Margo NOT On The Go

Mallards don't have to social distance. It's not the Bird Flu.

What’s a travel blogger to do during these difficult times?

It’s hard to be an on the go person who cannot go.

But surprisingly, I find it to be not all bad. In fact some parts, I have to admit, I even love.

I love my house.

I love my husband.

I love my job, and I can do it from home.

I am very lucky.

I was ready to conquer the Habsburg Empire

Nonetheless, I was supposed to go to Providence to give a speech last weekend, and I was supposed to go to Vienna in May with a side trip to Prague or Budapest. The Vienna trip has been postponed until November, so we are putting it in the “keep hope alive” category.

I wanted to go to New York April 3 to see my son and his band Glom play at the Mercury Lounge.

I wanted to go to Hartford for Passover.

I am supposed to go to Amsterdam in July (not cancelled yet, keep hope alive category). And a side trip to England to see my friend Susan

And I want to go to the US Open in September.  Will it be open?

And I want to go to Tucson to celebrate our anniversary.

But for now a review of the local attractions and activities will suffice.

If My House were a hotel

I would give it four stars.

I asked for a room on a high floor, and we are on the second.

There is no coffee machine or mini bar in the room (you have to go downstairs to the “lobby level.”)

There is limited room service, primarily coffee and tea.

Housekeeping is often late or doesn't come at all.

On the bright side, the room has a charming décor and the bed is super comfortable.

The hotel has lots of curb appeal, and there is plenty of free parking.

The shower is really good.

The area is quiet at night.

There is a nice view and the windows can be opened.

The rate is very reasonable.

Local Recreation

 Spring breaks out as if nothing is happening.

There are parks and paths nearby that facilitate six-feet distancing.

I am running and walking tons more than I usually do. Everyone is going to be so fit after this epidemic.

I can play tennis, one of the best sports for social distancing.

I can take yoga classes from my studio Sweetbay through Zoom, right here at home.

Home yoga studio with fireplace

Entertainment

One thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle. And nothing but time.

Thanks to streaming technology, we all have a bonanza of entertainment.

Praise Be that Tiger King was just released on Netflix.

And for baseball lovers, please revisit Ken Burns Baseball, an 18.5 hour exposure to the sport we miss so much. There's just a little too much Scott Joplin for my taste.

Check out Manbunsbuns on Instagram, Franky’s artistic contribution.

Listen to Peter on Glom on Spotify.

Check our Judy's amazing artwork at JudioStudio on Instagram.
And H. Darr photos are  always a good bet.

The backlog is diminishing.

New York Times crossword puzzles—I’m killing it.

Candy Crush—I’m killing it and it’s killing me.

Music and laughter, there is plenty of both. Just talk to Alexa about it. Howard Stern broadcasting from his hermetically sealed house in the Hamptons is pretty funny. Try the Comedy Greats channel on Sirius.

Reading, reading, reading. I have Crime and Punishment on audio and I have the 20 hours it will take to complete. 

I always save these for long flights. Now I don't have any.

I have a stack of 12 New Yorkers.

I made chocolate chip banana bread and sheet pan shrimp with tomatoes, feta, and oregano.

Family and Friends

My boys are in two hot spots, Brooklyn and Berkeley, but they are okay. They have friends and food and Facebook Live happy hours and books and music. We talk more often.

We have one relative affected—my adorable 20 year-old cousin who was enjoying a semester abroad in Barcelona but returned with a little viral companion. Her symptoms are mild. 

Don't you find yourself talking to old friends and family more than ever before?

Why, because you have time, they have time, and they can’t say they’re not home. And you really care about how they are doing.


I Know the World’s Greatest Super Hero

Tony

Indeed, I know Tony Fauci. He’s a “coworker” of mine at the National Institutes of Health.

He says hi to me in the halls. I had the pleasure of working in his press office for a year when he was busy handling The AIDS crisis. Is there anything this man can’t do?

Please enjoy this time. This may be the only such “opportunity” for an extended home stay, and then we will all be on the go again. Just not by Easter. There are some great sales on Southwest right now.  Check them out. And start dreaming.