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Welcome to my weekly update for May 16, 2021!
Well, the CDC announcement that fully-vaccinated people in the US can pretty much go back to life as usual was a bit of a surprise, wasn’t it? My husband and I will probably continue wearing our masks inside for a while but at least we won’t feel as uncomfortable when we see other people without theirs. If, like me, you’re struggling with resuming a relatively normal life, I recommend reading this article about irrational covid fears in the New York Times. I read it a few weeks ago and it’s helped me put my fears and the risks in perspective. I do advocate following CDC guidance and doing what feels best for you and your family though.
We’ve definitely gotten more active ourselves since I passed my fully-vaccinated mark (my husband was fully vaccinated in January since he’s a healthcare worker). We’ve been to botanical gardens, the aquarium, taken a kayaking tour, and we have a Segway tour planned for tomorrow. This is why we started traveling with my husband’s job in the first place so it’s nice to get back to activities that we love!
I can’t even decide which picture to post this week. Sunset, a tricolored heron, a green heron, mangrove tunnels, sand sculptures…it’s been a week of photography here!
(L) Downtown Sarasota, the John Ringling Causeway, and Sarasota Bay from Bird Key Park
(R) Kayaking through the mangrove tunnels in Ted Sperling Nature Park
Posted:
The Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. LaFevers–4 Stars
Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran–3 Stars
Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston, read by Imani Parks–4.5 Stars
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer: 4.5 Stars
Ten Books with Nature on the Cover
Read:
This looks more impressive than it actually is. I haven’t had the attention for long, complicated books so these are almost all middle-grade, children’s, or graphic novels that I can read quickly.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston, read by Imani Parks
The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson
Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
The Clockwork Girl by Sean O’Reilly and Kevin Hanna
The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #1) by Jessica Townsend
Ghoul Goblin (The Dresden Files Graphic Novels #3) by Jim Butcher & Mark Powers, illustrated by Joseph S. Cooper
The Undertaking of Lily Chen by Danica Novgorodoff
The Sins of the Father (The Clifton Chronicles #2) by Jeffrey Archer, read by Alex Jennings and Emilia Fox
Currently Reading:
Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women’s Fight for Their Rights by Mikki Kendall, illustrated by A. D’Amico
Renegades by Marissa Meyer, read by Rebecca Soler and Dan Bittner
The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut’s Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney
Up Next:
I stopped by the library this week and chose all those graphic novels. I also checked out Anahita’s Woven Riddle by Meghan Nuttall Sayres because it’s been on my TBR forever and most libraries don’t have it.
What did your week look like?
Hosts
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon and Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer hosts Sunday Post. Kathryn at Book Date hosts It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
18 Comments
The kayak tour looks so cool! I was a bit shocked by the CDC new guidelines but it does make you feel at least much more hopeful. We are still wearing our masks despite being fully vaccinated but have started venturing out. Thank you for sharing the NYT article – I’ll have to read that!
You have so so many books listed that look fantastic!
Yes, it is hard to adjust my behavior since the announcement, after the year we have had. I will have to check out that article! Our mantra though the whole time has been to listen to the science, so I have to keep on believing it. It will take a minute though for us. Plus my son still has to wear a mask so we will as well, as examples for him.
This must be a hard time for parents. I would definitely continue wearing my mask if I were in your shoes too.
“Believing in the science” was one of the points of the article I linked to, I believe. Doing my best to follow recommendations and guidelines has gotten me this far so why wouldn’t I trust them to decide when we can begin returning to normal? It’s a hard thing though. That worry and fear has had time to really get ingrained.
It just makes it so much easier for Wyatt to keep his on for sure. Plus, I do worry about transferring it still to him a bit. You are right, it has become so ingrained in us, like get out of the car, put on your mask. I’ve seen my husband put it on out of habit when he comes home from work. Lol. So yes, I am trusting the science but still remaining cautious for a bit too. 🙂
We also are going to continue to be cautious, though we will certainly feel better about some things than we did previously. We will both be fully vaccinated, but I know there will be people who can’t get the vaccine, and I don’t want to cause them extra anxiety. Still, it is nice to be able to look forward to activities I have missed! (Browsing in the library instead of just picking up holds is one of those activities!)
I’m also one of those who is a little nervous about reopening. I’ll feel better once my entire family is fully vaccinated!
The news from the CDC was a surprise. I am fully vaccinated by also immuno-suppressed and am still going to be cautious. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I spent an enjoyable hour exploring your delightful blog. Thank you for sharing so many wonderful reviews. My want to read list has grown. )
I will continue to mask indoors even though I am fully vaccinated, but am happy to finally be able to do more! Glad you’re out and about more, too. Thanks for the NYT article… it’s a good one. Hope you enjoy the books you’re reading.
Oh wow what a view! I am so jealous of the US opening up lol! I literally cannot wait to be able to resume life as usual, but I’ve a feeling the government here will be taking away yet another summer 🙁 I’m luckier than most in that I have a cottage to get away to, but I feel so bad for people living in big cities with nothing to do and nowhere to go 🙁 I hope you enjoy the outdoors and have a fantastic week! 🙂
Living in a community residence has been especially hard for me, as the rules have been so much stricter than normal. So being able to go out (finally!) is wonderful. But yes, I will still be masking in many situations.
Enjoy your week and your activities, and here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
How wonderful to be able to enjoy such activities again!
Wishing you a great reading week
I like Jeffrey Archer as an author, I haven’t read this series but loved his Kane and Abel series years ago and some of his short stories. I know can be strange becoming free from Covid worries, I think it just takes a bit of acclimatising.
I am also going to keep wearing my mask in stores, etc and am not ready for restaurants yet. Caution is not going to hurt us, I figure.
All those activities sound like FUN, especially kayaking through mangrove tunnels!!!!
I’m envious of your kayaking adventure. I used to own one, but sold it since it rarely got used. Now that we’re in OR, I’m more tempted to go out on some of the rivers, which might be more fun than going in circles around small lakes. 😉
Sure feels good to be fully vaccinated, but we’re still being cautious. I’ll probably continue wearing my mask in stores, but it’s nice to take it off when we’re outside!
I’m glad you are vaccinated and able to do a bit more. We are doing more but still being cautious.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
The CDC announcement was a joy to hear for me. I’ve been waiting to hear something from scientists that suggests we can begin to resume normal lives.
I’m glad you have been getting out more now that you are both vaccinated. We have been doing a lot more outdoor activities, and now we are hoping to do more activities indoors. How fun to see a tricolored heron and a green heron. Your photography is beautiful.
Your books-read list looks impressive and it is impressive! Great job.