pandemic diaries: weeks 4 and 5

Two post-spring break weeks down, six to go. Last week wrapped up week 5 of quarantine/week 4 of distance learning. I feel like we've settled into a sustainable-for-the-foreseeable-future routine of working from home, facilitating distance learning, getting some fresh air every day, and making sure the kids burn off some of their endless energy before 9 p.m. Any anxiety around school being closed through the rest of the school year has morphed into anxiety around summer camp and beyond.

Every day begins with a sort of juggling act of figuring out who has meetings when, which kids have virtual stuff throughout the day, what the various instructional plans for that day look like, and anything extra, like gymnastics or karate (both via Zoom, of course), virtual playdates, virtual scouts in the evening, etc. We've also ended most weekdays with the Oakland Zoo's behind-the-scenes series. Every weekday at 2:30 they go live in a different area of the zoo. It's a nice way to end the "school" day. Kids basically get screen time for a couple of hours after that. Our evening routine is pretty similar to pre-pandemic, with the kids staying up a little later than usual. Otherwise, here are some highlights from two more weeks of staying home:

• I finished the first (of ??) 5 Hour Crafts video. If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you may have already seen it; if not, you can see the YouTube version here.

I'd like to do more and have one about embroidered constellation flash cards in the works, but it's pretty low pressure (that I'm putting on myself) to get those done.

• Bought the e-book of 'How To Do Nothing,' if only I had time to explore that topic and, y'know, be bored.
• Oakland rolled out its "slow streets" initiative, though we've yet to see it in our neighborhood (our street is on the map so I'm really hoping they'll do our area in the next week or so). I was feeling pretty enthusiastic about it initially so I wrote this parody of 'Dancing In The Street'.
• Speaking of dancing, I learned the choreography to the very short dance scene in Boogie Nights. I even put on a dress! Cameos by Neal and Daphne.
• Finished Ozark season 3.
• Made it to Level 3 on Yousician Piano.

• Did some pandemic baking, recipe here.

• Made some progress on my ongoing 100 days in the dollhouse project, started exactly one year ago, including this "pandemic pillow." I think I like whatever these are better flat, though, inspired by scenes inside, mostly, and a few outside the home.

• Listened to the new Fiona Apple album. A couple of times.
• In our weekly movie night series, we finished the Tobey Maguire Spiderman movies, and last night watched Clueless. Lots of talk of sex that I'm hoping went over the 7yo's head :\
• I've been participating in a local photographer's daily photo challenges for the month of April. Below is my response to the 'Favorite Quarantine Fashion' prompt. See them all here.

• Oh yeah, and we celebrated Easter.

• Finally, a friendly reminder that I'm still sending via snail mail a small piece of FREE art to anyone who wants it. Just fill out the form here.

P.S. Let's save USPS!