Buhay Pandemia: Bantay sa Ospital

Watching over c3 in the hospital. He is sleeping soundly now. He wasn’t feeling too well after that 3rd session of plasma exchange. He’s been in the hospital since Jan 19. He had to be confined as his vision deteriorated quite abruptly. He needed 5 days of steroids thru IV. After that, he decided to push thru with this plasma exchange. It would make him stay longer as the procedure needed about 5 sessions, with one day rest in between.

I didn’t want him to go thru this plasma exchange at this time. The procedure, though quite routine, still carried risks. Also, I didn’t want him to stay in the hospital longer. I was too scared of this new strain of COVID. I was scared for him and for myself. 

But I understand why he wanted to. He might not be able to muster the courage to go back to the hospital. And the doctor believes this is the best option available, with less risk and cost. 

It’s Day 11 in the hospital. The procedure wasn’t without some scare. He had to battle a local infection. He still has dizzy spells that make him weak. Two more sessions, 4 more days, at least.

Thank God that He brought c3 a personal assistant at this time, one who is able to stay with him throughout. But I try to visit him as much as my work schedule will allow. It doesn’t help that work has been stressful at the start of the year. 

I had a mini breakdown last Wednesday, as his fever wasn’t going away and work was going bad, and even my workout stalled. I cried a bit, feeling so helpless and frustrated. My spirit is breaking. But after that episode, I picked myself and put on my game face. 

Yeah. Roll with the punches for a while then get your grounding. One day at a time, Cee Sy.

New PR

We broke a record today. Eight years and counting. Longest surviving relationship. HAHA. C3 and I have surpassed all of our previous long relationships. And in our culture of achievement obsession, this certainly feels like one. 

In Sickness and In Health. Pandemic downscaled our plans for celebration this year. But a lingering health issue surfaced that changed all that. Never mind. We will still celebrate whether in a plush resort or in a private room in a hospital.

Cheers! *Clicks plastic cups

Buhay Pandemia: Marking Time since Lockdown

 Last year, I bought a new ref for my place. The old one was moved to the beach house, where ‘good stuff retire’, as c3 puts it. This new ref happens to have laminated glass on its surface, perfect for writing reminders using a non-permanent marker.

I marked the first day of Work From Home, WFH, March 16, imposed during the lockdown. I was feeling ‘imprisoned’ and wanted to ‘mark the days’ till release. Eventually, the calendar evolved to track my workout progress during the lockdown, including supplements I have taken and diets I have tried. 

I didn’t imagine then that I would end 2020 still in GCQ. Sigh.

I’ve wiped it clean since January 1. I still don’t know whether I will continue marking time for this year.

It’s Just Another Eve

 And just like, the most unpredictable, stressful, challenging year ever will come to pass soon.

I am feeling blah on the last few hours of the year. It’s my first year in my new work and I did not hit my numbers. For the first time ever, my December was pre-occupied with running after those numbers, up till Dec. 29, the last working day for client.

Because of all the restrictions on movement, and my own paranoia, I did not shop for gifts. But I remain unapologetic. #sorrynotsorry

My only consolation - my trips to the beach house. When the restrictions eased, I had to make sure I could visit and just relax. The sunsets, the full moons, the glimmering waters in the early afternoon, made me hang on to my sanity.

My personal projects, of course, also kept me grounded. I disposed of one property and bought another. And preparing for the turnover of another. Then one final project cooked up in a totally different direction, but spilling over to Jan 2021. 

So tomorrow will be just another day. I’ve learned to take things a day at a time even as I make all these plans. How does that work? LOL 

But I still need to say this, with all sincerity: Have a good 2021, peeps. 

Quirks and Hacks

 C3 calls it my ‘middle class upbringing’. And he is probably correct. My hacks are based on principles of minimizing waste, full consumption, extending useful life.

Toothpaste

Yes, I am that kind of oc-oc. No squeezing in the middle of the tube, please. And I make sure the tube is squeezed out. 

Soap Bars 

  

I challenge myself to make sure that each soap bar is TOTALLY consumed. I do this by attaching the little, remaining piece of the bar to the new one. 

Liquids

I bought this rubber funnel that was made for getting the very last drop of liquid. You attach the bottle opening to the specially-contoured mouth to allow it to stand unassisted. I usually let the bottle stand overnight to make sure that almost all of the liquid is collected to a container.

Creams

 

I also bought these little scrapers to help fully transfer creams into a new container. And yes, those are mini funnels. 

Even wear

 

Linens and even leather bags are indexed and arranged so that all of them are used evenly (numbered!). Linens are replaced quincenas. Bags are on a monthly rotation. 

So that’s the extent of my obsessive-compulsiveness!

Gabriel, Zechariah and Mary

 I used to wonder. How different are the responses of Zechariah and Mary to merit different consequences from Angel Gabriel? Both sounded like they were doubting, at first glance.

Then Zechariah said to the angel,

“How shall I know this? 

For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 

But Mary said to the angel,

“How can this be,

since I have no relations with a man?”

But now as I read and re-read their responses, I am seeing the ‘arrogance’ of disbelief by Zechariah as opposed to Mary’s question of process. Zechariah asks ‘how shall I know this’, which I interpret as ‘how can I be convinced that this is true’. He puts forth a solid argument on the falsehood of Angel Gabriel’s prophecy - age.

Mary, on the other hand, is just asking about the process of how it will happen. And I read her statement as an affirmation of her immaculate heart. ‘I have no relations with a man’ means, to me, ‘I do not and will not have relations with any man, as I am betrothed to Joseph. I will be faithful to him.’

Faith in the outcome, that is what the Lord God tells us. Yes, we may question the process. But we will not deny the power of the Lord God in our disbelief.