February 25, 2021
final unraveling of february
posted by soe 1:10 am
Look! It’s the start of a second sock. Now if only work weren’t back to being so stressful that I can’t keep my eyes open in the evening, I might get further. (That fact doesn’t bode well for my progression in Sock Madness, which kicks off next week.)
To go along with a shorter attention span, a graphic novel (in translation) about a rebellious princess who would rather be off on adventures than learning her royal lessons.
February 24, 2021
heading outdoors . . . i think
posted by soe 1:47 am
I’ve decided that this spring I might be willing and ready to play outdoor volleyball again, in part for the mental health benefits it offers. I’ve emailed my former teammates to see if any of them are interested, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that some of them might be available.
A couple of my teammates played outdoors last fall, and the report I heard after the first couple weeks was that the league was was relatively good about mask wearing and social distancing from other teams and on the sidelines. Volleyball is one of those sports where there you do end up in close proximity to your teammates and some competitors, and some contact with teammates can happen as you’re chasing after a ball and trying not to knock each other down. So it’s not without risk. But it’s also not basketball, where it can’t be played without automatically coming into contact with everyone else on the court. And being outdoors definitely helps lower the risks of spreading disease.
How are you thinking about risk management as we move into year #2 of COVID? Will you continue to stay home and isolated? Were you never paying attention to those recommendations to begin with?
February 23, 2021
top ten books that have made me laugh
posted by soe 1:49 am
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday from That Artsy Reader Girl asks us to share books that have made us laugh aloud:
- Mama Makes Up Her Mind by Bailey White: Had me guffawing on a plane.
- Jasper Fforde’s The Eyre Affair
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
- Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s Good Omens
- Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
- Fannie Flagg’s Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven
- The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
- A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
- Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence
Actually, most of these authors include elements of humor in nearly all of their writing, so I’d recommend picking up any of their titles if you want to be amused.
February 22, 2021
home
posted by soe 1:26 am
This handsome fellow came home yesterday afternoon, which was absolutely lovely. Because he was out of state, obviously, we need to keep mostly to ourselves until after he tests negative later in the week, but the sun just made it too impossible to stay below ground. So we ventured forth to the Georgetown to the waterfront, double-masked except for when we were far away from others and drinking/eating.
We had saved the final To All the Boys movie for Rudi’s return, which was both a satisfying end to the trilogy and also a perfect February Saturday date night. And tonight we watched some lovely season finales to Miss Scarlet and the Duke and All Creatures Great and Small.
We replenished all the batteries on the fairy lights and ate lots of cookies (thanks, Mum and Dad!) and doted on the cat and generally just enjoyed being under the same roof again.
February 21, 2021
seen around the neighborhood
posted by soe 1:09 am
I know, I know. It’s graffiti. I’m not supposed to appreciate it. And, yet, it made me smile, hypocrite that I am.
February 20, 2021
brighter days ahead
posted by soe 1:58 am
These daffodils are from before the winter storm passed through, so I’m not positive whether they’re still standing. But spring bulbs, like people, tend to be remarkably resilient when faced with adversity.
Either way, the equinox is a month from today. Daylight savings kicks back in in three weeks.
Hold on, everyone. Change is coming. It’s just hard to tell from where we’re standing.