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.

Geez Hil that’s ridiculous.

Apparently it is impossible for the university to provide a chair for me -- there is zero budget for furniture, and they said there aren't any of the stool-height chairs in other rooms that can be moved to that classroom -- so the math department has approved using department funds to get a chair for me. This is completely ridiculous, but at least the department is willing to do it.

Wow, that's pretty bad. I'm glad the department is coming through, but really, somebody seriously messed up.