Glad to hear from you, Nilly and Shir. My thoughts are with you; I only wish it was for more general well-wishing and not the current situation.

I spent most of yesterday raking leaves and it brought home that I am OLD in a way that the recent visit to the cardiologist and assorted echocardiograms and EKGs hadn't. I did eventually manage to get my whole front yard to an acceptable level of lawn showing, but I can remember baleing hay as a kid and it doesn't seem like something as lightweight as leaves should wear me out as much as it did.

My cousin and girlfriend are visiting from Ohio, and they are enjoying the beach and sunshine very much. We are avoiding the news except for brief updates to keep the feelings of hopelessness at bay. Friday, we are going on a 3-day cruise and are seriously considering not purchasing internet to take a media break.

eta: Am I the only one to get an earworm from a 3-day cruise converted to a 3-hour cruise?

Laura, I just started humming the theme for Gilligan's Island, so no. You are definitely not the only one. I'm reading a great book which is making this whole work thing extra hard to want to engage in. Do you thin anyone woud notice if I just kept reading my digital copy of the book while I make the students do something else?

I think that sounds like a fabulous idea, kat. There must be lots of self-guided work those children could do!

JenP, I am making them draft a research paper (2000 words) by hand in pen with no access to tech They've spent 3 weeks taking notes and outlining and this week is writing week. So they don't need me at all.

BUT, and this is a significant but, my eyes are fubar at work. Reading on screens that aren't eink are killlllling me. I have stopped reading to write a little and I can't see across the classroom. So much eye fatigue. Bodies aging are tricky beasts.