Weekly Chatter (4/5- 4/11)
With everyone not being able to be around their family, friends, neighbors, etc. I thought maybe it would be a good to start a weekly thread were we can come together and just chat about anything and everything! So many people are going to social media to chat and even getting together via Zoom and other video chat services. Just this past weekend, my mom's FB group had a Zoom Meetup and it was a lot of fun getting to SEE everyone while we are all locked up in our homes!!
What do you guys think about making this our weekly thread? You can chat about anything, everything. Share memes that you found funny (please keep in mind SSD's rules and be very mindful of religion/politics) I guess my main concern is about each and every one of you. What's going on in your neck of the wood. While we can't get out and chat in person, we can chat here and stay in touch with one another! :wub: https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/w...62eb9__700.jpg |
Great idea, Wendy!
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I guess the first thing I'll chat about is my sadness over not being able to shop much at all during this time. My bank is charging almost 50% exchange with US right now so digi shopping will be little or nothing for probably quite awhile. It was sucky but doable at around 20-30% which is where its been for the last few yrs but almost 50% is just too much. I might buy the occasional kit if I really can't resist but for the most part, no shopping for me. The Canadian dollar has never been this bad before in my lifetime.
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We live at the end of a cul-de-sac that has our house, a neighbors' house behind us and 2 gated communities. There are a lot of walkers passing by admiring our chalk drawings. lol But anyway, when I see people wearing face masks it makes me so sad all of a sudden and I just want to cry. It is a very scary world right now and I'm only holding strong for my girls. But when there is a minute of silence like now (everybody miraculously is taking a nap) then I'm stuck with my thoughts and go spiraling down. |
Rae, that stinks! :(
Wendy, the apocalypse chart made me chuckle. Lea, hang in there! My husband is working from home now. He needed some printouts from work (large engineering diagrams or what-have-you) so I drove there this morning and picked them up for him. Felt so strange being "out and about." I even took some pictures of some fields, cows, old downtown, etc from my car. I've always enjoyed seeing those things but I appreciate the scenery even more right now. At one point when I was getting closer to home, it dawned on me that I had gone a few minutes without thinking at all about the Coronavirus, or the world, or if there will be (larger than current) food shortages, or if the chest freezer I ordered will really show up on Friday, or anything stressful. What a pleasant couple of minutes! lol |
Wendy, you are always good for a laugh!
Rae,that is an awful exchange rate. I'm sorry!! Char, that is amazing that just going for a drive is a big deal right now. Who would have ever thought?? Lea, maybe go outside (if it's nice there). It's helped so much to just go outside for a few minutes here, definitely clears my mind and makes me appreciate the little things! I had a fever and sore throat for 10 days and this is my third day fever free. I get out of quarantine tomorrow. Yay! Thankful no one else in my house got sick, especially my mother in law, who is 76. Also thankful that if I had COVID 19, as I suspect, that it was milder and I am on the other side of it. Now to clean my house after not leaving my room for 10+ days! I did get outside for a short walk today with my dog today, which was glorious. I feel like I lost all muscle mass in the last 2 weeks with not moving from bed for 10 days! Thankful for sunshine today and 62 degrees! |
I am back and forth. When I'm at home (which is a LOT) I admit that it is easy to get into that downward spiral and start worrying. When I'm out, it is like "Oh, there is still a world out here!" and I feel better.
Today I went to work. Parents were picking up packets for the kids as well as the last of their belongings from school. We were all decked out in gloves and masks and could only wave to the kids from their cars. Aside from that, it was easy to forget about all of it. It felt like we were playing some sort of silly relay game with gloves and masks. A parent would pull up at one end of the school. A teacher got their last name and teacher's name. They radio'd it in using a walkie talkie. Someone grabbed the package from the gym and carried it out the front door while the parent pulled forward and grabbed it. It was kind of fun really. Anyway, I am mostly working from home. I am going in tomorrow to take care of a couple of things. It should take me 3 minutes max. Our high school is making face shields with a 3D printer and they need rubber bands. I found several bags of the size they need that had been donated to my STEM lab so I am going to retrieve those and send them to the HS. |
Great idea to chit chat Wendy!!
Today I had to grocery shop.... with 6 of us here we were going thru lots of food....those teens and young adults have endless appetites especially the boy....hehehehe And he is so difficult to shop for.... usually grocery shopping for me is one store one day then a few days later another then a few days later yet another... not one store can have all the gluten free items he eats. So today I spent 4.5 hours shopping, going from Bj's, ShopRite, Aldi, Target and Redner's to get what I hope will last us two weeks.... All wiped down and put away by my kids. I did wear a mask to shop and when I was done, I stripped in the laundry room, toss every thing into the washer, and then showered so if any germs were on me, hopefully they are all gone now. ( I make my husband do that as soon as he comes home from work he is currently working in North Jersey.) and after all that the kids want frozen pizza and fries for dinner..... go figure...... |
What a great idea, Wendy!! :wub:
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I had a doctor's appointment today. While I was out, I stopped at Home Depot to pick up something we had ordered, and stopped at a restaurant food supply store. Thankfully, I was able to get eggs & chicken (2 things Walmart didn't have). It was really weird seeing so many people wearing masks.
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This is a great topic. I thought it would be easy to transition to working at home but it wasn't...at all... It's so crazy that all this is happening. I do early childhood professional development - taking my trainings virtual is hard - I'm such an interactive person. Thank you, everyone, for sharing - it's helped to read them.
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We've been on partial lockdown since March 12, and I don't worry about catching the virus or about our financial situation (at the moment, at least).
However, I scream into my pillow constantly because not having any type of outside imposed schedule is making me bonkers. I don't love schedules, and I can't keep one to save my life. But having to show up at work makes me get stuff done. Now that everything can be done anytime, I'm just watching Netflix and playing Candy Crush Friends ALL.DAY.LONG. I made a rule on Sunday that no one can go into the kitchen without my permission because I was tired to death of the pile of dishes in the sink. I even took away my husband's phone for breaking the rule. But my oldest son walked all the way around the house rather than coming in through the kitchen yesterday, and that was when I knew that I was winning and that he is my favorite. : ) |
Working from home since March 18 is driving me crazy. I know I should be grateful for still getting paid but I know now that I am a people person and I need going to the office to keep me sane.
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omg Kellie AMEN on the freaking dishes!!!! I'm seriously thinking about using throwaway silverware and dishes at this point!!!!!!!! I HATE dishes!!!!!!!!!!! Of coarse I HATE chores anyway, but I'm seriously despising them now :(
I have major depression and at least before all this happened I was able to have ME time and could do things on MY TERMS, now it's all gone to hell in a hay basket!!!!!!!!!!! |
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If something is $1.00 you are paying $1.50 I guess I never think about the exchange on the dollar. I'm so sorry that is messing with your ability to shop :( Quote:
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How awesome that it was sunny and you were able to get out and about to stretch those legs!! Cindi, I'm so happy reading your post!! Quote:
That's pretty awesome that they are making face shields! The things those 3d printers do is awesome! I'm so glad you found some rubber bands that they need!! Please stay safe out and about! Quote:
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Sounds like even though you were running errands all day today, you are doing very well keeping the germs out of the house!! Please stay safe!! :wub: |
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oooh, now I'm curious what you got at Home Depot! Quote:
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Also, I didn't think we were supposed to admit that . . . . . :D |
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Those dishes . . .I hate dishes! I think after the kids are grown I'm going to paper plates or maybe they'll have drinkable meals that I can just drink out of a cup! :mellow: |
Wendy - yes, you got that right. I think it was at 48 or 49% this week when I bought a few kits....ugh. Looks like I'll be saving money for awhile since there is no way I'm shopping outside of Canada for awhile. I have a feeling this isn't going to change for quite a long time.
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You guys, I got snippy with my son's teacher and I kind of feel really badly about it. But on a positive, the school emailed us and said that parents were complaining about how long the kids were online doing schoolwork. So they cut my son's 7+ hour day down to 2.5 hours and my daughter's day down to 4.5 hours a day. They also are giving them Thursday and Friday off to allow teachers to redo their lesson plans. I'm so happy and hope with the scaled back version schooling will become not so much a headache and actually something more accommodating for everyone!
On a plus, my son's homeschool curriculum came over the weekend. He sat and worked through 20 pages of reading, writing and language with me. He also told me that he doesn't want to stop learning this material until he's able to read and write! He said when he goes in to second grade his teachers will be shocked that he isn't struggling any more. Now fingers crossed we can get there these next few months as we work through his books, on top of finishing up the digital learning through the school. |
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Rae - totally get the exchange rate, ours here in NZ is awful too, think $1NZ is only stretching to between $0.50-0.60USD for probably a month or so now.
We are about 2 weeks into a 4(maybe longer) national lockdown and I’ve been sick for 10 days of that - about a week with a cold then the last few days it’s been an asthma flare up so there hasn’t been too much action here |
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It's the dogs that are going to be the death of me. They're going nuts without playgroup, and my younger one (1 year old pit mix) has gotten into all sorts of mischief out of boredom. He's currently leading the family for Most Expensive Baby, after eating one of my daughter's ADHD pills, and my pincushion (apparently if you give them a loaf of bread, the pins have less likelihood of puncturing his stomach. We avoided surgery, but still needed 3 x-rays.) |
Thank you Wendy! This is a great idea!!!
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I'm still working on location and everyday I wish I didn't have to. I work in a small office area, but have to be around the workers on the distribution floor several times a day. We have masks and gloves to wear. My hands are a hot mess from washing them so often! Morale is pretty low right now, our sister distribution center, in New Jersey has all but shut down, so their orders are filtering through our center. Tons of overtime. (Thankfully, not for me!). Late last week we were told that the company will no longer match 4% of our 401K contributions and there will be no merit increases this year. Talk about taking the wind of our everyone's sails! Work is just not a great place to be for me!
I haven't felt 100% for a week or so - no fever, no sore throat, just feeling 'blah'. I contribute it to stress. And honestly, once I'm home I feel so much better! I'm missing seeing our little family (son, DIL and 3 grandkiddos). We have facetimed a few times, but it's not the same as loving on them! Thanks again for starting this Wendy - I think it's wonderful to stay connected and realize we aren't in this alone!!! |
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Oh my goodness, I can't believe your pup has gotten in to so much trouble! :O I'm so glad you were able to avoid surgery, but that sounds SO scary!!! Do you have insurance on your pups? That usually helps with some of the cost from incidents like that. |
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I basically told her that I couldn't figure out the common core math and had no idea what it was asking, much less had no idea how to teach my son. I should also say that this was after doing 10 other math assignments with 100 questions each. She replied that she would like to Google Meet me to teach ME how to teach HIM the assignment. :mad: (why is she not willing to teach my son the work when it's HIS class, not mine???) I wrote her back and said it wasn't happening today because his schooling gave me a nasty migraine (i've had horrible migraines since being glued to his screen all day long--still have one this morning), and that my son had the stomach bug (poor kid had to go to school with the stomach bug). Then I closed out the math tab signaling he had completed his work, even though I could not figure out that last 100 questions from her math assignments for the day. Sadly today I have to deal with it. We just did our Google Meet. I still have no idea or understanding of the assignment. My son has no idea what she was trying to show us. We just ended with her being frustrated that we aren't "trying" to understand it. :blink: I'm trying, but my brain can't wrap around what she is showing me. I never went to school to teach, much less had common core!! :blink::( Quote:
I'm glad to see the place in NJ closed with them being a hotspot. You be careful out there and stay safe!! But on a positive, I'm glad you still have a job right now through all of this, even if you are taking so many necessary precautions. Quote:
I see your posts about what you are doing for your grandchildren. It's so sweet you drop them goodies off at their house. I'm sorry you can't see them right now. I know they miss you all like crazy, with the amount of stuff you did/do with them!! Hopefully soon this will all be over and you can give them a great big hug once again!!! :wub: |
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I called today to ask if we should cancel my almost one-year old appointment but they said we shouldn't and they do wear a mask and ask that we wear one too. How in the world will Leonie abide by that? She will take it right off. Maybe she only meants me... I'm so scared, I don't want to take her to the pediatrician. Quote:
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Just got out of a meeting and starting tomorrow I'll be working from home - every other week. Currently there are 6 of us in a small office - when we are working on location there will only be 2 of us. I feel relieved!
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I don't blame you for being cautious. I would say if you don't HAVE to go in, wait until things calm down. Quote:
Haha! I can imagine what having everyone home all the time would do to the kitchen!! I hope they all learn to either clean up after themselves, or stay out for your sanity, Kellie!! |
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I only got the appointment because they have to keep close watch on my clotting. They've moved this particular office off-site so there isn't a chance of catching the virus. (well, I guess the chance is limited?) |
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I totally understand missing the grandkiddos! That's really rough. Hang in there! :wub: Quote:
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These were just shared with me through my Facebook Page Messenger since I just posted my layouts from Jennifer's FWP today. I laughed at them and thought I'd share them with you
Watch First: https://youtu.be/MMBh-eo3tvE Watch Second: https://youtu.be/1aAnPFeo11s |
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Super cute! When I first read your post I thought YOU'D made them!!! :p
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Wendy, your son's school is the WORST. Is it like a prep school for the Ivy League or something??
My second grader's teacher is getting onto me because i'm not uploading her assignments every day, and if it weren't for my rule-following husband, I would tell her that I just do not have the emotional energy for Camscanner and be done with it. I feel like I'm doing her a favor to supervise Ari's learning in the first place. Schools should just be taking what they can get right now, imo. I've been doing okay, but they just told us we won't go back to school this year, and I'm NOT OKAY. I cried a lot yesterday and stared into space. Ariana brought me a plate of oranges & chocolate chip cookies yesterday to make me feel better, and it did, but the idea of being stuck at home doing school for the next six weeks makes me really bummed. I know how much I have to be thankful for, but I have all these feelings with no where to go. |
We've now been quarantining and doing school & work at home for 3 1/2 weeks. It's such a short amount of time but also feels so incredibly long.
I am really struggling with food. I have a bad relationship & history with eating, anyways, and I was doing SO WELL from January 2 - March 14 with eating better and exercising... and then this all hit and all of my motivation left and my depression set up shop. I'm trying not to spiral by reminding myself it's okay to just survive, and not thrive, during a global pandemic. I cooked dinner all the time before this happened, so that's not new, but I'm used to shopping on Mondays for kid lunches/food & M-W dinner, buying healthy microwave meals for my lunches on the way to work Tuesdays, going to my parents' for dinner on Thursday (which I still helped cook but did not have to plan or purchase), grabbing pizza on Fridays, and then shopping Friday nights or Saturday mornings for Saturday-Monday. Having to plan an entire week of lunches & dinners has been a stretch for me, and then having to plan "back-up meals" in case they're out of something has been hard, too. I spent 2 hours (!!) on the grocery store website this past weekend slooooooowly adding food to my cart and then had to change stores twice in order to get a store that had hamburger available. That store is a 20+ minute drive across town, and then they still didn't have a handful of things on my list when I picked up the next day including flour and potatoes. The kids attend a Title 1 school so it didn't even have an e-learning process in place when this happened. I have to mark their "attendance" on a Google form every e-learning day (currently twice a week and moving into three next week) and then pull their assignments from a Google Drive folder for their school & grade. This has honestly been a blessing for my 5yo as his teacher & classroom were a hot mess & he spent most of his time doing independent learning (because the teacher was dealing with the other students' behaviors) or being punished (heads down, shorter recesses, etc.) because of the other students' behaviors. He was thrilled when his school shut down & equally excited when school was cancelled for the rest of the year. He is still learning to read so balancing my working from home with his need for help in completing his schoolwork has been a challenge. The 10yo had an incredible teacher who has been in regular contact with parents and students since this began, and I have just told the 10yo to be responsible for herself and do the work so hopefully she's getting it done. I'm not even trying to carry the weight & burden of being my children's teacher; they will be fine even if they learn nothing for the next month. My 5yo's birthday (and my nephew's) is in a couple weeks, and these will be our first "quarantine birthdays." I'm trying to brainstorm some things to do to still celebrate & make my kiddo feel special without breaking the social distancing rules or going someplace. Work has been interesting but hopefully we will find that new rhythm soon. I'm supposed to work around 28 hours a week T-F and since this began, I've worked more than that including Mondays, nights, and weekends. Much of that has to do with new technology and other staff members learning how to use it so hopefully that will work itself out soon. I have been tasked with learning how to use Adobe Premiere so we'll see how that goes! I'm guessing this will last into mid or late May so I hope I can justify purchasing a new computer and writing it off as a business expense since the one I have is several years old and not really up to the challenge of working on it full-time with all the different software and apps my work is currently using. Oh, and this was our Disney trip week with my kiddos' first time in Florida, first time on a plane, and first time at Disney. I just shake my head when I think about all the time I spent in January and February researching and reserving and planning... for nothing. With the parks actually closed, we have until July 2021 to reschedule (no refund on the park tickets or plane tickets --- just credit) but it's still really disappointing. |
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I'm really heavy-hearted today...One of my friends passed away yesterday from the virus. Her husband had passed away five days earlier and both of them never knew the other had passed away. Their adult-son is still in the ICU trying to fight the virus. I've known this woman for 20+ years. She's been such a wonderful friend through the years and I hate to imagine how she struggled in those last few days. I'm broken today. I just needed to write it, make it real and get it off my chest so I can stop crying for the loss of an amazing woman who made everyone family. :crying:
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Wow, so much going on with everyone. Things have definitely been challenging in this new world we live in! Hugs to all of you!
We went from trying to keep track of everyone's schedule to getting excited when someone actually has something on the calendar! LOL We had a severe storm last night and several neighbors lost trees. One lost 3 huge trees, thankfully they had little damage. Next door a 60' pine tree fell and just grazed the house. They were so lucky! https://i.imgur.com/a2Y5RQPl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/6z3FPYEl.jpg And another house across the lake had a tree fall on their house. It crashed through the roof and trapped them in bed. Thankfully they were ok, but the fire department had to come help them get out. Here's pics she sent. https://i.imgur.com/CgEtNX8l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/FvZiCMdl.jpg Lots of power out around us but we didn't lose power. We have a mess, lots of branches and debris but no damage. |
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It is so sad to hear that people are battling this virus on their own and then passing away alone. I have a co-worker that said goodbye to her mother through a walkie talkie.
This virus is so scary |
Wendy, I'm so sorry. Take your time with your grief. That is so terribly sad.
Cindi, glad y'all are safe. I feel bad for your neighbors! I'm still part of the Facebook page for the neighborhood we lived in previously. One of the houses there burned down a few days ago. I can't imagine dealing with all of that right now in the middle of this pandemic. |
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