my hope is for support, encouragement, compassion and empathy. That not only do women stand with and for other women, we stand up for everyone that needs us and needs a voice.

Valentine's Day Ideas

I realize Valentine's Day isn't for everyone and if you are single it can be hard.  If you don't embrace being single and it hasn't been your choice.  That said here are a few things to do for Valentine's Day regardless of relationship status.

• Chocolate or treats.  Single, couple, whatever - don't wait for anyone to buy you sweets. Get them yourself.  Even a bottle of wine after all the special day falls on a Friday.
• Makes plans ahead of time to go out after work for drinks. If people unavailable maybe go out Thursday night.
• Purchase funny Valentine Day cards for friends and co-workers. Remember when we were kids and gave them out at school? Do it as an adult - most people will get a kick out of it.
• Have a "friend" valentine evening. If you know few singles go out to dinner or have a potluck. Watch a movie and munch out.
• It is one day. If you find it hard take a deep breath and remember it is one day.  Have a bubble bath. Watch a favorite movie, start a new Netflix series or read a book. No plans - this is not a reflective on you.  It is a money making day for businesses.