Quarantine Diary, Entry #5

It's weird to think that I've been busy, but I have felt busy during this time.  Busy but rested.  I've been doing things that I normally don't have time to think about doing.  Yesterday, I spent all day organizing the craft room/office and unpacking boxes that hadn't been touched since I moved here in 2014 after Andrew's and my wedding! 

Andrew taught me how to play chess earlier this week.  I SUCK.  I need way more practice.  It's frustrating, but in time, I think it will be something fun and he and I can do together.  Right now, I'm thinking way too much and not really enjoying it that much.  But it will come.  I have also wanted to play chess with the kids at school.  Before I was the teacher, GOAL classes always had a chess unit, but I scrapped it because I didn't know how to play.  Now, I don't have an excuse! 

Today, I started transferring old VHS tapes to digital format.  I found some cords that Andrew and I bought YEARS ago for this process.  I wasn't sure they'd even work anymore, but they do.  It's a time-consuming process, but I know it will be worth it.  Today, I transferred a production of Evita and musical theatre troupe from college as well as Matt's junior high swing choir, my high school concert choir, my 16th birthday party, and my stint as mayor in a mock city council meeting for Student Government Day my junior year.  Nice trips down memory lane.  More movies to transfer tomorrow!

Quarantine Diary, Entry #4

Today I had my first online class with students.  I didn't really have a plan because I wasn't sure the technology was even going to work.  I had blocked out 45 minutes, and we really only needed 30 for this first session.  I had 14 of 18 kids show up to the class.  6 had video and audio, 7 had just audio, and 1 only had chat access, but he was able to communicate with us.  It was just great to see their faces and hear their voices.

I'm starting with 45 minutes of "office hours" where kids can get immediate feedback from me if they e-mail or use Google Hangouts.  Then I'm going into 45 minutes of a Zoom-like program within Canvas, our district's online learning system.  Dee Ann and I tested it out last night before I went to bed, so I knew it had potential.  It was really slick today.  I did have two kids who couldn't get in for some reason, but I'll try to get that figured out for next time.  I'm meeting with a different group every day.

The kids looked good.  I think a lot of them are bored and are probably playing too many video games, but if I were that age, I'd probably be doing the same.  I did have some say they'd been cooking and helping their folks on the farm getting the equipment ready for planting.  Those are things that they would never have time to do during a regular school year.  I hope all the kids can find activities like that during this time away from school.

Yesterday afternoon, I had a Zoom happy hour with Tracy, Suzanne, and Jeff... all my bridesmaids/men!  We had a great time and laughed a lot.  It was just what the doctor ordered.  I stole this picture from Jeff to remember the occasion.  :)

Quarantine Diary, Entry #3

Last night we had our first fire of the year in the fire pit.  It was perfect.  I also got my bike out yesterday.  Andrew pumped my tires up, and I was ready to go.  My butt is definitely feeling it today, but it was great to get out for a spin.  I biked 5 miles, and it was sunny and cool.  Aside from cracking my phone when I got home, it was a really perfect afternoon.

I'm going to be asking the kids to reflect on how they feel during this time.  How do I feel?  I am OK most of the time, but I have had some anxiety-filled moments where I really have to talk myself down.  There are times when it truly does feel like the end of days.  In those moments, I go for a walk or meditate or play with the dog.  I've been able to successfully talk myself down from the ledge every time so far.  There are times when I feel lazy and guilty for not doing anything.  Then, when I reflect, I know that I AM doing things.  I also know that I need to slow down... maybe we all do.  Maybe, in a way, this is the universe telling us all to slow down a little bit and appreciate what we have and who we have.  I'm determined to stay positive and flexible.  This virus is not something that will be changed with my impatience or with anyone's impatience, for that matter.  We have to go with the flow, let previous plans go, and just try to do the best we can.

Quarantine Diary, Entry #2

4/1

I'm definitely starting to lose track of the days.  How many days of quarantine have we had?  Does it even matter?  :)

Today we had a staff meeting on Zoom.  It was nice to see everyone's faces.  The Department of Education has given some more guidelines about what we can do, so I'm anxious to get some things online for my kids and to set up some Zoom sessions for us all to see each other.  I don't know if everyone has internet access (that's one of my big fears right now), but I hope to see as many as I can.

It was absolutely beautiful here today.  Georgie and I went on a 3-mile walk, and it pretty much did us both in.  But the day was sunny and cool.  I didn't even need a sweatshirt.  Things are starting to really bloom.  The tulip trees were really showing their stuff today.

I cleaned my room and got the last picture on the wall today (after 5 years of living here).  "My room" is where I keep most of my clothes and makeup table, etc.  Grandma's old futon is in here too.  It makes a really nice meditation room for Andrew and me, and it can even be an extra bedroom when needed, which it has a couple of times.  The last picture to go up was my autographed picture of Julie Andrews.  Now it REALLY feels like my space.  :)

Andrew and I are living well.  We've been eating well and watching good movies and reading.  I've been trying to look at this time away from the real world and real life as a gift.  It's terrible that it has to come in the form of a pandemic, but I feel like I've been taking care of myself, my home, and my marriage in a way that hasn't had my complete focus and attention.  Now I can ease my students back into that picture, and it's going to be a way that's not pressured or stressful, I hope.  Nothing will be required or graded, but we can have contact.  I've missed the kids a lot.