Day #147 of Self-Isolation
Aug. 10th, 2020 06:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatThis is beginning to get to me. I think it's the fact that it has begun to dawn on me that this is not getting any better any time soon. Weirdly - I'd held out hope that it would. That somehow someway the situation would right itself.
Also, what I used to look forward to - is now, no longer possible - such as Fall vacations or vacations in general (I'm not sure how to take them at the moment), seeing my parents in December for Christmas (even if I could get down there - there's no way I can see them, they are in lockdown for the foreseeable future), new seasons on television (although there will be something), Broadway Fall Season, etc.
Right now? I'm looking forward to cooler weather, yet at the same time dreading it. When before I just looked forward to it.
No.
If 2020 has taught us anything - it's not to look forward, or to plan things. But simply to live in each moment.
Also, I think I need a break from social media. I'm tired of the bombardment of information - personal and otherwise. And yet, here I am, doing it to you. Ironic that.
It was either the weary sunflowers or the discontented angel.
Crazy Workplace
Email this morning:
This is just for your reference/files, in case one day you need to advertise in Engineering News Record (ENR).
We recently tried to do so but it is too expensive at this point in time. (So we wrote the advertisement ourselves with chalk on various bridge abutments in the area.)
No, I didn't take a walk today. This is a photo taken several days ago.
It's too bleeding hot, plus they had an air advisory in place. I really feel sorry for the people who had their electricity turned off for three hours for new meters to be hooked up. Seriously? They couldn't have done that while they were rewiring everything. Also the people still without power.
Did yoga exercises with weights in my bedroom instead. Stretching exercises mostly and low impact wall squats and wall push-ups. It's not a lot - but it is something.
I'm irritable. Had technical difficulties with work computer - because they forced me to plug in a new password. They want us to do it every 90 days, the only problem is it has to be plugged in for multiple things. And often causes technical issues. Agency is paranoid - for good reason. We're not permitted to use Zoom. (But I can do it on my laptop and there's zip they can do about it. If they don't want me to use Zoom - then they have to give me a lap-top. Besides Zoom's no more hackable than Microsoft Teams. Microsoft is VERY hackable - it's why I have a MAC.
New York vs. the Coronavirus
Still fighting over whether the schools will open.
Per our esteemed Governor's email: School districts have until Friday, August 21st, to submit plans for in-person learning to the Department of Health. Currently, a number of school districts have yet to submit a plan. If they fail to meet the Friday deadline, they will not be allowed to open in person.
What is the right plan for your school district? The right plan is the one in which parents and teachers have confidence. That requires a dialogue.
There is no one-size-fits-all plan for NYS schools, but it is essential, and mandatory, that school districts have conversations within their communities to address all concerns.
Well...yippee kia yay - we're below the 1% infection rate now..
The total number of COVID hospitalizations hit a record low. Yesterday, there were 535 total hospitalizations—the lowest since March 17th. The State conducted 54,002 tests, of which 476, or 0.88%, were positive. Sadly, we lost 2 New Yorkers to the virus.
And people are playing the fiddle with masks on outside Walmarts in the suburbs.
And NY has yet another PSA to Wear Masks on Twitter. They do need them, there's a lot of nitwits who refuse to wear masks.
And...The NYS Office of Mental Health is providing a first-in-the-nation program to help New Yorkers affected by the pandemic. The program, called Coping Circles, consists of free six-week support group sessions, facilitated by volunteer licensed mental health professionals, that are available to all New Yorkers ages 18 and up. Most Circles are open to the general public but if there is demand, Specialized Circles will be available for healthcare workers and first responders, survivors of COVID-19 infections, those who have experienced job loss due to COVID-19, and those who have experienced loss of a loved one to COVID-19. New Yorkers interested in participating in a Coping Circle can learn more here.
Meanwhile the work in my kitchen in hallway is still not done. Dammit. I wish they'd done it back in March over the 3 days, instead in increments. Dumb people. Although I do feel for the Super's wife who has to schedule all of it. They insisted on bringing in a painter this week to paint it. Personally I don't think it needs it. I don't see it. The hallway light is out most of the time. But the building inspector will require it. Apparently the building inspector doesn't care about the water damage and painting issues in my bedroom and bathroom.
I got into a bit of a fight with the super's wife - who wanted to thrust the damn painter on me tomorrow during lunch time. I have a foodkick order coming between 11-12pm. I can't be sealed off from my kitchen and hallway.
I finally negotiated sometime on Wed - most likely the afternoon. She initially wanted to foist him on me at 8:15, of course they never show up on time. Now it might be anywhere between 1-3pm.
To give a back story on this? First there was a gas leak in July 2019. It took them until roughly November 30th to fix the gas and get the building inspector to sign off on it. They had to invade everyone's apartment and hook up a new gas line. Some were worse than others, I lucked out - mine didn't have a any leaks, so just needed to be hooked up to a new line. Then, they had to rewire the electricity in everyone's apartments, with new fuse boxes and new outlets - three visits apparently. One to poke holes in the walls. One to install the new fuse boxes and wirings. Three to paint. Banging for months on end. Oh, and they will have a fourth go-around to hook up meters.
I lost my temper. It's a frigging pandemic and I keep having my space invaded by repair people. This should have been completed in Feb, but they drug their feet. And of course everything had to be cancelled in March.
Me: I don't know why I lost my temper and why I'm so edgy..
Mother: Drip drip drip..
Me: I just feel really trapped and isolated right now.
Mother: Look on the bright side - your city is in a good place right now. It has a low infection rate. Your chances of getting COVID are rather low.
And they'll take precautions. It also won't take that long and you'll get it done. It's better to have them just do it.
Me: I wish they could have waited until August 27 - when I have to go back in...also, I think they are going to turn off my electricity for three hours for new meters at some point.
Mother: Can you just take that day off work?
Me: Possibly.
Now, I feel guilty and ashamed for losing my temper.
Oh well, I leave you with flowers...hopefully tomorrow I'll feel better.
Also, what I used to look forward to - is now, no longer possible - such as Fall vacations or vacations in general (I'm not sure how to take them at the moment), seeing my parents in December for Christmas (even if I could get down there - there's no way I can see them, they are in lockdown for the foreseeable future), new seasons on television (although there will be something), Broadway Fall Season, etc.
Right now? I'm looking forward to cooler weather, yet at the same time dreading it. When before I just looked forward to it.
No.
If 2020 has taught us anything - it's not to look forward, or to plan things. But simply to live in each moment.
Also, I think I need a break from social media. I'm tired of the bombardment of information - personal and otherwise. And yet, here I am, doing it to you. Ironic that.
It was either the weary sunflowers or the discontented angel.
Crazy Workplace
Email this morning:
This is just for your reference/files, in case one day you need to advertise in Engineering News Record (ENR).
We recently tried to do so but it is too expensive at this point in time. (So we wrote the advertisement ourselves with chalk on various bridge abutments in the area.)
No, I didn't take a walk today. This is a photo taken several days ago.
It's too bleeding hot, plus they had an air advisory in place. I really feel sorry for the people who had their electricity turned off for three hours for new meters to be hooked up. Seriously? They couldn't have done that while they were rewiring everything. Also the people still without power.
Did yoga exercises with weights in my bedroom instead. Stretching exercises mostly and low impact wall squats and wall push-ups. It's not a lot - but it is something.
I'm irritable. Had technical difficulties with work computer - because they forced me to plug in a new password. They want us to do it every 90 days, the only problem is it has to be plugged in for multiple things. And often causes technical issues. Agency is paranoid - for good reason. We're not permitted to use Zoom. (But I can do it on my laptop and there's zip they can do about it. If they don't want me to use Zoom - then they have to give me a lap-top. Besides Zoom's no more hackable than Microsoft Teams. Microsoft is VERY hackable - it's why I have a MAC.
New York vs. the Coronavirus
Still fighting over whether the schools will open.
Per our esteemed Governor's email: School districts have until Friday, August 21st, to submit plans for in-person learning to the Department of Health. Currently, a number of school districts have yet to submit a plan. If they fail to meet the Friday deadline, they will not be allowed to open in person.
What is the right plan for your school district? The right plan is the one in which parents and teachers have confidence. That requires a dialogue.
There is no one-size-fits-all plan for NYS schools, but it is essential, and mandatory, that school districts have conversations within their communities to address all concerns.
Well...yippee kia yay - we're below the 1% infection rate now..
The total number of COVID hospitalizations hit a record low. Yesterday, there were 535 total hospitalizations—the lowest since March 17th. The State conducted 54,002 tests, of which 476, or 0.88%, were positive. Sadly, we lost 2 New Yorkers to the virus.
And people are playing the fiddle with masks on outside Walmarts in the suburbs.
And NY has yet another PSA to Wear Masks on Twitter. They do need them, there's a lot of nitwits who refuse to wear masks.
And...The NYS Office of Mental Health is providing a first-in-the-nation program to help New Yorkers affected by the pandemic. The program, called Coping Circles, consists of free six-week support group sessions, facilitated by volunteer licensed mental health professionals, that are available to all New Yorkers ages 18 and up. Most Circles are open to the general public but if there is demand, Specialized Circles will be available for healthcare workers and first responders, survivors of COVID-19 infections, those who have experienced job loss due to COVID-19, and those who have experienced loss of a loved one to COVID-19. New Yorkers interested in participating in a Coping Circle can learn more here.
Meanwhile the work in my kitchen in hallway is still not done. Dammit. I wish they'd done it back in March over the 3 days, instead in increments. Dumb people. Although I do feel for the Super's wife who has to schedule all of it. They insisted on bringing in a painter this week to paint it. Personally I don't think it needs it. I don't see it. The hallway light is out most of the time. But the building inspector will require it. Apparently the building inspector doesn't care about the water damage and painting issues in my bedroom and bathroom.
I got into a bit of a fight with the super's wife - who wanted to thrust the damn painter on me tomorrow during lunch time. I have a foodkick order coming between 11-12pm. I can't be sealed off from my kitchen and hallway.
I finally negotiated sometime on Wed - most likely the afternoon. She initially wanted to foist him on me at 8:15, of course they never show up on time. Now it might be anywhere between 1-3pm.
To give a back story on this? First there was a gas leak in July 2019. It took them until roughly November 30th to fix the gas and get the building inspector to sign off on it. They had to invade everyone's apartment and hook up a new gas line. Some were worse than others, I lucked out - mine didn't have a any leaks, so just needed to be hooked up to a new line. Then, they had to rewire the electricity in everyone's apartments, with new fuse boxes and new outlets - three visits apparently. One to poke holes in the walls. One to install the new fuse boxes and wirings. Three to paint. Banging for months on end. Oh, and they will have a fourth go-around to hook up meters.
I lost my temper. It's a frigging pandemic and I keep having my space invaded by repair people. This should have been completed in Feb, but they drug their feet. And of course everything had to be cancelled in March.
Me: I don't know why I lost my temper and why I'm so edgy..
Mother: Drip drip drip..
Me: I just feel really trapped and isolated right now.
Mother: Look on the bright side - your city is in a good place right now. It has a low infection rate. Your chances of getting COVID are rather low.
And they'll take precautions. It also won't take that long and you'll get it done. It's better to have them just do it.
Me: I wish they could have waited until August 27 - when I have to go back in...also, I think they are going to turn off my electricity for three hours for new meters at some point.
Mother: Can you just take that day off work?
Me: Possibly.
Now, I feel guilty and ashamed for losing my temper.
Oh well, I leave you with flowers...hopefully tomorrow I'll feel better.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-11 02:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-11 06:43 am (UTC)By December there might very well be some medical treatments in place so it would be safe for you to see your folks.
Sending good thoughts your way!
:-)
no subject
Date: 2020-08-11 06:20 pm (UTC)The heat isn't helping. I can't take as long a walk as I want to. Chosen to take next monday off - since apartment complex is turning off the power in me apartment from 9-2pm. Hopefully it'll be cooler.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-11 02:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-11 10:47 pm (UTC)And yes, we're definitely in it for the long haul. When lockdown began I figured I'd be traveling at Christmas. I don't think I could have imagined the level of stupid exhibited in the country, but at this point I can't imagine why I ever believed people would behave differently.