April 10, 2020
If you’d like to join me in helping Lakota families and/or rural libraries this year, please read this post. Over 6 weeks in 2019, we raised $2669.94 for the Lakota families, touching 27 lives. What can we do in 2020?
Current total: Lakota, $640.74; Rural libraries, $321.62.
1. Brain therapy was tough and good. I found it hard to agree that I should be kinder to myself, that I deserved to let my body rest without being harsh about it letting me down when I inevitably need way more rest than I think is “normal” or “acceptable” after a certain amount of activities.
Challenges this week: A loved one is going through a really terrible time with their abuser. They’re trying to get out and stay out but the outlook isn’t good for the vulnerable children, the adults in the legal system are NOT standing up for them the way the parent trying to escape is trying to get them to, and they definitely don’t understand how bad it’s going to get. It’s beyond infuriating. PiC’s job is now potentially in jeopardy and THAT is frightening and infuriating.
2. I treated myself to Seanan McGuire’s Imaginary Numbers on Kobo (Amazon) (IndieBound). I am really trying to like Kobo but it is taking a bit of getting used to.
3. Our friends are getting a puppy and this means I get puppy pictures and videos!! I love puppies. I love other people getting puppies and doing the work so I can enjoy them without the work.
4. I learned a new word: kakistocracy. Yeah. That’s what we’re in. (more…)
April 3, 2020
If you’d like to join me in helping Lakota families and/or rural libraries this year, please read this post. Over 6 weeks in 2019, we raised $2669.94 for the Lakota families, touching 27 lives. What can we do in 2020?
Current total: Lakota, $640.74; Rural libraries, $321.62.
1. It looks like we’re shut down through May. Being a pessimist who was expecting that (and for it to go longer) sort of helps.
Challenges this week: PiC’s hands are healing very slowly which is frustrating and worrisome, my fatigue is off the charts.
2. We had an online “party” with aunties and uncles for an auntie’s birthday on the weekend and it was fun.
3. That constant urge to buy (probably stress shopping) has faded for a little bit. I’m grateful for however long it lasts.
4. My brain therapy session helped me work through the feelings and difficulty I’m having in supporting a loved one because it’s bringing up bad memories of being the child of a narcissistic user. I chose to support them and always will but I am more cognizant of the need to have some boundaries and the need to step back sometimes so I am not giving everyone else everything and leaving nothing for myself. This is a new realization and a work in progress.
5. JB still seems to be handling the adjustment to our not-quite routine well. I am sure that it helps that they’re getting all kinds of treats they normally wouldn’t: no getting sent off to school at somewhat rigid times, lots and lots of free choice and art time, screen time with every dinner (usually educational but just fun on the weekends.) They generally benefit a lot from daycare programming in terms of education but they have also been attending year round for years with only winter break and a couple of weeks in the summer off. This is kind of the equivalent of their first summer break from a school routine, even though their scope is seriously limited.
:: How are things developing where you are? How are you spending this time if you’re quarantined?
March 27, 2020
If you’d like to join me in helping Lakota families and/or rural libraries this year, please read this post. Over 6 weeks in 2019, we raised $2669.94 for the Lakota families, touching 27 lives. What can we do in 2020?
Current total: Lakota, $640.74; Rural libraries, $321.62.
1. I watched the news on COVID-19 pretty carefully leading into March. While I didn’t anticipate exactly what we’re seeing now, my disaster antennae were up and catching all kinds of vibrations so when PiC noted we were down to our last two small packages of toilet paper, which is when we usually buy a new megapack, I said casually, get one extra pack just in case. In case of what? At the time I would have said, well, the supply lines may get borked. China’s having a rough go of it and I’m not sure what that’ll do to our ability to refill things we need on demand over the next few months. Better to have an extra than not buy it and be stuck when the time comes around again in a month.
I would not in decade have guessed that people would clear the shelves, the inventory, and the freaking warehouses. What. On. Earth.
I’m only looking now because I’m responsible for a friend’s household supplies. They’re having a particularly tough time and I designated myself their needs supplier. I shipped them a pack before the virus burst forth but I should have sent two. Holy hickory, I’ve scoured the internet and found nary a sheet. Everyone is out of stock. I’d just give them our extra pack but it’s not cost effective to ship.
I’m glad we’re fine but what is everyone doing? Are they buying ten times their usual amount? This is such a mystery. Wish me luck as I try try again.
Challenges this week: PiC hurt his hands, my fibro has flared up, we’re constantly on edge about the state of supplies and when we should next attempt to venture forth. My routines are all off. I feel the urge to stress shop a lot. Mainly for basics but I saw a $150 Chromebook and had an irrational urge to buy it. I do not need a Chromebook.
2. We helped out an educator friend with distance learning lesson planning and that went so well that we worked out some times they can give JB lessons to give us a brief window of uninterrupted work time. It’s been really hard to get a schedule in place as we ourselves have been adapting to the ever changing news but I have high hopes for this week.
3. PiC got to work on his garage project and is satisfied with his weekend’s work.
4. We took the dogs outside on two sunny afternoons and they sunned themselves until they couldn’t take it any longer. That’s a luxury here.
5. My brain therapy session helped me work through my feeling frustrated and thinking that feeling Not Good about a pandemic is somehow the equivalent of me being a mess. I feel like a mess because I am unsettled. But it doesn’t mean that I am a mess.
6. JB was poorly on the weekend so we spent hours snuggling and resting on the sofa. That didn’t help so I distracted them with Christmas shopping for the cousins. It worked a treat AND we’ve knocked out one Christmas chore before April. Plus we supported a smallish business. *Buffs nails*
:: How are things developing where you are? How are you spending this time if you’re quarantined?
March 20, 2020
If you’d like to join me in helping Lakota families and/or rural libraries this year, please read this post. Over 6 weeks in 2019, we raised $2669.94 for the Lakota families, touching 27 lives. What can we do in 2020?
Current total: Lakota, $640.74; Rural libraries, $321.62.
1. I’m so proud of myself. I had a list of five recipes I wanted to cook and freeze ahead but I knew it was a very ambitious list as they all required a lot more than my usual effort. I broke up the recipe across two days and made a magnificent vat of gluten free lamb stew. I filled up two containers for freezing, we had a smashing good dinner (PiC had three bowls), and I shared some with a neighbor.
2. PiC bought a medium tub of hot and sour soup from the local Chinese restaurant we like for me to freeze. It’s one of the soups I always want to eat when I’m sick, so if the day comes that I’m down with a virus, I’ll have comfort food close to hand.
3. JB’s preschool program has been closed indefinitely. Thankfully I had already been thinking ahead to that inevitable day so I already have a box of activities assembled and a few recipes ready for cooking and baking projects together.
Challenges this week: I’m baffled by the nonsense people are willing to believe about disease. People are saying: putting Vicks VapoRub in your nostrils will protect against germs – no, it will not. People believe that you can test for COVID-19 by holding your breath for ten seconds, and make it go away by drinking water – no and no. Some people were touting steaming as a way of killing the virus in your lungs – an epidemiologist said that would only work if it were hot enough at which point you’d be long dead.
Why, people, WHY.
Many counties here have been shut down through April 7 or longer. This is a surreal time.
4. My brain therapy session was tough but good. I didn’t feel emotionally flayed, I suppose one can only have so many of those in a row, but I did feel comfort in discussing my past and present and concerns with a professional. I’ve advised others to seek professional help in the past, I believe it can really help people, but this is the first time I’ve ever personally experienced what I imagined it to be.
5. Super grateful to Tanya for sending me this chicken salad recipe, it’s similar to a recipe mom used to make when I was growing up and I’ve missed it. JB liked the dressing but hated the salad. Go figure.
6. Shopping for our Lakota families is usually an exercise in frustration because so many household basics aren’t available for shipping to PO boxes or to that zip code even if the store is willing to ship to them. We’re now experiencing similar issues here with household basics because of COVID-19. Every reasonably priced detergent and heartburn relief, for example, are out of stock even if they would normally deliver to us for a fee. Both at Target and Costco. I’m both annoyed and recognize that we’re very lucky to normally have no problems getting hold of what we need. And we’re lucky that PiC is able bodied and can run to the store and try to find the goods if I can’t. Not everyone has such an awesome and able-bodied partner to pick up the load like that, nor does everyone have relatively easy access to stores that might have stock.
7. Parenting in the time of COVID-19 means we’re relaxing our standards on screen time. I will allow some on weekdays when I need a break and JB has been using up all their willpower. They have been surprisingly good about the isolation considering how social they normally are so far, but at this point it just seems like we’re having a long (looooong) weekend. They are sad about not being allowed to eat out at a restaurant, though. They enjoy the novelty.
8. My massage therapist cancelled our session due to the three week shutdown of the Bay Area. I’ve purchased a gift card to get some money in her pocket because she’s still going to have to pay rent and I want to do my part in ensuring she can. I also cancelled our dogwalker but we’re still paying them because it’s not a ton of money but I’m guessing that every little bit will make a difference. I’m extra aware of these things because I have friends who own small businesses and losing lots of income during the pandemic. I hope their customers remember that people need to pay their bills and pay a little extra if they can.
9. I’m so grateful that JB has generally taken this in stride, aside from the occasional morbid ponderings (what if people die of coronavirus and they’re all alone?? Do you have coronavirus? I think I have coronavirus.) We’ve had some pretty non-scheduled days and rolled from day to day this week rather flexibly unlike my best intentions of having a set schedule. It’s ok. Next week. I wonder how long we’ll go like this with the statewide shutdown set for… Indeif
:: How are you holding up?
March 13, 2020
If you’d like to join me in helping Lakota families and/or rural libraries this year, please read this post. Over 6 weeks in 2019, we raised $2669.94 for the Lakota families, touching 27 lives. What can we do in 2020?
Current total: Lakota, $640.74; Rural libraries, $321.62.
1. I have put in the last orders for refills on all of Seamus’s meds so that we’re good for about 2 months on his medications and food. It’s so much money, and I’m so grateful that we are able to foot the bill, but we are digging a bit into savings.
2. I had my first brain appointment and we dug deep into some painful issues right away. Damn if it wasn’t also really good for me. I felt light for the first time in … I do not remember. It lasted a few days. It also left me with about a thousand more questions than I have answers to but that wasn’t entirely unanticipated.
3. I’m grateful that I decided to skip lump sum investing this year and to make a small weekly purchase on a set day of the week. With the stock market doing the dance its dance, I would be struggling to figure out what to do and when to buy and how much to buy. But a set schedule that I just execute? I can handle that.
Challenges this week: The spread of COVID-19, and the terrible way the US government is handling it, is really unsettling.
4. I’m working on focusing on the things I can control, like food. I’m looking at planning for treats and meals in case of self quarantine or actual illness. Like these keto sugar free donuts. There’s also my list of a mix of new and old recipes that I need to make in large batches for eating now AND for freezing for later. I’m hoping we can stage just one big grocery run this week and not have to go again for another couple weeks to reduce our social exposure.
5. We’re also talking about when to pull JB from regular activities (daycare, swim). There aren’t many cases here, many parents who have help have already pulled their kids and reduced the exposure for the remaining kids, so now we are working to make plans to keep JB engaged and learning at home when it’s our turn to take them out.
6. After 3 rounds of medications and 4 lab tests at $200 a pop, Seamus is FINALLY cleared of infection!!! HUZZAH.
7. I’ve got some hoarded Target gift cards for our essentials that I just dug into to send a big box of supplies to my baby relative working their butt off as a healthcare provider. They are in one of the frontline roles of treating people and I wanted to ease their day to day burden a little since they’re on their own and working all hours of the day and night. Thank goodness for hoarding gift cards.
8. I got to thinking about kids in school and college right now. If this pandemic had hit when I was a kid or in college like this one is hitting now, we couldn’t have made rent, paid for gas, groceries, or utilities. We were once so incredibly precarious. It’s a minor miracle that I made it through college without more than a major medical mystery hanging over my head. I wish there was a way to see the students who are scrambling to survive because of this and give them a helping hand.
:: I hope if you’re reading this, you’re healthy and will stay that way, but what precautions are you taking?
March 6, 2020
If you’d like to join me in helping Lakota families and/or rural libraries this year, please read this post. Over 6 weeks in 2019, we raised $2669.94 for the Lakota families, touching 27 lives. What can we do in 2020?
Total collected: Lakota, $640.74; Rural libraries, $321.62.
1. The work on our taxes should start this week. In about two weeks, I should be able to stop holding my breath for the tax hit. Ending that particular anticipation will be nice.
2. I finally got a few outstanding health appointments on the calendar. I need to find out what I’m allergic to because I am sick of randomly itching and random rashes sprouting. Cross your fingers for .. good grief, I don’t even know what to hope for other than an answer that’s palatable.
Challenges this week: My fatigue has been … well, overwhelming. I hate it. I hate it so much. I hate feeling useless because there are 30 things to do in a weekend but I can only do three of them and then I have to lay down for 3 hours. Hate. It. And there’s only so much existential dread I can take over the state of our nation politically, the state of our world medically with COVID-19, and the very serious goings-ons in dear friends’ lives.
3. We had a warm day! I set Ronnie Robot Vacuum loose to do its thing and opened all the windows for fresh air and aired out the house. It’s astonishing how different the airflow feels in every room at the same point in time. The combination of reasonably clean floors and fresh air and warmth was invigorating. Moments like these I miss the SoCal life. Not enough to go back and live in that traffic. But a little.
4. I’m also highly amused every time I watch Ronnie work, or know that Ronnie’s moseying through the house and cleaning the floors. It’s like having a less sentient Mo from WALL-E, except Ronnie gets stuck in random rooms sometimes and can’t tell me which one.
5. It feels like my sunrise alarm clock has been helpful in the dark winter mornings. I’m glad I found one half off but also glad that I bought it at all. (more…)
February 28, 2020
If you’d like to join me in helping Lakota families and/or rural libraries this year, please read this post. Over 6 weeks in 2019, we raised $2669.94 for the Lakota families, touching 27 lives. What can we do in 2020?
Current total: Lakota, $521.62; Rural libraries, $321.62.
1. There’s something immensely satisfying about setting Ronnie the Robot Vacuum to take care of one room while I clean another area and start the laundry. Ronnie’s taking care of the other room! (This seems less satisfying when I get an alert that Ronnie needs help because its left wheel is stuck but I have no idea where it IS because it left the room and to another one. It’s been 5 minutes and the robot’s already gone a bit rogue. I was not wrong to worry about Cylons.)
2. I KNOW it’s not tax efficient but I still get a little zip of happy when my original stock portfolio notifies me of two dividend payments on a Saturday morning. I reinvest all of that money but it feels like a micro payday. Plus I haven’t decided if there is a good tax efficient way to move that portfolio in our index funds portfolio yet. At least not right now.
3. If I had to be wrecked, at least it was on a weekend when I could try to rest.
Challenges: Even though I did everything “right” with my diet – no sugar, low carbs, no gluten – AND even got what seemed like a full night of sleep, an hour after waking up on Sunday, I felt crushed. Zero energy, brain clouded, short of breath. Ugh.
4. Our emergency fund is held in CDs and a bit of cash. I have 2 CDs expiring in two weeks and 2 more expiring in March. The renewal interest rate options are paltry so after kicking around some ideas on Twitter, I think I have a plan of action. I’ll cash the first two out at maturity and deploy the cash into a new savings account for a good bank bonus. When that’s paid, I’ll rinse and repeat in PiC’s name. It’ll be more work for me but it should bring in better returns over the year than the 2% or less APY.
5. I finally got all our tax documentation together and thoroughly vetted our spreadsheet with all the details! *little dance* I sent it off and now I have to try veryvery hard to be patient. And to remember to breathe while I’m waiting to see if my estimates were right. Right here right now, I’m banishing that stupid guilt I always feel for not doing the final lap on my own, every year.
:: How was your week?