As always, let’s get started with the numbers …

Media consumed # (remaining/total)
Physical Comics Read: 0 (7/399)
Digital Comics Read: 2 (496/539)
Trade Paperbacks/Graphic Novels Read: 8 (28/40)
Books Read: 3 (118/170)
Movies Watched: 2 (104/143)
TV Shows Completed: 1 (34/38)
Podcast Episodes Remaining: 145

April, as it was this year, seemed to get away from me very fast. I was thinking about why this morning and I believe that a lot of it has to do with my return to work in my classroom as opposed to the working from home I had been doing for the better part of a year. Yes, we technically went back in the middle of March, but that had almost a “dress rehearsal” quality to it because we still had spring break. When we got back, we went right back into the regular schedule, and that’s going to be uninterrupted until Memorial Day.

Well, it’s not exactly a regular schedule. We’ve been doing hybrid school, which means that I am standing in front of my computer on Zoom talking to both students online as well as the few students who are in the room with me. It’s not ideal and I’ve done my best to make it work, but I will say that it is really taxing. I found my rhythm, but I also found that I spent more afternoons crashing upon getting home instead of wanting to engage in some sort of physical activity or mental activity that requires actual concentration. So most of what’s here more or less mindless–a few easy trades to read, a reality television show, or movies that I can watch in chunks (and hopefully not fall asleep in front of). I did manage a couple of books, one of which was “literary fiction” that took a while to read and get going. I’m doing the same for a book club at work right now.

It’s been tough. It shouldn’t be–after all, we’re all still struggling in our own way to the adjustments and readjustments that our current world is causing. But I fight against a pull to “do more” or “have something to show for it.” I’m sure I’ll write more about that in future blog posts, because I’ve been thinking a lot about work, purpose, and burnout, what that all means, and how that’s also an exploration for this blog.

Getting into the actual numbers, I will be doing an official “recount” at the beginning of June, especially of comics, so that my piles are accurate. I’d also like to see if I can spend a good portion of May finishing out my Netflix DVD queue so I can offload that part of the service and maybe pick up the DC Infinite Universe service (I am much more a DC than Marvel person and Marvel Unlimited, for the brief time I had it, failed to side-load on my Kindle). I kind of want to set mini goals for the remainder of the year, but I guess I’ll tackle one thing at a time.

One thing I will tell you is that I’m looking forward to actually taking the summer off. I know that sounds obnoxious considering that there are people who don’t get summers off like I do, but I spent a lot of time checking in on stuff or attending the occasional summer faculty meeting last year and I was completely on edge about what was going to happen. I feel the need to recharge, and even focus on whittling down my obligations. Yes, I realize that’s a pipe dream, but I think I can figure it out.