Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts

We just finished the second week back to work and I am missing, on average, about 25% my students each day to absences, mostly involving having Covid or needing to quarantine because of an exposure. The district is giving us KN95 masks and each kit and staff member left with a testing kit on Friday to use, hopefully, before returning Tuesday. I had to test my own child, at home, yet again, too, and luckily we're all good (he didn't really have proper symptoms, and I think the culprit was eating a very expired Twinkie on accident... I kid you not). It's just mind-blowing. 

We had to move our book club to a Zoom one night for various reasons, and I can't wait to discuss Stanley Tucci's memoir Taste with my friends. He is such a gem. 

I have a few reviews FINALLY going up this week (as in actually prescheduled), and I'm excited to already be on my fifth book of the month. This month might suck, but my reading does not.

Important self-realization epiphany: I like puzzles after all. My husband bought one that was approximately 73853985395 pieces at the start of the pandemic and it sat in various states of not finished for about a year. It was literally collecting dust, so I bit the bullet and did the rest. I declared a total hatred for puzzles and not another ones was done until a few weeks ago when I helped with Sawyer with a 500 piece one. I decided 1000 pieces would probably be fine, so I started one yesterday and realized that it's a great way to listen to podcasts or watch shows I wouldn't otherwise. Yay. 

Speaking of acquiring new hobbies, I am 99% sure I am buying a rowing machine once my car is paid off this spring (trying so hard to wait until then, although if I do I will have less time to be in better shape for my wild and crazy summer). I loved using the rowing machines at the gym, but always balked at the idea of sticking more exercise equipment in my office, since there's already a treadmill and a few other fitness items. But, who the hell cares? The space is there. 

In my quest to hike at least once a month, Sawyer and I went to a new-to-us trail last weekend and it was awesome. There are several other trails at the same park, some of which look really challenging, so I'm excited to try more in the future.

My year-in-review book came the other day! It's always such an exciting time, seeing the fruits of my labor. I will never regret taking tons of pictures and spending the time and money to do these. 

And, to end with sad news, my grandmother lost her battle with Alzheimer's on Friday. She has been deteriorating a lot over the last year, and then in the last week or two things escalated. She didn't seem to be in pain and saw several family members right before passing, so at least we have comfort that it was peaceful. In many regards she's been gone for years, and I think the saddest part of my is knowing how hard it is on my mom and her siblings. My grandpa, who just turned ninety, is doing well and I am sure there has to be some relief, since he's been on edge about the actual even happening for months. Death is never easy! My grandma was not the "welcome to my home let me get you some milk and cookies" kind of woman, but instead the "hey, welcome, if you need anything you know where to get it, I need to clean up because I have Bunco tonight, Mission Circle in the morning, and I have my shift at the food bank the next day." Her work ethic and problem-solving made my mom who she is and, hence, me who I am. She was generous but reasonable, loving but not doting. She will be missed.