Wednesday, April 1, 2020

April #IWSG: THE ODDS ARE IN OUR FAVOR

April 1 question - The IWSG’s focus is on our writers. Each month, from all over the globe, we are a united group sharing our insecurities, our troubles, and our pain. So, in this time when our world is in crisis with the covid-19 pandemic, our optional question this month is: how are things in your world?

The awesome co-hosts for the April 1 posting of the IWSG are Diane Burton, JH Moncrieff, Anna @ Emaginette, Karen @ Reprobate Typewriter, Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard!


How in the world are you guys doing?? Normal life for me came to a screeching halt the day after the first day of my spring break. Did that make sense? Does anything make sense right now? 

It was a Thursday. We traveled to St. Louis for a day trip. We visited the zoo, the art museum, my favorite restaurant: Sugarfire Smokehouse. Whispers swirled of the virus already being in the city. Things would shut down in a day or two. It was surreal. Two days later St. Louis shut down followed by the rest of Missouri. Thankfully, we still have relatively low cases here in our town. 
Van Gogh's Starry Night on display in St. Louis
St. Louis Art Museum

My school has been closed for almost three weeks now. Being a teacher for many years, my routine of washing hands and disinfecting things is a way of life. I have, however, switched to a weekend schedule.I hope you have a routine!!

For me I get up and clean the house, work out, read to my kid (middle-grade murder mysteries, of course!), do art projects, write with my kid, take my son's puppy for a walk, watch a movie, get dinner ready. Keeping a routine will keep you going strong!
Puppy time!

My life hasn't changed too much. My two sons are taking their university classes online at home and still working on campus as essential employess. My oldest is graduating this year. Of course, they canceled graduation. We found out yesterday that they have rescheduled it for August. This news made me so happy!!!

My faith is in God and I'm grounded in his Word. People are freaking out. Stop freaking out. GET OUTSIDE! TAKE A HIKE. TAKE A WALK. MAKE A ROUTINE. I have three places I love to hike. Change it up. Get out everyday. It keeps you sane! Worrying can't change anything. Stay positive.

And yes, we are watching Hunger Games. Hope and prayers for everyone!

Currently, I'm reading the following three books (because librarians never stop reading):

The London Eye Mystery
Murder Most Unladylike (yes, I've read this a thousand times, but now I'm reading it to my daughter)
The Deadly Curse of Toco-Rey (one of Frank Peretti's Cooper Kids Adventure series!!)






32 comments:

  1. Hi Jennifer, glad that your place has few cases. Yes, I too have a routine nowadays, instead of my daily walk, I'm doing yoga and that's kind of relaxing me big time. And writing. Sadly my reading has gone for a toss. Be safe sweetheart, my prayers for you and your family.

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  2. We seem to be having a very similar experience through this whole pandemic - one college kid taking classes online now, the high school kiddo is still waiting to see what's going to be of the remainder of his sophomore year, and our two oldest boys are working with my husband at our family business. That last part makes me nervous, but we're sanitizing the place every five minutes and their interaction with any public is kept to a minimum by doing most work over the phone. It's a weird world out there, right now. Take care . . .

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    1. I just keep cleaning the house too! We haven't slowed down much around here.

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  3. Amen and well said! Yes, fresh air is good for you. So will the walk.

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    1. People are so scared to go outside. IT's the best thing for you! With nicer weather on the way, hopefully this virus takes a hike;-)

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  4. A routine sure is the way to be. Pups help too. And yeah, my ocd already had the washing hands down long ago, so no biggie here. Great they rescheduled graduation for August.

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    1. I couldn't live without my two cats. They are my therapy kitties.

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  5. Hi,
    My faith in God has me not panicking. We are on total lockdown here in Germany, but I am at peace.
    Take care and be safe.

    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

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    1. Amen, sister! They call it "shelter in place" here. But we can still go for walks thank goodness! Stay safe!

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  6. I try for routine, but publishing is bit chaotic in its schedule.

    We were planning a trip to the zoo in March (belated birthday gift) but that got scrapped in a hurry. NC's zoo is posting daily videos of the animals on their Facebook page though.

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    1. Life is always chaotic! I hear ya. I've been watching the animal cams with my daughter. So much fun!

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  7. Yes on reading and on having a routine!

    I don't know much about dogs but that looks like one big puppy! What a cutie!

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  8. You're right. We have to be flexible or you know what happens. I do not want to snap in two right now.

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  9. I haven't been able to get into a routine at all...not yet. Perhaps at some point.

    I'm glad you've been able to handle all of this so well. It's a strength, for sure.

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    1. I'm just living my life like I somewhat normally do:)

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  10. I can see how a schedule would help. Now the test is sticking to it. hehehe

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  11. Congratulations on the graduation! I'll have to track down some glue to stick myself to a schedule.

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  12. I'm terrible at making routines for myself! Luckily my normal routine hasn't changed all the much since I still go to work every day.

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  13. I feel most sorry for the seniors who are going to miss out on senior activities. They're getting the worst of it, school wise. Strange times.

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  14. My world changed in a day too. I'm working on my routines like you are. And my daughter is graduating with her masters in chemistry from University of Michigan but graduation is cancelled for her too.

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    1. Glad you are into routines:) Only thing keeping me sane!

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  15. It's lucky you got that one last trip in just in time. And what a beautiful dog! We are still going outside almost every day. It's been cold here though. Our routine involves lots of homework. I need to clean more.

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  16. Couldn't agree more about getting out in the sun and fresh air! We have a backyard homestead and have spent many hours the past few days prepping the garden boxes for planting. We also have greenways which aren't closed where we can go walk along the rivers. Thanks for sharing and thanks for teaching. I admire anyone who has the tenacity for that job! :)

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February #IWSG: Just Do It

                  Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs...