Jenniferbug

I don't have a coherent "here's what I think is happening" theory just yet. I think it's clear that Wanda had control, but to what degree is unknown. She's clearly susceptible to suggestion - all of that "for the children" stuff made it clear that SOMEONE really wanted her to have children. She wasn't pregnant until she and Vision said "for the children" at the same time, which I don't think would have happened without it being drilled into their heads. I do think "Geraldine" came in on that helicopter. She didn't show up until after it was found, and one of the first things she says to Wanda is "I'm not really sure what I'm doing here" (or maybe it was "why I'm here"), which kind of indicates to me that anything or anyone who breaches the world is assimilated to fit. I'm looking forward to seeing it play out weekly, even though I really want to know what happens next and would binge if it was an option.

I'm so sorry for your loss @ozziemom

@Happyfatchick I'm so sorry to hear about the news. I'll pray for your family.

I liked them. I didn't need them to refresh myself, but I liked them anyway. I think there were a few small moments in Wanda's that I didn't recognize so I'm assuming they're from deleted scenes. I'm really excited for WandaVision!

Glitter is the herpes of the craft world. It is not allowed in my house! I got my first dose of the covid vaccine yesterday. I received the Moderna one, not that we were given a choice. My arm is sore, but no worse than a flu shot. I'm tired and have a headache but that's pretty much every day for me so not sure I can count that as a side effect! My 7 year old is in a MOOD this afternoon. Anyone want to borrow a 7 year old with the attitude of a 13 year old for a week or 2? 😄

Happy birthday @SunnyBeBe!

I got to see and hug my sister for the first time in a year! We (her family, mine, and our parents) agreed to self quarantine for 2 weeks so we could have a late Christmas celebration together. It was weird celebrating late but it was so nice to see them. I've seen my parents since the start of all this (the girls and I stayed with them this summer when the Derecho knocked out our power for a week), but I hadn't seen my sister and her family since last Christmas since they live out of state. We're hoping we can maybe arrange a similar quarantine period this summer, assuming not much has changed between now and then. Today was my first day back at work since the kids school break began. I had an email saying I'm eligible to receive the covid vaccine, which was a little surprising. I work for a large hospital system, but I work for the billing area, have no patient contact, and have worked from home for years. It was a mass email sent to all of us office staff, so I'm assuming that means they've already gotten thorough the at risk staff and have moved on to us. I feel weird getting the vaccine before my elderly parents, teacher husband, and asthmatic sister, etc...but I feel like if I'm given the opportunity to take it, I should. So I have an appt to go for the first dose on Thursday. I feel kind of guilty about it though since I have no known risk factors and am still under 40. I have no idea what the plan is for the roll out of the vaccine or how they're determining who gets it. Does anyone know? Is that determined at a federal or state level? My employer has only shared how they are handling employees, not how the general public would know when they are eligible.

Happy New Year! I haven't decided what resolutions to make, if any. We did one day of deep cleaning over break, and have relaxed most of the rest of the time.

Really rethinking the Starbucks gift cards we got our children's teachers for Christmas now, thanks guys 😆

Kids woke us up at 4:30 this morning and told to go back to sleep. They came back at 5:15 so we got up (it sounds early, but we're normally up that early for work). Had all our presents done by about 7 am. Since then it's been a pretty peaceful day- texted with my sister, had a large charcuterie spread for lunch, watched my eldest play new games Minecraft and Pokemon and played with the Hatchimals with my youngest. My grandmother passed away a few years ago, and unlike many of my cousins, I didn't fight for her stuff. My mom put her foot down and said I was getting the big charcuterie tray because I was always the one who helped her pile homemade pickles and whatnot on each holiday. Today is the first day I've I've able to face using it, and it was really nice to feel like she had a part in our holiday. Husband and I are hoping to retreat to the sun porch later so he can play one of his new games and I can test out the gaming laptop he surprised me with. I took vacation time to be off the whole Christmas break with them and I'm soo looking forward to it. I hope everyone is having a lovely and relaxing day! It's a strange Christmas but it's been a nice one anyway.

Merry Christmas!!

I'm glad they both have you to depend on! He looks like a sweet doggo. I'm happy to see your godmother is feeling decently enough to enjoy Christmas! I think we all need happy holidays this year, and she definitely deserves a good one!

It's mundane, but probably wandering Target. I'm kind of a hermit so my life really hasn't changed much as I already worked from home and didn't get out much what with having small kids at home. But I do miss little things like wandering Target and buying more than I need or dropping the kids with their grandparents so my husband and I can go out to dinner and have an uninterrupted conversation.

Haven't seen the episode yet, but was accidentally spoiled on Facebook. The cynical side of me feels like Peter won because it makes for the best story- the boy who watched Bake Off has now won it. I sense producer manipulation at work here. Hoping that feeling changes once I'm able to actually watch the episode though.

Do we have a CW-verse all show discussion thread? I know they couldn't predict the future, but setting up the Justice League at the end of Crisis was really stupid, since they've now canceled Supergirl and Black Lightning and Batwoman is a different character. Way to build up bringing those characters together just to ditch half of them.

@crazy8s that's a great idea! I am probably 80% done with shopping. My kids are done and my side of the family as well. Lots of packages arriving on my doorstep this week! We need to get something for my FIL, and gift cards for my husband's "nephews", and then I need to order a gift to have sent directly to our nephew across the country and gift cards for his parents. So for the most part I know what I'm getting, just need to finish ordering. I also need to get the girls to decide what they want to get for each other and their dad. Usually I take them shopping individually for a little one on one time to choose something, but this year we'll have to figure it out online. I've found that Target has faster shipping than Amazon these days, if you're shopping through major retailers. I like the idea of shopping local or through Etsy, but most of my people to buy for are kids/tweens who want very specific items or our mothers (mine who is incredibly picky about knick knack or decor and his who is...one step up from a hoarder. She's a clean hoarder. But a hoarder. So we try not to contribute). I'm so anxious to be done shopping, I may rope my husband into helping me finish with the gift card ordering tonight!

MarshmallowMollie, I have nothing valuable to add to the good advice above but just wanted to say that my heart goes out to you for having to deal with this. You and your kids come first. Do what you need to stay sane, and if that's washing your hands of her entirely, please do it.

I actually like Ryan Paevey most of the time, but all of the above really bugged me in this movie. I kept thinking "he has no money. He has no ID, no usable SSN, no birth certificate that can explain his age"...staying does not work logistically. I know I should hand wave all that, but it really did not work for me. Also because they kept talking about his disappearance, I thought it was clear he was going to stay at the end so all the handwringing about the clock and him leaving was stupid.

This is exactly how it is in Iowa.

Waves to my fellow midwesterner! 😆😊 @ChiCricket, I would be FURIOUS too! What on earth were they thinking!! My extended family is not taking it seriously at all. I don't see them often, but my parents used to. They don't have Facebook so they don't see the stupidity, but my sister and I have both made it very clear to my mom that they are to avoid them and she said they are. I'm pretty sure I can trust her since I got my germaphobe tendencies from her! I have a friend who acts like covid isn't contagious if you're related. She complains about people in stores not wearing masks, but then she's going to family birthday parties, baby showers, weddings, weekly dinners, etc. I'm just waiting for them to come down with it. Another friend and I have tried to talk sense into her but that did nothing but anger her, so we've stopped.

It is utterly exhausting. I absolutely feel that. Hugs to you! ❤

My state has had a huge increase in covid cases, to the point where our metro area hospitals have issued warnings that they are at capacity. My particular county is close to 23% for positive cases at the moment. I have been proctoring kindergarten and 2nd grade regular classroom instruction for my children as well as their specials like art, music, etc all through various apps. And I have 7 different alarms set on my phone to keep track of their various Zoom meetings. With hospitals and cases where they are, the girls won't be going back to school regardless of what the superintendent decides (he mentioned in his initial announcement that being above 20% wasn't a guarantee we'd stay virtual- he's been trying to do away with the virtual option entirely unless there's a medical reason). So this is how it is for the foreseeable future. My husband still has to go to the building every day to teach from his classroom rather than from home. Simultaneously, my workplace is going through a massive restructuring and our jobs are completely changing. Some people are leaving our team, lots of people are joining, they're automating processes left and right...and no one seems to truly have any idea what's happening or how it's all going to work. I'm incredibly lucky that my team lead, supervisor, and manager will stay the same. They're not always my favorite people, but they're all mothers who understand that right now I am struggling to be the best mom and the best employee I can be, and falling short in both areas. They've never made me feel guilty for needing to be a mom first, and compared to my old job (technically with the system but different area), it's a relief. I talked with my sister and my mom about upcoming holidays, and we decided no to Thanksgiving this year, but have decided to do a late Christmas at the end of school breaks. We figure this gives us all a chance to quarantine ourselves before getting together. Without knowing what her school and my school will do, it seemed safest to plan for January. At least we have that to look forward to. I agree with all of you that it is SO HARD to see others living their lives like nothing is happening. I start to almost gaslight myself- "am I overreacting? Maybe it would be ok to go/do XYZ?" but then the hospitals announce we're at capacity and I snap out of it. Sadly I think some people aren't going to take it seriously until they or someone very close to them experiences how terrible it can be.

@lookeyloo, I am so very sorry for your loss. I wish you and your loved ones peace and healing.

I'm sorry @Scarlett45. That sounds like such a frustrating work day! I hate days when technology doesn't cooperate. Cases in my county are at a scary high. Our school superintendent decided to go to remote learning for the next week. Why only 1 week, I don't know. So I will be working from home and supervising my children's learning (ie, making sure they're logged into Zooms on time, etc). My husband is still expected to go into his classroom to teach remotely, but at least fewer people will be in the building. My in-laws tested positive for covid (exposure via a student at work) but so far are not having any severe symptoms. It's been a week of chaos and the next one probably will be too, but I'm still glad to have the kids home safe.

I thought it was decided last year that it was ok to discuss the Hallmark Christmas movies in this thread because so many of us don't watch the other networks. Nothing against Lifetime, but I stick to Hallmark because juggling multiple channels with similar movies is more work than I want to put into background noise viewing.