Obama's Eulogy for John Lewis

If you haven't watched this- all of it- you really should.  It's a beautiful, powerful speech.  I'd even call it a sermon.  

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/07/30/obama-john-lewis-full-eulogy-vpx.cnn  

Parent Phone Calls

Today is the prelanning day I usually dread- the day I have to call all the parents of my homeroom students.  Calling people I don't know is stressful, but this year, it was so much easier because I taught all these kids last year!  I already know their parents.  I already had their phone numbers saved in my phone.  It felt really good to have most of the parents tell me they are excited I'm teaching their kid again this year.  

Mom's Famous Recipe

Danny's girlfriend texted me.

Fatima: Danny says you make the best spaghetti and meatballs. I want to make it for him. Can I have your recipe?

Me: Um, Ragu Chunky Vegetable sauce and whatever meatballs Publix has on sale BOGO...

Cathartic Cleaning

Today I got to go into school and clean out my classroom. (they are letting in 8 people at a time, spread throughout the building, masks the whole time and temperature checks at the door). Everything was exactly where I left it 21 weeks ago. It didn't take as long as I thought it would to gather what I needed for the next 3 months and box everything else up in preparation to move it to my new classroom- whenever we get to be back in the building. It felt good to clean and organize and move my body and to be in a place that wasn't my house. 

Uniform

Korra has worn her school uniform for the last 2 days. She said she just really likes it and missed wearing it. I think she just really misses school. 

End of Summer

Today is the first day of the 2029-2021 school year. It begins 4 weeks of pre-planning- all at home and over Zoom. And according to several staff-wide emails, must include professional dress. So here I am, 8 am, in my living room:

Home from the Hospital!

My grandma and Nate's dad both came home from the hospital today!  Yay!

Compassionate Korra

Yesterday when Nate and I were both worried about family members, Korra went into therapist mode.  She guided both of us through belly breaths, hugged us and rubbed our backs, reminded us that the worst thing is not the most likely thing, and encouraged us to find fun things to distract us.  I am so thankful to see her put into action all the social emotional skills she's learned through school, therapy, and (hopefully) our parenting. 

Family Medical Update

Nate's dad had surgery this morning and is doing pretty well. 

My grandma is still in the hospital with a kidney infection. Overall she's ok, but not great. 

Morning at the Pool

This morning we spent a few hours at the pool with friends. We were the only ones there and then enjoyed a picnic lunch of just dips (7 layer dip, pimento cheese, seafood dip, hummus, fruit dip) before leaving. It was lovely. 

Phone calls and emails

The part of my day that wasn't spent worrying about family members (and calling and texting them) was spent on the phone or emailing to get the ball rolling on our foster/adopt training and trying to get a Free Little Library installed in the neighborhood. Both have been way more difficult than they should be.

The issue with the training is that the country we're in hasn't "figured out" how to do the trainings online, while other counties have. I called around to try to get us into a virtual class with another country but it turns out that they're either full or they had to stop doing online classes because funding reset on July 1 and they're waiting to get funds and contracts renewed. So once again, we wait. 

The issue with the Free Little Library is this: the school is hesitant to put one on the school property with COVID.  After calling and emailing 4 people, I finally got someone on the phone who helped and I submitted the paperwork to install the FLL in the park next to the school (only about 10 feet from where I asked the school to put it). I should know by Monday if I'm on the agenda for the next Parks meeting in 2 weeks to get it approved. A much more successful endeavor but again with the waiting.

We were going to go to the cabin this weekend but decided not to so we can check on our hospitalized family easier (no cell, only landline at the cabin). I need to find some other things to occupy my time and mind as I wait and try not to worry about my grandma, father-in-law, and mom. 

Medical Emergencies

Last night my grandmother was admitted to the hospital because of high fever and seizures (possible infection?).  This morning, my father-in-law was in a bicycling accident and is in the hospital with a fractured femur. 

Praying for peace and healing.

Thursdays at the Pool

Thursdays at the pool are extra exciting because the pool is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  The topic of the pool's hours is a big part of the conversation at the pool on Thursdays.  Have you called the HOA board?  What did they say to you?  I talked to the guy who cleans the pool yesterday and he said...  The pool at my friend's complex isn't closed 2 days a week...
Basically, no one knows WHY the pool is only open from 10-6, 5 days a week even they they're still paying full HOA dues and they are not happy.
Me, I'll take what I can get.

Watermelon Margarita

The watermelon I bought turned out to be a bit disappointing, so used it to make watermelon margatitas. Waste not and all that. 

Physical

Today I went to the doctor for a physical for DFCS. Had to get a TB test and get blood work, which meant explaining to yet another phlebotomist that I have small veins, having her not really believe me, and then having to switch to the child-sized needle. 

Korra had a great playdate with Dell while I was gone and was a little disappointed that the physical didn't take longer. 

New (to me) Bike

I bought a bike on Nextdoor today!

I'm excited but a little sad to say goodbye to BigBlue, who has been my faithful bike for 19 years. That's a pretty good run for a bike I bought for $15 at a yard sale in 2001. 

BigBlue was vandalized (someone wrote a vulgar phrase on the white seat in college), ridden through the halls of West Side Magnet School, pulled my daughter in a bike trailer, taken me on many ice cream adventures, and gone on vacation to Jekyll Island, Savannah, and Pensacola.

Fairwell, BigBlue. You've been a faithful companion. 

Hello, FatBottomGirl!  I look forward to our adventures!

Rep John Lewis

Korra and I rode our bikes to the MLK Center this morning to remember the life and legacy of our Representative, John Lewis. 

Unexpected Visit

Late this afternoon we got a phone call from Fatima and Danny to let us know they were on their way to visit us (along with baby Oliver).  We sat in the grassy area outside our building and chatted for a bit (6 feet apart).  It was nice to see them, but so hard not to be able to snuggle Oliver.

Blueberry Peach Crisp

I made blueberry peach crisp to eat with ice cream (and to share on a porch with some friends).

Matchmaker at Midnight

I had a migraine today (I guess that was technically yesterday now that it's 1am) so I spent most of the afternoon in bed. When I finally felt better around 10:00, I found I wasn't tired at all... So I watched 5 episodes of Indian Matchmaker on Netflix.

Another Memorable Day

Yesterday at the pool, a neighbor told me I look about 26 years old. 

I remember all through my teens and early twenties people told me how young I looked and then immediately followed that up with "one day you'll be so thankful for looking younger than you are!"

Yesterday was that day. 

Onigiri

Korra and I made onigiri (filled rice balls) for dinner tonight. 

Beethoven

After learning to play Ode to Joy during her most recent piano lesson, I decided to expose Korra to another important Beethoven.

No one was surprised by how much she loved it.  

And the Results Are In!

Negative result for my COVID test.

42 voicemails

Today I called people in North Carolina to encourage them to contact their senator about the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act. 

I spent 30 minutes on the phone.  I made 46 calls.  I only spoke to 4 actual people (the rest were all voicemails).  Of the 4 people I spoke to, 3 agreed to be patched through to their senator.  One told me, "No, thanks.  George Floyd isn't a hill I'm willing to die on."  What the f...  All I was asking her to do is call her senator.  

It's official

The staff, parent, and student surveys are in, the school board has voted, and we will be 100% online for at least the first quarter of the year. They are also delaying the start date by 3 weeks to give teachers more time to prepare. 

I'm having all the mixed feelings I would have with any decision. Nothing is perfect, but this is probably the best. Or at least we'll make the best of it. 

Test Results

I got an email from Lap Corp that my test results have been uploaded. I log into their website to see not my much anticipated COVID test results but 10 years worth of pap-smears. Thanks, guys. So helpful. Even if I had tested positive (and I really think they would have contacted me by now), I wouldn't even be contagious anymore. 

Warriors

This girl has flown through two 300 page books just this week. She can't get enough of these Warrior books (about clans of cats). Good thing there are 40 books in the series!

Tofu Banh Mi Sandwiches

We made this for dinner tonight and it was a definite winner. 

https://www.crazyvegankitchen.com/vegan-banh-mi-sandwiches-with-seared-tofu-and-pickled-vegetables/

Errands and Waiting

This morning Korra and I rode our bikes to a park and she was able to play on the playground for about 30 minutes before some other kids showed up.  Then we exchanged books at the library (curbside) before biking home.  After I got cleaned up, we drove to pick up a couple of books we bought from the bookstore.  Our last stop was to the church where a local food distribution nonprofit is operating (it's the one I've delivered food boxes for a couple of times).  I had the idea to help people request absentee ballots because Georgia is currently requiring computer access, a printer, and a stamp for the application (which I think is a pretty significant barrier for some people).  A friend from church helped me make a flyer with the church's phone number as well as the link to a Google form so people can contact me and I'll mail them a printed copy of the application as well as a stamped envelope to mail it in.  The food distribution nonprofit agreed to put a flyer in each food box, so hopefully in November more people will be able to avoid the 3-5 hour long waits we had on our primary election date a few weeks ago.
Our afternoon was spent waiting on a repair person the property manager is (supposedly) sending over to check out some possible water damage on the bathroom floor.  They were supposed to be here "after noon" which I guess it still is and it's not like I had anywhere else to be...

Very small birthday party

Korra attended a birthday party with just one other kid today. She had a great time but there was a lot of leftover cake. 

Facebook Live Wedding

Today we "attended" a wedding for a friend in Oregon on Facebook. As Nate and I both deleted our accounts months ago, first we had to create a fake account. Pros of a live streamed wedding: it's inexpensive, you don't have to make small talk with people you don't know, you can eat and drink during the ceremony. Cons: there are some people who "attended" that we really would have loved to see in person, we would have LOVED to travel to Oregon, and no cake. I had a Pavlovian response to the wedding in that I wanted cake very badly. We'll make sure we bake or buy cake before our next virtual wedding.

Sweet Stack Ice Cream

Korra and I biked to another ice cream shop today!  We both chose the Cookie Monster flavor- blue vanilla ice cream with chocolate chip cookie dough and Oreos. 

Library!!

Our library is open for curbside pickup and drop off. We are so excited. I've had a stack of 10 library books by the front door since the end of March. It was so exciting to drop them off and pick up the new books we had reserved. I've already finished one of the 3 books I checked out for myself. 

First Pool Visit of 2020

Korra and I spent a little time at the newly opened pool this afternoon. 

Waiting, waiting

Checking my email every 30 minute to see if my COVID test results have been sent. Still waiting. 

She ate it

I wrote a recipe on a sticky note and left it by the computer. While I was on the phone with my sister, the cat batted it off the desk and then ate it whole. 

Fresh Harvest!

Today we got our first Fresh Harvest delivery!  We did CSAs in LaGrange but I was never really happy with them because we often ended up with a lot of something I didn't want.  This is great because we can choose what's in our box- not just local, seasonal fruits and veggies, but other locally made items like breads, cheeses, sodas, grits, and bath products.  Also great- it's pretty much zero waste.  It comes in a Rubbermade tote with reusable ice packs.  Nothing in our box this week was in plastic bags- only paper bags (completely compostable with our Compost Now!)  This week we got mushrooms (3 kinds!), kale, bell peppers, snap peas, salmon, tofu, blueberries, and squash!

GA's Governor

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/gov-sign-executive-order-authorizing-1000-national-guard-troops-atlanta/CXEFKU4ZONEWVN4DWLNB52F644/?outputType=amp

Our governor declared a state of emergency in Atlanta and deployed 1000 National Guard troops to the city- most of which are guarding HIS HOME and HIS PLACE OF WORK. ugh. What a selfish bastard. 

Covid testing

Woke up with sore throat. I was supposed to go to the dentist but I cancelled and got in line for COVID testing instead. Appointments for testing at all the local places were booked for a week straight so I got in line at the health center around the corner from our house. I was in line for over an hour but thankfully it wasn't that hot and a good friend agreed to keep Korra. The nose swab was uncomfortable but not terrible and now I just need to wait 2-4 days for results. I know sore throat with no other symptoms is not typical for COVID but I also want to know for sure so I'm not spreading it around (and so I can let the people I've seen recently know). Fingers crossed it's just allergies. 

Check-up for Mrs Reynolds

This morning we dropped Mrs Reynolds off at the vet for her yearly check up and shots. This year, she also needed a "senior" blood panel. We weren't allowed to go in so I don't know exactly how it went, but they forgot to weigh her and decided against getting her back out of the crate to do it. And they requested we pick up a kitty Xanax the day before her next appointment. 

The good news is that she is perfectly healthy in every way. The bad news is that she is just as "high-strung" and ornery as always. 

Games and Food

Yesterday afternoon and evening we played board and card games, the kids got buck naked in the back yard and sprayed each other with the garden hose, and we ate BBQ and watermelon. 

Swings and Hamilton and Bike Rides

Yesterday we played on the swing, ate frozen custard and pizza, and watched Hamilton. 

This morning we went on a bike ride!

Cloudy Sunburn

Even though I KNOW you can get a sunburn on a cloudy day, I still neglected sunscreen after a quick face application.  That means our arms, legs, and feet all got burned. Thankfully hats and rash guard shirts kept it from bring worse, but all 3 of us are hurting tonight. 

Gulf Islands National Seashore

We took a 30 minute drive to the Gulf Islands National Seashore. It was overcast so it wasn't too hot.  In the mile+ stretch of beach we could see, there were only 9-20 other people during the 3 hours we were there. The kids had a blast (as evident by the total melt-down tantrums that were thrown when it was time to go). They splashed in the waves, looked for shells, dug (and rolled) in the sand. Just about the perfect amount of beach time for me for the year. 

Cousins

Yesterday playing Rock Band

Today waiting to go to the beach

Pensacola

We're in Pensacola for the next few days, visiting with Nate's parents and brother (and his family). Korra is so excited to play with her cousins!