Wednesday, September 9, 2020

A return to (relative) happiness

It's almost been a week since I posted anything here on the ol' blog. Being back at work really cuts down on the time available for blogging activities. How is everyone? I've tried to snatch a few moments here and there to read your blog posts but I haven't been able to keep up very well. Nor have there been many opportunities to comment on said posts. Usually when I have a few spare minutes to read I do it on my phone, and typing comments on it is a real pain. I've missed you all!

Last weekend was a long one because of Labor Day. Gregg and I had Sunday and Monday off together and it was so nice. The weather cooled off nicely and we did a fair amount of work in the yard. Sunday was exciting because I planted a tree in the back! It's a fig tree that I grew from cuttings given to me by a friend from her massive, old Brown Turkey tree last July. I had potted it up a couple of times and finally deemed it big enough to put in the ground. Of course, if we have any truly cold weather this winter I'll take steps to protect it because it's still young and delicate.


We also finally thought to bring one of Marco's long, twisty rope perches out to the porch and hang it out there. He loves being out there on it. We should have thought of it sooner.


We did a bunch of other small things around the house, and in the yard. I baked another apple pie on Monday. We've enjoyed several short walks around the neighborhood, looking at the changes fall is bringing. We grilled out Sunday night, and I cooked the best potatoes we've ever had over the coals,  along with bourbon marinated pork chops. George got a slab of pork ribs all to himself. We've never cooked on the grill without making something just for the dogs, too.

At some point over the weekend, just spending time at home with Gregg and the boys, I realized that, for the first time since the end of July, I was feeling pretty happy. Of course I realize that coronavirus is still out there and very dangerous, 45 is still POTUS and every day is a fresh hell in that regard, California is on fire and there are riots all over the country. All of that is still terrible. The only real difference is that my grief over Ginger is beginning to lighten and now home feels like a happy place to be again. The new normal is beginning to feel....more normal. 

Work is weird. We have so few students who are physically in the building that the halls are eerily quiet. My job is really different this year, but honestly I'm one of the few people in the building actually having an easier time than usual due to all the Covid restrictions. Speaking of the school, here is a short video of the new aquarium Gregg set up in the lobby! The last 5 goldfish will be arriving this week, so for now there are only 7 fish in the tank. Doesn't it look good? 


So that's where I'm at today, friends. I'm looking forward to spending some time catching up with all of you soon!


45 comments:

  1. Good to hear from you Jennifer. I hear what you say about having time to post and to read other bloggers. I am finding little to no time to do that. Teaching online is actually really hard work, and by the end of the day I am too tired to do much of anything. The aquarium looks great! Glad you are feeling a bit better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My hat is off to all teachers dealing with the extra work this year demands! You all are rockstars!

      Delete
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  2. Look at Marco! He can get high and keep an eye out.

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  3. I suspect that the atmosphere in most schools will be very strange; some in the UK have already closed again on account of finding children with Covid. Anyway, children must have schooling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope we don't have to shut back down, but who knows.

      Delete
  4. Wonderful to hear from you and especially to know that you are feeling better and that new normal is settling in for you. I love the aquarium video - it looks great and I bet there have been a lot of positive comments about it.

    I understand not having time to post. I usually only post once a week as it is but I've gone a week and a half now and still have not had much free time to post. Hopefully soon.

    Marco looks so happy on the porch! Can he handle cooler weather out there or is he strictly a warm weather bird?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marco can handle whatever temperature is comfortable for us! He's used to ordinary house temps.

      Delete
  5. Lovely pictures Jen!!!! I also like your new ion picture!!! Labor Day went by too fast. Actually summer goes by to fast...it ought to get a speeding ticket. Im heading for the mountains Saturday for two weeks while work in my apartment takes place. Ill pop in when time permits.

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  6. The aquarium looks great, as we knew it would! The students and everyone else love it, I am sure, and with fewer people in the halls, it means they have more chances to watch the fish for a while.
    Your Labor Day weekend sounds really good, and your meal excellent. Thumbs up for the fig tree!

    Like you, I am not closing my eyes to all the terrible and worrying things going on around me - but in my own life, I can be happy, and am that most of the time. It does not mean I never grieve (for my late husband, or even my cats long gone), but the underlying contentment and happiness are still there.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am glad to hear that your searing grief for Ginger has abated. You will always miss him of course as I do my first dog , Dillon, who left us 7 years ago. It helped me to have another dog, a puppy, very soon after, but of course you still have George.
    Is the porch open to the air,looks like it...can Marco fly out?

    ReplyDelete
  8. ps. The aquarium is beautiful. I have a 3 foot long one in my kitchen with 5 fantail type goldfish.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glad you’re finding a happy place. The fish tank would make me happy AND calm. Wish we could have one of those here (Not with these cats) and Greg to create it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gregg once had a saltwater aquarium with a large Queen Trigger, and his cat used to run along the top of the couch and played with the fish!

      Delete
  10. I enjoy reading your perspective on what's happening in schools in your area. At my school, the vast majority of students have returned. However, the daily routines are very different. Rumour has it that the board is still looking for forty more teachers to fill the online teaching job positions! I'm glad to hear you are feeling the grief lift. Good luck with your fig tree! -Jenn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was reading about the issues you've had with the reopening of schools. I'm sorry it's been so rough! And 40 teachers to fill online positions....wow. That's got to be hard!

      Delete
  11. FISHIES! looks so peaceful. and MARCO! sounds like youse guys had a wonderful holiday weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Loss is so hard, but eventually the pain is softened. It is how we survive.

    It is always a delight to see Marco,

    The aquarium is stunning.

    I am glad to read that your school is not crowded with kids. tRump, knowing that the virus affects all ages and demands that schools open with little or no help from the Federal government is beyond contempt in my eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Everything tRump does is just downright despicable. It keeps getting worse and worse--it's like there's no bottom.

      Thank you for the aquarium compliment! I'll pass it on to Gregg.

      Delete
  13. I can definitely relate to having less time to blog. Holy cow. I forgot how hard it is to have a full-time job! LOL

    The aquarium looks great! And your fig tree looks happy. We put our fig in the ground this spring, so we'll also be experimenting to see how it fares over the winter.

    I'm glad things are getting easier and you're feeling more able to enjoy "the little things." I'm sure Marco loves his "outdoor" perch!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I somehow missed that you planted a fig, too! That's awesome. Yes, a full time job really does cramp one's style, huh? :)

      Delete
  14. That aquarium is awesome. Pleased to hear you are feeling happier.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Glad you checked in. I've been thinking about you and hoping you are doing OK.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for thinking of me. How are you these days?

      Delete
  16. I just set up a larger Aquarium here by my Computer since watching the Tropical Fish is soothing. Now I just put all the vulnerable Baby Fish in the smaller Aquarium so they won't get eaten. Glad to hear you are feeling more Positive and Happier. Not having time to Blog means your Life is becoming more Full, as it should be. We'll all be here when you can squeeze it in, Be Well and Stay Safe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there! What kind of fish do you keep? I have a small planted tank that I threw a couple of guppies in that my husband took a fancy to at the pet store where he works. They died immediately, but not before a pregnant female had 7 babies. Now they've grown up to be pretty little Green Cobra guppies. :)

      Delete
  17. My wife and I didn't have to work on Labor Day either, which really was nice!

    That rope looks great with Marco perched on it!

    Grilled pork sounds delicious, my wife and I really like grilled pork!

    Wow, that aquarium with those fish truly are beautiful!

    It's nice to meet you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's nice to meet you too! Welcome to my blog. I'm glad you're here!

      Delete
  18. I love figs! And my fish look so tiny next to those, of course my tanks a wee bit smaller. We have teachers who work at the store and they are beginning to appreciate the creativeness with which schools up here are handling the situation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For the most part, our teachers (and more importantly, our district) has done a very good job preparing for these crazy times. As for the figs, once I start getting some off the tree I'll send you a couple of jars of homemade preserves if you'd like.

      Delete
  19. That tank is beautiful, really classy looking. Trying to teach with some kids in class and some at home all over the world is crazy. Just keeping track of who is doing what and how to meet all of their needs is insane. This may push me over the edge.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Aquarium looks grand.

    Glad you are feeling on a more even keel. About all we can do these days is try to keep our heads above the water...and vote the b@stard out in November. Won't change things in the short term, but might at least slow the carnage of his administration.

    ReplyDelete
  21. The aquarium looks marvellous but why aren't those fish wearing masks and social distancing? They must be Trump supporters. Similar intelligence quotients.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I like the video of the fish, they are very active yet peaceful to watch. Marco will enjoy his rope swing on the porch; maybe he daydreams of being in the jungle. Air quality hazardous here so I had to stay inside all day.

    ReplyDelete
  23. It always make me glad to see you surrounded by love here as you are.

    ReplyDelete
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