Fathers "day"

My kids aren't really old enough to do anything for fathers day yet (my oldest is 11, so while he can be creative, he doesn't have much in the way of means, nor has his mother been to a store since March. 2020 has been in interesting year to say the least). This means that pretty much everything is coming straight from my wife.


So for fathers day this year "my kids" got me some camping stuff. I'm excited for my trip to the boundary waters (unless civilization collapses first, fingers crossed), and this is only fanning the flames.

Chop chop

I managed to get a haircut. When I rolled in there, they pulled up my number and it said I hadn't been in since January. Fortunately it also said what my normal haircut was, which helps because six months later I forgot. I lost a wig's worth of hair. I can see without having to brush it away from my eyes. My post-shower towel is much drier than it used to be.

I turned 40 this past Sunday. I remember being very self conscious when I turned 30, but apparently it wasn't on my mind when I was blogging. I was apparently more willing to talk about getting my first smartphone. (Note: the LG Ally was a massive piece of crap) This time, it doesn't seem to bother me.

I guess I just have better things to worry about.

Santas year off

What war when?

Did anyone had "race war" in apocalypse bingo?

I guess after fire, pandemic, supply chain collapse, government-induced economic collapse, and murder hornets, this fits right in.

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.