Pandemic, Week 2

Things seemed a little more real this week as the number of cases in the US topped 100,000 (and over 2,000 deaths), distance learning started in earnest, and we fully embraced remote happy hours.

We managed to get a little hike in on the Billy Goat Trail in Great Falls (or rather mostly off the trail, as it was hard to keep your distance from people on the official path) though we avoided the Tidal Basin for peak cherry blossoms viewing at all costs. DC had closed most of the neighboring streets to discourage people from gathering there, but a bunch decided to park their cars on the interstate and then walk over -- a bunch of people also had their cars towed. Given there are tons of blossoms on Capitol Hill, we never really understood the allure of the crowds, but it seemed particularly unwise in a COVID-19 world.

School technically didn't start until Tuesday, but we were a bit desperate to get the kids on a routine, so we largely started classes on Monday. Owen had fortuitously inherited Mom Mom's old laptop a few months ago, which means that he is largely encamped in his room all day, only venturing out for food and the playstation. The middle schoolers seem to all be avoiding using the camera features of their devices, so Owen is reduced to only hearing his friends voices and the odd text, but for now seems generally ok with it (and may have made the annual angst of everyone learning which high school they got into a little easier).

We signed Nora up for Camp Shenanigan's social distancing approved, Play in a Zoom camp which meets an hour a day in order to write and record a podcast (this week's episode, The Power of Caffeine). After that, she has a two hour Zoom meeting with her class (which went a lot better after Ms. Wertheimer discovered the "mute all" button), then reading, math, cursive, and a bunch of online stuff.

Since they closed the rec center by us and the weather has been less than optimal, we've largely canceled recess (and replaced it with on-line gaming). Hopefully when it warms up a bit, we'll come up with some sort of option.

Allen and I have been busy with an enormous number of calls, papers to write and other work related activities. On Thursday it was announced that my office director is being reassigned to BLS starting on Monday, so we're still trying to figure out what that means (probably nothing good in terms of workload and morale). Officially we are only scheduled to telework through April 3rd. But while the government hasn't announced an extension (which, given the President wants this all to end by Easter, they may not), given that everything not deemed essential in DC is closed (FYI, liquor stores are considered essential), schools in DC are closed through April 24th and Virginia has closed them for the rest of the school year, we don't see our situation changing by next week.

And so we upped our online communion with a massive Grady Zoom call (thanks to Mark's professional meeting organizing skills), a belated birthday dinner with Molly & Adam (note to self: coordinating take-out delivery times is a challenge), more Fawcett family calls, and happy hours with Sommer & Jeff in New York and the Mettenburgs in Pittsburg. Nora had a 5th grade Zoom call on Saturday. Owen has started face-timing his friends and cousin. And even DCYOP tried a Saturday Zoom rehearsal (with mixed results). It really has been a lifesaver.

We're doing ok. John is going through Costco run withdrawal, Allen and Nora have started trimming their own hair, I fear we're all low on Vitamin D and I'm a little concerned about the state of my liver when this is all over, but otherwise things are alright. It's scary hearing all the stories about the lack of ventilators and masks, but for now we're still getting along (lots of game and movie nights), appear to be healthy, and have a well stocked fridge as well as toilet paper. We just hope everyone else is as well.
 

(To see more pictures from our second week in captivity, click here.)