a day in the life, coronavirus, first world problems, fun, mental health, midlife, momlife, pandemic, parenting

A day in the life of lockdown Toronto 🇨🇦

I went to my mom’s this week and stayed a couple of nights (she’s been part of our bubble since the beginning of covid). Today, she took me to a suburban town to a store which imports some goods from Germany. They also have a deli and a bakery where they make prepared food inhouse. For instance, cabbage rolls. (I bought some). 😛

I was excited to go out. I’ve been sitting in either my mom’s house, or my own, typing, purging, cooking or doing other domestic things.

Meh.

So a trip to a new/different store was exciting! 🙄 For the occasion I even put on actual clothes. Yippie! 😄

Real clothes instead of leggings or yoga wear.

The store, called Denningers, is part of a mall. You can access it from outside or within the mall.

Not all stores in that mall have an exterior entrance, but this one does.

So we went in and I bought food, including a large lasagna which is currently in the oven. (I’m back in my own house now.)

Here is a picture of a wall of chocolate, much of it imported.

Confectionery and chocolate.

After we finished, I needed some things from the drug store. This place did not have an exterior entrance, so we had to enter the mall.

It was a little surreal…

It was eerie. Sad. But not as sad as the rows of small, independent businesses we passed on the way home that were shut. Because we all know the conglomerates will survive, whereas these mom and pop shops probably won’t…

When I got back home to my family the first thing I heard was that elementary schools, which were on remote learning this week, will continue online for the next three weeks.

More homeschooling for the minions. (High school remains remote for the same amount of time but was established as such prior to the Christmas break).

So. Both kids remain home full time. There are no sports, no activities, no clubs or dances or excursions. Lots more indoor family time. Lots more screen time. It’s…💔😥

But we’ll manage. We’re old pros now. Sooner or later this virus will burn out.

Cheers.

61 thoughts on “A day in the life of lockdown Toronto 🇨🇦”

  1. California has been on varying degrees of stay at home orders since March as well. It’s such a mess. School seems to be the least of my worries practically but I know my kids will be about a year behind when they get back to school. We only go half day and even then it’s a crap shoot as to how the day goes since 2nd graders 7-8 year olds and 5th graders 10-11 year olds are so unpredictable.

    Good on you for getting our wine running around a little. We golf on a regular basis but mostly we hang around the house and look forward to the odd trip to the grocery store as well.

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    1. I heard about California and read some sad accounts by some people who blog about it. It’s maddening, isn’t it. My 8th grader and 10th grader both miss the extracurricular stuff schools offers, as well as the competitive sports the play; and all they do now all day is plug in.

      Let’s hope things improve soon, for all of us.

      Thank you for stopping by! It’s nice to meet you.

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  2. While I’m here working in arabic country a far from motherland although I’m with my husband still I miss my mom siblings . This virus has given all hard time and it’s more different to do our daily duties especially if one is working in beverage industry .

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  3. Pingback: Let’s lighten up a little with some fun – Writer of Words, etc

      1. My friends/family in California and some Colo said same thing. Best part, we can dine outside… its sunny, some days chilly but most are nice!!! Lots of places have outdoor heaters or tables with firepits… very cool!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Aw, you’re lucky. Here in Toronto it’s been unseasonably warm (for us hardy Canucks) so we can manage to eat in a park if it’s not raining or snowing without freezing to death (currently). 🙂 But for how much longer?

        I just want this virus to go away.

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  6. I’m surprised to hear your kids have been in in-person school since this mess started last year. Mine have been online since early March. In-person isn’t an option. And there is no plan for when the school campuses will open. 😔

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    1. High school is hybrid. He did go mornings every other day. Rest was remote. Now, full online.

      Elementary was virtual or in person, not both. They gave us the choice then ran out of teachers. To complete grade 8 in her chosen studies she was forced to go to school because they didn’t have a virtual teacher left. That or give up her studies. (She’s in French immersion).

      Now both are home full-time.

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  10. I finally had to move out to the garage with my office since I was inadvertantly and unknowingly driving my wife slowly insane with my Zoom and conference calls. I didn’t realize how much of an impact I was having on her day to day activities, but I was. I set up my desk in the workshop where I have heat and network access and I’m good to go. So each morning, I head out here until lunch when I go in the house and then back out here afterwards. It’s helping to restore a little normality in our new topsy-turvy world.

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  11. I don’t know how many big stores will survive either. And they still employ people. We lost a bunch of Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Walgreens(drug store) etc, plus Bed Bath, Container Store…nothing will survive this

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      1. Bed bath is closing like 50 stores countrywide, including one in Manhattan. And a really popular McDs just closed in the village. People are really sad because it was sort of iconic. I went to the small mall we have here because I needed LensCrafters and the one closer to me closed. This mall used to be 4 floors with about 15 stores per floor with Jc Penny as the anchor. Now, four stores. LensCrafters is literally the only thing on the second floor

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  13. I love the photos people have shared of quiet places during lockdown. One of my friends lives in London, and took several photos of the (usually chaotic) railway stations during April and May last year – it was stunning.

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  15. My “public” clothes are the “good” sweats and shoes instead of slippers. Oh, and the hoodie without holes. You’re more fancy than me😉😆
    I once stood mesmerized for nearly 15 minutes by a wall of cheese. Mmmm… cheeeese🤤

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      1. There is a Starsky (Polish supermarket) in Etobicoke that carries lots of German products and chocolate, too. Just mentioning since its closer to Toronto. Have never been to Denninger myself though, so I don’t know how it would compare.

        Liked by 1 person

  19. We are still open and more kids are returning to brick and mortar. Business is brisk, life continues. You imagine you are getting desperate if during a tiring moment, you wonder if your outfit clashes or goes with your mask. This happened early one morning and then I caught myself and left it roadside.

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    1. Mask wearing seems accepted by most people here so I don’t understand why they lock us up. Anyway, every region has its cultural challenges. We’re all just fatigued by the whole thing.

      In terms of masks clashing with my outfit, I haven’t given that a passing thought. Maybe I should…😳. Mine are grey and black military camouflage (was part of the multi-mask package) and no one else wants to wear it so I do.

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      1. Yes,mine also except for a pink one which allows me to breathe more easily. But mostly I wear standard white like a diaper color. Such is the moment. I wear what I have not Chanel although I have seen everything around town.

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  20. I know there was a whole blog post in there, with deep ramifications and lines of mannequins, naked in the windows. But my absorption stopped at an aisle of chocolate. A good thing. There’s been plenty to be down about of late (especially this side of the border), but…a wall of chocolate, eh? And, imported.

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  21. I wish my governor had locked us down.

    On a lighter note, cabbage rolls are a family specialty. I’ve learned how to make them in the Crockpot-version-of-an-InstaPot now, too. So much easier that way!

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      2. I understood the panic initially.

        Now I am not on board with many/most decisions our politicians are making anymore. My friend in Germany and my family in Switzerland and Italy all live with different protocols, it’s kind of maddening when trying to keep perspective.

        I’m not saying lose your head, ignore common sense, don’t wear a mask, congregate at a rave. I’m saying be smart, keep sane, stay home when not well, wear a mask, wash your hands often but don’t play dead.

        The mental health effects will be far more detrimental than they’re anticipating, never mind the economy.

        Just feeling the fatigue.

        No need to respond Michael, I know how you feel. Thank you for reading and commenting.

        Liked by 1 person

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