Breaking News!! (only interesting to those who know us)
DH and I finally bit the bullet and ventured out of our self-imposed (but common sense called for) isolation. We both have some 'issues' which could make us possibly more vulnerable to Covid and it's lasting effects. So... we have been exceptionally careful to remain isolated this past year plus.
But since we are both now totally vaccinated we felt safe being around our children who are also totally vaccinated this past Easter. Now just recently we started doing 'take-out' again - which we have avoided in the past year due to not being comfortable about those preparing the food for take-out. But since it seems that the virus isn't transferred by food, we decided it was time to regain this luxury which we have missed (and besides as much as I love to cook, after a year plus of home-cooked meals, it was beginning to be a bit much).
And now today we took a step further and actually went to the Mall to walk. This is something we used to do twice a week pre-pandemic, but have avoided it since the 'shelter at home' started. I have to say that it was crowded... which made us a bit nervous... but we persisted. We were double masked and needed to walk (and to be around people).
And truth be told, almost everyone was masked. The Mall had a sign out front requesting masks be worn (and there were a few - very few - who didn't have them) but almost everyone did.
We visited a new store that apparently opened during the pandemic. It is called "Eat-aly" (like Italy - but basically all food related). It is a fantastic store - 2 stories of everything you can think of from Italy - coffees, wines, breads, pastas, confections, jams, chocolates, etc. - rows and rows of food items from floor to ceiling as well as 3 restaurants and countless counters for sitting and eating or drinking. I had an espresso con panna from their coffee bar which was excellent.
Only problem was that the store was so packed with people, it made us a bit uncomfortable after all this time of isolation. They were all masked and both a sign and a person out front was checking on this, but still...
We walked through, got the lay of the land, bought my espresso and left. But we will return next time we walk the mall and hopefully it won't be so crowded, so we can spend more time checking it out.
You can google Eataly Dallas - and check out the photos!
Thanks for letting me share this bit of news... which may or may not be that interesting to anyone else. But it's amazing that such a little thing could do so much for boosting one's morale. I'm not that much of a people person, but it was nice to be out and about again.
I'm sure all of you have your own stories to tell concerning how this pandemic has affected your lives. I'd love to hear some of them if you care to share.
Hugs (still virtual - unless you're vaccinated and masked),
Rian
I remember visiting the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in October 2019 and there was an Eataly there as well. It was incredible and I wish we would have had time to sit and have something to eat there but we were in a hurry to meet up with friends, who ended up being delayed so we never did see them.
ReplyDeleteHooray for getting out and keeping safe while doing so. Nearly two weeks ago now, I was out every day for one reason or another - almost all of it at garden centers where I was outdoors - and it felt so nice and almost normal to be out and about and not feel quite as nervous about it. While I've yet to get my second dose, that will be soon and like you, I'll continue to mask up for sometime yet.
Have a great weekend!
Eataly was great. I would have enjoyed spending more time there if it hadn't been so crowded. But the espresso con panna was really good... and we will go back... maybe early in the morning when they have just opened next time. Good luck with your second dose. We had no real problems with the vaccines. Wishing you the same.
DeleteRian, I love the look of Eatally, what a fun idea for a store. I am venturing out more too, and after a year of having my groceries delivered to my door with Instacart service, I now see grocery shopping as almost a social event.
ReplyDeleteWe are still doing curb-side pickup, and have thought of continuing it since it is so convenient... but I do like shopping at Central Market... so maybe we will try that again as time goes on (masked of course).
DeleteOh, gosh, I'm doing a happy dance for you! Yay! It must have been SO strange!
ReplyDeleteI got my first vaccine (Pfizer) yesterday, but the 2nd one isn't until September (Canada does not have the capability to manufacture its own vaccines anymore, though that is changing!). Anyway, I'm very aware that I won't have any immunity for a couple of weeks, and in any case, we're still under a stay-at-home order. Ontario now has a 3-phase plan to reopen, based on vaccination and infection rates, and IF all goes well, we could get to Phase 1 in mid-June. That would mean 15% capacity in non-essential retail stores (closed right now, except for essential services).
I don't know how I'm going to feel. I've been alone in the house for 14+ months, with only Derry for company, though when we were open I did go into non-essential stores (of course fully masked, that's mandatory here at this time). I need some human contact on a regular basis, other than through a computer screen, but at the same time I have a lot of anxiety about it, and about returning to work on campus in the fall, if we're forced to do that. So there will be lots to figure out/work out in the next few months.
Anyway, I hope you'll both feel more comfortable, especially at a less busy time. I hate being in a mall anyway, so when I needed to go, it was first thing in the morning, right when they open. That won't change!
Take care!
It was SO strange... and walking around in that store with all those people around (masked or not), it felt a bit scary. But question: why is your second vaccine not due until September? Here we were told and have gotten the second 3 weeks after the first. Is this an availability issue?
DeleteAnd I know what you mean about human contact... (at least there are 3 of us here in the house)... but after this past year plus of isolation which for the most part we have survived well... I've suddenly felt the need to 'get out' and 'be around people' - even for just a few minutes. So walking at the mall may do it for me. I do consider it a 'risk'... but a small one... and one that I find do-able.
I still avoid really crowded places, and although I've stopped wearing the mask outdoors for the most part, I still mask up indoors, even when it's not required. I went to Costco (which has relaxed its mask guidance) and saw that way more than half the people inside were also wearing masks! Why not? In any event, I am happy that we are slowly finding some normalcy in our daily lives. I've learned to love Zoom yoga classes and hope they continue for a long while. :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree... "Why not?" It's not a difficult thing to do. And if it gives us a degree more of safety, why not? And I've learned that if I wear a mask outside in the open air, I don't get a scratchy throat from the pollen in the air.
DeleteSo glad you got out and mingled a bit. Surprised that masks are still mandated there. They were mandated here but the mandate has been lifted and are now pretty much optional. I will continue to wear mine for a while and wish more still did.
ReplyDeletePatti, masks are not mandated any longer here in Texas, but businesses can still require them... and from what we saw, most do. It was really nice to be out and about... but I'll admit it was a bit scary as it was crowded (but almost everyone was masked).
DeleteI haven't been anywhere very peoplely, except restaurants, but am looking forward.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't tried restaurants yet... and if we do, it would have to be outside for a while. The mall was the only place we've been out around a lot of people, but as I mentioned, most were masked... so hopefully it was OK.
DeleteWhat an amazing operation and a unique place to launch away from home adventures.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great place to visit... and we will go back... (when less crowded).
DeleteMy husband and I have been doing things the same way you have. Though my husband did go to the store once a week w/mask, large glasses, and even gloves when things were at their worst around here. He said they were a good reminder not to touch is face. When he brought the groceries home I wiped each item with alcohol, (I felt like a big raccoon washing each can and package of food). We and a couple of our friends didn't eat carry out food for more than a year also. I cooked everything, though a lot of it was frozen dinners there toward the last. All of the foods that I make really got to be tiresome, especially never taking a break from cooking every day. My friend emailed me a few days after their vaccinations had time to be effective and listed all of the different carry out food they had been enjoying after the vaccinations made it safe. She was sick of cooking also. They are still not going to dine in restaurants, and we won't be either for a while, but our shots finally had enough time and we, too, feasted on all of the carry out food we had been craving. I kept craving French Fries from every where, I don't make french fries at home and the carry out ones tasted so good to me. There were two favorite fast food places that we always went to that were either closed or had very limited hours because of their inability to attract enough workers back to work there. I will where a mask in stores and other public places for a while longer because there are such terrible contagious variants of Covid in other countries that could arrive here in the USA at any time.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have an exciting trip to Great clips for professional hair cutting and styling this coming week planned. He bought some kind of clippers and did his hair once himself, but I haven't had my hair cut (except for my messed up bangs that I did myself) since early March of 2020. We both are looking like Clan of the Cave Bear people at this time. I'm 67 years old and the last time my hair was this long was in 1974. I will wear my mask during my hair cut and I have no intention of allowing that plastic cape to be put on me. I don't know if those are washed at hot enough temperatures or even at all. I'll just wear an old blouse.
Best of all, we finally got to hold our sweet little new grand daughter, who is now four months old. She is such a pretty, little, sweet girl. No mask was needed and she smelled so good.
Susie, isn't it amazing how such a little thing (like take-out) can be so appreciated after all this time. We did things pretty much the same as you... (even still wipe down our mail). And we haven't tried restaurants yet either... but will start with outside eating when the time comes. And both DH and I have gone without haircuts all this time too. I bought clippers to do his, but my hair is now in a long white ponytail. We both plan on getting our hair cut by maybe June. And I got to hug my grandkids for Easter... after all of us were vaccinated! I did so miss that. Enjoy your granddaughter!
Deletenow that more than a year has passed, about the only thing I miss is going to plant nurseries, we start the farmers market in June; we are having a heat wave all of a sudden, mid 80s for us that's hot for this time of year, and the 17 year cicadas are singing in the forest, no masks (and gloves) for us any longer except when I go to the doctor's office
ReplyDeleteJust the opposite for us, Linda. Texas has had a cool May... it's been rainy too, but cool. I expect we will jump up to the 90's and 100's any time now, but are enjoying the weather at the moment. And Texas no longer has a mask mandate, but most businesses still require it (may not enforce, but do have up signs). DH and I will continue to wear the masks as both of us have issues - and find the masks have shown to be great protection this past year plus... and to be honest, we have no problem with wearing them.
Deletei know exactly how you feel, it is amazing and i am so happy you shared it here!!
ReplyDeleteyour new store Eat-aly, sounds wonderful, just what you needed and wanted!! we went to a specialty store yesterday and it was great...everyone had masks on, they were required. we have eaten out several times, but only at outside tables. we are going to continue that until we can no longer tolerate the heat. i hope we have a couple of weeks!!
Yes, the heat is coming. We've had such a cool May that I know we're in for some triple digits before long here in Texas. I just hope our grid can take it. Being without heat in winter is bad, but at least you can layer up... but if it's in the triple digits and we don't have AC, THAT could be deadly.
DeleteI found your post very interesting. What a nice place Eataly looks to be. We have absolutely nothing like that around here. We both have had the vacccine. For the first time since all this started, I forgot to wear my mask to Walmart. I was surprised to see so many others without a mask. I did find one in my pruse and put it on. Glad things are getting somewhat back to normal.
ReplyDeleteI know how it feels to forget things... like forgetting to wear gloves with our masks when going out. Guess we're gradually beginning to feel more comfortable about it all. But like you, I will continue to wear my mask for a while yet.
DeleteHow wonderful to be getting out and about and enjoying the things you used to do. And Eataly sounds like a heavenly place to visit. You are right to be careful still too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Jocelyn. It was great to get out a bit after all this time. We even went to Braum's (which is an ice-cream shop here) yesterday (masked of course). But it was crowded, so we didn't stay inside - just picked up our sundaes and took them out to the car. Still... it was fun to be out of the house.
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