Weekly Recap #149: Week of 3/29 – 4/4
It’s time for another weekly recap post of all things happening on and off the blog. This week I’ll be linking to the Sunday Post, which is hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
I honestly don’t have much to talk about this week. Apologies for my lack of blog hopping this week. I’m finding that my one big challenge with working from home is that my desk (or maybe it’s the chair) is not comfortable for sitting 7-8 hours in a row. My knees have been killing me all week so as soon as I’m done working, I abandon my computer and spend most of the rest of the evening trying to stretch my legs and get comfortable again. I tried to rig up a standing desk for myself but am not having much luck because I need something big enough to hold 2 monitors, plus everything else I use for work, including a large adding machine. Virginia’s governor has issued a stay-at-home order for us through June 10th so I may have to actually buy a standing desk if I’m going to be home for that long. Until I figure out a more comfortable setup, I’ve been confining my blog hopping to a few minutes in the mornings before I start working and then the rest on the weekend.
So my big accomplishment for the week is that I’m now completely caught up on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. Thanks to insomnia and lots of free time on my hands in the evenings, I breezed through the 1,000+ pages of A Dance with Dragons and now am really hoping that Martin is using his social distancing time to bring me that 6th book.
Because I was so hellbent on finishing A Dance with Dragons, I did get a little behind on my Aprils ARCs. Or so I thought. I don’t know if publication dates have gotten pushed back because of the pandemic or if I’m just losing my mind, but I was sure I had several April 14th ARCs to read and now I only see one on my list. No clue what happened there, but oh well, on to late April/early May ARCs then. I doubt I’ll get to all 6 titles I’ve shared below, but we’ll see. If my insomnia continues, it could be a record reading week, lol.
I hope everyone out there is staying safe, healthy, and is practicing social distancing. Take care!
WHAT I POSTED LAST WEEK
- [29 Mar] Weekly Recap #148: Week of 3/22 – 3/28
- [30 Mar] Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon ★★★★
- [31 Mar] Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Signs You’re a Bibliophile
- [1 Apr] Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E. Schwab
WHAT I’M READING THIS WEEK
UPCOMING REVIEWS
STACKING THE SHELVES
TOTALLY RANDOM
I’ve been having the same issue, Suzanne. A comfortable WFH set-up is still a challenge. My current home office chair was fine when I was in there for short periods – doing blog posts and blog hopping. But sitting in it for 8 hours a day? My back is wrecked. Hence all the stretching videos I’ve been doing on YouTube – trying to give my back some relief. I have to go into the actual office briefly one day ths week and I might try to bring home my chair. It’s super comfortable. Kudos on finishing the GRRM book. A thousand pages is amazing! I’m interested in Beach Read. I hope it’s a good one.
Hopefully we’ll both enjoy Beach Read. I’ve heard good things so far.
I hear you with the uncomfortable seating arrangement at home. At least I’m only working from home two days a week. It’s not ideal. I have two monitors in the office, but only my work laptop at home. Everything runs so slow at home too. It’s been an adjustment. I am glad I at least CAN be home at least part of the week.
I am glad you were able to catch up with Martin’s series! I haven’t been able to read much. I hope you are enjoying your current reads. Shadow Garden looks really good. I hope you love it.
Have a good week, Suzanne. Stay safe and well.
Thanks, you too!
I ahev the same issue with my desk and chair! I even borrowed my daughter’s desk chair and added some cushion to make it more comfortable!
I’m really hoping I can come up with a better set up this week.
I agree – I’m realizing my work at home set up is not ideal for weeks on end. We also have our 4 year old at home now, so it’s a hard balance between trying not to ignore her for hours and also trying to get our work done. I’m mostly just very thankful that as a CPA I have the opportunity to keep up full time hours from home. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts about To Have and To Hoax – my parents are getting me that for my birthday and I’m pretty excited about it. Stay safe and healthy!
Oh gosh, I can’t even imagine trying to work at home with a young child. Thankfully my pre-teen is pretty self sufficient and can self entertain.
Urg! You have my sympathy – there’s nothing more miserable than having an uncomfortable work station. I hope that you soon manage to find a more comfortable option – and of course you’re not sitting there a minute longer than you have to, given you are not a fan of being crippled… Have a better week, Suzanne – and stay safe:)
Thanks, I’m really hoping I can figure out something better as soon as possible.
Wow! June seems so far away. They saw their first decrease in deaths in NYC yesterday, so I am hoping we will see more declines everywhere. Can you get up every hour and stretch a little? That’s what I do, when I am at work. It helps me and my sciatica. I hope we are not at home through June, and that you are able to find a good solution for your home office.
Yeah, I’m trying to get up periodically and stretch my legs. Hopefully I’ll come up with a better set up this week. I try something different every day, lol.
June 10??!! OMG! My husband is hating his work-from-home set up. He has a very small laptop, when he’s used to a large, two-screen set up.
Yeah, I was so shocked when I heard June 10th. Thankfully the governor has left himself leeway to cut that short if things start to improve. I have a two-screen set up too and love it so much that I had thankfully installed a similar set up at home. I think I would lose my mind if I didn’t have both screens to work on, lol.
I’m pretty sure there are many folks out there with poor working setups at home. Thankfully when we moved last summer I bought good office chairs for both my daughter and me so we are in pretty good shape and she has a new computer. I hope you figure out some solutions soon.
I can’t seem to get motivated to do any projects but I am doing plenty of escape by reading.
Have a wonderful week! Be kind and take care of yourself!
Anne – Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
I’ve been very unmotivated as far as projects go as well. I’m probably going to want to kick myself later for wasting so much time now, lol.
Ugh, I hope you can find a better set up soon – or you’re able to get a standing desk and that works for you. I’m sure it’s tough to work for home for such long days. Luckily, I’m part time, but sometimes I still just want to get off the computer and do something else. I’m hoping that April will be a better reading month for me- it’s off to a good start.
-Lauren
Glad to hear April is off to a good start for you on the reading front. Mine has been pretty good too, although I’m hoping to step it up this week.
There’s nothing worse in the world than working at home AND being uncomfortable while doing it, so I totally get it, and don’t blame you for resting and getting your knees in order when you can. Kudos to you for wanting to stand up for most of your shift. Girl, I’d be running for the hills, even though I know it’s more healthy.(lol) ended up getting a little stool to prop up my feet, but like you, it gets uncomfortable sitting for too long. My goodness – June 10?! Please continue to stay safe, and take care of yourself. Hugs, RO
Thanks, you stay safe too!
Sorry to hear about your knees and desk issues.. hope you are able to figure it out soon.
I have The Big Finish sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read.
I just ordered a standing desk so I’m really hoping that does the trick. I just finished The Big Finish last night and really enjoyed it. I kept imagining what a great movie it would make.
Ooh congrats on A Dance with Dragons! He sure left a lot of little fires simmering in that one, didn’t he lol?
Working from home presents its own challenges, for sure. I can relate to sitting for long periods of time. I’ve never had a standing desk but I’m kinda curious about those!
Take care and be well this week!
He really did, lol. I sure hope he’s writing his heart out right now because I need that next book asap.
June 10th?! It definitely sounds like a standing desk/better desk option may be worth investing in… That’s a while. We have very little long term information here in the UK with regards to guidance – things will be ‘reviewed’ in a weeks time from now, but I don’t expect much (or anything) to change to be honest… Continuing to stay home & only leave for specific reasons (key workers, food when needed, daily exercise, medical services).
I’ve seen Beach Read around quite a bit this past week (an April release). I hope you enjoy your current reads. Happy reading & take care.
I actually just ordered a standing desk last night so hopefully that will do the trick for me.
I have heard a few bloggers mention that they’re struggling with sitting comfortably at their home desks all day. Hope you find a good solution quickly! I hope you enjoy Shorefall. I still need to read Foundryside.
I hope you’ll enjoy Foundryside. I thought it was such a unique story and can’t wait to continue it.
I admire your speed of completing books, Suzanne. Good for you! I’ve had insomnia on and off as well 😛 That meme at the end is hilarious! So me. I hope your desk/chair situation get corrected. You shouldn’t suffer.
I just ordered myself a standing desk and an anti-fatigue mat to go with it so I’m hoping that does the trick. Fingers crossed!
Congrats on the record reading week! I can see how sitting for such long periods of time would do a number on your knees. I’m glad you got a standing desk. Hopefully alternating between the two will help you. I’ve fallen behind on my ARCS too, and am trying to play catchup as we speak.
I relate to the funny meme so much to some extent. I have been being careful with my screen time as well and how much time I spend sitting down… trying to find some kind of balance that will work for me. Mostly I use my laptop until it needs charging and then go do something else while it charges. I am so impressed with how much you read to get through the SOIAF series D:
Congrats on the mega read, Suzanne!
I can relate to the insomnia issue, the nice thing is that we’re not alone. I’m not sure how long the UK government are going to keep us on lockdown, I imagine they’re looking to Italy to gauge peeks and troughs. I’m a key worker being a teaching assistant but we’re got a staffing rota set us at my primary school so only have to go in 1 or 2 days a week. I’m also wondering how many employers will keep working from home as an option for their employees after the pandemic has passed, investing in a good workspace at home might not be a bad idea and pay dividends in the long run.
Please keep safe and healthy. x