Weekly Wrap-Up #42

Posted November 21, 2021 by Lisa Mandina in Weekly Wrap Up / 19 Comments

Weekly Wrap-Up #42

Once again I’ll be linking this up with the Sunday Post (hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer) and with Stacking the Shelves (hosted by Reading Reality).

Well, the week started off nice with a Chiefs win over our most hated team, the now Las Vegas Raiders, on Sunday night. But then I got a text right before bed that my library assistant’s son was sick and she wasn’t going to be in on Monday. So I was once again by myself in the library on Monday. Now I forgot to mention last week that on last Friday, the 12th, I got my first shipment of books for my first order at my new library. I spent Monday going through and stamping them all with the school stamp, and then categorizing them in the computer system so that I can genrify the collection next year if I want. I didn’t get all the stickers on the spines for that on Monday though.

Tuesday my assistant was back and so most of the day went by as usual, but actually, both Monday and Tuesday went by crazy fast! They did call her away to cover another secretary who had to leave because her son was sick at the end of the day, and she had to cover that secretary on Wednesday.

And Wednesday was another day in hell. The library was crazy busy and I was alone. And then we had another meeting about the virtual learning issues. I was made to feel like I’m not doing enough. And I wanted to tell the person who was acting that way, like she had signed up for taking on the job. I mean yeah, I knew I had to do virtual students when I took the job, but I did NOT know this is what it was. Also found out that the other high school librarian in my district is retiring after this year because of all this ridiculousness with the virtual learning. Which reminded me that I can retire early in 2028, or I will be fully vested in 2031. So in less than 10 years. I used to think I would keep going past that time. But that was before I was hating my job like I am now. So what I’m thinking, is if I’m still this miserable or not happy with the job at that time, I’ll retire. Get my monthly retirement check and then maybe go work at a public library as a clerk or something easier. Has anyone seen the movie Friday? That’s how I felt going out to my car (warning, the f-word is in the video):

I did see my library assistant when I finally got to leave on Wednesday, she was on the way out too. Just telling her how stressed I was, there were a few tears.

Thursday was pretty much another crappy day. My assistant had to go cover the other secretary again. I guess the only bit of a saving grace is that we had a Blood Drive in the library on Thursday so for the most part I got to have the library “closed”.

Friday was a lot calmer in the library. My assistant got to work in her spot doing library stuff. We also had a speaker all day that was there for every FACS class, so that meant we didn’t have a lot of people in the library and it was kind of a nice quiet day. Friday night my mom and step-dad and I took my 8 year old niece, and 3 year old nephew to Chuck E. Cheese so my brother and sister-in-law could have a bible study group from their church at their house. It was my nephew’s first time there, and I think he had a good time! Here is a picture of him with my step-dad, his “Papa”.

Saturday was the annual craft fair at a local high school that normally my mom and step-mom both have booths at. But this year my step-mom wasn’t sure about doing it with the pandemic stuff, so my mom went ahead and paid for my step-mom’s spot and will spread out because they don’t want to lose their spot. My step-mom did the same for my mom a few years ago when my mom had back surgery and wasn’t able to do the show. My mom did really well at the craft show. I had helped make some little card caddies to help kids or even adults when it is hard to hold a hand of cards. Here are some pictures from the craft show.

Looking forward to a two day work week thanks to Thanksgiving break! And the district emailed that we could just wear jeans all week to school. I started a little Christmas decorating, but I’ll take pictures and share once it’s all done! Also, still not a word written for NaNoWriMo.

Books finished:

I read and posted my review of these all this past week.

New books:

Physical books:

So I was all excited when I saw a box from Sourcebooks on the front porch when I got home from school on Friday. Unfortunately, not a single one of the 6 books in the box are books I would read. I am going to reach out to the publisher to see if they’d want me to either send them back, or if they’d prefer maybe I just do a giveaway on my blog. Usually I get YA books from them. I also would have loved a box full of their romance brand instead. But none of these are either books I would read or that I would order for my high school library.

E-galleys:

So it’s not actually a book, but I got a swag pack and a cool tumbler that I ordered from a favorite author, K. Bromberg.

I love the titles of this 80s retro series by Karen Grey, and can’t wait to get started on this next book in the series! The second book I won from the author in a newsletter giveaway. I won’t get it read before pub date, but hope to read over Thanksgiving break this coming week.

Audiobooks:

So, I started listening to Paper Hearts by Claire Contreras, I had enjoyed the first book in the series, Kaleidoscope Hearts, so I got this second one to try to get more read by her before Book Bonanza next summer. Unfortunately I had some trouble getting into it, and then the love interest was a smoker and the heroine seemed to like that, so I just was turned off. I exchanged the audiobook in Audible and got this one instead.

Free e-books:

Most of these came from signing up for author newsletters again, or else the authors were showing they were free in the newsletters I already subscribe to.

What I’m Watching:

Nothing, too busy of a week, so didn’t get much time to watch anything other than my normal shows. Although I did enjoy a few new episodes recorded of Whose Line Is It Anyway? That show cracks me up so much!

Giveaways to Check Out:

How was your week? Did you get any good books? Are you binging any tv series you’d recommend? What are you looking forward to this upcoming week?

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19 responses to “Weekly Wrap-Up #42

  1. Sorry to hear things are not getting any better at work. It’s crazy what they expect from a librarian in your district. At least you have a plan, right? Chuck E Cheese for the first time. What fun! My kid loved that place and I always she was safe. They were hardcore at the entry/exit. Enjoy the short week!

    Sam@WLABB recently posted: Discussion: I Nominate…..
    • Lisa Mandina

      No plan as a librarian. But that’s because we don’t always know if we’ll be busy all day or not. But when I’m by myself I don’t really get a full lunch without interruptions, I just have to eat at my desk. They are still pretty careful at the entry/exit. They have e-tickets now instead of the actual paper ones. So that was kinda cool.

  2. Whoever is making you feel like you aren’t doing enough is so rude! I hate to hear that, and I’m sorry things have still been pretty bad at work. I’m a librarian too, but where I live it’s really hard to find a full time library job and I’m kind of over it. I’d love to get a job doing something else, but obviously that’s tough too.

    • Lisa Mandina

      Yeah, it’s hard to find library jobs. I’m just still happy to be a librarian and not in the classroom anymore. But in my haste to get into a school back in my home state, and to make more money, I left what was more of a real school library job. Oh well. We live and learn I guess! Thanks for visiting!

  3. Oh I’m sorry to hear that. That has to be so frustrating. I hope things get better…

    Chuck e Cheese! Fun! 🙂

    Let’s see… what have I been watching? I’ve been vegging with One Of Us Is Lying on Peacock. I had to sign up (didn’t really want another streaming service) but seeing the adaptation of the McManus book was too much temptation. 🙂

    • Lisa Mandina

      I just have to keep in touch with the parents about if their students are doing their work or not. But I’m not the teacher, so I can only go based on what percentages the website shows. I can’t give any insight other than looking at how much time the student is spending online. I’ve been thinking about binging some old shows as well, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and True blood! Thanks for visiting!

  4. Well my only thought here is expect nothing, be grateful for anything and you won’t be disappointed. I’m sorry your job is so stressful right now. It makes no sense to me that you have to handle virtual learning other than maybe initial checkout of equipment or that your assistant ends up covering for secretaries.

    Your book haul is great! I also LOVED the Singles Table and need to read the first 2. Have a lovely break with a Happy Thanksgiving!

    Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

    Anne - Books of My Heart recently posted: Top 10 of 2021
    • Lisa Mandina

      Yeah, I have to just keep reminding myself of how taking this job did at least help me financially. Glad to hear you loved The Singles Table as well, it was so good! Thanks for stopping by!

  5. It’s so funny how exciting it is to be able to wear jeans to work when you work in a school but it so is! They could get me to donate to anything if it meant I would get a jeans day as a thank you ❤️ I hope this get better!

    • Lisa Mandina

      Same! I actually donated to a district fundraiser the other day instead of buying a raffle ticket for myself I just gave the $5 and told them to give the ticket to someone else, I just wanted to wear jeans! lol

  6. Jen

    I’m so sorry your job has been so miserable! We have designated teachers, that work in our district office, for our virtual students. I can’t believe they piled that on top of your job which already involves SO much, that’s crazy, hugs hugs hugs! And craft fairs are the best, I love going to them with my mom and aunt ♥. I grabbed The Christmas Blanket too this week, here’s hoping we both love!

    Jen recently posted: 2020 Favorite Standalones
    • Lisa Mandina

      They need to do that. We are using an online service called Fuel Ed, so the teachers aren’t even in our district, but we are assigned to mentor and keep up with the progress those in our district are doing. But I can’t really answer any questions more than the scores I see. Oh well. That one looks really good. Hoping to be able to get to it!

      • Jen

        Ours is the same. Our district uses an online service called edgenuity that has their own teachers with pre-recorded lessons. And the teachers in our district’s office are just there to answer questions, if needed, and to make for sure they’re staying on track with edgenuity’s courses with weekly check ins. Wish yours was the same way and you weren’t stuck doing that job!

        • Lisa Mandina

          I know another district close to mine is using edgenuity. This is just a crazy year for virtual school and all that. Oh well. I guess it is what it is!

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