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This and that
COVID numbers are rising here but still not quite exploding. We had 31 cases a couple of days ago but have been hanging in the 20s each day otherwise. But thanks to these higher numbers, there have been some changes to requirements for isolation with and without symptoms here. Also, the isolation upon returning to the state is now down to seven days, which is a good thing.
In my work situation as a support worker, there are two other people I work with to support one client. Recently one of them had travelled to an eastern state and is back but having to quarantine. The other one got a promotion and started training this week. So I had been left to cover for both this week and next. It’s quite disruptive for the client and also a burden for me as the only support worker available. The changes on isolation mean I should be unburdened with most of the hours by Sunday, assuming no COVID symptoms come up. A new worker is going to be introduced soon and we are hopeful for a good fit with the client. That makes this week a bit easier to get through.
My travel plans are feeling more and more solid with the upcoming changes. I won’t be too surprised if we are properly open by the time I return in May. I just have to avoid getting the virus throughout.
I got into the pool for the first time in months a few days ago and it went really well. The only issue was limited time as the pool and gym close at 5 pm on weekend days. I had gone to the gym for half an hour and then the pool but had a few hiccups along the way. First of all, I couldn’t open the locker (it’s digital and I might have mistyped the code I wanted). It took ages to find someone to help me with that. Then upon getting my items, the lockers in the pool area mostly wouldn’t lock even though they haven’t been there are long as those in the gym area. The actual swimming was good and I managed to get in 22 laps in the limited time. I was shifting between freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke and felt pretty comfortable throughout.
We are in the middle of a brief chill in the midst of summer heat. A couple of days ago it was super hot but yesterday and today have been significantly cooler, especially with the strong breeze. From tomorrow it should be shifting closer to normal for a while.
I’ve recently begun listening to audiobooks instead of music while at the gym. This helps me finish listening much faster than before. I currently have two books out from the library, one of which is in high demand. It only became available last night but I began listening today so I can finish it in the two weeks that it’s available. I had already started the other one but it’s not in such demand and I may be able to just renew it once it is due. I will just keep watch to make sure nobody requests it in the meantime. I can easily return to it once the other book is finished.
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Yet another new gadget
I know I probably didn’t really need it but I bought a Kobo yesterday. I’d been contemplating an e-reader for a little while but there was no rush as I have been reading on my phone and iPad for a while now. My perspective changed once our local libraries started offering e-books for loan. The only contenders for my reader were the Kindle, Kobo, and Sony’s e-reader. I ruled out the Kindle pretty early on since the library doesn’t use its format. The Sony was far more expensive but I considered it if I could justify the extra expense. The Kobo Touch seemed to meet my needs pretty adequately but I wanted to try the devices out before making a decision.
The Scientist and I went back and forth between JB Hi Fi and Good Guys, which were in the same shopping center. One had both on display but the Kobo wasn’t charged so it took some time for a salesperson to get it connected to charge. We had to wait a while to try it out. The Sony felt really comfortable in my hands and navigation was quite good too. The Kobo seemed quite a bit heavier to me, which made me think more seriously about the Sony. But trying them both out, the Kobo did what I needed and didn’t cost the earth…That said, I found a cover for the Sony reader with booklight for only $15, which seems to be a bit of a steal as it was far more when I saw it at Target earlier in the day. Â We did a fair bit of traipsing about to check prices and then to attempt a purchase. This got old pretty fast as I was wearing thongs to keep a bit cooler on what was a fairly warm day and my knee started hurting after awhile. Eventually ended up buying at Good Guys as they were able to undercut the lowest price by $4 and they did actually have a single one available.
A while back, the Scientist got a Kindle and set up was really fast and easy. The Kobo was far more time-consuming  although not really difficult. Eventually, I had it up and running and worked out how to transfer my downloaded library books so I could read them on the device. So far, I’m really liking it a lot although I will find it even better once I’ve found a cover for it and don’t have to worry so much about scratches. It does have an odd system, though, of giving out awards for certain accomplishments. I was a bit surprised get an award for turning pages! Looking forward to reading lots more e-books now that I have a device more suitable for my eyes.
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The Bunner Sisters
I’ve been reading The Bunner Sisters by Edith Wharton on my pda at night before I go to sleep and I finally finished it last night. It’s not a particularly long book but took me a few weeks to finish. I did like the book although it certainly was nowhere near the standards of The Age of Innocence, The House of Mirth, or even Custom of the Country by the same author. When I say I liked the book, I mean that I enjoyed the progression of the story for the most part. But I guess I just didn’t find it quite so satisfying as a whole. The ending is again sad and I sympathise with Ann Eliza. But I felt very little about the story when I finished reading.
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On to the film
I finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird recently and wanted to see the film again so I could compare. By chance, one of the cable movie channels was showing it tonight so I had to watch. I would prefer to see the dvd because the version show on tv wasn’t a widescreen version and I’d really like to see that. I still loved the movie but I couldn’t help noting the bits of the book that had been left out and the adaptation of the story that was done. It still works, but having the book freshly in my mind made the omissions and changes obvious right now. I had a variety of distractions during much of the first half of the film but it had my full attention for the rest of it. I definitely would like to have a copy of both the book and the film.