So I decided i had to officially honor this strange time with a post--the year of the Plague, (Coronavirus/Covid 19). It didn't really become reality for us until March, even though the rumors were swirling, my kids in Cali started sheltering. My principal was hinting, but we finally started doing online school, non-essential businesses closed, Ken and I did our last-dine in restaurant meal, I think at El Maguey, or maybe it was Vito and Michaels. Doesn't matter: they are both closed except for take-out, now. I've been doing online school since the 2nd week of March, a week after my parents left Florida from their annual trip to Destin. Ken's spring break got extended and eventually segued into online school. We have to count ourselves lucky as some of the few Americans not losing any pay during this crisis. The strain and learning curve was tremendous---my worst bit was trying to grade all my research papers online while simultaneously learning the technology for online school. Things have eased somewhat, although the occasional day jams up, like today! --Started happy hour promptly at 3:30pm.
Once I decided to make this post I raided other threads to chronicle the early days, just in case it will one day be interesting. Some highlights--Joe got stuck in Cali because his cheap-o flight got delayed for a month. He got a job with the Berkeley branch of the USPS. Trump's poll numbers are tanking. My Russian friend got stuck in Moscow with his fiance, and now is worried that Trump's immigration restrictions will make it impossible for her to come to the US. All this as Kate and Joe finished their desert trip, and K just began to walk again. I think the big picture positive of this is Trump withering on the vine in a massive show of incompetence.
Here it is, in medias res:
March 22, 2020: Katie is walking, but in a paranoid fog with Joe, trapped in her duplex. This has to be one of the strangest moments of my time on earth. The sky is blue, there is a pleasant breeze, and we are quarantined.
It all feels quite ridiculous and medieval, or at least 1665; wasn't that the Plague Year Daniel Defoe wrote about? Maybe I should get excerpts of that for my students to read!! This week, I am off, but with lesson plans for next week looming over my head. I have to do virtual school. I had to learn how to launch a program called Google Meets for my students to have a virtual class--I ordered a mini whiteboard to teach from. It also has a somewhat unreliable vocal to text program you can use.
I guess I'll get used to it, and it should give me back about two hours a day that my commute always robbed from me. Who knows for how long, but Italy makes things feel ominous. And here Kate and I had talked about going there this summer.
I'm not panicked in the least, but I am being precautious. Ken was pretty sick at the beginning of the crack-down when we stopped school, so i've been keeping distance, washing, sleeping in Joe's room. He's been very quiet, and says, although he no longer has the 101.7 fever he had at the height of it. I'm sure he just has an ordinary flu bug, and now they're giving new symptoms, none of which he had: vomiting, diarrhea, nausea. Kate and Joe are the ones showing anxiety, especially Kate, but they are in one of the epicenters that have been in lock-down for almost a week. Joe is ready to come home: I thought he was beginning to chase the California dream, but i think this killed it. I'm just wishing Covid would kill all the mosquitoes near our porch and patio--can't enjoy the fresh air with those little bastards around.
What is really interesting me, however, is how this will possibly change American life after this. Will we finally switch our priorities, consider something more important than consumerism, wealth, and the over the top work ethic that drives it? We've already had Andrew Yang and his guaranteed income, which Trump & co. has bizarrely adopted in a watered down version to get himself ingratiated (after his initial blunders/denials) and re-elected. His numbers are holding, with even a slight upturn, but I credit that to the general tendency of Mr. and Mrs. America to support any president in a time of crisis as a show of solidarity and optimism.
It's not that i don't feel optimistic about this--i think it will blow over, but something will linger in the air. One smart person online, I forget who, pointed out the panic hoarding mentality is a truly American reaction to crises: we think we can magically buy our way out of our problems. The things being hoarded are kinda humorous. Universally, toilet paper and bleach, canned goods. Locally, and at our Publix, we're low on raw chicken, canned soup, rubbing alcohol, and whipped cream--at least those are things I've been wanting for 3 days and can't get. Starbucks in Cali finally lost its "essential services" status and closed. My neighbor Maggie in a burst of her classic entrepreneurial spirit, parked her food truck at the neighborhood mini-mart and is selling bagels of the shuttered bakery nearby. We are eating more leftovers, and I made chicken soup from scratch from the lonely rotisserie bird I luckily nabbed, thinking to myself he reminded me of the scrawny single rooster Scarlett O'Hara's butler was chasing around the yard at the height of the Civil War starving times. Ok, have I reached hyperbolic yet??
So, this is my speculation of how things will change. First i don't think Trump will be re-elected even if people may be showing tacit support now--in fact, I think he wasn't going to be before this happened, but now with the stock market..of course there'll be those diehards who will say it's not his fault.
I think the real change will be more subtle, a taking stock of priorities. I think this might just end the Rep/Dem polarization that we've been stuck in for a decade. It looks kind of silly from this viewpoint. We may have some sad deaths that will give folks pause. I think there will be a move towards more compassion, maybe something like we had in the mid-60s after all the assassinations, but this one will be more lasting and have less political posturing. My guess is our homeless population will have some deaths. (Still have "The Masque of the Red Death" in the back of my mind, though...). I know we'e been giving mouth loyalties to anti-consumerism for a while by buying 2nd hand, recycling, biking-to-work, building tiny houses, but I think something deeper is going to take hold in our consumer habits. This uneven testing is definitely going to make many question our supposedly magnificent health care system and perhaps move us towards a free set-up? The most unsophisticated American can understand this situation.
It's so weird, but it almost feels like this whole thing has been orchestrated by God for the greater good: get rid of Trump by tackling him where it will hurt, change hearts and minds about politics and our social system, putting a dent in campaign practices that have led to all this, all perfectly timed to recover before election season. Wow. I can't unsee that.
Hits on Trump:
- stock market losses--the words recession and depression have been floated
- late to the party denial and deflection
- the poor response of our medical system "the greatest in the world"
- Fauci and other officials who contradicted Trump's pov
- the local governments who stepped up in his place to take unpleasant actions
- THE (right wing) WASHINGTON EXAMINER! is calling out Trump for not listening to advisors, even intelligence sources!
- refusing the WHO tests with typical contrariness and smugness
- They're now saying 10-12 weeks of quarantine! Ouch. That's into summer.
- White House is going to open Obamacare enrollment b/c corona. (Many states had already done this.
- That ridiculous slam on reporter Peter Alexander which shows why Trump rarely had White House briefings anyway.
Mar 26: getting mentally prepared for online school, but honestly, in spite of the barage of e-mails giving sources, advice, whatever, I don't feel like it will be that bad. Even in addition to losing my under 2 hours of driving, I think my daily work will lessen as well, and I WILL GET TO USE THE BATHROOM! Yay..
Been trying to adopt a more creative edge, but not entirely being successful in that. Ideas to write songs that already had lyrics, and learning a new Mott the Hoople (not new ot Mott or even Bad Company) the old rare chessnut (sp?) :"Ready For Love." Some of my family members seem to be dealing harder with this shut down than me. One in my house and one in Cali, but she has other things on her mind.
April 14: Covid time. Ken just got notice that they're not going to let him keep taking his Soma. Hm. good thing he's not as depressed as before. But how did they come to this decision?
May 1--can't let this go by for memory, Trump's crazy speculation then meltdown bout how he suggested we investigate injecting disinfectants, like bleach, into humans as a cure. And we used to think Woody Woodpecker sounded cookoo..
May 3: The tension in my little fam ratcheting up. Joe's coming home, to get his car, to officially become a Californian--so many mixed feelings on that. Kate's panicking , i think fueling her to want to spend summer here--but is that a good idea? Six months ago I woulda said yeah. But, what is Joe going to go back to Cali TO? We need to keep her place through June I think, and I may have to shake the family trees to make that work. K's sounding bad: knew she wouldn't handle Joe leaving so well, and now i guess her AP gig has fallen through. She's swinging wildly at multi-opportunities, and I' not sure which she wants or will do. Everything from staying put to La to OK to Baltimore?? I feel for her having to make so many choices. I guess the best thing is throw the spaghetti at the fridge and see what sticks.
For me I just got word I didn't make the cut for a SPCath gig I applied for but had forgotten about. There goes my easy commute--unless we keep online school...
Ken and I have been systematically going through all the James Bonds (26, I think?) to keep ourselves occupied, and we don't have too much more to go--already at the Pierce Brosnan ones.
Life seems to be squeezing us dry. My flamethrower to the corona is walking around my garden, re-imagining it, even occasionally doing something! All this year I've been moving things that I picture doing better in a new place--more artistic, or better conditions. So far it's worked to brilliant effect with my new succulent garden by the porch, moving a volunteer firecracker plant stuck in the fence to pots: exploding with mini firecrackers now! Moving dotted horsemint to a more back garden situation--they are still recovering. And dousing everything with dolomite.
So, my fantasies have turned to Roses. I'm searching and researching, since It's probably too late to plant. I already did three white roses in January (? ) I think--Joe was still here--maybe it was Xmas. Those have been great--always putting on new growth and flowers, except during the dry spell we had. Well, some even then. I'm thinking it's the special soil I bought, and the non acid mulch. Trying to decide where to put others: really love David Austin 's Roald Dahl-- that yellow-pink combo plus sounds like it's a diehard. Maybe in the front to replace my little finicky mystery rose that won't die and won't bloom--that's why i don't even know what it is! Maybe this last drought did it. Also like Dortmund, climbing--but the only place I can see where it might go and get enough sun is the chain-link fence on the back patio. --well that could stand beautifying. I thought of the bare wall that's actually the back wall of the old front porch, but I think that needs a really light colored rose to show up there--looking for that....I originally thought that Dortmund on the east side front porch, but I think it only gets a few hours' sun...boo. It would look cool with a climbing rose, and I think I saw a mislabeled Dortmund (as "Dartmouth") in the Pasadena Community Rose garden, going crazy with blooms--will have to keep an eye on it through the seasons to see if it will live up to its praises.
May 16: Done with my eighth grades two more weeks of school. I'm fighting some bug--hope it's not you-know-what. First, Joe and I both got Diarrhea, about 10 days in from his awful Frontier Airlines flight--completely full to capacity plane!. If I die, I'm suing them. Since then, I have had three days of fatigue, some chest congestion, and on and off throat irritation. Apple suggests self isolation with my fam, but no testing yet. I can still breathe, etc. I applied for A ritzy Cath HS job. Made an I-movie for Dick's retirement which I think turned out pretty well. REALLY sick of online school, even if I'm down to just attendance, meetings and one class.
May 19: Whatever I have, I'm getting over it, I think. It's ridiculous how the slightest cough and sniffle makes us all think we're infected, ready to die.
May 31:
The Plague Year becomes the Riot year. The Plague/Police Brutality/Riot Year.
How about this to solve our racial and political divide? A new reality TV show, but not the sensationalist kind. Two people from opposing viewpoints, state their opinions about politics and race for the audience. Maybe there should be no visuals where one can see the other--only the audience sees both.Then they are forced to listen to each other's life stories, in an attempt to get them to analyze how they got to believe what they believe. They try to make the other one live in their shoes. Certain questions should be asked, like what was the hardest thing you ever had to do? What was a decision you made where you could see two different sides? What makes you uncomfortable? I dunno, maybe there's some big reveal at the end where they find out each other's labels. Dunno if that would work somehow.
May 1--can't let this go by for memory, Trump's crazy speculation then meltdown bout how he suggested we investigate injecting disinfectants, like bleach, into humans as a cure. And we used to think Woody Woodpecker sounded cookoo..
May 3: The tension in my little fam ratcheting up. Joe's coming home, to get his car, to officially become a Californian--so many mixed feelings on that. Kate's panicking , i think fueling her to want to spend summer here--but is that a good idea? Six months ago I woulda said yeah. But, what is Joe going to go back to Cali TO? We need to keep her place through June I think, and I may have to shake the family trees to make that work. K's sounding bad: knew she wouldn't handle Joe leaving so well, and now i guess her AP gig has fallen through. She's swinging wildly at multi-opportunities, and I' not sure which she wants or will do. Everything from staying put to La to OK to Baltimore?? I feel for her having to make so many choices. I guess the best thing is throw the spaghetti at the fridge and see what sticks.
For me I just got word I didn't make the cut for a SPCath gig I applied for but had forgotten about. There goes my easy commute--unless we keep online school...
Ken and I have been systematically going through all the James Bonds (26, I think?) to keep ourselves occupied, and we don't have too much more to go--already at the Pierce Brosnan ones.
Life seems to be squeezing us dry. My flamethrower to the corona is walking around my garden, re-imagining it, even occasionally doing something! All this year I've been moving things that I picture doing better in a new place--more artistic, or better conditions. So far it's worked to brilliant effect with my new succulent garden by the porch, moving a volunteer firecracker plant stuck in the fence to pots: exploding with mini firecrackers now! Moving dotted horsemint to a more back garden situation--they are still recovering. And dousing everything with dolomite.
So, my fantasies have turned to Roses. I'm searching and researching, since It's probably too late to plant. I already did three white roses in January (? ) I think--Joe was still here--maybe it was Xmas. Those have been great--always putting on new growth and flowers, except during the dry spell we had. Well, some even then. I'm thinking it's the special soil I bought, and the non acid mulch. Trying to decide where to put others: really love David Austin 's Roald Dahl-- that yellow-pink combo plus sounds like it's a diehard. Maybe in the front to replace my little finicky mystery rose that won't die and won't bloom--that's why i don't even know what it is! Maybe this last drought did it. Also like Dortmund, climbing--but the only place I can see where it might go and get enough sun is the chain-link fence on the back patio. --well that could stand beautifying. I thought of the bare wall that's actually the back wall of the old front porch, but I think that needs a really light colored rose to show up there--looking for that....I originally thought that Dortmund on the east side front porch, but I think it only gets a few hours' sun...boo. It would look cool with a climbing rose, and I think I saw a mislabeled Dortmund (as "Dartmouth") in the Pasadena Community Rose garden, going crazy with blooms--will have to keep an eye on it through the seasons to see if it will live up to its praises.
May 16: Done with my eighth grades two more weeks of school. I'm fighting some bug--hope it's not you-know-what. First, Joe and I both got Diarrhea, about 10 days in from his awful Frontier Airlines flight--completely full to capacity plane!. If I die, I'm suing them. Since then, I have had three days of fatigue, some chest congestion, and on and off throat irritation. Apple suggests self isolation with my fam, but no testing yet. I can still breathe, etc. I applied for A ritzy Cath HS job. Made an I-movie for Dick's retirement which I think turned out pretty well. REALLY sick of online school, even if I'm down to just attendance, meetings and one class.
May 19: Whatever I have, I'm getting over it, I think. It's ridiculous how the slightest cough and sniffle makes us all think we're infected, ready to die.
May 31:
The Plague Year becomes the Riot year. The Plague/Police Brutality/Riot Year.
How about this to solve our racial and political divide? A new reality TV show, but not the sensationalist kind. Two people from opposing viewpoints, state their opinions about politics and race for the audience. Maybe there should be no visuals where one can see the other--only the audience sees both.Then they are forced to listen to each other's life stories, in an attempt to get them to analyze how they got to believe what they believe. They try to make the other one live in their shoes. Certain questions should be asked, like what was the hardest thing you ever had to do? What was a decision you made where you could see two different sides? What makes you uncomfortable? I dunno, maybe there's some big reveal at the end where they find out each other's labels. Dunno if that would work somehow.
June 12:
Two weeks into the protests, and St. Pete'sprotests have been peaceful by all appearances of video clips and news reports, although I've seen the aftermath of our local riot/looting in Tampa: a burned down Champs Footwear plus an adjoining Asian restaurant. Quite a few boarded up windows along Fowler Avenue, which parallels the crime-ridden neighborhood of Suitcase City in Tampa. Phone stores, fireworks businesses, shoe shops, some clothing stores. Preventative, mostly, I think. I also watched video footage of the night of this incident, which seemed much more opportunistic than a pure protest. A number of what appears to be neighborhood cars were parked in the University Square Mall parking lot, honking their horns, shouting, and if that was a protest it was a strange looking one without the usual signage, more like an angry tail-gate party. One of my former students who recently attended law school, and who is politically active on the left, assures me that a right wing agitator started the fire, but local news have posted pictures of the man they are looking for, who is black. Who knows what the truth is in this climate?
My former student has made enough posts about her own participation in St. Pete protests and various other activities that I'm pretty sure she is actively involved in Antifa--she has their flag in her profile, and has posted about some online activity that seems to be about outing extreme right wing folks. I have read some credible sounding reports that this is, in fact, what Antifa does, more than trying to incite violence in public, as the right claims. She is posting screenshots of text conversations, and live video of ugly behavior, often saying she has done follow-up with the appropriate authorities. She seems to be going on the attack at times, impersonating a sympathetic new member, then turning the tables once they start spewing some hate-filled words. I noticed she recently changed her profile name, probably to dodge retaliative actions.
What to make of this? First, I think this probably is more the methods of Antifa, rather than the random and stupid violence they've been accused of, although perhaps in the early days there was some Antifa destruction, like the bank in Berkeley. It's an interesting tact, the online outing, and seems to get people fired from jobs, barraged with counter comments, de-platformed, I imagine. Ultimately can be helpful, I suppose, but I worry for the counterpunch--will my student have violent or other repercussions? She has noted that the right wingers underestimate her smarts and gun skills. She is kind of a badass. And beyond that, where do these angry men go next, after they've lost their jobs, been publicly shamed? i kind of doubt they will now just slink off to the therapist to get the help they need. Where have these guys come from? The other response to the disenfranchised millennial generation.
If Trump gets beaten, can we count on all these scary people to just dissolve and blend back into the mainstream? That seems overly optimistic.
Oh, yes, and back to the plague. Florida's numbers are climbing again after a few weeks of Phase 1 reopening, and one week of Phase 2. Bad news, right? Here at my house, we're still acting like we're still in lock-down mode, with the exception of going to a very small Russian restaurant in Tampa, where we were the only customers for 75% of our meal, with the occasional masked Uber-eats deliverer coming in to pick up meals.
Is this going to put us back in the Zoom classroom? I don't really mind--saves me the drive, but how long will parents put up with that again? Of course, protests aren't helping, and it seems to put a hitch in the theory that weather will kill Covid. And, our cases in Florida are on the rise.
Jun 13: Well, I had to enshrine this somewhere, and I'm not sure about FB. But I just heard the funniest true joke, from Moms Mabley, about police and their relations to the black population. She was describing getting pulled over for running a red light, and her explanation? Says Moms,
"I said, cause I seen all you white folks going on the green light I thought the red light was for us!"
