Pandemic At School
Week 34
Day 230 – Sunday, November 1, 2020
Even though cats don’t understand time changes, they didn’t wake me up early, they just got in some extra snuggling. It was light out at 6:30 when I got up…. So, it will be light when we drive to school for the next month which is the only positive of being on Standard Time in Evansville.
I had to drive to Meijer to pick up Hannah’s Rx. They are across town, but their prices are so much cheaper that it’s well worth the drive once a month. Their pharmacy opened at 10, so the girls and I hopped in the car, went through the Meijer drive-thru, then headed to Target. Leah wanted to get her BFF’s birthday present since her party is next Saturday. Hannah has a ridiculous amount of money in the form of Starbuck’s gift cards, so she bought us drinks for the way home.
I had a few chores to get done: vacuuming, a little more laundry, clean bathrooms, etc.
I made sausage rice casserole for dinner, and Elijah commented, “Why don’t we have this more often? It’s really good.” Well, it’s kind of a PITB to make, and it’s definitely a fall/winter dish. Leah hates it (shocking, I know), so she made some mozzarella sticks in the toaster oven.
My dad’s 75th birthday was on Thursday, and the OKC family got together for his birthday dinner today. The kids and I got on Zoom to add our “Papa-isms” to the mix and sing “Happy Birthday”.
I often listen to 90’s music while I load the dishwasher, but tonight I said, “Alexa, play ‘Hipster Holidays Radio’ on Pandora”. Why not? I’m not putting up the tree early because of cats….
At 5:15 tonight, it was dark. I hate that part of fall/winter in Evansville.
Day 231 – November 2, 2020
Today was a good, but busy day. I started by getting everyone dropped off on time, and to school 2 minutes earlier than normal. Not long after I got to my office, I received a text saying “come see me when you have a chance”. My teacher friend, Lydia, gave me two Mandalorian themed masks. They are super cool!
My morning wasn’t too busy since my two virtual students didn’t show up and two of my in-person students are quarantined. However, after lunch things got a lot more hectic. I got a text from Leah saying that she had band practice after school, which was a surprise to both of us.
The exterminator, who was scheduled for 4pm, requested 3pm. I told him, he was welcome to spray the outside of the house, but I wouldn’t be home until 4:00. I picked up Elijah, and actually got to Perry Heights around 3:45. Leah got out of band practice at 3:57 and we made it home by 4:02. The bug guy took about 5 minutes inside the house.
I made chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn. I have to say, I make a mean chicken fried steak dinner!
One of my friends in Phoenix said people are hoarding toilet paper and bottled water again. My friend in the DC area sent photos of DC boarded up…. I’m a little nervous, but I have to have faith in the goodness of most people. Right?
Day 232 – Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Elections Day! Elijah will probably stay up all night watching the numbers come in. I’ll likely be in bed, asleep before the west coast polls even close.
It was a good day at school. I think I told two kids to put their bottoms in their chairs approximately 100 times this morning, and I did not get bitten, though there was definitely a close call.
One of my virtual students who had never missed did not show up today. His mom later emailed apologizing and letting me know that her dad was being tested for COVID.
Elijah’s school had another positive student today, and they have a positive teacher out as well. About 20 students were sent home as close contacts to the student, one of whom is Elijah’s good friend.
I got an email from Riley County Kansas saying that I was a close contact… but I don’t know anyone who lives in Manhattan, Kansas, nor have I been there. I have only been in close contact with my kids and some of my students. Also, it was to an email account that I don’t give out very often, though it does contain my full name. After a lot of study, the email does seem to legitimately be from Riley County Kansas, but I have a feeling there is a Brooke Rosen (probably with a middle initial in their Gmail) at K State who did not get the email she should have. Pretty weird. Also, if that’s how contact tracing works, we are doomed.
I was pretty excited to get home and finish up dinner. I had put “taco chicken” in the crockpot this morning to be used in enchiladas. After school, I shredded the chicken and did a layered enchilada casserole in the crockpot. Yum! I made plain rice and corn to go with it since Leah’s not a fan (of anything). She was cold and hungry so she ate some of everything, lol.
My friend, Karen, came over for a few minutes to drop off some shirts and for me to attempt to put a new wrist band on her husband’s watch. However, he bought a band that was just a mm too big…. I was happy to see Karen, who has been a hermit for the past 7 months trying to keep healthy.
Day 233 - Wednesday, November 4, 2020
When I woke up, I looked at the map of the results of the election, and I was feeling really down about it.
Then, I went to the kitchen to make my lunch and eat breakfast. I heard quacking and assumed that it was Leah’s phone. There was more quacking and Hannah commented on it. When I told her I thought it was a phone, she said the cats thought it was coming from outside. I went out on the deck, and sure enough, there was a duck on the roof of the house behind us. Duck appeared to be stuck on the roof since she kept walking to the edge and looking down. Being me, I quacked at her…. She immediately flew right toward my head! I ducked (ha!) and she landed on the deck between me and the house. I was not please, and Hannah had scampered out of the way. I got between the duck and Hannah and we (duck not included) went in the house. Duck quacked at us, knocked on the glass with her beak, and really wanted in the house. The cats were super interested in their new friend.
Hannah got home around 3pm, and Duck was still on the deck. She did quiet down after dark, and I hope she found somewhere safe to sleep. Our yard is NOT safe, we have raccoons.
The school day was fine, and uneventful. It’s my travel day, so I go to both the middle and high school as well as fit in a few elementary kids. One of my perpetual no-show virtual students is now in person at the middle school. That’s definitely best for him, learning wise anyway.
I got a text from Leah during lunch that she unexpectedly had band practice after school. It’s no big deal to pick her up at 4pm. Elijah was supposed to have a Mu Alpha Theta meeting until 4:30, and I had a 3pm IEP meeting for a middle school student. However, Elijah’s meeting was cancelled, and he told me at 3:10…. So, he had to wait at the YMCA. Leah did not enjoy getting home at 4:45pm, and doing homework before her 6:30 Wednesday Night youth group.
I decided that I didn’t want to make the 15 minute drive twice in the dark, so I’m hanging out in the church parking lot.
Elijah's school had another positive student case today... but Elijah was not aware of who it was (unusual).
Day 234 - Thursday, November 5, 2020
When the sun came up this morning, I went to see if Duck was still around. I could hear her quacking in the distance, so I assumed she was well.
Apparently, the school superintendent came to witness our kindergarten class of 29 students this morning. Our kindergarten teacher is amazing, but the situation is far from it. There are several students in the class who have emotional issues, and every day either a SEL (social emotional learning) specialist or a special education coordinator has needed to come help with those students. The obvious solution is to split the class back into two classes. I guess the superintendent needed to see that for himself.
My day was pretty normal, but in my 5 minutes in the kindergarten room, a student announced, “That guy in the bathroom is just in there eating Doritos!” There was a trail of Doritos to the kindergarten boys’ bathroom….
Elijah had speech team after school, so I came home and got dinner (shepherds’ pie) in the oven before picking him up.
I put on some Christmas music to do the dishes to, and the doorbell rang. I didn’t bother to answer it until it rang the second time. It was a very animated door to door salesman who got a little snippy with me when I told him I wasn’t interested. Yikes. The neighborhood FB page noted that he was a little inappropriate with some of my neighbors.
After I was sure the coast was clear, lol, I was able to take my trash out. The kids next door were playing with Duck! I guess she didn’t go far…. I imagine she’ll be back in our yard soon enough.
Day 235 - Friday, November 6, 2020
I love how downtown Evansville randomly closes streets without any notice. Today, Main St was closed, so I had to take a short detour to get Elijah to school.
No sign of Duck today… but I’m sure she’s still in the neighborhood.
My morning was busy, but good. I got to meet a new student in one of my (many) self-contained classes. He works hard and is compliant, so no complaints!!
My afternoon was less busy, but I got to use my teacher voice on a student playing in the bathroom, and it was hilarious. “XXXX GET OUT OF THE BATHROOM, NOW! And wash your hands.”
I had not helped with kindergarten dismissal in a week or so, and it had descended into utter chaos. No words.
It’s Friday, so we got pizza.
I decided to plan a menu around food we already had, so I only need three fresh items at the grocery store tomorrow: lettuce, a tomato, and an avocado. Shouldn’t take too long, lol.
Day 236 – Saturday, November 7, 2020
It was a nice Saturday. My grocery trip was minimal and cost less than $12. I did end up getting frozen waffles, bread, and cheese to ensure Elijah’s breakfasts and lunches were not affected by my plan.
Leah’s BFF, Libby, had her 13th birthday party today. Four girls had lunch and shopped at the mall with a mall cookie to end the day. I think it was perfect for the girls, and they had a blast.
I got to see my friend, Karen, for a few minutes in the mall parking lot while we exchanged a few items with each other. We have not seen nearly enough of each other due to COVID.
My friend’s daughter has COVID symptoms and got tested today. Scary stuff.
As I was listening to Christmas music while doing the dishes tonight, Do They Know it’s Christmas by BandAid come on. Wow, that song is just so… ethnocentric. I know it was 1984, and their goal was noble, but seriously, it really was a different world. I recall really liking the song when I was 10, but it didn’t age well.
No craziness for the Rosen family today, for which I am truly thankful!
Joe Biden will be the 46th President of the United States! Georgia will have TWO Senate runoff elections that will decide who has the majority.
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