The Coronavirus: Sh*t Just Got Real

Yesterday, I was in Walmart with Samantha when the emergency tones started going off all over the store. Everyone's phone screeched. What had happened in several other states across the country happened in North Carolina. COVID-19 is starting to overwhelm the system and we all need to stay home. Interestingly, everyone continued with their shopping as if it were some kind of drill.  

As non-essential businesses close we are all learning what is and is not essential. Golf courses, yes. Liquor stores, yes. The bike shop, yes. Movie theaters, no. Gyms, no (do push-ups at home). Barber shops, no. Needless to say, some of our routine is even further disrupted; I can't imagine what TJ's hair will look like after (at least) four more weeks of this situation. 

Cabin fever is taking root.  I read this morning that already, domestic incidents have risen by thirty percent. Everyone on Facebook is sharing ideas on how to entertain kids and families.  Our boys have started watching "Diary of Future President on Disney+.  Binge watching of Disney material is encouraged.  

One of the things we are all doing is writing on the sidewalks with chalk. We have seen some fun drawings, signs of encouragement, and even games to hop, jump, and skip to. And then there's our house.

I have a unique opportunity to share awful Dad Jokes with all of the neighbors.  I will make sure to update them often so people with not get bored and have a free groan on their walk. 

You're welcome South Lakes.  

The seriousness of this is setting in with some people. For others, it seems to be some overblown inconvenience for them; they are comparing it to the numbers of victims of the flu, or worse, some conspiracy to undermine the government. Millennials are partying in defiance of the warnings and then coming down sick ten days later. 

No matter what people choose to believe there are some undisputed facts. Hoarding has occurred. Society is at a pause. The national health case system is strained. The US has more recorded cases than any other nation.  Finally, we haven't even peaked in the number of cases.

There is no end in sight yet.

The Coronavirus: Crackdown

Congratulations, Brown Family! You have made it through the second week of the corona virus crackdown. Sure, its been a bit tougher this week. The novelty of staying home for school and work has worn off. So why don't we raise the steaks a bit? What if, before we enter week three, the Governor issues a "shelter in place" order. How is that different than what you've been doing, you ask? Well, things are gonna get a little bit worse. But we will save that for next week. For now, lets share a bit more about week two. . . .

Most of the week has been wet and cold. Rainy days and temperatures in the 50s. The ideal weather for staying home. And so, that's what we did. The kids continued their learning online. Grant has learned all 50 states and their capitals. I am proud of him. TJ is learning more card tricks through Great Courses. I am glad that he seems to enjoy this. That talent matches his "entertainer" personality well. 

The Wake County school system is starting to get more involved in finding an instruction solution this week too. TJs teachers have sent out more assignments over google classroom. Grant's teacher has also reached out via video to say hi. Grant decided to make her an update video on what he has been doing too. North Carolina has cancelled all state ordered testing-- so no EOGs this year. This decision has also helped the teachers get a better idea of what "school" will look like for the next month. No "new" learning will take place for the time being. Just a lot of review and activities to keep the kids engaged. 

This week, it has been easy to complain-- maybe more like whine. I've gotten in a funk a few times frustrated with the situation, my inability to control the situation, and not having a darned clue as to when all of this will end. But I also know that our family has it really good right now. We are healthy. We have a safe and warm home that has water and a refrigerator and pantry stocked with food. Heck, we even have toilet paper. Rich and I have the flexibility to work from home and to determine which hours of the day we will work from home. Many other families do not have it this easy. So I do my best to put my whining in check. 

And here are the children's writing assignments for this week. . .something to help them with their critical thinking skills. 

Learning at Home

by Grant Brown

Do you prefer learning at home or at school?

It depends. I like working at home and school the same. At school I get to see my friends in my class and teachers, but at home I get to see my mom, dad, brother, and dog. But at school you are able to work with partners and not at home.

Do you prefer your parents as your teachers or those from school?

I would have Mrs. Bushhouse as a teacher instead of my mom. Mrs. Bushhouse almost  never yells at the class. I also don’t see her every day but I see my mom every day. She also is a professional at teaching 4th graders.

If you were in charge of the school system, what would you do in this crisis?

If I were the one in charge of how we went to school during the CORONAVIRUS, I would have the kids at home for 3 months then have them come back. In those 3 months I would give them work to do like Reading Theory for reading, and for math they would have to do Khan Academy. I would let the parents decide on what they do for social studies and science. They don’t have to do recess, it is up to them.

Update 2

by TJ Brown

Do you prefer learning at home or at school?

Honestly I like working at school better than at home because I see my friends teachers. PE is actually fun at school. The teachers also have majored in teaching and they know what they are doing.

Do you prefer your parents as your teachers or those from school?

I would have my teachers instead of my parents because most of them are sometimes fun and forgiving. But if i had my mom and dad all the time, they would be less fun and unforgiving.

If you were in charge of the school system, what would you do in this crisis?

If I was the superintendent I would have all the kids who have devices and WiFi do Khan Academy or just review and learn new things online. If a kid does not have a device or WiFi, their teachers would have to send them weekly work from the mail.

The Coronavirus: Observations

These are truly some strange times. As of today, COVID-19 is now in 170 countries and the US is number three of all reported cases; with the "surge" still to come. There is anxiety in everything we say and do; this pandemic is that ubiquitous.  The past two weeks COVID-19 has taken over our lives.

People are fearful. People are starting to panic buy. I went to the commissary on Fort Bragg on March, 13. There was no chicken or rice and very little of everything else.  When I returned there yesterday there was no cooking oil or flour. Grocery stores are limiting anti-bacterial products, paper products (I haven't seen toilet paper on the shelves in a week and a half), and packages of chicken (when in stock).

People are really fearful. People are stocking up for the end times.  There is a gun store two miles from my house.  Every time I drive buy there, there are dozens of cars and trucks parked all over.  The other day there was a line to get in.  I have no desire to walk in there and gauge the crowd.

People are doing what is necessary. People are practicing social distancing. We talk to our neighbors but we do not get too close.  It is hard because everyone seems to be home and they all need to get outside lest they go stir crazy.  Our running group went out last Saturday but people took off in twos and threes. With all of the breweries and restaurants closed our Thirsty Thursday drinking club has disbanded, taking to people's backyards and sitting at six foot intervals.  

People are all filled up with no where to go. Gas prices have dramatically dropped.  Just prior to this crisis, Russia and Saudi Arabia got into a price war.  As a result gas dropped from a local price of $2.29 to about $2.00 and then $1.97 in some places.  How it is as low as $1.65.  With my Harris Teeter loyalty card, I cashed in my points and paid $1.33; a price I haven't seen in decades.  Oddly, now that gas is so cheap the corona virus has made everything off limits to drive to. Beaches are closed, national parks are closed, and local entertainment is closed!

People are learning that teaching is not easy. Our kids are willing to learn in spite of not being in school. At first North Carolina schools closed from March 16 to April 3.  Then this week, Governor Cooper closed all schools until May 15.  This is a huge impact on all of us as we try to occupy the boys with adequate math, English, science, social studies, and other activities. The boys can stick to a schedule. With a little prompting they can stay on task.  Sam is going to finish her junior year by taking classes remotely.  She is sequestered in her apartment with the basics. UNC Chapel Hill is effectively closed until further notice. The kids have taken all of these changes in stride. 

People remain faithful. Our church, the United Methodist Church in Fuquay has moved all services to a streaming feed.  The Praise Band is present but practices social distancing and the pastors keep the sermon succinct. The result is hundreds tune in from home to be a part of the church. Wonderfully, this is being repeated all over the country and all over the world.

People are strong. Our family is amazingly resilient. We are spending a lot of time together.  We are careful to not try to get under each other's skin. Parents intercede when necessary. Lisa and I move to different floors of the house if required.  All in all we are able to work, play, and enjoy one another. Thank goodness this house has love.

People hope for a swift end. Finally, there is an end to all of this. It is somewhere down the road. Maybe in May, later if necessary. We all know it is the light at the end of the tunnel. Until then we will, in the words of Bobby Blockus, "bunker down" until this passes.  

The Coronavirus: Week One

Desperate times call for desperate measures

This expression was first attributed to the Greek physician Hippocrates when he wrote, "for extreme diseases, extreme methods of cure, as to restriction, are most suitable."

How fitting to use it now as we complete our first full week of the COVID-19 "home isolation" practice. This past week, Governor Roy Cooper closed all North Carolina public schools. UNC as well as the majority of colleges in the state cancelled all in-person classes and is moving all learning online. The federal government has encouraged people to only gather in groups no larger than 10. Movie theaters are closed, as are stores like Kohls, and restaurants are closed except for carry-out, drive thru options. All of this to "flatten the curve" and slow the spread of the Corona

virus. It is a scary time. One with lots questions, and one with very few answers.

The Brown's are doing what we can to get by. Keep things as normal as possible. But what does normal look like when school is not in session, Rich is working from home, and I am trying to continue my job search? We have created a daily schedule to keep Grant and T.J engaged in their learning. Grant is having fun in his "social studies time" building a historically accurate castle on mind craft.  TJ has learned a few card tricks via his Math and Magic class found on Great Courses. We are being creative, trying to have fun, and maintain our sanity.

My mom, being 88, has decided to drastically restrict herself to the house. As such, we give her daily phone calls to check in and give her a bit of social interaction. We have gone over to pull her weeds in her yard and talk with her through the windows and screen door. She is fearful, and so am I, with how this virus could affect her. COVID-19 seems to be especially tough on the elderly. And so we keep our distance. Earlier this week, TJ and Grant sat on her back porch to show Grandma the new card trick they learned.

And now, the week through the eyes of both Grant and TJ (as a part of their Friday work)

Grant's assignment was to answer the following questions:
What is going on in the world right now?
A virus is spreading around the globe called the covid-19 with makes its a pandemic not an epidemic.

How has COVID-19 affected you and your family?
Well me and T.J are staying home and not going to school, and same with my dad how he stays home. What about your mom? Oh shes jobless. She was home anyway.

What are some things you have done this week?
I surpassed my class in math by taking a Kahn Academy online class. I perfected decimals in just three days. So take that, Jacob! I'm smarter than you.


What has been the best part of the week?
Oh ummmmm.... seeing my Mom, Dad, Brother, and Dog all week long. It's nice having to see my family for most of the day.

TJ's assignment was a free-write about the week using 8 of his 15 spelling/vocabulary words:

It all started in Wuhan,China. This once-in-a-life-time pandemic (not epidemic) is affecting our lives, like the NBA'S season being suspended and March Madness being canceled. Its crazy!! it affects the respiratory system which involves the lungs, nasal cavity, etc. We are being told to stay safe by washing hands often, not touching eyes, nose or mouth the best you can, and avoiding groups of people of 10 or more. They call this "social distancing." Scientists all over the world are trying to find a vaccine, but it's difficult. Grandma has put herself in to quarantine. We can't even visit her in her house. Instead, we talk through the screen door. My cousin, Grace, had to come back from Italy during her semester abroad. Italy is one of the worst-case countries with a large influx of cases. This virus is supposed to hit real hard in May, so I don't know if camp is going to be canceled. Hopefully, this virus passes though quick so I can get on with my life.  


Desperate times call for desperate measures, that is for sure. I just hope that all of our self-isolation is not for nothing.

It's Not Like Fortnite

TJ has been doing really well in school lately.  His grades are up, his poor behavior is down, he made the Track Team(!), and has been good to his brother. This new level of maturity was rewarded with a chance to go shooting with his sister, her boyfriend, Mitchell, and me.  

We own a lot of Nerf guns. Our house is littered with Nerf bullets and parts of guns; silencers, bi-pods, butt-stocks. A good Nerf war is never out of the question as long as it is outside (no guns in the house). The boys are master snipers, gun-slingers, and are experts at magazine exchanges - thanks to watching YouTube videos and playing Fortnite.  However, taking a real gun, with real bullets is a whole different experience. 

I remember the first gun I ever shot was my uncle's 357 magnum revolver; a massive gun in the hands of a 12 or 13 year old boy. The gun jumped in my hand and I was more then happy to hand it back after about six rounds.  My hand hurt afterwards.  

TJ has handled guns before.  Both boys have learned the basics of firearms safety; weapon on safe, finger off the trigger, and always pointed away from people (down range). They know the basics of how to take a weapon and make it safe.  They have even started to learn how to take apart a gun and put it back together.  They have fired .22s and shotguns at camp and with our friends but the guns we shot yesterday were "big".

TJ was apprehensive.  All of that bravado in running around with Nerf guns was appropriately humbled on the range.  We had a few guns; some are mine and some are Mitch's.  After the mandatory safety briefing, we donned our eye and hearing protection and entered the firing line.  

TJ did not want to shoot first.  He was happy with sitting and watching. Indoor ranges enhance the pressure waves of gun fire and I think he was very surprised how big this invisible force was.  

I finally got him to the line with five rounds in the pistol.  He took his time and fired.  Then he took even more time and fired again.  Yes, I told him to go slow between shots but this was glacial.  The good news is that he did everything correctly even if the gun jumped in his hands a little bit.  

We moved on to the M-4.  Both Mitch and I own one but in different configurations.  TJ favored Mitch's because it was lighter and had a red-dot reticle as opposed to my iron sights.  He followed all of our instructions and did really well.  It turns out that shooting is NOT like the movies, or video game, or Nerf guns at all.  TJ clearly has a new respect for guns.

However, in an ironic twist at the end of the day, we learned that the video game developers from Epic, the makers of Fortnite, use this indoor range for their weapons research!  The range rents all of those exotic weapons to anyone who wants to try them.  So the illusion of gun-slinging met the reality of shooting a firearm.  

I have not heard TJ talk/ask about the next time we can go to a range. If he had the desire I'd take him and let him improve his knowledge around guns.  Instead he is more like me; he knows how to be safe with them and he knows how to use them but he is not so enamored with them that he MUST have them.  

Next - time to clean them!