And how is that cough, Deb? you ask.
My best guess is that I acquired this cough six weeks ago at my grandson's first birthday party. Everyone at that party---my son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, grandson, my daughter-in-law's mother, and my husband and me---everyone except my husband came down with this lingering cough. Last week, my daugher-in-law's mother visited the doctor and had a COVID-19 test. Happily, her test came out negative.
I've been coughing for four weeks. I spoke to the doctor last weekend and he prescribed a powerful antibiotic and a strong cough suppressant. On Wednesday, I had a cough-free day. Optimistically, I wrote a post that I was well. Thursday, though, I was coughing again. I rewrote the post. Then Friday was another mostly-cough-free day.
Maybe I am...better? Getting well?
Saturday morning update: No coughing....
My library began curbside pickup this week. After a month and a half of reading from my TBR (generally there is a reason these books haven't been read, I've learned) and library ebooks (that mostly have long waits), I was delighted to receive eighteen books from my wonderful public library this week. I immediately read four of them: Storm of the Century, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Humans, and The New Life of Hugo Gardner. I also read a book from my TBR, Ever Faithful, and an ebook, Kate DiCamillo's Beverly, Right Here. Here are my reviews:
The Humans by Matt Haig
Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Storm of the Century by Al Roker
Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett
The New Life of Hugo Gardner by Louis Begley
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die
Devotions by Mary Oliver
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Book of Nature Poetry
Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
I thought this was interesting: Five Unexpected Benefits of Eliminating Library Fines.
1. We finished our first jigsaw puzzle. What do you usually do with your puzzles after you put them together? I thought about disassembling it and putting it out in my Little Free Library. Or disassembling it and giving it to a book friend....
2. My homemade pizza is getting better. Olive, pineapple, and ham pizza with a garlic-butter crust.
3. The Action Calendar is excellent for May: Meaningful May Calendar.
I'm very happy you found your way to the Sunday Salon. There are no real requirements to linking up at Sunday Salon. Sunday Salon is simply a place for us to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week. Sunday Salon is a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there.
Some of the things we often talk about at the Sunday Salon:
- What was your week like?
- Read any good books? Tell us about them.
- What other bookish things did you do?
- What else is going on in your life?
Other places where you may like to link up over the weekend are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.
My linkup for Sunday Salon is below.
Hope you do really feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteWe are planning on passing the jigsway that we completed to a friend of ours, and she is going to give us one of hers. That's the plan anyway
I would like to find someone to trade. Or perhaps I will just disassemble and redo this one.
DeleteI sure hope you're getting better!
ReplyDeleteOur governor has allowed bookstores to reopen but the libraries remain shuttered. I can't figure out why the government thinks the private sector should open while they stay closed.
I pass my puzzles on to my mom.
Because libraries are not the government sector. Libraries are funded in part by the government but not completely. And unlike other businesses, where the items go out and aren't returned, books are returned, which means that they have to be quarantined too. Also planning involved with supplies. Also here in our state of Pennsylvania, we are under the direction of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries and even though a third of our state is under "Yellow" (our governor has a three-phase plan: Red, Yellow, and Green), including where I live, the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, under the state Department of Education, is responsible for the oversight of libraries across the state. The DOE is working on a framework for reopening, which will address the health and safety of not only patrons, but also staff. As a library assistant at a small town library and with my salary not paid by the government (or I doubt in North Carolina either), I am glad they are looking out for (all of) us. Yes, I believe we in PA and you in NC will get to curbside pickup soon, but it takes planning and coordination. My two cents from someone who works at a library.
DeleteThe Office of Commonwealth Libraries in our state has this page on the latest information about our libraries reopening. Basically, our local library board (and other boards) are waiting to get the framework from the Department of Education before they can finalize plans, including communication with staff and the public. Here is the link: https://www.statelibrary.pa.gov/Covid-19/Communications/Pages/May6.aspx
DeleteRed and green are easy, but yellow is tough. That's where we are in Texas. Every decision seems like a monumental one. It was easy for me to decide on yellow when I was coughing (no to everything) but now that I'm (apparently) well, decisions will be more difficult.
DeleteI really don't understand why the government should remain closed while the private sector reopens. Perhaps it's because the government has a minor role in the economy?
DeleteIt might also have to do with numbers of people, e.g. DMV, how not to create lines and still keeping distance among people waiting. And like mentioned above in my comment, not all libraries are government entities...AND each state is under the direction of different governors so different guidelines and guidance, if any -- especially in regards to libaries.
DeleteSo now that I've commented extensively on Kathy's response to your post, now my own response to your post :-)...that pizza looks delish. And I'm glad that you were able to get more books and are feeling better. I look forward to playing Scrabble again with you this coming week, sometime.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely need to play Scrabble again.
DeleteI love your puzzle and that homemade pizza. Yum! Glad your cough is gone. What a pain!
ReplyDeleteSo far, so good. A little bit of coughing, but much better.
DeleteI hope your cough goes away. I thought mine was gone but then came back this last week. I've been taking a lot of Robitussen and cough drops, but neither is a permanent solution.
ReplyDeleteYour pizza looks so good.
Have a great week and feel better!
I put away all the medicine except the cough drops.
DeleteSo happy your cough is better, Deb. So worrying for you, but it's nice to think you'll have more cough-free days. As to the puzzle, the library branch where I volunteer has a puzzle-mania thing (or they did) once a month. People can come put together puzzles and they also trade puzzles with others that attend. Maybe something like that could work at some point way, way in the future. Ha! Seriously, I can't even envision when programs such as that will be possible or even when I'll feel comfortable going and helping shelve books and process holds, etc. I can imagine our mystery group meeting - maybe sitting around the edge of the meeting room and shouting at each other (it's a big room), but the other things? Doesn't matter in any case. Smaller libraries around us have already been started the curbside thing and one library has opened with a lot of rules and the whole 25% deal. Another local library is going to do the same starting on the 18th. Austin, on the other hand, is not even close to being able to open their central library or branches. As I was reading what Brian said above I was thinking how every state does libraries differently. In Texas, as we know, the libraries are city-owned and run. So, each small town or big town does their own thing. As with a lot of these decisions, I'm glad I'm not in charge. Whatever is decided, someone will be upset and angry. Sigh. Hope you have a good week!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's different in Texas. I'm on our city museum board and we are going to meet virtually on Monday and talk about reopening. I'm afraid I may be the only person who is against that.
DeleteGlad for the wellness progress! I think we've finally gotten hot enough in AZ that the plants have given up; my allergies have been better.
ReplyDeleteNo word on our libraries reopening. The books/videos I checked out in February are due June 1st.
I think yours is about the fourth homemade pizza I've seen around my corner of the internet. I don't know what I think of olives and pineapple, but I'd give it try!
Have a great reading week!
I put a little garlic in the crust and it added a lot to the flavor.
DeleteHere's hoping you're on the mend, finally! It's good that your in-law tested negative. My third cousin just got out of the hospital with Covid and it took him over a month to get to the point of being able to see his young family again.
ReplyDeleteWe did that puzzle too. My son loved it so much we kept it to do another time, but generally I pass on puzzles to people I know who love to do them.
Our library will be opening for curbside in a few weeks.
I'm not sure when I will feel like it is safe to be around others. I certainly don't want to spread this cough, even if it isn't Covid.
DeleteI am glad your daughter-in-law tested negative. I hope you continue to get better, Deb. I am glad to your library is open for curbside service! And wow! You read a lot! My dad was big into jigsaw puzzles and would mount them. My mom's house has so many hanging puzzles as a result. When I moved out, I was offered my choice of any of them. I only took three because I couldn't see my walls covered in them. LOL I hope you have a good week. Stay safe and well.
ReplyDeleteMy mom loved jigsaw puzzles. My dad still has about thirty or forty of them in boxes upstairs at his house.
DeleteI think I am reading less during this self-isolation!
ReplyDeleteSeven Husbands is on my TBR list.
I do my jigsaws online so I don't have any clutter around.
Seven Husbands is quite good.
DeleteI hope your cough goes away for good! I know how it freaks us out if we have a cough of a sore throat...or even aches and pains. But the word is: normal stuff we wouldn't even have noticed if not for the Evil Virus.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week and your books. That pizza looks yummy!
I know! When I was working, I wouldn't have even stayed home with this cough.
DeleteI meant to write "cough or a sore throat." LOL
ReplyDeleteLol.
DeleteWow that puzzle looks like such a tough one! I keep toying with the idea of ordering some puzzles from Amazon. I love doing puzzles! I'm sorry you've had your cough for so long, I can only imagine how frustrating it must be. It's hard enough with a week long cough, never mind four! I really hope it goes away for you soon xo
ReplyDeleteThe cough was wearying.
DeleteGuess what? I joined the HPL .... your library system! Since I'm in Canada it'll help me get more books. Thx for letting me know. You need to keep that puzzle on display at least for a week or two. Those are hard work! I'm doing a hard puzzle now too. And I think your cough sounds like you might beat it this time! Crossing fingers. Enjoy your books
ReplyDeleteRe-writing a post after there was some change in your health sounds like something I would do. Hope you get better.That pizza looks delish. I got some garlic cheesy bread from the gas station after driving LYFT all day. I had dropped off a drunk guy? and got lost on the way to his place so I was feeling car sick and got some crackers as well. it helped.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there are more drunk folks these days.
DeleteHope you feel better. Happy reading. Your pizza looks good.
ReplyDeleteI have felt much better the last few days. Still a tiny bit of coughing.
DeleteIt's good to hear that you're recovering!
ReplyDeleteI am so hopeful this time.
DeleteGlad to hear you are feeling better. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI would love to have a good week!
DeleteI only managed to get one jigsaw puzzle. I tried to order a second one, but it was sold out by then.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to read the cough is disappearing finally - scary and, happy your loved one is okay as well. I can't wait until our library reopens - not sure when. Take care Deb and enjoy the library loans.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to get books from the library again.
DeleteI love puzzles. The harder the better. I have a round one of the moon. Tiny pieces and over 1500 of them. I hope the cough goes away!
ReplyDeleteThat one sounds challenging.
DeleteI'm glad the cough is gone. I hope you are feeling better and have a great week.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary.
DeleteI hope the cough is really gone, I often have these things as well.
ReplyDeleteMañanaland looks great, I hope you are enjoying it!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Humans are on my TBR.
Have a wonderful week!
I hope it will disappear completely.
DeleteFingers crossed that you cough is finally on its way out - it sounds as if it has thoroughly outstayed its welcome! I enjoy Matt Haig's books, but haven't got around to The Humans - I enjoyed your review and must get hold of it. Have you read The Radleys? So funny and clever... I hope the coming week is a good one Deb. Stay safe.x
ReplyDeleteI'll look for The Radleys.
Deletethat puzzle and the pizza look good!! and glad you are feeling better now.. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling better...but if the cough would just completely go away.
DeleteHope the cough will finally disappear for good! Glad that someone got tested for COVID and was negative---that's probably a decent sign for all of you. :-)
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Yes, it makes me less worried about leaving the house.
DeleteI'm glad that the cough is likely not Covid-19 but I'm sure at this point, seeing it go would be nice. Fingers crossed that the antibiotic is working its magic and that next week, you'll be feeling your 100%. That pizza looks delicious! It's been a long time since I'm made my own pizza but this inspires me.
ReplyDeleteThe pizza is surprisingly easy.
DeleteI'm glad the trend seems to be toward more cough-free days! Yay for curbside library service, too... our library will start next week. I may take advantage of that for some DVDs. I still have plenty of ebooks here to read. Your pizza looks so good and the puzzle is really pretty. Hope you didn't put it back in the box yet!
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting to put into back into the box after I find a person to pass it on to.
DeleteSorry about the cough. There were 2.5 years where I had to travel on planes a lot, and I developed bronchitis that refused to go away. It was the most annoying thing ever. I’d get winded walking up the stairs. It finally went away when I stopped traveling.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I can see how you'd get and keep a cough if you traveled a lot.
DeleteI’m glad that the cough is finally dissipating, and especially that it seems unlikely it was related to Covid-19.
ReplyDeleteOur government has devised a three phase reversal plan for the pandemic regulations. We have just moved to stage one, our libraries will reopen in stage two, initially with limits on entry at any one time.
Trading the puzzle with someone else sounds like a great idea, I’m sure you’ll find family or friends willing to do so.
Wishing you a great reading week
I think it is wise to go in stages.
DeleteFingers crossed that your cough is now fully gone. Those lingering coughs take ages to go away. My husband has had one for literally months. It is his only symptom so he's refusing to go to the doctor but I'm about to apply some pressure! Our library just started curbside this week too and I"m so excited. They're putting grab bags together based off your chosen genre and I got one for mysteries and one for middle grade fiction and it's such a fun mix! I love the idea of trading puzzles. We have a bunch of jigsaws that we have completed that are just sitting around. I think trading sounds like such a good idea!
ReplyDeleteA grab bag would be fun.
DeleteGood news about the COVID test! But I am sorry to hear that you are still suffering from your cough. :( Fingers crossed this is the week that you start to perk up.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope so, too.
DeleteI had a virtual visit with my GP about my cough, and I ended up going to be tested to keep the doctor happy. Avoid it if you can--it hurts!
ReplyDeleteYour pizza looks yummy. Am making cookies enough for the whole neighborhood. The butterscotch oatmeal recipe was a big hit!
I'm going to try soup today. Lentils--I think.
I hope the test results come back quickly and that they are negative.
DeleteI am so far behind on visiting blogs! Donating your puzzle is a great idea. We tend to have them circulate among friends.
ReplyDeleteCirculating would be nice.
DeleteHope that cough continues to get better and stays gone. I hope our library begins curbside pick ups soon. I have 2 more books left from what I have since they closed. I've been trading puzzles with family members for 8 weeks now. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteI will have to see who would like this puzzle.
DeleteI hope the cough really is leaving you. I know how annoying it is to have one that lingers. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathy.
DeleteA cough that lingers that long has got to be exhausting (and somewhat depressing!). I hope by the time you read this message, it is ancient history (the cough, that is ).
ReplyDeleteI recently read Daisy Jones and the Six, so I'm curious about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
I was pleasantly surprised when we moved to Oregon and discovered that our library does not impose fines on overdue materials. They have a "guilt" jar on the counter for those who wish to contribute, but there is no overdue fine. I'm not sure what they do about books which are never returned or lost.
Congrats on the puzzle! I love the image of all those readers. :) When we finished, we disassemble the pieces and put on a shelf with others that we've completed. Sometime we loan them out to friends and others we do a second time, but not for at least a year or so. We donate the ones that we didn't enjoy working on.
Yummy looking pizza! Hope you're having a good week, Deb. xo
That sounds like an excellent plan for puzzles. I've enjoyed looking at the completed puzzle for a week now, and I think I shall disassemble it and save it for future locked-in days.
Delete