Keeping Busy - 4/7/2021

mbradfo2

Early on, it seems like there is a -ton- of waiting...waiting for blood results, waiting for first appointment, waiting for RE graduation for IF ladies, waiting for first scan...

How is everyone keeping themselves busy and distracted -- other than work/kids/partner?  Reading any good books or watching a good show? Hobbies?

A busy mind helps all of the waiting go a bit more quickly! 

mbradfo2

I love reading and usually knock out a chapter or two (or three or thirty) before bed. Right now, I'm reading Mistress Cromwell by Carol McGrath -- it's the *mostly fabricated story of the wife of Thomas Cromwell, a blacksmith's boy who rose to become one of the most powerful people in England during the reign of Henry VIII.  I think it gives a nice perspective on being a woman in the late medieval/early Renaissance period. Next month, Alison Weir's final book in her Tudor Queens series will come out and I will likely be devouring that.

I also like playing video games -- my husband is a huge tech geek and got me into them when we were dating. It's my usual thing to do in the evenings after chores are done and DD is in bed. I'm mostly terrible at them, but I have fun. I have a couple that I play on and off, but mostly I'm working on Elder Scrolls online and FFXIV. I like multiplayer ones because I enjoy being social

I'm also going to start refurbishing my childhood dollhouse for DD and it needs a TON of work (the porch even fell off, no clue how I'm going to fix that other than building a  new porch from scratch). So that's a big project I have on my plate. I hope it will be done by Christmas so I can give it to her.

valteach

@mbradfo2 ooh that book sounds super interesting. I’m a history teacher and I love medieval Europe. I might need to check it out, even if it’s (mostly) fabricated.

We’ve been busy finishing our basement. Our home is relatively small (1200sq ft) and 3 bedrooms. So even before this pregnancy, we wanted to get the basement done and add about 900 sq ft in a playroom/family room. Now that we’re pregnant, we’re switching plans so the “play room” the will become my oldest’s new bedroom in order to free up an upstairs bedroom for a nursery. The family room will be really big so there’s plenty of room for toys.

I’m so irritated with the process. We were going to pay someone more handy to do it for us, but they bailed. We can’t afford to hire a contractor so now the work has to be done by us... and now that just means hubby because I can’t really do as much lifting as I would have. Our plumber bailed today. Husband has the framing done, but we can’t move forward until the half bath is plumbed and electrical is ran and we just don’t feel comfortable doing those things ourselves.

Anyway, I’m rambling. Point is, outside of work, this is occupying most of our time. We DO have 8 months to figure it all out but we’re feeling more pressure now that I’m pregnant.

blueowl08

I started watching The Falcon and Winter Soldier series, which i have enjoyed so far, but only a few episodes are out. 

I finally figured out how to borrow ebooks from the library during the pandemic and I have quite a wish list/hold list going. I’m currently reading the Sarah J Mass Throne of Glass series, which is by no means high brow literature, but it’s fun.

But honestly—keeping busy is HARD. I think working from home right now is making it worse — too easy to go down a rabbit hole and I can’t go pop into someone’s office for a distraction 

@mbradfo2 ooh that book sounds interesting — I’ll have to add it to my aforementioned list. I used to love playing video games but I kind of dropped it after DD was born. My husband and I used to play single player games and just switch off — I have fond memories of playing Dragon Age that way. Maybe I’ll have to try it again. And good luck on the doll house — that sounds awesome!

@valteach oof that sounds like a lot of work but will totally be worth it when you’re done! I wish either me or my husband were handy — we have to hire people to do anything. We can barely use a drill between the two of us. 

kaitcrystalline

@mbradfo2 That book sounds awesome. I love historical fiction. Have you ever read the Discovery of Witches series. They are kind of cool because they bring in real life people from history but it's all about witches and magical creatures. 

@blueowl08 I also started watching the F and WS. I thought it was surprisingly funny! Lately I have been watching Good Trouble. It's another Spin off Series but for the Fosters. 

@valteach That sucks that they bailed. DH and I did our basement by ourselves when I was 8 months pregnant with our son. NOT the best idea LOL. I hope it goes smoothly for you guys! 

For me keeping busy is going to work, pilates, watching ALL the TV haha, focusing on my son and currently looking for new houses in our new town. Real Estate browsing is kind of an addiction once you are looking for a new house. We just went into Lockdown for 4 weeks again where I live so it will be harder since we have to stay at home. 👎 looks like I will be baking a lot. 

srprins1987

I found out on Saturday so I’m going crazy this week! I’m on spring break as I’m a teacher and I’m so looking forward to getting back to work next week to keep my mind distracted a little!

mbradfo2

@kaitcrystalline
I keep trying to watch shows but DD gets upset if I put on anything other than Paw Patrol or Shimmer/Shine and I don't have a tv set up in our room atm. So I have to watch everything on the computer which isn't as much fun. I love real estate browsing!
@blueowl08
Dragon Age is one of my -favorites-. I actually ended up playing all the way up to the end on Origins with an elf character...only to find out she couldn't marry Alistair. So I restarted my game lol  Inquisition is probably one of my all-time favorite games and I'm really looking forward to the new one! I can only really play games after DD is in bed and chores are done, so I maybe get 30 min - 1 hr in during the evening (and that's time I don't spend watching tv). Moms need more hours in the day!

@valteach
I know the pain of construction projects all too well. We put an addition on our house after DD arrived and it was awful between the stress, mess, etc. And that was with a contractor -- I can't imagine how much worse it must be if you're doing it yourself!

@srprins1987
I'm sorta walking around in a daze so I get it

blueowl08

@mbradfo2 omg I did the same thing (female elf character) and I was so upset! Rageful! I was so into Alistair. My husband thought the whole thing was funny 🙄 

JamieH2000

@mbradfo2- I have been reading the bridgerton series after binging the show in 3 days! They aren’t the best written books but still entertaining. I just finished the last one, so I need some new ones!!

@valteach- that is a lot to deal with!! We plan to finish our basement ourselves but my dad is very handy, and my husband too, but it’s still tons of hours!! Maybe some family will offer to help once they know why you can’t as much?!

@blueowl08- I am WFH too and it can be hard to distract yourself!! Are you supposed to go back soon at all? We are supposed to be back on Monday but I’m working an exception since I won’t be vaccinated for a bit 

mbradfo2

@valteach
@kaitcrystalline
Historical fiction is my favorite -- even when it's mostly made up or not exactly accurate. I have the Discovery of Witches, just haven't read it yet! I'll add that to my list! 

@blueowl08
My husband teased me relentlessly about restarting a massive game just to get the romance ending I wanted lol. Alistair is just so...Alistair. I need to replay that game; I never played the dwarf starting area. 

blueowl08

@JamieH2000 wow Monday is soon! We have not heard word of when we are going back but I would be shocked if it’s before late summer. I don’t think they want to ask anyone to come back before everyone who wants to be vaccinated can be. I suppose we have been out for over a year already, what’s a few more months?

@mbradfo2 I for one fully support restarting a game to get the right romance ending. Especially if the game is as good as Dragon Age!

JamieH2000

@blueowl08- your company is so sensible! I don’t think our leadership trusts people despite everyone working harder than ever from home the last year! It makes no sense to go back when everyone is so close to being vaccinated. I’m hoping to have my exception offficially approved today 

mbradfo2

@JamieH2000
I heard some companies require people to be on camera in their office space at home during business hours so they can monitor them to make sure no one is slacking...

My husband has a split schedule (3 days at home, 2 days at the office) and his whole department has realized that they can do remote working with the same level of productivity (as long as he has enough techs to do any hardware tasks). If DD doesn't get into the university school next year (it's a lottery), he's planning on asking HR if he can work remotely 3 weeks each month and come to the office 1 week a month so we can move closer to my family.