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I had to say out loud in my native tongue first "Pedra, paper, estisores"😄 but I agree with everybody else: Rock, paper, scissors.

I don't have any advise. I am so sorry your family is going through this.

My oldest dd got the Pfizer vaccine when Health Care providers got their vaccines in December (she is done with both doses). She didn't have any side effects. Phase 1C just opened on Monday, and although in Nashville they are still vaccinating teachers, here in the country there are plenty of openings for appointments. My dd2 and I will receive our first dose of the Moderna vaccines this coming Saturday!

I also cringe when Spaniards are stereotyped as bull fighters and gipsy dancers. I abhor bull fights, and they are not very common in my region of Spain. Although I don't have anything against gipsy people, the majority of Spaniards are not of gypsy decent and we don't dance Flamenco. My traditional regional dance is "La Sardana." Each region of Spain has their own traditions (food and language), with different traditional clothing (and I have only seen them on people who participate in traditional dances during what we call "Fiestas Mayores"). Stereotyping in my opinion comes with a general ignorance about the culture being stereotyped. It doesn't bother me if someone wants to dress up in "traditional Spanish" attire if that someone does it because they like our culture. Using the attire to make fun of a group of people is a different story.

I am from the TN (many SBC here). This is spot on. I' m Methodist too ( my church is pretty liberal), but many of my friends (used to be friends) attend SBC. Many are lovely people,... people who in the last 4 years....well, lets just say I don't understand them any more. When politics is preached from the pulpit, they do not question it. If their pastor says it is so, then it is so. Same goes for some Evangelical nondenominational churches in this area (one of the pastors was arrested because he participated in the events of January 6th). Three of the families I used to do co-op with went to his church. I have struggled understanding how perfectly nice people could fall into a cult like mentality, but it easier to understand when you realize they are being pitched alternative facts from the pulpit.

Me too.

I am "A Jack of All Trades, and Master of None." Keeping my hands busy has helped me keep sane during the pandemic. My youngest child is graduating homeschooling this year (he is mostly self-teaching); and I am not tutoring as the tutorial where I was going to work this school year decided not to mask or social distance, so I have had a lot of free time. Growing up, and all through high school, I used to love to draw. Some family members framed some of my drawings and water colors and still have them on the wall. When I started college (STEM), I was too busy to do anything but study and work so I stopped drawing and painting. As an adult, and over the years, I have found some time to try my hand at the following: 1. I enjoy painting murals, and create my own stencils, on walls (My house, and friend's houses)… I guess I should go back to drawing and painting [# of walls is always limited, but I can always buy more paper and canvases 🙂]. 2. I enjoy sewing dolls (and toys): This year I opened an Etsy shop as an outlet for this hobby ( https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyDandelionsGifts?ref=search_shop_redirect). I have sold very few things. Learning about SEOs, taking good pictures and editing pictures, CANVA to create pins for Pinterest (etc), all have been great to keep me busy during this pandemic, but I am not enjoying the "Marketing" side of having a shop. I am not very good at it. I am debating closing the shop and going back to gifting my creation to family and friends. 3. My mom was a dedicated knitter and I learned the basics--I am a basic knitter (hats, scarfs, mittens and the like. I knitted a sweater in my 20's and I said "never again"). I cannot say I enjoy knitting, but as people love the scarfs/hats I make for them I keep knitting. 4. I enjoy needle point projects ( to frame, or to make pillows) and I have done several large projects over the years, some requested by family members as presents, some for my own home. 5. I have been learning how to crochet during the pandemic. I am in the "easy/beginner" patterns level. I think I like it better than knitting...it has potential for being a keeper 🙂

My local pharmacy has an online portal. My dd and I have asthma so we are in group 1C, and as it opens on Monday, I requested appointment on Friday. Now we wait for them to call. We also signed up with the county , through TN's health portal. https://vaccinate.tn.gov/ There is also an online vaccination finder that uses your zipcode to let you know where you can find vaccination sites near you and what kind of vaccines they have .https://vaccinefinder.org/search/ We will go to whatever location contact us first, and take whatever vaccine the offer us 😉

School of Architecture @ UT-Knoxville.

My son looks like my brother, and both of them look like my father. I used to look look like my father too, but now that I am middle age I look like my mother, go figure.

I am a bit younger than you and I am in no way an exercise expert. I have just started exercising daily this last two months (encouraged by someone here on this board). I like walking, but as I am not leaving my house/property --due mostly to the fact that people do not were masks here--I have been using low impact exercise videos from you tube. I really like Lucy Wyndham: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCag7XoiJLutjBTsM0tAzUzg because she demonstrates every move before I have to do it. I would like to find more exercise instructors like her. I would highly recommend her videos to anybody just starting. I have lost some weight but even more important to me, I have more energy, and I feel less blue, since I started exercising.

I have not seen a thread for this month yet, so..... I am slowly plotting a long with Duolingo French (December was not a good month). I found a resource for those of you studying Spanish: https://www.ellibrototal.com/ltotal/?fbclid=IwAR1B4jCe8qEtuUEhIoUfrDDNcs9lQoc77-zjyIQ-w2FhfX70uV3OMjLwxAM You may already have this resource so disregard it if it is old news. It has audiobooks (different age groups) and I thought it would be helpful to someone. Is there a thread just to post resources for each language?

Compared to 911 not working (I know there is a new number we are supposed to use in case of an emergency, so that is good), and people not being able to get their prescriptions because of a lack of cash, this is not a biggie, but cash only in our small local market until AT@T is back online (cashier also mentioned they can't order new inventory). I am finding this act of terrorism a bit strange mostly because I would not expect Nashville to be a target... I have not seen many updates (maybe the news tonight will shine some light).

I am Catalan/Spanish and in my cultures many boy names can be made into a girl names. So Jose will become Josefa, Francisco will be Francisca, Mario will be Maria, etc. Many boys have the Maria part too (being Catholic and all) so Jose Maria for a boy and Maria Jose for a girl. Family names can go to either gender (at least in my family). I have a cousin name Alberta (Berta for short) because her father's name is Alberto; and many Joses and Josefas, and Antonios and Antonias 🙂

I have family in Nashville (not downtown) and I live 40 minutes from Nashville. 911 went down in our county too. Family in Kentucky were affected as well when ATT went down....The whole thing is so bizarre. I hope the tissue is not human.

Another vote for Khan. It works.

I make folders in my browser. Every so often I clean up: Subdivide them into new topic folders or deled them if they are not relevant any longer.

That is how I would feel if I had to learn more than one language at a time! I am in awe of many people in this post who are learning multiple languages at the same time. I am mildly dyslexic and my brain doesn't work that way. My hat off to you ladies! Anyway, if you like sci-fi I just thought of another Netflix movie in Spanish you can add to your list if you have not watched it yet: Orbiter 9 (I have not watched it yet, but someone recommended it to me and it is on my list).

Sorry, I don't know where you can watch the next season of Merlí with Spanish subtitles (I am assuming you tried Youtube--I saw episodes posted there but I don't know what season they belong to). I tried googling it (Merlí amb subtítols en castellà + temporada 2) and I all I got this message: "this content is not available in your country." I googled "Portuguese movies on Netflix" and there was a ton: https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/library/list-of-portuguese-movies-tv-series-on-netflix/ but I have not watched any of them, so I can't recommend them 😉

Merlí Invisible Guardian is in Castilian Spanish, set in the Basque Country, and it is based on popular books (at least they are popular in Spain). It is not the same quality of Roma (didn't this movie win some award?), but for a Spanish movie it is pretty good. If I recollect other good Spanish movies I have watched I will let you know 🙂 I hope someone responds with good Portuguese movies for you.

Hola Matryoshka, You asked for Portuguese, and I can't help with that 🙂 But you mentioned your children speak Catalan and I have just started to watch a Netflix series in Catalan so I thought I would share: "Welcome to the Family" ( you can watch it in Spanish too)--I just have started watchin it, and it is pretty funny. and for your Spanish--Spanish Series I have recently watch (or plan to watch soon): "The Invisible Guardian" trilogy--I enjoyed all three. "Boy Missing" --in my list to watch Spanish Movies I have enjoyed : Mirage A Sort of Family (Argentinian movie) Roma (Mexican)--I think someone already recommended this one last time The Legacy of Bones Offering the Storm

Salut Quill! I am doing French on Duolingo too. You must be ahead of me because I have not yet learned "Joyeux" although I can guess what it means 🙂 I wish I could help you understand the hearts and and gems thingy, mais je ne peux pas. I am doing the computer (individual--not competing with anybody to get to the next level-Gem) version and I only have lingots and crowns. I can't believe they take Hearts away when you make a mistake! I make mistakes all the time (mostly spelling--but I have started keeping a paper handy when doing the lessons, so I can write down the most pesky words that trip me all the time). I don't do Duolingo on the weekend, but my goal is to continue completing a circle a day (five lessons), taking a break with stories every now and then (I enjoy the stories best, but I need to build vocabulary before attempting the next set). I may need to slow down to process if it gets too difficult but for right now, that is my goal. and maybe start watching Harry Potter in French as was suggested here last month (I don't think my French level is high enough but I could try and see what happens). à bientôt.

Me too. This pandemic is doing a number on my mental health. I was very active in our homeschool co-op group, and taught tutorial classes. No more. Covid hit I am staying home ( I have only left my property three times since last March, as I have some health issues that put me at risk). I miss teaching classes, but I have no idea if I want to go back to teaching in a school full time. Some times I feel like a boat adrift in the ocean. I keep telling myself that this too shall pass. Keep strong.