StarDate Log: 03162020
The natives are growing restless. There’s not much hope for us now. All we can do is wait and see if we can get off this godforsaken planet with all our facilities intact!
#seriouslyyoubigbabyknockitoff
Ok, perhaps the next month will be more Twilight Zone than Star Trek, but either way, a new normal is upon us. We were up late talking about what all this meant so my sleep schedule is off. I woke up at 2:00 AM and just couldn’t get back to sleep. I came downstairs, plugged into some ChillHop music on YouTube, and added 500 words to my previous blog.
That helped.
But my mind was still racing. Too much information, too many “what ifs”, and not enough time to process the fact that we are going to miss a month of school! But, that’s the new normal. That’s where we are and going forward, this is what we’ll be doing.
So, Day 1, we’ve spent recharging our batteries. We slept in, had our coffee watching the news, and have puttered around the house all day. However, I’m not going lie, the emails from our superintendent and principal have my anxiety level through the roof. We are going to look at professional development, but we are to have a virtual meeting to share information. The emails are vague (on purpose I’m sure) but I’m already anxious. This isn’t helping.
We are making a list of things we’d like to do during these thirty days. Clean the basement, clean the attic, hiking a couple of different trails, and if it warms up, getting the bikes out. I got a Rasberry Pi for Christmas a couple of years ago, so I need to fire that up and get into it, along with figuring out some more Minecraft things too. I’d love to do a Minecraft club, however, I’d also love to be a little more adept at playing the game! Reading a couple of books would be a great goal as well, not stuff here, but a real book. And lord knows I have PLENTY of books that I’ve purchased and not read. Tomorrow, we’ll get to a new food bank and get training to be volunteers there.
So, we’ll see what happens. My hope is that my anxiety is just wasted energy, that parents will understand that we are flying just as blind as they are and that we can all get through this with as few hiccups as possible.
If not, this new normal will be a very uncomfortable normal.
#coronavirusvacation
March 16, 2020 at 10:12 pm
Love that hashtag! And it’s so true…already it’s a new normal. I like the idea of taking a couple of days and just kind of relaxing. I wish my sons would take a note!
March 16, 2020 at 10:33 pm
I know we’ll get ramped up, but today, we needed today to let our brains process the past week. 🙂
March 16, 2020 at 10:13 pm
I love your humor! Sounds like you’ve got some great house and personal goals for the next few weeks. I’m jealous of your relaxed morning today!
March 16, 2020 at 10:35 pm
I can hope that we’ll make it work! 🙂
March 16, 2020 at 10:44 pm
Darin, your opening paragraph is hilarious. I love your plans for this unexpected vacation. You will make the most of it.
This is my third week of being out of school for COVID-19, and I can guarantee the anxiety level goes down, as the learning goes up. You are flying blind now, but you will see how much you learn about teaching children virtually. Here we all learn something new every day.
All the best to you for great learning, less stress, good time to recharge, and especially health for all.
March 16, 2020 at 10:48 pm
>Here we all learn something new every day.<
Thanks, Denise! I figure I won't be an expert, but I'll be able to make this work in future classes, which is a good thing!
March 16, 2020 at 10:53 pm
Darin, It sounds like y’all are “off” for a month! That does sound nice. We’ve got to do this on-line learning thing until April 3, when we take spring break. Then, I guess we’ll probably be right back into it after break. I’m still trying to figure it all out.
March 17, 2020 at 8:40 am
>I’m still trying to figure it all out.<
You and me both. My #coronavirusvacation isn't what I wanted, but I'm hoping it can lead to some great things for us personally and for my students as well! 🙂
March 16, 2020 at 11:17 pm
Settling into this new normal is presenting its challenges. I loved your Captain’s Log start to this post! Good luck to you as you navigate all the new!
March 17, 2020 at 8:39 am
I’m that guy who hates change, and change that’s out of my control?? Yikes! We’ll make it work, what other choice do we have? 🙂
March 17, 2020 at 4:16 am
A very uncomfortable normal…I have some worries about our salaries…and what this will mean to the students…
March 17, 2020 at 8:38 am
The salary I’m not worry about. Things are in the budget, so we should be good. The kids on the other hand, very much so. I’m thinking of trying to hand with a Youtube channel, just to say hi, show them around my place, and let them know, yes, I’m worried too, but we can make it work for all of us.
March 17, 2020 at 4:55 am
We start “distance learning” today. I think (hope) we find a routine and things start to feel more settled. A new normal.
March 17, 2020 at 8:37 am
Routine is a huge thing for me because no routinue means I’m stressing eatting my weight in chocolate chips. Never a good plan to say the least, so we were up and going at a reasonable hour, shut the TV off, and I’m off to get a run in! 🙂
March 17, 2020 at 6:49 am
Loved your intro and story, too. Especially liked your last hashtag ‘corona virus vacation’. All of this time off, and no one can go anywhere, so it’s up to each of us to make the most of this vacation…guess I need to begin making a list. 🙂
March 17, 2020 at 8:36 am
My only problem with a list, I get “list gulit” when I don’t have something to cross off! Otherwise, I’m feeling better about things (even though I didn’t sleep well again). We’ll see how this all turns out. 🙂
March 18, 2020 at 6:39 pm
Today was my second day of distance learning with my class. I’ve discovered that I need to find a way to pry myself away from the computer if I have any hopes of surviving this. I’ve been answering questions and trouble-shooting technology glitches that I don’t fully understand all day. It’s been exhausting. Your plans to get things done around the house and go hiking sound much better!