Wednesday, April 1, 2020

IWSG April 2020







Well, that was a month, wasn't it? Strangest month ever. Can you keep writing fiction when your life turns into a dystopian novel? Not me. And I'm okay about that. The focus now is on keeping the household as healthy and as happy as possible while we stay at home, day after day after day after ...
Queensway Hwy - Groundhog

Image: Robbie



You get the picture. We even watched the movie Groundhog Day so our 13-year-old could better appreciate her lament that every day seems the same now.


Let's get on with the show!

April's Optional Question: How are things in your world? 

Well, it's not boring. I guess that's a plus, right? On the morning of Saturday, March 14, the call came in. School was closed for the foreseeable future. 

There was much rejoicing. 

By the following Wednesday, teachers were sending assignments and setting up Google meets for  classes.

By this time, RIT, where my husband is a math professor, had also closed and he was developing online lectures and assignments for his students. I'm extremely grateful his job is one that can be done online.

Bummers:

1. Husband: cancellation of trip to Boca Raton for math conference and to spend time with his parents.



Ariel the little mermaid Ride

Image: Lee


2. 13-year-old daughter: her school play, The Little Mermaid, was postponed from late March to late May. (I'm not holding my breath on that.) This was particularly painful as it is her last year. Her Stringfest concert was cancelled. Her E.L.A. statewide standardized test was cancelled. (Yay!)

3. 15-year-old daughter: Solofest for clarinet was cancelled and she's been taking lessons for almost a year in preparation for it. Private clarinet lessons cancelled. Solofest for voice cancelled.

4. We were supposed to travel to Kiawah Island, S.C., in mid-May for our annual vacation with my parents. This year would have been especially meaningful to my 15-year-old as she was planning to celebrate her sweet sixteen there: her favorite place in all the world. I will be stunned if we are able to make this trip.


Not bummers:

1. Sleeping late every day.


Walk in the woods, Autumn 2018
Image: Claudio



2. Taking long walks, playing yard games or board games with my daughters.

3. Reframing take-out meals and Amazon purchases as our contributions to the economy.

4. Spoiling our two cats rotten with extra playtime, brushings, and belly rubs.

The news is scary and sometimes overwhelming, but there are cool things happening out there. Some of my faves include the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago letting their penguins explore things from the customers' side, and the Georgia Aquarium sending adoptable puppies racing through their exhibits. So you've got to wonder, which aquarium will up the ante? My vote's for emus. Have you seen them run?

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What animal would you like to see visit an aquarium? Is your state staying-at-home yet? Any cancellations bumming you out? What "good news" has made you smile recently?