It used to be that summer colds happened, and you didn’t think twice about. These days, even the sniffles are suspect. So, when I began feeling congested and coughed a bit last Saturday, I didn’t think much of it. On Sunday, though, I realized that after traveling, and with a week of sitting in close quarters with my fellow faculty, I should be certain that’s all it was.
Monday morning, sure enough, I tested positive for Covid. Considering I got a booster in June, to try and prevent this very thing, I was frustrated. But, as I masked and made it the teacher prep week, I also recognized how mild this was and how each day made me feel stronger.
From Monday through Thursday, I masked for the mass meetings. Thankfully, I removed it for work in my classroom. It was wonderful seeing my peers, meeting new hires, and discovering that enrollment is solid. We finally got our rosters, and I was delighted to see that my maximum class size is 24.
I was thanked for being so considerate, and it was agreed I would skip the new parent social, which is an event I excel at.
The week was focused on preparing both the curriculum and being reminded that we teach the whole student. Some of our focus this year will be on remembering that, in addition to outside training on the full spectrum of learning disabilities, we should consider the growth of our Learning Center population. Those were certainly helpful discussions, the latter of which will be revisited throughout the year in additional Professional Development.
By Friday, I had everything for the first two-three weeks of my classes pretty much locked and loaded. I then met with my three-person Yearbook editorial team, sharing what I learned at Jostens Advisors University and the decisions we need to make once we convene on Monday. We then celebrated with lunch out.
There was also a department meeting for MICA, which also resumes this week. I spent Sunday reviewing the already submitted proposals for their 30-page stories. So, I ‘m pretty much ready for them, too.
When I wasn’t in school or resting, I managed some Thrilling Adventure Yarns work, as I readied the next campaign. With Deb, Kate, and Mike, we took in a rare midweek baseball game, as the Mets stumbled, losing to the Nationals. But we had the most amazing seats, right behind the Mets’ dugout, so that made it pleasant, along with terrific weather.
We completed Silo season two, which moved things along nicely, although the whole AI entity felt tacked on without any real development. The chaos in the Silo built to a nice boil, in time for Juliette’s return. So, we’re looking forward to season three in 2026.
What We’re Watching
Having cleaned the slate, we started new series, beginning with the Miss Austen miniseries based on a novel about Jane’s eldest sister Cassandra. It was a fine Masterpiece offering. We also started Dark Winds, which had been repeatedly recommended to us, and we’re hooked. I had been looking forward to Paradise after all the superlatives, and it is another Dan Fogelman onion of a lot, unveiling layer after layer. Good casting and fine writing. We tried the first episode of The Studio, and we both reserve judgment since it felt overly profane and over-the-top, notably Kathryn Hahn’s histrionics. And for our shorter, lighter show, we sampled Never Have I Ever, and so far, so good.
What I’m Reading
This week was all about finishing several magazines, trying to make a notable dent in the stack. For the faculty book club, I have been reading The Moonshiner’s Daughter, which is interesting and different, but it has a sameness feel to it, like I’ve read it before. I’m not relating to any of the characters, which clearly taints my opinion. I’ve crested past the halfway mark in Onyx Storm, and I’m very much enjoying the fantasy, less so the romance. I was also charmed by James Robinson and J. Bone’s Welcome to the Maynard.
#Tags: Covid-19, Dark Winds, MICA, Miss Austen, Never Have I Ever, New York Mets, Onyx Storm, Paradise, Silo, St. Vincent Pallotti High School, The Studio, Washington Nationals