quick hello

For school this year my children are doing full-time distance learning, which is my preference during this time of pandemic, but it means that I am spending my days supervising my son's second grade experience so that he does not just read Minecraft novels for six hours a day. My daughter being older is well able to keep herself on track and has some engagement with it, although she is annoyed because I am always busy with her brother, but he needs the supervision.

We are all healthy and safe and well-fed and the like, and despite the enormous wildfires to both the east and west they did not get close enough that we had to evacuate, although the air quality has been lousy for ten days now and I miss the outdoors.

And somewhat longer...

I am attempting to emulate Jane Austen, who apparently could write despite continual interruption -- not that I aspire to her novels, but surely another DW post is possible? It has been months since I have heard myself think, although I am reasonably certain I have done it occasionally. I have taken care of children and pets and made certain we were well stocked with household supplies like toilet paper and toothpaste and celebrated our spouse's birthday

I have read Gideon the Ninth twice this year and adored it, and read Harrow the Ninth once and did not adore it -- I am not sorry I read it, but it was not at all the book I wanted it to be. Just now I am halfway through Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones, which is marvelously queer but a slow read for me, and also halfway through Yoon Ha Lee's Hexarchate Stories which is fun.

My not-at-all smol daughter (she is almost as tall as I am now and she can suddenly wear my sandals) tried the first Tiffany Aching book at my suggestion and loved it, so we both read the 2nd together, and now we are on the 3rd, although I got distracted by the Ninth books and really need to pick it back up again as she is starting to become understandably impatient. I have read lots of Pratchett previously but not those and I am loving them thoroughly.

Spouse and I have almost finished watching The Handsome Siblings on Netflix and it is extremely enjoyable. I will be sorry when it is over, but excited to begin the next series with him, which will probably (finally!) be Untamed which I did not get past the 2nd episode of on my own because no time.

Dinner tonight is likely to be delivery Greek food and I am looking forward to it.