Author: iagardener55

We are no longer in self isolation- only because of necessity, however. I had stockpiled enough food at the condo for us to easily last the two to three weeks. With the Barajas’ family gone up north, we felt our place was with, (we loving call them los dos Juanes), the two Juan’s. So, we packed up, and moved back into Juan’s house for the week.

This has always been our first home down here, a sanctuary, if you will. We cannot repay them for allowing us to live there, not just yearly, while on vacation, but for the seven months it took to remodel our condo.

We are on our way to Juan’s house for the next week. His brother, Pepe, along with Paty, and their son Arturo, are going to go on holiday for a week, to visit their oldest son, Pepe, in northern México. Everything is packed up and ready. There was a lot to pack, too.

When one uses a CPAP, as I have, for about seven, or eight years now, plus, I have the SoClean2, a machine that keeps the entire system clean, daily, it is quite the setup, and take down. Worth every minute, do not misunderstand me. I felt my life come back to me when my friend, Lynn K., let me have her CPAP machine. She did not care for it, and could not get used to it. Thank you, again, Lynn. It has saved my life.

After a horrible, not to mention sleepless, night during a sleep study several years ago, they noted that I actually stopped breathing more than twenty times in one hour. Stopped breathing. No wonder I was so tired all of the time. Since I have become reliant on the CPAP, I am completely unable to sleep without it. So, to prevent nightly panic attacks, the whole system goes where I go.

I digressed, again. Not sure what food will need to go with us. Thinking we will find out soon enough. Will let you know how the day progresses.

I hope and pray all of you stay safe, and sane, in your homes. I am thinking about all of you, everyday. I am trying not to worry too much about you.

I am, also, trying not to worry about the little vendor man, at our favorite Mercado, who will not be able to sell his produce. And, what will happen to him, not having his few pesos everyday? My heart hurts for all of you, those reliant on a paycheck. I thank the good Lord everyday for my retirement.

As boring days go, this one has been, without measure, the most boring day ever. We have done absolutely nothing today, not even walk. Tomorrow, I hope, will be different. I am going to walk in the morning, when we get up, then do some laundry.

How are all of you spending your time in isolation? Oh, we are also going to continue to watch Game of Thrones- again. It is such a good show, with some excellent acting, that it is easy to watch it again.

Anyway, everyone in our circle, here, is well, and healthy. Wash your hands people. Do not become a statistic.

Upon awakening this morning, it felt like a scene from the book/movie called “The Day After”, which is an apocalyptic tale that takes place the day after a nuclear holocaust. There were no sounds of people in the garage, going to work. No sounds of anything, really. Strangely, eerily silent. Peaceful, actually.

I have been busy, however. I spent the day making an Instant Pots full of frijoles borachos, (drunken beans), a large batch of arroz rojo, (red rice), and, pork leg with onions, garlic, beer, and dried chipotle peppers. All done in the IP!! Oh, that was a lie. The rice I did in a heavy skillet. I should try it, though, in the IP. Hmmm.

As for the two of us, we walked to Enrique’s condo, and took some of the food we prepared over to him. He lives just two and a half blocks from us, so it was a nice walk, in the heat of the day. He is a bachelor, who lives alone, so we like to share stuff with him. He appreciates, and, even likes, my cooking. As does my husband, do not misunderstand. But to have someone else cook for you, especially when you live alone, would, I imagine, be somewhat of a treat.

On our way home from Enrique’s, we took a leisurely stroll around the park, his, and, ours. Then, when we got back, I decided that I had done enough for one day, and got back on my computer to play some WordScapes. Fun. Keeps my brain running, even when I am trying to sleep.

How interesting is this? Our power went out about thirty odd minutes ago, and, as I mentioned to Ivan, I wondered if there was anyone working today, as it is the first full day of the city services being shutdown, due to the CoVid19 virus.

I am using my iPad Pro, but it is not saving anything that I am typing- not until power is restored, and we have WiFi again. I have typed two posts now, that I am hoping will be saved once the electricity is restored.

We got to listen to a wonderful downpour, but, as there are three floors above us, the rain comes straight down, not at much of an angle. One side of the condo gets pelted while the other side does not.

It has stopped raining now, and some of the other cave dwellers are out in the hallway, talking, and laughing. Just wish someone would restore the power. The night is dark, and full of terrors.

Ask, and ye shall receive. The power has been restored. Now, to get the internet up and running again will be another twenty minutes, or so.

Never mind. It just went off again. Ok, now it came back on. Oh, for the love of Mike!!!

Down here, for us anyway, it is very easy to self-isolate. We are a couple that enjoy each other’s company more than “outsiders”, if you will. We have always been more interested in each other than, say, running over to someone’s house, to watch a movie, or TV show, have a cook out, etc.

Right now, there only twenty one cases of the virus, here in Mexico City. I have the feeling that the CoVid 19 virus will probably not affect us, as we always wash our hands upon leaving any place we have been- the Metro, the grocery store, a taxi. It is second nature to us. It is unfortunate that so many have been affected by this virus. People need to start washing their hands. You can not have any idea who has touched something before you did. And, what was on their hands, that they did not wash off before touching it?

You can really start to see how germaphobes get to be that way, once you start thinking of the possibilities. Gross.

One last thought- why do people not understand the importance of the simple task of washing their hands? So many epidemics, pandemics could be lessened, or stopped altogether, by simple hand washing. What is it that makes people forget something this important? Laziness, that is my guess. People think they have so many more important things to do, they do not have time to wash, with soap and water. You do not need to use hand sanitizers all of the time. In fact, you should not use them too frequently as they remove all of the helpful flora from your skin. But a minute or two, to save the world from this kind of madness- not asking too much.

We were told, this afternoon, that, as of the publishing of this post, quite a bit of businesses throughout the city will be closed, hoping to reopen sometime in April. The amount of people gathering in any one place will be limited to less than six in a car, for example.

Needless to say, we went shopping. Not like you folks have done up North, but we bought enough essentials to get by for the next two weeks. It is rumored that some of the larger grocery stores will reopen, with reduced hours, within the next two to three weeks.

Tomorrow, I will be making a batch of tomato sauce, freeze it in one cup servings, and, when frozen, I will vacuum seal them. That way we can use the beautiful tomatoes we bought today, at the market over the next few weeks.

I have made two different salsas within the last two days, luckily for me. We shared half of both of them, however, so, I will be making more of those as well. They are both so yummy, we use them with almost everything we eat.

Too funny, though- we bought six large containers of yogurt, just in case we really cannot go to the store. We have just discovered apple flavored yogurt- my new favorite. We also bought blueberry with pecans and cereal pieces- my second favorite, and coconut with cereal pieces. We also bought a case of boxed milk, so we should be good.

The day before yesterday, we bought flour tortillas, one kilo with extra butter, and one kilo that are jalapeño flavored. Earlier in the day, we were at our local smaller store, Superama, and bought fresh corn tortillas, also a kilo. Also shared quite a few of all three of those.

This will be an interesting experience, as neither of us has been much involved in any kind of epidemic, much less a pandemic! We are trying to teach, and, remind people to wash their hands. But to live for who-knows-how-long within a semi-closed city will be something new. I will let you know how we progress.

And, to top that off, today, we left the condo about nine o’clock, and, came back around three o’clock. The administrator of the condo had scheduled the cleaning of the cistern on top of the condo, so there was no water available throughout the day. That said, everything I did after we came home required hand washing. Alas, there is still no water. I had to pour some over my hands, over the toilet!! Lovely. Oh, the things we take for granted!!!

Ivan has gone from 230 lbs. to 190 lbs. this morning. It has taken him about eight months, but, just by decreasing the amount of food he eats, he has lost 40 lbs. That, and us walking in the park!

I am so proud of him. It is amazing what changes we can make when we are able to get outside, daily. It has made all of the difference, in both of us.

You have never seen garage trucks like we have here. They look like beetles that are covered with ticks.

Each of the large bags holds different types of garbage – one has plastic that can be resold, another has glass, some have paper, and cardboard, etc. Most trucks, however, have barely an inch of space left on the entire outer surface.

When they stop at any particular place, store, or someone’s house, they immediately go through everything left for them, and divide it into its necessary bag. I am not really sure what happens after they have a full truck, and that is probably for the best.

I am just glad they do such a good job keeping the city clean.

This post will be, mostly, photos.

That wraps up the kitchen. Next I will show you the first bathroom, wheelchair accessible.

I heard the weather is warming up. Enjoy. Remember, though, it is only the beginning of March.