The longest hair

I was due for a haircut back in March when everything shut down. I tend to go longer between cuts during tax season simply because I don't have the chance to get out as often. My plan was, back in March, to sneak out of work early and get the haircut I needed. I went to the hospital that day instead.

I always get annoyed with my hair when it starts getting long, but with my inability to get it cut, I managed to ignore it. (Of all the recent events, longer hair is pretty low on the list of things to be bothered by). But this is downright weird. When it sticks up, it is tall. It moves on its own with the wind, or even when I move my head.

Dear wife says this is normal. I think she's making stuff up and that if this goes on any longer, the hair will be controlling me.

Bedtime

My kids get up at the same time every day. It's somewhere between 5:30 and 6am every morning, no matter what. That's when I get up to go to work on a normal day, so it's not too big a deal. (Although I do like a nice quiet morning, they don't happen often)

The issue is that their wake up time simply does not change. Stayed up late? Tired and cranky. Went to bed early? Got lots of sleep. Letting my kids stay up 2 hours late just so they can sleep in an extra 15 minutes is a horrible trade.

So we maintain an early bedtime. It's not as simple as just sending them off to bed, there's a whole routine. Nay, a rigamarole, that when complete has our four children, at the very least, in their beds. This entire process can take over an hour, and requires preparation. It's easy in December, when the sun sets at 4pm. But now, as we approach the summer solstice? Impossible. The sun likes to stay up late, and with it half of nature, and most other people.

Blackout curtains and running fans.

All dressed up and nowhere to go

The weather is beautiful. The kids are out of school. I have the day off of work.

Everything is closed and shut down.

Whatever. I know a few good spots. Out of the way, empty and outdoors. A bit of a drive. Felt nice to be out on the road. A walk in the woods almost made the world feel normal.

Right up until we left. I saw some people wearing masks near where we parked and I was forced to remember it all again. I swear there is no escape, not even mental.

Gardening

The last couple years I've (somewhat) enjoyed gardening. Not the actual act of gardening, no. I just like the results. The kids requested sunflowers again, the wife is hoping I can help her poor bunny-riddled raspberry bush, and I have some other odds and ends I'd like to get put in the ground.

If it would stop freezing every night.

Or raining during the day.

Or snowing. Yes, it snowed this past weekend.

Oh sure I like an excuse to be lazy, but I'm working on a timetable here.

Baking

I like to bake. Always have. It has more to do with my sweet tooth than actually crafting in a kitchen. (which I also enjoy, to a point)

Store bought sweets are honestly too sweet. It's either corn syrup, artificial sweetener, or some other artificial flavoring that they just dump in in large quantities. I'm more of a rich-sweet that you can savor type.

Also when I bake at home I can make an absolute crap ton of it. Recipe makes 12 cookies? Triple it. Entire pan of brownies? Cut into maybe 4 giant pieces.

This is why I'm getting fat.