The Corona Virus Cooking Chronicles, by, Gina Meyers

Sheltering In Place, Monday, March 30th, 2020

As a cookbook author, I love experimenting in the kitchen. I have been doing a lot of that during the Corona Virus Pandemic, however, I am not a BIG fan these days of grocery stores because of the GERMS. So I have been doing a lot of online ordering and got really screwed by Sam's Club yesterday charging $40.00 for shipping charges. Having an account these days with them doesn't cut the mustard, they want you to be like a PRIME member (and pay the prime costs). Anyhow, about two months ago, ahead of the game, I reactivated my Hello Fresh Account. I work full-time and have a hungry teen who likes to experiment in the kitchen. He also, ahead of the curve, we started homeschooling 1 1/2 months before the rest of the world. Another story for later. Back to The Corona Virus Cooking Chronicles.

Well this latest Hello Fresh recipe, which my son made yesterday, disturbed him sooo much that he actually demanded I take him to his dad's house to EAT, teenagers!

Up until the meltdown and the sit down, I was in the middle of eating my dinner when he abruptly wanted me, which I did drive him to his dad's house. It's true my son had been working hard in the kitchen for over an hour on this recipe.  I might be getting off track here, but it's hard enough sheltering in one place as an adult, socially distancing myself from my significant other and completely distancing myself from friends and family--so no one said life would be easy, let alone, during a pandemic, but we have to think about the things that we are doing to instill family routine, and normalcy in our youth and teenagers lives. Especially children of divorce who still are supposed to shuffle back and forth between homes, since they have more than one shelter legally, morally, and technically.

So, when he came to mama bears' shelter yesterday and volunteered to make the Teriyaki Pork Luau Bowls, of which he personally chose as the dish he wanted to prepare and me to order for us.For a family of two, like we are, we chose three meals per week. It was kind of like a scene from a movie or an urban legend that is actually true, like couples who try to put Ikea Products together, don't stay together.

Well this Teriyaki Pork Luau Bowl was the pitts.

Anyhow, to complain, the amount of rice was really sad, my son showed me my portion and his, way too little. The kiwi that came with it, somehow ended up on the floor, the pork was easy enough for his to cook but the color of their pork in the picture, no where near the color. The flavor was sort of confusing and the cost of the meal verses going away hungry, a BIG zero!

Good luck and hope you have better luck. Son is back now and just said, "not sure if I have the energy to cook one of those Hello Fresh meals." We went on a LONG bike ride and eventually one of us will muster up the courage to cook this evening.
Taco Salmon perhaps?

https://www.ginameyers.com

InstructionsPDF

1

Wash and dry all produce. Peel and dice kiwi. Core, deseed, and thinly slice green pepper crosswise. Halve, peel, and thinly slice onion; finely dice a few slices until you have 2 TBSP. Dice tomato. Mince garlic. Zest and quarter lime.

2

Melt 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) in a small pot over mediumhigh heat. Add rice and stir to coat. Stir in ¾ cup water (1½ cups for 4) and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

3

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine kiwi, tomato, diced onion, and a squeeze of lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine sour cream, half the lime zest, and a pinch of garlic to taste. Stir in water 1 tsp at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency. Season with salt and pepper.

4

Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add green pepper and sliced onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until tender and lightly browned, 6-7 minutes. Add remaining garlic and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer veggies to a plate.

5

Add a drizzle of oil to pan used for veggies. Add pork and season with salt and pepper. Using a spatula, press into an even layer. Cook without stirring until browned on bottom, 3-4 minutes. Break up meat into pieces and continue cooking until pork is cooked through, 1-2 minutes more. Return cooked veggies to pan. Stir in teriyaki sauce, 1 tsp sugar (1½ tsp for 4 servings), and 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4). Cook until thickened, 1-2 minutes.

6

Fluff rice with a fork; stir in remaining lime zest and season with salt. Divide between bowls and top with pork mixture. Top with kiwi salsa and lime crema. Serve with remaining lime wedges on the side.

Pantry Pleasers, what essentials to have in stock in your pantry during Covid-19 Pandemic by, Gina Meyers

Pantry Pleasers, what essentials to have in stock in your pantry during Covid-19 Pandemic.


The lesson we've learned these past two weeks? Limitation inspires creativity! We've been treating every day like a champ. I started ordering Hello Fresh about two months ago, again, so it's been a great resource on avoiding the grocery store. But what to keep in your pantry? Well, you are in luck. I had already created an essentials pantry list in my Dorm Room Essential Cookbook FREE Kindle Preview
as well as Love at First Bite, The Unofficial Twilight Cookbook, Love at First Bite, The Unofficial Twilight Cookbook, by, Gina Meyers both also available on kindle, nook, and in softcover, so what are those essentials to keep on hand in the future or perhaps you may already have them. Don't get ripped off this morning like I did when I bought $50.00 worth of supplies/groceries from Sam's Club and they charged me $40.00 for shipping!

GIVE ME A BREAK! (this last thing we need right now is to take advantage of people!)


So while you are staying home and being creative like myself and my son, here are a few creative ideas on what to stock your pantry with and what to improvise with.




10 Must Have Ingredients for a Stocked Pantry

Baking Staples. I always keep the following basic baking ingredients on hand and restock as needed: ...

Preferred Spices. Spices are the key to making meals flavorful and kicking them up a notch. ...

Necessary Oils. ...

Canned Goods / Stock and Broths. ...

Grains, Pasta, and Legumes. ...

Healthy Snacks. ...

Meat and Seafood. ...(keep in the fridge)

Refrigerated Basics such as cheese, which can also go in the freezer, butter, can also go in the freezer, milk, etc.


*Bonus:


Substitutions:


If you are out of:

Butter try margarine or butter-flavored shortening

All-purpose flour, (try rice flour, wheat flour, almond flour, polenta, unbleached flour)

Dark brown sugar (try light brown sugar)

Whole eggs (try liquid egg substitute or brown eggs)

Oil (try applesauce)

Chocolate (try carob)

Olive Oil (substitute vegetable oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, cooking spray)

Lard (substitute for shortening or butter or margarine)

White Rice (try brown rice, risotto,)

Nuts (try water chestnuts)

Sour Cream (substitute for nonfat plain yogurt)


If you are out of

1 Tablespoon baking powder (substitute for 1 teaspoon baking soda and 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar)

1 Tablespoon of cornstarch (try 2 Tablespoons of flour)

1 cup of milk (substitute for 1/2 cup of evaporated milk with 1/2 cup of water)

1 cup of buttermilk (try 1 cup of regular milk plus 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice)

1 cup of sugar (try t cup of honey and then reduce other liquid ingredients in recipe by 1/4 of a cup)

Well it must be a Monday in Pandemia, my new word for the world I currently live in during Covid-19, by, Gina Meyers

Well it must be a Monday in Pandemia, my new word for the world I currently live in.

Last night my washing machine broke. Wouldn't drain and the belt smelled or whatever mechanism is in that thing. I filled out an electronic work order and was called on my OLD phone number and criticized, chastised, and condemned this morning by the uptight, not knowledgeable manager.



Apartment manager, has always been difficult, she absconded with my charcoal grill from December until February, I thought someone had stolen it, cause after five years of living here, her justification was, "I am not allowed to have a charcoal grill." That's not what they told me five years ago, they said I could use it in my driveway and being that my daughter and her fiancee were visiting during Christmastime and they live in England, when I instructed John to use my hose to water down the coals and he cleaned it out, he placed it by the left side of my garage. Remember folks, people drive on the opposite side in England so they do things like me since I am left handed, LOL.

The derelicts who lived underneath me either moved out willingly or were forced out, regardless I lost a charcoal grill that I guess management thought was theirs when they vacated, either willingly or unwillingly, maybe that's where my three missing orders of Hello Fresh went and my bicycle and my box of vintage barbies. Anyhow, that's another story....

Back to this morning and Monday in Pandemia. It took practically a call to National Headquarters to get my washing machine fixed, apparently a pair of my panties got sucked into the drain, CRAZY. Also, last night, all this washing clothes in hot water caused my washer to malfunction. I had to call the apartment I live at and have a maintenance person come out and fix the problem. New problem, the way managers who used to be high strung and clueless now are taking the DEFENSE and calling me on my old phone number, even though they have my new number. The hassle that some people try to put you through isn't going to change due to a pandemic. If they hassled you before or were rude, don't expect them to change or be a nicer person now.

First accusatory question: "Are you sick?" NO. (thinking to myself, is that your business, are you SICK?) As in sick with the Corona Virus.
Second accusatory question: "Whose in the house at the moment?" Just me. Third accusatory statement, ARE YOU SURE? YES
Fourth accusatory statement: Well, when we do come over, if we decide to come over, you cannot be at home. (This made me think, they are painting outside and all of the cars have sheets except mine on it, they didn't offer, should I wait in my car??) I can't drive anywhere as there is a STAY at HOME Order in effect, my mind was swirling.
Me taking the bull by the horns. Who are you planning on sending? I need to know their name. They can go through my garage and go up the back stairs, they must wear booties and gloves, and a mask, if possible. I will disinfect before and after they come. My town home apartment model and the appliance that needs to be worked on there would be NO need to have contact with me. "Well, make sure the side door is closed too." Federal case, good thing washer works NOW, case closed.


If you can imagine, this also took an email to the more sensible assistant manager and texts that manager was able to send, but then suddenly was UNABLE?
TEXTS:

Good morning Gina. Maintenance is on his way to your apartment. Can you please leave the garage open for him. Thank you. 8:16am
Maintenance went over to your garage and it wasn't open. He is going to the next work order. Give us a call and we can set an appointment for you. Thank you! 8:21 am
It is open. 8:21am.
Ok. I will close. 8:23am
Text me when he arrives. 8:25am
Thanks for your inquiry! Our Leasing Center is currently closed, but we will get back to you as soon as we open! 8:30am




I'm out of espresso pods. Drove to Starbucks and they are closed due to COVID-19. Opted to put mask, gloves on and go through s.o.'s garage and use his espresso machine, with permission. Like a Brave New World, he can see me and talk with me through his RING system. I bring my can of Lysol, spray his key pad, take off my shoes, put the slippers I leave at his house on to walk a short distance to his espresso machine via the garage, laundry room, indoor ping pong table to the kitchen, try not to touch anything, I forgot my ceramic mug at home as I figured I was going to Starbucks to buy PODS, and use a Styrofoam cup

I've communicated with my son's tutors, son is chelaxing at his dad's house with no answer on if or when he's coming over here.

I started a new job yesterday. LOVE it, and grateful!

I really needed my cappuccino.

It's all good, tomorrow will be Tuesday.

For some reason, my life is feeling like Confessions of a Shopaholic scene where she opens the bills.

I guess it could be worse, we could all be hapless idiots in Independence Day. "Oh, wait". The Covid-19 Crisis can affect anyone, be safe and well and careful!

Cookbook Author, Gina Meyers, message about corona virus

I can feel a shift amidst all this craziness, can you? It feels like the old world is gone and a new world
is emerging, this resilience is what makes us strong and able to fight this horrific virus.
To all those suffering- people, countries, humans living in fear, continue to be strong!
We’re all in this together and for whatever reason this new normal and time for adjustment
is making us all aware of what really matters, family and friends, food, and good conversations. 

We can continue to find this during our staycation, we just might need to be a little creative.
Over the past few days, I’ve been experimenting in the kitchen, making dishes as promised
that are  satisfying.
For lunch, I created a Tuscan Chicken Spaghetti, for breakfast I experimented
making strawberry crepes. T
he evening brought the need for a little Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies and of course we are
remembering to eat our fruit and veggies. 

 Though each day has enough adventure, remember to take it moment by moment or day by day
for some. Out of this new normal, and being on a three week 
vacation from my full-time marketing job, I’ve been enjoying helping friends
with their strategic business adjustments and reacquainting
with some of my cookbooks and books of inspiration that I've written,
working on a new cookbook and spending time with my son. 

We're all adjusting to our new normal, and finding the bright side to all of it.
People are resilient, after all. I am enjoying my son playing the guitar,
our bike rides and our working together on his Spanish, Geometry, English, History, and Chemistry
courses. Luckily, unlike the rest of the world who is home-schooled,
we got a head start about 2 months ago, so our NEW normal already was in progress,
so a little less adjustments.

Remember to stay vigilant about your health, safety, and well being.
It’s ok to order take out, just choose wisely. Remember to practice social distancing,
this of course has been the most difficult for us,
especially when it looks like the 1980's all over again
at our local Park-everyone is out and about, but it's difficult
to maintain a safe distance or explain to a teenager that
your friends are off limits for the time being in person,
trying saying that while not sounding preachy or nagging.
Clean your room and your bathroom has taken
on a whole new tone now!

My son seems to be adjusting quite well to Facetime and the like,
spending many hours making tic tock videos and talking with his friends on the phone.
(Also rather similar to my teenage years, minus the tic tock)
We are all in this together. For better and for worse. 

My bright side? I've probably talked to my friends and family more in this last week than ever before.
Plus, I've gotten rather creative with sending postcards instead of letters. (Cheaper postage).
Old patterns of thought and behavior, have been replaced with more
friendly and informative interactions. 

I will continue to share recipes, trivia tidbits, marketing tips, and, of course inspiring messages
I’ve learned along the way from others. You can find FREE recipes on: https://www.ginameyers.com.
All of my books are on kindle, nook, and softcover with retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
You can also purchase autographed copies here: Autographed Cookbooks

Thank you to all of the “essential workers” of the world.
We are all doing our part to make the world great again. Enjoy the rainbows and the sunsets.

Though my son and myself will have to postpone our Easter Vacation to Rome, Italy,
we hope that God willing we will be able to visit Italy soon!

To Your Health and Salute,

Gina

Our Changing World 6 Feet Apart, by, Gina Meyers

Our Changing World

6 Feet Apart

By, Gina Meyers

This is Gina reporting for service your excellency, the silent war has begun, the enemy is among us.
Let this serve as a historical record that we all existed, wanted to exist, and we hoped to exist,
but what we really were supposed to do is share our music and our passions with one another. 

We are sorry, we regret to inform you that while some of you thought you were sharing your passions,
you were merely buying time to buy a fancier car, to live in a bigger house, to get a 

bigger ring with more bling, (ring with more ice),  to gain more independence ,
to see more sights, to travel to more places. While some of these goals were good,
you missed the mark. You believed in your own cause, you made yourself feel better to say,
“I have this many friends.” “I have gone to this many parties.”

Did it take a pandemic your excellency for people to slow down,
see your face, tap into their music? What scares me most your excellency are the
people in the next few days, few weeks, few months, and few years that won’t get the
opportunity to know you down here on Planet Earth.
Our Earth has had a temperature for a long time, it was made fun of,
the soldiers leading the cause came in the form of concerned citizens,
adults and  children, and they were chastised and ridiculed.
Some even went to great lengths of taking the cause of our global environmental emergency
to the supreme leaders of our courts. Some your excellency are ignorant,
still, they think a can of food, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer are all they need.
The survival of the fittest war has changed, our soldiers out in the field need to take new precautions.
In order to save the earth and its’ people, we must close, shut down everyday life.
Some of them seem confused about this your excellency.
Even doctors who should know better are making presumptive claims that this will blow over.
It’s getting stronger, the silent war, and the longer we GO silent, the more chance it has to
overtake all of humanity.

What can the soldiers do your excellency to take precautions?

Well my dear sweet child, they must submit to me. They must tap into their music, their souls,
their survival skills. They must find the music in them, they must share it.
They need to sing from their balconies, and shout my name, Jehovah Jireh.
They need to practice loving kindness by giving to those in need who ask. 

They must stop the blame game, ignorance is no longer bliss.
They must absolutely SHUT everything down, no business as usual.
They must recognize the silent enemy wants to overtake you in the dark, it wants to take you to
the dark side and make your life be for nothing.

Don’t let the fear stop you, fear is false evidence appearing real.

What protective gear do the soldiers need?

 I will provide all the tools necessary, but you must stop putting your trust in your governments
and your own devices, you must submit to our friend, intuition. 
Put on the full Armour of god as the bible says. 

I do not mean to say to revolt against your governments, no, they are trying to help.
But, your excellency,  none of us have ever seen this silent war before on earth. 

This is as I have described. Even the non-believers now believe the end is near.
All of humanity is on the verge of extinction.
Yet, so many have recovered from the pandemic your excellency. 

Your Excellency

But have they submitted to me? Have they thrown away their old ideas?

Gina

 Haven’t they already sacrificed enough?

Your Excellency

Please report to me what you have found to be true, Gina.

Gina

 What I have found to be true your excellency is people are very stubborn, selfish, and they like labels. Labels on their jeans, and in their professions.

Your Excellency

Gina, you know better than this, you are a child of your excellencies. 

Yes, your excellency and I am here today to report for duty and share what our everyday heroes are
doing on earth.

We are ready for the war. Soldiers have instinctively been preparing, they have known that there
was no such thing as fight or flight. They used their flight to protect themselves to prepare for
the silent war. Many soldiers have been injured in battle due to the fact that they simply can’t
turn off their fight mode. Their adrenaline is off the charts, their ability to function almost at a standstill.
This leaves their immune systems depleted. Maybe what I meant to report before is yes,
there is fight or flight, but it isn’t helping.

Gina, please carry on. Please openly share your thoughts and feelings.
I want to hear the truth from your perspective.

Well, your excellency, people have done a crappy, oh sorry, people have done a substandard job
in my humble opinion of using their intuition. They’ve forgotten the importance of inner beauty,
and all that’s really mattered. Showing kindness to a stranger, not realizing every word in the bible
to be factual. 

I saw and felt this change the world that was before, and the world to come.

Please tell me your excellency if we have a chance to go back to before?

I know you showed us what was prophesied when our beloved Nortre Dame, our lady burned down in
Paris, France. 

I knew that was a sign that the world before was no more. 

Your excellency, I didn’t finish my report, I’ve been too worried about our soldiers,
I’ve been so worried about my reaction and what my role in the silent war should be?

Isn’t it  obvious, you are a gifted writer. You can share your perspective because you have acquired
discernment, the ability to communicate, and you know intuition is your friend.

Some still don’t believe you are the messiah, some don’t believe in our mother,
many don’t give you reverent respect because they believe in their principles.

Their souls Gina are for me to worry about, you just need to focus on your passions and
sharing your music, this is overtaking the silent war, though you’ve failed to see this.

Was I blind your excellency to my gifts? 

No, you have been given many gifts, you’ve utilized your gifts and you’ve shared your passions,
so I gave you a temporary job to report back to me on your impressions of the situation
of the silent war.

They miss their routines, their habits. 

Who misses them?

The soldiers, everyday heroes, me, your excellency.

And so it goes my dear child. Have I not promised that I will always be with you even if in spirit?
You have the tools, you have the faith, you are winning the war against the silent enemy. 

Your excellency, not to complain, but I could’ve done without the knowing intuitively that the
pandemic was coming. 

I really would have liked to have seen how the Harry Potter Musical was going to end.

You know the story Gina. You’ve seen the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. You saw the signs because
you are awake to the earth’s needs.

So your excellency, please tell me if this will be enough of a wake up call for the humans
and the soldiers on earth?

Absolutely Gina, this was enough, you know I didn’t cause this, right?

Yes, but it feels like the end is drawing near. 

No, the old is gone, the new will come. There is never darkness without light and there never is
bad without good, and there never will be an end to your messiah.
After the rain, there is always a rainbow. This is my promise to you. 

You see I am eternal, the soul of the world, the healer of the sick.
My soldiers merely march to my orders through our friend intuition
and our friends kindness and caring.

One day you will not have suffering, there will be peace.
But peace can and will be had on earth too. Why would I steal your joy?

That’s not my intention.

Go in the way of the Lord, whatever you want to call me.
Follow the spirit of kindness, generosity, faithfulness, caring, love.

Be all you want to be, say what you want to say, go where you want to go,
believe in me and it will be. You will see.

Can we please hurry and end the suffering? 

What you need, has already been given, you don’t need more than you have.
You are sufficient, you have the tools you need, you won’t just survive, you will thrive.

Gina reporting for duty your excellency. Things are emerging and changing every second.
Right now if you happen to be a citizen of Italy and contract the corona virus, 
you have about a 50-50% chance of surviving on Planet Earth. 

Spain unfortunately is also fighting the silent war and they are losing many soldiers too. 
The same goes for France and The United States, and pretty much any country on Planet Earth.
Even New York, California, you name it, we all fight the battle, but some people are losing hope. 

What is scary is the youth I see them losing hope.
Instead of wanting to fight the war, I hear them saying from a  distance, our six feet separation,
“what, 2021, we won’t be here.” 

This is the most discouraging thing I’ve heard in my life: your excellency.
Fear is false evidence appearing real, but HOPE, hope is the only way to defeat the silent enemy
that creeps upon us and attacks.

Hope is for a bright new day. Hope is not being a casualty of the silent war, but if you are,
it’s at least hoping that you won’t be or at least hoping that you can inspire yourself and others
enough to defeat the silent enemy.

Why does man not praise their accomplishments now? Why does man not believe they can defeat
any foreigner including the corona virus?
Your excellency, even if the people including myself survive on Planet Earth,
what hope will there be to travel or to see Iceland again, or Rome, Italy, or Barcelona, Spain?

My dear sweet child, you forget, these are not your worries, they are my burdens.
Keep strong and keep the faith. Take your precautions and instill them on those you love and
those who will listen. 

Did I not command you to heed my word? Now is the time to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
In the worst of times, it is the best of times to BELIEVE.

Tis better to hope, I remember in my psychology class on Planet Earth, San Jose, California, in the
year of our lord, 1989 AD. My psychology teacher he asked me to stand.
He said, “Gina has an A plus in the class cause she wrote and she thought, and she
contemplated and she went above and beyond to share her life and her experiences.”

And then a football player, on the last day of school ate a twinkie that my psychology teacher had
stapled the twinkie and the wrapper to the wall on the first day of school. Sorry, random thought, but
an important message. Our teacher had said a twinkie could survive a nuclear holicast and yet some
football
player decided to ingest that for kicks and to get the other teenagers including myself's attention.

We all should be striving for A pluses on Planet Earth, we should be giving ourselves all A’s for trying. 

As much as you want to be assured that everything will be ok, you must reassure yourself.
I’ve given you all you need in this life to carry on. 

If you choose to fight the silent battle you must put on the full Armour of God.
Correct those who are misinformed, but fight the battle separately,
there will come a time after the silent battle has been defeated for those to learn
the lessons of life that they need to learn.

Remember, I’ve already won the silent war. I’ve already overcome the enemy.
Just like how you are aware that the humans on planet earth need to share their music, each person also has  their own separate lessons to learn on Planet Earth.

And your lesson dear sweet child, is to learn to relax and be still and know that I am God and I am here.

Sweet dreams your excellency. 

Don’t forget to pray dear child. I’m listening.

Gina reporting for duty your excellency.

You rang Gina.

Yes, I did your excellency.

Please tell me what you’ve learned so far on this journey thus far.

Well, I have observed that each country your excellency is working very hard to combat the corona virus.

I am still very concerned for all ages, especially the youth around the world that aren’t taking
this seriously.

They are looking at this disease as a vacation rather than a staycation.

What do you mean by that Gina.

What I mean is people in my humble opinion are doing it wrong. It’s not that they are selfish,
they are ignorant and ignorance is not bliss and knowledge is power.

Everyone seems to think that we are going to go back to the same world we started in.

They don’t realize everything has changed. I’ve always known that we are spirits
having a human experience, but others they just think,
“this is a virus that won’t affect me, I won’t catch it smoking,
hanging out with my friends, holding my boyfriends hand, going for a hike with five of my buddies,
going to the dentist, going to the grocery store.” 

They don’t seem to realize that if someone is infected that coughs or sneezes on them,
they could get the virus. They don’t realize that if they touch a plastic surface,
an envelope, breathe air of an infected person that they could get the virus.

Is it too much for their brain to think of?

Meanwhile, in the US, I have observed your excellency that groups are congregating
that aren’t family, hand holding, going to the beach, goodness they don’t realize they are next.
Or could be. What's even bothersome is the personal choices and the risk assessments that the rest
of us are placed in because others are playing Russian Roulet with their own lives, puts my life and
the lives of those I love is FINAL jeopardy. Maybe double jeopardy, but definitely danger.

I’m not observing fear--or guilt--, it honestly seems to be a lack of information.

Gina, tell me what else you feel, instead of what you observed and please tell me what you are thinking.

Well, your excellency, I am happy to report that I am feeling great.
I’ve gotten my priorities back on track, I’ve started a new routine,
I’m appreciating the food that I have, I am creating yummy recipes,
I am sharing my recipes and my books of inspiration with the world.
I’m listening to my son play the guitar and we are spending hours riding our bikes,
I’m watching movies and laughing hard. I’m having serious conversations with those around me,
I am marketing myself and sharing my passions and skills.
I am discovering that I have an arsenal of information, it was as if you prepared me for the silent war.

It’s lonely too your excellency, it’s not like I can yell at someone and tell them their ways could harm them.

I am especially concerned about the front liners and the soldiers. They are putting their life at risk
and for what? Even their partners and families could be infected with the virus.

It’s like this very strange selfish game people seem to be playing. 

But, the people started to share their music, and they started to walk, and they started to talk,
and they started to run, and they started to smell the roses, and they started to appreciate their lives,
they started to see that like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, they always could find their way home.

“There’s no place like home, your excellency.”

Thank you so much Gina for walking the walk and talking the talk and seeing from afar and feeling
up close. Welcome Home.

I know the fight isn’t over, the silent war is raging on, but I do know no matter what,
you’re in charge your excellency. I appreciate all the gifts you’ve given me,
even the anxiety, it’s taught me to work through things, not to give up, to be a fighter. 

Precautions and thoughts

We have to acknowledge that there is a silent war going on.

We need to acknowledge that there will be no business as usual.

We will have to change in order to adapt.

Please insert your name into this story. Please write down what your passions are and what
hobbies you enjoy in the story as well.

Thoughts to ponder:
1) What precautions can I take today to ensure my safety and security for the future?
2) What can I do know that may be a sacrifice but will flatten the curve of this global pandemic?
3) What will I tell my future self that will help me get through this experience?

About the author:

Gina Meyers is an award winning published writer. Her book, Hope for Haiti, won Best Charity Cookbook
in the World in Paris, France, The Gourmand Cookbook Award, March 2011 at the Folies Bergere.
She is the author of many best selling cookbooks including Love at First Bite, The Unofficial
& Unauthorized Cookbook, Muggles to Magic, The Unofficial & Unauthorized Harry Potter Cookbook,
she is also the author of The Magic of Bewitched Trivia & More Series of books and 101 Things to Know
About Bewitched & I Dream of Jeannie.

Gina for the past ten years has written books of inspiration: Universal Truths, Life Lessons Learned From
My Fortune Cookies, Attitude of Gratitude. In 2014, Gina collaborated with world renowned experts
in their fields to create, Manifesting Magnificence: A Personal Growth Workbook. https://www.ginameyers.com

She is the owner of Serendipity Media Group and Serendipity Press, a marketing, publishing,
and promotions firm. She has helped individuals succeed in sharing their passion of writing
with their intended markets. https://www.serendipitymediagroup.com