How about a Silver Linings thread?

[cleo29]

This has been hard. Having to make the best of a challenging and scary situation, maybe post something that is a positive that might come out of this.

I am planning to take this time to really tackle all of the rooms in my house, so this might end up with my house the most organized and clean it has been in years.

My kids are actually playing outside more and together.

Add yours.

[ksun]

I was supposed to be at Disney for 4 days at the end of the month. I postponed it to May and extended it to 7 days and it will cost less than the 4 day trip would have.

Hopefully in 8 weeks we'll be at a point that it will be ok for me (or people in general) can do some traveling.

[cleo29]

ksun, When in May? We are supposed to be there the first week, though we are not sure if that will still be the case.

[candreco]

No packing lunches or washing lunchbox containers, for any of us.

Lots of time saved by not bothering with blow-drying or putting on makeup.

I'm basically always in athletic clothes now, so I'm ready to work out whenever I get a chance during the day, and don't have to worry about cleaning up before going back to work.

[ksun]

Mar 15, 2020 18:43:34 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

ksun , When in May? We are supposed to be there the first week, though we are not sure if that will still be the case.

May 6-12 - Disneyland, not Disney World (not sure which one you're going to). 

[eddy]

We are also going to tackle some home projects we never have time for.

I get to wear athleisure to work.

[TR]

My hair is going to be so healthy since I’m not blow drying it anymore since I’m not leaving the house.

Sweatpants every day. But this may not be totally healthy, lol.

[macmars45]

Silver linings (we are in the Seattle area):

-My DS isn't in school yet so I don't have to think about school work

-My H was just approved to work remote FT before this all happened

--We all LOVE that he gets 3 hours back in his M-F life via no commute

-I stocked up on cold/flu/COVID19 supplies a few weeks ago

-My aunt is recovering from COVID currently and my uncle is either asymptomatic or healthy

[cleo29]

Mar 15, 2020 18:44:51 GMT -5 ksun said:

Mar 15, 2020 18:43:34 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

ksun , When in May? We are supposed to be there the first week, though we are not sure if that will still be the case.

May 6-12 - Disneyland, not Disney World (not sure which one you're going to). 

Disney World. I think we might just post-pone to be safe. I need to call, normally we have a 30 days out to cancel and not lose our points. Will be talking to them this week to see what they say.

[cleo29]

Mar 15, 2020 18:45:53 GMT -5 TR said:

My hair is going to be so healthy since I’m not blow drying it anymore since I’m not leaving the house.

Sweatpants every day. But this may not be totally healthy, lol.

I don't wash my hair as often anymore, therefore do not dry it as often, and this has kept my hair in great shape.

[cville]

I bought a bike. I've wanted a bike for about 10 years. I got one because I needed more pandemic friendly activities.

I went for a ride with my girl. I couldn't get up a massive hill because it's been, like, 15 years since I rode a bike regularly. But she laughed and I laughed and it was fun.

[wildrice]

I have been really close to losing it recently, feeling overwhelmed between work being busy, school being harder than I had hoped, and trying to still find time to call my family and spend time with my husband. It's never a good time for a global pandemic, but being able to just stay home for the next couple of weeks will give me a lot of opportunity to get caught up on everything and also should allow for some phone calls and quality time with my H. So it's great timing for me personally.

My midterm, which I was feeling really unprepared for, also got postponed by 2 weeks. With all this I should have plenty of time to study.

[TR]

Mar 15, 2020 18:51:12 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

Mar 15, 2020 18:45:53 GMT -5 TR said:

My hair is going to be so healthy since I’m not blow drying it anymore since I’m not leaving the house.

Sweatpants every day. But this may not be totally healthy, lol.

I don't wash my hair as often anymore, therefore do not dry it as often, and this has kept my hair in great shape.

On the other hand, I’m also about to find out just how gray I really am because I was supposed to have a hair appointment next Monday. Which will be interesting.

[twilightmv]

I can sleep a lot later.
I actually went through the giant pile of the kids school work and Art I’ve been piling up for two years.
The boys are playing nicely together.
My husband suggested family walks.
My company is being flexible and responsible.

[TR]

If I can focus (instead of checking the news every 2 minutes) I’m gonna read a LOT of books with spring break extended a week.

[dock]

It was really nice out this weekend so we spent tons of time outside. Everything we had planned we canceled, so we didn’t have to do ANYTHING, for the first time in months. We got tons of cleaning and parts of major reno done.

[wowhead]

Our pets are so happy! The cats both want to sleep in my lap and the parrot loves “going to work” with my H. He’s WFH until at least the end of the month.

I have a very well stocked freezer and pantry. We plan to to eat from there for as long as possible and only go out for absolute essentials.

I have lots of extra guilt free knitting time.

[alleinesein]

Mar 15, 2020 18:47:16 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

Mar 15, 2020 18:44:51 GMT -5 ksun said:

May 6-12 - Disneyland, not Disney World (not sure which one you're going to). 

Disney World. I think we might just post-pone to be safe. I need to call, normally we have a 30 days out to cancel and not lose our points. Will be talking to them this week to see what they say.

They have been giving everyone back their points with no issues.  I'd hold off on calling them for now since wait times are 2-3 hours and the poor CMs are just getting verbally beat down.  We have a room at the Grand booked for April 10 and we are just waiting to see what happens in the next few weeks

[blondemoment123]

I can wear jeans to work this week. Minor, but I love jean days lol.

[alleinesein]

Our orange trees are producing a decent crop this year. I grabbed a random orange off the tree and juiced it and they are so juicy this year. I'll be having fresh OJ whenever I want in the next few weeks.

[notsopicky]

Not getting up at 5am doesn't suck. Spending time homeschooling my boy, who ASKED me to do it [apparently I birthed the ultimate weirdo], is going to be really fun--I can use my teacher & librarian training to show off my skills, lol. Obliging H to have "quality time" at 10pm rather than the 3pm getaways we've been engaged in lately will not have such devastating effects on my production the following day. Taking the dogs for long walks as part of our "homeschool PE class".

I just wonder how long this whole thing (closed schools, social distancing) will truly last.

[sandandsea]

I’m a little bit looking forward to spending more time with my kids. They’re young and I know they won’t be forever so I’m hoping the “home schooling” stuff we’ve set up for them will be fun and entertaining for them so we can enjoy the next three weeks without losing our minds and still be productive for work while working at home with a 3 & 8 year old. I’m excited to not commute.

[InBetweenDays]

It has been beautiful but cold today (Seattle) but there were so many people out walking on our street. I was weeding our raised vegetable beds and everyone was more friendly than usual - just from a distance.

The kids aren't going biking or hanging out with friends, and since all sports and activities have been cancelled we've been playing lacrosse in the yard, jumping on the trampoline, taking the dog for walks, etc.

It's supposed to be 58 and sunny by Thursday so we may go for a hike.

[seeyalater52]

@@@@@

Not commuting 2 hours by train every day is awesome now that my first trimester nausea is intense. If I were working in my office there’s no way all my coworkers wouldn’t know
I was knocked up. Plus I can sleep in.

Since I’m self-quarantining I’m less likely to get the flu than if I were out and about.

My coworkers with kids are all borderline useless so my relative lack of focus and productivity are going unnoticed.

I’ve been having weekly OB appointments and being at home means I miss a lot less work than I would if I had to go back and forth to the city.

[bears]

My outdoor training for girl scouts was cancelled and now I don't have to spend next weekend camping with strangers.

[carmenere]

Well for once we weren’t late to (virtual) church so that was good.

Today I finally re-potted my favorite house plant, which I’ve been putting off for weeks.

We’re aiming to walk our dog daily (weather permitting, the rest of this week is not looking good) and I’m going to make time for daily yoga.

[cleo29]

Mar 15, 2020 19:36:09 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

@@@@@

Not commuting 2 hours by train every day is awesome now that my first trimester nausea is intense. If I were working in my office there’s no way all my coworkers wouldn’t know
I was knocked up. Plus I can sleep in.

Since I’m self-quarantining I’m less likely to get the flu than if I were out and about.

My coworkers with kids are all borderline useless so my relative lack of focus and productivity are going unnoticed.

I’ve been having weekly OB appointments and being at home means I miss a lot less work than I would if I had to go back and forth to the city.

There is a book, Diary Of A Mad Mom-To-Be that is pretty funny. My sister read it on maternity leave and says she wished she had read it while pregnant.

[devonpow]

I’m going to take this time to actually train my hair to not need to be shampooed every day. I will only wear stretchy pants for the next 3 months. I shall drink lots of wine.

[wanderlustmom]

I’m really enjoying lots of time with my husband. Sometimes I take for granted how smart, sexy and funny he is.

I’m enjoying longer runs outside.

I like not wearing a bra.

Day drinking.

Cooking homemade dinners with no stress.

I wish I could say more bonding with our two teenagers but no. So happy they are healthy but working on enjoying them.

[katfco]

Dh is going to let us foster a shelter dog, as I'll be home the whole time and it helps alleviate the stress on the shelter.
If I stick to the schedule I made for myself and the kids, I'll be in better shape, because I'll be exercising twice a day.
I plan on getting lots of small projects done, including gardening, organizing and working on a quilt I've had for 2 years.