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Awesome summer to a lovely fall
Sep. 23rd, 2020 01:33 pmI looked back at my last posting day - it was June when I got laid off. Apparently since then I've been having all the fun.
I had a couple more days of work after that, but from July 1 to Sept 15 I was just Mom. The weather was beautiful all summer, so VV and I swam at least once a day, but often two or three times. We went up to see my parents and VV's cousins a couple of times, including a trip to the beach (Lake Huron near Port Elgin) on a windy day with excellent waves. All the swimming in our pool turned VV into an excellent and strong swimmer, and she loved the waves, even when the difference between the peak and the trough meant she was well over her head.
We also went up to Derek's brother's family's cottage to see that side for the first time since January. They are in Toronto, which has always been the hotspot for Covid. In addition, Herb is a doctor so he's in and out of the hospital for work. We only stayed a couple of days, but managed to cram all the cottage activities in our short visit - kayaking, tether ball, hanging out in the tree house, watching a movie, playing a game (which VV beat her much older cousins at - go girl!), and having a fire with hot dogs and marshmallows.
We've been lucky to have low cases over the summer and friends who take the same precautions we do, allowing VV to have play dates with friends either in parks or at home on the deck (and in the pool). We got together with some adult friends as well, so D and I also have adult company.
School (grade 2) finally started on Sept 15. It's been getting better. Today has been the best tech day - teacher hasn't been kicked off at all! The kids are starting to understand where everything is and what the vocabulary for the tech things (tabs, closing windows, links, mics etc). However, the rules of the classroom (raising a hand, not leaving without permission) haven't quite translated to online learning yet. Vv was excited about online, but is now wishing we'd selected in person. However, cases have been steadily increasing, so we are glad we chose the online option. Not only do we not want to get Covid ourselves, but this lets us go and see Mom on weekends. My nieces went back to in person learning (no cases in their county at this point - they are very rural), and Mom is only able to see them virtually.
As for Mom, she's getting stronger (and getting her hair back). She walks an hour every day, still with trekking poles for safety, but she's visibly getting stronger and more stamina. She started getting her immunizations last week, and has immense sympathy for babies.
I've been applying for jobs and have an interview next week. I'm curious what the package will look like - I'd need at least 85k plus 3 weeks vacation to make it worthwhile. The health benefits at UoG aren't all that (though I'd get dental at 2 years which would make a big difference), but I'd get 22 days vacation in 2021, which industry just doesn't offer. My old job is hoping to have a grant come in by end of September that will allow them to hire me back, so I may have to make some decisions.
I had a couple more days of work after that, but from July 1 to Sept 15 I was just Mom. The weather was beautiful all summer, so VV and I swam at least once a day, but often two or three times. We went up to see my parents and VV's cousins a couple of times, including a trip to the beach (Lake Huron near Port Elgin) on a windy day with excellent waves. All the swimming in our pool turned VV into an excellent and strong swimmer, and she loved the waves, even when the difference between the peak and the trough meant she was well over her head.
We also went up to Derek's brother's family's cottage to see that side for the first time since January. They are in Toronto, which has always been the hotspot for Covid. In addition, Herb is a doctor so he's in and out of the hospital for work. We only stayed a couple of days, but managed to cram all the cottage activities in our short visit - kayaking, tether ball, hanging out in the tree house, watching a movie, playing a game (which VV beat her much older cousins at - go girl!), and having a fire with hot dogs and marshmallows.
We've been lucky to have low cases over the summer and friends who take the same precautions we do, allowing VV to have play dates with friends either in parks or at home on the deck (and in the pool). We got together with some adult friends as well, so D and I also have adult company.
School (grade 2) finally started on Sept 15. It's been getting better. Today has been the best tech day - teacher hasn't been kicked off at all! The kids are starting to understand where everything is and what the vocabulary for the tech things (tabs, closing windows, links, mics etc). However, the rules of the classroom (raising a hand, not leaving without permission) haven't quite translated to online learning yet. Vv was excited about online, but is now wishing we'd selected in person. However, cases have been steadily increasing, so we are glad we chose the online option. Not only do we not want to get Covid ourselves, but this lets us go and see Mom on weekends. My nieces went back to in person learning (no cases in their county at this point - they are very rural), and Mom is only able to see them virtually.
As for Mom, she's getting stronger (and getting her hair back). She walks an hour every day, still with trekking poles for safety, but she's visibly getting stronger and more stamina. She started getting her immunizations last week, and has immense sympathy for babies.
I've been applying for jobs and have an interview next week. I'm curious what the package will look like - I'd need at least 85k plus 3 weeks vacation to make it worthwhile. The health benefits at UoG aren't all that (though I'd get dental at 2 years which would make a big difference), but I'd get 22 days vacation in 2021, which industry just doesn't offer. My old job is hoping to have a grant come in by end of September that will allow them to hire me back, so I may have to make some decisions.
