Spring chicken

Now on to this week's Hodgepodge-

We're still here. In our own little houses with plenty of time to blog, so why not join the Wednesday Hodgepodge? Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the universe. See you there!

1. Has spring sprung in your part of the world? How can you tell? Did March come in like a lion where you live? Going out like a lamb or something more ferocious? I believe it has, I've seen those tiny blue flowers, yesterday I found some daffodils in the yard, and my body is reacting to changing of the season, too. I'm thinking it came in like a lamb. Also, the spiders have started appearing in my apartment, I've killed 4 in the last week.

2. The last thing that caused you to spring to your feet? Nothing comes to mind.

3. Do you have a spring clean to-do list? What's one chore on the list you've already managed to accomplish? What spring clean chore do you most dread? I don't really do spring cleaning. I'm not a big cleaning person. I really need to clean my bathtub and change the shower curtains. I have this great donut shower curtain I picked up at TJ Maxx a couple weeks ago that I won't hang up until I clean the bathtub.

4. Tell us something you've learned about yourself or the wider world as a result of social distancing/the virus crisis. I'm not as good at adapting as I thought I was. I also thought I was very much an introvert and didn't really need other people. I'm learning I miss the public. My job is customer service at a library and we've been closed to the public since March 17th, I really miss the public. Others in my department aren't having issues finding things to do, but I am.

5. Something you love that's the color pink? I bought a pink 'spring chicken' at Walmart a few weeks ago:

6. Insert your own random thought here. Like I said before I miss the people. I'm so ready for normal to be back. I realized yesterday it's been 14 days since we closed to the public, so I wasn't infected by anyone on that last day we were open. I know a lot of my co workers were thinking if we got it, we'd have gotten it that day, especially since we had 15,500 checkouts that day. In a normal day, we have 3000, 
I see normal isn't coming back anytime soon. I keep thinking that if I have to go to Walmart for essential stuff I have to walk (which is fine), but I'm afraid people will think why is she walking, we're supposed to be staying home unless we have to. I don't have a car, I'm not really interested in using the bus system right now, even though they probably need the business.

Angry snails

Sunday: Slept in till 9 and had a wicked headache and nausea. Decided to have one of my quick frozen dinners for lunch as I wasn't feeling great. My stomach settled and my head didn't hurt as much after eating. Got a bunch of stuff ready to mail on the off chance I wouldn't be able to go out to mail stuff.

Embellishments:

I really couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do for this tag.
Decided to go ahead and cancel my Once Upon a Bookclub subscription box, hadn't heard anything from them and I'm just annoyed by it.
Purchased two new boxes for 6 months. They are both basically stuff to brighten your day. One's You Matter, filled with uplifting and encouraging things to show you, you are loved. The second is BlessedlyCoping, 8-10 items great for coping skills. Check out my previous weekly update for more information on them. I decided I wasn't allowed to spend much money for the rest of the week.
Monday: I emailed the Once Upon a BookClub people asking what was going on. I had a horrible night of sleep, it felt like I didn't sleep much and kept just staring at the ceiling. Processed a bunch of incoming interlibrary loans that had appeared over the weekend. Mailed my friend's birthday and Easter gift, a shabby chic pouch swap, and ended up spending under $20. Both the parcels were too heavy and had to be sent priority. Figured I'd do my grocery shopping since I was out and I missed the salad I didn't get to eat the week before because I didn't go grocery shopping. Made my mushroom ravioli for lunch, sadly I didn't cook it long enough and it was kinda tough.
Put together a destash tag:

Found a cute card from a friend in the mail:

I love getting handmade cards.
Made an ATC:

I like how it turned out, it ended up just being a ton of scraps on my desk.
Put together an Easter Swag:

We had to send 3 items on would put in their Easter basket. I got the pen in my Advent Calendar swap, the cards are from a WTA, the Easter pics are from Micheal's, I had the blingy M and my partner's name started with M, so I thought why not.
C tag:

I ended up with the same person for this tag.
Started the book, Before & After about 8 and wanted to finish it, but I got tired.
Tuesday: I ended up tagging the same person as the day before for a couple more tags.
A pen pack:

and a fairy garden:

I picked open the other package and put these in it. I wasn't originally going to tag her, but I wanted to participate in the tags, and it was just easier to get it done.
I finished my book that morning. I'm not sure why I picked it up, but as I started reading it, I'm like this sounds familiar. It's about the orphans that were processed by Georgia Tan, the book Before We Were Yours are based on these kids. I've read The Orphan Thief which is the nonfiction book based on Georgia Tan.
Had a meeting at work where we checked in with my boss, about half of us are working from home and half of us are at work, so it was nice to get everyone "together" for the meeting. I realized I'm not that great at going in later in the morning to work, didn't work very long.
Wednesday: went in at 8:30 again, and ended up processing interlibrary loans and then doing bookmobile inventory and then it was about 2:30, ended up working about 7 hours. It was a long day, but I got lost doing inventory on the bookmobile.
I found my secret sister package when I got home.

 A ton of stationery packages, and some stencils.

 double stick tape, a tumbler full or washi, stickers, more washi, journaling kit, gems and a hedgehog pouch.

 And all the washi that was in the tumbler.
I like it, it's not as great as last month's package, but it's still good. You can tell that most of it was bought at Walmart. I would've loved if they had strayed from the stationery aisle to the toy aisle and had picked up a couple blind bags, or better yet, just gone over there and picked up a bunch of blind bags, and sent me a package of blind bags.
I also received a grant a wish of snail washi:

 It was from wish and I had to figure out who had sent it.
Thursday: I only had a few hours left that I had to work. I'm liking the picking your own schedule thing. I feel I'm much better getting up and going to work, and then working as long as I feel like it.
I put together a purple happy mail:

 and a winner takes all:

 and then realized I still had to make something, so they didn't get packaged up to mail.
Went to get Burger King for lunch with my parents. I made the comment that we could basically go anywhere and get carry out. My dad said we'd have to wait longer. I would've rather supported a business that had to close their eating space where they get their revenue rather than going to a drive through, but as they were paying, I really didn't have a choice.
Received a fairy tag:

 and an owl happy mail tag:

I really liked this tag, we basically got to pick what kind of happy mail they sent us.
Friday: was another lazy day. All I really want to do is go shopping and to eat with my friends. I apparently need the social interaction. I mean I'm going to work and interacting with my co workers and I miss the people. I found a letter C tag in my mailbox:

 c for camping and cowboy.
I've been wasting my time on the computer and watching ER.
Saturday: thought I should actually get some more stuff to mail, I will be visiting the post office on Monday.
Easter card:

 I signed up for this one before realizing I didn't have any Easter cards, I was going to buy one, but was informed we could send a handmade one.
a Send Me Something rustic tag:

 I was going to send some stickers until I remembered I had this bell. I'm sure it costs more than $4, but I was so excited that I could get rid of it, I'm ok with that.
Handmade - Easter:

 I kept forgetting about this one, but I remembered when I had a purple happy mail to send to this person. I also have a tag challenge where the theme is bunnies and butterflies, thought I'd kill two birds with one stone.
Found an embellishments tag in the mail:

Love the variety. I had no idea what I was supposed to do with this. I ended up sending handmade embellishments.
I totally meant to post this earlier in the week. I'm so tired of being home and hanging out with myself. I have to take vacation next week because I'm maxed out and losing it. My original plan was to go to Chicago in April, but I guess we'll have to plan vacation at another time.

It's Hodgepodge time again

The Hodgepodge is back!!! I'm so excited.

The questions for this week:
1. Howdy Hodgepodgers. It's kind of fun to be back, isn't it?  Last time we met was September, 2018. Tell me something big-important-happy-or sad that's happened in your life since that date. Just one thing. We don't know how long this current isolation situation is going to last and we might need to dole out our news bit by bit.
Sadly, I'm a boring person and nothing big has happened to me as far as I can tell.
2. Might as well get this out of the way early on...COVID-19. On a scale of 1-5 how serious are you about keeping your distance? Explain. fyi-I didn't create the scale but have seen it several places online. Also fyi-we won't only have virus related questions each week, but for this first one it feels right.
1-Not at all, living normally

2-Cautious but still going out

3-Going out as needed, mostly home or working from home, still seeing friends/family

4-Extremely limited, only going out when unavoidable, minimal contact with people

5-Full lockdown, no one in or out

Somewhere between 2 and 3. I work at a library and we're closed to the public, but we still have to show up to work. I still go to work, the post office and the grocery store. Of course I didn't go out much before, it's about the same, I just used to go shopping ever so often. I don't go shopping now.
3. Raise your hand if you think you might run out of steam in the cooking department before it's all said and done? What's something delicious you've cooked or eaten in your own kitchen in the past week?
I don't cook much. I did make some lobster ravioli the other day. It was pretty good.
4. What's a television show or movie you've seen recently (it could be an oldie) that you really liked?
I'm currently binge-watching ER again. Totally love that show.
5. Share something funny you've seen or heard this week.
I watched a video on YouTube of people trying different flavors or pickles, totally made my day.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I splurged the other day and bought a couple 6 month subscriptions for a You Matter subscription box and a BlessedlyCoping box. They're both supposed to boost your mood, and I feel I will need that with all the weirdness happening lately.

I splurged

Wednesday: It felt like a normal day, went in to work about 8:30, because I was up and why not. Finished up my Interlibrary loan stuff and answered phone calls and emails and got some holds taken care of.

Went to the post office on the way home. I mentioned to one of the behind the counter people that my groups were worried about post offices closing, he looked at me like I was nuts. Said they'd be open as far as he knows (of course that's what I said to people last Sunday and on Monday we had the announcement that we were closing). One of my groups says we shouldn't sign up for stuff unless we have it and stamps at home. I didn't go to the grocery store as I have enough food for awhile.

Took a picture of my spring chickens, cause they're cute:

 The green one is from Target, the pink one from Walmart, both about $5. Nothing in the mail that day either. Not entirely sure what I did when I got home, I'm sure reading and computer and YouTube were involved.
Thursday: Slept in until 9:15, that was wicked nice. Watched some movies and read books. The upstairs people aren't very quiet, so I watch TV when they're loud and read when they're quietish.
I did find an ATC tag in the mail:

 It had some extra digital art in the envelope:

 The person who bought it for the ATC tag, said she was a bit disappointed in the presentation. I almost said you wouldn't have had a problem if you just made one and sent it yourself, but I refrained.
Again read and watched TV.
Friday: Got to sleep in again, apparently the upstairs people are embracing not having to be anywhere early and are sleeping in as well. I did get a book about the Holocaust and Auschwitz done. I'm not sure why I gravitate to true crime and books about the Holocaust. Thinking I need a more uplifting book next. I usually rearrange my library items every Wednesday after I get home, now that everything is due on the same day, they're arranged by title, and I'm just going in order.
I received a happy mail tag:

 We have a new format where we choose from a list we're given. I'm not sure why that's been changed, but I really liked it when we got to choose on our own. It's always been that we send 5 different things, but it's way more fun when I send you socks instead of a postcard.
Spent some time talking to my parents and a good friend. I like that we seem to be doing that more. I commented to my friend that I wanted to get out and hang out with friends, she said I could do facetime or something like it. Part of my issue is that it's way too loud here, I wouldn't mind staying at home if it was quiet. The noise is going to drive me nuts.
Saturday: Another day of sleeping in. I got a bunch of stuff ready to mail.
50 loose stickers:

 I have a shoebox full of random loose stickers, thought I'd go from there instead of seeing what was in my other stashes.
Kawaii Happy Mail:

 This tag was actually, pick your own theme and then pick from the list. I tagged this person because I knew I had enough kawaii stuff. I ended up with stationery sheets, a post card, washi samples, a sheet of stickers and a bookmark, I also included some memo sheets.
I got my shabby chic altered pouch and goodies ready to mail, front:

 Back:

It's a clear pouch I got with some planner stuff in a Peachy Cheap grab bag, thought it was the perfect size and I just ended up layering lace on it.
and goodies:

I really don't know what shabby chic is, but I hope this works. I had it in an envelope, but thought it would be better in a box.
I also got my friend's birthday and Easter packages ready. They're both in one box, and then I wrapped it in book pages.
I found 3 things in the mail, which is more than I've found on a single day this whole week. I hope that means mail is picking back up. I've heard it's not just me.
a Send Me Something spiky:

 I admit I was thinking like a spiky bracelet, but I love this. It's a bath bomb that's in the shape of a hedgehog, it's also sparkly. I probably won't use it, it will sit in my bathroom until I feel I can part with it.
A dollar store:

 This will be passed on.

And a wish of something gnome:

I have address labels forever now.
I learned there is now a confirmed case of COVID-19 in my county, that didn't improve my mood.
Sunday: I did my laundry, at least that won't change with all this stuff. Now that I feel there's not a lot of new information coming through the news, I need to avoid things that are just annoying.
I cancelled my Once Upon a Bookclub box. I should get March and April. I'm upset that I haven't gotten a shipping confirmation email from them, it was supposed to mail the 17th-20th. I get that they could be having issues getting stuff or getting it packed or mailed, but I haven't even gotten an email saying it's going to be delayed. So, I gave up. And then I got two 6 month subscriptions to a couple of interesting sounding boxes.
One is the You Matter box, it has "The You Matter! box was developed by Dr. Shannon Curtis, a practicing school counselor. After many meetings with students, it was found that many of them are feeling alone, depressed, suicidal, and invoking self-harm. This box is filled with encouraging, uplifting items to show them that they are loved, they are important, and they matter!. It's curated by a practicing school counselor. Items to increase self-esteem and positive thinking. Self-care for young people. The box includes a therapeutic activity and 4-6 items. Filled with relevant items to help teens & tweens cope with everyday pressure."
I totally stole all that from Cratejoy, and will for the next one as well. I realize it's for kids, but I'm certainly feeling like I don't matter right now. I work in customer service at a library, we're closed to the public, but we're still working. BUT, no customers, so I'm feeling like I don't matter, plus I need to be reminded that I matter sometimes. I don't have a lot of friends and most of my interaction with people is at my job. There is an option to just get a note every month or so, but I just decided to splurge and get the box.
The other one I got is BlessedlyCoping, it's "A mental health subscription box consisting of 8-10 items that are great for your coping skills bag! Each box contains a mixture of fidgets, sensory items, self care items, coloring or journaling items, puzzles, and more that will help you relax, calm down, relieve stress and anxiety, use your creativity, pamper yourself, or just simply smile! Coping tools for you coping skills bag! Variety of self-care and coping tools in every box! Box full of goodies to help you relieve stress and anxiety. Made for all ages! Items to help you relax, get creative, relieve stress...or just SMILE!"
Again along the same lines of the other one. I shouldn't be bored with the stuff in my house, but I do get there, I thought these would help. I certainly hope I won't have to stay at home for the next 6 months, especially since summer is my favorite season. I'm hoping to go on walks soon and garage sales, but who knows with all that's happening. I figure these will help me smile when I'm having a bad day, or just need a quick pick me up. They are staggered so I should get one early in the month and the other at the end of the month.
I also figure anything I don't want I can pass on to my mail groups, but who knows, one of them is taking a break in April, that will not help me. I totally signed up for some more art stuff in another group because of this. Mail is the highlight of my day. If I don't get something good in the mail, I go shopping, I don't need to go shopping, I just need that pick me up.
They weren't cheap, and I will feel it when I pay my credit card bill this week, though I'm thinking about paying half this week and half next week, we'll see.

Pains of chocolate

Thursday: I put together a swap package:

 My partner likes Harry Potter, Star Wars, Marvel, crafting and card making supplies, silly socks, nurse related stuff, washi and stickers.
I thought I did a pretty good job, I hope she likes the package.
I spent the rest of the day watching ER and worrying about stuff I can't do anything about.
Friday: My mom called, it was weird, we didn't really talk about much, I thought maybe she just wanted to check in. It was weird because she usually has something on her mind when she calls. I read The Lost City of Z, it was so nice to get away from the world. And then I got the mail.
A wish of happy mail:

 This person keeps tagging me for destash and I totally thought that's what this was for. She also keeps sending these stickers of soccer players, not sure why you'd think I'd want something that I know nothing about. I keep throwing them away. The rest was ok, I'm not big on memo sheets, but they'll be passed on.
A favorites tag of tea:

 This will have to be resent. We're supposed to send new items, nothing loose. The tea sounds good, she just didn't follow the rules of the tag.
I checked on something someone told me they mailed on Tuesday, only to find she posted that she mailed on Wednesday, tracking said it was actually mailed on Friday. Again, annoyed about the print your postage from home. Because you never actually mail it on the day it was printed. Also, the day to have it mailed was Wednesday.
And then I got online and more worried about the world. I found out the library where I work has cancelled all outgoing programs (visiting daycares, home delivery) and all in house programs. Basically, we're open if you want to come, but our meeting rooms where large groups can gather are not in use. I should just get lost in my books, at least I can get away from the world there.
Saturday: I had to work at one, spent the morning on the computer and watching movies. When I left it was snowing, had some ground cover. I didn't mind the snow, it was just blowing right in my face. I found some mail on my way in.
A card sketch prize:

 How cute are these?
Grant a wish tag of Wonton in a Million:

 It's a sticker book. Very cool.
And a flat item tag:

 I keep signing up for this tag because a couple times I got something good. I don't like facemasks, I'll be passing it on to a friend on Monday.
Work was wicked slow, with no programs going on the days are slow. We still have people coming in and asking about programs, asking if we're open, normal checking out.
I had plans to go out with a coworker for Pi Day after work. Unfortunately, the pizza place we were going to, cancelled their deal because they didn't want sick people coming out to it. We still went and got the pizzas for full price:

This is thin crust, with pesto, arugula, artichoke, mushrooms, and chicken and some kind of cheese. It was so good I ate the whole thing. I think it's 8 inch.
It's been a long time since I've had pizza out before. It was fun to go to supper with friends and just not think about things.
Sunday: Had to work, it was busier than I expected, but slower than I wanted. I put together some stuff to mail.
A Send Me Something cozy:

 I bought these awhile ago at the Dollar Tree for me, but never got around to use them.
A dollar store:

 I believe I received this from another Dollar Store tag.
A Grant a wish of flower stickers:

 These have been hanging out in my sticker box for awhile.
A wish of anything Golden Girls:

 I've been holding on to these waiting to pass them on the right person, I got them in a swap a couple years ago.
A Winner Takes All of sticker sheets:

 I'm fairly certain I was only obligated for a couple, but I thought I'd just send a bunch I wouldn't use.
Monday: turned out weird. The world kinda dropped out from under me. I work at a library, my director was in a meeting with city officials in the morning, my boss asks if we'd be able to work at home if we closed about 11, I went to a how to keep yourself well meeting at 11:30 and heard we were closing until May 15th at 12. I feel like I was in shock for the rest of my day. I went on break a bit later and talked to a friend that used to work at the library, we couldn't comprehend it, but decided we needed to check in each day just to make sure we were both doing ok. I love that she suggested that, I wish I had more friends to do that with.
Mail was wicked late, showed up about 5:30. I found a spring goody bag:

 and the goodies:

 and that was it.
Tuesday: I went to work, I'm not sure what I'd do at home. My job is customer service, I got some stuff done today. We had a meeting at 11 and talked about stuff for about an hour. I'm still shocked and losing my mind. Got word that the governor said all bars and restaurants were closing, that there weren't supposed to be gatherings of 10 or more people. The post office told me they wouldn't be closing, but I'm still worried. I said we wouldn't be closing to people on Sunday, and look what happened the next day.
Called my friend to check in and she suggested I come with her to stock up on stuff. I don't need anything. I have toilet paper and soap and cleaning stuff and food. I'm trying to keep my routine as much as possible. I feel like Grover in The Monster at the End of this book, where he's trying to keep the pages together and failing miserably.
We first stopped at a local co-op.

 I picked up some polenta, a green tea cupcake, basically off brand m&m's and Kit Kats and a spinach and cheese pastry.
Next up was Target:

I got some toothpaste (ok I needed that), some gummie vitamins, a cute bag, a stuffed dinosaur, a St. Patrick's Day bird and cactus tag.
That tiny tube of toothpaste cost $2.50, I certainly will be buying it at Dollar Tree forever more. My friend said I should start taking vitamins (I should, I'm just lazy), so I picked up some gummy ones, I'm not great with pills, sometimes they get stuck in my throat.
Last stop was Aldi's:

chocolate, ice cream.
 The were wicked picked over, lots of empty spots. I never shop at Aldi's, I'm 2 blocks from a Fareway, so I don't need to, plus they are pretty far from my apartment. I always pick up some kind of chocolate when I go, they have a much better selection. Maybe I should go there for my chocolate instead of Target.

ravioli, frozen sandwiches, chocolate croissants and tortellini that I forgot to put in the picture.  I do have enough meals for 2 weeks, I'm thinking about not going grocery shopping tomorrow. There's no great deals, and I've spent a bunch of money this week. My credit card bills gonna be big, it's got last Thursday's shopping trip and today's.
No happy mail today. I did put together a happy mail tag:

 Most of this stuff came from my WTA over Christmas.
A "B" tag:

 I was going to send something else, but am trying to go more flat.
A fairy tag:

I thought for sure I had something fairy, but this was the only thing I found in searching all my stuff. I almost got to a point where I'd have to go buy something.
One of my mail groups said they're going to cancel tags and swaps. We're going to finish out March and then take a break in April. They said make sure you have all the postage you need at home, so I'm trying to go more flat, I'm really hoping the post office won't close. I know mail will still happen, they decided years ago that it was essential.
I hate not knowing what the next day is going to bring, and I hate that it seems to just bring more bad news. But I'll adapt, apparently I'm good at that.
Here's hoping everyone is well and dealing ok with all the weirdness that has come lately and will keep coming.