Pandemic Diaries, Week 3, Day 2

It's Week 3 at home. Who could have predicted this? It's crazy. I remain grateful; during Week 1 my password was about to expire, so I changed it and in it I use the phrase "work from home gift," becaue it really is one. I think the kids have settled in and found their schoolwork rhythm; I have, too... resigned to the fact that more than 7.0 hours of work is near-impossible, and that is OKAY. (I no longer count them up -- haven't at all, in fact, since this thing started.) Diligently working on the daily tasks, and actually grateful that there are new ones every day, like writing a COVID update email; someone's whim that we should post XYZ on social media; putting together a spreadsheet of gifts we can send our customers. It's good that even the pandemic is giving me some concrete tasks to do; I prefer them to nebulous "planning" and strategizing work.

Yesterday, though, our company announced temporary (I stress temporary) furloughs, and I was on the list. That's a stomach-sinking word, isn't it? Furlough. I remember when my dad changed his career and became a commercial airline pilot. There were, at that time, a lot of newer, start-up airlines. That was a blessing for him (the stalwarts like Delta wouldn't hire newbies like himself), and a curse, because just as soon as he'd get hired and trained, business would dive and they'd furlough employees... usually for good. I know it happened at least twice, maybe more. It didn't scare me as a tween too much, but there was some household uncertainty around that time, and I really feel for him, having to go through that. Probably wondering what he'd gotten himself and his family into.

And now here I am: starting next Monday, which was the first day of our Spring Break, I'll be fuloughed for 2 weeks. There are a LOT of blessings in it: the company will sign us up for unemployment pay, we don't have to do anything (apparently); we keep our health insurance; it's only 2 weeks in April (and possibly May, but that isn't decided yet); we can use PTO days if we want, and continue getting our full salary (I haven't decided yet); we keep our jobs. And the silver lining is: A 2-week break. A luxury.

Will I use the time wisely (paint a room? finally organize my dad's oil business stuff?) or squander it, is the real question. Gosh it'll be tempting to absolutely laze around. Finish my 1,000-page book and start the Jodi Picoult I ordered and picked up, curbside, last week. Watch Mrs. Maisel 8 hours a day (why can't I get that series going? I want to love it). Day drink. LOL Look what I found at Publix, speaking of:

Watermelon Rose? You'd better believe I grabbed that and its friend, Peach Rose.

Of course everyone knows being lazy isn't good on a long-term basis, and I guess the kids will still have school work to do (minus Spring Break, of course). So we'll see. I haven't told them yet, and am trying to figure out how to do that gently.

Eating:
We're fine on food. Eating mostly the same that we always do. About to run out of chicken breasts. Tonight is Taco Tuesday, if I can run out and get a tomato (or I might not, it isn't that critical). Health-wise, I am trying to not eat all the breads this week; I'm feeling bloated and like none of my shorts fit, and it's hot enough for shorts.

Doing:
We binged a season of Survivor; that is some good entertainment. Shawn and I used to watch it 18 years ago, and there's a reason it's lasted that long. The kids, especially Kate, really got into it, and it was fun and funny to develop feelings about the players. I think the Amazing Race would also be fun, if I can convince her to try it with me (Shawn and I also loved that one back in the day).

We've also been working on puzzle #1, and the kids are actually patient enough to have spent a lot of time on it. Color me surprised!

Neighbor-wise, we've been okay. Adrianna has a kiddie 4-wheeler, and wants Kate to ride it with her, and that's been a hard NO. We watched her drive it around the corner yesterday and nearly tip it over - she was going pretty fast - and now is not the time for a potetntial emergency room visit, (!!!) so yeah. No no no no no no and I don't feel one bit bad about it.

Kate and I went to Target yesterday for some necessities (like shorts that fit, ugh) and saw a dude there who was legitimately scary. I think because of coronavirus, he was dressed head-to-toe in black, with a long SKIRT (like a priest's cassock), black gloves, a wide-brimmed black hat, and a black mask covering most of his face, like a burka. !!!! What the What? BIZARRE.

Feeling:
Huh. Well, yesterday's aforementioned stomach-drop started a whole new set of emotions for me. We've all been saying "we're in this together," and now suddenly I'm not just praying for other people whose finances will take a little hit. I've been sleeping well, I think, but having some complicated dreams. Last night I finally think I got a really good night's rest; I can tell because I woke up with no dream memories.

Counting down to vacation, now... hope you're all well! xx

Dear Diary, again: Let's Go Shopping

I've enjoyed starting my days with a little journaling online, here. It falls into the "8 am - 9 am breakfast, email, planning" category on my calendar. Today I am BRISK CLAPping myself into a better mood.

I don't know if I will be outside as much: the pollen count has shot up in metro Atlanta, to 3,600 or thereabouts. Yikes. That is a lot of flipping pollen. So I have to decide which is worse, pet dander inside or yellow dust outside? We'll see. A puff on the inhaler may be penciled in for me this morning.

Right after I get up from the heating pad which is helping my lower back. I mean, sheesh, of all the injustices, working from home is the gift that's giving me back pain.

But I am not here to complain, for once. Today I will tell you about some things I have in various online shopping carts. Because what else can we do?

1. More yoga pants. Really, why do I only have 2 pairs, and both of them so old? This must be rectified immediately. I can't continue sitting around my own house (with a heating pad) in regular pants. (Any brand recommendations?)

2. More t-shirts. We are in a CRISIS, people, this is no time for Stitch Fix blouses.

3. Puzzles. When my family tried to do a puzzle 5 years ago, I went big with a 1500-piece. That was a mistake and we never finished it. Didn't even get close, and, defeated, we donated it. So I have a 550 and a 750 in my cart at Barnes & Noble; they're available for pickup at my local store (yay! maybe today!), and I happen to have a B&N gift card.

4. BeautyCounter "essence" and night cream. I love this set but they don't run out at the same rate, so I am needing a few things. These are totally unnecessary luxuries, but with a 10% off deal, I might just hit "Purchase."

5. Outdoor throw pillows. Since I only entertain my neighbors outdoors anymore, some pretty new pillows would freshen up the back patio nicely. I'd pair these with the 4 Adirondack chairs I've wanted for years, which I will buy for $20 each from Kroger, I hope.

6. My company actually makes these super-comfy tank tops, with the bra built in. No bra required! You need one (or 4). They're pricey, but worth it, believe me. They work for workouts, sleeping, or under Stitch Fix blouses. They run tight, so if you normally wear a size 10, I strongly recommend a 12.

What are you about to impulse-buy?

Week 2, Day 3 (I think. It's Wednesday, right?)

Nice things that have happened recently:

• I got a text from a friend asking how I was doing. It was just what I needed at just the right time and felt so good to be honest and say, "I'm not sure. I feel kinda sad today" etc.
• The rain stopped and it's around 68 degrees outside with lots of birdsong.
• I FaceTimed my Mom and Dad this morning at 10:15 just because I could.
• Hello Fresh brings groceries right to my door.
• Alex was part of this Virtual Band video - so cool! (You can't see him, but his name is in the credits and he did turn in the assignment for it.)

Some things that have not gone so great:

• Alex was frustrated about Algebra II (I don't blame him. That's a subject, IME, that you really do need a teacher for).
• Kate was frustrated about Social Studies AND Science assignments this morning, meaning she was talking (whining) to me about them and I couldn't get anything of my own work done.
• I feel scattered and unable to focus anyway.
• I am trying to set a schedule for myself each day; but then Shan pings me on Skype and it's during the time I was going to workout, so then I have to rearrange my schedule entirely.
• Ashley and kids were over here yesterday on the trampoline (I cheerily said last Sunday in a text message, after declining their dinner invite, "the trampoline is still open!") ... for one thing, it was so muddy out and I didn't want them tracking in mud, but then she offered to bring over wine, and I let her, and we had a few nice minutes on the back porch... but then her 1 year-old wanted to go inside (my house) and she assumed I wouldn't allow it, which (is mostly true, but because of the mud, too, not just the virus, and) made him cry, and then the whole thing was totally awkward and not fun.
• Nothing I want/need at the store is available for a pick-up order, so I'm going to have to go there in person and doing that lately makes me feel a little anxious. 

So. How are you? 

Week 2 Begins: The Same, But With Rain

It was better when the weather was good, last week. Yesterday it rained all day, and today promises the same, making us feel cooped up instead of on "vacation." I mean, of course it isn't a vacation, but you know.

I'm still super grateful for this time, whenever I think about it really. Yesterday was a tough one, though. Stress and discomfort are kind-of starting to pierce through, and it shows in arguments and frustrations with each other or with our work. But we'll get through it, I guess. Every day is a chance to try again.

What we ate:
Yesterday's fight was about lunch, because apparently I'd promised Chick Fil A drive-through. I did not recall ever saying that, and it was rainy and we have lots of food that needs to be eaten, so I refused. It did not turn out well. For dinner we made chicken tenders, green beans and roasted potatoes. We're not as snacky during the days as I thought we'd be, although we have plenty of snacks. However, we're dessert-y. ;) Yesterday since Kate didn't have much work to do, I asked her to make us Jell-O (orange).

We we did:
Not much. My workday was hijacked around 4:15 as my managers anticipated that the governor was going to shut Georgia down, and therefore we had to get ready. I scrambled to write a "COVID-19 update" email, then had to watch the press conference... then he didn't do what we thought. We decided to postpone until today. But even before that, my day was borked. Meetings in the morning, the CFA argument around noon, and then I couldn't focus after that. I didn't get much accomplished, I didn't workout really, and I felt meh. Alex worked more efficiently because he made himself a schedule. Shawn worked at his office. He's likely going to quit going to his gym for now, and Lana, who cuts our hair, called to cancel Shawn's appt this week.

How we felt: See above. I'm starting to wonder when we'll be able to go back to normal. Shawn brought up how the kids, at this time of their lives, are really supposed to be WITH other kids. It's going to mess with their development, we predict. And Alex's band director wrote a long email, addressing the seniors in particular. He wrote, "I hope we'll get to make music together again," and it made me cry.

Another thing: The world is providing all kinds of fun, free online entertainment and learning and "group chats" and stuff, but we aren't really taking advantage of any of it. I'm not sure why -- partly because it overwhelms me. Partly because I don't want to "impose" things on the kids by making them watch or do anything they don't want to. And then I think, "I'm not being a very good parent-leader." (Because maybe these things would help us all feel good.) So that's great.

Finally: I'm worried about my friend S., from Life of a Doctor's Wife! S., where are you? Are you okay?

One bright spot last night: AFV. People are still doing stupid things and recording them, and they (and their pets) make us laugh.

COVID Weekend 1

Gosh, I hope there won't be too many covid weekends. We had our first, though, and it was a relief.

What we did:
First of all, to put away my laptop in its bag, plus all of its wires and accoutrements -- a pen and pencil, my paper planner, my notebook, a box of labels I had used, the pillow for my back -- helped things look much more orderly. By Friday, I was itching to straighten up all the shoes and socks by the back door, papers on countertops, etc. With three of us here all day, that stuff just seemed to accumulate. Not to mention the dirt and fallen blossoms we kept tracking in from outside (we've been lucky to have good weather during this so far, so all of us have been outside and back in multiple times a day -- well, that's not true, Alex doesn't go outside as much as Kate and I do). So anyway, I cleaned downstairs first thing. I have been wiping doorknobs and light switch plates every day with a Clorox wipe, and will continue to do that, but a good full cleaning made me feel SO much better. Vacuumed, scrubbed the kitchen sink and counters, and put stuff away.

We signed our taxes and paid the CPAs. I took a nap Saturday after reading some of my book. I did a yoga video and painted my toenails.

The most memorable thing was a bummer of a conversation with my neighbor. She'd invited us to dinner. At first I said yes, but the more I thought about it, the more guilt crept in, and I felt like we really shouldn't be doing that. :( It was hard and I still feel bad, but she said she understood. I didn't mean that the kids couldn't play at all this week, but I think that's how she's going to take it. Maybe I'll have to send Kate over there at some point. It's just... all the articles say social distancing is not supposed to include dinner parties. Sigh. I don't know, maybe it was unkind of me - we humans need each other, after all - but it seemed like the right thing to do. I tried to let it go on my yoga mat, but apparently I'm still feeling bad about it.

On Sunday, Alex had his first private clarinet lesson. It seemed to go well and I'm happy he wants more instruction. We watched a couple of movies ("Big," and I will never again suggest an '80s movies to these kids, and "Dark Phoenix" which was pretty good). Sunday night after dinner we played a game of Carcassone.

What we ate:
On Saturday, we got take-out from Moe's for lunch, and Chili's for dinner. It felt like a little luxury. And on Sunday, instead of our neighbor's pot roast, we had a Hello Fresh meal (pork carnitas tacos, I liked them). We also made brownies. And Kate saw something online she wanted to try -- a frothy coffee cream (whipped by hand!) over a glass of milk. It was pretty yummy but took forever to whip! P.S. I have let any and all discipline about eating go out the window.

How we felt:
Mostly normal, and good. I think some of the stress of the work-week dissipated. Shawn got out in the yard and that made him feel better to Do Something; introverted me didn't mind being home reading at all!

I'm really not looking forward to work this week. I love working at home, but I'm not motivated on this Monday morning. We will see what the day holds. Kate supposedly won't have any new assignments until Tuesday (gah). She has been instructed to read a book and practice piano. I have a meeting with Shan at 9:00, and then a full staff meeting at 10:30.

Pandemic Diaries: Days 4 and 5

Yesterday was a busy one, and different; I met Shan at the office for some work we couldn't do from home (printing a mailing on letterhead that had been delivered to us there). It was nice to see friends, but I did feel weird about being with other people. We worked about 3 hours, then went to lunch - took it to go, sat outside.

Adrianna comes over in the afternoons. We haven't invited her, I mean - she just comes over and rings the doorbell. I still don't feel great about it. On Day 3, we all went on a hike together (except Alex, who was in the middle of clarinet recordings). We continue reading that "this is not the time for playdates!" but... I know the kids are bored, and I know the mom next door needs a break sometimes - they also have an 18-month old. Still, I don't like it and don't really want to host Adrianna every single day of this 2-week stint. But there's no nice way to say that, especially now that I've already allowed it to happen. They play outside a good bit, but also inside. I don't know. Probably someday soon the governor WILL order people to stay at home, like California has just done, and then it will be a given (I hope). I think sometimes Adrianna leaves the house without asking her mom. :/

What we've eaten:
All the usual stuff. Kate made pasta for her lunch yet again yesterday (I was at the office or I'd have stopped her). It's fine, it's fine, and yet... save the stuff that will keep, child. Today we should get a Hello Fresh box and i'm happy about that. But tonight we plan to order and pickup from Chili's. I guess to support them? I'm not exactly sure - Shawn's driving that. I guess that means Alex, at least, will eat meat, even though it's Lent. We're all forgetting about Lent. I'm eating cookies and not feeling guilt. Comfort food. Bah.

Activities:
Yesterday Kate had a poem as one of her assignments, and she complained like it was a 12-page math packet. I would have LOVED to have a whole day to work on a poem! (I think my dream job is POET.) But she just wanted it DONE. It was so odd to me, that she fought against that.

We've played some frisbee in the backyard (already getting mosquito bites from it, though, gah), and Kate took another walk with the neighbors. On Day 3 I think, we had lunch on the front porch, which was fun. Reminded me of days off when they were little.

How we feel:
Stress is showing itself in different ways. Mine is that I can't do all the housework and the work-work that needs doing. When I WFH for a day, I can tell myself I don't HAVE to do any housework. But home for a full week, that feeling starts to fade and the house looks a mess with all of us here. There was a small fight (and a large tantrum) about butter (we don't have much, and someone wanted to use it up to make Oreo truffles). Shawn is shopping at Costco with a coworker today and is instructed to look for it. I'm looking forward to stuffing envelopes today, finishing a movie, and sitting outside with my laptop for a while. My back still hurts, but I am trying to workout (already at 165 minutes for this week, if I include the hike, which I do even though it was slow). My wrists also hurt - the laptop keyboard isn't as ergonomically correct as the regular erg keyboard at the office. Boo for that. Oh, also, cat allergies are a little more apparent when you're at home with the cats all day. One reason I'll be outside more today.

It sounds like a lot of complaints, but we're healthy, we're fine, we now have MEATS because I braved WalMart yesterday. I feel much better, grocery-wise. And I had good phone chats with Mom and Dad yesterday.

So, happy weekend. I am eager to take a break from actual work-work, clean some surfaces, play some Uno, enjoy some wine, and just chill.

It's Day 3

The news continues: more cases reported in Georgia, every state now reporting at least one. Several states have closed restaurants/bars and entertainment venues. Ours hasn't; in fact, Shan told me she and her husband had decided to order food every day from a different local restaurant to try to help them out. Good idea, maybe, but I'd go broke and also gain 30 poounds if we did that.

I'm trying to eat the fresh things first, so leftovers and salads before making anything from the pantry. Because we are not having much luck buying groceries. We'd gone shopping last Friday, but there was no meat in the meat department. Still isn't. I picked up from Kroger yesterday and they didn't have any of the meat I'd ordered, not even canned chicken. WalMart said they had the product, but didn't have a pickup time available. I'm going to have to go there in person, I guess. Which is fine, but we just want to do the right thing and stay home as much as possible.

This morning I'm standing up at the kitchen counter for the first hour of work. The kids aren't up yet (they should be). My back is killing me from sitting in my unsupportive dining room chairs yesterday.

What we ate:
Breakfast - everyone was on his or her own yesterday, although I did bake banana bread late Monday.
Lunch - I made a plate of leftovers. Kate made herself mac and cheese, which is when I explained to her about eating fresh/leftovers first. She went, "Ohhhhhhhh." I think she got it.
Dinner - I thought I was going to make chicken enchiladas with some pre-cooked chicken I had in the fridge. But the chicken smelled bad, so it was black bean enchiladas instead. Pantry item, check. The enchilada sauce was too hot for Kate; Alex managed it. We also had some avocados that would have gone bad, so I made a really good guacamole... but we are out of Tostitos. Then, a stroke of brilliance! I made baked chips from some corn tortillas we had. They weren't great, but they scooped the guac adequately.

What we did:
School work for the kids. There was a 6th-grade math meltdown. Perfectly timed, too, while I was on a Skype call (my only one of the day yesterday, naturally). It got worked out, but there was also a Come To Jesus about me not being a teacher, but I will try to help you as best I can, and this is going to be strange and difficult for all of us, and your attitude needs to improve if we want to get through it. Sigh. I hated to have that talk, but it needed to be done. Someone does not take "help" very well. It was only the first (2nd) day! Gah.

Otherwise, I don't think we were particularly great about taking breaks and keeping a routine. I mean, I did... but I am trying to let the kids schedule themselves, and I don't think they did it right. Ha. Kate, I know, tried to do more than just one day's work - she wants to finish it early and then have free time. They both might have taken breaks yesterday, but they weren't mental health breaks, they were device breaks. So, an hour of work, and then a half hour of Tik Tok or reddit. Hrm. We might have to discuss that again. We did manage a trampoline session, and laughed a lot by trying not to laugh. ;) Best part of the day and the weather was perfect! Our neighbor's daughter came outside and she and Kate played for a few minutes. I was hesitant about letting her into the house (are we supposed to do that? not really, I don't think). I felt crazy to hesitate, but I did.

How we felt:
See above. We're trying to settle into all this, but there were a couple of hiccups and we're not quite there yet. I think Shawn feels nearly panicked about groceries. I don't feel like working; would much rather do long yoga videos and read my book ("World Without End," a gigantic novel by Ken Follett, perfect for a quarantine.)

Pandemic Diary 2020: Day 2

A lot changed between last Friday and yesterday; namely, my boss who was not that serious about all this COVID-19 stuff, got serious. So now we ARE on a 2-week Work From Home directive.

My first thought is, of course, Hallelujah! What I've often longed for, an expanded WFH schedule! And it will make it easier for me to keep tabs on the kids as they try to do school from home. But the reason for it feel quites a bit less like happy news. Ah, well, so be it. We try to be grateful in spite of circumstances, right?

We had a good day yesterday. I was quite productive, I thought, and it made it interesting to have the extra task of writing our COVID letter and then posting it and sending it in all the relevant online channels. I felt needed, and useful, and like I was Doing Something For the Good of Everyone Involved. That was nice. Got lots of compliments on the letter, too.

I thought it'd be easiest, going forward, to do a daily recap of these days, kind-of like so:

What we ate:
Breakfast - Kate made us Oreo waffles in her latest impulse-buy, a mini-waffle maker. She got it with birthday money. Actually they were very yummy and I appreciated having plenty that we could package up for the freezer in These Food-Strange Times.
Lunch - We had to go up to St. Joe's to get some of Kate's books; they had opened for that purpose from 1-3pm. So on the way home, we stopped at Subway. I felt like we were going to get in trouble for going into a restaurant, and tried to propose fast food with a drive-through window, but we'd had enough of that on our road trip, so Subway (vegetables!) it was. I had a stern talk with Kate, though, that all these days coming up were not "days off" and we couldn't have lunch out every day (or ever, maybe, depending on what our state decides as far as restaurants/bars closing, like some states have done).
Dinner - Spaghetti and meatballs, of course. Pantry food if ever there was. I presume lots of people also ate spaghetti on Day One.

What we did:
Just drove to get the books/lunch. Alex came with us, to get out of the house for a minute. Kate, after her breakfast making, started a tie dye project (gah with the messy projects!). She did a t-shirt and shoelaces, outside in the backyard thank goodness, while I was on my first conference call of the day. Later she painted her nails -- a big deal because normally she isn't allowed (Catholic school uniform rules). Alex worked on homework. For band, he's having to record himself practicing his clarinet. Every Day. We didn't do any board games or other group activities. Not sure we will. It's a little different with bigger kids, you know? I've told them (a thousand times, by Kate's estimation) that they're going to need to develop some kind of routine, to get through this. We'll see if they do. *I* need to develop a routine, too, or I'll sit at the kitchen table at my computer muuuuch longer than necessary/healthy. We also went outside and played a little basketball, until we broke our ball pump. It was kinda chilly out.

How we felt:
I actually felt like it was a great day. I was glad to have interesting work, the kids stayed occupied, it's all novel and new at the moment. My only complaint was Ash the cat walking over my laptop several times. He deleted a big section of something I was working on, at one point! Naughty! (I got it back.) Kate and I even did a Pahla B workout in the evening -- important for mental health. I like/recommend P. B., but not her "walking for weight loss" or her "31 days" videos. Those are boring. The ones with weights, or "cardio + abs" or "cardio + strength" are great.

Hope your days are going well so far. Today should be interesting as Kate starts having actual work to do.

Pandemic Diary 2020: Day 1-ish

I feel like this coronavirus shutdown of the U.S. is a prime opportunity for blogging! Blogs are all we'll have! When we're so sick of reading news and analysis and non-official social media posts making us think they ARE official, we'll need our bloggers to lighten the mood a bit, right? We'll need each other's voices, to feel like a community. We'll need to commisserate about being at home with our kids! Just like the original mommy-blog days! Also, it's the right thing to do to preserve these strange days for historians of the future.

I have about 15 minutes this morning -- well, I have more than that, I'm working from home -- to jot down a few thoughts, and then I have to get to work writing my company's COVID-19 letter to customers. This is how it is when you're a Marketing Communications Specialist in the year 2020!

So. Last week on Thursday, March 12, 2020, Cobb County, GA made the decision to close schools starting today, for an indefinite length of days. Kate's Catholic school (St Joseph Catholic School -- I feel like I need named details for history, even though this is an anonymous blog and private, but you know?) followed suit on Friday, although they already had Friday and today as holidays, so they won't "start" until tomorrow. Both systems declared there will be online distance learning and that these will not be "days off." We're lucky that our school is in an area where it's not a problem for most families (they have internet, and computers, generally), but the county said they would deliver equipment and materials to students who do not have access to them at home -- interesting).

I had already planned to work from home today but now I'm hopeful I will be working home all week -- we'll see, though. My boss hasn't said that, specifically. He has said he wants us to "feel comfortable," and if we don't feel comfortable coming to the office, that's okay, but I feel like that's a non-answer. I wish he would say, "If you have the means to work from home (a laptop), then please do that." It seems to be what most companies are telling employees. Shawn's already left for work. He doesn't really have a job that can be done at home much, or so we've thought all these years. Maybe they'll change their tune after this (but I doubt it).

Last Friday, we drove 4 hours to go visit my MIL in Savannah. The plans were on the books already, and she lives alone and we hadn't seen her in ages. And it was her birthday. I wasn't sure we should, but I also didn't feel like there was any serious danger. We wouldn't be in any crowds, just seeing family -- her, and also my BIL and SIL and their 3 girls. And that's who we did see. We went out to lunch on Saturday. Should we have? Don't know for sure, but there were plenty of other people out and about - of course it was St Patrick's Day weekend in Savannah, so some were tourists and others were locals who are used to this being a celebratory weekend. We did sit outdoors, on purpose, so as not to be too closed in with others.  (At least in my mind, that's why we sat outdoors.) It was a beautiful, sunny day and around 74 degrees, so that was pleasant.

Some of my questions about all this include:

• Will the kids at St Joe's finish their standaradized testing, which was supposed to be going on this week? 
• Will the schools try to add on a few days at the end of the year?
• Will the social distancing be over by then, or will our summer camp also close? 
• Will the online learning be successful, or will the kids finish all the work quickly and then do nothing most of these days off? 
• Will Alex get to take his AP exam on time, and will he do as well as he'd have done without the weird interruption in class-time? 
• Will Kate do better at home if I'm here, helping her stay on task, or if I go to my office? Sometimes she gets things done on days when I'm NOT here (no one to whine to)...
• Will we have enough food, actually? We did some shopping and stocking up, but need a few additional things (meat -- the store was completely out of meat last Friday when Shawn went).
• After 14 days, will we all be expected to go back to normal? Will this "work?" Will it actually be safe then, or will we have more cases pop up? 
• Do I have enough hand soap?
• Do I have enough coffee?

I need to get to work, but more to follow.

In Concert: A little update on our eldest

Last night, I was struck very emotionally about how dad-gum GROWN Alex looked on-stage:

Seriously, click to make larger and see just how handsome he is. ;) The new haircut helps, some, too, but this is a kid! A mere child! Okay, he's 15 and a half, but how and when exactly did that happen?! I just couldn't quite believe it. There was a sense of "this is what he will look like as an adult" and I did not enter that theater expecting such a vision.

I was so glad to go listen to him play, and gosh, I'm thankful for this school. Public school is AMAZING in our district/county. This music program blows me away -- the concert last night was thisclose to being as good as any symphony orchestra I've heard. The music was so difficult! It's just all kinds of impressive.

And it chokes a mom up, especially when she's sitting safely (intentionally) by herself and allows the little tears to well right up because no one is watching.

One other thing I want to remember: He was excited about the third piece on the program because he said, "It's just fun to play." And ahhhhhhh, that got me in the heart! To know the Joy of music is something I dearly, dearly wished for my kids. Afterwards he told me "I'll miss playing that one." Just.. sighhhhh. So happy. He actually practices these days. He wants to learn more, get better -- has even asked to start clarinet lessons, despite being worried about the cost (good-hearted). YES, that is happening. Spare no expense! Bring it on.

As a update from the last post, his braces are half on (bottom half comes next), and so far we cannot even tell he has them. He has a kind-of narrow-lipped smile, anyway, but I seriously forget because I NEVER SEE them (they're clear). Whew. Hopefully he isn't bothered by them and they will do their work and allow an impacted tooth to fall where it's supposed to, thus negating the need for mouth surgery. Eek. Please please please.

And in other facial news, he has his own razor now and has used it. What the what?! Yeah.

Two more driving sessions with the instructor to go; he still has to wait until at least August before getting his license, but he's getting better every time I ride with him. It still scares the heck out of me, but not quite as much as it did at first.

He's writing a paper on "Things Fall Apart" today, for his AP history/literature class. That first AP exam is coming up in a few weeks. I think he's somewhat interested in what's happening in politics this year. And he chose his electives for his JUNIOR YEAR.

Hard to believe. The days are long but the years are indeed so very, painfully short.