Sheryl I hope the hamster does well and Mr S is able to enjoy his pet.

I'm hoping that it helps a lot, Sheryl. We've had so many problems because of Male Pride(TM), askye.(Women occasionally do it, too, but I think we're copying male style, most often.0

True although there weren't a lot of women involved in the polar explorations.

It also makes me understand how Stockton Rush of Oceangate wasn't such an anomaly. Apparently alot of the issues with survival came from explorers ignoring the Inuit and assuming they had better ideas. So Stockton Rush would have been one of the Polar Explorers who "mysteriously disappeared at sea" or or tried to get some place on the ice and "either they fell through the ice or part of the ice broke off and floated away". Or maybe the guy who nearly died of scurvy and starvation because he hated seal and refused to eat it when it was the main food source.

I’m back from the annual family trip to Lexington, MI. It’s a small village on Lake Huron. There were four kids under six and seven adults, so coordinating things was an ongoing challenge. But I got time in the lake and time with my family, so it’s all good.

I wish I was still on Lake Huron. (I checked a map and it looks like Lexington is about as far as it's possible to be from the North Channel where my family's place is, but still! Lake!)

School has FINALLY started here on the East Coast, but since both of my kids are upper classmen (8th/12th) they're on a weird schedule. Our district has 6th and 9th graders come in by themselves on the first day for orientation, so D only had to go in for the club fair (he's an officer in Creative Writing and Drama clubs), and A is on a three-hour delay.

Good, bad, and ugly long weekend. The local firehouse fundraising event was a complete blast with the best music they have had in years. Good food and turnout. Made lots of bucks. It was 38 degrees when we got up this morning which means that fall is falling, it will get to the mid 60s with full sunshine so not complaining. My sister tested positive for covid yesterday. She has had lots of doctor visits preparing for knee surgery so probably got it at some office. Of course, that means surgery delay. I've been going to the gym with her daily meaning about 45 minutes a day sharing the car and lots more contact generally. So guess who has the faintest of faint lines today on my test. I'm only sniffly like a mild cold, but annoying because I have to let the construction guys know to hold for a while.

Oh, boo, Laura. Feel better and may it be mild and short-lived.

We had a chill week. Saw friends and read. Did some chores but not much.

Well that sucks (except the first bit), Laura. I hope it’s mild for you and your sister.

Thyroid pills day 7: Skin is much less dry, but the digestive issues that made me make a special appointment? Not resolved yet.(That may be fast, but I went to the doctor after dealing for about three months already...off and on, you know, but I've kind of had it. was really hoping there was something about my life that could legit be fixed.) Maybe it just takes a while, though.

It's now been a week of trying to get a tall chair for my classroom. Still don't have one. I checked the other classrooms on that floor to see if there was one that I could take, but the only one is in the other classroom I teach in, and it's not practical to move it back and forth every day. The department secretary offered me one that's in her office, but it doesn't have armrests, so I'm not sure if it'll work for me.