Not much! Well nothing has changed a lot, but we are looking forward and working on new things at home.

Of course, the big news is still the virus and the quarantine. We are in phase 1 of the plan to reopen the country. Phase 2 should start any day but the exact date still hasn’t been announced.

Quarantine at the moment is about the same, but a few more people are able to do business in this phase.  Our time out of the house is still only a couple hours determined by the cedula (ID) or passport number, and alternate days by gender. The guys got their Saturdays back though. And, exercise is now allowed, during your allowed time out, within 1 km of home, and with a mask if you are going to be within 2 meters of another person. This has made a world of difference in how I feel both mentally and physically!

I figure if exercise is allowed and it’s also my only time to shop, what if I’m shopping on my bike? There are a lot more people selling fruits, vegetables, and seafood to make a bit of money, so I’ve been picking up a few things on my outings. Yesterday I tried langostinos (like super size shrimp). I bought a pound but ended up giving them to a neighbor, so I had to go all the way down again and buy another pound. I can’t believe how much better and stronger I feel in even a week. The langostinos are good but I find the shrimp just as good at half the price, so I’ll probably stick to shrimp.

We’ve been very busy with the music because we’re getting ready to do some live music on line.  Musicians all over the world are in the same quarantine situation, as are their audiences, so this seems to be the growing thing. We have been working on making a space in the living room, getting the camera setup right, adjusting the sound, deciding on a set of songs, and practicing with the drum machine. (our drummer is quarantined in Boquete, so near yet so far).

Our goal is to do a Facebook live broadcast this Sunday evening, so we’ll see how it goes. This may not be like playing in front of a live audience but on the other hand, we can reach anyone in the world. We don’t have to move equipment, and our audience can listen from the comfort of their own homes (and dance like no one is looking!)  I figure the most optimistic estimate is 2 more months before there is live music again, but realistically it could be much longer. So, why not give this a try?

I’ll keep you all posted on the exact date, time, and how to find us. We’re usually Monkey Nerve but since it’s only two monkeys right now playing from our couch, look for posts about “The Couch Monkeys”, coming soon.

This is still a very stressful time for everyone, it’s hard to see the future, and it often feels like there is no end in sight. Hopefully we can send a bit of music your way to brighten an evening. Hopefully all of us can continue to take care of each other and be kind to each other. Hang in there! Some day this will be a story we tell our kids and grandkids, and that someday will come eventually.