I've always considered myself to be pretty good with kids. But I've never really had the temperament for babysitting. I babysat a neighbor a few times when I was a teenager, but found it more frustrating than fun. I'm starting to get the hang of it now, though.
One of the big impacts of coronavirus has been the need for childcare for so many people. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are both in the medical field, and have two small kids (ages 6 and 2). They understandably don't feel comfortable sending the kids to daycare. The whole family has been helping out, and the last two weeks my wife and I went up to Richmond to do our part.
It can definitely be a challenge. The kids are up early, so you have to go to bed early. They need pretty constant attention. It's hard to think of fun things to do, especially when you are constrained to the house. You've read five books to them and watched two shows and look at your watch and see it's only 10 am. What are we going to do for the rest of the day?
My wife and I got into the rhythm of having "quiet time" after lunch. The 2-year-old would take a nap while the 6-year-old had quiet time in her room for a couple hours (after I played dolls with her). That gave us a much needed break in the afternoon. That break is critical to help recharge for when they are up and running around after quiet time.
One thing I learned is that young kids have limitless stomachs. Less than an hour after eating a meal, they would ask for the next thing to eat, and that continued throughout the day. Parents better have a lot of snacks in the house (both nutritional and not), or have a riot on their hands.
Babysitting can be exhausting, but it's definitely good practice for when we have kids. Just pack some patience.
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
A New Normal
There are many adjustments we have to make in this very strange time. It's hard to appreciate just how different things are when you are at home. It feels fairly normal, other than the fact that you can't really go anywhere. Where I really feel the change, though, is when I take a trip to the grocery store.
It's been a big adjustment for me, because I am used to going to Kroger every two or three days and getting 6-8 items. I usually think about what we're going to want for dinner a few days out. That has completely changed. Now we are trying to only go to the grocery store every 10 days or two weeks. Last time, my wife went. Today was my turn. It was the first time I had been there in close to four weeks.
The first thing I had to think about was meal planning. What recipes do I want to make, and what ingredients can I use for multiple recipes? I spent about an hour coming up with a list, then putting together a final grocery list that went in order of how I go through the store.
This morning, before I went, I had to figure out the mask. My wife made a mask using a black bandanna, but it took several attempts to get it to fit right on my face without being too loose or too tight. When I got to Kroger I noticed there were fewer cars in the parking lot than normal. I thought this was a good sign. But when you get in the store, it still seems like you can't escape the crowds. It definitely felt tense, with most people wearing masks and trying to stay out of everyone else's way. The only item on my list that Kroger didn't have was garlic. Is there a garlic shortage I missed? Of course, they don't have toilet paper, but I didn't even try for that. Surprisingly, I was the only person in the wine aisle. Maybe I should have camped there for a few minutes for some time to de-stress. The checkout aisles are a bit different. There are signs on the floor for where you should stand and a Plexiglass barrier in front of the cashier.
My grand total: 81 items. That seems like a ton but somehow the food goes fast! I guess that's what happens when you have nothing to do but stay home.
It's been a big adjustment for me, because I am used to going to Kroger every two or three days and getting 6-8 items. I usually think about what we're going to want for dinner a few days out. That has completely changed. Now we are trying to only go to the grocery store every 10 days or two weeks. Last time, my wife went. Today was my turn. It was the first time I had been there in close to four weeks.
The first thing I had to think about was meal planning. What recipes do I want to make, and what ingredients can I use for multiple recipes? I spent about an hour coming up with a list, then putting together a final grocery list that went in order of how I go through the store.
This morning, before I went, I had to figure out the mask. My wife made a mask using a black bandanna, but it took several attempts to get it to fit right on my face without being too loose or too tight. When I got to Kroger I noticed there were fewer cars in the parking lot than normal. I thought this was a good sign. But when you get in the store, it still seems like you can't escape the crowds. It definitely felt tense, with most people wearing masks and trying to stay out of everyone else's way. The only item on my list that Kroger didn't have was garlic. Is there a garlic shortage I missed? Of course, they don't have toilet paper, but I didn't even try for that. Surprisingly, I was the only person in the wine aisle. Maybe I should have camped there for a few minutes for some time to de-stress. The checkout aisles are a bit different. There are signs on the floor for where you should stand and a Plexiglass barrier in front of the cashier.
My grand total: 81 items. That seems like a ton but somehow the food goes fast! I guess that's what happens when you have nothing to do but stay home.
Monday, January 27, 2020
The Morning Show
It is certainly an impressive cast. Apple TV+ came out with its signature show headlined by Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell. Even big names like Martin Short stop by for guest appearances. And yet The Morning Show is one of the most frustrating shows I've ever watched.
Coming from a TV news background, I'm bound to be more critical, because I know what they get right and get wrong. But it can work: The Newsroom was a show I really liked, despite not getting all the TV stuff right. The Morning Show is just a mess. I think the root of the problem is the screenwriting. Characters don't so much talk as give speeches. Some scenes go on way too long because the character has something IMPORTANT TO SAY. There is no subtlety here. Way too many scenes feature people yelling or crying. Just in the first episode, Aniston, Witherspoon and Carell all have these moments.
What are we supposed to make of Aniston's character, Alex Levy, for example? Some moments she seems human and vulnerable (especially in the first episode). Then by the third episode she's out of control, yelling at everyone and acting like she is the main victim. There is one especially cringeworthy scene in the third episode where she tells off her bosses, saying she is the most important person at her network and she has all the power. No, you don't. Anyone in television is replaceable.
Witherspoon's Bradley Jackson is just as frustrating. She spends half the time with wide eyes looking like she's completely overwhelmed and the other half yelling at everyone at the network who just gave her a huge career boost. There's some attempt at a subplot with a drug-addicted brother and overwhelmed mother, but it feels like such an afterthought.
I'm three episodes in and there are seven left. I haven't really understood why some people hate-watch shows, but I might have to do it with this one. I really hope the writing improves, but I'm not holding my breath.
Coming from a TV news background, I'm bound to be more critical, because I know what they get right and get wrong. But it can work: The Newsroom was a show I really liked, despite not getting all the TV stuff right. The Morning Show is just a mess. I think the root of the problem is the screenwriting. Characters don't so much talk as give speeches. Some scenes go on way too long because the character has something IMPORTANT TO SAY. There is no subtlety here. Way too many scenes feature people yelling or crying. Just in the first episode, Aniston, Witherspoon and Carell all have these moments.
What are we supposed to make of Aniston's character, Alex Levy, for example? Some moments she seems human and vulnerable (especially in the first episode). Then by the third episode she's out of control, yelling at everyone and acting like she is the main victim. There is one especially cringeworthy scene in the third episode where she tells off her bosses, saying she is the most important person at her network and she has all the power. No, you don't. Anyone in television is replaceable.
Witherspoon's Bradley Jackson is just as frustrating. She spends half the time with wide eyes looking like she's completely overwhelmed and the other half yelling at everyone at the network who just gave her a huge career boost. There's some attempt at a subplot with a drug-addicted brother and overwhelmed mother, but it feels like such an afterthought.
I'm three episodes in and there are seven left. I haven't really understood why some people hate-watch shows, but I might have to do it with this one. I really hope the writing improves, but I'm not holding my breath.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Cutting the Cord
I made a decision last week that I never thought I'd make. I cancelled my DirecTV service. When I was younger, I thought cable was the one amenity I would pay any amount of money for. I worked in TV for 14 years and it was a big part of my life. But after a big jump in my DirecTV bill, my practical side took over.
I was very happy to switch from Comcast to DirecTV when I bought my townhouse. The main reason was because DirecTV offered MASN, which shows Washington Nationals games. For years I had no option to watch Nationals games, because Comcast didn't offer MASN and I lived in the Nationals home market, meaning the games would be blacked out if I bought the MLB Extra Inning package.
I really didn't have any complaints with DirecTV, other than the fact that it occasionally went out when it rained. But they do what a lot of companies do - offer you great deals for the first year or two, then jack up the prices. When my deal ran out, my bill went from less than $100 to $170. I can't justify paying $170 a month just for satellite TV. Their selling point is that you get upwards of 200 channels, but who actually needs that many? How many channels do you watch on a regular basis? 10? 15?
So yesterday I packed up all the DirecTV equipment (which was a lot more time-consuming and labor-intensive than I thought it would be) and shipped it back to them. I decided to get YouTube TV. It's $45 a month. And so far it looks like it has just about anything I would want to watch. Except MASN. Looks like I'm back where I started (but with a little more money in my wallet!).
I was very happy to switch from Comcast to DirecTV when I bought my townhouse. The main reason was because DirecTV offered MASN, which shows Washington Nationals games. For years I had no option to watch Nationals games, because Comcast didn't offer MASN and I lived in the Nationals home market, meaning the games would be blacked out if I bought the MLB Extra Inning package.
I really didn't have any complaints with DirecTV, other than the fact that it occasionally went out when it rained. But they do what a lot of companies do - offer you great deals for the first year or two, then jack up the prices. When my deal ran out, my bill went from less than $100 to $170. I can't justify paying $170 a month just for satellite TV. Their selling point is that you get upwards of 200 channels, but who actually needs that many? How many channels do you watch on a regular basis? 10? 15?
So yesterday I packed up all the DirecTV equipment (which was a lot more time-consuming and labor-intensive than I thought it would be) and shipped it back to them. I decided to get YouTube TV. It's $45 a month. And so far it looks like it has just about anything I would want to watch. Except MASN. Looks like I'm back where I started (but with a little more money in my wallet!).
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
True Detective
When True Detective season one came around, there wasn't much like it. A complicated crime story told over eight hours. Now this type of mini-series is everywhere. It's hard to replicate the success that first season had, but Nic Pizzolatto tried.
I just finished watching season three. It's interesting how the True Detective arc has gone. The first season was almost universally praised (rightfully so). The second season was largely panned. And the third season feels like it just came and went without much buzz. That's a bit unfair, because it's still quality television.
The story centered around Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali) and his quest to figure out what happened to a boy and girl who went missing in small-town Arkansas. But it's also the study of a marriage, a work partnership, and a man's fight to hold onto his memories. The story unfolds in three main timelines. One of the best aspects of the series is how it ages the characters. It's pretty clear 98% of the time which timeline we are in.
I will say, I didn't have the same reaction to this season as I did for season one. Sometimes the timeline changes felt overly complicated, and I didn't feel myself as plugged in to the main mystery. But the series ended on a high note. The last episode was probably the strongest one. You think it's going in one direction, then it pivots. There is an agonizing scene where Hays has figured out where the girl is but can't remember why he went to her house. Ali and Stephen Dorff (who plays Hays' partner Roland West) are outstanding throughout.
The way the TV landscape is now, it's hard to figure out what is really worth your time. There are so many shows on so many different channels or streaming services. If you are going to invest eight hours in something, you want it to be good. I consider True Detective season three a good investment. Now comes the hard part - figuring out what to watch next.
I just finished watching season three. It's interesting how the True Detective arc has gone. The first season was almost universally praised (rightfully so). The second season was largely panned. And the third season feels like it just came and went without much buzz. That's a bit unfair, because it's still quality television.
The story centered around Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali) and his quest to figure out what happened to a boy and girl who went missing in small-town Arkansas. But it's also the study of a marriage, a work partnership, and a man's fight to hold onto his memories. The story unfolds in three main timelines. One of the best aspects of the series is how it ages the characters. It's pretty clear 98% of the time which timeline we are in.
 |
| Roland West and Wayne Hays (HBO) |
The way the TV landscape is now, it's hard to figure out what is really worth your time. There are so many shows on so many different channels or streaming services. If you are going to invest eight hours in something, you want it to be good. I consider True Detective season three a good investment. Now comes the hard part - figuring out what to watch next.
Monday, September 30, 2019
Checking Out
It happened this weekend. Twice in fact. The football teams I have rooted for through thick and thin lost badly. And I shrugged. Found myself largely disinterested.
Let me take you back to the early 90s. My family had season tickets to RFK Stadium, and I got to go to at least one game a year to see our beloved Redskins. This was back when they were really good, before a prolonged decline. We had seats in the mezzanine. The short wall in front of us was made of whatever material allowed it to make maximum noise when we kicked and hit it. That was back when going to NFL games was fun.
I don't remember the last Redskins game I went to. Maybe 2013? Our season tickets went with us to FedEx Field, but we eventually gave them up. For many reasons. But I still structured my fall weekends around watching the Redskins and Hokies. That has changed too.
Part of that is just life getting in the way. I'm preparing to get married in a couple months and spending time with my fiancée is more important. But another reason is that my two favorite teams have just become completely unwatchable. The Redskins are 0-4, coming off a 24-3 loss to the bad New York Giants where the offense couldn't move the ball and the defense couldn't stop falling down or committing penalties. The Hokies are 2-2 and haven't looked good in any game. What's worse is there's no real hope that it's going to get better in either case, at least any time soon.
There are five stages of grief, but I'm not sure how many stages there are of fandom for a bad team. I know at some point it moves from anger to apathy, and that's where I am now. I haven't made it through one full Redskins game this year and have watched two of the four Hokie games. And I don't know how many more I'm going to invest time into watching. Someone please let me know when my beloved teams return.
Let me take you back to the early 90s. My family had season tickets to RFK Stadium, and I got to go to at least one game a year to see our beloved Redskins. This was back when they were really good, before a prolonged decline. We had seats in the mezzanine. The short wall in front of us was made of whatever material allowed it to make maximum noise when we kicked and hit it. That was back when going to NFL games was fun.
I don't remember the last Redskins game I went to. Maybe 2013? Our season tickets went with us to FedEx Field, but we eventually gave them up. For many reasons. But I still structured my fall weekends around watching the Redskins and Hokies. That has changed too.
Part of that is just life getting in the way. I'm preparing to get married in a couple months and spending time with my fiancée is more important. But another reason is that my two favorite teams have just become completely unwatchable. The Redskins are 0-4, coming off a 24-3 loss to the bad New York Giants where the offense couldn't move the ball and the defense couldn't stop falling down or committing penalties. The Hokies are 2-2 and haven't looked good in any game. What's worse is there's no real hope that it's going to get better in either case, at least any time soon.
There are five stages of grief, but I'm not sure how many stages there are of fandom for a bad team. I know at some point it moves from anger to apathy, and that's where I am now. I haven't made it through one full Redskins game this year and have watched two of the four Hokie games. And I don't know how many more I'm going to invest time into watching. Someone please let me know when my beloved teams return.
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