A year

Since I last wrote on Mardi Gras, we passed the mark of a year at home, Jack has still not returned to any in-person school, Ol turned 12, my parents are fully vaccinated, my in-laws have each had one shot, spring is emerging in fits and starts, I took on a volunteer leadership position at a wonderful political organization that I admire, and the cats still disdain each other. Or rather, Nutmeg is still irritated about Ruthie coming to live with us. WHY do cats let their tongues hang when they’re resting?!

We have explored more of Virginia and West Virginia and been simultaneously awed by their beauty and much of the friendliness we’ve encountered and appalled by their racism, mad conservatism, and overt Confederate loyalty (more pronounced in the parts of western VA we spent time in).

I have gut-laughed so hard —see this link for a recent delight—”punches and scratches to the face…” I have cried, too.

I have learned fascinating things, from tidbits like this evolution of the UK flag:

to information about long-haul Covid.

I maintain that Freddie Mercury and Roger Federer are two of the greatest artists to ever walk this Earth. Witness remains an excellent film. Weekend at Bernie’s is an appalling blot on film history; my bright memories were justly extinguished one evening when I convinced Tom to subscribe to Cinemax and the boys to settle in for a treat. Any new or old faves for you?

I rarely enjoy cooking anymore and have lost interest in most meals. It all seems to taste the same; several of my friends feel this, too. I hope this disappears when Covid recedes into memory. Have you experienced this?

Have you watched The Last Kingdom or The Queen’s Gambit? I love the word gambit, and both series are utterly engaging. Plus, Alexander Dreymon? Meow!

Mardi Gras ‘21 in the books

If you celebrated Mardi Gras today, I hope you enjoyed it. We sure did. I made two king cakes and some gumbo, and after Mom got her second vaccine shot, she and Dad came over for a spirited Second Line through our neighborhood. A neighbor from Rio organized it, and we were a small but festive bunch of a dozen or so parading around with beads, masks, and music. Let the good times roll!

47 weeks

So, we’ve been at home for just over 47 weeks. It’s getting extremely long in the tooth. Quarantine humor and family projects and such have largely given way to resignation, limping through each day, and profound disdain for cooking another meal. I am telling y’all the truth- if schools are going to stay closed, they need to start sending our kids lunch. Well, the private schools do. I have one child in private and one in public, and I really think that since we have gotten zero tuition reduction, they could send Oliver lunch once a week. Good god, I am sick of the kitchen. Starting to avoid it all costs.

Meanwhile, I’m becoming a lunatic cross stitcher and embroiderer. I have mild feelings of panic about this when considered in concert with my cat, Zillow, and pajama-like clothing obsessions. Speaking of Zillow, did you all catch this SNL skit? As Joy Reid tweeted, “this hit a bit too close to home.” Lol.

Do y’all agree that the Bernie mitten memes provided such true and delightful spots of joy when they were churning through the internet?

Thank gawd for hilarious, clever people.

Well, that’s all I have for you. I’m peevish, restless, and so sick of parenting. I bet you are, too. But I’m thankful for all I do have, including supportive parents who have each gotten one dose of the Covid vaccine. Be kind, please get vaccinated when you can, and send me funny stuff when you come across treasures like the above.