ahhhh-hhaaaaaaThis is day 5 of social distancing. I find myself sleeping in a little later each day and that I definitely need a cup of coffee.
ahhhh-hhaaaaaa During normal life, I would crawl out of bed but within 15 minutes I was moving and busy working, no coffee needed. ahhhh-hhaaaaaa Now, I lay in bed an extra 15-20 minutes just looking out the window. ahhhh-hhaaaaaa Then I move to the couch to scroll Facebook. ahhhh-hhaaaaaa Next I read a book. ahhhh-hhaaaaaa Today is different. I have been up 2 hours and can not stop yawning. The giant, wide mouth, long yawn that typically tells me it is time to go to bed at night. But it is only 9:30 in the morning. ahhhh-hhaaaaaa ahhhh-hhaaaaaa I am going to brew some coffee or I am not going to make it through the day.
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You Should Call the CopsThursday morning, time to roll down the trash. I saw several neighbors walking around and thought are they being helpful and rolling down all the neighbors cans? How nice! As I roll my can down, I see another neighbor I know well.
Turns out they were all trying to figure out who parked in front of her driveway, completely blocking it. None of us outside had ever seen this truck before and had no idea who it belonged to. While keeping an appropriate social distance, I advised her to call the cops. They would be able to pull up the registration and have it towed if necessary. We chatted a little more about working from home and staying healthy. Then I headed back inside to work. I had set my temporary office up next to the front window and noticed when the officer arrived. I kept working and then I heard a friend of my daughter answer her phone and say, "Hey Mamma." Then quickly "WHAT?" with a sprint to the back bedroom. I knew instantly that the truck blocking the neighbors driveway was Allie! I ran outside to flag down the policeman who was getting back his car. A few seconds later Allie comes running out the door, profusely apologizing and running to move her car. I think the irony comes in me saying, "Call the cops, they can take care of it," when the offender was sitting at my kitchen table studying. I never once thought about where she had parked. Laundry Piles
Clean Yet cold Wrinkled Dumped on the couch No where to sit. Stacks Folded Smooth and crisp Organized by type Neatly on the bed No where to sleep Reflection on Raising KidsI am so proud of my two girls. They have grown up to make wise and thoughtful decisions. It is that time in my life when I can see how all the hard work of parenting has paid off. My eldest works a lot of hours while she is in undergrad. She is so respectful of her supervisors, taking into consideration what impact her actions will have on the business. She is aware of the importance of budgeting, planning, loyalty, dedication. So this week when I asked her if she wanted to come home and social distance herself with family her reply was so wise. "I feel like if anyone has been exposed it has been me. I have been working everyday (in the restaurant business) and have been around so many people. I don't want to come home when there is such a long incubation period and potentially spread the virus to anyone else." As disappointed as I was that she was not going home, I cannot argue with her logic. It is comments like these when a parent can feel like they have done their job well.
PopcornI love popcorn! It is my ultimate snack. My go to when the healthy dinner of a small lean pork chop, broccoli, and green beans has worn off. But I don't get my popcorn the quick and easy way. Microwave popcorn has a metallic taste, and bagged prepackaged popcorn never has enough butter or salt.
I bought myself an air popper and make "homemade popcorn." I have it down to a science. Put 2 Tbsp of real butter in the microwave Turn on the air popper to let it warm up Pour the popcorn kernels into the air popper Lean over the top, resting your forehead on the cabinet Enjoy the warm air Watch the kernels swirl around the popper Wait for the first kernel to pop through the kernels to to the top Jump when it does Watch 2 more magically pop Get the butter out of the microwave Shake some coarse sea salt in the bottom of the bowl Once the bowl has a layer of popcorn, slowly drizzle the butter over the popcorn while slowly spinning the bowl in order to disperse the butter evenly over each layer of popcorn. Salt one last time Eat and enjoy Church Today I was surprised to see so many people at church. Across town pastors debated on whether to have service in person or by video. Since we have no cases in our county, we decided to hold church in person and video broadcast. We know some people would stay home. But we had a good crowd.
Some of the elders of the church were quick to point out how dumb it was to stay home, that everything was being blown out of proportion by the media. This 89 year old man, formal Coronal in the army, was downright appalled people were storming the stores. But it was different, no hugs or handshakes. Instead wave at your neighbor when you pass the peace. But the message was meaningful and it was nice to have some normal. Plus many did watch online and that was encouraging that our online community can grow over the next month as we all sequester at home. TurtlesI brought my turtles, red eared sliders, home from school and am loving watching them. I set their tank up in my kitchen. They seem so happy, constantly swimming around. I have really had time to observe them.
MEAL TIME These guys know how to chow down. They get a little feisty when given a lettuce leaf. SNAP! TUG! PULL! They stretch their necks out and chomp their jaws down. Half the time they will bite a piece off, but they open their mouth to swallow and then the piece of lettuce floats off. Then they swim after that small piece. It may take three attempts before they finally swallow the bite. Sometimes they will hold on the the lettuce leaf with their front claws in order to pull it down in front of them. Other times they bite down but the piece of lettuce doesn't break away. Then they use their front feet to pull the lettuce off. Today I found a worm in the garden and decided to give that a try. Speedy swallowed it whole, sucking it down like a long piece of spaghetti. NAP TIME Turtles sleep underwater. They settle at the bottom and close their eyes. Speedy and Speedier will settle down next to each other, often with one foot draped over the other. If they hear me walk by, one will usually half open his eye to look and see, then slowly close it back. BASKING This is my favorite thing to watch. Typically only one turtle at a time will sit on his rock and bask under the light. But sometimes they both want to bask. Speedier is larger and will climb up on the rock, and then Speedy will climb up and on top of Speedier. Speedier will have to hold on tight to the side of the rock in order to not be pulled off. Speedy tries to use his claws to hang on to the scales on Speedier's shell. There is always one of the slipping and sliding. Sometimes they are successful, but often they both end up falling off into the water. But when they do both get settled one on top of the other they look so cute. When the turtles were at school they rarely ate. If they were basking it was while no one was in the room. As soon as the door opened and a light turned on they slid right into the water. I don't know if I will ever take them back to school. How to TeachIt has been announced that Spring Break will be extended a week. My first thought as a ELA teacher is, "I have to keep them reading and writing." I quickly created a newsletter with links to you tube videos for grammar we have been learning. Plus I added reminders of our online resources and passwords for reading and writing opportunities.
I hope I have instilled in my students a love of learning and that they will be thirsty for more. Loss of a Loved One, During a PandemicI know a family who lost their father this week. It was unexpected and a shock. But on top of all that, we are now limited to gatherings of 10. This pandemic has made it difficult to celebrate the life of a great family man, one who loved his family greatly, a man who raised amazing children.
I don't know him well, but I watch with admiration his daughters family. How they spend time together laughing and playing. How they have a quiet love of God that shows in every action they take. How kindness emanates through the interactions they have with others. They learned this from great parents. The loss of their father has got to be difficult. A memorial service will be planned for later this spring once coronavirus has been quelled. But this waiting extends the grief process. I pray for peace for this family. I pray that they focus on the great memories they have had with their father. I pray that they rest in the comfort of him sitting at the feet of Jesus. I pray that they feel God's arm embracing them in the hugs that the rest of us can't give during a time of social distancing. Books
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April 2020
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