Crazy Times
last update: 05/28 @ 11:18

In these crazy, stay at home times, we’re very fortunate. We’ve each set up a work space of our own.

Sarah has the most experience having been teleworking at HUB for years before this latest, full-time, all-the-time telework order.

She has her spot in the living room (currently also the train room as Robert has rediscovered the joys of complex train layouts). He never saw the N-gauge track I had in Richmond or the plans his paternal grandfather had for the basement of their garage in Seven Devils.

And you can see one of the birthday balloons — they are hanging in well — and Robert’s head way back in addition completed just about two years ago. (Excellent timing for the extra and lovely space).

Robert has more physical paperwork than Sarah and I and some has taken up some space next to his desk. (The drawers are full of other important things.)

And his allegiance to home town teams is clear.

Often he’ll work on school work to a soundtrack from his phone. This photo is from one of the times with only one set of headphones on. You’ll have to ask him to explain why he often needs two.

And I have the office that came with the house, in the basement. I don’t always have these two companions, but Sarah got this great picture when they were both camped out with me.

I’ve adapted to the full-time TW by following as much of my old routine as possible. I’m on the clock when dressed for work (but my work shoes are still in the office), and off the clock when I change back to my more casual clothes.

In addition to the good timing on the addition, I finally decided to drop the theoretical benefits of DSL for the bigger pipe possible with cable Internet access. Our commercial cable connection is serving us well and easily supports the three video calls often going on simultaneously.

As I said, we are very fortunate.

(0) Comments -- permanent link
Edit this (owner only)

Odd Birthday
last update: 05/23 @ 11:21

To celebrate without our traditional Los Tios sombrero, Robert harkened back to my dad’s 80th and declared we should have balloons strewn about the place.

I thought big balloons would be fun.

But I didn’t realize how big big could be. These were huge balloons!

And the expression on Sarah’s face when she came down in the morning was great; we almost bowled her over in surprise.

And speaking of surprise, Robert thought to sneak her gift, two wooden Red Line metro cars, into a balloon. Before I realized how big these were (including inflation collar), I thought that would be impossible.

However, that was the most unique wrapping ever!.

That pink balloon in front of Robert has the two train cars in it.

While Sarah was volunteering at the health department, answering calls about the coronavirus and I was working in my covid-19 basement office, Robert baked Sarah this great cake with both dark and milk chocolate frosting.

And note how it’s surrounded by the train cars.

(0) Comments -- permanent link
Edit this (owner only)

Not completely obsessed…
last update: 05/15 @ 23:12

Too early to tell.

But, we have a new way to pass the stay-at-home time:

Night badminton with the cool LED shuttlecocks that Sarah found.

The neighbors (best neighbors ever) put up a badminton net. And Sarah found the LED shuttlecocks.

So…

… Our new way to pass the time while we wait out the coronavirus.

Virginia is starting to re-open, except for our part. But maybe the chart is starting to trend the right way for Alexandria… Check back in a week or so.

(0) Comments -- permanent link
Edit this (owner only)

Stars are born…
last update: 05/07 @ 20:58

They have starting roles (well, sort of) in one of her videos (about three and half minutes in, if your not a dog person).

Check out Synergy Animal Behavior’s YouTube for more.

(0) Comments -- permanent link
Edit this (owner only)

Topic of the year…
last update: 05/03 @ 11:47

Like everyone else, I’ve become obsessed with the Covid-19 stats. And Alexandria has been announcing new cases (and much less frequently, deaths) for several weeks now.

Every time I think the chart is starting to trend the right way, there’s another spike.

All the usual caveats apply: testing is still much too spotty to really know what’s happening. And new positive tests (and confirmed related deaths) may not really be the best measure of how close we are to passing through this crisis.

(0) Comments -- permanent link
Edit this (owner only)

Flyover
last update: 05/02 @ 19:51

We decided to try the Washington National Airport parking deck to see the flyover today. That worked well — we were not the only ones but it’s a big space.

I’m not sure this is really the best us of federal government dollars in the current situation. But no one asked us so we enjoyed the beautiful spring weather and the show.

And yes, we kept our distance from others and wore our masks as recommended by the scientists.

Afterwards, we came home to read books on the porch — continuing to enjoy the great weather. But we’d really like to venture further afield and get back to more favored outdoor activities.

(0) Comments -- permanent link
Edit this (owner only)

It’s Tax Day
last update: 04/15 @ 16:26

And our tax day letter is in the mail. If you just can’t wait for the post office, and you happen to follow this blog, you’re in luck!

As the listing page says, “Christmas has proven too hectic for writing an annual letter, so I elected to do our annual letter writing for tax day. I hope this makes a typically less fun time a bit more fun (it does for me!).”

If you’d like to get on the exclusive list for paper copy, drop us a note.

(0) Comments -- permanent link
Edit this (owner only)

Hunt for The Egg
last update: 04/12 @ 11:43

We are all enjoying the Lego Masters show (and are waiting the the final show this week). We gave Robert a small Lego set for Easter and that formed a key element in his Peep Diorama.

The mech is trying to get The Egg back from the land of Peeps.

And it’s not going well…

…at least not yet.

The Peeps are bravely defending The Egg but the mech looks really strong.

Who will win out in the end?

Where will the Egg end up?

Which came first, the mech or the Peeps?

I mean, clearly the Peeps have The Egg now, but did they steal it from mech and he (or she) is coming to get it back? Or is the mech trying to steal The Egg from Peeps, who clearly are quite fond of it?

(0) Comments -- permanent link
Edit this (owner only)

Peep One
last update: 04/12 @ 11:35

And we’ve been watching the Netflix series, F1 Drive to Survive, and that was clearly an influence on Sarah’s Peep diorama this year.

(I prefer to think it was the show and not Robert’s learner’s permit that supplied the inspiration.)

Red Bull is one (actually, two) of the teams in the Formula One circuit that the show has followed over a couple seasons.

Here, played out in Peeps…

Clearly there are some non-peepy elements to this diorama.

But the hot wheel track, cars and Ferrari model really give it some authenticity.

And pit row and reviewing stands bring it all together.

(Just ignore the sink and dishes in the background.)

(0) Comments -- permanent link
Edit this (owner only)

Easter Eggs
last update: 04/10 @ 23:34

We dyed eggs tonight.

And this time we found the candy color dye pack: it includes a gloss to layer on after the dye dries.

And Sarah and Robert heard about using regular food dye as a drizzle or painted on.

And then Robert got the idea for an eye.

And Sarah tried to talk him out of it.

But I said, see how it looks.

Now this Easter egg needs to make it until next Halloween…

(0) Comments -- permanent link
Edit this (owner only)

Add new entry (owner only)