Cookies, Cross country, Continuing Covid consequences

This past week was a little odd and I thought I'd document it. Some parts of it were really good, some parts weren't and more than an average amount of unusual things happened.  Some of the unusual things occurred because of Covid and I want those things documented. Someday, when Covid is a distant memory (hopefully verrrry soon), Donnie, the kids and/ or I will likely be interested to read what life looked like/ how things changed/ were different during this time. I forget details so easily so I am documenting them here. It will be interesting to see what the kids remember about living during the pandemic and all of their impressions. 

On Monday, I worked for half a day, in the morning. I subbed in second grade and was pleasantly surprised with the kids' behavior (that grade can be iffy...). I went straight from subbing to a local park where I met up with a friend whom I had not seen in months. She is very worried about Covid due to some health issues she has so she is and has been abundantly careful about where she goes, whom she sees, etc. She didn't feel comfortable to meet at a restaurant so we met at the park where we could sit and talk but not be too close. It was great to catch up with her and to see her (we text each other so we've kept in touch during this odd time but texting someone is of course never as good as seeing someone :)).

When I arrived home, I had some time when I could have and should have been productive but (perhaps) between sitting outside in the cool at the park (the temperature was a decent bit cooler than I prefer it) and talking about the virus with my friend, I began to not feel well. I could not get warm at all and ended up resting in bed with  blankets piled high on top of me. I took my temperature at one point because I thought I may have a fever- I didn't thankfully but I did not feel well the rest of the day. Bummer! Fortunately, I felt completely better on Tuesday. I appreciated feeling normal after feeling not well on Monday afternoon.

My friend whom I met in the park on Monday gave me this jar with dry cookie ingredients. It was so "sweet" of her; I can't wait to make the cookies. 

Tuesday, I subbed at my favorite school. Straight from the school where I was subbing, I drove to the jr. high to pick up Alyssa (though she's in high school, I picked her up at the jr. high because there's much less traffic at the jr. high. The buildings are close so Alyssa didn't have far to walk). We had about five minutes at home before we needed to leave for Alyssa´s orthodontist appointment. Alyssa had xc practice an hour after the time that her ortho appointment started so we sure hoped the ortho office wasn't running behind- we had very little wiggle room or she'd be late to practice. Alas, the office was running behind and we cut it very close to get to practice on time. (On another note, in early November, Alyssa will have been in braces for FIVE years. I will not miss fitting in appointments in between school and after school activities when she finally gets them off. She will have them on at least through this school year.) 

One very fun bright spot of the afternoon was that someone delivered a jack o' lantern tin full of Cheryl's cookies on our front porch. Such a fun surprise.

 

Wednesday, I subbed in the school that I don't sub at often (the same one where I worked on Monday morning). When I got there, I found out that the teacher for whom I was subbing was going to be teaching the class, just remotely. She was in quarantine so she couldn't come into the building. I was there basically to be a body in the room with the kids while she taught them via Google Meets.  It sounded like it would be an easy day for me... it wasn't! The teacher had been teaching remotely for several days and the effect of her not being in the room to gauge reactions of kids to know if they were understanding the material, talk to the students easily (of course she could talk to them and they to her but it was harder when it had to be done by video), etc. was inimical . The students worked on a study guide for a test they were taking the next day and it was obvious that many didn't understand the material. This is not a knock on the teacher- she is a really good teacher (she taught all three of my kids and I was always impressed with her)- it was the effect of days of the students not having their teacher in class with them. The teacher and I talked on the phone throughout the day when we had to communicate with each other but didn't want students to hear us. It was just such a strange day! There were some good things- mainly the teacher told me several times what a good job I was doing (she could hear everything in the classroom and had two cameras in the room transmitting video so she could see a good portion of the room). Like I said, it sounded like it would be an easy day but it wasn't and I'm glad the teacher could tell that I was trying hard to help the students and go with the weird flow of their school day! The teacher can't wait to get back into the classroom and I can see why. Teaching remotely is not ideal for students or teachers nor is it for the faint of heart. 

I stayed at the school later than I normally do when I sub because the teacher and I chatted when the school day ended. I was relieved to get home. The day threw another curve ball at me when Jacob texted me to say he was coming home for the evening. Of course that wasn't a bad thing, just an unusual thing. Wednesdays are the one day of the week when the girls both have activities in the late afternoon/ evening. I saw Jacob drive up our street as I was driving down it and then didn't see him for over half an hour later when I returned home from my taxi-ing. Jacob came home mostly to give a friend from UC a ride to Springboro.  When I saw Jacob, one of the first things he asked was, "What's for dinner?" Two things- first, it would have been nice to know prior to 4:00 pm that he was coming home for planning purposes but he´s a nineteen year old guy so I guess things like don't cross his mind- second, he picked a bad evening for a homemade meal because Wednesday is the one night of the week when we can't all sit down to dinner due to the girls' activities. So dinner on Wednesdays is leftovers or something cobbled together from items in the pantry/ fridge. It is not an evening of shining culinary accomplishments, unfortunately. When I presented the lack of dinner plan to Jacob, he suggested we get something out to eat so that´s what we did. Problem solved :). 

It was great to catch up with Jacob and hear tales from life in the big city. His classes are all online. Not only are they online, he doesn't have to be online at a certain time for any of them for a live online lecture or class. Instead, all of his professors post assignments for students online that students need to complete by a certain date. The lack of anything resembling normal college is what allows Jacob to come home at will (or when a friend needs a ride) and decide to roll back to college whenever he feels like it. It's also what raises my blood pressure too much when I think about it (no, the university didn't reduce the price of tuition to reflect the reduction of traditional college experiences (ie things like, you know, attending classes) and the deleterious educational effects of the "new" college experience (ie not attending classes). On the plus side for Jacob, the flexibility of not quite, sort of, kind of, quasi college is nice so there´s that :).

Donnie and Jacob share an enjoyment of certain kinds of comedy movies which the girls and I don't share. The boys watched a comedy movie together in the basement in the evening so that worked out well :). Jacob spent the night at home and left Thursday morning to head back to Cincinnati.

Thursday I didn´t work which was a nice break.  I don't actually mind working (usually...) but there's a lot around the house that gets neglected when I'm gone so a catch up day is always a good thing. I went to Aldi and here was a first: it was the first time I've been to an Aldi without Abby since she and I started going to Aldi weekly in April. I missed my Aldi buddy but it wasn´t too bad and I found almost everything on my list and on the list of items that Abby wanted me to get for her. I did some work around the house before I picked up Alyssa from school. Shortly after that, it was time to take Alyssa back to the school for cross country practice. While she was at practice, I started cutting veggies for dinner while listening to one of my favorite political podcasts. Suddenly my phone rang and Alyssa was on the other end. "Practice is over. Are you almost here?" I told her that I was almost there which isn't technically a lie since we live so close to the school but in the sense of her question to me meaning, "How far into the drive are you?" and me saying, "Almost there," I told a little lie. I had completely forgotten about picking her up. Oops.  In my defense, I've been taking her to cross country conditioning and practices almost daily since June and here we are in mid October and it´s the first time I´ve plumb forgot about her. 

I had a library board meeting Thursday evening. Covid has turned those once never longer than an hour meetings to at least two hour meetings as so many decisions need to be made by the board pertaining to the library, its services and patrons, and Covid. 

Friday was subbing at a school that starts early. Alyssa and I were in the car bright and early to head to school when my car wouldn´t start. Oh man. We hurriedly got out of the car, I grabbed the keys to Donnie's new car and we were on our way in his car. Very thankful for the extra car... I haven't been the unlucky would be driver of a car with a dead battery in about ten years and I have not missed it! After my school day ended, I drove to pick up Alyssa from school. We were home for just a short while before we needed to go back to the school for her cross country practice. I went into town instead of going straight home after dropping her off. Kroger was having a great two day sale on its Halloween candy. Friday was the first day of it and I didn't want to wait until the second day in case all the good candy that I the kids love (Reese Cups, Kit Kats, et.) was gone. Headed home and was only home for a short while before it was time to pick up Alyssa up for practice (her practice was shorter than usual on Friday). Was proud of me for not forgetting the earlier pick up time and just not forgetting in general to pick her up like I had on Thursday. 

We had just another short break before it was time to head to the school once again (that would make my fifth time going to a Springboro school for the day...) for cross country senior night that was at the high school. The seniors were being honored and all cross country runners and their families were encouraged to attend. The event started at 6:00 pm because it was being held outside (because, Covid) and daylight really starts to wane after 7:00 pm. The 6:00 pm start time was less than ideal for Donnie who has been slammed with work lately and has trouble leaving the office at a decent time. He arrived home in time to quickly change clothes and then we drove to the school. I actually drove so that Donnie could eat his wrap (which was his dinner) in the car on the way to the school. Poor guy! The girls and I had eaten earlier. Had a nice time at the senior night for cross country but were happy to come home and be DONE for the day and the work/ school week. It had been a busy one!! 

Spent almost $40 on candy at Kroger but I got a bunch!

The poster that I  made for Alyssa- in addition to the cross country event being senior night, parents of all kids in xc were encouraged to make posters for their runner and bring those posters to the xc senior night where they would be displayed.

Alyssa and her xc bestie, Emma. Alyssa's poster is behind Alyssa. I took the next photo to show how the posters were all on display. Not every parent made a poster (it obviously wasn't mandatory :)) but there were probably fifty posters on display. We spent time looking at all of the posters before the seniors were introduced. 

This picture (hopefully seeing a picture of a bunch of kids not social distancing is not triggering. The nature of cross country in general (huge groups of teens running in meets) is not a social distance friendly activity) shows how after the seniors were introduced, all of the cross country runners came to the front where they were presented with goodie bags full of not unhealthy snacks like granola bars, mints, gum, trail mix, etc.

When the event was formally over, Alyssa posed for pictures with cross country friends.

Alyssa and Emma (without their masks)

A few of Alyssa´s other friends- she's loved making new friends in cross country

There was one unhealthy item in the goodie bags- each bag contained a sugar cookie. Alyssa told me I could have hers. So I did. Yum!