Today I changed an in-person coffee date to a walk after listening to a news story about how covid is as bad as ever, but Americans are tired of dealing with it, so we just ignore it. After reading a story that IU health has more covid patients than ever. Ugh. Mask up. Get vaccinated. It works.
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I just felt like I was failing today. I can’t stay ahead of my work or school and I’m tired and no, Milo, I don’t want to play on the playground. I want to lay on the couch. And then I got this message, out of the blue, from a Grad school friend who I rarely talk to. Sometimes the universe kicks you in the stomach and sometimes… this time… it really comes through. Many moments of gratitude today, but especially my spouse who let me vent. And Milo- when he heard me venting, he brought his bucket of Halloween candy over to offer me some so I felt better. So, all in all… it’s pretty damn good.
I’m not sure how it’s Sunday night. Quarantine life can be fun, but it goes by in a blur. Milo’s rapid test was negative, but it’s not official until the PCR is negative, so we’re still home. Yesterday we went on a lovely hike and today randal let me escape for a bit. (Randal has worked all weekend.) This week will be the hardest of the semester, but I’m getting so close I can almost taste it. It tastes like wine and chocolate.
As I was making Milo’s lunch this morning, I got the dreaded contact tracer call. Milo was exposed to covid on the bus. One day before he was to get his second covid dose. So, we’re home together until he gets a negative test…. But, we went on a good run/wild Kratt adventure today and it was a good excuse to get next to nothing done. Happy quarantine weekend!
It’s been a year. It’s been a week. But, I’m also so lucky. So, I’ll try to focus on that this month. The kids are so excited to open their advent calendars (Marian threw a tantrum when she couldn’t open more than one) and I’m thrilled to be closer to the holidays. So, 25 days of happy moments and gratitude… starting now. Milo got a book of Star Wars diy adventures from the library. My project with Milo (making Kyber crystals) is failing. Randal’s, not surprisingly, is successful. Here are the light saber fights occurring in our dining room. The kids really enjoyed it. (For about 150 seconds.)
It's our eight-year anniversary today. We made Milo's lunch and the kids breakfasts in the kitchen together, gracefully moving around each other in that small room while we heard demands shouted out: "I want apple slices!" "I want sparkle toast!" As we bumped into each other, I said, "sorry," and then, "oh!" And we simultaneously wished each other a happy anniversary. And I just felt so damn grateful for these little moments where we coexist and help each other. But, we have made it through some big moments this year too. Since the celebration of our 7th anniversary: Covid has continued and the delta variant has become a frequent conversation topic. We have had two visits to the ER (one for Randal, one for me) and one ambulance call (Milo). We have each been on steroids to deal with out of control allergic reactions. We have gotten and lost a dear pet. We have a very small amount left before we reach our out-of-pocket maximum (we ...
I am feeling especially grateful this weekend for the people in my life and some lucky circumstances that happened yesterday. It was a normal Saturday: Mom and I vaccinated in the morning and I explained anaphylaxis to people and we gave many COVID vaccines. We came home and had lunch - brats and pesto pasta and vegetables and decided to put the kids down for a nap at Mom and Dad's before heading back into Bloomington. I told Mom all day that I really wanted to go on a run, so I let my lunch digest a bit - helped put the kids down for naps, did the dishes, separated the seeds that Dad and I got at the plant store that morning and got dressed to go on a run. It was a beautiful afternoon for a run and I told Mom that I was leaving my phone at home so I could unplug for a bit. I decided to run up to the neighbor's who lives 2 miles away to see Dad and Randal who were working with his Woodmizer that Randal was going to purchase. I would say hi, snap...
Today I am grateful for the completion of two big projects at work. For the last several nights, I have stayed up late doing homework or work after putting the kids to bed. Today I moderated a webinar that we have been working on for months and decided that I am calling it a day. So, I’m grateful it’s done, it went well, and that I have a nice glass of wine next to me. Cheers to Tuesday.
Most of us are spending all of our days at home, and we are too. But, working, school and volunteering are keeping my schedule full six days per week. Today, the four of us were at home. Randal tried to fix our drainage system. The kids played quietly. I cleaned and picked up and did laundry. It was a lovely day with the family and I felt so satisfied at the end of it. So, today I’m grateful for this day at home. It was a good one.
If you are the main cook in your house, you probably haven't had someone cook for you as much in the past year of COVID. I am the main cook in my house and I am tired of it. I am tired of my cooking, tired of my meals, tired of making the effort, tired of groceries. So, today, I am grateful for the home cooked meal that I am served every Friday evening when we go out to Mom and Dad's before our early start at the vaccine clinic on Saturday. Tonight we had meatloaf, vegetables, corn, rolls, and the good wine. It was great. I am grateful that I didn't have to buy those groceries, plan that meal, nor cook it. Thanks Mom. These kids are pretty great too.
I don't have a picture for today's gratitude moment because they're all at my parents' house in albums, printed from an ancient technology called film. Today I'm grateful for my aunt Juanita. She sent such a wonderful (also gratitude-filled) email that I kept at the top of my inbox all day because it was such a nice walk down memory lane and such a warm, loving email that I needed amidst the work tasks. Once, she was buying shampoo in Target and the brand had something to do with horses. Juanita whinnied down the aisle and I will never forget how hilarious I found that. I still smile when I see that brand. I am so grateful for my family - near and far.
Friday- I was grateful for a super strong immune response to the COVID vaccine (yeesh) and a husband who brought me lunch on a tray on the couch. Saturday- I was grateful for my dad who will come out to sled with the kids and me and who will go that extra run so we can break the sledding record. Sunday/today- I am grateful that Randal has given me the time and space to complete a class paper and for the moment when i asked Marian if i worked too much and she put out her hand for me to hold and was so sweet.
This was supposed to have been posted on Ash Wednesday, but my phone didn't upload it. This is why the first and second post seem backwards! A friend texted me today and asked if I was doing anything for Lent. She’s a lapsed Catholic and I’m not religious at all, but it seemed like a good time to focus on some goodness. So, we decided to share 40 days of gratitude. Which I will also share here. And to start, I am grateful for this snow and the cold that is keeping it here. The joy of sledding is infectious. It’s beautiful and active and fun and laughter-filled. And I’m so grateful for this week of a real, beautiful winter. What a gift and how lucky am I to share it with some of my nearest and dearest.
It has been a full month and there have been a lot of ups and downs. Today, we will focus on the ups. Our baby turned two last week and we had a wonderful birthday celebration. She got a new president for her birthday and it was just what she wanted, so we were all happy. Marian is a spunky delight. She has a distinct stinkeye and her moods can turn on a dime. (I am told that she takes after me more than her dad.) She can throw a tantrum and kick around on the floor and she can throw rocks in the creek and kick her shoes off just as well. Her language is spectacular and she seems much older than two years in both abstract concepts and vocabulary. (For example, "A raindrop just fell on my head." "I played with my friends at school yesterday."). She plays with toys and the running commentary is fascinating, "Oh baby! Are you okay? Yes! I am okay. I fell down. It's time to eat. Do you like your food? Yes....