All posts by Nichole

blessings, Family matters, Screen time

A rough morning; a better evening

Today got off to a really nice start, when Pete told me he’d bought Poppy and me the new “Animal Crossing” with his own money. I played it for awhile, and it was great, but then I got really overwhelmed trying to plan our dinners for next week, and then I had a little cry when a grocery order I’d placed was canceled for mysterious reasons.

Part of my mood today can probably be attributed to hormones, but I think some of it is that I haven’t really given myself a daily schedule. Rockford and the kids have pretty much settled into a routine with work and school, but I feel like I’m spending a lot of my time spinning my wheels.

Two things I have been doing more-or-less consistently: Jotting down a few thoughts every day, and doing daily Spanish lessons on Duolingo. I’m on a 95-day streak there.

Virtual school days

I helped Pete figure out how to get the website his band director was using to work, but otherwise the kids just did their assignments with no input from me.

Entertainment

I’m so glad some of the movie companies had the same idea I did last week and started releasing new movies on streaming services. Last night we rented Pixar’s “Onward,” and to make it feel more like a trip to the movies we recorded our own extremely ridiculous pre-movie commercials and infotainment. Poppy popped some popcorn, and she even made Pete a slush. The movie was sweet and funny, too.

After “Onward,” Rockford and I tuned in to Instagram for a live broadcast Jeff Tweedy’s wife Sue did from their living room. It was a little chaotic, with Jeff appearing in his pajamas and laying down in protest when he wanted to be done. It was delightful and weird, and I hope they do another one. It was a cheerful cap to a rough day.

Quarantine eats

Frozen pizza to the rescue! I had a vegan Amy’s in the pizza, and we had a cauliflower-crust one for my father-in-law.

Good things

  • Generous Pete and a fun video game.
  • Making our own pre-show entertainment and then watching “Onward.”
  • Tweedys on instagram
    • blessings, Current events, Domestic Blitz, Family matters, Homeschool

    It only took me three days to cry

    I feel like I’ve been holding it together pretty well through this. I’m worried, of course, but I’m trying to take it day-by-day and not panic. I did break down a bit this morning, thinking about far-flung family members and wondering when I’ll be able to see them again. Honestly, it was whether I would see them again, because I am dramatic and I’ve read to much post-apocalyptic fiction.

    But! My mood improved, and there were some Good Things. Such as:

    Good things

  • Driving around with Poppy
  • A relatively smooth start to virtual schooling.
  • Poppy attending a tae kwon do class through Zoom.

    • Virtual school days

    The school district officially launched their Virtual Days today! Pete had forgotten to add a few of his classes to Google classroom, and one of his classes had an audio meeting that we weren’t prepared to join. He popped in at the last minute. We had a couple of other bumps that were partially technology and partially emotional, but overall the day went OK.

    A tour of local Target parking lots

    Oh the things that are qualifying as entertainment. We ran out of printer paper, so I ordered some for curbside pickup from Target. Except when I got to Target, they said “Oh no, you ordered from the other Target!” So Poppy and I drove to the other Target, which had our order. But on the way there we got a text saying our order was ready at the first Target! Mayhem! At least we got to drive around a bit.

    Quarantine eats

    We had a ridiculously luxurious dinner this evening. Delicious as it was, I wish that circumstances hadn’t made it possible. The restaurant where my sister-in-law works had to close because of the virus, and they cleared out all the food and sent it home with the employees. She brought us ribeye burgers, steaks, bacon, Lion’s Mane mushrooms, Brussels sprouts and purple potato gratin. I grilled the steaks and burgers, sauteed the mushrooms with shallots and garlic and warmed the gratin in the oven. We’ll be back to standard fare tomorrow.