Hi friends,
Today is Sunday, time to look back in the rearview mirror and talk about my week in and out of the blog. As usual I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted for years by Kimberly @caffeinatedreviewer .
As this also is the last day of the month, I’ll give you my monthly wrap-up
In my private life
The title today should be “when homeworking make you deaf and mute” paired with “kid’s existential crisis”.
Why deaf and mute you say?
Because after more than two months of homeworking and still being plegded to do so since end August, I had to go to the ORL this week as I was hearing a slight “hissing” or “buzzing” sound in one of my ear from time to time and my voice was also changing!
I could not reach some notes anymore (not that I am a singer mind you but I realized that I could not sing my usual songs in the shower without having my voice breaking) and my voice was changing by the end of the days (raspy/mute).
My ORL is a renowned doctor and a friend so I had an appointment very quickly.
Sadly my doctor does NOT look like that but I thought I would add some man candy today to boost your mood (sorry Greg and Lashaan!)
Now this being in COVID mode, I had to wear a mask, you had sanitizing gel at the entrance, were asked not to touch anything. In the waiting room we had plexiglass separating the chairs and in the doctor’s room, I had to put my bags in a certain place and wait to be seated that he sanitized everything.
When he had to examine my thoat, as he had to use a tiny camera dangling on a long and thin tube, I had that “plastic helmet” on with a tiny hole where my nose was. He inserted the tiny camera through the hole, into my nostrils and on he went to my throat!
Brilliant I tell you!
The result?
My hearing is still perfect but I hear that slight hissing from time to time due to the headset I wear while I work from home! Contrary to working at HQ and having meetings “sans” headset, I have that one nearly all the time on my head!
It should be temporary but I must avoid strong noises (I guess when my hubs will use our Nespresso while I am in a skype meeting, I’ll just have to wait for it to be finished without raising the sound to still hear what other people are saying 😀 ).
My voice … my vocal cords don’t shut completely anymore!
Cause? No, Ursula didn’t jinx me!
Skype meetings again! As I want to avoid speaking too loud, I kind of “hush” my tone and speak differently than what I do in a meeting room where every person, even the one nine meters from you, has to hear what you are saying!
Remedy? Pitching my voice as I used to do it. No slouching on my stool, no shushing, nothing. I guess my colleagues will go deaf as I must now speak loudly, doctor’s order 😀
Fun fact: my colleague’s father is working in a school as janitor and also went to the ORL because he could not easily speak anymore. Again, as the voice seems a “muscle” and he didn’t shout any longer, the voice was weaker.
I think screaming contests have to be organized with the lockdown LOL
All this to say that the homeworking will bring new pathologies as we don’t have the same equipment at home (chair, screen, headset) as we have at the office!
Now for the “Kid’s existential crisis” …
My daughter has a really hard time studying for her partials as a vet. They had to learn alone, without a teacher explaining everything. She is so stressed that she is barely sleeping, has constant headaches and yesterday, had a huge migraine.
She questions her choice of studies and I can’t fault her. So this morning, I listened to her concerns and told her that she had tried this year but if she realized it was not her future, that it was too difficult for her skills then she could change.
We learn life in making mistakes so as long as she does not changes her mind ten times, that’s no biggie.
Choosing what you want to do for the rest of your life at 18 is hard!
I could already see that she felt ten times better after I gave her my blessing. Now of course we have to talk about it with my hubs but I don’t think he’ll be opposed to the idea of her choosing another direction.
On the blog: May Wrap-Up (click on the graphic to read the post)
I have read 13 books in May!
My favorites this month are ….
The Raven King and King’s Men from Nora Sakavic (Why did I wait so long to read this unique and crazy series???)
The Switch by Beth O’Leary : really charming, thoughtful and so British. I ordered the Flatshare right after
The most INFURIATING that I don’t know if I HATE or LOVE : Aurora Bunring by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
Honorable mentions to Well Met; What You Wish For and What I Carry
On the blogosphere and in the literary world
Epic Read asks us to build our won Royal Court and find out our title! Click on the graphic to take the quiz.
Sam had a very interesting discussion about books getting new covers!
https://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com/2020/05/discussion-re-covered.html
That’s it for this week and month! How was your month? Any favorite? And your week? Anything I should know about?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Who woulda thought that hearing and vocal issues are unforeseen side effects of quarantine? And you are an awesome mom to support your daughter no matter what she chooses <3
Thank you for your praise Brittany!
I hope changing headsets or staying away from loud noises will help your hearing return back to normal! I can see how it could be a bit of a nuisance and that doctors appointment sounds so unique! The pandemic changes everything. You’re a good mum and it’s lovely that you had that talk with her and was able to release some of her stress.
Thank you Olivia! Both on the health comment and saying I am a good mom. I so need to hear this from time to time!
I am sorry to hear about your voice and hearing. Although that does make sense now that you explain it due to the working from home and not havign the same equipment there.I hope both things will be better soon. That’s nice you had a talk with your daughter and gave her your blessing. It really is hard to decide so young what you want to do with your life and I think there should be more help available for that.
Thank you Lola!!!
I’m sorry about your voice and hearing! I’m glad it wasn’t anything serious! You’ve read so many great books in May. I really need to pick up The foxhole court series ASAP! I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
I can’t wait for you to read the Foxhole court!!!!
Hahahah at the man candy! Why not?! If you need it, you need it! 😉 I hope your hearing/vocal issues don’t get worse and that you’ll be able to find new arrangements in your daily life to avoid any other problems, Sophie! Stay safe! 😀
Well Lashaan I promised Greg some woman candy next week soooo …
So glad aurora burning was good!!
Yes but I am still not recovered LOL
Who knew there were physical dangers from working at home! And hopefully your daughter can determine what path she wants to take. Making such life decisions at 18 really is a lot to expect. Well Met was one that made me all kinds of happy. 🙂
Ha yes! Who knew right? LOL
Wow, that is crazy about your voice and hearing. I’m glad it wasn’t something more serious though. I’m just getting ready to start Aurora Rising so now you have me nervous about the series, lol.
And I ca,’t wait for your review Suzanne!
Glad you still have your voice, Sophie. And yes – 18 is so young to have to choose a career. These days, so many people change careers a few times in their lives. And I’m getting the feeling I’ll feel the same as you when I read Aurora Burning.
I can’t wait for your review Teri!!!
Working from home is indeed going to bring new kinds of physical problems – not to mention new kinds of stress… But if “screaming contests” become necessary, that might certainly relieve some of the accumulated stress – and turn out to be a positive activity! 😀 😀
I already challenged my husband Maddalena: 5 PM at the end of the garden! Kidding LOL
Oh no about the hearing/ voice things, but glad to hear it isn’t anything serious. You’re right though- what kind of new pathologies are we gonna develop from working from home? Always something, right? lol
Best of luck on your daughter’s studies/ decisions. I remember those days and it IS hard making those life decisions at 18!
Haha about the man candy but hey- I understand. 🙂 Do we get some female candy next week??? 🙂
I promise some woman candy next week Greg!
I am seeing this a lot with Aurora Burning, so I definitely won’t be picking it up until book 3 is almost out!!
You are wiser than me Meeghan!
Oh I am so sorry to hear about your voice and hearing….hope it gets better for you. And love seeing all of your reads!!
Thank you Renee!
What an interesting situation with your headset and your voice… I suspect that there will ongoing issues like this for a while as we all learn to adapt. And yes… why would anyone know what they want to do at 18??. Good for you for being so reassuring and understanding – it is such a hard time, right now. I hope the week is a kindly one…
Thank you!!
Working at home has had some strange effects! Glad to hear yours wasn’t too serious. My husband works from home and I go in later than I used to so I have to be mindful of his Zoom meetings while I’m coming downstairs for my breakfast or coffee. He gets irritated with me. 🙂
Glad to hear you were able to offer some support to your daughter. It is hard figuring out what you want to do when you’re only 18 ! Love the polar bear mama and baby picture! 🙂
My husband has webex meetings, me Skype…it’s like walking a minefield these days LOL
Awesome post and very thorough. Glad that you got to so many books and love the man candy. share at will:)
Thank you!!!
Oh I have been in your daughter’s shoes! Its silly to expect an 18 year old to pick a career with no idea what that entails! I changed my major many times! Glad that you are healthy, just dealing with the odd quarantine side effect!
Thank you Samantha!
Wow, going to the doctor is a different kind of experience these days! Even when he isn’t hunky. LOL
Enjoy adjusting to the noises, and I hope your books are keeping you distracted. Soon my ARC of What You Wish For will be at the top of my list.
Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog. Stay safe.
Ha Laurel I still wish the doctor was hunky!
I noticed my voice was getting raspy. Maybe I should so some yelling too! LOL I also changed my choice of degree in the early part of college. Sadly, I didn’t finish. maybe some day:)
Laura you do already so much that I think finishing your degree will be when you’ll retreat 😉
That is so odd about your voice. Huh. Glad you were able to get into the doctor quickly, and it was interesting hearing about how the doctor examined you in the age of Covid. I have a dental appt in a week and a half, I have no clue what safety measures are in place there. I am assuming face shields for the doctor and hygienist, but what about me? You know, it is hard to know what you want to do for the rest of your life at 18. I found out, when my daughter was a senior in college, that she had no interest working in her field of study, and knew so, since her second year. At least she found a 10 month grad program and is really enjoying what she is doing. I hope your daughter can find something she is passionate about, and is worth all the hard work she puts into it.
Finding his path is hard Sam! And from what my doctor told me, the dentists have to wear like a whole suite plus mask and helmet. They have to space clients out to sanitoze and extract the air too!
I love the man candy! I’m glad this didn’t wind up being more serious Sophie.
Me too Kim!
I wish my doctor looked like that!!! I’d be there every day with various ailments!
Working from home is taking its toll on my back and neck too! In the last 7 years I’ve had discs out my back and neck and sit in a ‘special chair’ at work….and my dining room chairs just arent cutting it!!!
Oh thank you Caro! You made me laugh with your doctor’s comment! I needed this!
But seriously, I wish he did look like this
I’ve had a home office for several years so I have a good chair and stuff. I also bought a really good chair for my daughter when we moved to this new house last year. So at least I did that right.
My daughter is thinking of changing her career path which I always thought she might after she went to school and tried more things. It happens in college. I just kept adding majors without dropping the old ones. lol
Stay safe and be well!
Anne – Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
I’d say you are a planner Anne and very organized!
I yell at hubby all the time, so I should be okay 🙂
Becoming a vet is a huge decision- I think it’s even more school than for a doctor! Hopefully, she can land on something she’ll love.
Bwahahaha! You yell at your hubs Jacquie? Maybe I should do the same!
As you say, Sophie, working from home is throwing up news and unexpected problems for us all, in different ways. I bought my OH a headset to wear at home because they were yelling so loudly at Skype meetings, the opposite of you. They were losing their voice. Now, everyone’s happy including my OHs colleagues. ☺️
It sounds like your daughter’s tension might now go, having had a talk. There’s no point in killing yourself over something like this, I’m sure she’ll find something less stressful. ❤️
The comment about your other half made me laugh so hard Alexandra!
Interesting about your voice and hearing. I loved Aurora Burning, but the ending left me screaming…lol
Hahah I hear you Kimberly!