A bit foot-loose and happy

Sunday, April 19, 2020
I love spinach in white sauce. Why? don't know - I just do. It's my comfort food. When W was off working and the kids and I were home alone, I sometimes ate a half-bag of Costco (3 lb) spinach for an evening snack.

I cook spinach for lunch, along with baked potatoes. W sears beef cooked last month in his suis vide (food aquarium). Freezer to stovetop to table. Delicious.

We started the morning on Facebook with online church (BicBandung14). We celebrate communion each week, but what I have on hand are cookies and tea. It's a different kind of Communion as I think about all the people eating around the Lord's Table. Some  have some rice crackers with soju, some unleavened bread with wine, some cake and juice ... it reminds us of his death, until he comes returns.

I've been enjoying Jessica Abel's Growing Gills book club. "Do one thing on your list this weekend," she advises. I tackle a small shelf in my office that holds fabrics, birdseed, dog meds, and the fish-water-changing-pail. It's so tidy when it's done that it makes me happy.

Until I look over at my cluttered desk. It holds things from the shelf, scraps for sewing face-masks, a writing project, some business, art, and a paper pile waiting to be filed.

I try to keep my desk clear and clean so that I can get right to work when I get into the office. Not this time. Ugh.

When I'm done, I'm content. Tomorrow's work is ready on my standing desk. I can tell what needs doing. Thanks for the booster, Jessica.

Someone sends a GoSend (motorcycle delivery) to pick up my Merrill shoes, a favorite brand. They're water-to-trail, sized 7M. That's my size. But they're huge! maybe 8.5 or 9 so perhaps they were sized for men. (Would a guy wear this color?) The bright leather and webbing will cushion bigger feet. The gal sends me a picture later in the day - a good fit for her. Yay.

Monday 

Monday is my turn to do BIC's FB livestream. I have 15 minutes before my 7am meeting. No problem: I sit down and start the livestream. The house is quiet.

Then W and K come downstairs, chattering and walking through the office as I wrap up. Oops, the livestream is still running as I follow them onto the porch and sigh, "This is the quiet time of day. What are you doing up already?" haha - W reminds me of their grocery run while there are the least number of people in the food aisles.

"Ok, see ya." I'll redo.

Someone lets me know that the livestream is still running. I finally figure out how to shut it down (at 9 minutes - 4 after I'm done!) delete, and start again. Oops. I'm late to my first meeting. My online friend is patient and kind about it.

I snip a beautiful wild plant that's come up in the garden and put it in the entry.

The tiny flowers are exquisite, almost orchid-like.

We have Mondays off when teaching 2-week classes based in Singapore. W's in the middle of one on Church History. On Zoom, he leads our 9am Monday study. I mute my mike and video, listening in while I roll up my sleeves.

I cleared off my desk and one shelf yesterday. Today, we mess everything up again to deep-clean the big shelf (5' across, 2' deep, 7.5' high). First, I tackle one side, from tip-top to base-bottom. I can't believe how much fits on it.

I sift out what I no longer use. Some things will go to others, some to the other office. The obsolete gets tossed. Then it's time for the other side - the pic is about 3/4 of the way! Making progress.

Sumi and I vacuum away the lizard poop that falls off the shelves onto the carpet. She washes down the painted wood. I dust books, files, and boxes. We're almost there.

It's very dusty here: the windows and doors are custom-made so they're not airtight. Wind and storms push soil and soot through the house every day. It's a "love-to-clean" nut's dream. (Smiles. I'm a "I-love-clean" nut, but sadly not an "I-love-to-clean" one.)

By evening, I can work at my desk again. Maybe one more day for the office cabinet and it will be done.

Some treasures appear as I sort. Anyone want to play in a band? Here are the basics.

By 7pm, I'm exhausted; the day started at 5am, After a quick shower, I confirm the Zoom link for an 8pm meeting, set the alarm clock. and take a quick nap.

The MasterMind of 4 (a think tank) meets at 9am, American East Coast time. It's only our second round, but it's WONDERFUL to see the women. The goal is to have them lead masterminds of their own. For a few months, I'm their facilitator. Across the USA, several friends are also MM trainers, enjoying their own groups.

It's good to wrap up and get into bed before 10pm. I love the quiet of the night with insects buzzing in the trees and lizards chirping as they catch them.

The dogs lie outside our door, guarding and snoozing near us, day and night. From the porch, they follow me around the house. When I'm in the office, they're at that door. When I walk to the bedroom or living room, they peer through the floor-to-ceiling windows and trail me to the next place. Good doggies! Sometimes, Gypsy leans on the latch and opens the door so that he can see me. (Bad doggie.)

Tuesday

W's off to teach online. He sets up at the office before 7. The dogs and I drop him at the gate and then walk the long neighborhood loop, mask on.

It's deserted. The big tourist attraction is gated. Across the street, a patchwork of pop-up food stalls for drivers and workers stands empty.

A few GoJek (motorcycle taxi) drivers wait to be called into action but not many people are going anywhere.

A sign appears over the entry to our neighborhood: "Stay away if you don't wear a mask."

The government has curtailed non-essential errands and jobs. We must stay home, starting tomorrow. Most people have been furloughed, laid off, or quarantined for 3-4 weeks already. It may be a long two weeks ahead, while Indonesia evaluates their response to Covid-19. In a social culture, it's hard to stay apart.

As I approach our gate, I notice the red flower stalks on the trees. We usually just walk by, accustomed to their showy display. When we first moved to this country, I was astonished by the variety of flowering trees, more spectacular than garden flowers.

We chopped the shrubs back a few weeks ago but now they're overgrown again. They beautify the gate and snag the side mirror of the car.

Lunch is a delicious flavored rice and chicken from our friend, who caters Ruth's Ribs #ruthsribs. Each meal is about $3.50 and comes with stunning roses, one for each of us.

In the afternoon, I leave my work waiting. We need to record some segments for BIC Online. Instead of a simple task, it takes a big chunk of time. The audio isn't working. I read and catch up on email for nearly an hour, while W tries to figure out what's happened. It's a simple click, of course. He has to redo his morning talk as well.

I'd made pasta for lunch so we eat it for supper instead. The spaghetti noodles with creamy tomato sauce, chicken sausage, mushrooms, and kale are MMMM good. I've forgotten what it's like to cook all the time. At least cooking is quick, once I know what I'm hungry for, based on the ingredients in the fridge.

Wednesday
W's gone when I get up at 6:20. No walk for me this morning. I usually leave when he leaves - and today he snuck out at 6:15am. Before his class, he finishes up a few chores in the office. He's happy.

I may tuck into the reading chair for hand-quilting. I brought an almost-done quilt from MT a few years ago and found it yesterday when I cleared the office ...

Better still, I find some Costco brownie mix in the cabinet. A balanced brunch coming up: brownies and tea.

On the porch, the fish swim and the birds sing. Actually, the lovebirds are squawking in their cage. When we make calls from home, people remark on the loud bird conversations. For survival, we block out the racket. The constant hiss in the yard is from cicadas: one or two work like a white noise machine, with the bark of far-off dogs and crowing roosters as accompaniment. "Let every creature praise the LORD."

Wait, I smell brownies. See you later.

Read more:
*Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Daniel 6:23

*Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Moravian Prayer: Alert, firm in faith, courageous, strong: all these things we pray to be, today and always, through you, risen Savior. In the face of all hardship, all grief, all fear, keep us strong for your service. Amen.