e: The princesses are real in Disneyworld, right?
M: Yes, they're real.
e: They're not dolls, right?
M: No.
e: How big are they?
M: They're a regular adult size. About my size.
e: The real ones?
M: Yes, the real ones in Disneyworld.
e: So...could we fit one...in a trunk??
Friday, June 26, 2020
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day...Oh forget it.
It's safe to say we're well past Day 100 with no end in sight, so I'm going to kibosh the counting. Also, I can't be bothered to count ALL THE WAY BACK to my last entry to figure out what day it is.
I've been remiss.
First, let me clear up a few questions you may have:
1. I did not die.
2. I did not sell my children to gypsies passing through town.
4. I am still making sourdough. And it's only getting better.
5. The girls did wrap up the school year successfully and embarked on their summer "break" this week.
On the other hand, here's something that no one anticipated:
I retired!
Yep, you heard me. As of...well, now...I am no longer working outside the home. It's a little anti-climatic, as I haven't been working outside the home since March, but it represents a huge shift for me.
Working as a massage therapist during a pandemic is a daunting prospect. Social distancing is not possible. Direct contact with a whole bunch of people is inevitable. We were officially allowed to begin working again toward the end of May, and that surprised me. I thought, given the nature of our work and the fact that it isn't "essential", that we would be among the last to be given the green light. I knew when I heard that announcement that I wasn't ready. Soon after, I heard from the owner of the clinic where I work, asking about when I was thinking of returning. As soon as I got that phone call, I knew I wasn't going back.
How could I go back to a high contact situation and feel safe returning to my family at the end of the day?
Who would care for my kids while I go to work, with camps closed?
If camps open, do I feel comfortable sending a 3 year old?
What will happen in September, if schools remain closed or, more likely, students attend school in a part-time capacity?
How is it possible that I got a tax refund last year when I wasn't working, and had to pay an exorbitant tax bill this year when I was??!
There are many people just like me out there struggling with these questions. For some, the answers to those questions are irrelevant, as they don't have a choice about whether or not to return to work. I do have the choice, along with a wonderful husband and family, who threw their support behind me wholeheartedly.
And so, at the ripe old age of 43, I am gracefully transitioning into my "retirement years". They will look different from most. Most people don't retire with preschoolers in the house. Most people don't stop working before their oldest child is out of elementary school. It will likely be several years before I start to feel retired. But I'm okay with that. Truthfully, I am excited at the prospect of focusing on being a mom and a wife for a while. I feel like that's what our family needs right now.
And in that spirit, here are the Top 3 benefits of early retirement:
1. Being able to go to the grocery store (whenever I end up doing that again) when everyone else is at work.
2. Being able to fill my days with whatever I want without having to consider my afternoon nap or my colonoscopy appointment.
3. Being able to say that I retired before my father-in-law.
I've been remiss.
First, let me clear up a few questions you may have:
1. I did not die.
2. I did not sell my children to gypsies passing through town.
4. I am still making sourdough. And it's only getting better.
5. The girls did wrap up the school year successfully and embarked on their summer "break" this week.
On the other hand, here's something that no one anticipated:
I retired!
Yep, you heard me. As of...well, now...I am no longer working outside the home. It's a little anti-climatic, as I haven't been working outside the home since March, but it represents a huge shift for me.
Working as a massage therapist during a pandemic is a daunting prospect. Social distancing is not possible. Direct contact with a whole bunch of people is inevitable. We were officially allowed to begin working again toward the end of May, and that surprised me. I thought, given the nature of our work and the fact that it isn't "essential", that we would be among the last to be given the green light. I knew when I heard that announcement that I wasn't ready. Soon after, I heard from the owner of the clinic where I work, asking about when I was thinking of returning. As soon as I got that phone call, I knew I wasn't going back.
How could I go back to a high contact situation and feel safe returning to my family at the end of the day?
Who would care for my kids while I go to work, with camps closed?
If camps open, do I feel comfortable sending a 3 year old?
What will happen in September, if schools remain closed or, more likely, students attend school in a part-time capacity?
How is it possible that I got a tax refund last year when I wasn't working, and had to pay an exorbitant tax bill this year when I was??!
There are many people just like me out there struggling with these questions. For some, the answers to those questions are irrelevant, as they don't have a choice about whether or not to return to work. I do have the choice, along with a wonderful husband and family, who threw their support behind me wholeheartedly.
And so, at the ripe old age of 43, I am gracefully transitioning into my "retirement years". They will look different from most. Most people don't retire with preschoolers in the house. Most people don't stop working before their oldest child is out of elementary school. It will likely be several years before I start to feel retired. But I'm okay with that. Truthfully, I am excited at the prospect of focusing on being a mom and a wife for a while. I feel like that's what our family needs right now.
And in that spirit, here are the Top 3 benefits of early retirement:
1. Being able to go to the grocery store (whenever I end up doing that again) when everyone else is at work.
2. Being able to fill my days with whatever I want without having to consider my afternoon nap or my colonoscopy appointment.
3. Being able to say that I retired before my father-in-law.
Saturday, June 13, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 94
I guess those bagels were so good they rendered me speechless!
As a result, there is so very much to catch up on.
First things first:
We did manage to get that playset up and running last weekend. It took about 5 hours or so and went so much more smoothly than any of us expected.
And it's a big hit! We're already getting our money's worth.
Whew! I'm exhausted. I guess I'll have to back into this slowly so I don't pull a hamstring.
As a result, there is so very much to catch up on.
First things first:
We did manage to get that playset up and running last weekend. It took about 5 hours or so and went so much more smoothly than any of us expected.
And it's a big hit! We're already getting our money's worth.
Whew! I'm exhausted. I guess I'll have to back into this slowly so I don't pull a hamstring.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 83
Quarantine Mission Accomplished!
I finally got around to the bagels.
We've accomplished a lot, my starter and I. Sandwich bread, boules, cinnamon buns and even english muffins. Rave reviews all around. But all along I've had my eye on the bagels.
A mighty adversary for something that looks so much like a doughnut.
And there's an extra layer of challenge to the undertaking, knowing that you will most certainly not please everyone.
There are the New York bagel champions, who enjoy the thick, bready texture that holds up to a half pound of cream cheese. These are the bagels my kids clamour for.
Then there is the Montreal contingent, who like a bit of fight in their bagel, with a chewiness that makes you work for it. I am a Montrealer at heart.
There are an infinite number of bread vehicles offering a thick, pillowy texture. The bagel, in my opinion, is special because of its divergence from this path. It is sturdy and stubborn, able to shine under an endless array of toppings. It can be simple and humble, elegant and refined, rustic and hearty. It can fill any category. There isn't much a bagel can't do.
It is even supremely portable. I can eat my bagel with one hand, while popping another on my pinky for my toddler while we take a neighbourhood stroll. Depending on the length and spread of your fingers you might even be able to take a couple for the road.
I'll be honest. They take a long time, and you end up with 8 bagels. So basically, if you live in my house, it takes about 26 hours to make something that will last about 26 hours. I had actually decided, when they were rising for the second time, that I would not be doing this again. Between the starter activation, the first rise, the shaping, the second rise, the boiling and THEN the baking...I mean come on. Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough.
And then I tried them. And forgot about everything else except that perfect. texture. 26 hours is a very small price to pay.
I finally got around to the bagels.
We've accomplished a lot, my starter and I. Sandwich bread, boules, cinnamon buns and even english muffins. Rave reviews all around. But all along I've had my eye on the bagels.
A mighty adversary for something that looks so much like a doughnut.
And there's an extra layer of challenge to the undertaking, knowing that you will most certainly not please everyone.
There are the New York bagel champions, who enjoy the thick, bready texture that holds up to a half pound of cream cheese. These are the bagels my kids clamour for.
Then there is the Montreal contingent, who like a bit of fight in their bagel, with a chewiness that makes you work for it. I am a Montrealer at heart.
There are an infinite number of bread vehicles offering a thick, pillowy texture. The bagel, in my opinion, is special because of its divergence from this path. It is sturdy and stubborn, able to shine under an endless array of toppings. It can be simple and humble, elegant and refined, rustic and hearty. It can fill any category. There isn't much a bagel can't do.
It is even supremely portable. I can eat my bagel with one hand, while popping another on my pinky for my toddler while we take a neighbourhood stroll. Depending on the length and spread of your fingers you might even be able to take a couple for the road.
I'll be honest. They take a long time, and you end up with 8 bagels. So basically, if you live in my house, it takes about 26 hours to make something that will last about 26 hours. I had actually decided, when they were rising for the second time, that I would not be doing this again. Between the starter activation, the first rise, the shaping, the second rise, the boiling and THEN the baking...I mean come on. Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough.
And then I tried them. And forgot about everything else except that perfect. texture. 26 hours is a very small price to pay.
Monday, June 1, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 82
First, the good news:
J's assistant tested negative for Covid and is feeling much better. Hooray!
Then, the better news:
On the heels of this announcement, the girls and I decided on the spur of the moment to pay Grandma and Papa a visit.
The hugs were as wonderful as I'd imagined. The smiles were priceless. And the speed with which things clicked back to normalcy made my heart happy.
And though I explained several times that this would not be a sleepover, the kids won the battle.
So, for the best news of all:
J and I have a kid free evening!!!
What to do, what to do?!
Anything!
Nothing!
Whatever we want, on our own schedule.
It. is. so. quiet...
J's assistant tested negative for Covid and is feeling much better. Hooray!
Then, the better news:
On the heels of this announcement, the girls and I decided on the spur of the moment to pay Grandma and Papa a visit.
The hugs were as wonderful as I'd imagined. The smiles were priceless. And the speed with which things clicked back to normalcy made my heart happy.
And though I explained several times that this would not be a sleepover, the kids won the battle.
So, for the best news of all:
J and I have a kid free evening!!!
What to do, what to do?!
Anything!
Nothing!
Whatever we want, on our own schedule.
It. is. so. quiet...
Sunday, May 31, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 81
In this weekend's instalment of The Pandemic Projects, we continue our theme of keeping the kids occupied.
The zipline we put up last weekend got a bit of action this week, though the neighbour's pool was the star of the show on account of the blistering heat. This weekend we added a ninja rope course to the mix. We bought them both last year as part of a master plan for a backyard treehouse. The treehouse project is still floating around in the ether, but we figured we could at least work with what we already have.
I didn't get pics of the new addition, but I did get a little video of this fella who came to check out what we were up to:
And if that weren't exciting enough, we also found a great outdoor playset on Kijiji. If you've been in the market for such a purchase recently you will know that these babies are the new toilet paper. Sold out everywhere. The only good news is that, unlike TP, there's a market for secondhand playsets. We spent most of the day on Sunday dismantling it and bringing it home. So now you know what we're doing next weekend...
Saturday, May 30, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 80
We're feeling a bit of the Pandemic Blues today.
After much thought and discussion, we've decided that it's time to expand our "bubble" to accommodate our parents and my brother-in-law. We've all been strictly isolating for many weeks, and we've come to a point where we're all comfortable with sharing space again.
It comes with continued sacrifices though, to make sure we're not exposing anyone to unnecessary risks. While some are now relaxing their restrictions around going to stores and getting together, we've decided to maintain our quarantine status to make this bubble expanding venture as safe as it can be.
To that end, I made the decision to cancel a get together I had been planning to attend on Friday night. It was going to be my first social outing in 80+ days, with a group of people I have missed terribly. I could have gone and done my best to distance myself, and I went back and forth about it for a while. But I realized that if I went, then I would have to be okay with everyone else in our bubble making the same decision, and it wouldn't be long before the whole thing broke down. So I stayed home, knowing that fun was being had just across the street, and I felt a bit sorry for myself.
What made me feel better though, was the plan for Saturday. We were going to my parents' house for dinner and hugs and no social distancing whatsoever for the first time in forever. We were all very excited. All day the girls kept asking when it would be time to go.
Finally, the time came. The girls had even negotiated a sleepover and had packed their own bags full of all kinds of fun. We were just getting into the car when my husband got a text.
His office assistant, the only person he has been in contact with at work every day, was feeling ill and was going in to get tested. We all just stood there in the driveway and stared at each other. We tried making excuses. "She doesn't have classic symptoms. It's probably not Covid." "There's probably a latent period before anyone she infected would be contagious." "We could just try to keep our distance but still visit."
But in the end we all knew that we should just stay home. We called my parents. They agreed that it was the right decision. But it didn't feel good.
So much anticipation. So much excitement. And poof. Cue major bummer vibe.
What had been a pretty great day was now a total bust. We went inside and sat around and moped. Eventually, E had a great idea and made strawberry Nutella milkshakes, which helped a bit. We watched a movie and ate pasta and brownies, which helped a bit too.
But what came out of the disappointment was the conviction that all of our precautions are worth it. If I had gone to the party on Friday, I would now have five new families to worry about spreading the virus to. If we had gone to my parents' house before we got that text, I would have felt awful.
We can't eliminate all of the risk, but this reminder of the importance of what we're doing takes away a bit of the sting of missing out.
Also, gifts like these from my Dog Mom friends:
After much thought and discussion, we've decided that it's time to expand our "bubble" to accommodate our parents and my brother-in-law. We've all been strictly isolating for many weeks, and we've come to a point where we're all comfortable with sharing space again.
It comes with continued sacrifices though, to make sure we're not exposing anyone to unnecessary risks. While some are now relaxing their restrictions around going to stores and getting together, we've decided to maintain our quarantine status to make this bubble expanding venture as safe as it can be.
To that end, I made the decision to cancel a get together I had been planning to attend on Friday night. It was going to be my first social outing in 80+ days, with a group of people I have missed terribly. I could have gone and done my best to distance myself, and I went back and forth about it for a while. But I realized that if I went, then I would have to be okay with everyone else in our bubble making the same decision, and it wouldn't be long before the whole thing broke down. So I stayed home, knowing that fun was being had just across the street, and I felt a bit sorry for myself.
What made me feel better though, was the plan for Saturday. We were going to my parents' house for dinner and hugs and no social distancing whatsoever for the first time in forever. We were all very excited. All day the girls kept asking when it would be time to go.
Finally, the time came. The girls had even negotiated a sleepover and had packed their own bags full of all kinds of fun. We were just getting into the car when my husband got a text.
His office assistant, the only person he has been in contact with at work every day, was feeling ill and was going in to get tested. We all just stood there in the driveway and stared at each other. We tried making excuses. "She doesn't have classic symptoms. It's probably not Covid." "There's probably a latent period before anyone she infected would be contagious." "We could just try to keep our distance but still visit."
But in the end we all knew that we should just stay home. We called my parents. They agreed that it was the right decision. But it didn't feel good.
So much anticipation. So much excitement. And poof. Cue major bummer vibe.
What had been a pretty great day was now a total bust. We went inside and sat around and moped. Eventually, E had a great idea and made strawberry Nutella milkshakes, which helped a bit. We watched a movie and ate pasta and brownies, which helped a bit too.
But what came out of the disappointment was the conviction that all of our precautions are worth it. If I had gone to the party on Friday, I would now have five new families to worry about spreading the virus to. If we had gone to my parents' house before we got that text, I would have felt awful.
We can't eliminate all of the risk, but this reminder of the importance of what we're doing takes away a bit of the sting of missing out.
Also, gifts like these from my Dog Mom friends:
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 76
I don't even know where to begin.
Man, it's hot. That's as good a place as any.
How hot is it??
It is so hot, that I can be totally fed up with everyone and everything by 8:49am.
It is so hot, that you would have to be a total lunatic to cook anything.
It is so hot, that if you don't have a pool in your backyard or access to someone else's, I personally give you permission to commit a felony.
It is so hot, that a few of us without the benefit of AC are pining for those frigid offices with the locked thermostat and the ubiquitous cardigan on the back of the chair.
It is so hot that my dog is giving the chipmunks free reign of our backyard.
It is so hot, that there's a very good chance that someone, somewhere is being caught naked on a Zoom meeting today.
Man, it's hot. That's as good a place as any.
How hot is it??
It is so hot, that I can be totally fed up with everyone and everything by 8:49am.
It is so hot, that you would have to be a total lunatic to cook anything.
It is so hot, that if you don't have a pool in your backyard or access to someone else's, I personally give you permission to commit a felony.
It is so hot, that a few of us without the benefit of AC are pining for those frigid offices with the locked thermostat and the ubiquitous cardigan on the back of the chair.
It is so hot that my dog is giving the chipmunks free reign of our backyard.
It is so hot, that there's a very good chance that someone, somewhere is being caught naked on a Zoom meeting today.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 74
Weekends in quarantine are for delicious, deep-fried doughnuts,
and fun backyard projects like Project Zipline!
Dangerous, you ask? Can't be. My husband, the anti-trampoline crusader, gives it two thumbs up. I mean, what could go wrong??
*stay tuned for next week's episode of The Real Doctor's Kids of the ER...
and fun backyard projects like Project Zipline!
Dangerous, you ask? Can't be. My husband, the anti-trampoline crusader, gives it two thumbs up. I mean, what could go wrong??
*stay tuned for next week's episode of The Real Doctor's Kids of the ER...
Friday, May 22, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 72
Into another weekend we go!
This week by the numbers:
1 puzzle challenge completed (and another one not even close)
2 picnic lunches (also the number of times my children have ingested kale this week without their knowledge)
3 math sheets completed (...feels more like 30)
4 impressive Magnatile creations
5 delicious dinners (pizza, lasagna, chili, tuscan chicken pasta, burgers)
5 more masks sewn
8-ish hours of scooting
10 ice cream novelties consumed
15 cups of coffee consumed (give or take)
18 Zoom meetings
52 new dandelions sprouted one day after weeding
3,672 beautiful blossoms admired on neighbourhood walks
This week by the numbers:
1 puzzle challenge completed (and another one not even close)
2 picnic lunches (also the number of times my children have ingested kale this week without their knowledge)
3 math sheets completed (...feels more like 30)
4 impressive Magnatile creations
5 more masks sewn
8-ish hours of scooting
10 ice cream novelties consumed
15 cups of coffee consumed (give or take)
18 Zoom meetings
52 new dandelions sprouted one day after weeding
3,672 beautiful blossoms admired on neighbourhood walks
...and one new conquest in the world of bread-making: Bannock!
Not a tricky one, by any stretch of the imagination. But a great recipe to have when it's an hour until dinner and you're looking for something to smother with goat cheese and tomatoes!
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