L'aventure américaine

I took this photo during a conference call today. It made me very grateful that we have Mom and Dad’s support so that we can get some work done.  Stay safe. Stay home. Love!

The problem with social distancing is that you're really short on news.  It doesn't feel like our life is that interesting right now, but it is full, despite seeing so few people. We are finishing the frozen food in the house.  Frozen blueberries caused some carnage last night. Marian loves the outdoors and playing ball and this chair that we got from our dear neighbor in Klamath Falls.  The problem with Marian is that she is too darn cute and it's hard to only take one picture. She has been practicing animal sounds and mimicking us.  She learned "Milo" and "Grandma," but most recently, her most frequent word is "mine."  I'm pretty sure she learned it from Milo.  (But, there is a distinct chance she might have gotten it from me.  Yikes.) We have also learned a new Facetime trick, thanks to Uncle Pete from graduate school.  A friendly T. Rex chatted with a friendly Milo Lion last night.  Marian did not like it and h...

It is so warm today and I love it. We are heading into spring and the warmth and humidity wrap me like a blanket. I am so glad to leave this dreary Indiana winter behind.  We have had thunderstorms rolling through and warm rains. Milo has changed and was happy to go with me on a walk, despite the rain and sopping  wet hair. He still has an aversion to mud and would rather be carried than step in it.  Which is not like his sister who had a fit when I tried to steer her away from these puddles. After she played in the mud for quite some time, I picked her up while she screamed and went limp- her surest demonstration of displeasure. She only calmed down when I gave her her shoes and socks- her greatest love in her wardrobe right now.  In other news, I hope you’re staying home and you’re healthy.  Happy Saturday. I don’t have to feel lame about staying home anymore because everyone is. Whew! Perks to these new social norms! P.S. tips to entertaining a 14 month old: ...

Video conference calls have always been prevalent, but in this new norm of coronavirus, it is the only way we have meetings. Today was a day full of meetings... five different zoom calls. And one fabulous Zoom tutorial where Mom learned how to zoom conference call with Alicia and I.  It was nice to come home to real face time with family tonight though.   Milo greeted us with this drawing (actually, he greeted randal with the drawing, but he added my name later). It was a picture of Bogey - our cat who died last fall - for Milo’s dad and also for mom. It was too close to dinner, so the “s” became quite problematic and tear-inducing.  And here are the babysitters. In the time of coronavirus, one has to learn to do without. I didn’t think that couch cushions were scarce, but when it’s fort time, I guess they are. Well, we make do. 

It was a beautiful day and that makes everything more cheerful. Mom and Dad kept the kids out for most of the day and Randal and I worked quietly at our house. It feels very decadent to have the quiet house and long, uninterrupted conversations.  Marian is addicted to chickens and watches them, saying: “bawwww” repeatedly to indicate that she wants to see more of them. Milo has been improving his coloring skills and practicing getting dirty without fussing.  The dogs are loving their time outside, but do miss their warm inside beds at night. I don’t miss the dog hair. 

What a paradox this time is.  It's so quiet at home and so noisy in the news.  The best thing that we can do is to stay home, but that feels like we're not doing enough. We have been going to the Unitarian Church in Bloomington this year and I have appreciated their calm, comforting messages these past weeks.  Today, they sent this quote: "May these words from author Clarissa Pinkola Estes be part of what holds us, in the weeks and months ahead: Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good."

Weekends are different when you're all working from home.  Randal and I both got to work today so that we have more flexibility tomorrow.  We are trying to watch the kids while working from home - as many parents are already doing.  Wish us luck. If I were to run the credits for working from home it would be for: my parents, Disney plus, frozen peas, and ziploc bags full of crayons.  Each one of these has entertained Milo and Marian for longer than I would have expected. She might looks distressed, but was actually thrilled with her lunch. Running "as fast as a "cheetah."

Well, we are one week into our self-distancing quarantine right now. Last Sunday, I dropped some baby clothes off, went to an empty brunch spot, and enjoyed my last day seeing whomever I pleased (even if I didn’t hug or touch them).  Randal and I are largely working from home and the kids are out of school for the foreseeable future. Mom and Dad are helping after they promised us that they would not go out anymore. (I had to use the kids as leverage, as in, you will not get to see your grandchildren if you continue to do that.  It worked.) We are lucky to have all six of us together.  In the past, I have done a thirty day blogpost challenge and it seems that that might be useful again. This pandemic has made people feel far away, even though I have probably touched base with more people lately than usual. It is, as we all have said, an interesting time. May it bring out our better selves.  So, day 7 of quarantine- here we are. Bracing ourselves for the weeks to come ...