My Life in Quarantine

Hello from my home office in Northern Ohio, where I am safely quarantined . . . and (finally, after a month) getting a bit stir-crazy. Yes, it's happened: even the most introverted people, like me, are starting to feel the effects of isolation!

I wanted to write a clever, witty, funny blog entry here, but right now my mental health is a bit shaky and I can only manage something straightforward. I pray that you are staying safe, too, and taking care of both your physical and mental health. My coping strategies are watching funny videos, reading humorous books,* spending time in prayer and meditation, and listening to lots of beautiful, soothing music.

I've been hidden safely away since mid-March (just in time to have a #QuarantineBirthday!) because I take immunosuppressing medication daily, to prevent my autoimmune disease from devouring my lungs like a werewolf devours humans. Good times. ;) My condition has been well under control for the past couple of years, though, since I quit gluten and dairy, so no need to worry about me dying on you and not finishing Hunter's Moon's sequel. :) . . . Speaking of that, I made great progress on said sequel this week, both with writing it and with figuring out how various plot lines can tie together. Yay!

Aside from working on that, I've got my proofreading and other duties for Thinklings keeping me quite busy, so I'm definitely not sitting around bored, overeating, and/or getting depressed like I might have otherwise been doing. I'm SO grateful to have a job now that I'm passionate about and that involves helping other authors. It's the best!!

I've been working from home since 2013, so my daily routine hasn't changed all that much; I just don't go out on weekends or evenings anymore. I still do walk my dog around the block twice a day to get fresh air and exercise. So, really, I can't complain. I do miss Friday lunch outings with my mom, though.

As for my hubby, he's considered an "essential worker" (his company makes tiny parts for medical equipment) so his schedule hasn't changed a lot either. He's being very careful and wearing a mask, washing his hands a million times a day, and staying 6+ feet away from people. The company has fumigated their building once or twice, limited access to it, and I really appreciate the calm, professional, thorough way they're handling the situation.
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Well, that's our life right now. It's not ideal, but it could be far, far worse. I mean, I could have my main character Melanie's problem of turning into a raging monster every month . . . oh, come on, I know what you're thinking right now. Those werewolf/period jokes are terrible. :P :P :P LOL.

I'll leave you with a picture of my beautiful pup enjoying the sunshine in our front yard the other day. I'm so glad I have him to keep me company. He's such a soft, fluffy, and calm Good Boy. By the way, it's a great time to adopt a pet from a shelter! They can be greatly therapeutic.

Take care, everyone. <3 <3

​*Fortunately, right now I happen to be proofreading a HILARIOUS book for Thinklings, our first sci-fi. It's a lot like Douglas Adams' books, so if you're a fan of his stuff, you'll probably really love our sixth book, Cosmic Turkey, too. Coming in July! . . . You'll gobble it up! :D