Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Currently: April 2020

I haven't done a currently post since February so thought I'd switch things up and do a currently post instead of a COVID-19 one... although I am sure COVID-19 will feature prominently in this currently post!

Reading: The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali. It's set in Iran in the 1950s during a time of revolution. Roya and Bahran are supposed to meet one day to secretly get married - but he never shows up and disappears. 60 years later, their paths cross in Boston, MA, and the story unfolds from there. This is the May book for my book club and I'm the host. I am really liking it so hopefully others do as well. I think we'll have lots to discuss during our zoom book club discussion (so glad we are still able to meet!). I was thinking I'd have to buy this with libraries being closed, but then I saw it was available through Kindle Unlimited so I signed up for a free 2-month trial (which I will cancel after I read this book).

Loving: our family walks which Paul calls "Fwalks" - and yes, it sounds like you might imagine that word does... when he first started to walk around yelling "fwalk, fwalk, fwalk" I was like - oh my gosh, what are you saying? Then I figured out that "fwalk" was his shorthand way to say "go for a walk."  Phew.

Feeling: sick of this period of isolation. It's hard when it feels endless... I know it's important and we are committed to doing our part to flatten the curve. But I miss play dates, swimming lessons, social plans, dinners out, etc.

Anticipating: ... nothing? I know that's negative but what is anyone anticipating these days? I guess if I had to pick something, I'd say warmer weather. I'm so ready for warm, sunny summer weather.

Struggling: with the isolation! Like everyone.

Grateful: that we still have our jobs and our health, that we are financially stable, and that we have a strong, happy marriage. I can't imagine how hard social distancing would be if you were in an unhappy marriage/relationship. :(


Working: on a few organizational project, but not as many as you'd think I'd take on during this period of being at home allll the time. I'm just lacking in motivation honestly and am trying not to put pressure on myself to do things after Paul has gone to bed. But I did organize our basement storage area, which felt good. There's honestly not that much to organize in our house as we just moved in last November and did a ton of purging/donating/organizing at that time. 

Listening: to my usual podcasts. We're also listening to music on our echo during Paul's meals. He is trying really hard to get Alexa to understand his requests to play baby shark! Ha. He has mixed success so far. We'll be a bit screwed when she can understand him!

Watching: Brooklyn 9-9 on Hulu. We were struggling to find something we both like and decided to give this show a try. I'm really enjoying it so far. I like that the episodes are short and the content is light. At first I told Phil "this is a little over the top/unrealistic" and then he gently reminded me this is a comedy series... I have a tendency to take things a bit too seriously. ;)

Wishing: a COVID-19 vaccination could be made in record time. Like tomorrow. Ha.

Bonus Paul Pictures:

Mom, I'm eating crackers. I don't have time to smile for a photo.
He's getting the hang of how to use this trike that Joan got for him last summer. I tried to show him how the pedals work but he hasn't quite caught on to that yet.

Your turn - what are you grateful for, watching, and reading?

11 comments:

  1. Very fun post! I actually saw on another a blog recently a "What are you Wednesday" post that I might try tomorrow. It's along the same lines as this- what are you reading? what are you happy about today? What are you having for dinner? Etc. Always fun to get a glimpse of other people's lives. That's what I love about blogs, anyway. Maybe I'm just nosy. LOL! Ill answer one here: We are currently watching The Good Wife. It's a little bit older now but has been fun. I like the whole lawyer scene. Makes me wish (sometimes- maybe) that I wore a fancy suit to work instead of leggings and slippers. Haha.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think a lot of us are lacking in motivation but you say it all well. Funny about Paul's "walk" interpretation. Oh well, now you know and by the time anyone else understands, he'll have gotten it straight!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am watching When Hope Calls on Hallmark. Anthony watches Brooklyn 9-9 but I cannot get into it. We watch a bunch of shows together including NCIS, NCIS New Orleans, Manifest, Bull.. Attempting to give Schitts Creek a try, but we watched episode 1.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The good news is that I have high hopes for just what you asked for - a COVID vaccine in record time! Now, record time is probably still many months away, but honestly we could have it available to the highest at risk by November! It looks very promising to me (already in human trials!).
    I am anticipating the Michael Jordan ESPN series (gah - those Bulls glory days were when I learned all I know about the NBA), my upcoming running training plan, and our karate class adding a Saturday class. Yeah, it's virtual, and yes, baby naptime falls smack in the middle of it, but I am so happy I can still find a way to fit *some* karate back in. I like working toward goals!
    Crossing my fingers for beautiful weather for you all soon. I know homelife with a toddler has got to be better when it's sunny!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fwak! Is about right. A friend of mine had a brother that said fork a little bit like that!

    I hope this week brings you good weather! My saving grace has been a weekly bike ride where I can still stay away from people (I ride in the street) but I get to get outside!! I also have been spending a lot of time in the backyard. It's supposed to be in the 70s here this weekend and I'll be happily back there pulling weeds.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I’ve been wanting to read The Stationary Shop! I loved the author’s first book, Together Tea. I’m pretty sure you read it too, right?

    I definitely haven’t been organizing. I’m having a hard enough time cleaning up messes. Today during nap time Jacob decided to take every item of clothes out of his dresser and throw it on the ground. We’ll see if it’s still there tomorrow....

    ReplyDelete
  7. "Fwalk!" That's the best, hahaha. One of my toddlers at the daycare used to pronounce chicken like "sh*tken" and it always made us laugh. Kids and their pronunciations are great!

    Brooklynn 99 is one of my all-time favorite shows, so I'm glad you're giving it a try! You definitely have to suspend your belief, haha, but it's one of the few sitcoms that can make me cry with laughter.

    This all feels very neverending and I can't even be happy hearing that some states want to start opening up because I feel like it's way too soon for that. I miss going to restaurants and store and my gym... but man, I don't know if I'm comfortable just yet. I guess we'll see what happens!

    ReplyDelete
  8. My friend's kiddo says "dump truck" and it sounds a lot like dumb fwalk....its hard not to giggle when he talks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. "Fwalk"... haha... that is hilarious. Kids say the funniest things (we still quote my niece and nephew when they were little LOL).

    I am glad you're not trying too much pressure on yourself to be productive. I think that is one "good" thing about Corona, that it forces us to slow down and gives us an excuse to not be busy all the time. You have enough going on with a toddler in the house.

    And yes, I am thankful for a strong marriage too. We have yet to get onto each others' nerves, which is astounding :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. "Fwalk" is hilarious! I would have been concerned too, until I figured out what he was saying, haha!

    I am doing okay with the isolation (other than not being able to see my mom and my nieces and nephews). I did some drop-offs of baking at their houses, so I got to say a quick hello from a distance, but it's not the same. I have been talking to my dad on the phone and dropped stuff off for him too, and I was able to set up a phone call with my mom a couple of times, which has really helped me cope. She can't hold a phone on her own, but they put her on speakerphone in the nurses' office and left the room so we could chat. I like the being at home part though, and I too am thankful that Christopher and I have such a strong marriage. It has been nice to have so much time to listen to music together, and he is basically coaching me with my drumming, so it's helping me learn more quickly. I really feel for people who are fighting at home during this, etc. and I would imagine that divorce rates will skyrocket when this is over. I am also scared for those in abusive environments.

    Don't feel bad about not being motivated. I think that is normal with all that is going on. I might be motivated to do hobbies, but I am definitely not motivated to clean or organize. I haven't tackled a single organizational project, or any type of spring cleaning, other than my blinds, which were years overdue for a wash.

    ReplyDelete
  11. hahaha sooo funny about "fwalk" - also I had to type that like 20 times because it kept wanting to autocorrect to walk, of course!

    I would take that vaccine tomorrow hands down. What a weird year 2020 is/has shaped up to be. In some ways it's hard for me to believe it's now May as the last few months all feel like one long boring blah bore...

    ReplyDelete