Sunday, September 20, 2020

Just a little announcement...

 Greetings, cyber-readers! 

First off, let me apologize for coming to you today not with an entertaining anecdote or educational field trip or enlightening...idea of any kind, really. Rather, I have a bit of news to share.

You see, I've been chronicling the adventures of Team WestEnders on this site for the past (Wait. For. It...) TWELVE YEARS, and honestly, I can't even express how much I've enjoyed spouting off my own brand of nonsense during that time. And the fact that some people actually, you know, stop by here and pay attention to our shenanigans is just the icing on the cake...with a cherry on top...of the whole endeavor for me.

However, Blogger recently changed their interface (without consulting ME, obvs), and the "update" has proven to be...well, a giant pain in the patootie, as far as I'm concerned. Now, for a while they allowed you to utilize the "legacy" version, which was fine and dandy--although I've noticed that it seems to randomly pick and choose when it wants to properly display my selected photos within posts, so there's THAT major annoyance.

But on a certain date, as threatened, they took away the option and forced everyone to adopt the "new, improved" format. And folks, trust me when I tell you that I really did give it the old college try, but...I just loathe it.

So the bottom line is (because heaven forbid she just gets right to the point, yeah? This could have been one sentence! Siiighhh...) that henceforth all the everyday stories and rambling thoughts and special hijinks and whatnot will be located in their new home: thewestenders4.wordpress.com.

Of course, you're still welcome to browse the archives, if you wish; I'm planning to leave this address (thewestenders4.blogspot.com) active for...nostalgic access to older content, or what have you. 

And there you have it--definitely not goodbye, but "let's meet up later, in a slightly different spot!" Hopefully we all make it there without getting lost or encountering any....digital dangers....along the way. (Fingers crossed!) Whattya say we go fluff the pillows, break in the sofa, and break out the snacks in the fresh digs? Let's goooooooo!

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Mid-September status report...

I've always liked September, from way back in the days when it heralded the start of another academic year. (Yes, I was...heck, still am...THAT nerd...). I mean, the allure of back-to-school shopping trips to pick out some fresh clothes...and supplies...cannot be overstated, amiright? Then there's the psychological boost of flipping the calendar (if you still have one of those...which I do...) away from August, which even if it doesn't change the actual situation in the Great Outdoors, at least makes you feel like you've put the worst of the Summer swelter in your rearview. 

 

Well, obviously with the whole "working from home" scenario continuing indefinitely, there's not a whole lot of reason--or motivation, for that matter--to update the closet contents. (Hey, I faithfully make sure I'm rotating through my selection of tee-shirts, so my Zoom-mates don't see the same one twice in a row...which is as much effort as I can manage right now, to be honest. And just to be clear, because I know some of you wise guys will jump to embarrassing conclusions if I don't state this explicitly: OF COURSE I'M ALWAYS WEARING PANTS, OKAY? "Couture 2020", folks...)

 

As for the treasured Staples excursion that both Riley and I await with great anticipation every year...let's just say we got out of the store in record time...while spending under $25. Turns out you don't need much when doing the remote learning thing, so we'll see what happens if and when our district decides to move the shenanigans back onto campuses. Maybe the fun materials run is yet to come. (Fingers crossed!)

 

Fortunately, the new month did gift us with a break from the blanket of humidity that's been smothering us in recent...yeah, never mind, it seems like forever. In typical--amusing yet ridiculous--North Carolina fashion, it went something like this: weeks without end of full-blast AC running 24-7 abruptly gave way to about 48 hours of delightfully crisp and cool conditions, in which we opened all the windows in the house to allow a glorious airing. Then just as suddenly, both the overnight temps and daytime highs dropped to the point that we had to close everything back up, lest it get too COLD in the house. 

 

And that's where we are now, hovering in that awkward zone between "I'm a little chilly; I'm gonna put on a long-sleeved shirt" (yay!) and "I absolutely refuse to turn the freakin' HEAT on, so we'd better make sure it stays above 68 in here." Holy weather whiplash, Batman...yeeeaaaah, who am I trying to kid--this is totally normal for us. Eh, at least we haven't had a hurricane yet! (She says facetiously, since we're under a Flash Flood warning for the next several days, as the remnants of Sally may dump 3-6 inches of rain on us. Yippee...)

 

Realistically, I suppose Fall can't be expected to be 100% delightful; for example there's the decidedly unpleasant-but-necessary aspect of the annual flu shot to consider. For me this comes with an added wrinkle: the odd sensitivity to eggs I appear to have developed in recent years forces me to seek out the chicken-product-less version, which isn't automatically stocked by all providers. I got lucky for a couple of cycles with Harris Teeter, of all places, but this time when I asked they'd run out. However, CVS, which has never previously offered it, apparently did an about-face and is carrying it for 2020. 

 

Anyway, the chatty pharmacy technician who administered my vaccine--I think he felt bad that I had to wait a while for the contents to "warm up"--took the time to explain that it would actually be better if everyone just got the "recombinant" option, because it doesn't cause the reactions that the one grown in a petri dish does. "But,", he sighed, "it all comes down to money, probably, and this one is more expensive to produce." Huh. Immunity boost PLUS a side of unexpected education? Definitely a win/win...even with the sore arm!

 

Finally, Team WestEnders enjoyed one tiny shred of return to normalcy this past weekend, with the kickoff (Ha! Sorry…) of college football--in its pandemic format, anyway. While I do realize the whole endeavor is fraught with peril, and could go about 75 different kinds of wrong...I'm not gonna lie, it was fabulous to be able to hunker down on the sofa and watch some of the gridiron goings-on. Husband, Riley, and I even tuned into some of the Clemson game together, since it aired during primetime. Family bonding over sports? Yep, that sounds like us...

 

So we're heading toward the actual Equinox next week—whattya say we keep this seasonal party rolling with some traditional Autumn entertainment. Apple picking? Corn maze? Bonfire? I'm not sure where to find these around here...and it's too soon for pumpkin patches or leaf-peeping just yet in the Piedmont. Perhaps for now we'll just have to stick with the customary favorite: pumpkin spice flavored coffee. (Eh, even if it's iced, at this point, I'll take it...) Happy (early) Fall, y'all!

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Labor Day leisure...


Well, here we are in the midst of Labor Day weekend, which traditionally signals the de facto end of Summer. But…COVID 2020 shut down the usual cookouts and pool parties and vacations and whatnot--I’m speaking of course to those of us who followed the rules, avoided dangerous situations….and missed out on the season o’fun….siiiiighhh.

So I guess what I’m saying is that it strikes me as kind of…anticlimactic? Eh, at least we get a 3-day hiatus from…whatever our work situation looks like right now, yeah? (With sincere apologies to people whose jobs don’t recognize federal holidays, or Saturdays and Sundays. So you know what…never mind…let’s just move on, shall we?)

Reflecting on this past week, there’s not that much actual news to report. Derek’s still at South Carolina; although Corona seems to be quite active there per reports, there haven’t yet been whispers of booting the coeds out, like they did at UNC. We’re definitely waiting with bated breath for that announcement, though, and Derek is firmly in the mindset of just trying to enjoy the semester, for as long as he’s allowed to remain near campus.

Meanwhile Riley is navigating the very real challenges associated with learning such scintillating topics as AP Calculus and Physics…remotely. Let’s just say that logging into a lecture twice a week is obviously worlds different than attending class in person with your teacher Monday through Friday--and he’s struggling with the lack of both instructional hours and face-to-face interaction a little bit at this point.

As for me, I was determined to do something—ANYTHING--to break up the drudgery that hangs over the viral apocalypse. So I started out small, by taking myself to one of my favorite quirky independent shops on Franklin Street (Epilogue—highly recommend!) where I savored a yummy coffee concoction (mocha! whipped cream! enough said…) and a pleasant stretch of browsing their new and used volumes. (Seriously, nothing beats the smell of a bookstore, amiright?) Plus, walking out with a selection of fresh TBRs was the cherry on top of a wonderful visit.

My next outing came about because of an offhand comment Husband made in conversation. We were talking about past adventures, and he suddenly exclaimed, “Have you even left the state this calendar year?” I swear, a tiny little piece of my soul curled up and died with that remark—even though we quickly remembered that my mom friends and I managed to squeeze in our President’s Day getaway to Savannah right before all this…nonsense…began in earnest.

Still, it sparked a strong desire…nay, NEED…to blow this proverbial popsicle stand for a while. I didn’t necessarily require a border crossing, per se (which would demand more research and effort than I currently wanted to expend, to be honest), but at minimum, a drive somewhere to soothe the… savage travel beast…or whatever. Thus I concocted a plan to simply take a little jaunt over to Greensboro, where there’s a botanical garden that Team WestEnders didn’t have time to explore when last we tootled around the city several years ago. 

Adding to the allure of a day trip was the absolutely stellar weather we woke up to on Sunday. Remember I sent a heartfelt, semi-desperate plea out to the universe, that September would arrive bearing the gifts of cooler temps and lower humidity? Evidently the meteorological powers-that-be were paying attention to little old me, because they came through--for a couple of days, anyway.
Let’s see…a gigantic iced java to set the tone…a soothing hour behind the wheel, appreciating the music and solitude…and a scenic stroll amongst charming flora while greeting enthusiastic dogs and children (from 6 feet away, of course)—oh, and NOT sweating to death? That’s one in the Win column for sure, y’all. (Or to put it another way: exactly what the doctor ordered to restore balance to this particular human being at this moment. Aaaaahhhh….)

And finally, speaking of delightful outdoor conditions and basking in nature and such, a small gang of fitness buddies took full advantage of the extra day off to meet up for a ramble on the American Tobacco Trail in Durham. We reveled in the fact that once again it was abundantly sunny and comfortably warm--but still without the drippiness we’ve been suffering through. (I know, I know, it’s called “Summer”. Doesn’t mean I have to adore it!)

In addition to which, to celebrate our successful hour-long, 8,000-ish-step hike, we rewarded ourselves with treats from the establishments ever-so-conveniently located near the path’s entrance. (Brilliant, honestly: they get business, we get delicious noshes…and everybody’s happy!) Several other pals whose schedules didn’t allow them to participate in the exercise portion of our get-together joined us for the recreational…chatting and chewing…segment that followed.  

WOW…no wonder I’m feeling so much lighter! Who knew that self-care for early September would involve purchasing reading materials, taking a solo mini-excursion, hanging out with lovely people who AREN’T my precious family…and, apparently, a whole lot of caffeinated beverages? On second thought, I could have easily guessed ALL of this—nevertheless, I’m tremendously grateful that I had the opportunity figure it out, to thwart the monotony of 2020 for a while, and to recalibrate the system, so to speak.

Alrighty, then…with Labor Day officially in the books, what’s next? I mean, you know I’m usually adamant about not rushing holidays, but “global pandemic” and all, so whattya say we move right on into Halloween, ‘kay? Bring on the spooky decorations, pumpkin spice-apalooza, and (especially) candy bars, folks, ‘cuz this year I am Here. For. It! (Excuses self to commence stockpiling M&Ms...) Let the Fall/Winter festive season begin--whoo hoo!

Sunday, August 30, 2020

8 months down, 4 to go....

I feel like I need to kick things off by sharing a disclaimer for the following ramble through my stream of consciousness: I’ve noticed that my brain just doesn’t have the capacity these days for anything fancy, like a prettily-phrased “introduction” or a coherent “story structure” (because TWENTY TWENTY). Therefore what you’re gonna get basically amounts to a mental file cleanout containing the latest batch of…recent stuff that’s happened…with lots of love from my little pandemically isolated island to yours. (There, you’ve been warned…here we goooooo!)


So we’re a couple of weeks into the Fall semester’s version of what school will look like, and so far things seem to be chugging along pretty well. Derek took himself back to South Carolina to attend classes--even though his are all happening online, at least he gets to catch up with his friends and enjoy the university’s amenities…until the campus shuts down, anyway.

This was also the first time he’d driven himself down in August, which I’ve gotta admit was a little weird…for his mother. But he IS a Junior this year, so it seemed like a fine time to let him take care of his own business…stocking his apartment, ordering his books…and also hopefully continuing to exhibit the safe and responsible public health behavior that became somewhat second nature during his quarantined time in Casa WestEnders. (Fingers. Crossed…)

Meanwhile in the K-12 department, Riley met with his teachers in cyberland, got a taste of how his virtual AP courses are going to proceed, and figured out the “asynchronous learning” piece that is supposed to hold everything together (Incidentally, I adore that term: a multisyllabic, nerdy way of saying “time you’re supposed to spend on assignments while not physically logged into an official instructional session”. Wait a second…my explanation was even more complicated, wasn’t it? No wonder it resonates with me…) 

Honestly, his Senior year somewhat resembles college, if you think about it: Monday and Thursday he has 4 subjects, with a mixture of in-person and on-your-own format, from 9-3:45. Then Tuesday and Friday he does the same thing with his other 2 classes, but is finished by noon. And Wednesday is reserved for whatever else you need to get done, be it reading, homework, reviewing materials your teachers have sent, studying, organizing…napping…bingeing SportsCenter…(Hey, checking in with one’s mental health totally counts as a valid educational exercise these days, amiright?) 

In the midst of all this, his birthday also rolled around—which of course in Coronatimes meant a very different kind of celebration than usual. First of all, since it happened to fall on that free-form Wednesday I mentioned before, he…took himself to get an overdue haircut. Which I guess was rewarding in its own way, like “I’m old enough to drive myself to Great Clips, tell them what I want, and pay for it, independent of parental involvement?” Eh, he seemed pleased enough with the experience, so let’s just go with that…

Also on the anniversary of his birth, he got…cards. Now, if this seems lame, keep in mind that once Riley plows full-speed-ahead into what we call his “academic mode”, all of his time and attention is laser-focused on scholarly pursuits, and he prefers to confine, let’s say “recreational activities” to the weekends. Thus we were utterly unable to get him to formulate clear directives on such topics as “What would you like for a present?” or “What can we make you for your special dinner, or dessert?” The best he could do was “I’ll think about it on Saturday, okay?”

He’s also difficult to buy gifts for, in general, but fortunately I did have a brainstorm: I suggested that we set up an appointment at our local Fleet Feet store for one of their custom foot scans, after which I’d purchase him some fresh running sneakers based on the analysis and their recommendations.

He agreed that this sounded perfect, so we visited our favorite shoe specialists and found out that…his feet are very similar to mine (super-high arches being the predominant feature). Not surprisingly, then, he preferred a squishy sole (just like yours truly)…and also ended up with the same inserts I use, to provide extra stability and support. And as a bonus treat (mostly for me, the person who’d be shelling out the moolah for the swanky new gear), we discovered that they offer a 20% discount to student athletes who participate on their school’s cross-country team…yaaayyyy!

Image may contain: one or more people, sunglasses, grass, tree, outdoor, closeup and natureFinally, because he was in a relaxed leisure-time state of mind, I even got him to consider getting takeout for a belated bday dinner. He sheepishly admitted that he was in the mood for Chipotle--which is one of the standard go-to establishments that we patronize on a frequent basis. I think he might have been afraid I was, I don’t know, tired of eating the same delicious salad that I always get? But I’m NEVER going to turn down a chance to have yummy food that’s been prepared by someone else, so…burritos and ensalada, FTW! 

That’s about it…a pretty quiet end of August, all-in-all. Looking forward to the Labor Day hiatus, and Summer weather lightening up a little bit, maybe? C’mon, how are we supposed to enjoy pumpkin spice…everything…if it’s still hot and muggy? Sure, I CAN do iced coffee with Fall flavors in a pinch, but there’s just something a little bit wrong with that. So, to what deity do I owe a sacrifice, to speed up the delivery of some cooler temps, crisper air, and Autumn vibes…’cuz I’ll be ALL OVER IT, folks!

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Some things change, while others stay the same...


Image may contain: 1 person, indoorAh, do you hear that, friends? Those are the last sparkling notes of Summer 2020, lightly wafting away on the muggy August breeze. With the college kid having left yesterday, to at least begin his Junior year on campus...ish...and the High Schooler settling into his self-appointed "home office" this morning for the orientation phase of his remote-learning-style 12th grade setup, the hiatus has officially ended. And you know what? Part of me just wants to say "good riddance" to a season that was characterized by continued pandemic worries and restrictions, canceled vacations, and a generally depressing lack of, you know, "fun". 

Don't get me wrong, there are some things I remain grateful for--regardless of Rona, the ultra-rude visitor who Just. Won't. Go the Hell. AWAY. For example, although I totally sympathize with how much it sucks to lose some of his college experience, I treasured having Derek back at Casa WestEnders for an extended period. Not only did it take a load off my mind to know that he was safe, it was also just nice to be able to chat with him every day about…stuff. Such as the fact that I sold him on reading one of my absolute all-time favorite series of books after his semester ended and he had abundant free time to devote to leisure pursuits. Well, imagine my gratification when he ended up loving it as much as I do, and we were able to discuss it as he made his way through the 6 novels—it was like having our own little Book Club. (Yep, proud members of the Nerd Herd! Also apple/tree…whatever….)

It could also be considered a silver lining of the global…situation…that the reunited Goofball Brothers got to spend some bonus quality time together, hanging out, chilling, watching sporting events, and generally being the amusing, smart-aleck duo that they tend to be when in each other’s company. Honestly, with Derek being here for about an extra 2 months, adding his unique touch to the daily antics, having 4 people in the house kind of became…normal…again. Which is why--even though this is what should happen—saying goodbye again is leaving me a bit melancholy. (Ooh, wait a second…I know how to fix that! I’ll just focus on how much less food I’m going to have to buy for a while! Yes--feeling better already…)

Image may contain: 1 person, sitting, hat and indoorOne additional factor that’s probably affecting my perspective on his departure: this marks the first time I won’t be accompanying him back to SC for move-in day. With a vehicle at his disposal, and returning to the same apartment complex he lived in during the previous academic year, he just…doesn’t need me to tag along anymore. And seriously, I’m fine with that because he’s technically an adult and can handle this himself, blah blah blah…but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the shared road trip, or the inevitable shopping for supplies when we arrive, etc. Eh, I guess I’ll just have to resign myself to having a one-time reprieve, because next year it’ll be Riley’s turn! (Ay yi yi…)

For now we’ll just have to wait and see how long he’s able to stick around the university, with all (or most? some? who really knows….) of the students returning from places far and wide. He’s living a few miles from campus, and his courses were converted to online format, therefore his risk theoretically should be minimal. As for the other 27,000 kids in the petri dish? Siiighhhh…fingers crossed, y’all!

Meanwhile there’s Riley, who informed his beloved sibling that pretty much the moment Derek pulls out of the driveway, he’ll be taking over his bedroom for a workspace. You see, apparently Riley can’t focus on schoolwork in his own room, and he uses the back porch for downtime relaxation…so he determined that he needed an alternative spot to log into his video meetings, self-guided modules, and training sessions, and to grind out his assignments. As usual, he took care of these arrangements independently…including electronically signing (for me) some sort of digital permission slip related to the new technology he’ll be (taking himself to) pick up on Wednesday. (Shhh! Don’t tell!) Alrighty, then…the WFH crew seems to be managing swimmingly!

At least we did succeed in cobbling together one more…family activity of a sort…before everyone had to get back to their more business-like endeavors. First I floated the notion of another field trip--which met with, shall we say, a tepid response. Derek’s only comment when I asked the clan what they might like to do was an instantaneous, fervent, “Nothing educational!” We thought about hiking again, but were stymied by Riley’s loaded cross-country workout schedule, and the fear that on a weekend, the more popular trails—and their parking spaces--might be overrun with other like-minded nature lovers. Besides, for whatever reason Riley, particularly, seemed unenthused by the prospect of actually traveling someplace. So when he proposed that we simply find a movie to watch, we all latched onto the idea, and gave his plan our stamp of approval.

Image may contain: 1 person, sitting
Of course, that turned out to be the easy part. Next we had to actually agree on a film, which proved ridiculously challenging (especially given the sheer number of nonsensical suggestions thrown out by the Peanut Gallery…bless their little pea pickin’ hearts). After an absurd amount of debate, we selected Men in Black International (because aliens, cool sci-fi toys, and action, I guess? Ahem…and Chris Hemsworth. Just sayin’…). Then we added pizza for the guys, and because I was determined to replicate as authentic a theater atmosphere as possible, even whilst lounging in my living room…popcorn, soda, and M&Ms for me. (Dinner. Of. Champions. Amiright?)

Anyway, the cinematic choice was…let’s call it silly-but-adequately-entertaining, and we all savored our culinary treats while participating in the final episode of wholesome Team WestEnders bonding for this Summer. And with that, we move onward, toward Fall, with wishes for a well-deserved respite from things that have been plaguing us for too long—like oppressive humidity, killer viruses…and the outrageously dangerous, corrupt administration currently occupying Washington, D.C. Signing off and looking hopefully ahead for more temperate weather, a healthier world, and more competent and honest leaders…SOON!

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Mid-August musings...

Comin' at ya this week from the magical land we like to call...Extended Phase II! (And can I just add, the fact that everyone automatically knows what that means kind of sums up the state of the planet right now, yeah? Siiiighhh…) While the governor's announcement certainly came as no surprise--and once again felt like exactly the right call--it goes to show that some things haven't changed much lately. However, we do fortunately have a few updates and anecdotes to break up the late-Summer doldrums...

Speaking of which, we've arrived at that inevitable point in the season where a number of predictable things tend to occur….such as the fact that I, for one, am thoroughly OVER the double-H'd-sword of heat and humidity, and ready for the weather to take a turn. Alas, I also know that this won't happen for at least another month, so we must carry on...with the sweating....and whatnot. Also, Riley seems to have secured his membership in the elite Boredom Club (founding member: yours truly) in recent days. How do I know this? He came to me and asked, "Do you have any errands you need run? Because I NEED to get out of the house!" That's right, the nearly-17-year-old offered to complete my To Do List for me, just for the sake of driving somewhere. But hey, fighting tedium by making himself useful? I can absolutely get behind that!
Image may contain: cloud, sky, tree, outdoor, nature and water 
However, both he and Derek reached milestones of a sort this week, as they marked their last days (or nights, as it were) of work. For Derek, who spent the past several months toiling away on a 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift--or 3, or 4, depending on how late they kept him--this means a bit of a break to get his body clock and daily routine back to a reasonable facsimile of normal, before he ships off to SC for the Fall semester (more on that in a moment). And with his Senior year approaching, Riley decided to end his tenure at the grocery store to focus on his studies, at least for the beginning of the academic term, until he adjusts to his new 5-AP course load, and submits all his college applications. (Stay tuned: we'll revisit that shortly as well.)

So, now that we’ve arrived at the topic of learning and whatnot, I had Derek do one final check of his classes before I settled his tuition bill, just to see if anything had changed since the last time we took a peek. And whaddya know…his entire schedule had formally been converted to “online”. While we’re not entirely certain how this is going to play out, I do hope they have additional in-person support for some of the more challenging material…like the second level of Organic Chemistry that he’s required to take (after barely skating by Orgo I, using that handy Pass/Fail lifeline to smooth over his less-than-desirable letter grade.)

While it would theoretically be possible for him to remain at home during all this, he’s understandably itching to go back, see his friends, hang out on campus, and resume whatever kind of collegiate life is available to him…for as long as it lasts. Besides, we’re locked into a lease on his off-campus apartment anyway, and have to pay rent, so he might as well spend some time there, right? Hopefully the habits that have been instilled in him during his months in Casa WestEnders (masks! hand washing! sanitizer! 6 feet!) will prove deeply ingrained enough to survive a return to the potential chaos of a large university (fingers definitely crossed).

Riley will also be carrying on with the working-from-his-bedroom phenomenon for the foreseeable future. Tomorrow he’ll be able to log on to his student account and see what his daily agenda will look like for the year. Then next Wednesday we have an assigned time to show up at a drive-through pick up/drop off situation, where he’ll exchange the Chromebook he used last year for a shiny new flip/touch/tablet…thingie….and a mobile hotspot. Y’all…they are SERIOUS about trying to make this successful. (I mean, my favorite part was that even preschoolers will be issued IPADS. What. The. What? Brave new world, I guess…) 

Meanwhile he’s plugging away at his Common/Coalition App essays, as well as each institution’s unique requirements, and occasionally wandering by to consult with me when he can’t quite decide how he wants to address one of the writing prompts. (Naturally, I super-love these impromptu editorial meetings. I look forward to the point when he’s ready to have me do a read-through for more substantive improvements. It just…warms my little nerdy heart…)

Then on a purely recreational note, I was able to get together with some bootcamp buddies for a socially distanced paddleboarding trip, thanks to one of our intrepid organizers who took it upon herself to arrange the outing. Unlike last year, when we traveled to a nearby lake, this time we tried a river setting. I actually found that I liked it better, with the surface being smooth and calm due to the absence of motorboats whizzing by at frequent intervals! And having attempted this activity once before, I felt steadier and more comfortable on the board this time, making for an entirely pleasant float down the lazy waterway.

We paddled, we sat down and chatted, we breathed in the fresh air and admired the lovely landscape—it was an altogether delightful foray into the mystical realm of…Saxapahaw. (I couldn’t resist throwing that in there; it’s such a blast to say!) Afterwards—having earned ourselves a whole bunch of calories with our wet workout--we congregated at a local eatery called The Eddy, for a delectable brunch. Awesome exercise AND a yummy meal? Yep, that’s a Win/Win! 

Finally, you might recall that Derek and I launched an ambitious Disney/Pixar film campaign in 2019, during which we viewed 19 movies in total, either first time experiences or favorites revisited. Well, given how much we enjoyed that…and also the amount of free time we’ve had on our hands…we decided on a different “project” in 2020. This one involved identifying just a handful of what Derek considers the “top tier” flicks from OTHER studios (primarily Dreamworks), and also plowing through some of the recent offerings in the Marvel Universe one more time.

Thus we spent some entertaining Saturday nights with such gems as Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda (the originals only, no sequels!), Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Spiderman: Far from Home, and Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. And with that very appropriate final, epic selection…we’re done. Which makes me a little sad, honestly, but also feels like the right timing, with the college kid set to head south next weekend and all.

So with one more official week of Summer 2020, let’s make the most of it, shall we? We’re gonna get out there, thumb our noses at the weather forecast…yeah, and then probably retreat to the air conditioning for some cool drinks and (albeit Corona-depleted) baseball on TV. Eh, sounds like a fine antidote for August antipathy…who’s with me?

Monday, August 3, 2020

August...antics? Angst? How about a bit of both...

Trudging resignedly into August, I must confess that I'm finding it somewhat difficult right now to maintain my own morale--especially after a July that was marked by disappointments. We already had to forego our planned hiking expedition to the wilds of...Tennessee. But then this weekend we were supposed to at least end the month on a joyful note, by heading north for our annual Maryland Summer sojourn. Alas, we were thwarted once again by the damned Coronavirus, whose presence reared its ugly head amongst the friends who normally host us, causing them to shut down the inn, as it were, and advise us not to come. (They're fine, thank goodness--just exposed by someone else and exercising an abundance of understandable caution.) So if you're counting, the score is currently COVID: 4, Team WestEnders: 0. Siiiiighhhhh...

As with our previously scheduled vacation, everyone had done the responsible thing, and requested the days off from their jobs well in advance--so I guess we can be grateful for the extra downtime? For Derek this meant catching up on sleep, since his package sorting job continues to run overtime almost every shift, and therefore severely cuts into his preferred 10 hours/night of slumber. (I'm not even kidding. The dude does love his shuteye...) As for Riley, it turned out that the cross-country team had been tossing around ideas for how to replace their traditional camp experience, which takes place around this time every year at App(alacian) State, and acts as not only a training opportunity, but also a highly anticipated bonding activity.

So they chose...this weekend, naturally...meaning that Riley immediately petitioned to skip the out-of-town journey anyway, for the chance to work/hang out with his running peeps. Of course, they can't exactly replicate the format; for example, instead of (I assume) staying in dorms and using the facilities and trails at the university and in the Boone area, they're meeting up for time trials, hill sessions, goal setting, and recreation in and around Chapel Hill/Carrboro/ Durham. However, my kid (who truly defines the old adage 'early-to-bed-early-to-rise') really only wants to participate in the daylight events. So, grabbing dinner and eating together after an evening run? Not interested. Overnight camping at Jordan Lake? Oh, H...ECK NO. Eh, he seems to be enjoying himself nevertheless, and he's been pleased with his recorded times (one of which was 48 minutes...for 8...miles), so I guess that's all that matters, yeah? To each his own... 

Meanwhile, the calendar flipping to August triggered that most magical time...you know what I'm talking about...College Application Season--whoo hoo! Seriously, I'm surprised Riley didn't have an alarm set at midnight, alerting him that he could begin officially filling out his information, because he's been working on the essays for, oh, about a month now. So he used some of his bonus spare time to finalize (I use that term loosely...because it's ALWAYS subject to change with this one) the group of colleges to which he wants to apply, and to recheck and list the requirements for each one, thereby getting all of his proverbial ducks in a row waaayyyy before any deadlines even think about beginning to approach. Nope--don't try sneaking up on this guy, friends!

And while we're on the subject of academics, it's been a loooong...Spr-ummer since either of the WestEnders boys have seen, you know, an actual "school" of any sort...and only some of that is going to change. You see, our local system decided that--for now, at least--they're setting up the first semester of 2020-2021 to consist entirely of remote learning. It goes without saying that Riley is...less than enthused...about his new crop of (5) AP courses being online, but he does understand that it's the safest option. 

On the other hand, the University of South Carolina is still moving forward with their "bring everyone back (who chooses to come)" agenda. I just...don't have high hopes for 27,000 students, plus faculty and staff, staying healthy in a region that still doesn't boast promising numbers for showing they have the outbreak under any kind of control whatsoever. Fortunately, Derek's mindset seems to be realistic, even if mixed with a solid dose of pessimism. While on our family outing last week I asked him what he thought would happen this Fall, and he snorted while replying, "Oh, my group thinks it's all going to be shut back down and we'll be home by October." Well...I can't disagree with that assessment, so we'll just...wait and see? (With fingers crossed, obvs...)
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There's been a lot of that, actually--both the holding pattern and the trying to remain hopeful. With many of our usual pastimes unavailable (Can I tell you how much I miss movies? And baseball games? And doing...fun stuff...with other people?) I've struggled to figure out another diversion. I mean, the one paint-by-numbers kit I completed was super-entertaining and satisfying while it lasted, but it's not really a sustainable hobby, since no one needs a house full of...ahem...coloring-book-quality artwork. BUT I was able to identify that it was something about creating with colors that seemed to bring me the most contentment, so I decided to seek a similar medium. 

Thus I bought a watercolor tutorial set...and quickly realized that A) my "copying skills" are, shall we say "poorly developed" and B) that I'm much better at filling in someone else's vision than I am at imagining my own. This explains why all of my attempts so far resemble the output of, say, an elementary schooler. But is it amusing? Sure, as long as I manage expectations, and accept that this does not in fact represent a heretofore undiscovered well of talent--but only a pleasant way to help get through a damn pandemic. So yeah, it is what it is...and we'll take it!

And there you have it--this update leaves us a mere 2 weeks out from both of my scholars returning to their educational...whatever...after the Summer That Wasn't. Hey, at least we still get to look forward to the crushing heat and humidity sticking around for another month--or two--amiright? (Oh yeah, add that to the official tally of Things. I. Am. O-V-E-R...) Honestly, though, I remain grateful as always that my loved ones are okay, and I know this will be over someday, blah blah blah...but sometimes ya just gotta vent a little bit, so I'm also thankful for the space to do that. I feel lighter now...and definitely ready for some iced tea, a beach book (even if read inside whilst lounging in the air conditioning), and some peppy tunes. Rockin' the staycation vibes, fam...peace out!

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Woodsy Wandering Times Two...

For the conclusion of the D/J getaway, we planned to explore Gorges State Park, which had been recommended to me by a coworker when he heard I'd be roaming around the Asheville region. Google Maps helpfully informed us that in order to do so, we'd have to drive about an hour south of the city. So we packed up lots of agua and some portable munchies, and set off to seek adventure. (And for the second day in a row we managed to pass a Dunkin' on the way. I mean, how lucky can you get? Coffee-d up and ready to roll, y'all!)

Based on the fact that the parking lot was already overflowing and rangers were directing folks to leave their vehicles along the road, we figured it must be worth the trouble to get there. It was also shaping up to be a steamy weather scenario, so without further ado we planted our sneakers on the path along with the rest of the walking wanderers and pointed ourselves toward the (eventual) promised waterfall payoff.
Along the way we inhabited the forest with plenty of couples, family groups including some wee children, and no shortage or variety of dogs. However, we didn't find it difficult to move out of each other's way, and people seemed very cognizant of sharing the space in a respectful, safe manner,--which was not unexpected, but still pleasing. As for the actual traipsing through the woods, although the map called it a "strenuous" trail, Derek and I considered it a pretty easy ramble. A few hills, sure, but even though the environment is deemed "temperate rainforest", there was nothing, you know, "death defying" like some of our previous experiences in tropical countries.

Of course, there was the double-H nemesis to contend with, as I mentioned before--it was hot, humid, and downright icky* out there, even with the blessed shade providing a modicum of protection. (*Trust me, it's an accepted meteorological term. Or...I could just be making stuff up as usual...yeah, that's the one...) Fortunately, the reward of "dramatic water views" did turn out to be true, as the first scenic stop on the hike afforded us the opportunity to climb out onto enormous boulders, bask in a breeze billowing off the river, and stick our hands into the cool liquid while resting our legs.

But the real goal still lay a bit beyond this admittedly lovely and tranquil spot. So we rallied for one more section of the path, which led us to...a spectacular sight called Turtleback Falls. Here you could actually stand in the spray and get as wet as you wanted (um...Derek), without having to dip into the pools at the base (although you could do that too, if you wished, as evidenced by several other intrepid visitors who'd come prepared with swimming gear). Or you could just pause there, gaping at the beauty and power of the thundering cascade as it crashed over the rock face. (That would be...me...)

It absolutely paid us back for the tired legs and extra 2 hours on the road--since we learned that the quickest route home apparently involved backtracking the entire portion we'd covered that morning, making our return jaunt a cool...4.5 hours. (Siiighhhh...) Eh, I guess that's what we get for the privilege of enjoying all that remote...splendor...and whatnot? Also, plenty of mother/son bonding and chat time? Yeah, we'll most definitely take it, and check off another gorgeous North Carolina nature destination. Win!

Next up: once we heard back from UNC (in about 36 hours--impressive!) that Husband did NOT in fact appear to be harboring the deadly virus currently running amok in our nation, we were able to move forward with a substitute day trip, to replace the original full-fledged multi-state extravaganza we'd been forced to cancel. Thus we loaded up the (other) car with copious amounts of hydration (in light of the warnings for an obnoxiously uncomfortable triple-digit heat index), edible fuel (because...adolescent males), and sturdy shoes (since Husband had gleefully selected a 6-mile loop for our...forced march...I mean "charming trek amongst the trees").

For this outing we headed about 90 miles northwest to Pilot Mountain, where the first thing we discovered upon arrival was that...all of the amenities were unavailable. You know what I'm talking about, right? Ahem...the bathrooms were locked up tight. Which, you know, whatever, it's a Tuesday during a pandemic, so I guess I get it. But there were also no Porta-Potty-type structures, either. As in, anywhere. So one of the first things I got to do was also one of my least favorite: leaving the trail in search of privacy...and peeing behind a big-ass rock. Fortunately, there were very few other people in the park, so the chances of being caught were minuscule. I'm just sayin', this is why I don't camp, folks! Two words: INDOOR PLUMBING.

Anyway, it was a good thing we arrived when we did, because the overcast skies--while admittedly not providing the cheerful aura of a brilliantly sunny day--at least helped keep the temperature in check while we plodded through our long circular route. While it wasn't a particularly challenging course, the kids did find huge stacks of rubble to climb on periodically, which afforded them mild amusement and allowed them to commune with their...inner mountain goat spirit animals...or what have you.


Otherwise, we all agreed that we found the scenery in general...underwhelming. Husband lamented, "No water features! No scenic overlooks!" Buuuuut there were certainly benefits, such as A) tons of cardio and B) double my required number of steps for the day...all while frolicking in a bucolic setting...so there's that. Ohhhh, and perhaps because they weren't quite stimulated enough by their surroundings, the siblings had ample time for absurd conversations, such as the following:

Derek (jokingly): "Hey, do raptors have butt cracks?" (Now, I could back up and give you the segue that led to this comment--but really, you don't want to know. Also, I'd like it noted that I seemed to be hiking with a passel of 12 YEAR OLD BOYS.)
Riley (in a serious, reasonable manner): "They must...otherwise they'd be constipated."
Derek (cracking himself up): "Then they'd need a...veloci-laxative!" (Siiiighhhhh....I just...I mean...Life with the Dorkasaurus Brothers, my friends...)

This was eclipsed only by the lively discussion about whether any of the three had remembered to apply deodorant that morning before we left the house. And, based on proximity after several hours of sweating, my vote would have to be a strong NO. (I'm not responsible for Husband's upbringing, of course--but I swear, they were all taught these skills at some point...Corona has them reverting to their primitive selves, or something...)
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Once we'd finished our long lap, we intended to motor the rest of the way up to the summit, to catch the vistas from the top. On the plus side, the clouds had begun to break up by then, improving visibility and literally shining a light on both the peak, and the countryside below. While this increased the heat factor all of a sudden, the panoramic tableau made it worth a few more minutes of roasting in the July sunshine. (Especially knowing that our first stop after leaving the mountain would be at a nearby Sheetz for additional frosty beverages and fresh post-workout nibbles.)

So, it may not have been the most exhilarating venture we've ever undertaken...but it was an enjoyable day far from the confines of our own house, in the Great Outdoors...and for that, we'll chalk it up to family time well spent! And now, after several long, active days already this week, I've earned a lazy interlude of drinking iced tea, reading a book, and lounging in the air conditioning. Summer Vacation 2020, to be continued from a sofa near you...whoo hoo!

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Bumming around the Biltmore

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Well, folks--in a shocking* turn of events, just days from its scheduled kickoff, Version 3.0 of the Team WestEnders vacation got blown to smithereens. (*Except that...it actually wasn't even a little bit unexpected, given the raging dumpster fire that is 20-freakin'-20, amiright? Siiiighhh....) You see, we were all set to begin preparations for a hiking adventure (the details of which I won't bother to get into now, because who cares?) when Husband revealed that he was feeling...under the weather.

He responded to my side-eye by hastening to add that the ONLY symptom he was experiencing comprised a very stuffy head, accompanied by absolutely nothing else whatsoever. But...due to the whole "pandemic" and whatnot, I immediately advised him to go ahead and get tested anyway. I mean, I figured the likelihood of it being COVID, rather than a common cold, were approximately slim-to-none--but of the household denizens, he's the one who goes out least often, so the mystery of him contracting any kind of bug at all set off warning bells that called for further investigation. Besides, better to know, yeah?


Of course, this scuttled the get-out-of-town plan, since he wouldn't get the results until AFTER we were supposed to vamoose. And yet...there was one part of the agenda that could be saved...at least for those of us fit to travel. I'm referring to the fact that I'd purchased non-refundable--and extremely expensive, mind you--tickets to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, which we intended to tour on our way out west. While Husband obviously couldn't participate, and Riley jumped at the opportunity to, as he put it, "stay home and have some me time" (whatever the heck that means to an almost-17-year- old boy), Derek agreed to be my road trip buddy, for a brief overnight jaunt to the AVL.

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So he and I set off for western NC early Saturday morning, fortified by a stop at Dunkin' for coffee and munchkins, ready for 200+ miles of open highway. We were enjoying a pleasantly smooth journey...right up until we arrived at just about our appointed entrance time, and I realized that I'd vastly underestimated the sheer scope of this endeavor. It quickly became apparent that there would be multiple steps involved, just to get to the front door of the mansion. Show your ticket at the guard gate. Navigate several miles through the grounds to a parking lot. Catch a shuttle to take you the rest of the way to the actual house. Quite the odyssey, I tell ya!

And then...you catch sight of the...honestly, "palace" doesn't seem like an exaggeration. Because my photos don't capture the sheer immensity of the place, here's a figure that our bus driver threw out, which stuck in my head: there are FOUR ACRES of square footage inside that thing. And it's...um...grandiose? Ostentatious? Mind-blowing? Yes, all of these. (Banquet Hall, Salon, Tapestry Gallery, Oak Sitting Room, blah blah blah!) But after we'd ogled one too many excessively ornate spaces, Derek and I were highly amused by the underground section, where we encountered such delights as the "Halloween Room" (No, I don't know why), the bowling alley, the swimming pool, and the super-old-fashioned gymnasium (wooden dumbbells--how quaint!).

Once we'd gaped at all of the indoor delights, it was time to head out to the gardens, where I was looking forward to admiring some gorgeous summertime blooms, surrounded by spectacular surrounding mountain views.  Aaannd, about that...no sooner had we stepped onto the terrace and begun drinking in the vista, than we began to hear telltale rumbles of thunder, coming from the increasingly angry-looking grey clouds wreathing the distant peaks. In about, oh, 5 minutes or so, fat, aggressive raindrops started pelting down from the sky...soaking us in no time flat, and delaying our ramble amongst the roses.

Our attempt to huddle under a woefully inadequate tree for the duration was entirely pointless in terms of protection from the elements...but we did manage to wait out the downpour. On the plus side, the thunderstorm dropped the temperature more than 15 degrees, to a much more moderate level, so we shrugged off our drippy, disheveled state and continued our quest. And as far as I'm concerned, the squishy shoes were worth it, because there was some stunning flora out there in the wilds of the Biltmore. Derek patiently traipsed around with me while I got my flower fix, at which point we decided we'd achieved the desired level of satisfaction for our one-and-only visit to George Vanderbilt's masterpiece.

The only thing left to do was obtain some, you know, "real food" to close out the evening, so we picked up dinner from a cute little joint called Asheville Sandwich Company, which I'd scoped out during my pre-excursion research, and chosen based on its lovely selection of both carnivore and vegan offerings. (My crispy cauliflower banh mi with pickled veggies and sriracha mayo was sooooo tasty, by the way...) And finally, because it would be a shame to go all that way and NOT stroll around the 'Ville, we did our own little walking tour of the hip hop happening town, to soak in the nighttime vibe, listen to the street performers, peer in shop windows, etc. It was altogether entertaining, and left us feeling like we'd hit all the high notes on our (imaginary) To Do List.

Now that we've been fed and showered, it's time to rest up for Part 2 of the mini-getaway, a 4-mile state park hike on the way home tomorrow. Yay, Plan...D?

Monday, July 13, 2020

This week's barrel of nonsense...and whatnot

Well, here we are—still standing after another week in Corona-times, so let’s get a big “Whoo hoo!” for that. And you know what that means: the latest grab-bag of Team WestEnders shenanigans:

--We’ll kick it off with Riley, who has recently constructed a detailed checklist of specific items to complete for each of the universities he intends to submit applications to, when the period officially opens at the beginning of August (because…of COURSE he has…). He already requested letters of recommendation from several teachers, has begun drafting some of the short answer responses, and enlisted me to do a preliminary edit of his Common App essay. So yeah…he’s ON IT. (And lemme tell ya…obviously I love Derek to death, but I find Riley’s organization and motivation to be a refreshing change from our first experience with this process. My supervisory role is MUCH easier this time around!)

Image may contain: tree, sky, plant, outdoor and natureMeanwhile out in legislative land, the governor postponed his scheduled announcement about schools reopening, because frankly things in NC still aren’t what you’d call…um…“under control”…or even “trending in the right direction” (not so much our area, which seems to be doing okay, but the state in general). However, our local school system released their own proposal, which is…complicated, to say the least.

Without getting into too much of the minutiae, it features a phased reentry onto campuses, in which everyone shows up for one day the first week, and then does remote learning anyway until the end of September, when they begin attending in-person 2 days per week, in shifts. And it goes without saying that all of this depends on what actually happens when that many people start milling about in close proximity to one another…so we’ll just have to wait and see.

--Moving on to Derek, whose life these days mostly consists of slogging through his painful overnight shift at his Summer job. Although he’s supposed to be off at 2 a.m., he routinely doesn’t get released until 3:30 or so, and then crashes until mid-afternoon. I don’t blame him for counting down the weeks until he can stop working and (presumably) go back to college!

About that: a few weeks ago we received a 50 PAGE (!) pdf from UofSC, describing their comprehensive plan to safely bring everyone back to Columbia. It includes things like mandatory (free) testing for all staff, faculty, and students upon their return; mask requirements; reduced class size; social distancing regulations in buildings and around the grounds; and an effort to combine online and face-to-face instruction (which is ongoing, apparently, since Derek reports that his courses are still changing). This is also going to be…interesting…to see how it unfolds…and whether it’s successful…or a spectacular train wreck. Ay yi yi…

And speaking of crashing and burning, after weeks of me bugging him to check his grades, and Derek insisting that they weren’t yet available in Blackboard, we finally were able to get a final tally for his Spring semester, and it was…mostly good. Let’s just say that he earned a handful of As (yay!), but also his very first…ahem…”barely passing” score. However, it was the notoriously dreaded and difficult Organic Chemistry, and he pointed out that “when we left for Spring Break [and then switched to the at-home model] I swear I had a B-!” Siiighhh….I do accept that it must be nearly impossible to independently teach yourself a subject like THAT, so I spared him the lecture in this case.

Image may contain: sky, tree, cloud, plant, outdoor and natureThen we suffered a brief heart-stopping moment, because he’d missed the deadline to utilize the special version of the Pass/Fail option they offered this semester, for just such a…GPA-mergency. But he took it upon himself to contact the appropriate department and explain the situation, and they were willing to reopen the form for him to request his “S”. (Satisfactory? I guess? We’ll absolutely take it!)  Let’s see: forgiveness with no penalty for taking advantage of it--plus preventing the offending mark from dragging down your GPA? I’d call that an offer that is definitely too good to refuse! (And also, WHEW! Transcript crisis narrowly averted…)

--Finally, I had a fairly uneventful week--working from home, running errands when necessary, blah blah blah. But then a group of my bootcamp friends started a conversation about meeting up at a nearby lake to hang out, catch up, and enjoy nature…and that sounded like probably the best thing I’d ever heard of after months of not seeing any of them. It turned out that only a couple could make it on such short notice, but the opportunity to get together and get OUT was enticing enough to draw us from our isolated bubbles. 

So I let the GPS lead me to a spot I’ve never explored before (and would not be able to find on my own in a million years—although it’s technically near Raleigh, it felt like legit wilderness by the time I’d made all the turns into the park). My buddies were already there, manning the campsite they’d reserved and tending a small fire they’d built.

After enthusiastic air-hugs, we settled in to chat about everything that’s been going on—or, you know, NOT, as it were—and bask in the forest atmosphere. A short jaunt on foot led us down to the water, where we were able to ooh and aah over the understated, pink-tinged sunset.
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Aaaannd…there might even have been some…(mutters under her breath) singing…involved. First we wracked our brains trying to come up with pop tunes we all knew and could passably recreate, with varying degrees of success (She’s Lost That Lovin’ Feeling--a la Goose and Maverick’s bar serenade in Top Gun--was a dubious high point, if that helps paint the picture.) But we reeaaally hit our stride when I had a sudden brainstorm and suggested…Doe, a Deer. What followed was a rousing acapella medley of Sound of Music staples that I’m SURE were the delight* of our fellow campground denizens (*horror and/or hilarity).

As if that weren’t enough entertainment for one night, to cap it off, there were marshmallows (which I normally eschew due to their questionable content, but as I explained to my pal, I make basically ONE exception to my rule, namely, “roasting over an open flame”. Because c’mon, it must burn away the gelatin, right? Just…humor me on this, ‘kay? Thanks…) It felt so warm-and-fuzzy (and I don’t mean the mosquitos…or the damn humidity) to reconnect with other humans that don’t live under my own roof. So, an extremely satisfying interlude to finish off the week strong.

And with that, we head into…mid July? Sheesh. Anyway, here’s to another week of doing all the safe things, staying healthy, and hanging in there. Peace out, peeps!