Friday, January 1, 2021

Sunday Post #383



The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Book Date

I hope everyone had a happy New Year! It was quiet here and I was okay with that, honestly.     

Vintage SciFi Month is here- all through January- and you can find the details on #VintageSciFiMonth.  

Oh, and I found out this week that the local school district really wants people to return to in- person learning, so they're going to restrict remote learners participating in extracurricular activities and sports. I am not happy. I know they're going to say well if you can't do in- person classes how can you do sports? Well, to me there's a big difference between, say, winter guard practicing distanced in a gym and throwing kids in classes five plus hours a day.   


Song of the week


PULP COVER OF THE WEEK: 


BOOKISH LINKS

This week we have a great walking tour. 


This is awesome. I didn't even like this song until I saw this version.  

Posted by at

97 comments:

  1. paperbackprincessJanuary 1, 2021 at 7:48 PM

    I don't see how schools can be open in most cities in North America at all. Remote learning is possible, and in this case, I think it is the safest route to go with. I know people who are forced to go to in-person classes who are terrified of catching COVID. How do you expect kids to focus on learning when they're crammed in a classroom and they're all hyperaware of the air they're all sharing?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 2, 2021 at 1:47 PM

      I agree. Same here. My daughter loves remote learning. I know some kids have been forced to back by their parents and they are scared!

      Delete
  2. Katherine PJanuary 1, 2021 at 8:39 PM

    The school stuff is crazy and it does seem like nonsense they're essentially trying to punish people for trying to stay safe and even more nuts that they gave you such short notice. I hope otherwise you've had a happy New Year and I hope you have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 2, 2021 at 1:48 PM

      Yeah I understand they're trying to mitigate risk, and I'd be all for all virtual- I know there are challenges- but this just feels like they're punishing the kids who want to stay virtual.

      Delete
  3. Lex @ LexlinguaJanuary 2, 2021 at 2:22 AM

    I had no idea January was #VintageSciFiMonth time. Might pick that one up.
    Tarzan -- the Pulp Fiction cover! Awesome. I remember I had a few Tarzan comic books too which all my neighbors would keep borrowing (and forget to return, haha!)
    ~Lex (lexlingua.co)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 2, 2021 at 1:49 PM

      Yay! I know what you're saying- sometimes comics don't get returned!!!

      Delete
  4. Samantha@WLABBJanuary 2, 2021 at 3:37 AM

    I feel like most places are missing the point Have they made any improvements to the infrastructure or ventilation systems to account for COVID as a new way of life. I ask my manager all the time, if they have changed seating plans or anything at my job, and the answer is always "no". Most places have been shut down since March, and schools close all summer. There was plenty of time to make improvements. That's where the money should be spent. Fixing the buildings and working on a plan to get kids back in the building safely. I'm not in charge, so not much I can do, but that's my two cents.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 2, 2021 at 1:50 PM

      I feel the same. I remember a few months ago (last year!!!!!) they were talking about ventilation and changes that could be made, but nothing ever came of that. I think some places made changes, but not many. It's kind of like with track and trace- I remember early on they said 1) isolate 2) test 3) contact trace and I feel like, at least here in the US, we never got ANYWHERE w/ contact tracing.

      Delete
  5. Tammy SparksJanuary 2, 2021 at 7:38 AM

    Our school district is remote for the rest of the school year, and they're looking ahead to September to return to the classrooms. They won't open until all teachers and staff are vaccinated, which I think is really smart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 2, 2021 at 1:51 PM

      I wish ours would. I've given our administrators the benefit of the doubt, I think they've tried to do the right things, but we did have to go virtual right before the holidays and now they want everyone back???

      Delete
  6. Kristin (Book Sniffers Anonymous)January 2, 2021 at 10:37 AM

    Wow. I'm sorry you're going through that. A lot of places are finding loopholes and it's just sad. I actually just quit my job because I was tired of dealing with all the ways they would twist what the CDC said in order to stay open and make money. Museums have to close? We'll put a table of merchandise in our exhibit area and say it's an extension of the visitor center. That way our space is larger and more people can come into the building. We need ventilation? Open up the windows and doors and make the employees wear winter coats inside because it's freezing. Another stay at home order is being put into place? Everyone who works in private offices should stay home where it's safe. Those who work the visitor centers and deal with people flying in from all over the world... well, you're essential so you stay behind. Good luck! Finally I had enough and quit. Our county never even got out of the purple zone during this entire thing. Am I ready to go back to normal? Yes, but not at the expense of someone's life, and I think that's the big picture that people keep overlooking.
    Sorry for my lil rant. This past year has been awful and it's been very disheartening to see so many people disregard what's going on.

    I hope you and your loved ones stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 2, 2021 at 1:56 PM

      Thanks!!! And yes I'm really disillusioned- I gave our administrators the benefit of the doubt but this came out of nowhere. They're encouraging students to come back, not limiting extracurriculars in anyway- UNLESS you stay virtual and only the remote kids can't do extras. If they're really trying to mitigate risk, cancel ALL extras and stay virtual! Not just targeting the remote kids.

      I'm sorry you had to quit! I respect your choice though and standing by your principles. I've often wondered, and even almost mentioned in my intro- what do the teachers think? I heard early on that a lot of teachers didn't want to go back, but schools chugged along.

      Delete
  7. LynnJanuary 2, 2021 at 11:32 AM

    The covid restrictions can seem very contrary. Fingers crossed that things start to stabilise during 2021.
    Love that crazy pink 'Evening Rush' image.
    Lynn :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lark January 2, 2021 at 12:33 PM

    Figuring out how to do school during a pandemic is definitely hard. The school I work at has been in-person since last August. But they also gave all the parents a choice as to whether they wanted to come back or do online learning only. And I think that's really important. Tying that choice to extracurricular activities is stupid and lame. Guess some of the crap that was 2020 continues to linger in 2021, huh? Hope you still manage to enjoy your weekend...and the rest of January, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 2, 2021 at 2:00 PM

      Yeah I hate to sound like the guy who wants HIS kid to have her cake and eat it too- it's just that they're targeting the virtual kids (come back or no extras for you) while if you're in person, anything. And same here- we had the choice and went with extended traditional (basically remote). I know some kids struggle with that, but some don't! And even if we've had Covid, no one knows how long immunity lasts, and our daughter doesn't want to go back! She's known people who were quarantined and sent home (some twice)!

      Anyway happy NY!!!

      Delete
  9. AngelaJanuary 2, 2021 at 1:18 PM

    Ooh, yikes, that's kind of scary about the schools! I thought more schools were erring on the side of caution and not going back for awhile.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Carole's Random LifeJanuary 2, 2021 at 6:19 PM

    I have got to tell you that I am so glad that I no longer have a child in K-12. I really feel for you. It doesn't make sense to me at all and they did not give you enough time to even process the change. I hope you have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are TakenJanuary 2, 2021 at 7:23 PM

    What the district is doing is absolute bullshit and they can not punish kids in this way through extracurriculars! I hope the teachers in your district have a strong union that fights this both for the sake of teachers AND students. Our district announced before break that we would be full remote for the first two weeks. We are also incredibly lucky to have a super tough teacher union that does not fuck around, They go toe-to-toe with our district leaders constantly and usually come out on top.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 4:48 PM

      I agree. The principal responded too by basically not answering my questions, and blithely assuming that daughter would be back on Monday. I was like- no, she'll still be doing remote and I expect her to continue winter guard as well. We'll see. :) Other parents are complaining too, so I know I'm not alone.

      Delete
    2. Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are TakenJanuary 3, 2021 at 8:52 PM

      Hopefully it works in your favor. It is insane for districts to even consider this, especially coming off winter break. Eleanor and I only travelled to my mom's house because we tested negative and knew it was safe. We only saw my grandparents (wearing masks and social distancing) in that time, no big family gatherings. I KNOW that's not true for so many. I am truly appalled by the number of family photos I was seeing on Facebook of huge groups of people clustered around a table, no masks, nothing. I can not deal with this level of stupidity anymore.

      Delete
    3. GregJanuary 4, 2021 at 9:12 PM

      And to announce this with only 4 days notice! The state made the schools shut down in early Dec, they reopened for 8 days pre- Christmas, and now this. Reopening was not a surprise, but penalizing the remote learners was. And you're right! I keep seeing people on Facebook mask less and it's infuriating.

      Delete
  12. BiblioSanctumJanuary 2, 2021 at 8:17 PM

    Happy new year! I take a somewhat more optimistic and hopeful view of the schools opening thing. As a parent of two grade school children, I absolutely think they should go back. Older children may be fine doing remote, and if anyone is uncomfortable going back they should definitely be allowed to stay remote, but the current state of things is doing the little ones more harm than good. My kindergartener still needs to learn to read and she and others in her class are well behind where they should be, compared to my older daughter who had the same teacher a few years back. When I talk to other parents, they also tell me stories about how their children have been negatively affected by the shutdowns, some developing behavioral problems while those with existing issues have seen them amplified, like separation anxiety, acting out, lack of motivation, and the list just goes on and on. And here I am thinking THANK GOD I'm not the only one whose kids are experiencing this, but also feeling sad for all the children who have irreparably damaged emotionally and socially forever.

    I also agree with the commenter above who said that a lot of school districts have been missing the point. All I hear is, "oh, we want kids to come back to class as much as you do" but have they done anything to improve infrastructure? Heck no. I have no doubt kids can go to school and still be safe (if it's safe enough to allow shopping at Walmart or Home Depot, our children should be able to attend classes safely as well) but the problem is no one even seems to be trying. We had a couple weeks in September/October where schools had a hybrid system in place, and my youngest was doing amazing with it. I couldn't believe how much improvement she was making with even just once a week face-to-face with a teacher, but that eventually got shut down as well. The decision angered a lot of parents. If it was truly a health problem, we would have understood, but it was obviously an unwillingness of the district to put in the effort, and less about it being "unsafe". Next time elections are up, I'm voting my entire board of education out. Anyway, just wanted to give you another perspective, and sorry for the rant but I'm just so mad at my county and had to get it off my chest, lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 4:46 PM

      Thank you! And thanks for sharing your view. I get that, because I've heard that a lot- not all kids enjoy or or do well with remote learning, and I think it's especially difficult for younger ones. I mean, learning through a screen- definitely challenges. So I do think absolutely that kids should be able to go back, and that it may be the ideal solution for many. My only point is (and I'm coming at it from a high school POV) is that all the in- person kids can do extracurriculars and they're now restricting just the remote learners, which I disagree with. But I totally get your point.

      And yes infrastructure! Like I replied above to Sam, I heard about this too and nothing really came of it. and I'm sorry to hear they shut down the hybrid model! See, I think options are good and yes different things work for different kids- if hybrid works it's an absolute shame they discontinued it. And no problem- I'm glad you shared your view!

      Delete
    2. Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are TakenJanuary 3, 2021 at 8:49 PM

      Not looking to start a big argument but as a teacher I must say that shopping in a store for x number of minutes is not the same as an entire class crammed into one room all day with no social distancing. It's absolutely not safe to be all-open, all students back, especially in areas that are hotspots. It is unfortunate that they shut down the hybrid model, but all-in is still a terrible idea right now.

      Delete
    3. BiblioSanctumJanuary 3, 2021 at 9:04 PM

      Understood :) My thoughts were really just a counterpoint to the whole "reopening schools and sending all the kids back to in person classes right now is crazy!" point of view which I'm seeing a lot in the comments here. The reality is, though, some parents really do not have the luxury or privilege of relying on remote learning for the wellbeing and education of our kids. I definitely think sending kids back to school safely can be possible, if we all make an effort. Case in point, what's infuriating is that there are specialty and private schools in my county open for in-person learning at this very moment, and there have been no cases of outbreaks traced back to any of them (I am also willing to bet the children of some of our hypocrite lawmakers go to these schools). It's really just a slap in the face to public school parents.

      And I also get where you're coming from with the restrictions on remote learning kids. They had enacted the same BS rule on virtual-only kids here earlier this fall, not allowing them to take part in intramurals or extracurriculars back when schools were still semi-open. Of course, with them all being shut down now, the case became moot, but back then when parents complained, the county gave some stupid excuse about how logistically it would be tough to place remote learning kids, blah blah blah. Basically at the end of the day, we just can't win. :(

      Delete
    4. BiblioSanctumJanuary 3, 2021 at 9:21 PM

      @Sarah - I don't know how your area handled it, but we absolutely had social distancing when the schools were open briefly this fall. People have this idea that "open all schools, send them all back now!" means going back to the way things were pre covid and that's absolutely not true, and not what parents are asking for. Of course, it helped that many people have found virtual learning works for them, and they should continue to make that option available for anyone who wants it. In fact, it was what made distancing possible, since there were less kids to accommodate in person.

      And no, shopping in X store for a number of minutes is definitely not the same thing as a class in one room all day. I would actually argue the latter is safer. When my kids went back for hybrid, the teacher watched the kids closely, had hand washing breaks, made sure they maintained distance, wore their masks correctly etc. Contact tracing was possible, and for the vast majority of these kids, this was their only social contact outside the home. Classes had no more than 8-10 people in them, adhering to guidelines on room size and capacity.

      At the store? Clerks come in contact with hundreds of customers each day, there is absolutely no guarantees any of these people have washed hands before touching everything and anything in sight. Just look what happened during the holiday season. Social distancing was non-existent with people standing shoulder to shoulder in aisles, or in line, no one enforcing guidelines. Customers and stock people wearing their masks under their noses, which I see more and more now, spreading all those droplets into an enclosed indoor area.

      I would much prefer the scenario with the school :)

      Delete
    5. GregJanuary 4, 2021 at 9:40 PM

      @Sarah - I agree. Even though I get the other viewpoint- after all, we've been on hybrid with off and on virtual "breaks"- I think safest would be virtual only. I see Mogsy's point too b/c I know some kids are really struggling, but if risk mitigation is key closing down is the only way. And that sorta plays into my issue-they're not restricting the in person, they're restricting the ones who are trying not to be exposed as much as possible!

      @Mogsy- "I definitely think sending kids back to school safely can be possible." You know, I partly agree, in the sense that schools are largely trying to do the right thing. Like our administrator claims their data shows no spread in the school- although I place more faith in the CDC county data, which indicates that w/ our county positivity rate transmission risk for schools is moderate to high. Plus they're sending kids home to quarantine left and right. So clearly there IS spread- it comes down to what is acceptable spread, I guess. And that will be different for everyone.

      At the same time I think there's variation. Some teachers are rock stars and really trying to make this work, but I know some understandably hate hybrid teaching. The mom of my daughter's friend says her daughter didn't get replies until the mother stepped in. The teachers are overwhelmed, I'm sure. And at risk. What if they bring the virus home to vulnerable family? I think a case can be made that the only way to really be safe is to go full virtual for a while- until this horrible surge subsides and/ or vaccination rates are up? But I know not all agree. And clearly no one has all the answers, as evidenced by the fact that some districts are going virtual, some are reopening, and different countries are making different decisions.

      And ha right? That's exactly what's happening here, except all fall extras were fine for remote and now- with 4 days- they're like surprise if you're remote you're shit out of luck. I don't think so! That's interesting though that you saw the same there.

      Delete
    6. Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are TakenJanuary 10, 2021 at 9:47 AM

      My daughter's school is hybrid and she attends every other day. My district started fully virtual for the first quarter and have been hybrid following a 3:2 model since then. We are fully remote here for the first two weeks after Christmas break, while my daughter's district has remained every other day with asynchronous work on their 'off' days.

      Unfortunately for many, 'open all schools' DOES mean returning to normal and that is not acceptable or appropriate at this time. I completely understand what parents are asking for because I am a parent too, and too many want kids back in school full time, all day. That is ridiculous.

      The latter with students being in school full day in the same room is only safer if there is some kind of model in place where only half the students are there at one time. It is not possible to social distance with classrooms at capacity and again, unfortunately, people ARE asking for this to happen, to be at regular capacity.

      Delete
  13. Literary FelineJanuary 2, 2021 at 9:26 PM

    We brought in the New Year quietly too. Well, except when we banged our pots and pans. :-)

    The school situation sounds frustrating. I really feel for the kids all around. My daughter is struggling with remote learning. She has a great teacher, and for that I am grateful. But as much as I want my daughter back in the classroom, I don't see that happening this school year.

    I hope your 2021 will be a good one, Greg! Here's hoping for a better year all around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 4:50 PM

      Haha it was quiet here. :) I liked it though. And you know I know a lot of kids are struggling with remote. Especially younger ones. It's interesting to me how different areas are handling this- I've seen several bloggers now from CA say, for example, that they're having remote or virtual mostly while here they're really pushing to go back

      Delete
  14. ShannonJanuary 2, 2021 at 10:09 PM

    Oh wow. My kids are enrolled in schools that allow for in person learning, but the class sizes are small and there are a lot of restrictions in place to allow them to continue. It works well, but if they were going to the same schools they were in last year.... absolutely not.

    Happy new year! I hope 2021 is better than 2020... which is a pretty low bar, but it's been a steady downhill roll since 2016 for me and then the cliff that was 2020, lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 4:53 PM

      I think the restrictions and class size helps a lot, I imagine. Here we have hybrid and I think it's worked fairly well... until this snafu where they're trying to restrict the remote learners.

      Delete
  15. IzaBzhJanuary 3, 2021 at 12:44 AM

    In France, we had a total lockdown first, then a partial lockdown from october to december : people had to stay home, but go to work and go to school ! Of course, you can't catch Covid in public transports, workplaces and schools... The number of cases during that period speak for themselves. On a brighter side, love that Kiss cover (loved the original ;), do you know that one by Metallica with sign language ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6CTpN6UMKQ&feature=youtu.be

    ReplyDelete
  16. IzaBzhJanuary 3, 2021 at 12:47 AM

    Oh, and happy new year ! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 4:52 PM

      Happy New Year!!!!! And right? It's interesting how these lockdowns apply- our administrators are telling us there's no spread in the schools, even though kids get sent sent home all the time!

      Delete
  17. Linda @ (un)Conventional BookwormsJanuary 3, 2021 at 1:33 AM

    Yeah, there's definitely a bit of contradictory information out there these days. Our politicians just stated that they were very surprised about the second wave of cases, and I'm like how? They started talking about a second wave while the first wave was still raging, and they were surprised?
    We, of course have had in-person teaching / learning since the beginning of the school year, and I really don't think anyone got infected at school, as we'd have had a lot more cases in each individual school if that was the case. We wear masks everywhere at school, though, and teachers disinfect desks and chairs while airing the classroom after each class.
    I wish you a happy, healthy New Year, Greg. Stay safe and healthy :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:13 PM

      That's crazy! Same here though, people act surprised we're in a winter surge but they were predicting it for months!

      Delete
  18. Gayathri LakshminarayananJanuary 3, 2021 at 1:46 AM

    Oh that is too bad about the schools. We are still on distance learning mode for the next two weeks, despite the vaccinations. After two weeks, we might be going back to in person classes on alternative days. I wish the US learns something from other countries that have handled this better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:21 PM

      Me too! We're in a hybrid mode, both in person and remote, but I don't understand some of these decisions.

      Delete
  19. Tanya @ Girl Plus BooksJanuary 3, 2021 at 2:54 AM

    Yikes, that's so scary about the return to school. I just don't understand why they want to force the issue. Why put parents and kids in that position? Distance learning may not be ideal, but these are hardly normal circumstances. Down here in FL our governor has pushed in-person learning from the beginning, doing everything he can to stop the distance learning. It's mind-boggling. I hope they reconsider up there or offer some better options. There's still so much unknown about the virus that it seems foolish to take chances like that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:23 PM

      Exactly. Remote learning is not ideal but it's only during the pandemic. And agreed. I don't get why they're targeting the remote kids...

      Delete
  20. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:40 AM

    I'm so thankful that my child is only a toddler, and I do not have to worry about the school system just yet. My heart goes out to you. However, my county decided to do the same thing after Thanksgiving but it was unsuccessful. They immediately went back to virtual because a few cases starting popping up and everybody was put into quarantine by the health department.

    Have a great reading week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:22 PM

      Thanks! And yes I think virtual is a better option- if kids don't get it that bad they can still bring it to home to those who have risk!

      Delete
  21. LynnJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:57 AM

    Happy new year! I'm sad to hear it's about the same in schools over there. Here they are saying schools are safe environments and there is absolutely no need to close them. We are doing half online classes and half in person classes, though.

    Have a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:26 PM

      I've heard that too- they say schools are safe here although many end up going virtual when cases rise. The CDC says too they want schools reopened but their reports of cases by county also advises to exercise caution in areas with high prevalence- so there's a lot of contradictory info.

      Delete
  22. StormiJanuary 3, 2021 at 6:00 AM

    Happy New Year!!

    The whole what you can and can't do with Covid is so silly. Get this our school can play sports and they are going to do wrestling. So you can throw your opponent all around touching, sweating, etc., but you are not allowed to shake hands afterwards!!! Now is that stupid or what!

    Have a great week and happy reading!
    Stormi
    Week in Review

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:24 PM

      You too!! And wow. Yeah it's so hit or miss- restrict this but allow that. And that's crazy!!!

      Delete
  23. Joy January 3, 2021 at 6:10 AM

    Happy New Year, Greg!

    Reading (or trying to) Dune at the moment so perfect timing for your vintage Scifi event. It was pretty quiet here as well. But then again, our New Year celebs tend to be low key no matter what. I was in bed by 8 pm. Lol.

    anyway, trying to get back into things, so you might hear more from me today. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:29 PM

      You too!!!!! And ooh nice! Are you going to participate in VintageSciFi?

      Delete
  24. sjhigbeeJanuary 3, 2021 at 6:31 AM

    Urg! The school situation here is a total mess. Now we have this new strain of COVID ripping through the country - teachers don't wear masks in the classroom and while I respect that the Govt is trying to keep schools open, if pupils don't present with symptoms, they don't get tested - even if they come into contact with someone who has had the illness! They just stay off school for 10 days. Which is nuts - because how can you keep track of who's had it and who hasn't?? On a MUCH lighter note - thank you so much for your lovely pics - I'm LOVING Evening Rush!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:28 PM

      I hear of that. And yes contact tracing is a huge issue here too. As in, we're not doing it much. :) But yes even if kids are asymptomatic, they can bring it home and Grandma who's 78 gets it and ends up in hospital!

      Delete
  25. Jen | Book DenJanuary 3, 2021 at 6:35 AM

    Yay, vintage scifi!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Roberta R.January 3, 2021 at 6:49 AM

    You already know how I rang the new year in LOL 😭. Glad to hear your NY's eve was nice and cozy!

    "Vintage SciFi Month is here- all through January"
    I didn't know!

    "If they're really trying to mitigate risk, cancel ALL extras and stay virtual! Not just targeting the remote kids."
    So...if I understood it well...if your kids chooses to stay home, she can't have extras? How is it even acceptable from a legal standpoint? I hear her (and you) about being scared. And the world had MONTHS to prepare for the worst scenery, but it seems they ended up copying Xander from Buffy's attitude: "...and then I hide until it goes away..." (remember the gif i used in my 2020 wrap-up LOL).

    I hope all will go smoothly for you anyhow! Best wishes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:32 PM

      It was nice and quiet! :) And yes they're saying that remote learners can't do activities, but if you attend in- person you can! Which is new- all fall they were able to do activities.

      Delete
  27. LolaJanuary 3, 2021 at 7:12 AM

    Happy new year! And good luck with the vintage scifi month!

    Here we're still in lockdown to mid January, so we'll see what happens after that.

    I hope you'll have a good week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GregJanuary 3, 2021 at 5:32 PM

      I feel like we should be in lockdown as well!!

      Delete
  28. Michelle@Because ReadingJanuary 3, 2021 at 7:56 AM

    Schools are going to have to fight me, I refuse to send either of my kids back until more people are vaccinated. Thankfully we still have remote, if they were smart they would just do the rest of the year remote until all shot are given out (to those that want to take it) especially since we have a new strain that spreads faster. They just made this virus all politics and less about the health crisis that it is.

    Anyway, I am glad you enjoyed your New Year, ours was quiet too. Have a great week, Greg! Happy Reading!

    ReplyDelete
  29. LauraJanuary 3, 2021 at 8:28 AM

    I wish they could make up their minds. The school system here goes back and forth. I'm curious what will happen across the country when our new president takes office.

    ReplyDelete
  30. LauraJanuary 3, 2021 at 8:28 AM

    Happy New Year, Greg!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Laurel-Rain SnowJanuary 3, 2021 at 8:30 AM

    Making the decision to return to in-person learning seems totally wrong, and definitely could lead to more cases. How can they not see that?

    Yikes! I hope things improve this year, but everything is still pretty scary.

    Enjoy your week, and hang in there!

    ReplyDelete
  32. InkvotaryJanuary 3, 2021 at 8:37 AM

    Here in Germany our healthminister wants schools and kindergarten to remain closed and that the lockdown we are currently is very likely to be extented until further notice. We will know more next Tuesday when our ministers go into a video conference with our chancellor. But I hear you. During fall, when kids were back at school, they had to open every twenty minutes the windows for ten minutes. Masks were a must in the classrooms and outside. And they had to wash their hands whenever they went outside to the toilett etc. It was not easy and it won´t be easy in the future. Gosh, I hope that we will get that virus under control once and for all soon.

    ReplyDelete
  33. YvonneJanuary 3, 2021 at 8:54 AM

    Happy New Year! I hope this stuff about the schools is worked out, but it seems every area has problems like this. I just don't see how in person schooling is the right way.

    Hope you have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Lover Of RomanceJanuary 3, 2021 at 9:04 AM

    So many things about covid and what they say to do and not do just change all the time and I have given up making sense out of any of it. LOL But they should have given better notice. I do think if we as a people practiced better hygiene, this pandemic wouldn't have gotten this serious.

    Hope you had a wonderful New Years and best wishes for you and yours of prosperity and joy

    ReplyDelete
  35. crackercrumblifeJanuary 3, 2021 at 9:17 AM

    Wow that is extremely unfair and very discriminatory in my opinion. I am not sure how that is even legal honestly - I know in Michigan as a homeschool family, not even enrolled in a school district at all, a parent can choose to send their children for extras like art and gym and so forth, and this doesn't seem too far off of that. This has me sort of angry honestly! Lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. crackercrumblifeJanuary 3, 2021 at 9:19 AM

      I also don't see how they can be ready to reopen schools right now. I would think it would be better to wait until at least February and see what way we trend after these two weeks of holidays.

      Delete
  36. jessicabookwormJanuary 3, 2021 at 9:31 AM

    Happy New Year to you too, Greg 🎆 and I hope you enjoy taking part in the Vintage SciFi Month - I always fancy taking part, but can never can my ass in gear this early in the year! 😅

    I am also sorry to hear you are not happy with the changes made to sports and extra curricular activities at your local schools. Here in the UK there is big arguments going on about whether schools should even be reopening tomorrow! Really hope it all gets sorted out. 🙏

    ReplyDelete
  37. Lectrice VoraceJanuary 3, 2021 at 9:57 AM

    Happy New Year! Our school district allows families to choose whether they want to keep their kids at home for virtual learning or send them to school for in-person classes. Some kiddos are more extroverted and need social interaction with their peers for mental health, and in-person instruction to succeed academically. The schools have physical distancing rules and safety precautions in place to stop the spread. Families should have the choice!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Elza ReadsJanuary 3, 2021 at 10:53 AM

    Aaah my friend, school around the world is a bit of a mess these days. There are kids in SA who didn't attend school (physical or virtual) since March and they still passed the year. How's that for fun!

    I'm at a private school and we are back at school from the 13th with very strict guide-lines. We will resume sports like athletics and no contact ball sport. BUT only the kids who attended school in the morning and did the safety check will be allowed to stay for sport.

    Let's see how it goes. I for one hope that I won't have a lot of kids online now. I would rather have more classes at school if that makes any sense.

    Let's see how things pan out. As long as you keep safe and your family safe too.

    Have a good week Greg!

    Elza Reads

    ReplyDelete
  39. Mar @ BOOKIVERSEJanuary 3, 2021 at 11:09 AM

    Not sure what happened with my comment from this morning. I tried a couple of times from my phone and nothing I think I'm rusted at blogging lol. That's terrible what your local school district is doing! You are absolutely right, my kids do DL AND play sports and it is definitely not the same! Have a great week friend!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Shooting Stars MagJanuary 3, 2021 at 11:12 AM

    Woah, that is some messed up things going on in your school district. Playing sports is definitely different than being stuck in a classroom every day. That's ridiculous, and it's really unfair to kids.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
  41. Beware Of The ReaderJanuary 3, 2021 at 12:05 PM

    Dang Greg sorry! That does not make sense. I know people are getting the vaccine righ now in the US but it will take time to protect everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Tracy January 3, 2021 at 12:27 PM

    I had a quiet New Year also, which I'm totally fine with. I'm sorry to hear about your school district. I don't know what I would do if I had children right now because there's no way it's safe for them to be in school.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Heather @ Random Redheaded RamblingsJanuary 3, 2021 at 12:48 PM

    Happy new year! The schools worry me, my daughters have a week of home school then they are supposed to go back, I can’t see it happening as our cases are getting worse, we have the new variant of Covid running rife and it’s going to take months before we all get vaccinated.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Mary KirklandJanuary 3, 2021 at 1:51 PM

    No one should be going back to in person school yet. That is crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  45. BerlsJanuary 3, 2021 at 3:13 PM

    That is so dumb, I don't get it! You'd think they would want to encourage remote learning so that those who HAVE to come to school are safer. I'm sorry you're having to deal with that.

    On the plus, happy new year! I keep thinking this year HAS to be better, right?

    ReplyDelete
  46. Laura at Library of Clean ReadsJanuary 3, 2021 at 7:19 PM

    Yeah, the whole school debate is not an easy one. It has its pros and cons for sure. I hope you enjoy Vintage SciFi Month.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Kathryn TJanuary 3, 2021 at 8:39 PM

    Just read today of a 35year old teacher dying of Covid. Totally agree with you. Happy New Year Greg.

    ReplyDelete
  48. westmetromommyJanuary 3, 2021 at 8:58 PM

    Ugh! Sorry about the school situation! I know that a lot of school districts are opening. Our district will be all remote until at least February, but I'm not sure after that. (Melinda @ A Web of Stories)

    ReplyDelete
  49. La La in the LibraryJanuary 3, 2021 at 10:09 PM

    I'm totally with you on the school issues. There was just a huge ad on one of the community Facebook pages for local small businesses, for the re-opening of the gym next to where Baz works, and I'm thinking, hello... our numbers are as bad as they've ever been. 😶

    I had a quiet New Year too, but NO PIZZA! They weren't delivering. Oh, the horrors! 🚫🍕😱

    Have a wonderful week. 🌞

    ReplyDelete
  50. RAnnJanuary 3, 2021 at 10:28 PM

    Everybody has different views, situations and risk analyses. For me every penny of my daughter's tuition has been worth it this year because they started on time, have been in school full time and have even had extra-curriculars. The public schools are doing hybrid. I'm ready for Covid to be done

    ReplyDelete
  51. shelleyrae @ book'd outJanuary 3, 2021 at 11:24 PM

    We are very lucky here by comparison. Except for 2 and a half weeks back in May of virtual learning, the school year has been uninterrupted. It’s the summer holidays here right now, the new school year starts at the end of this month but all should be normal. I hope you find a way through this soon.

    Wishing you a great reading week, and a happy new year 🥳

    ReplyDelete
  52. ChloeJanuary 4, 2021 at 12:42 AM

    I also had a quiet New Year as I was working (sadly).

    Sorry to hear about the whole situation with the schools, don't really seem to make sense to me either.

    Hope you have a great week ahead! :)

    projectchloe.com

    ReplyDelete
  53. HarveeJanuary 4, 2021 at 2:38 AM

    It's been a stressful time, wondering if my mask works and if I remembered to wipe my hands with sanitizer each time I visit the grocery. So far, we are weathering isolation but we are gaining weight and miss walking outside or in the gym and other gym exercises! Hoping for the best for us all in the new year!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Maya @HerBookishDesiresJanuary 4, 2021 at 6:26 AM

    I am sorry to hear about the situation with the schools... I definitely feel that there are quite a few similar situations that just don't make any sense.

    I hope you have a great week! Hang in there!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Laurie CJanuary 4, 2021 at 7:35 AM

    What a struggle! Stick to your guns and I hope your daughter gets to participate in winter guard (whatever that is, haha -- my kids were non-joiners in school). Every interpretation of the CDC guidelines is different, and I agree -- it's incredibly frustrating!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Jordan @ForeverLostinLiteratureJanuary 4, 2021 at 8:09 AM

    The whole in-person learning issue has been so crazy everywhere, I live in a county in California that has been hit (and is increasing daily) really hard, yet they are suddenly saying they'll have in-person learning? (??) It's crazy, I'm not sure what to make of everything. All that aside, I love that Tarzan cover! So classic.And looking through Ryo Takemasa's blog and I absolutely love their art style!

    ReplyDelete
  57. KarenJanuary 4, 2021 at 9:31 AM

    It's such a mess. They're pushing for schools to get back by next month out here while strengthening the restrictions everywhere else. Then restaurants are defying the orders and having people (no masks or distancing at all - packed) while comparing themselves to Costco. Which I get - most shopping has been non essential but you wear masks and go in and get out. Not the same at all.
    What drives me crazy is that it just drags this out even longer and no one gets what they want.

    Grrrrr

    Happy 2021 Greg! lol

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

    ReplyDelete
  58. Amber EliseJanuary 4, 2021 at 10:52 AM

    Chicago schools are opening up too which is super worrisome.

    ReplyDelete
  59. The Fantasy PrincessJanuary 4, 2021 at 12:58 PM

    I don't have any kids so I don't really know what is going on with the schools around here. However people don't follow what we are told to do in the area either. That is why I stay home as much as possible. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Kathy MartinJanuary 4, 2021 at 1:15 PM

    This whole thing with schools has been so hard and so strange. I don't think that any extra-curriculars are even practicing in the district I retired from. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzJanuary 4, 2021 at 1:57 PM

    The schools have been crazy! I'm so terribly glad that I'm retired.

    I just finished a classic scifi book today. It's The Stars My Destination. Very different.

    ReplyDelete
  62. S. J. Pajonas (spajonas)January 4, 2021 at 3:55 PM

    Oh wow. I'm not happy about that school decision either. I think they're going to regret that in a few weeks time. :( I hope the kids don't get too sick!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Suzanne @ The Bookish LibraJanuary 4, 2021 at 6:07 PM

    That really sucks that they're using extracurriculars as a way to try to pressure kids to return to school. I'd be livid if they did that here.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Rachel @Waves of FictionJanuary 4, 2021 at 9:57 PM

    The school district is using some crappy tactics. You shouldn't punish those who only feel safe remote learning by excluding them from sports! As you say it's outside and totally different from being cooped up in a classroom at more close quarters.

    ReplyDelete
  65. ROJanuary 8, 2021 at 4:24 AM

    I know different schools are doing different things when it comes to the pandemic, but this is the first I've heard of this type of act. Happy Happy New Year, and please continue to stay safe, Gorgeous Greg. RO

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)