About sixteen years ago, I met him for the first time. My trainwreck sibling brought home this adorable puppy he had no business adopting because he had not one thing in his life that wasn’t a mess. I was furious at my sibling – he didn’t even take care of himself, how could he drag
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April 2, 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.
I’ve barely been able to keep head above water this week so not a lot of links happening here.
Inside the Story of How H-E-B Planned for the Pandemic
Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here’s How.
A bug in Zoom.
COVID-19 PSA from Samuel L. Jackson.
I always like Emily’s writing but this especially resonated: “What’s causing my impatience is not the world outside of my head. That may be triggering my response, but it’s not the cause of it. No, my impatience is my own response to something not working the way I expected it to.‘
I admire Rihanna‘s drive as a businesswoman and her sheer creative power.
Musical cat toys from Japan.
Mama Quokka
March 30, 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.
Week 2 of shutdown in the Bay Area.
This is a record of our weekdays. We are attempting to set up the occasional video call with other kids so that they can socialize that way.
This week’s menu planning: Roast pork shoulder, veggie curry, a rotisserie chicken from Costco. I meant to also make dumplings and tandoori chicken from scratch but PiC surprised me with that rotisserie chicken on our last run to Costco for a few weeks.
Day 1: I was finally mentally ready to get my act together and set up a tentative schedule for JB. I don’t know if we can manage this same thing all week but I like the general outline that gives us some structure and some chances to get work done without having to entertain.
8 am -8:30 am, Breakfast
8:30 am – 9 am, “art lesson” – watching an artist draw something new and copying it
9 am – 10 am, Call with Auntie – practice writing
10 am – 10:30 am, dance party with music
10:30 am – 11:30 am, free choice (probably art)
11:30 am – 12 pm, snack
12:30 pm – 2 pm, walk dogs and have lunch
2 pm – 2:45 pm, rest
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm, solo free choice – aka work at my desk but do not talk to me
3:45 pm – 4:30 pm, numbers/math time – maybe a few worksheets that they enjoy doing. *Note: couldn’t find it. Oh well.
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm, movement of some kind.
5:30 pm – 6 pm, inevitable lost transition time to whining or tiredness
6 pm – 7 pm, dinner (more…)
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 26, 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.
Joe talks about the racism around COVID-19.
If you don’t already listen to The Fairer Cents and you’re a regular here, you might be interested in this episode.
Jordon Cox is a lovely human and I’m happy for his good news.
Taiwan responded really effectively to the initial outbreak, from Jeremy’s experience.
What food scarcity looks like.
What a horrible person.
Minus the novelist part, I so relate to this statement. (Can’t say I’m willing to board a cruise, a horrible thing for the environment, to find that fun though): I’m a successful novelist, the best mom I can be, and a loving spouse, but one thing nobody ever calls me is “fun.”
I would be so angry at humans if I were that bird.
I’ve definitely entertained more than one rage quit fantasy with past toxic jobs. Never did any of them, though.
Remote ballet lesson
March 24, 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.
Money
Our spending went way (waaaaaay) up this month because of the stocking up on food and medications and the house repair which had nothing to do with the pandemic, just the weather.
The groceries were manageable, I focused on sales and specific recipes to make the most of our food and prevent waste. I also picked up a lot of apples and oranges that will last a few weeks in the fridge to stretch out time between grocery trips.
The real kick in the teeth was the medications and Seamus’s final labwork. I think we spent about $800 all told on his stuff. But we simply cannot risk him going without his pain medications due to any interruption in the supply lines.
I canceled both our dogwalker and my massage therapy but I paid the former anyway and bought a gift card from the latter to help the business with a bit of income while they have to be shut down. Luckily, my brain therapy is already remote so I will keep that appointment this week.
As much as our budget can bear, I’m trying to anonymously help out folks who have lost their income.
We are both very fortunate that, for the moment, our jobs are relatively safe. We don’t know how long that’ll be the case and I have always planned against the worst case scenario happening and will continue to do so but I won’t forget to be grateful. The not great thing is that PiC had finally located some jobs to apply for and we don’t know if the companies will freeze hiring. I hope not. He’s been unhappy in this job for so long, I sure hope he still has opportunities open. But either way, we know we are so incredibly lucky and we are grateful for our current financial stability however long it lasts.
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March 23, 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.
Week 1 of shutdown in the Bay Area.
I haven’t written anything substantial about this because I’ve just been too busy trying to deal.
We had begun taking steps weeks ago. Around March 1st, PiC and I were adding moderate overage to our canned and frozen food stores.
A week later, I started cooking up fresh and frozen stores to make actual meals in case I got sick myself. (Not that PiC wouldn’t care for me but he’d also have JB and the two dogs to care for. That’s a lot for any one adult.) Traffic was noticeably light going to and from work this second week of March, many employees who could were already working from home. Unfortunately since we have no help, and we both had to work full time and on site (PiC), we weren’t prepared to make that shift. Still, it was in our future and I was going through our stores of supplies to create a Treasure Box for JB.
By March 14, I was on the verge of pulling JB out of school. We had planned to spend the weekend finalizing our stock up of our supplies and start to hunker down. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans for us, and we had to spend the whole weekend fixing the house instead. That was frustrating but we were so (so so so) very fortunate to have a couple of friends who were available and willing to come help us with the repairs and with entertaining JB. I haven’t had local friends in a long time and I’m still stunned by their generosity.
By the evening of March 15, I couldn’t justify keeping JB in daycare even if they stayed open. I didn’t want to risk them being exposed to anyone who had been exposed to the germs over the weekend. We made the call when we went to bed.
By Monday when this post goes up, it’ll be Day Ten in calendar days but I’m only recording weekdays.
(more…)
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?