Love in the Time of Covid-19

Well, it's really even hard to describe what has happened since I wrote a few days ago.  We are in the midst of a global pandemic caused by a coronavirus that causes a disease called Covid-19.  

What does that mean?

It means that, within a week or so, nearly all of the sxhools around the country are closed.  Bars, restaurants, theaters, and other gathering spaces are closed.  Stores are having a hard time keeping things on the shelves.  Long lines at grocery stores.  We are told to stay away from any sort of gatherings of people.  And, amidst all of these things, a pervasive sense that NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON.  

And that sense comes partly from the fact that, at least in the US, things aren't really that bad yet.  I think there are just over 4k confirmed cases right now.  It's not like there are sick people everywhere, or that people are dying in the street or anything.  But there is a sense, based on the warnings and closures and restrictions that have come from government officials, that things could get very bad.  But nobody knows exactly what that would mean or look like.  

As for our daily life, we are pretty much restricting ourselves to being either ar home or places where there aren't any people.  Work and the kids' schools are closed.  We've spent a lot of time walking in the woods.  We've spent a lot of time playing outside.  We're going to work on building some garden beds today.  I gave Samuel a lesson yesterday about electricity using a solenoid project that I brought home from work.  Thinking about giving the kids some music lessons on guitar or keyboard.  

So anyway, that's where things are right now.  It feels like this could turn into a world-as-we-know-it-is-over type situation, or it could blow over in a week or two (although certainly there has already been some serious economic damage).  

I am resolved to make the best of it.  Enjoying the extra time with the kids, with Jeannie, with the beautiful Spring that's going on outside right now.  Extra exercise time.  Daily runs.  

That's all.  Hopefully we all have enough food and toilet paper the next time I write!

Mighty Old Men

I spent most of the day today listening to the album that Spiff and I made of his songs about 12 years ago, Steady Like Rain, and damn if it hasn't held up over time.  I think we did a pretty great job on that.  I remember putting a ton of work into it, but it was some of the most enjoyable and rewarding work I've ever done. 

I thought about continuing to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark tonight (begun last night) while Jeannie is out at class, but instead have brewed myself a cup of bengal spice tea, made a fire, turned out the lights, and have Spiff-o singing directly into my ear drums. 

It would be fun to make another album.  I wonder if he's been writing any songs?  Lord knows I haven't. 

It's been a little bit of a rough week -- started off Monday morning by yelling and cussing at Samuel.  For no good reason other than I hadn't slept well and didn't have the patience to put up with normal kid bullshit.  Felt bad about it all day and ended up apologizing as soon as I got home from work.  Sometimes I appreciate my mistakes as an opportunity to show the kiddos the value of a good apology.  Sometimes they just feel like awful mistakes. 

I'm not sure why else it's been rough.  Work's been fine, although coronavirus threatens to put a serious financial damper on the company's Spring -- normally our busiest season. 

I have some fun projects I'm working on at work that involve me making contraptions with winches and solenoids. 

25 years of nasty, dirty lovin'

Yesterday on my drive home from work I realized that it was the 25th anniversary of the night Jeannie and I first went out.  Isn't that crazy?

I remember arriving at her parents' house when I was picking her up.  Two of her brothers were sitting outside as some sort of stone-faced gauntlet that I had to walk through.  I remember her coming to the door wearing her red dress, and I was very struck by how hot she looked.

I have little pictures in my head of what dinner was like (was it at a place called Del Pietro's or just Pietro's?  Was it on Hampton or Watson?) but I really don't remember much of dinner.  And I remember dancing some at the Casa Loma Ballroom, but that's about it.  I think "In Your Eyes" was one of the last songs played, and I remember having to get up the courage to ask her to really dance.

That's about all I remember from that night.  But how many interesting things got set in motion!  Most notably, this: