Earth Day Wednesday

ei34

Planting some sunflowers with the kids after all the web sessions...otherwise SSDD.  How's everyone else?

kvruns

Haven't been able to log in for a few days. I can view posts but it wouldn't recognize me. Guess it was trying to tell me to work  

levioosa

It’s not looking good here. I’m trying to just focus on one day at a time but it’s hard. 

I had a super weird dream last night that both Doc Antle and Joe Exotic were in and I’m awake and still not a fan of remembering it. 

kerbohl

ei34 said:

Planting some sunflowers with the kids after all the web sessions...otherwise SSDD.  How's everyone else?

Sunflowers, how nice!  I'm hoping to plant a few this year as well, but it's too early here to plant them.  I am debating starting them indoors, but I direct sowed them last year and it worked really well, so I'll probably do that again.  The sunflower seeds I planted in my backyard didn't grow though.  I suspect spoiled rabbits.  Are you planting a particular kind?  I did the giant sunflowers and these bush ones that grow multiple flowers on one stalk ... forget what they are called.

Normal, plain day.  Planning on making rib steak for dinner.  I think it is the last of my steaks from my uncle's cow, and then we are just down to the organ meat.

short+sassy

Overall, it's a pretty good day!  It should be a "light" work day, so I'm happy about that.

I am really angry at my city, though.  They announced that they are going to start having police checkpoints through town to check for "wearing seatbelts, valid driver's licenses, and valid registrations".  KIM, they don't normally do ANY of this s**t.  EVER.  The closest it comes are drunk driving checkpoints on some holidays.

Translation:  Because we have a Stay in Place order until May 16th, we're missing out on our normal traffic ticket revenue.  So we're going to have many officers who will EACH be interacting with hundreds/thousands of people per day.  Hmmm, they also can't do that task and be more than 6' away from at least the driver.  So social distancing won't apply either.  Nah, we're sure it's fine.  This won't potentially cause multiple outbreaks.  Because, come on now, we HAVE to endanger everyone's life in order to pick up "pennies off the floor". 

VarunaTT

I broke last night and went to a friend's house with other friends there.  I just needed to see people in 3D.  I can logic around it, but really I shouldn't have done it for my physical health and I did it for my mental health, which is getting a bit...ragged.

We just got news that the K's original home bar where they started drag is closing down permanently.  We knew the venue had been struggling, and with the forced closure, I guess it tipped it over the line.  It's just sad b/c it was one of the only (I think it might be the only but I can't say for sure) gay bars in a small MO town.  And I'm starting to get pretty fatalistic and in a pretty dark headspace about all of this, so this news definitely didn't help.

Other than that, SSDD.  I'm not working too terribly hard right now.  I've almost finished my "daily" list for Wednesday and I just can't pull it together to give a shit about much today.

short+sassy

@levioosa, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for you and your job!

@VarunaTT, that is really sad news about the bar.  It's sad to see any local business have to close because of the economy, but especially one you all have a personal connection to.  I hope you start feeling emotionally better.  I know that is easier said than done in these times.

kvruns

Just asked my boss if she's ok with me taking Friday off and she is. I didn't think she'd have a problem with it since we've been putting in a ton of time lately. I was just off for Good Friday but honestly that was such a mental health boost I need it again and I had no meetings on the calendar so it worked. Even though I'm home all day I haven't done anything useful like organizing B's closet or working on the disaster that is my spare bedroom (where I store stuff like birthday gifts bought early, potty training bribes, extra books, etc) and it is a disaster. Might also see about going for a walk at a trail somewhere if they're still open and it is nice. 

ei34

Glad you have the mental health day friday @kvruns
Fingers crossed @levioosa , so stressful
@kerbohl they're the mammoth kind...I think it's too cold here too (it's 42 F right now) but the kids were desperate for an Earth Day activity *fingers crossed*

kerbohl

@VarunaTT Anything we can do to help?  Share funny jokes, post funny memes?  All I've got to offer is pictures of my bunnies .... I suck at memes and I think all my jokes are dad jokes.

Here, have a drink (if the right picture shows up - if not, this sentence makes no sense)

short+sassy

@kerbohl, that's the right pic!  OMG bunnies are sooooo cute!  Now I'm regretting I didn't put my kitten Maple Bar in a wine glass for a pic, when she was still small enough to do that, lol.

mrsconn23

I'm glad the weather is on the upswing.  It looks absolutely gorgeous out today.  I cannot wait to get out there after work with DefConn. 

Work is getting harder and harder to focus on.  Just a lot of crowded thoughts, being tired of people just being nasty (because it's easy to be an asshole to the faceless person over email), and there is so much coordinating, phone calls, changing plans last minute to meet immediate needs. My sisters and I are splitting it up, but it's still a lot.  I'm supposed to work Saturday, but mom and dad really need their bathroom painted (dad was slowly working on it and then everything went to shit a couple weeks ago and he hasn't touched it since), so trying to coordinate DH and BIL getting it done and kids and, and, and...

Thankfully, in a way, all our vacation plans for the year have been scuttled and I have hours upon hours of PTO that I have no idea how I'm going to use at the moment.  I'm in a holding pattern between COVID and mom, but I will want to get the fuck out of town ASAP when we can and it's safe to do so. 

I have counseling next week, so I may get the paperwork together so I can talk to my therapist about leave and she can help me think some of it through.  I hate that worrying about my job security is a factor in whether or not I may even take a full leave or just patchwork my intermittent FMLA and PTO.  Blergh.  

I keep calling it the 'shittiest timeline' because it truly is.  

charlotte989875

I’m hitting a wall, too. Work is busy and people need a lot more reassurance than when we’re in the office and it’s draining. I know that’s part of my job but it’s a lot more than when we’re in person and I’m burning out. I also have a ton of PTO and I’m planning to take some in May. I don’t care if we can’t go anywhere I need more days where I can nap and do what I want. 

Plus our 5th anniversary is at the end of May. I’m bummed we can’t go anywhere but hopefully we can do something nice at home. 

VarunaTT

@kerbohl That's a fun pic.  Thank you for making me smile.  

I'll get through it.  I saw this tweet that was basically, I'm fine for a few days, then I spend a few days in quarantine hell, then I'll be fine again.  And yeah, that's pretty much how I am.  

I did get to pet dogs last night and that was pretty much the best thing ever right now. 

kvruns

I love the bunny in the wine glass!

OliveOilsMom

Hugs to those that need them.  

Just another day here.  I just finished up some work and won't have a new project until tomorrow.  I have some non-billable stuff I can do at least.

Later, I will take DD for a drive to pick up the masks my niece made for us.  Even though she will stay in the car to wave, I know DD will be so excited to see "Little Mom"!  I had hand stitched some, but my niece makes much nicer ones! LOL!  I also had her make one for DD, just in case.  We have been doing good at keeping DD home, but there ended up being a small chance she would have had to come with me to the chiro on Monday.  H had to go to the office.  So for a chance like that, its good to have.

GBCK

this week having actual assignments is a hard adjustment.
I've been making videos for work.
The kiddo made a hovercraft sci project and did her shit.
I promised more people masks, so I have to go sew

CharmedPam

Awww love that bunny pic!
@short+sassy ironically enough I was thinking about the tickets with less on the road and HOPEFULLY less DUI’s. Chicago reported lower crime rates a few weeks ago but not that that low.

sooo I tried to log into work today, but the vpn said it couldn't find my computer and it may be turned off. I emailed two office mates and they said they were able to get in, so that’s weird.  I.T. also said they couldn't locate me. 

I tried to work on my desktop but found out I couldn’t run the reports I needed to or access files like I could if I could remote in, so I called my boss to inform him I had to go in to JUST turn on my computer! I was surprised at the amount of cara parked actually.  I wore a mask/gloves until I got into our office (no one has been in for weeks, we’re supposed to report to the boss if and when we do).  But trust me to think I’ll have it now. 

short+sassy

CharmedPam said:

Awww love that bunny pic!
@short+sassy ironically enough I was thinking about the tickets with less on the road and HOPEFULLY less DUI’s. Chicago reported lower crime rates a few weeks ago but not that that low.

sooo I tried to log into work today, but the vpn said it couldn't find my computer and it may be turned off. I emailed two office mates and they said they were able to get in, so that’s weird.  I.T. also said they couldn't locate me. 

I tried to work on my desktop but found out I couldn’t run the reports I needed to or access files like I could if I could remote in, so I called my boss to inform him I had to go in to JUST turn on my computer! I was surprised at the amount of cara parked actually.  I wore a mask/gloves until I got into our office (no one has been in for weeks, we’re supposed to report to the boss if and when we do).  But trust me to think I’ll have it now. 

I am in complete shock that it's been almost a month now and I haven't had to do that, lol.  It's an old computer and I occasionally need to do a full reboot to get it working properly again.  Not yet, though (crossing fingers).

Jen4948

Feeling strange. My boss actually suggested I cut back to 30 hours per week because "she didn't want me to burn out." I've been trying to work 40 hours per week (there have been a few days when I had at least 6, but less than 8, hours of work). There have been a few times when someone at my office had to turn off my computer and then back on, but I haven't been there in several weeks. 

Well, as long as they don't cut my pay....

I feel scared to leave my home. I'll keep sheltering in place in order to protect my parents and others for however long it seems necessary even after they lift the shelter-in-place orders in Houston and Harris County. I trust no state government official on that.

@mrsconn23 and @levioosa , I wish you the best with your situations. I hope things improve for you both.

@VarunaTT, sorry to hear about the bar.

@kerbohl, big time awwwwww

kerbohl

@VarunaTT Petting dogs is awesome - glad you had something to cheer you up!  

kerbohl

@short+sassy Is there anything cute she would fit into now?  I was thinking of seeing if my bunnies would fit in beer steins and whether I could get all four of them into a row of beer steins and take a picture.  I assume I will incur the wrath of my alpha female, though, all for the sake of a cute picture.

short+sassy

kerbohl said:

@short+sassy Is there anything cute she would fit into now?  I was thinking of seeing if my bunnies would fit in beer steins and whether I could get all four of them into a row of beer steins and take a picture.  I assume I will incur the wrath of my alpha female, though, all for the sake of a cute picture.

((As I look at my extra large (44 oz.), almost empty, container of Utz Pub Mix))

ILoveBeachMusic

Was so happy to have a gorgeous day here. I spent a lot of time outside with the boys. H was moving mulch and they "helped" LOL. I had to stop them multiple times from moving the mulch from the flowerbeds back into the mulch pile. Yesterday H and I took them to a nearby state park that has horses. Of course, trail rides are canceled but they loved just seeing the horses in the pasture. They also saw the maintenance crew mowing. Big mowers are the greatest thing ever - other than diggers. I have forgotten how enamored little ones get with trucks and things. 

I've had three zoom meetings for our Y and another one coming up on Friday. The Y is making plans for how to reopen when the time comes - lots to think about. Not for profits are certainly struggling now along with everyone else. 

The boys and SIL are headed back to Chicago on Saturday. DD says that now the peak isn't going to hit until mid-May and then hopefully not a strong peak but a bump. Her hospital has plenty of PPE so she feels pretty good about their situation. She also can't stand being away from them for much longer. I hope restrictions are lifted enough for us to go up there for their 2nd birthday in June. We don't go anywhere other than to Costco or the grocery store every couple of weeks and take all the appropriate precautions then.

@kvruns Fort Ben State park trails are still open and not busy from what I have heard. 
@mrsconn23 I hope you can figure out the amount of leave you need and can take.
@VarunaTT I totally get the needing people in real life. I have been so tempted to have a socially distanced get together but have resisted so far. Hang in there!

MobKaz

Amen for gorgeous days!  Our town has a lake that we can walk around, in a round about way LOL. Some is “lakefront” but some is circumventing around the small “downtown” area.  We came upon this artwork that someone spontaneously added to the wall of a local business and couldn’t resist the photo op.......

CharmedPam

that is amazing @mobkaz!  Cute pic

kvruns

thanks @ILoveBeachMusic we went to Ft Ben a couple weeks ago so that might be a good place tomorrow too since it will be nice although maybe muddy if it rains all day today

mrsconn23

kvruns said:

thanks @ILoveBeachMusic we went to Ft Ben a couple weeks ago so that might be a good place tomorrow too since it will be nice although maybe muddy if it rains all day today

There's also Eagle Creek park.  It's closed to car traffic.  They're forcing people to park across the street by the Colts complex (at the city park that's next to it), but there's a light to cross 56th.  

kvruns

I heard about the crazy traffic at Eagle Creek! I used to run there a lot and we would sometimes get there before the gates would open so we'd have to park outside but then we'd go run through the park and then to the big soccer complex by the Colts place and have to sneak back in to Eagle Creek in through the woods since we didn't have a gate ticket we paid (since it was closed when we got there early). Ahhh memories. 

mrsconn23

kvruns said:

I heard about the crazy traffic at Eagle Creek! I used to run there a lot and we would sometimes get there before the gates would open so we'd have to park outside but then we'd go run through the park and then to the big soccer complex by the Colts place and have to sneak back in to Eagle Creek in through the woods since we didn't have a gate ticket we paid (since it was closed when we got there early). Ahhh memories. 

I love it. LOL 

I think with the parking and stuff, it looked more busy than it was.  Also, it's so big that staying away from people is easy.