Day #90 of Self-Isolation in Epidemic Central

Deep breath and sigh - it's now day 90. Ninety Days.

1. Tomorrow is a doctor's appointment, which requires a subway ride. Granted it is really only a twenty-thirty minute subway ride. About nine to ten stops. Not too bad. The subways are supposed to be clean. Masks are allegedly mandatory - curious to see how that's being enforced.

It also requires some walking along residential streets. Sitting in a doctor's office waiting room, and a doctor's exam room. The question is which mask to wear - the one with the additional filter? The surgical blue and white masks? The new ones I got with two layers?

I'm dreading it. ( Read more... )

2. In other news, the Supreme Court determined by a 6-3 vote that the Civil Rights Act did protect LGBTQA folks from getting fired from a job for being LGBTQA. The ACLU was rather proud of this victory - considering it had been fighting for it for a while now. There's still more ground that needs to be covered, but a spot of good news. Kind of justifies my donations to the ACLU over the years.

3. Crazy Workplace

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4. Mother's depressed. God, who isn't? Also, while I knew 2020 was going to be a roller-coaster ride, I didn't realize it would be this bad of one. I should have - we have the Anti-Christ in the White House (Lando's nickname for him), I don't know what I was expecting.

I almost burst into tears twice today - feeling sorry for myself. Thinking I should have prepared for this better. But honestly, I tried. I did what I could with what was available.

And I'm tired of being scared and anxious over simple things. Latest, an area of my tub that appears to be wearing away and I don't know what to do about it. It's now rust colored. And rough. I can't figure out how to fix it or stop it. I think it's the water that pools in that place. I can't call the super to fix or look at it right now.

Routine helps. I am a creature of habit. And I've a strict routine that I more or less stick to. That provides sanity, as does taking long walks through a cemetery - yesterday's was five miles for three hours. Or meditation. Writing daily in this journal. Calling my parents. Texting my brother. Interacting on FB. Completing work assignments. Watching the Governor's live news briefings - which my mother is catching via youtube now.

My mother worried today about never being very good at anything. She wanted to be a good artist.
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I don't think she understood. But it's something I've learned over the past ten years - that I can't get validation from outside myself. Nor can other's define or tell me who I am or what I can or can't do or what I enjoy, or what I'm even good at.

Most people have no clue who they are, how are they supposed to figure out who I am? ( Read more... )

At any rate, I've learned to write what is inside me, and let the chips fall where they may. I no longer desire fame or fortune, just a handful of souls here and there who may find something of value in it, whatever that may be.
Sometimes, I just write as I am tonight, to let off steam as one might with a pressure valve. If people enjoy it, find meaning in it, can relate...all the better, if not...it is what it is. I've little control over it either way.

I leave you with...a big fluffy cat, my niece's to be exact.

News...

1. Ah, in our daily presentation of New York vs. the Coronavirus..

Per tonight's email:

The state has received over 25,000 complaints concerning a business in violation of the reopening guidelines. We are deeply disappointed to see videos of people out in the street, drinks in hand, ignoring social distancing guidelines (as well as open container laws) — many not wearing masks. While I understand that we are all tired of the constraints of this situation, now is not the time to let our guard down.

In 22 states that are reopening, there have been significant rises in the number of COVID cases. Some states are facing the worst situation they have encountered since the pandemic started. In New York our numbers are good and continue to trend well, but that could change tomorrow if New Yorkers let caution fatigue set in.

So wear a mask, protect yourself and others and continue to treat COVID with the seriousness it calls for.

The Governor stated clearly in his live briefing that restaurants and bars that violated the social distancing, wearing a mask, and no open containers on the sidewalks law - would lose their liquor licenses. He personally called the ones that he got complaints from, apparently.
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I kind of love my Governor at the moment. He can be an egotistical ass at times, but hey, he's someone I want in my corner in a fight. Oh, he's opening up most of the State to Stage 3 - except for New York City and its suburbs - because well, New York City is New York City - it's going to take time.

2. Meanwhile in NYC, crazy people are setting off fireworks. Scared me tonight with two loud bangs. And, there are a few racist idiots on the neighborhood and FB pages, both groups have called out and asked to cease

3. Good news! They are not requiring SAT and ACT scores for four year colleges. COVID-19 may spell the end of standardized testing! Yippee! I hate standardized testing - I've been advocating for its demise for the last thirty years. It's discriminatory and doesn't provide accurate information on a child's ability to excel in anything. It's a system set up to aid privileged rich white kids, and no one else. COVID may kill it dead! YAY!

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4.Next Year's Oscar's has been delayed until April, and they've pushed back the eligibility deadline into 2021

Hmmm, the Tony's were cancelled. Wonder if they will cancel the Emmy's? Maybe not. They didn't cancel the Daytime Emmy's - those will be telecast for the first time in five years on CBS prime time. Mainly because CBS doesn't have a lot to show at the moment.

5. The US Supreme Court said the language of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex discrimination, applies to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. - I mentioned this previously, but what is striking is that the opinion was written by the Trump pick, Justice Gorsuch. Which means, it won't be fought by the evil conservatives and they'll accept it and not politicize it.

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