Accountability/ Where Are We Going?: April 2021
Happy May 3rd! Obviously didn’t post this in April – and that’s okay. Why? Because I am solidly on the “doing your best is good enough” phase of existence right now. I’ve felt like I am trying to balance a lot right now and am, at least some days, doing okay with it. But, I went for a run yesterday. It was only a mile, and to be honest I walked part of it. Darn it, I went though, and spoiler alert – I went again today. Hopefully if I can keep this going then I can turn that positive life choice into doing things like actually filming another YouTube video. Go team, go!
There hasn’t been much exciting news to report in the last month. Arguably the most exciting news is that the ship my husband is on can get mail for the next few weeks. This means I can send him a care package and I am super excited about that.
As anyone that follows this blog knows I have not posted a ton on here – it’s on the to-do list and I will get back to it! I’ve been working on painting our house, working in general, and just trying to get lots of projects done. It’s amazing how when I came back home at the end of January how it seemed like I’d be home for so long – nearly 5 full months, and somehow that is now down to about 7 weeks. That means that I get to see Stuart soon, but there’s also still so much to get done in that time.
This concept the “so much to get done” is one I struggle with. How much of it needs to get done? Which parts can be de-prioritized? Also, where does work (you know the actual earning money part) come into it? When I’m in Vermont I have family and friends to see (and most of us are either fully vaccinated at this point or will be shortly), about a million projects to do, and an actual opportunity to work and earn money. I like to earn money and feel like I’m contributing to our life and finances, but I also want to take the time to spend with family. Maybe I need to refocus on this blog and make enough money off it so I don’t have to work a different job? Ooooo, ideas.
Alright, enough of my rambling. Thank you for reading my monthly “this is what’s going on” post.
Where Are We Going?:
Well, I am pretty much stationary in Vermont for now. There’s a couple things coming up this month with some friends that I am excited about, but still Vermont based.
The darling hubby is still on his ship mostly at anchor between Fort Lauderdale and the Bahamas.
Cruise ships are in a few different situations right now: some are gearing up to start sailing again this summer, others are waiting future plans in Europe, and then there are those that are sitting off of the coast of various places around the US waiting for plans from the CDC. Stuart’s ship is in the latter category. Sitting, waiting, and wishing. Honestly, my best guess would have been that those ships around the US would have waited maybe another month and then made plans for cruising outside the US.
But, shocking twist, the CDC is actually making a plan to get the cruise industry restarted and it could be as soon as July. This will likely not happen before Stuart leaves the ship for his break, but alas, who knows what it means. The big caveat with this is that 98% of crew need to be vaccinated and 95% of passengers need to be vaccinated. This will mean a small percentage of children onboard (as they can’t be vaccinated) or cruise lines saying no kids at all right now. For the crew – that means getting all those crew vaccinated. Some – like my husband – are currently onboard and missing their spot in their national vaccination plan. Are they going to vaccinate crew onboard? We will have to wait and see!
Reminder: This is why cruise ship crew are still onboard even with no passengers.
Accountability:
Yeah I didn’t accomplish this list, so I am going to go right ahead and add some things that I did accomplish:
Goals for April:
- Actually film at least one more YouTube video. I had kind of thought I was going to give up on this but then I checked and my World Cruise video has like 1400 views. Go figure!
- Didn’t do this. Honestly, YouTube videos can take SO MUCH TIME. We’ll see. I will get back to this.
- Post 6 blog posts
- I only posted four last month (whoops!)
- I’ve got a couple *hopefully* good ones planned. And, there will actually be two posted this week!
- Grandma time
- Pretty solid check on this one. Realistically I need to up this a bit.
- Make more time for walks with friends.
- I did okay with this. I got to do some walks this month, but now that most of us are further along in the vaccine path I think this will increase over the next month.
- Read a book
- I finished a book! One of my best friends husbands actually writes books. Like, novels. The one I read is “All Things Good and Proper” (ad) by J.E. Gilman. It’s really well written. It’s set in a fictional world, there’s a bit of mystery that you’re trying to solve as it goes on, a budding love interest, and some great lines. Highly recommend checking it out. I’m planning on making my way through the whole J.E. Gilman catalog. They’re available through the Amazon store and I am personally reading them on my trusty Kindle.(ad)
Goals for May:
- Actually film at least one more YouTube video.
- Post 6 blog posts
- Grandma time
- Bro-time. Feeling like I need to up my “spend time with my brother” game this month.
- Make more time for walks with friends.
- Better boundaries with work.
- Finish painting the house.
- Read another book.
