Wasabi's Whatever Thread (AMA and journal)

How are you and the family doing?
Other than going a little stir crazy, we're ok. All parks, beach parks, botanical gardens, and pools are closed. Restaurants are closed other than for take out or delivery. The kids are out of school through April 7, though that will likely get extended. Keeping them busy is a challenge. On the other hand I'm buried with work. That isn't such a bad thing since it's keeping my brain from going off of the deep end.

I'm terrified I'm going to die if I get this thing because of my asthma. I don't need an inhaler or take medication on a daily basis. It only flairs when I get a respiratory infection, so that's when I end up needing an inhaler and sometimes I get a nebulizer treatment from my doctor. I had a mild case of flu over a month ago and still have a cough. So COVID-19 has me thinking a lot about the possibility that I could be hospitalized or die.

I also had to have a conversation with Lily, who is 10, about her fears that Shawn and I will die from the virus. And what will happen if we die from it. That was really uncomfortable. I lied and said we'd all be ok. I can't stand that this is what she has to worry about now instead of lighter things like screwing up at the school spelling bee.
 
My psychiatrist wants me to try Ketamine for my depression. Everything I've read says it's for severe cases. That isn't me. But it would be nice not to feel like an empty hole for a while.
 
So...who wants to help me with Mandarin? Because I have dug myself in deep in Chinese drama/music/book fandom (and some K-pop groups with Chinese members). I can understand some things if people are speaking, like lăoshī , gē ge , yé ye , jiě jie , dì di , hóng sè , numbers up to 3 - you know, like I'm almost 1 year old in vocabulary. I'm completely illiterate like a baby, too. I don't need to be fluent, but I'd like to get the gist of things if I'm watching an interview without subtitles.

Any good books or other references you suggest so I'm not as lost?
 
So...who wants to help me with Mandarin? Because I have dug myself in deep in Chinese drama/music/book fandom (and some K-pop groups with Chinese members). I can understand some things if people are speaking, like lăoshī , gē ge , yé ye , jiě jie , dì di , hóng sè , numbers up to 3 - you know, like I'm almost 1 year old in vocabulary. I'm completely illiterate like a baby, too. I don't need to be fluent, but I'd like to get the gist of things if I'm watching an interview without subtitles.

Any good books or other references you suggest so I'm not as lost?
It's a good question for @Terrik maybe. If he ever has a break from touching people's mouthes.
 
I'm afraid I can't help much here, since I grew up with the language, so I don't know how to help someone who's acquiring it as a second language.
 
My Mandarin is god-awful, but to tell the truth, episodes of Nihao Kailan really helped me pick up the basics when I have to go to visit family.
 
My Mandarin is god-awful, but to tell the truth, episodes of Nihao Kailan really helped me pick up the basics when I have to go to visit family.
How do you think I know yé ye and hóng sè? Though eventually my kids and I started calling her Big-head Kailan. We acted out the Sun Fuzzies attacking her one day "Look Sun Fuzzies! OMG IT BURNS!!" Good times.
 
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