The Friday Recap in W's

 

     It's already Friday and my last day of vacation. I don't go back to work until Monday, but I'd have the weekend off anyway. I had some lazy days this week and some productive days. DD2 is pretty much ready to get back to school and we'll move back into our empty nest lifestyle. Here's the W's of my life for this week.    

What's top of mind: Having a safe school year and hoping FDA approves the vaccines soon so there is no more authentic reasons why people  feel it is not safe. DD2's college requires either vaccination or weekly testing, and the professors can decide if masks are required in their classrooms. Wait- she got an email that because they did not reach 85% vaccinated, masks will be required inside all buildings. She's fully stocked with masks again. I am happy that work decided to no longer have a state fair booth, so I am off the hook working it. While I would have been fully masked up, I just feel better not mixing in large crowds that I have no way to separate. I still have some relatives choosing not to vaccinate, and while it is their choice, and they are accepting the risk, I still do not want them ill. Some have kids under 12 with no choice and I don't want to be the spreader. 

Besides Covid and the school year, we have an ongoing debate as to whether our daughter will be able to safely fit all in her small car or if we will be taking the  8 hour round trip. She pretty much just has her bedding, clothes, and a couple bins of miscellaneous so it shouldn't' be a problem. DH is just worried about overly weighing down her small car. I want her to have to make choices and lean down what won't fit in two bins. 

Where I've been: Over the weekend of course, to the lake. Last night my daughters and I did a thrifting challenge. I will have a whole post coming up. Let's say we made a haul and details to come. The rules were loose, but all of us were successful. l ran errands with my daughter to help with odds and ends to pack up. I'm a big spender and got her new socks and underwear, but in honesty, they were more than her thrift haul. 

Where I'm going:  I'm very excited to go to the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit tomorrow. Fingers crossed that I'll get some good pictures and that too will be a future post. I'm happy that they still have all Covid protocols in place-one direction, social distance lines and masks required. My Mom's of Teens and Tweens (as I was not kicked out when my daughter turned 20) is having an outdoor meet-up on Monday. I haven't seen most of these women in a long time, except for those either on zoom, or the one in person book club meet up. We're an eclectic group, varying ages, and I am on the older end, but they still invite me! . 

What I'm reading:  I finished The Day Before Winter , the last of the Bennett's Island books by Elizabeth Ogilvie. Book club is starting up again. This book club is a off shoot of the Mom's of Teens and Tweens group. I don't know what book was selected, but I'll get it read as soon as I know it-and the date we pick to  meet up. 

What I'm listening to: Not really anything unless it is Ann's from Cooking and All that Jazz, lovely musical links. 

What I've been watching: I watched a Diane Keaton and Brendon Gleason movie, well, mostly nodded off during in, called Hampstead. A man lives off the gird in Hampstead Heath park in/outside of?? London, and she and he become friends and develop a relationship. That's the gist.  I tend to have the Today Show and Hoda and Jenna on in the back ground on mornings when I'm doing  stuff around the house. That has continued this week. 

What I'm eating:  Wednesday I made curry for DD2 and I, and froze a good portion for her to take back for her Sunday meal. She had requested chow mein as well, the canned version. I don't eat that and will let her have all the fun, probably for tonight's supper.  I need to cleanse from all the heavy food the last few weeks. 

Who I'm paying attention to: I'm not an ostrich so can't help having what is going on in Afghanistan on my mind. I'm not going to turn this into a political post, but this might be one area that I wish the former person in the White House, who started the  troop pull out, could get in line with the current  president implementing it, and realize both had the same intent, and not start scape goating each other. I worry about the humanitarian impact on those residents left behind, but agree it was a no win situation that after 20 years, was not getting any better with a US presence. 

What I'm planning:  Nothing really! I'll get the college kid on the road, enjoy the weekend with my girls, and back to regular work next week. DD1 was going to be on a long road trip but her  travel partner decided she couldn't afford the time off work and now they are planning something more on a weekend. This leaves my daughter with time off the same week DD2 is home on fall break. It's possible the three of us could get a short trip away, but you all know my uneasiness on flying with Covid still running amuck. I haven't progressed on DH and my plans either. 

What's Making Me Smile: I thought I had let my flower pots dry out, but they sprung back with a couple good morning watering's. We need color around here! Another thing making me smile is a maple tree that has spring up on the side of our yard. It is not in a great place, but DH and I are going to see if we can get it dug up and moved to the front yard. Maybe those stupid squirrels do serve some purpose other than annoying pup. 

     We are back to needing rain-desperately needing rain. The wild fires in north eastern Minnesota are too close for comfort and the smoky haze lingers. This summer just has felt like a downer and I hope fall gives us many days of needed rains followed by days of calm to be able to really get outside and enjoy.  As I close each week, I invite you to play along! What's going on in your life this week?