there's nothing wrong with you that an expensive operation can't prolong

[lunabee34]

1. Emma took the AP English test last week online from home. She thinks it went well. I have already told her that even if it didn't, it doesn't matter and that it will clearly be the fault of the extraordinary circumstances under which she took it rather than her ability. Her teacher did single her out to her class as the student with the best essays so they should cozy up to her as a study buddy which made her happy. I am a little concerned that even if she does well, colleges won't accept her scores; I understand the concern that cheating may occur given the testing environment, but I really hope colleges will accept the scores. She's going to come out of high school with 24 hours of college classes taken through dual enrollment. If she can add three or six from this and three or six from the AP Environmental Science she'll take next year, she'll be able to finish a baccalaureate degree in three years or less. Whoooo!

2. I went to a socially distanced get together in a colleague's yard for about two hours. There were ten of us in lawn chairs spread very far apart from each other. It was unseasonably cool (I actually got cold) which was nice. I enjoyed talking to people outside my immediate family, but it also felt really weird. It's strange how quickly my brain has rewired to feel unsafe as soon as I leave my home although I genuinely don't see how all of us staying outside and being that far apart from each other could have been much of a risk. They started doing this weekly a couple of weeks ago when restrictions began lifting, but I probably won't go back again simply because the heat and the bugs are upon us now. The halcyon days of going outdoors are basically over. It was pretty awesome with a stiff breeze at 60 degrees. At 90 with gnats in my teeth? Not so much. LOL

3. I talked to my parents today, and they started going back to church yesterday. *sigh* Honestly, I am surprised and grateful that their church suspended operations at all, and I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. It makes me so angry and worried, though. (And then because this is what I do, I instantly jump to dwelling on the reality that if they get sick or worse, we can't go be there with them and worrying that will make everyone in the family mad at us.) I suppose I sound like a hypocrite given #2, but I think there's a real difference in being inside a building close to other people and sitting on surfaces that other people have sat on and touched when you have cancer (dad) and autoimmune disease (mom) and in sitting in your own chair outside in the breeze twelve feet or more from others. IDK

3. I signed the contributor release with McFarland for the book chapter. I have been so worried during this process that it would fall through somehow, but it seems on track to be published in fall. I had to laugh at the "I realize I will never make a single cent off the sale of this book" line of the release, though. Now I just have to write the chapter for MLA, and I'll be in really good shape. I ended up buying the version of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl they want all the contributors to cite from since library services are largely suspended; that arrived last week, so I can start writing it whenever the mood strikes. Of course, the October deadline does not exactly light a fire under me. LOL

4. In the last few weeks we watched Shazaam (super cute with an ending I did not expect but totally loved) and Detective Pikachu (super cute with an emotional resonance I did not expect). Definitely would recommend both.

5. We have been watching Trollhunters on Netflix, and it is an amazing cartoon. It's by the same people who do the animated series based on How to Train Your Dragon, and the voice cast is amazing (including Kelsey Grammar and Anton Yelchin). I'm so glad Fiona picked it to watch; it's really funny and deeply emotionally affecting. I've cried several times while watching it. I think a lot of you would really enjoy it.

6. I have not forgotten about all your fic prompts! Several of them are shaping up to be actual fics maybe and not just drabbles, so stay tuned. Also, we finished re-watching The Defenders this weekend, so expect some comments on that soon.

Comments

[slightweasel]

There is an order of magnitude difference between an OUTSIDE get together with social distancing, and inside church going (almost certainly without proper social distancing). You don't sound hypocritical at all. I hope that nobody in the congregation exposes your parents or anyone else. <3

[lunabee34]

I hope so, too. And I hope *they* don't expose anyone. Dad is still going infrequently for treatments to boost his immune system at the cancer center, and they still go to the grocery store although very infrequently on that one.

Thank you for the validation. I'm just in a headspace right now where I can't decide if I'm being unreasonable or hypocritical or what I'm thinking half the time. LOL

[independence1776]

According to this article, what you did is about the lowest risk activity with people outside your household that you can do. I hope your parents stay well.

[lunabee34]

Oh, thank you! That's a great article. And thanks for the sentiments as well.

*hugs*

[corvidology]

I hope things work out for Emma. I don't think they should allow the students to take the test from home if they're then going to discount the results so I would think they would count.

[lunabee34]

*nods nods*

I completely agree with you.

I think AP decided to do the testing and then individual colleges and/or systems depending on how the state runs are deciding whether to accept it or not. I read an article in NPR in which some colleges were saying they would not accept it and others were vagueing about changing their policies. Emma is likely to go to college in Georgia but the USG hasn't made a statement about it that I can find.

[china_shop]

According to our local trusted pink-haired epidemiologist, even movie theatres are safer than churches, because of the singing (talking loudly, singing, etc, make you emit more stuff from your respiratory tract (this is my terrible paraphrasing, not verbatim)). So no, not hypocritical! You're being careful. *best wishes to your parents*

Yay for the book chapter! Yay you!

ETA: Your subject line made me laugh.

[lunabee34]

Re subject line: We're watching Monty Python with Emma, so for the past few subject lines/shitpollsting, I've been saving up good quotes. :)

I'm so happy. This means I am very likely to actually get the promotion I am applying for in the fall. I mean, I have idea if the pandemic means they are going to be stingy with promotions (it does mean a pay raise), but other than that, I feel really good about my prospects because of these two publications.

Thanks for the validation. As I was saying upthread, I've just gotten to where I don't know what day it is or whether we *are* actually living in that computer simulation or whether what I think about anything is reasonable anymore. LOL

[havocthecat]

YAY, I WANT YOU TO GET THE PROMOTION!

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

Me tooo! LOL

[oracne]

I enjoyed Shazam quite a bit. Also, Philly!

[lunabee34]

The actors were so good! I love good kid actors.

[spikedluv]

It's amazing that Emma will have so many college credits under her belt before she even gets there! (I hope that colleges accept the AP scores. What else are they going to do? Not use AP scores at all, as that seems to be the only other option right now?)

It feels weird to even think about going to an approved small, social distanced gathering. I'm not ready for that, lol! You're not being irrational or hypocritical about your parents attending church. I was so angry when the orange menace said people could start going back to church no matter what states said.

It's great that you signed the contract for the chapter!

Shazam! was cute. I didn't expect the ending, either.

Yay for writing!

[lunabee34]

I know! Past!Me is so jealous. LOL I would have loved the option to have taken all those college classes while I was in high school.

I just loved Shazam. It was so sweet. I loved the last little bit where Shazam gets Superman to come to lunch with his brother.

[amejisuto]

Crossing my fingers that Emma gets the scores she needs. I'm almost certain colleges will take into account the madness that has been the last few months. And you're not a hypocrite. There is a BIG difference between being outside chatting and being packed in the pews. Is the church they're going to at least trying to social distance? Having more than one service, things like that? That might make you feel better if they are.

Good luck with writing your chapter! I'm sure you can do it in time!

[lunabee34]

They are doing a couple services and spacing people out when they go. So it's better than nothing.

I just need to buckle down and actually do the writing. Thank you for the cheerleading!

[amejisuto]

Well, that's better than nothing. I hope they stay safe.

You're welcome love! I know how difficult it is to sit down and focus right now. Good luck to you!

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

[havocthecat]

I want ALL your Shazam thoughts. I find it the most delightful found family in a VERY LONG time and I love the 14 year old Billy Batson almost more than I love Zachary Levi as Captain Marvel-aged Billy Batson. I adore his siblings and his foster parents, and how his bio mom got no shaming, but a lot of explanation of why her life was really crappy too, and I just. THIS MOVIE. Between Wonder Woman and Shazam, and also some of Aquaman, and the Birds of Prey/Harley Quinn film, the recent DC films have been things I deeply enjoy.

[lunabee34]

I really, really loved the found family theme. I loved how great the cast is. And the child actors are really good. I was not expecting them all to become superheroes, and that was so heartwarming.

I still haven't seen Aquaman or Birds of Prey yet. I've got to get on that.