Day 49:

Things are bad.  We are breaking into the really good stuff.  The saved for a special occasion stuff.  Tonight we had this:   https://www.masxarot.com/en/cava-gran-reserva/
Great wine.  Special occasion.  Wednesday.

Our desperation has also led us to giving nicknames to the regulars we see on our furtive walks into the countryside behind the condos.  We have the Anchovy, the Farmer, the Wall guy and Ryanair. 

The Anchovy is a woman jogger who does in fact resemble some sort of bluefish.  I said Mackerel, GP Anchovy.  He won.  She has a very narrow face with pale protruding eyes.  Her hair is silver and blue/gray and tied back tightly.  She has no lips.  Bluefish.  When we pass her GP says "Ciao Anchovy" in a mumbley sort of voice.  She has never stopped and slapped him so I assume she only gets the "Ciao".

The Farmer is a nice old guy with an extremely energetic little black and white shepherd of some sort who lives in a lovely old farmhouse on our walk.  The house is a gorgeous salmon painted old place and is surrounded by fields and orchards so we assume he is/was a farmer but possibly not. 

Then there is the Wall guy.  The Wall guy is a lithe young guy that obviously is a free climber when not stuck at home.  Along the dirt tractor tracks we walk there is a stone wall that backs onto a monastery/retirement home.   The wall is about 7 feet high and takes about 3 minutes of brisk walking to pass.  I have no space and time intelligence so this is how I measure.  Wall guy grips the protruding stones with bare fingers and special shoes and crab walks back and forth along the wall.  I cannot even hold myself up.  I've tried.

Ryanair is actually a neighbor of ours.  She lives over our across the hall neighbors.  She's Venezuelan, multilingual-ed, lovely woman and a complete hypochondriac.  Not that there isn't reason to be in this day and age.  But she takes it to a new height.  When she sneaks out for a walk she not only wears a mask but a scarf wrapped around her head, a hood to keep it all in place and sunglasses even on a cloudy day.  She looks like a terrorist. 

One must find amusement where one can....

Stay well.  xxoo me

PS.  A tremendous roll of thunder followed by a squeak just came from our bedroom.  GP, who has been doing some classes via Skype, leaned back in my yellow painted rattan chair and snapped the legs.  He is rolling about on the floor.  I am not pleased.  I will not help him up.

Caveat:

There ARE cases of Italians beginning to sue the government but not so much for the extended lock down as for the heavy fines being inflicted upon people who break the law.  They say it's excessive.  Gotta say, were soccer on TV there wouldn't be a peep outta anyone..

Day 48:

We've had 2 days of pouring rain and thunder showers.  Have been bundled up on the sofa reading for 48 hours. 

Yesterday GP showed me a headline from Breitbart, (the freaking scary right-wing "news" outlet), that claimed that Italians are up in arms about the long lock down.  It claimed that throngs of people are demanding Conte's (Prime Minister) dismissal.   Talk about fake news!  In general there have been NO issues with the lock down here for two principle reasons. One:  Italians have never had a problem with staying home from work and school as long as they are well fed.  Two:  The North has been so devastated by this damned virus that people are scared shitless and think staying home is a FINE idea.  The few protests that have taken place have been organized by the anarchists who use ANY reason to get out in the streets and scream and break windows.  Shit, every other TUESDAY is a good day to riot!  And by the way, they ALWAYS wear black masks or bandanas on their faces so technically they are abiding by some of the rules...  I'm thinking Breitbart wants to show that other countries are against the severe lock downs so the protesters in the US are not alone.  Sorry.  They are.  At least don't link Italians with those delusional inconscious people cause it just ain't true.

Anywho.  Just saying.

Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 46:

This is what I've been doing; remaking my little garden.  I'm calling it a keyhole garden as the area lined with brick edging forms a keyhole and the idea is that once everything I've planted grows to size it will be full and lush and one will only have a little view thru to the back where there is a small stone sitting area with GP's BBQ raised on an alter of sorts.  (His priority, not mine).  I have 2 olives, 2 kiwi, a lemon and an apricot.  I have pots of tomatoes and a full herb garden.  If I'm stuck here I want to have something to keep me busy!

I've been keeping up on flights and the reopening of Countries and States.  I'm worried that Maine will see a terrible increase in contagion once all the summer people start flooding in.  I realize everyone just wants to return to normal and businesses are hurting badly, but let me tell you as a witness to one of the world's "hot spots", it ain't pretty.  All day long we hear ambulances.  Every evening at 6 the news announces the numbers: the newly diagnosed, the hospitalized, the deaths and thankfully the "cured".  But are they cured?  Can they be reinfected?  Nobody knows fer Chrissakes!  Hopefully I will be able to get home this June and I will be self quarantining for 2 weeks.  (Will someone bring me food?)  I just pray that people do not take this too lightly.  No place is immune. 

Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 45:

This says it all.  Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 43: (Yesterday was 42 not 41.  I SAID I'd lost track!)

Here is another shot of the green hut in a small vineyard across the road.  I've always loved this little snapshot view with the hills behind it.  Those things that look like telephone poles are actually for staking the wires that hold up the wines to the grape plants.  They are much higher than usual and the wires are very high as well.  What IS this man up to I ask?  I took these shots yesterday when I walked down to our mini supermarket. 

Rumor has it that as of May 4th we will be able to go out and about (in masks and with social distancing) within the region.  As the region of Piemonte goes right up into the mountains it means hikes and lakes!  Yay!  Businesses will be allowed to reopen following a strict step by step plan.  This is all good news.  The bad news is that the experts here, just like the experts everywhere, are saying that we can expect another bout of virus in the fall.  Joy.  Let's pray they have found a cure and a vaccine by then.

Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 41??

I've lost f@#*ing count. 

After two days of rain the beautiful weather is back which is nice but doesn't change the fact that if I don't get the hell outta here before the real heat arrives I will go batshit!  Was looking at inflatable pools on Amazon today.  It has been announced that in mid May they will announce the guidelines for travel within Europe.  So travel within Europe will probably not start til sometime in June.  Travel out????   Aaaaarrrrggggghhhhh. 

I've been trying to think up projects for MIL to do as the poor woman doesn't even have her church or market days.  So far she's made me some coasters from old napkins and a duvet cover from a couple of sheets I picked up.  She's a wonderful seamstress.  Unfortunately I can't even buy any fabric for her to make me table cloths or dish towels or something.  Maybe I'll go back on Amazon.

Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 39:

It's a time for doing all of those popped into your mind and out again, postponed and avoided little jobs.  We fixed a door that didn't close well.  I've sent MIL some sewing projects to keep her busy that I've had in mind for a while.  I am finally going to learn all those names for the yoga poses I've been practicing on and off for 15 years.  And in some moment of complete desperation I may even put my digital photos in order.  May.  I've also decided that I could live the rest of my life in sweats and slippers.  Flip flops for warmer weather.  If they put plexi-glass separators up in restaurants and bars I'm not going.  Don't need clothes.  If theaters and cinemas and festivals are cancelled, don't need clothes.  If work is via Skype, shopping is online, socializing is at home and travel non existent, don't need clothes.  I may just donate everything except the leggings and baggy Ts.  The stretch goes well with my expanding waistline.

Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 38:

Yesterday I put on pants.  They were tight.  Today's baking was soda bread.

Today Grace asked me to trim her hair.  I knew that no matter what I responded, I was doomed.  If I said no she'd be angry for my refusal.  If I said yes, which I did, and didn't do a perfect job, which I didn't, she'd be angry because I'd messed up her do.  You can't win with your kids. 

GP hates cats.  Ok that's an exaggeration.  He loves to torment cats.  It's genetic.  His grandfather, who was the sweetest Jimmy Durante look-alike, was horrible to cats.  He would grab them by their tails and swing them around and send them sailing.  This is how GP grew up seeing felines treated.  Mind you there were once a whole lotta strays around here.  Our neighbors to the right, Eric the gardener and Ileria the pharmacist plus 2 kids, have a lovely grey kitty whole flits back and forth from their house to our neighbors on the other side.  She flits very quickly.  She is terrified of GP who jumps at her or sprays her with the hose.  Grace and I have been trying to get her to stop and play with us.  She is too suspicious.  Can't blame her.  He is an evil man. 

xxoo me

Day 36:

Oops.  Missed yesterday but as absolutely NOTHING IS HAPPENING, no great shakes.  One ditty is that Grace is becoming our barber and hairdresser.  Yesterday GP, who was beginning to resemble Einstein, bought an electric hair clipper and had her shave his head down to the nubs.  My next foray forth into the world will see me returning with an in-home highlighting kit.  Results may be interesting. 

The beautiful weather continues.  There numbers remain stable.  We are is limbo.  I'm afraid we will all become jello brained.

Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 34:

Things have taken a turn for the worse.  Not the virus.  That seems to be giving up it's strangle hold on Northern Italy and is heading off to other parts of the world.  No this is something else and it is dire indeed.  Crazy dude upstairs has taken up singing again.  Loudly.  With the windows open.  Today is was an hour of "Unchain my heart".  Of course it took me an hour to figure out that's what he was singing.  Over and over.  "Oooonchen ma arrrt...".  He is also smoking more.  It's probably the stress of being home with his OCD wife and Italian Alex P Keaton kid.  He stands out on his front terrace, (above OUR front terrace), and smokes.  He then tosses the butts down where they often land on the terracotta roof of the entry way.  The problem here, apart from the grossness of this, is that the roof is covered with dry pine needles from the big trees lining the path.  Someday he's going to start a fire.  Fortunately we will be able to escape being on the ground floor but they will break their legs in the jump to safety.  AHAHAHAH!  (evil laugh)  Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 33:

Our lunch with the neighbors at a distance was a grand success.  The only problem was that I can no longer drink wine at lunch.  I was out on the sofa for 3 hours.  That's after only 2 glasses of Rose'!  Oh how far I have fallen... 

Happy Easter all.  Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 32:

Grace is making hummus and falafel for dinner.  It's a warm sunny evening and I'm on the front terrace with a glass of wine.  If the world weren't a flipping mess this would be lovely.  I hope everyone has a peaceful, healthy Easter weekend.  Stay well. xxoo me

Day 31:

She's free!  She's free!  The child is out of quarantine.  She spent the day on the back terrace and is brown as a nut. 

Easter weekend is here and Italy is in mourning.  Not only for all of the victims of the virus but for the loss of their favorite holiday.  Easter is as big here as Christmas with a family lunch and giant chocolate eggs.  Monday is Pasquetta, or "Little Easter", and traditionally families go for picnics or spend the day at a beach.  Alas not this year.  We'll all be home with our respective families, lucky if we are together and healthy.  We are going to have a 4 terrace across BBQ, eating at our own tables and our own food but yelling back and forth over the hedges for socializing. 

Hope the end of this bleak period is near.  Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 30:

Is this really our new normal?  What was once a 45 minute excursion is now a 3 hour a trip to the supermarket.   They are saying here that we will continue to use gloves and masks.  That handshakes and cheek kissing, (so Italian!), are a thing of the past.  That everyone must be prepared to go into lock down at a moment's notice.   Buy those freezer chests now!   Ugh. 

One up side is that I definitely look younger in a face mask.  It covers all of my sagging lower face.  One needs to find joy where one can....

Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 29:

We are permitted to stray 200 meters from our place of residence.  In my case that means up the hill a little to the beginning of the countryside.  I wish I could take a LOOOONNNGGG walk as this is the best time of year here.  Everything is blooming and smells heavenly. 

The outer limit

Tomorrow is the prisoners last day of confinement.  After that GP returns as well and I am hanging up my apron for a while.  I haven't prepared this many meals in years.  I will go on to other projects.  I don't know exactly what yet but I'll think of something.

Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 28:

Nothing.  Nada.  Niente.  Nyet.

Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 27:

So much for social distancing. The kids in the condos are going nuts and have started venturing out into the common garden to play soccer.  As long as it is just "our" kids it's one thing, but a boy from elsewhere made an appearance here yesterday and has some people worried.  Obviously not the parents of the kids who have been let out, (and just can't take being locked up with their offspring any longer), but the parents of the kids who have not been let out and whose kids are out on their balconies watching this fun play and whining to be freed.  One of these parents came down this evening when about 6 kids had gathered and gave them a talking to.  It's the parents who need a talking to.  Kids think they're immortal.  You can explain about germs on soccer balls and spit flying when they're yelling all you want.  They just want to socialize and burn off energy.  My unbroken down cardboard box has taken a back seat to this new crisis on the whatsapp group.   So much excitement!  xxoo me

The degenerates

Day 26:

Numbers down again here.  Thank God.  Over the hump??  However they are saying that we can not expect to be out of "Stay at home" completely before June probably.  As the US is easily a few weeks behind us and the government has no consistency to control matters, I'm afraid the situation there will go on well into the summer.  Man oh man.  Be careful all you out there!

xxoo me

Day 25:

Bandits blew up the ATM machine below MIL's bedroom window last night.  She and all the neighbors were out on their balconies within seconds.  Very exciting.  Her favorite new activity is watching the daily mass from her local church broadcast online.  That and German soap operas.  Dubbed obviously.

I have been shamed.  Our condos have a fenced-in area for our trash and recycling.  (Everything is recycled here which is a very good thing.)  Yesterday I took out our paper in a cardboard box that I FAILED TO BREAK DOWN, thus taking up TOO MUCH SPACE.  Well a photo of the offending box went onto the condo's Whatsapp group and what can be seen?  PAPERS IN ENGLISH!  Caught me.  This morning GP woke me up with a message and the photo saying, "Is this you by chance?"  I have been shamed.  I walked the walk to the recycling and whatta ya know?  The garbage men had picked everything up!  Raspberry to everyone.

Stay well.  xxoo me

Day 24:

I got out!  I got out!  I WALKED to the supermarket.  I decided that if they stopped me I'd tell them my car wasn't working.  I can't take it to a mechanic, can I?  It was great.  The line at the supermarket was longer than last time.  But the shelves were stocked.  Even with toilet paper!!

Weather turning for the better so my horizons are expanding a bit.  The little garden beckons. 

Stay well, xxoo me

Day 23:

I'm trying to set myself a project for every day but with limited space there's not much I can do.  I thought I'd change out my winter wardrobe for my warmer weather gear but as I've been living in sweats for the past month with no end in sight, what's the point? 

So today I took out the trash AND the recycling.  Yes.  It was that kinda day.

Numbers holding steady on the virus front.  I'm praying we've seen the worst of it.

Stay well.  xxoo me