10 Questions with J

1) How has the coronavirus affected you and changed your life the for the next stretch?
A) Well, most of my paid work has been affected. Church has cancelled in-person services for at least the next three weeks. I just got back from my first recording session for a service. We're trying to figure out what tech we have and what we need to purchase. There are lots of questions about how and what we're going to record, and are we even going to be able to keep meeting in the church. We might not be able to even meet at the church in the next few days. The community music school is shut down through Easter, so I won't have any Monday evening rehearsals for the forseeable future, and I'm trying to figure out whether I should teach my private students here, through Skype, or not at all. Also, grocery shopping this morning was horrific. I was there at my normal time (9 AM) and there was a line halfway through the parking lot. When I got into the store I went straight to the toilet paper aisle (not for hoarding, we legit needed it) and they were down to the last three packages. They were out in three minutes. I discovered how it pays to know where everything was located. I got what I needed while those unfamiliar with the layout were figuring out where everything was. It was crazy.

2) What should we do with our Sunday morning at home in quarantine?
A) We are going to sleep in. We are going to have leisurely coffee (perhaps with an Irish splash) and attempt a fancy brunch dish (eggs benedict) as something different and fun. Owen and I will continue working on the puzzle we started today. I expect there'll be a lot of book reading, game playing, and possibly a movie.

N.B. J is such a better interviewee than the kids

3) What have you been reading recently, and what do you recommend?
A) I'm currently reading Grisham's The Rainmaker (which is a re-read), but I've been enjoying re-reading and am finding the only way I can stay focused on a book recently is to pick something up that doesn't require much mental effort. I recently finished Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come, which was a real-life shintrovert's year of trying new/scary/extroverted things. It was hilarious, it was insightful, and one couldn't help but note the irony of reading such horribly frightening anecdotes while being snuggled under a blanket with a mug of tea. With the quarantine I expect that it's going to be a record-breaking month for my book club.

4) Something that's made you sad and something that's made you happy in the last week?
A) I was happy with our date last night. Wonderful food, really good company, and it was comforting to know we can have good fellowship and food when we're stuck in our house. We've been practicing at that for a while. Sad? The realization that there's no way they're going to hold the Olympics this summer. Can/will Simone Biles hold out for at least one more year to claim all of the gold that is rightfully hers?

5) Favorite things you've eaten recently?
A) Date night in, obviously. Especially the pasta. (Bucatini al pepe) Also the Moroccan salmon and homemade pizza using my new most favorite pizza dough recipe.d

Interruption from James:
I just happened to start a new company <Felix is actively kicking him> called Wild Tiger Safe HEY GIVE US BACK THAT PILLOW <Felix runs off with the pillow and stuffed animals he dragged into the kitchen.> It's supposed to be a company that will save tigers. Owen says a good way to save tigers is to kill the poachers. That is not a very good way. We will have new ideas to help save them. But on the other hand, I guess we have some work to do.

6) You've been working with Owen very closely on his school recently. How's that going?
A) Overall, I think really well. I think he benefits from the one-on-one. I've been really pleased with how his reading seems to be improving even though we haven't spent much time working on it directly. He seems to be absorbing the skills and concepts on his own. He has good days and bad days as far as wanting to get started, but once he makes up his mind to do it he's quick as a whip at mastering the concepts and completing the work.

7) We've not seen much of our extended family recently, and who knows what the next few weeks will hold. Any bright ideas about things you'd like to do with them once we see each other again?
A) It will just be good to sit and chat and hear everyone's stories about what they've been up to. I'm sure we'll all have news.

8) It's getting warmer. What are you looking forward to doing in the great outdoors?
A) Reading outside, family hikes, letting the kids be able to burn off steam by running in the backyard. Potentially doing some outside running, though family runs have become less enjoyable.
What about in Florida, assuming you still get to go?
A) I'm trying not to get my hopes too high. I want to go the beach in Florida, and wear shorts. I want to eat ice cream outside and gab and gab and gab with my two best friends.

9) Current favorite things to do with James, Owen, and Felix?
A) James is really getting old enough to have some grown-up conversations and to think through things, which is amazing and scary and nice all at the same time. I also enjoy watching movies every now and then with James, because he doesn't ask me every two minutes what's going on.
School has been great with Owen. He's always up for playing a game, which the other two (really three) are not so much into doing. I like going grocery shopping with Felix--he's very cute and he keeps up an excellent commentary of what we're doing. And reading him stories. And brushing his teeth. We sing the ABCs while I brush his teeth, and then we sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame while he brushes his teeth. (And we take the last note up a fifth)

10) You have a big Barnes and Noble gift card. What do you get?
A) Rachel Denhollander, What Is a Girl Worth. And cookbooks. And a new puzzle. Because we have a lot of time for puzzles right now.

10) How would you spend a