Favorite Pandemic Lunches, and Boredom

Being at home all the time means I am always eating lunch from my own fridge. Never popping out to get Which Wich, or going on my weekly outing with Shan (sushi, or Mexican), or ordering Jimmy John's, or even just running through the Taco Bell drive-thru once in a while. Huh, I do miss a few things about working in an office, I guess. 

Today is order out for lunch-day. We have been good all week. Usually it's Chick Fil A because my goodness, their app is easy to use. But mostly, we try to stick to the plethora of things that our own kitchen can offer (grateful, grateful, grateful). Here are our favorites:

• Alex: 2 Corn Dogs and chips (Spicy-Sweet Doritos is his preference). He has also rediscovered canned chili mac (Chef Boyardee), which I bought a lot of when I first went panic-shopping to try to "stock up."
• Kate: Roast beef sandwich on lightly toasted bread, with Ranch dressing, lettuce and cucumber. She likes BBQ Kettle chips the best, and always has an apple or some berries with it.
• Me: Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean burger cooked in a skillet (7 minutes for a nice, crispy outside) served over lettuce/tomato salad, with guacamole if I have it, or sour cream, and lots of Cholula. Or a good cheese/crackers/veggies snack-plate will do me just fine.

The kids also like Totino's pizza rolls and Bagel Bites. I am so glad my freezer can (barely) hold all of the stuff we need to make sure there are options! I know I should make things like soups or pastas, so they're eating more healthily, but I tell you, the ease of them just grabbing something and microwaving it is saving my sanity most days.

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This is been an extra-long work-week, it seems. A lot of meetings, a lot of drama (we cancelled some trainings because Covid won't go away, and of course we were awaiting the coworkers' test results, all negative I'm told), and then big, annoying projects. I'm pretty tired of working, and the kids are pretty bored with being home, doing nothing. 

I know I've said that I'm infinitely grateful the kids aren't young; but I think if they were, I would have been compelled to try a little harder, you know? Take them to the park once in a while, at least. I feel guilty that we haven't done any "excursions" with all of this extra time together. ("You're working full-time!" argues my head. "I know, but, what about Making Memories?" whimpers my heart.) It has been hot lately, so no one would want to go do anything, anyway; and of course a lot of fun things aren't open. I guess no use crying over spilled milk; today they'll go swim next door, just the two of them. Our neighbors went out of town and we're watching their dog, so yay, a pool all to ourselves. Maybe we'll make the most of that this weekend. Maybe these next 2 weeks before school starts, I can try harder.

I don't know, just the state of life is a motivational bust, isn't it? I try to put on a happy face, but ... yeah. Sometimes it's just not there.

COVID Comes Closer (too close!); plus other stuff

Yesterday I learned that my office has a positive COVID case. Not just my building (which had had a couple), but the company I work for. The guy (Kevin, our company president) has been in the office nearly every day since this all began. Lots of time with his door closed, but there. I went in on Tuesday and he was there for a while, but I didn't even see him. However, my manager, with whom I had 2 hour-long meetings that day, probably had seen him and even worse, had ridden in his car the week prior, and we all know there's a 14-day incubation (or whatever) period. So. 

Shan is getting tested today or tomorrow, and we'll see what her results are.  

When I found out I became instantly nervous, and blurted out to the kids that I probably needed to not kiss/hug them until we know. Maybe overly cautious and it likely scared Kate, but I'd rather be overdramatic than infect all of them. I feel fine, Shan feels fine, in fact Kevin felt fine last I heard. I considered sleeping in the guest room instead of our queen-sized bed last night, but in the end didn't. I'm not panicked, but I'm also busy with work and trying not to think/worry about things so much. I had a moment in prayer recently where I was working on Trust. Even if I can't trust God about the entire future, can I at least trust Him for one day? I think so, yes. One day at a time seems reasonable. Plus, I'm sure you've had the thought, as I have, that we're all bound to get it eventually.

::: UPDATE: She was Negative! Whew! 

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In unrelated news, I just made a pot of stovetop mac and cheese (homemade) and added in crumbled bacon. (No really, it's unrelated, Kate asked me for it for lunch today. I WANT to eat a big bowl full, with a spoon, and then finish off the cookies and cream ice cream for dessert... but I'm not going to.)

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We found out that band camp is going to be entirely virtual, and that all the competitions and trips they had planned for this year are cancelled. Boo hoo! They're still going to try to create this year's show, in some way. They're hopeful they'll be able to play at football games, which are still inexplicably on, though delayed for 2 weeks. They "plan to utilize protocols for safeguarding members, including using tools to minimize the production and spread of aerosolized particulates, sanitizing facilities and more," whatever that means. Something about bell covers for instruments.

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Here are 10 good things about right now:

1. Both kitties are curled up within view, one within distance for me to reach. Ash loves to help me work. 
2. I have lost 4 pounds as I begin a big effort to lower my cholesterol. I also started taking Fish Oil and eating more "heart healthy" things. Yay, oatmeal! Yay, fruits and veggies! Also yay, LOTS of water! (Boo, being older, but yay for knowing what needs doing and doing it.)
3. The heat of summer is trying to kill off my spring plants, but it hasn't yet. I pruned the scaveloa pretty severely and that helped. My tomato plant has 11 tomatoes, of which about 6 are red and almost ready to be picked. They're tiny, about 2" diameter if that, but I'm still excited.
4. I am about to finish a BIG project for work that's been the bane of my existence this week.
5. The kids are going nextdoor to swim this afternoon (I'm so, so grateful for these kind neighbors.)
6. I read that dispensation from Mass has been extended, in my archdiocese, until Aug. 2. No guilt!
7. A very large tree branch fell in our front yard but it didn't hit anything. 
8. The crape myrtles are blooming; lots of pink in my back yard.
9. Some birds discovered the bird bath Shawn bought me for my birthday; they don't come visit often, but it's fun when they do. Eastern Towhees. 
10. Shawn and the kids painted our kitchen this week, while I worked! It needed painting; the beige was scuffed and dirty looking all the time because it was matte finish and showed every bump. See how pretty it turned out? 

Before, dingy beige

After, "Graceful Grey" (Behr)

And So It Goes

Today our public school district announced that Fall 2020 will start out 100% virtual, instead of going back to school. 

I am so relieved.

I am also so sad.

Three weeks ago, they said we would have to decide on our own, whether we'd send our kids back or do online school. I knew that the right call was to keep Alex home, but he had said immediately he wanted to go back. I was reading all the advice saying "We have to be the grown-ups, we have to be the bad guys in this situation, for our kids' -- and the nation's -- health, and keep them home." ...but still, I was willing to let him choose. To order him to wear his mask, obviously, but let him go. His mental health and growth and development is a factor in all of this, too. He was looking forward to it.

But now we don't have the choice, and I'm sad for him. We're waiting for an email from the band directors to come tonight. Supposedly fall sports are still on (... ?? how is that feasible? football? are you kidding me? surely this will change soon, too), and we are supposed to start Band Camp next week. 

I am trying to stay calm for Alex's sake.

Kate's private school has been moving toward in-person school with an option to do virtual, and they probably have an easier time planning for it all, being exponentially smaller than the public district; but I do wonder if this will alter their plans as well.

I feel some legitimate sadness hovering over all of us; the kids are so bored, and starved for contact with their friends. They've both had one or two sleepovers and visits, but it's not enough. I know they're in contact with friends online, but it just isn't the same. I worry for their futures, their relationships, their mental health. 

AND on the other hand, I'm determined to do my best to help make it a good semester anyway. How can I do it better than in Spring? How can we be together more? How should we order our days to make them Good Days? What can we add that will be of value later? What can we subtract? It's our job as parents to give it our best shot for our kids. I want to do that. I pray I'll have the energy and means. I pray work will let me be here and work flexibly, and that I'll keep my job. 

One thing I think is sorely missing from all the leaders, is some hearty cheerleading for everyone -- you know, like, "Everybody come on, together we can DO THIS!" Maybe that's what I need to focus on most of all. Rallying the troops. Positive attitudes.