Endings

Thursday, December 31, 2020

This is how we will end the 2020 year. With haircuts.

At the beginning of the pandemic, no one was getting haircuts. But that got old and we figured out the mask thing. So here we are. 

The conversation in the shop today was about how Josh (who is cutting Jonas' hair) is the one who noticed the recent fire in the Dime Store which is next door. When he was in the basement, he could hear their alarm. Apparently, you could not hear it otherwise. When he checked outside, he could see fire through the front window. Apparently, the fire was started by sunlight through the windows heating something inside. The Dime Store limped through the transition to online sales during Covid. They are closed now but I hope they will reopen.  

Gill & Jonas get a trim @ Brookside Barber

UPDATE: The Dime Store announced that they are closing for good. Yet another local business going under. 

NOTE: The Brookside Barber shop has been open since 1919. Josh has worked there for 18 years. It's a cash or check only business and there are no frills. Just resilience. 

The animals

Katniss - her playful nature is sometimes too much. She has boundless energy and we often see the un-tamed nature of her Bengal breed. Ed is her favorite and we all adore her. Jonas calls her "Chaotic Katniss." She ate a ribbon from a xmas present and cost us about $1800 in vet bills. 

And here's our meek little Mad-Eye who has grown quite a roar of a bark when defending our home and the people in it. He hasn't bitten anyone but boy it seems like he wants to! I still wish we'd called him Dogniss. 

Christmas 2020

December 25, 2020

What a strange and quiet Christmas we celebrated. No family, no big meal. Just the 4 of us, and some pre-ordered BBQ. Last night we got sushi from Friend Sushi in Westport which is Jonas' favorite because they have tempura sushi.

A new playmate (for Magic the Gathering) for Jonas

This boy loves to build; won't be long before there's no "toy-like" gifts for Gill

Covid 19, Day **

May 13, 2020

Our city has told us we can gather in small groups of no more than 10 but must keep 6 ft apart. Some people are doing more; some people are doing less. Most people still think wearing a mask means you're afraid for your own health. We cannot seem to understand that wearing masks is what you do to make ALL of us safe. We do it for others, to prevent the spread. Because we could be the infected ones who have no symptoms. Testing is very hard to get. Test results take a long time, and are spotty and unreliable

And in "Midwest nice" we don't speak out when others violate the rules. When they step too close, hand us their baby to hold, or wear their mask wrong (if they have one at all). We have 40, 50, 60 years of behavioral conditioning that mandates us to "be nice, don't offend." So we say nothing. Do nothing.

Covid-19, Day 40

Sunday, April 19, 2020

It was a lazy Sunday but with some productivity. I did laundry and fixed the washing machine. Ed fiddled with his bees. The boys stayed on screens, though Gill did have a violin lesson and a brief in person visit with Dylan who rode by the house on  his bicycle with his dad. We had a backyard / driveway fire pit evening with the Johnsons, complete with smores.

Ed made bread. We all took a turn at Beat Saber on the VR system. I've been reading Ann Patchet's The Dutch House and am engrossed.

In the news:

• 2,297,712 cases worldwide, 158,202 deaths
• 764,177 cases in the U.S., 40,591 deaths
• 5,667 cases in Missouri, 171 deaths, 55,837 people tested

Covid-19, Day 36: Tax Day (not)

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

We did not file taxes today. There was an extension because of the pandemic. 

Ed's homemade bread with mom's homemade figs. 

Karla's Drunkard's Path quilt with clean to-be-folded clothes

In the news:

• President Trump halted U.S funding for the World Health Organization because he apparently believes that it mis-managed the corona virus. 
• The Florida governor declared professional wrestling as an essential business which allows contact.
• Barack Obama endorsed Joe Biden for president. 
• The University of Missouri System (4 universities, including the one I work for) must cut $180M in the next 60-90 days. Furloughs and layoffs are coming. 

Covid-19, Day 28: 3-hr WebEx Meetings

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

I'm sitting at my desk on a 3-hour interactive presentation (i.e. I have to pay attention) on data analytics. And my view from my desk is the street. And the weather is gorgeous, sunny and 80. And I keep watching people walking their dogs, riding bikes with their kids, and strolling with their spouse. It's miserable. But I did eventually get outside to take a look at these pretty gals.

More photos of my free, surprise tulips

And I had a great lunch break.

Leftover chicken and sausage gumbo with potato salad

When I finally broke free of work for the day, Ed and I went for a walk. As we typically do, we hunted pokemon.

An Apom photobombed my Raquaza

As we walked through the neighborhood, I noticed, with pleasure, the quiet. Few cars, no loud music, no sirens. All of the houses were lit from inside. As we headed back home, we stopped to look at the moon. A couple were outside their home, also looking. They were friendly, and chatted with us. I find that people are more aware of each other these days. 

Full Pink Moon - brightest supermoon of the year

In the news:

• 3,307 cases in Missouri, 53 deaths, 31,654 tested
• 219 in Kansas City, 1,203 in St. Louis
•  900 cases in Kansas, 27 deaths, 223 hospitalized
• 422 in Kansas side of the KC metro
• 16,284 cases in Louisiana, 582 deaths, 1,996 hospitalized