Pandemic, Week 7 (Ennui)

This week the world hit 3.5 million COVID-19 cases and 245,000 deaths, of which the U.S. accounted for 1.2 million and 67,000 respectively. Armed protestors gathered at Michigan's Capitol building, protesting its stay at home measures and blocking the entrance to the legislative chamber. North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, supposedly died but then supposedly appeared laughing and smiling at an opening of a fertilizer plant, so maybe not. The President invoked the Defense Production Act to order meat packing plants to open (many had closed after nearly 5,000 workers across 19 states had contracted COVID-19). He also stopped giving daily briefings.

Things were quieter here. The final term of the school year started and we registered the kids for next year (assuming next year happens). The latter was more challenging this year as compiling residency documents in the time of Coronavirus can be difficult. Meanwhile, Elaine worked on the graduation slideshow for Nora's fifth grade class, Owen worked out, Nora recorded her parts for DCYOP's online spring concert, and we finally participated in the Cluster's Auction, where we won the NPR Tour and Tiny Desk Concert, but missed out on Salt Lick BBQ delivery.

It rained most of the week and so we were largely stuck inside, which meant Allen had to take extreme measures to ensure that access to video games was maintained. We did manage to get in a socially distanced bike ride (Owen got in two) with the Telfair-Chas (which culminated in some ice cream and rosé) and enjoyed a flyover by the Blue Devils, but that was kind of the extent of our outdoor activity.

Nora was supposed to have her Crêpes in the FoodPrints Kitchen spirit party this week, but due to the Pandemic we had to make due with a video from Madame Greif and and our own interpretation of strawberry-rhubarb compote crêpes at home. It was a very good interpretation. We also made rice pudding, cookies, and Kamikaze Spritzes for a Fawcett Family Zoom Happy Hour held in lieu of our regular Pub Quiz as we look for a quiz better suited to our knowledge and skill sets.

Other than that, we just tried to stave off boredom. Nora appeared as Larry the Wolf Pup Oracle in Zoom in a Week's production of The Wolf Valley Prophecy. Owen procured the sheet music for Star War's Battle of the Heroes and has begun work on it, Allen started playing guitar again, and I finally finished The Golden Compass.

But we're still pretty bored.


(To see all of this week's pictures, click here.)