Since the last post....

India's #s looked like they topped out last week at more than 400,000 new cases per day.  Thankfully, it looks like it's trending downward.  It has dropped a bit each day (in the 370 - 350,000 cases a day range which is still insane!)  There was an updated article that talks about the "why" -- the country had recently opened back up because the health minister said they were at the END of the pandemic.  YIKES!  There were also large political rallies where people were not masked.  Finally - as mentioned before, there was a large public "bath" as a religious event.  All of this while a new covid variant was making it's way across the globe.  

Vaccinations were low - still are - but that is starting to ramp up.  I've been following the data every week.  Just to check in on it.   This is interesting to see the spike mapped out compared to other countries.  

Now it looks like John Hopkins' map is showing the number of world-wide doses of vaccine administered.  Interesting!   Here in Georgia, the numbers continue to decline thankfully, however...... my prediction, we'll see another spike soon:  the CDC just released the mask mandate for fully-vaccinated people.  (However, they just offered a clarification for schools:  stay masked up.)  Unfortunately, our school system and the neighboring school system jumped and released a statement about dropping the masks if vaccinated.  They also told us that we're not policing it / we're not asking who has been vaccinated or not.

At school, I've had students argue about their masks.  I'm constantly policing and saying "mask up."  Now - the new CDC masking recommendations will be fuel for those who don't want to wear them... even the people who haven't been vaccinated.  It's a problem really only in the high school (regarding students).... for we have students ages 14 and above.  The kids' elementary and middle schools should still be masked-up... except for the adults that work in each of the facilities.  

Kids 16 and above have had the opportunity to have had 2 doses of the vaccine + the 2 week efficacy time.  Last week, 12 year - 15 year olds now also have the opportunity but it will be approximately 6 weeks before any of the 12, 13, 14 and 15 year olds would have the opportunity to be considered fully-vaccinated after the 2 week efficacy time.  

I'll stay masked up.  I only have 2 more weeks!  I am counting down soooo hard 'til summer!

The next two weeks will be insane.  I had signed Isabella up for summer swim team about a month ago.  Little did we know that last week she would be named as one of the players for Little League All-Stars for their park!    Swim starts tomorrow (every day after school 'til school is out, then it's every morning).  All-Star baseball practices started the day after her regular season ended. And it has happened every day since.  Every....Day....Since.  EEK! 

She had a fun season.  Normally, I'd be taking teaching classes, but because things were virtual this year - I was actually able to be at more of her games than the previous season.  There's some good energy at these games as the kids are starting to "get it."  Isabella seems to understand the game pretty well (probably because she's been to a zillion of her brother's baseball games -- or on the playground near his games and it's rubbed off?).  She has been a valuable part of their team, the Emeralds.  She was playing mostly in-field (1st, 2nd, short, or 3rd base.  She played some left field as well.) 

She loves being the only girl.  There are lots of moms out there rooting for her.  I overhear people telling their little girls / siblings of team-members "look... there's Isabella at bat. Let's watch her."  (inspiring the littles who are a few years behind her -- much like Gabby who played on M's team for awhile.)  I hear dads yelling "come on baby-girl."  Hey... that's MY line!   and on multiple occasions, I've had strangers -- people who aren't on our team -- come up and talk to me about her.  I don't want to tell her this because it will go to her head, but she's like a little rock star out there in the 7 & 8 year old fan-base.  (I don't need to tell her.  She already knows it.)

I love this photo... she hits and then you can tell where the ball is going by looking at the opposing coaches.  

They came 2nd in the playoffs.  There's one team that just couldn't be beat.  Some of the boys were flat-out crying about it.  She was OK.  I think they did great.  

There were some things that were pretty exciting and I'd have to text Todd about (because he'd be at Mercer's game.)  "She hit a double and knocked in 2 runners to tie up the championship game 17-17." then "someone knocked her in for the win!"   OR  "she just caught a pop-fly!"    one lady sent me a video clip of her getting the ball and running down the person who was trying to go from 3rd to home.  She caught up with them after fielding and tagged them out.  There were some intense moments!  She's a firecracker!

Todd has been coaching BOTH her team and Mercer's team -- jumping from one to the other back-to-back many days. Mercer's team is currently in the playoffs.  Their next game is also against the 1st place team that hasn't lost yet.  Unfortunately - Todd had to leave to go coach Mercer's game and didn't get into this shot.  

We'll see later what happens this week.  In the meantime, here are some photos from a recent game where he pitched and played 1st base.  He's also been playing center field.  He's fast. 

 

He's definitely got speed on his side.  He won the park's Hit-Pitch-Run event.  He made 3 of the 6 pitches in the strike zone.  He hit the ball straight down the line he farthest and ran so fast that -- between all 3 events -- he had the best score and *MAY* advance to the state Hit-Pitch-Run event at the Brave's stadium at the end of the summer.  We won't know how he places in the state / if he qualifies 'til other clubs have had their events.  

I didn't get to see it.  I was at home getting ready to chaperone for prom at my school.  It was low-key.   I think the students were just all happy to be going somewhere and were all pretty well-behaved thankfully!  

Since then, we did squeeze in a couple of fun things.  We tried something new as a family:  disc golf.  The coach at Isabella's school was teaching students how to play -- then -- offered free family lessons at a nearby park.  We took him up on it and gave it a shot. Todd won.  I was not very good (oh well).... but we had fun!  

Later that weekend was mother's day.  I ordered some new blog books (trying to catch up -- it's been 8 years since getting the last book!)

We went on a picnic and a bike ride.  (I ordered a charcuterie plate.  Mercer was NOT happy with the food.  "This isn't real food." )  

Oh well.  At least Isabella was into it!  

Todd picked up some tulips. The kids made cards.  (I really like tulips when they start to wilt...I always keep them past their prime!)  They're "artistic" in how they fall!  

Here are some flowers that I got - I had to snap a photo or two.  (In fact, the house looked pretty good with these flowers on the ftont porch + the flag blowing in the wind.)  

Here's a fun "closing photo" for today's blog... Isabella found something else to do at the ball-field. After a ton of rain, there was standing water near the play ground.  She couldn't help herself - she had to pick up the frogs!