Hello, friends
Not a day goes by that I don't think of how I would write up a particular experience in my LJ/DW, but the truth is, I haven't even been reading in a couple of years. Meanwhile, I waste at least an hour a day reading Facebook, usually from 4:30-5:30 in the morning - between the time I unwillingly wake up and the time I actually get out of bed. Somehow LJ never felt like a waste, even when I used to spend that much time on it.
Anyway, but as it's now 2020, here is a top-10 snapshot of my current life.
1. By some mysterious alchemy, we now have a 5yo kindergartener. Due to COVID, kindergarten so far has been entirely in "virtual" mode, but they are now announcing plans to reopen in-person school for the second trimester, starting November 16, possibly even sooner for the kindergarten classes. Parents can opt out, but we will send her if they have it. However, I'm skeptical that it will even last more than a few weeks before they have to shut it down again.
2. OK, well, COVID, obviously. Also the election. I cast my ballot early last weekend so I could stop thinking about getting to the polls.
3. Two years ago (literally, I think Monday was my 2-year anniversary) I took a job as Director of Communications & Programming for our local Jewish Federation. It's been both good and bad and really deserves its own post, if I ever get that far. It does mean I've continued to work in-person in the office this entire year, because we are considered essential human services, even though most of my functions could theoretically be done from home.
4. My Etsy shop has continued to grow steadily, to the point where I generally see 1-3 orders a week. I had 111 orders in all of 2019 and have seen 134 already this year in just 10 months. It's not rent money, but it's gratifying.
5. Mr. Y (on bass) has gotten involved with a Grateful Dead cover band, which isn't his first choice of music but is shockingly marketable around here for some reason, so they are playing out a few times a month, even now.
6. I'm still active in my synagogue, the only Conservative place in the area. I've been leading their Friday night services for years now - formerly they only took place every one or two months, but since COVID, they've decided to hold an abridged Zoom service every week, so I do that. Also, I started leading High Holiday Shacharit in fall 2018, and now they've finally talked me into taking on the rest of the High Holiday davening for 2021 (ritual committee meeting this Thursday night to discuss further, but pretty sure it's a done deal). Also also, the rabbi who came shortly before we did is now retiring when his contract ends next July, so I'm also going to sit on the rabbi search committee. If you know anyone good, send them my way.
7, I've had horrible insomnia for the last, I don't know, few years? Usually I fall asleep when Aria does (around 9pm), get up and move to my own bed, go back to sleep, then wake up at 3am (still exhausted) and try for 2 hours to go back to sleep, until I give up. It's getting to where waking up at 4:30 is a good-case scenario, because I've gotten 6+ solid (if not continuous) hours and can consider getting up and doing something useful.
8. In spring of 2019 we lost 1 cat and 1 dog, both elderly, so since then we have been down to a 1-dog household. Mr. Y talks idly about getting a puppy but Aria is lobbying for a kitten, so negotiations are at an impasse thus far.
9. The house is still standing, although it's a nearer thing than it used to be. We seem to have finally sorted out the last paperwork pertaining to the transfer from the late Mom Y (only three years later), so that's a relief.
10. Still driving the 2004 Aveo I bought in fall 2014. Mr. Y is still driving the 2005 Focus he drove new off the lot, so there's that. My daily commute is a 30-min drive each way, which gives me a lot of time to look longingly at other people's cars, but fortunately the ones we have are perfectly serviceable for now.
How are you? N.B.: Cross-posted from Dreamwidth; click to view or comment on original post.
Anyway, but as it's now 2020, here is a top-10 snapshot of my current life.
1. By some mysterious alchemy, we now have a 5yo kindergartener. Due to COVID, kindergarten so far has been entirely in "virtual" mode, but they are now announcing plans to reopen in-person school for the second trimester, starting November 16, possibly even sooner for the kindergarten classes. Parents can opt out, but we will send her if they have it. However, I'm skeptical that it will even last more than a few weeks before they have to shut it down again.
2. OK, well, COVID, obviously. Also the election. I cast my ballot early last weekend so I could stop thinking about getting to the polls.
3. Two years ago (literally, I think Monday was my 2-year anniversary) I took a job as Director of Communications & Programming for our local Jewish Federation. It's been both good and bad and really deserves its own post, if I ever get that far. It does mean I've continued to work in-person in the office this entire year, because we are considered essential human services, even though most of my functions could theoretically be done from home.
4. My Etsy shop has continued to grow steadily, to the point where I generally see 1-3 orders a week. I had 111 orders in all of 2019 and have seen 134 already this year in just 10 months. It's not rent money, but it's gratifying.
5. Mr. Y (on bass) has gotten involved with a Grateful Dead cover band, which isn't his first choice of music but is shockingly marketable around here for some reason, so they are playing out a few times a month, even now.
6. I'm still active in my synagogue, the only Conservative place in the area. I've been leading their Friday night services for years now - formerly they only took place every one or two months, but since COVID, they've decided to hold an abridged Zoom service every week, so I do that. Also, I started leading High Holiday Shacharit in fall 2018, and now they've finally talked me into taking on the rest of the High Holiday davening for 2021 (ritual committee meeting this Thursday night to discuss further, but pretty sure it's a done deal). Also also, the rabbi who came shortly before we did is now retiring when his contract ends next July, so I'm also going to sit on the rabbi search committee. If you know anyone good, send them my way.
7, I've had horrible insomnia for the last, I don't know, few years? Usually I fall asleep when Aria does (around 9pm), get up and move to my own bed, go back to sleep, then wake up at 3am (still exhausted) and try for 2 hours to go back to sleep, until I give up. It's getting to where waking up at 4:30 is a good-case scenario, because I've gotten 6+ solid (if not continuous) hours and can consider getting up and doing something useful.
8. In spring of 2019 we lost 1 cat and 1 dog, both elderly, so since then we have been down to a 1-dog household. Mr. Y talks idly about getting a puppy but Aria is lobbying for a kitten, so negotiations are at an impasse thus far.
9. The house is still standing, although it's a nearer thing than it used to be. We seem to have finally sorted out the last paperwork pertaining to the transfer from the late Mom Y (only three years later), so that's a relief.
10. Still driving the 2004 Aveo I bought in fall 2014. Mr. Y is still driving the 2005 Focus he drove new off the lot, so there's that. My daily commute is a 30-min drive each way, which gives me a lot of time to look longingly at other people's cars, but fortunately the ones we have are perfectly serviceable for now.
How are you? N.B.: Cross-posted from Dreamwidth; click to view or comment on original post.