My Unheroic Busyness & My Shoe Collection

Do any of you feel like you somehow have less time during this lock down? I mean, I know all you parents feel that, because you do have less time. (And blessings upon your household for being teachers, parents, cooks, housekeepers, providers, and everything else to your kids right now.) Not to mention everyone still working outside the home to keep us supplied and healthy.

Obviously I'm not doing anything nearly as heroic, but as we've settled into the unsettling routine of never leaving home, I'm still finding myself increasingly frustrated that I don't have any "free time." Because of course I have free time. It just doesn't feel that way. Which is ridiculous, because somehow I got all my work done before, AND left the house, AND had a minimal social life, so what gives?

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I've been putting off friends, ducking online conversations and calls, and sometimes resenting the ones I do make, all because I'm just "too busy."  I know it's not healthy, but we're all broken humans here, right? So I figure you'll understand if I show you some cracks beneath the bloggy facade.

John and I just passed day 42 of isolation, and I rollercoaster between joy that we're healthy and happy and guilt over not doing more, guilt over not missing "normal life" and my friends more, guilt over isolating myself even further into this cozy-yet-frenetic bubble of busyness.

Ironically some of this busyness is from researching new ways to connect with people online, especially you guys. That irony isn't lost on me, either. "Sorry, I can't talk; I'm figuring out how to talk to people online so we can all be more social."

I've talked about this with my therapist via Zoom, and the other week she asked me what would happen if I suddenly lost both Epbot and Cake Wrecks. I shrugged, and said, "I'd just start another blog." She gave me a wry look and replied, "OK, what if you could never write another blog post again?" The very suggestion was so shocking, so icy... I just sort of sputtered at her.

Anyway, so that's where I'm at this week. Where are you?

While I wait for your answers, let me share some random old Story photos I forgot to post earlier:

Several of you were concerned to see John's back on the 'Dew, but they finally removed the BVO in it, so it's safe(r?) to drink now. Plus John loves it so dang much, I'm not about to quibble during a lockdown.

These next text boxes are out of order, so read the orange box first, then pink before green:

Tldr; my therapist has great taste in art.

(The artist is Andrew "Drone" Cosson)

No really, trust me. SO GOOD. I like red sauce with cinnamon so much now that I even doctored John's beef stew with it last week. Delish.

This reminds me: I'm watching the 2012 TMNT reboot from the beginning and I both love it and need to fangirl yell about things to someone who understands. So someone please direct me to the nearest TMNT fangirl-yelling safe space.

For all of you who love colorful shoes as much as I do:

My DIY flip-flop hangers at the bottom are a SERIOUS throwback. I wonder if anyone still finds that old tutorial and makes some?

More happy colorful things:

My Care Bears phone case has shown me how many of you have truly dirty minds. I would ask you to be my friends, but you're here, so I'm guessing we already are? Yes? SWEET. ::high five::

John has left the house only a handful of times in the past 6 weeks, and one of those was to visit the post office at 3AM to mail out the Squeegineer prizes. He avoids people, wears a mask, and disinfects in the car afterward. So don't worry, we're being safe.

Now one last giggle for the road:

I assumed John had photoshopped his results, but he didn't. Which makes this so much funnier! I can see it now: the next Magic Mike reboot, starring.... DREAMFINDER & FIGMENT.

All my hugs to you and yours. I hope you get to be super lazy and laugh a whole lot this weekend.  ::MWAH::

*****

A bunch of you loved the pop-up paper bouquet I featured in my Story last week, but the maker, LovePop, is all sold out of those right now. Lucky for us, though, they also make gorgeous pop-up cards!

LovePop Monarch Pop-Up Card

This one's my favorite -  those colors! - but hit the link to browse 15 more designs. Just make sure you also check out the front of each card, since 5-6 of them are specifically for Mother's Day. (Not this one, though.)