COVID vs. Baramee
Who’s really winning this fight? I mean, I know it’s really “The World vs. COVID”, but this is my blog (LOL). So far, I’m still doing pretty good. I’m starting to go a little crazy though…I think. But, what has changed in the past month? It’s now May…you guys, it’s May and this weekend is Memorial Day weekend. In Illinois, our stay-at-home order is going through May 30th, but they anticipate some reopenings come June. Some of the rules have lightened up a little bit though.
- State Parks are slowly reopening.
- Retail stores can start reopening for delivery or pick up.
- Some of the city parks are starting to open as well, but one must practice social distancing.
- Masks are required when in public spaces (or like grocery stores and such…).
Those were my biggest take aways. I’m considering taking advantage of the state park thing. I need some sense of travel and adventure and nature. We did go for a “walk” to Kankakee River State Park. It was not as thrilling as I was hoping. It was didn’t not feel nature-y, but at least we got outside while the weather was nice. It was not as thrilling as I was hoping. It was didn’t not feel nature-y, but at least we got outside while the weather was nice. We also took a mini-road trip up to Minnesota to surprise my mom for Mother’s Day and visited Minnhaha Regional Park. This was more thrilling, but I’m biased.
views from Minnehaha Regional Park walk/hike 
Minnehaha Falls 
views of Kankakee River State Park
Okay, so back to my original thoughts…(and the topic of this post), COVID vs. Baramee. So remember that list of items of how COVID would score points against me from last month? No, that’s okay…I’ll refresh your memory (and have even added one).
- Buys unneccessary things (like an iPhone 11 Pro).
- Makes a TikTok video.
- Takes up coffee drinking.
- Cut myself some bangs (new*).
- Takes up running, but I hate it oh so much. (pending*)
So, I think COVID has scored a couple points in the last month and I’m getting quite close to giving it more points. Although, I’ve also added a new item to things I’ve taken up during quarantine. What I added to my long list of things I’m doing:
- 30 days of songs on Instagram (I’ve so many Instagram things I’m doing…to help keep me busy). – it is now over
- Back in March, I did a mini-campaign, Where is the World is Baramee?. – and then I ran out of photos (because I only keep a years worth of photos on my phone)
- In April, I started making short videos called “Baramee Eats Things“…where I eat things. This is what too much time on my hands leads to. I haven’t found a format that I like yet…so stick with me until I polish it up a bit. They’re a bit rough…but literally just me eating things. The videos are on YouTube, but also posted on my IG story (@IMBaramee).
- I’ve taken up writing a Yelp review weekly because…why not? We are/were getting take out or delivery once or twice a week to support the local businesses. I want to keep them around. Before we were doing cuisines we were in the mood for or because we didn’t want to cook. Our tactics have changed…Michelin star restaurants are offering take out. This might be my opportunity to take advantage of places I wouldn’t have the time or resources for before I move. So, more costly meals, but better value and totally worth it!
- I’ve also gotten back into writing. What…I write…ha funny. I write fiction, stories…books – whatever you want to call it. My genre, in general, tends to be romatical fiction. It is strongly influenced by whatever media I’m currently consuming whether it is watching stuff or reading stuff. Let me know if you want to see any samples.
- I’ve also been tinkering around with Chicago tattoo ideas (so if you have any, let me know).
- We’ve also been doing a ton of that cooking thing, but not the try out a ton of different recipes things. She cooks Indian food (it’s so good) and I cook just about anything else, mostly whatever is in the pantry or whatever I’m craving baring it suits certain dietary restrictions (pescatarian, no dairy). It hasn’t been too bad…I occassionaly have the meat protein on hand (currently, roast chicken strips to add to things by Tyson). Is this content you’d like to see?
Restaurants we’ve tried…
- Schwa – 1 Michelin star, $14 po-boy with chips (in the last post)
- Temporis – 1 Michelin star, $34 3-course meal (in the last post)
- Alinea – 3 Michelin stars, $66 6-course 15th Anniversary Meal
So…where has COVID scored points. The current count: COVID – 3, Baramee – 58.
- Buying things I don’t need | Bought: suitcases, face exfoliator, water flosser, clothes, (have also bought masks, food and booze, but those are essentials)
- Make a TikTok video | I have not succumbed to making a video, but I’m getting darn close. I’ve “favorited” the songs for the videos I’m considering and have an account. My family and I did a Zoom/TikTok video, but we’re not counting that.
- Take up coffee drinking | After drinking highly caffeniated milk tea with boba and dealing with that, this is being shelved – but more boba will be consumed.
- Cut myself some bangs | They are so long…they now make it into my ponytail. I figured…I can cut them (long, not short) and by the time this quarantine is over, they’ll have grown out again (at this point).
- Take up running | This is also currently being shelved. I’m enjoying sleeping to my heart’s content.
What things have I been watching on the TV, computer screen…my phone (the current list). So…after writing out the list, I’ve decided that my media consumption is a bit excessive, but COVID (this is on top of Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and humans I talk to or chat with…and my daily to do list). And…so many tears at times!
- Never Have I Ever (Netflix) – throughly enjoyed this and CANNOT wait for the 2nd season
- The Half of It (Netflix) – an unassuming movie, but I enjoyed it
- The King’s Avatar (Netflix) – Chinese – WHOA that was a lot of episodes, still enjoyed it
- Itaewon Class (Netflix) – Korean – Not exactly what I was expecting, but I didn’t hate it
- The King: Eternal Monarch (Netflix) – Korean – still watching, and it’s moves slower than I’d like, but I’m also enjoying it at the same time [insert shrug]
- The Witcher (Netflix) – slower than I’d like, still gotta finish season 1
- 13 Reasons Why (Netflix) – I don’t think I finished the last season and they just released the trailer for the final season
- Ellen’s Game of Games (Hulu) – an enjoyable reprieve from everything else
- Last Man Standing (Hulu) – I just enjoy this show
- Diary of a Future President (Disney+) – it’s cute and different from everything else I’m watching
- Bad Education (HBO) – have heard so many good things about this
- WestWorld (HBO) – need to watch the most current season (CANNOT wait!)
- Game of Thrones (HBO) – current marathon show with the roomie
- Tales From the Loop (Amazone Prime) – need to start, have heard good things
- Good Newwz (Amazon Prime) – Hindi – this was so enjoyable and funny
- Jack Ryan (Amazon Prime) – love the character and John Kranzinski
- I’ll Go to You When the Weather is Nice (Viki) – Korean – have started, currently shelved
- Nice To Meet You (Viki) – Mandarin – in the midst of
- Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Viki) – Korean – currently finishing, I kept seeing it being recommended
- My Husband in Law (YouTube) – Thai – throughly enjoying this show so much
- Deja Vu (YouTube) – Thai – broke my heart, but yay for the ending
- Some Good News (YoutTube) – John Kranzinski is currently on pause with this but the 8 episodes he does have, WORTH IT. The warm fuzzies are totally needed.
- Dao Kiao Duen (YouTube) – Thai – recommended by my mom, so I had to watch it (apparently it reminded her of me), it was good
- You’re My Destiny (YouTube) – Thai – currently rewatching because they are running reruns (I think I’ve seen the Korean version and I watching the Taiwanese version first…but which version do I prefer?)
Not a complete failure at life because there’s still a sense of accomplishment on most days and it’s not empty consumption (and most of the time it’s multi-tasking – for example, currently watching/listening to a new Thai show (Oum Rak Game Luang) on YouTube (facepalm – like I needed to start another show) while writing/working on this post). I say it’s not empty consumption because it is the thing that drives my writing. So almost necessary if I want to continue the writing thing.
So, here’s to hoping May/June was/is better than April/May (I think). I didn’t totally mind April, but I’d like at the new not-at-home normal to start in June. I’d like to start planning the rest of my life again instead of having my plans indefinitely postponed. I’d like to not be in this holding pattern and am doing things/taking up things to make forward momentum, but at times it can be frustrating and put me in a funk (and you know what, it’s okay). It’s okay to feel my feelings. I don’t have to overcome them because everything in life is fluid and moving. The only things I can control are how I react to the world around me…it’s not all chaos. Stay sane, stay healthy and here’s to the future!
my attempt at making banh cuon (and they were vegan) 
social distancing park picnic 
Mother’s Day cake 
comfort food: Spaghettio’s 
embarking on our mini road trip 
roomie food 
how we celebrated the Cinco de Mayo that fell on a Taco Tuesday (with margs instead of Coronas) 
May: the month of noodles 
homemade khao poon ba 
leftover taco tuesday stuff = layered taco dip 
Quang’s – vermicelli noodle salad with grilled pork 
life! 
roomie food 
family Zoom 
leftover taco tuesday stuff = nachos 
more noods 
Wild Hog – one GIANT pork chop 
Pagoda – Chinese take out (we went overboard) 
whose winning at Settlers of Catan 
Stone Arch bridge at sunset with my brother 
Wakame – giant sushi platter
Eat. Drink. Explore 
Media consumption for me is ALSO at an all-time high. Your blog is a reminder for me to chill the f*** out. It’s a good reminder. And ditto on the holding pattern. You and I both had big international plans for this year. Sigh.
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