Quarantine Journals - Video Chat Friday

We started out the morning with our 9 AM zoom class. They've decided that all of penni's zoom classes will now be Friday at 9 AM to accommodate the parents who think the two classes a week is too much, and to accommodate one of her classmates who is in India. She allowed the kids to unmute themselves at the beginning of the meeting and talk while they waited for everybody else to come in. And here's what I heard.

"TREVOR! DID YOU FORGET ABOUT OUR MEETING YESTERDAY?! IT'SA GOOD THING WE HAVE ONE TODAY!"

"CHRISTIAN! HAVE YOUR MOM MESSAGE MY MOM TO SET UP A MEETING. I HAVE LOTS OF MEETINGS!" 🤣🆘

While Penny was chatting with her class, I got Oliver set up in the bedroom talking to Aurora. They had a lot of fun, and then very quietly Oliver asked her if she misses her daddy. Which was somewhat startling. I guess he heard me talking to Richard about how she can't be with her dad right now. But I didn't expect that he was paying attention to that conversation at all.

After Oliver's nap, my dad called for his own video chat. We had just set up an obstacle course in the living room, and the kids were doing it over and over again. Lots of fun videos from that. So Penny asked if we could show my dad, and I flip the camera around so he could watch them run around the room and do the obstacle course.

I sent over birthday gifts for Deanna this morning so that she could enjoy them for the weekend. A $50 gift card to the pizza place that she loves and trusts, and a one year subscription to Disney+ so she can get on and watch the Mandalorian.  She said it made her cry. But I'm glad it made her feel loved because I know she's had a rough week I'm trying to share her work computer with aaron who is home working full-time now, and just being stuck with him all day every day in general.

I am out of control with the aerogardens. We planted ours yesterday, and I ended up buying another one today so that I could have one that has herbs in it all the time. I also bought an extra one and sent it to Meggan because I know she's trying really hard to garden and it's not necessarily working out for her.  They don't have much income right now, so hopefully it brings her some sunshine. 

The last caterpillar that hasn't turned into a chrysalis has been moving all over the carpet has now knocked down two chryalides.  I find this very upsetting. And I think it's too soon to move them so I have to wait until at least tomorrow evening. I hope they end up being OK. The last caterpillars are pissing me off.

" We had 4 caterpillars politely sheltering-in-place, but the fifth one refuses to follow suit. He continues to wander about the cup freely and has knocked down half of the chrysalides.  We are very disappointed in his behavior. 

In probably related news: I need more sleep."

Governor Abbet announced today that school is going to be closed until the rest of the year. So distance-learning will continue until May 21. Penny is disappointed because she misses her teacher and friends and hope to see them again. She talked about wanting to get together with them over the summer, and asked me whether or not she could still do a summer camp. I didn't really have any answers for her, but I did message Richard and suggest that perhaps we need to get another pool for the backyard this year. Who knows how long this is going to go on.

My dad sounds like he's doing OK. He seems pretty bored, and we talked about a few movies he might enjoy. He's eating a lot of rice and beans for the week, but he says he doesn't really care about food. Hasn't brought him joy in a long time, so just as long as there's something to eat. I've told him multiple times just to let me know when he needs more groceries, and I'll be happy to arrange it. Which reminds me that I should probably check in with Jan and see how she's doing.