I’m not sure if this is related to Wisconsin reopening, but there were a normal amount of cars (three!) in the Starbucks drive-through this week so I stopped and got an iced chai. Woot! (As a reminder, I live in Illinois, but am so close to the border, I shop in Wisconsin.)

There was also a noticeable increase in traffic. No woot for that. Ha, traffic was so bad I couldn’t pull out of Aldi and make the turn I needed to go to home, which is why I drove by Starbucks at all.

Also maybe related to Wisconsin reopening is that I was able to place a Woodman’s delivery order for two days out. I didn’t have to wake up at midnight to claim a just-added delivery slot. I am so used to that now, it felt weird to be placing my order in the daylight. Ha ha. Now the question is whether or not they will have the toilet paper I ordered!

Illinois entered phase 3 of the state’s five phased reopening plan today, and my nail salon opened back up! They sent an email explaining their new procedures (appointment only, wait in your car until called, masks required) and said all services have increased by $5.

As much as I want to go, I don’t feel comfortable with it, so I’ll keep painting my nails at home (every 2-3 days – that’s how long it lasts when I do them myself – ugh). I’m most tempted to get a no chip manicure right before our trip to Iowa in July so I don’t have to worry about my nails while on vacation, but we’ve talked about social distancing before we gather during that trip, so heading to the salon to sit one foot across from someone right before makes zero sense. Maybe by the end of July I’ll be more comfortable with it though. Shrug.

What I really want to do is get a massage. My friend Kim does my massages, and does them out of her home. I’ve been thinking about asking her if she’s reopening…

Also as part of phase 3, gyms can do one-on-one personal training sessions inside and teach classes of up to ten people outside. I’m wondering if the class I love to teach, fitness boxing, will even be a possibility in the near future – it requires boxing with another person! We could do solo air moves but it wouldn’t be nearly as fun.

I’ve been thinking about how glad I am my older brother and his family stopped by when they were in Chicagoland on March 8th. That’s the last time I’ve seen my family! I usually see them about every other month.

Ha, a few months ago I bought a bag of pretzel chips for someone who visits here often and likes them. I finally opened them up last week. No one will be visiting here soon!

Being under our stay-at-home order has immensely helped me with personal growth in relationships. Which doesn’t sound like it makes sense, since I am not spending time with anyone… emphasis on personal. I struggle with communication consistency in relationships, and this time has helped me chill the eff out and get better at accepting people for who they are and how (and how often) they prefer to communicate. It was really interesting to see who reached out more during this time, and who stayed the same (I stayed the same). Everyone has to do what works for them (all the time)!

Many people’s social media presence makes us perceive them as something we know they aren’t in person (but are online?!?! for whatever reason). I feel like that’s highlighted now, more than ever, in what people choose to share, when we aren’t spending ANY time face-to-face. You start to forget who people are. Or maybe we are learning who they really are? (Nah, I think everyone’s a little off right now.)

I forgot to mention in my last COVID-19 Check-in post – I am planning a total glow up for my eventual return to the office! And by planning, I mean fantasizing about, and not planning. Ha. You’d really think I’d use this time to learn how to style my hair, but it just hasn’t happened…

I never got the “clean my house from top to bottom” urge during our stay-at-home order. Oops?

I really CANNOT focus on long articles right now. If I open something up I expected to be a list and it’s not, I don’t read it. DON’T BAIT ME!!! (So I guess joke’s on you for making you read this long thing?! Sorry!)