The Worst First Day

Our dogs are kennel dogs. They love to be in them if we are not home. We have always put them in their kennels overnight because, in the beginning, the dogs would wreak havoc on the entire house. So it made sense to tuck them away safely each night. Last week, I decided I wanted to try to have the dogs sleep outside of their kennels, but still in our bedroom with our door closed.

David gets up around 3:30am everyday and leaves by 4am. He had to go in and out of the room several times while getting ready, and our door makes a squeaky noise when you open and close it. Usually he wouldn’t be opening and closing doors, but he needed to keep the dogs in the room. Anyways, it was not a big deal at all. I followed up with him later that night-

Me: I think that worked well. The dogs didn’t do anything naughty. Let’s just let them sleep around the room and not in their kennels.

David: No. I think it is better for them to be in their kennels.

Me: What? Why?

David: Because I had to open and close the door too much. I was afraid it was going to wake you.

Me: Well, I don’t care. I always wake up with your alarm anyways and get up soon after.

David: Nah, I think they should be in kennels. It was too loud.

And, Reader. Doesn’t that sound lovely and kind and gracious of him?

Well. Let us examine what happened precisely the next night.

David and the boys decided the time had come to wean the calves. They put the mama cows on one side and the calves on the other side. They did this at 8pm.

The cows and calves did not stop calling/crying for each other once.

No. Not once.

All through the night they mourned for each other.

I took this video at 5am.

It was like it was in surround sound.

I maybe got three hours of sleep that night.

The very next night, the cows and calves were still pouring out their hearts to each other from across the field, but the cries had slowed and they weren’t as bad. I was able to fall asleep and stay asleep pretty well.

That is, of course, until it was time for David and the boys to commence Pig Butchering Day.

Reader. Have you ever been a part of a pig butchering day?

What fun!

In all seriousness, it is like a horror film over here. It is so early it is still a bit dark outside. The pigs scream as soon as they are shot. And they don’t scream in a dignified way. They scream in a way that would signal that someone was trying to kill them. And rightfully so. And there are things hanging and dripping and being tossed and honestly, it is all too much and I need you to understand how terrifying a pig’s scream is.

The boys brought their new speakers out with them and were blaring music during this event. Because the screaming pigs weren’t loud enough. Then they needed to use MY car so they could use my headlights to help them see things that no eye was ever meant to see.

Apparently LD is the one who moved my car into this position, and apparently he did not have clean hands.

This will be important later on.

Well, it is now very late in the morning-around 5:30am, and I need to get the dogs outside for a bathroom break. Remember the dogs? The dogs who have to sleep in their kennels because David is worried a creaky door might disturb my slumber?

Those dogs.

I feel like I have chosen an ideal time to take them, yet mere seconds after we head out for a rousing game of fetch, David *ahem* dispatches another pig (SCREAM!), and sends the dogs running terrified back into the house. Because the dogs do not like gunshots.

Poor Norman was traumatized and we couldn’t get him outside for about three hours.

Meanwhile, it is back to school week for me, so I have to rush out the door. LD sees me heading towards my car.

LD: Oh, wait, Mom!

And the boy took the arm of his sweatshirt and started to rub around the door of the car.

Please understand that my child looks like some sort of a chainsaw murderer at this time.

LD: Ok, Mom! There was some pig blood on your car door. I took care of it. Well, most of it.

I was running late, so I just said my goodbyes and toodled on down the driveway.

That’s when I noticed the steering wheel was sticky and my hands had a brownish reddish residue on them and I had to be so grossed out and so careful to not touch my face or my clothes or my hair and drive all the way into town in that manner.

BUT!

LET THE RECORDS SHOW!

We cannot let the dogs sleep outside of their kennels for fear it will somehow disturb my slumber or inconvenience me in any way.

***

School!

It was another crazy back to school week with planning and trainings and setting up the classroom. David helped me hang some new lights. I was gifted them so they didn’t cost me anything!

My whole life’s goal is to not use those horrible overhead lights, and I think this year I will make all my dreams come true!

I had my classroom all set up and ready to go, then I toodled off to the river to join everyone for The Most Fun Camping Weekend Ever.

Within a few hours of arriving, I started to feel a bit off. I excused myself and just went into my trailer and got in bed. And there I stayed for many more hours, feeling worse by the minute.

David, the kids, and most of the group were on a float trip. I knew I had to go and I wanted to get a covid test before the store closed, so I left while they were on the trip and drove myself home.

I picked up a test-went home-and wouldn’t you know it?

Positive.

Such great timing!

Plus, I felt awful.

Later that night, HD drove to service to call me.

HD: WHY DID YOU LEAVE?

Me: I was sick. I have covid.

HD: NO YOU DO NOT. COVID IS OVER.

Me:

For the rest of the weekend, I stayed home, sick, and everyone else had fun on the most fun camping weekend ever.

So, that was that. Which brings us to today. The first day of school. AKA, The Worst First Day. Because I could not go.

Me, the teacher. Did not go to school on the first day. Won’t go tomorrow either. I am hoping for Thursday. It was the strangest feeling, being home on the first day of school. Felt like I was committing a crime.

The boys drove themselves to school. My, how times have changed! They were beyond thrilled to pose for a photo this morning.

I feel this picture symbolizes hope, joy, and eagerness for an inspiring new school year.

HD is in 11th and LD is in 10th.

And, me? I was in bed.

Stupid Coronavirus.

***

Hadley got a job and she is working on a housing transfer.

***

Auntie is doing so much better. She ended up staying the night in the hospital for two nights and she came back a whole new gal! They decided she actually did NOT have a stroke, so that is a relief. She is back home and doing well.

Alright.

Well, doing anything wears me out easily right now, so I better sign off and get ready for bed.

And don’t you worry! I will make sure to kennel the dogs so the creaky door doesn’t disturb me in the morning.

Later, Gators.