October 19, 2026
Year 7 of COVID in the Bay Area.
Year 7, Day 167: I actually fell asleep last night without a sleep aid! That’s … it’s been months since I could get to sleep naturally! But oh my gosh I’m creaky and achy today. We had time in the pool this weekend and it coincided with my throat FINALLY healing up – both good things! However, I also gave my liver a break today and didn’t take pain meds until evening so got to enjoy the new pain in all its glory.
We received confirmation that we have been assigned a table at a craft fair this fall so now JB and I are cranking out the papercrafts like it’s our job. It sort of is! I’m not sure how much of each product to bring for a crowd this big (hundreds) in this economy (terrible) for a whole 6 hours. Thinking positively, we’ve branched out from their art on greeting cards to adding prints, stickers, and buttons of their designs too. They’re all very cute!
Thinking less positively, I’m debating whether it’s worth updating the online shop. It doesn’t get any traffic anymore since Twitter was destroyed and I haven’t had time to do much with it on Bluesky. But that can be a question for later. I’ve been taking progress photos and maybe those can serve for the online postings.
I’ve got to get cracking in my sewing, too, though I can’t imagine that I’ll be able to make a great deal more of them by the time we show. It takes about 3 hours per item and that’s a lot of time and related energy.
Year 7, Day 168: I’m about to go to war with our shower water pressure. It’s been dwindling a little more each day, and just stopped like it was choked off today! What the heck?? I’m not as sanguine about tackling a possible repair here on my own as I was (also not) about fixing the oven. Plumbing is scarier than some oven surgery. I don’t want to have to open up the walls but we are worried this is because of a leak somewhere. For the moment, this is getting backburnered though, we have another shower to use and we simply don’t have the energy to tackle this.
I asked my trainer to crank my workouts way down last month because I’m being pulled in so many directions it’s not even funny. It’s become more and more draining to do even the barest minimum workout, though, which is both frustrating on principle and in the whole chronic illness this problem is not solveable kind of way.
Year 7, Day 169: I’ve been fighting a sad and losing war with the powdery mildew that’s come back to attack my snap peas. I’ve been spraying the plant with a vinegar and dish soap solution to try to treat the affected leaves to no avail. It’s a bit depressing and has led to me neglecting the garden a bit. Usually every day I get a bit of joy from a tiny bit of growth, a new little tendril poking up, a little bundle of flower starting to develop, but the plant essentially looked dead all last week. It was just a matter of time before I had to rip it out, like last year’s, I thought. I had germinated a back up in the house which is growing pretty hardily but hadn’t quite gotten to the point where it seemed safe to
But this morning I spy some little bits of white peeking out from under new leaves! Not just one or two, either, there are at least half a dozen, maybe more. Maybe all hope is not lost.
Year 7, Day 170: Getting near the end here. I’ve put together personal thank you notes for vendors who have worked with us over the years. I wanted to thank them myself. They’ll never get that acknowledgement from the faceless corporation that doesn’t give two hoots about anyone, before I close this chapter.
This week’s loaf of foccacia was a little flat. Turns out I forgot my lukewarm water temp range and mixed in 120 degree water instead of 100-115. Whoops. Still edible! It just didn’t grow much. Oh and I oversalted the top. That was much less great but it’s easy to brush off the extra salt. Ooh! Maybe the next go should be 1.5x to get a taller loaf next time for sandwiches. I’ll skip the kosher salt on top, and stick with a bit of sea salt, since the kosher salt seems to do something funny to the top.
Year 7, Day 171: It’s a bit frustrating that I’ve been taking Tragic Sandwich‘s advice from a few months back to rest as much as I can and YET it’s still not enough. I send myself back to bed for 1-2 hours of rest every weekday and it’s still like peeling myself, a caramel bog, back out when the timer goes off to go pick up a child. No, it’s a lot frustrating. *wild gesticulating*
My sleep in general has been an ever-changing beast. It used to be non-existent and stressful, full of screaming nightmares. When the buyout happened, sleep was only possible in chunks of a few hours and I could taste adrenaline every morning so was too keyed up to sleep any more than that. By the summer, sleep deprivation was so bad that my doc and I agreed to try Ambien just to get some hours logged at night. Now, my body craves more and more sleep, no matter how much I get.
SmolAc has been going around dripping like a faucet this week. Thankfully their throat isn’t painful anymore, it was earlier, but I’m still downing antivirals and directing them to the tissues. Crossing all the things that this one doesn’t overcome my faux immune system.
That temporary awful thing I’m dreading starts today. It won’t be that long in actual time but it’ll feel like four lifetimes. Wish me luck and survival?
October 12, 2026
Year 7 of COVID in the Bay Area.
Year 7, Day 160: Work stress is coming to a head here for PiC and even though I’ve been seeing the train’s headlights for a while, I still don’t know how to help.
He’s been working so damn hard. He’s trying to do an impossible amount of work AND be here to help out a lot with the kids so that I don’t die. This leaves him working late into the nights and running on 2-4 hours of sleep and that’s totally unsustainable.
Today, promotions were announced again and he was passed over again because they require you to put together this whole promotion packet thing to be considered. So they won’t consider him for promotion. WITH WHAT TIME?!
I was supposed to be so much more free now with less and less work to do. But my damn throat pain is sending pain up to my ears even with the lidocaine because I had the audacity to eat. I am not happy to have a THIRD mystery pain thing, and even more unhappy that it’s compounding his stress because he’s trying to be everywhere at once while none of his work efforts are being recognized in a tangible way. I’d be mad too!
Year 7, Day 161: SmolAc’s first elementary school parent teacher conference was happily a breeze. They are adjusting really well. Their teacher likes their energy (has lots but channels it appropriately and knows when to let loose and more importantly when not to), their vocabulary, and their critical thinking. Apparently when the other kids aren’t understanding a concept, she will call on them to explain how they think about it and it helps the other kids. That’s really not something I would have predicted, it took literally 2.5 years for them to even be willing to speak in class, now they’re an explainer? I’m so happy that they’re happy. Though I would be happier if the other kids would finally learn to keep their hands to themselves! They aren’t distressed by it but they have been telling us about the kids who hit them at school (after which they tell the kids to knock it off and if they won’t, then the teacher is called in). It’s being handled in real time like it should be and they’re not coming home bruised in body or spirit, they’re just very matter of factly letting us know. They’re still very happy to go to school and enjoying loads.
For JB, however, I am displeased with their new school. TWO teachers in subjects that absolutely should NOT be using AI platforms in teaching – because the point of doing the work in those subjects is to learn HOW to do it by doing it and editing it- have been telling the kids to use AI platforms for edits without bothering to inform parents. I’ve been very alert to the introduction of this tech and have pushed back strongly on the requirement to use it when the principal claimed that policy is to allow families to make the call. Sure is hard for them to make that call when you never tell them that your kid is a guinea pig, isn’t it??
Year 7, Day 162: I should continue to read up on the propositions for voting, but I don’t wanna.
I should sort more kids clothes for donation. I also don’t wanna.
I should figure out the Cricut and make some stickers but don’t wanna.
I’m surrounded by so many chores needing doing and I don’t want to do anything.
I have a sneaking suspicion this is depressive sluggishness and would LIKE to shake it off but how? Or is it intense fatigue and depression from the current excessive pain on top of helping out a friend with childcare all all month on top of my kid’s aftercare? That’s also possible.
So for now I push myself to get the kids to school, rest for a while, do a few chores like pay bills or run the laundry, pick up the kids, feed them all, manage SmolAc’s homework and home learning until JB comes home and sort of keep an eye on their pacing through their homework and music practice.
Just survive one day at a time and, if I can, get myself to make some basic donation decisions already because the books and clothes and toys, outgrown hand me downs mainly, are piling up and doing damage to my peace of mind too.
Year 7, Day 163: I’m slowly replacing all the things, services and such, that we have paid through work because my privileges will be revoked in a couple of months and we have to be ready to shift seamlessly if PiC’s layoff lands any time soon. I get a free phone line through Comcast for a year and I’ve set that up to have an extra hot spot on hand, along with a very limited release use case for JB to be able to reach me and PiC on a check in and emergency basis. We’ve been using PiC’s work phone for the data when the internet cacks up a hairball.
I need a good replacement for Adobe since that is subscription that’ll go away sooner than later. I tested RevPDF for a couple weeks but I hate it. Claire Willett advocated for SmallPDF (referral link) which looks very promising so I’ve gotten myself set up with that and will be giving it a good test to make sure it does what’s needed.
I was able to do what I needed at PDF24 (fill a form and sign the doc) but it’s in browser so I wouldn’t feel comfortable using this for anything confidential. For confidential stuff I would only be happy with a reader/editor app that I downloaded directly to my computer and wasn’t loaded into someone’s servers. If anyone has a better alternative, please share!
Year 7, Day 164: All my labwork came back negative for anything solveable so, dammit, it could be outside referral time. The one bit of good news is after 3 weeks of intense pain (up from the 6 weeks of moderate barely tolerated pain), I think the increased dosing of the antivirals broke the blockade. The swelling finally seems to be reversing course – not getting worse each day. If I’m lucky, this will also start to get better š¤š»š¤š»š¤š»
What a huge, temporary, relief. It’s been 3.5 years of surviving with yet another daily medication to just kind of manage the problem. I want answers. Preferably answers I can DO something about. But that process is a slow one, I’ve been warned.
October 5, 2026
Year 7 of COVID in the Bay Area.
Year 7, Day 153: The last few nights and mornings my pain did a weird reversal. Normally, pain hits me when I lay down at night and then I can’t sleep for hours with painsomnia. That’s when I do my best reading sprees. These past days, when I wake up the bones start to buzz with pain. Weird. Likely won’t last but weird.
PiC and I have been discussing sports for weeks and I think we might be starting to settle in on the idea of competitive swim for JB and swim and beginner baseball in the spring for SmolAc. The time commitment would be almost balanced between the two of them, JB would have practices 3 times a week (and we might be able to carpool with friends), SmolAc would have 1 practice and 1 game each week. The staggered start time is also helpful so that we’re not trying to juggle three sports at the same time. We can ease into it. After the cast is off.
Year 7, Day 154: All I wanted for my birthday was… Well. A lot of things. The replacement of no less than 10 key Republicans in power across all three branches of government, a billion dollars to spend on people and animals (I get to keep 2-3M to shore up our accounts, pay off the mortgage, and whatever I’ve forgotten but the rest of the cash can go into making life sustainable again for folks), to not be exhausted anymore. To be cured of my fibro and CFS. To have all the clutter and dust and dirt cleared out of the house in one fell swoop without having to Pay A Price (physically). A horse and two dogs. Two horses if we’re wishing for the stars. For the kids to stop being obnoxious.
More realistically, I got a short nap, vacuumed under furniture that usually doesn’t get moved but haunts me since I moved it two weeks ago and saw all the yuck under there, spent 3 hours organizing the donations and orders for the Red Shirt village on Pine Ridge, and decluttered a fraction of a corner of the office. Also there was a slice of cake. It worked ok for the reality we do live in.
Year 7, Day 155: I made a simplified (no herbs, no cheese) version of this chicken zucchini stirfry and other than the zucchini getting too soft too fast (note to self, next time, cook them for 30 seconds max), it was quite good. I wonder if I swap out for a veggie that doesn’t soften too much, maybe that might be better. I’ve had a huge hankering for cauliflower lately and that could hold up nicely in this recipe.
I also want to make Mediterranean cauliflower with sumac one of these days. Or is it better with za’atar? I’m not sure! I’ve seen recipes both ways.
Year 7, Day 155: The first two of four new camping lanterns arrived. I’ve charged and labeled them. The next two should arrive later this week. I don’t know how much runtime we get from the small lights but I feel better knowing we have 4 big lanterns with 12 hours each in addition to the 4 smalls. Judicious use of both sets should give us a reasonable light supply for any 2+ day power outages.
I’m pondering on how many Ilona Andrews worlds I’m emotionally invested in that I crave more of: Innkeeper, Kate Daniels (Wilmington), Iron Covenant, Blood Heir, Inheritance. Maggie is good but I’m just not as invested in that world right now. Probably a time thing? It’s new and all the others have had time to sink into my marrow. Although Inheritance is also pretty new and I very much want more of that.
I think we got really lucky with the full ten books for Kate Daniels, I keep wanting that much of everything else but trilogies are more the thing now. Sadly. Ponders brought to you by all the rereading I’ve been doing.
Year 7, Day 157: My throat has been a problem since August but it really spiked a doozy these past few days. It went from sore and hard to swallow to referred ear pain, feels like swallowing knives when I eat or drink, and even breathing hurts. No idea why it escalated so quickly when I’ve been on my maintenance meds without a break but this is the worst.
It’s not been this bad since 3 years ago when I finally got it sort of diagnosed and was prescribed antivirals that helped most of the time but not all the time.
I finally caved and called the doctor. Ultimately ended up spending 5.5 hours between the primary care and specialist to get it scoped and scraped until he got blood from the sore (frickin OW) and blood drawn for labwork but honestly the ENT isn’t sure what to do or think after he went through the whole list of types of stomatitis. That’s the drawback to asking for help, medically, I have to spend the whole damn day or three worth of energy to get maybe some of the right questions asked but more than likely no answers.
We have a plan to refer out of Kaiser if these tests come up with nothing. That’s going to be a whole new complicated mess that I very much don’t want to deal with.
September 28, 2026
Year 7 of COVID in the Bay Area.
Year 7, Day 146: Welp, we were approaching “better schedule and carpool arrangements” last week. Now we’re redoing everything because JB’s mobility is very limited for the next four weeks. We’re trying something new with dropoffs and pickups. It requires a lot more driving on my part but it also involves a lot more carpooling.
Maybe this change will help me put together a better schedule for post-cast life?
They were walking with a sorta friend a lot of days before and they weren’t enjoying that relationship so much so we can take the opportunity to reconstruct a set up with a lot less time with that person.
Year 7, Day 147: I can’t remember the last time I did anything purely on impulse and I’ve just reminded myself why. I’m not good at it and it’s probably not a muscle I should flex more because it’s annoying and uncomfortable. Going to pick up JB, I suddenly decided that we should get our flu shots today instead of waiting until later in the week. I had an inexplicable brain itch that didn’t like the idea of “later in the week” and since it couldn’t be reasoned with, I wanted it over with.
I decided to borrow a page from Maggie‘s book and preemptively offered the kids a treat: ice cream and fries (we never get fries!) for their cooperation. We went to the clinic and the universe saw me surprising the kids with this sudden decision and raised me the surprise that the COVID vaccine was in, did I want it? Yes I do! Except, I had no antihistamines on me to manage the COVID vaccine effects and we’d be out for a few more hours after the vaccine. So I took my chances with the vaccine and side effects. Then we had no sweaters for when the winds kicked up, for me or SmolAc, or a water bottle because I left the house with the barest bones of supplies. I did have just enough stuff to get by, but not being prepared for all contingencies was annoying. I need to have all the things all the time. But we all got flu vaccinated! Yay!
Year 7, Day 148: I was wondering what the formula is for recovering from burnout. Discord friends suspect that it’s the same as divorce – one month per year of thingie. If true/accurate, that’s not great for me! It’s been 26 years, burning myself to a crisp the whole time. I’ve got 12 months budgeted for, not 26! And there’s no possibility of full decompression since I’m running flat out taking care of the kids’ stuff now.
My therapist thinks I’m already doing some of the healing now by cranking back my working hours dramatically and spending that time and energy on other priorities. I hope that’s accurate. I’m trying!
I have no clue what healing actually looks like but I hope it’s a lot less exhaustion and frustration. Linda’s lengthy mental load recovery post-retirement sounds like it could be what might be in store for me post-job – even if I am actively working on working less all the way to the end, there’s still a mental connection and a responsibility looming for the last weeks.
Today’s not the day, though, because I didn’t get antihistamines into my system fast enough. I was hammered today with post-vax weary.
Year 7, Day 149: We’ve had four power outages this month. Two of them were very short but two were long enough to be an inconvenience. Thankfully not more than that. Our new garage door with the backup battery worked so that’s one really nice thing about having to replace it recently. Before, I had to lift the door manually which is fine if my body is ok but on a bad day? Nothing doing. My new lanterns from Costco, ordered just after the first long power cut, came in time for the second and they were great. Of course SmolAc claimed the big lantern and JB claimed the tiny one.
Now I’m wondering if I should pick up a few more so we have more than the bare minimum to share between the house and cars. And for some redundancy of charged lanterns in case we have a longer shut off. Yes, I think the answer is yes.
We need to solve our water supply and storage problem. We need safe, clean and high volume storage that I can fill, empty, and refill even when my joints aren’t functioning properly. If anyone has already solved this problem, please share!
Year 7, Day 150: I woke up before 5 am, vibrating with unnamed stress, and wondering how much difference it’ll make to officially be out of limbo and out of work. We have what, a month and change left? Two months felt a bit like mental thumbscrews were in. 6 weeks felt more tolerable.
My days are so full right now with things I have to do and kids to care for (mine plus bonus kid on some days). Some days I’m picking up kids for an hour. There’s only 3 of them and it feels like a circus.
I have applied to exactly two jobs to date and have not yet found as many as a third to be interested in. At this moment in time I don’t have time or energy for any other jobs, paying or not.
August 17, 2026
Year 7 of COVID in the Bay Area.
Year 7, Day 104: I’m doing the math for next week and with the kindergarten class letting out at 12:30 for a month, I’m only going to have roughly 4 hours of kid-free time per weekday once school starts. After that month, they add one hour.
That’s a mere half of the solo silent hours I need to stay sane generally. š
And if PiC chooses to flex work more, to help out with kid stuff, that further cuts down on my solo silent time. It’ll help with the kid errands but I’m going to struggle with so little quiet time to recharge.
(Cautiously) I think I’ve finally kicked the most recent set of viruses and my mouth has also healed from the three canker sores that sprouted around the same time (could have been related). Rude, body, very rude. But finally I can take a bite of food and not be in pain all the way until the food gets past the esophagus! š
Year 7, Day 105: Both in an attempt to keep my mind busy, and to stack a few more bricks of cash against the rapidly approaching last day, I’ve been working a number of deals these past few weeks.
We opened Wells Fargo accounts for the bonus and reaped $800 for both. I’m working the Chase Ink Business card bonus now that all the approval rigamarole is done with. I saved T-Mobile Tuesday deals four weeks in a row on both our phones to earn a $5 gift card for each of us.
I’ve submitted all FSA receipts to date and my reimbursements for work expenses have been paid so I’m very nearly done with all the work related things I’ll need to wrap up.
I’m kinda drawing a blank on what I can be doing next so best to focus on hitting the minimum on the Chase card in a smart way before picking up another money project.
Year 7, Day 106: I’m using the library’s MakerSpace a lot this month: learning how to use the 3D printer, using their sewing machine while mine is in the shop, etc. I’m hoping to learn how to use their Cricut soon but that has to wait until my hands are under control. They’ve been so swollen this week that I’m up a full ring size and it’s been hard to do basic things like bend my fingers. This is like a reversion to my hands 30 years ago when my fibro first started.
We’re borrowing a lot more books and DVDs these days. Well, I am. PiC has always kept the kids stocked to the borrowing limit but we’ve only just started finding shows that we can all enjoy that isn’t just Bluey. Right now, it’s Robotech which I spotted fortuitously. We’ve finished the Mscross Saga, and have the Masters Saga and The New Generation (10? Discs). Then we’ll be on the hunt for something else. Remember a few months or so ago, SmolAc hated everything we screened because they decided all antagonists were bad and made the show bad. It’s made finding something to watch a lot more challenging.
I’d like to try Doctor Who but maybe that’s only possible if we can get the really old doctors. My theory is that the fighting in Robotech is only acceptable (to SmolAc) because it’s robots and very old graphics/ technology. Perhaps very old Doctor Who might maybe slide under their radar? If not, maybe it’s time for anime – One Piece might be acceptable. Open to suggestions for favorite anime appropriate for a 5+ year old and the rest of us!
Year 7, Day 107: My little Janome is home! It’s been serviced for $150 and is home home home. I’m hoping that the service means I won’t run into tension issues with the thread seizing up under the sewing plate again any time soon. I’ve got several bags in various stages of completion, I’d love to finish them off.
Today is a SmolAc and me day so we’ve planned for them to do some coloring, some drawing, and then we’re going to pick up our neighbor and their two big dogs for a session of ball throwing. It’ll be good for everyone. I desperately need dog time, SmolAc has been more and more interested in dogs, the dogs need the exercise, and our neighbor kid is bored so we’ll be rescuing them for a little while.
Year 7, Day 108: A discussion about blood donations in a Discord led to a mention of plasma donations (paid) and that roused my curiosity so I did a bit of searching. It looks like you can make a decent amount of money a month doing 5-8 donations but none of the many locations they have in California, across three companies, are anywhere near us. Darn. Not that I know if I COULD donate plasma but September is for learning new things!
Had an online chat with Comcast because they are no longer showing the relevant details of the promotional rate I wangled out of their last chat agent AND they double charged me. It looks like the double charge will be offset by next month’s billing negative $1 but I still don’t like how the site no longer shows the correct promotional rate with discount AND when the discount ends. It SHOULD be $50/month for 60 months, but their site is just blithely showing a $100 monthly rate. The chat agent kept telling me to “trust me”, that the rate is correct in the system but a) I don’t and b) there’s no reason Comcast itself would ever take “trust me” instead of cold hard proof of the agreement. So for now, I have to settle for screenshots of the chat agent assuring me that my monthly rate is $50. Doesn’t leave a good taste in my mouth but if this buys me peace for another 4.5 years on the internet front, that is good enough.
August 10, 2026
Year 7 of COVID in the Bay Area.
Year 7, Day 97: It’s possible that mistakes were made. There was a free Gundum build and take workshop. I power walked the kids to it and we each received kits. Now they are really enjoying building little Gundam robots. SmolAc is fairly well obsessed. This is an expensive hobby! Perhaps we don’t need additional expensive hobbies right now? Buuuuut, counterpoint, despite the occasional frustrating bits where they give you microscopic stickers or plastic bits to attach to other bits, it IS a lot of fun. Which is why I wanted to go in the first place. It’s not as straightforward as LEGO, but it’s fun to have a little robot model at the end. I’ll look into getting a few more inexpensive sets. For motivation.
Year 7, Day 98: I’m resenting the hell out of the physical experience of being a woman in her mid-40s. I’m constantly sweating in temps that used to be perfectly fine, literally dripping sweat and doing that cliched mopping of my forehead. I’m a lumpy potato and despite my best efforts, nothing is comfortable. Pants, tees, skirts, nothing. Grumpy.
Also, it’s come to my attention that my older rings cannot fit my super swollen fingers anymore. They used to go through semi-regular swelling / not-swelling cycles. They’re now stuck in the swollen state.
I now have more rings I can’t wear than I can: my pretty little ring from my teen years (I only had the one), engagement ring, and two hand me down / heirloom (? I can’t tell what it’s called when an elder friend gives me stuff from their collection that they don’t use anymore). I don’t own a lot of rings but the ones I do are precious to me and this makes me sad.
Year 7, Day 99: Suddenly I have three families in my life expecting all at the same time. It’ll be their, third, second, and first, respectively, which makes part of my brain chuckle. I am a little overwhelmed thinking of all the (book and clothes) gifts I’ll need to prep. But I got to cuddle a newborn this week and omigosh that was so healing. I adore babies. Fresh little baby loaves, so tiny and squishy and cuddly and, in this case, hardly screamy at all.
I’m mentally putting together a list of all the remaining baby stuff that I should send to the expecting mothers. I’ve sent the (hopefully effective anti-nausea) ginger beer out to one of them.
SmolAc took ill this week again and I’m nursing them along again. Feels like we just did this cycle. (We did.)
Year 7, Day 100: I HAVE FINALLY DONE IT. I’ve found a shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t set off my brain’s ick! I’m putting it away for now, I’ll need to use up the other experiments first (unless I give them to everyone else whose noses are not at all sensitive) and then I can settle into using the inoffensive Dove pairing. šš
Also my sewing machine has gone into the shop for a tuneup and diagnostic ($150+). It’s started doing that KERTHUNK and then buzzzzzz instead of sewing again. The good thing is they’re not nearly as far away from us as the shop that it came from, so I won’t have to drive 100 miles round trip to get it back. I will have to drive 60 instead. šµāš« Well outside my usual acceptable distance for errands but we’re familiar with the shop for other appliance work and they’re good. Luckily, since I’m on a bit of a sewing deadline, I should be able to book time on the library’s sewing machines and keep working on my little projects. I’m also exploring the 3D printer and Cura and Thingiverse (we have about 6 print jobs I want to try already). And I’m learning how to use a Cricut. Welcome to a month of learning too many new things.
Year 7, Day 101: Well, this is crap. I’m still taking my antivirals diligently but SmolAc’s germs still got me. The throat pain is so bad that it’s referring pain right into my ear, and neither set of painkillers is doing a whole lot to reduce it. For once the acetaminophen is a little more effective at blunting the pain than the ibuprofen but that’s not saying a whole lot. Doing my best to rest between creative projects.
Sigh.
Also it’s time to start creeping up bedtimes and waking times because getting these kids up and out the door on time is going to be PAINFUL. (ESPECIALLY when I don’t want to be up myself.)
August 3, 2026
Year 7 of COVID in the Bay Area
Year 7, Day 90: Hm. It’s possible the depression-like feeling of the past weeks was the physical and emotional fatigue. I’ve had both kids sick, one after the other. I’m trying to fight off some virus myself, anxiety nightmares have been coming back. Particularly with the relatives we’re going to be seeing soon, I had a night of remembering all the mean petty things they said that stuck in my craw over the years and that sucked.
I’ve been worn down to a nub and it took a while to realize it.
I’m spending a few days with Mama and it’s starting to heal me inside and out. The exhaustion sore throat finally resolved after being with her two days and my pain levels plummeted after that.
Year 7, Day 91: We took the kids for a pool day that ran a bit long. As we get older I’m much more mindful of sun damage and skin cancer risks for all so I’ve been putting the kids in long sleeve rash guards for an extra layer of protection. No one is good at reapplying sunblock after the initial round, sometimes we lose track of time. I’d bought my first UPF long sleeve rash guard on clearance last year when I needed to hit a free shipping minimum at Lands End and quietly wondered if I was wasting my $20.
SmolAc was unexpectedly enthusiastic about “swimming” (paddling in a life vest) laps so we let them go til we needed to stop them before they crashed. They’ve never done this much in the water and tend to run until all steam is gone and then have an emotional crash. After the few extra hours, the kids are fine and not burned. My neck and legs are a little bit burned and PiC’s torso is lobster red. I didn’t sunbathe, I only laid in the sun for a bit to dry off after toweling off but that was enough to toast my legs. Rash guard – definitely not a waste of money.
Year 7, Day 92: It’s been months plural since I slammed on the brakes at work, giving it my least effort for weeks. I’m just now starting to feel what might be little bits of my brain come back.
A couple months ago, I started trying to learn Morse code to make my brain do something fun and interesting but there simply wasn’t enough operating power left. I never got past learning E / I / S / H. I didn’t want to move to the next set of letters until I could successfully record a full lesson without mistakes. But today I’ve picked out a few letters to memorize and it’s feeling like they’re sticking in a way that I could not force before. I won’t say my brain is back but I’d forgotten what it felt like to encode and access new information. This much (little) is a win.
Year 7, Day 93: I only became aware of Descendants in the past 3 years but it baffles me. It’s massively overwrought, the costuming, the characters, the make up, but it’s very popular with a lot of kids and adults. Meanwhile dozens of genuinely good shows (like Julie and the Phantoms for that age group) are cancelled after one season. Netflix frustrates me!
Ok in hindsight I think it’s because I missed the obsession with High School Musical and the like back in the 2010s that I don’t get it.
And I had given up on the Chase Ink Business card so of course it’s NOW been approved (after far too much time and energy and after I needed it for large purchases) š¤¦š»āāļø. They are so annoying.
Year 7, Day 94: Here’s me up at 2 am needing to strategize whether we may have enough stock to offer in our craft fair application and needing to make a spreadsheet about it.
Out of the 11 different craft categories I’m envisioning, we have some stock for 5. The other 6 are question marks whether we’ll be able to make them in time and in sufficient quantities to sell for a 6 hour show. We’ve only ever tabled at small 2 hour community affairs. This is much bigger and if we don’t have enough to offer, our application won’t be approved.
I’m also considering inviting a friend to join us, in inventory if not in person, they could supply one of the 11 crafts that we don’t have time to master and make ourselves.
This could be fun if I wasn’t so stressed about all the moving parts and the application and running out of time to get the pieces together for the moving parts!