Day 58, May 9, 2020

Day 58, May 9, 2020

WE GOT UNEMPLOYMENT!  I repeat, WE GOT UNEMPLOYMENT!

I mean, not the actual money, but the email stating we were eligible for the PUA, and for the government assistance.  My eyes teared up, because we've been waiting for news for over a month, and the bills for groceries, utilities, and cleaning supplies haven't stopped.  The money should arrive next week sometime. It's a huge relief, since while we have half the income we normally do, we still have bills to pay (and the ones that are furloughed, which will be due at some point in the next few months).

It's not as much as we were told by our accountant that we should get, but at least it's something, and that is huge right now (I'm not sure how to check on where this amount came from, so I'm going to reach out to him on Monday).  I hope other people who need their money are also starting to see it coming in, and I'm grateful, given the swell of people who are applying, that they got around to ours.

Snow in E.'s hair

In other news, it snowed.  My mom called to alert us, and when I looked out the window, sure enough, there were white flakes billowing through the sky.  In May.  Again, in MAY.  My husband started singing "Saved The Best For Last", but switched the lyrics to "Sometimes the snow comes down in May..."  E. ran outside in her coat (which I haven't put away yet because the weather has been so erratic), and I took some photos of her.  The snow wasn't showing up well in the still shots, so we did a video and sure enough, there's the billowing snow.

I'm a little concerned about our plants in the greenhouse, but Jeff turned on the space heater we keep in there (it's on a timer and a stone slab, just in case), so it stayed at a reasonable temperature for the day.  Looking at the weather report for the next week, it should warm up starting tomorrow, and after Wednesday, it's looking like the lows will finally get out of the 40's.  It's amazing the things we start to cling to in isolation.

Speaking of which, I had a conversation with my stepdad today about how trying to find food delivery is starting to feel like winning the lottery.  He said he basically spends most of the day trying to find delivery slots for Peapod (he's given up on Instacart since his and my orders got canceled by it on the days they were supposed to be delivered).  He found a slot for yesterday earlier this week (just magically open in the middle of the day!), and had called me so we could add to the order.

The order arrived late last night, so I drove over with the girls to pick it up.  My mom told me that the poor delivery driver brought everything to the porch in the pouring rain, and as he was getting ready to leave, realized he's put the wrong order.  So he had to carry everything back to the truck (again, through the driving rain), and then bring the correct order over.  I'm glad we tipped him well, and I hope he was able to go home and take a hot shower.

I'm extremely grateful to the people who are doing the shopping and delivery.  Having worked in industries that rely on tips (waitressing for caterers and bartending, respectively), Jeff and I always do our best to tip as much as we can.  That extra dollar or five goes a long way.  We were also really happy to be able to surprise the girls with a treat- mini-marshmallows, so we can make a s'mores cake tomorrow for Mother's Day.  It's the little things.

The girls also spent their Christmas Amazon Gift Cards that they received from friends and family

today.  E. purchased some fake food for the diner she's created in her room and a real ice cream maker, and R. found a few LOL dolls that she's overly excited about.  I'm happy that they both got toys (though I feel like we have enough small plastic dolls, but she's nine, so I get it), and that E's choice is something we can use as a family.  The ad we watched on Amazon involved making lemon sorbet, and I fully intend to try it out as soon as the package arrives (and sits in the dining room for a few days disinfecting itself).

I also entered a contest sponsored by my union.  We got an email that to enter, we simply needed to "like" their Facebook page, and write a quote about teaching for Teacher Appreciation Day.  I created a meme, using a photo of my daughter from when she was four and decided to be Supergirl, that says "To the world you may be a teacher, but to your students, you are a hero".  I think it's pretty accurate, and I'm hoping I win (it's a random drawing, so it's all about the odds... like ordering groceries...).