Day #138 - Some Good News..

While wandering about Greenwood Cemetery this morning trying really hard not to think about next week - and possibility of returning to the office en mass - received an email from my boss. [I have my work email on my phone now, kind of a necessity in the post Covid world.]

Or rather a forwarded email.

"Good News - Telecommuting Agreement Between the Union and (Crazy Workplace) has been extended until the day after Labor Day, 9/9/2020."

I read it twice. Burst into tears of relief and thanksgiving and proceeded to dance about in Greenwood Cemetery praising the heavens above me or rather the Universe for having mercy on my poor soul and giving me a touch of good news in these sorry times. Also for telling me this morning, instead of waiting until late Monday night - it made my weekend. I have not been sleeping well.



Texted Sis-in-law, mother and brother. I had texted sis-in-law because we were discussing it via text this morning. Sis-in-law had sent me a blurb on a downloadable pod-cast music instructional for touring Greenwood Cemetery - but it is from the Sunset Park Entrance, and I'm entering from the Fort Hamilton one, so I might check it out. I texted mother immediately after along with brother, because they'd get annoyed if I waited.

Granted, I wish they'd make it permanent or extended to December. But it is worth noting that they've been doing this since we left the office in March.
The initial agreement was for two weeks or March 27, then it was extended to April 16, then extended again to April 30, then again to May 15, then again to June 15, then again to July, then again to August 3. Now it's been extended to September 9.

Mother: I didn't realize you've been going through this since you left.
Me: Yep. They don't know what to do. So are kind of playing by ear. For a bit it was extended by executive order, this extension had to be negotiated like the original agreement had to be negotiated.
Mother: Crazy Company doesn't want to make it permanent?
Me: No, they do. It's the union that doesn't -
Mother: Because they are afraid they'll use it to reduce the workforce.
Me: Well, it finally occurred to me - that if they make telework from home permanent, those who can't work from home - would lose their jobs.
Mother: Oh. Ohhhhh.
Me: I could be wrong, but there are a lot of people who don't or can't do the telework thing effectively...
Mother: Interesting.

It's not like I was given a computer or laptop by my organization. I'm using my own, and my own wifi and my own phone. But I've made it work. If this becomes permanent, I'll have to expend funds to upgrade. There's a lot of folks who don't want to do that or aren't as tech savy as I am and the younger bunch is - this will drive them out.



I managed 2.7 miles or two hours before I got too hot and sweaty and had to head home for a cold shower. Also the horseflies were biting. I discovered it was flies not mosquitoes.

It's a lovely day today. In the upper 70s and 80s, blue skies, and about 70% humidity. Considering it was 80-100% humidity last week and in the 90s, this is relatively cool.

Mother wants me to visit my brother on Monday or Tuesday. But I can't. I have to give notice to my workplace at least a week ahead of time. Also buy tickets via Amtrak, and make arrangements. It's not something I can do on a whim. Now that crazy-ass workplace has extended the telework from home agreement - I might try for the weekend of the 20th, that should be before niece heads back to school, and after their visitors - he has a friend from Hawaii coming the weekend of August 8th and 15th apparently. Why people are flying from Hawaii, I don't know. Apparently they have two kids entering East Coast Schools (assuming those schools will be open). Also it's a small barn and a small bed. Don't these people know there is a pandemic?

Mother: I asked him why they'd put their kids in East Coast schools and not out West. Apparently it's a thing - they want to get to see and experience the East Coast.
ME: It may be less of a thing now.
Mother: Maybe not.
ME: Well...
Mother: They are slated to open them -
Me: Actually that's still very much up in the air at the moment.

NYC is supposed to make a decision regarding the schools this week. They've already pushed the opening date, if it happens, back to September. I don't know why everyone thinks the pandemic will be better in the fall. In the summer, we can all be outdoors. In the fall and winter - not so much, also flu and cold season, which have similar symptoms. If they think cases and deaths are spiking now...

Oh well, one day at a time.



I attempted to watch I May Destroy You on HBO and got annoyed. It's hard to follow, and I don't find it relatable - I've never been a party girl, haven't been into the party and drug scene, and what the protagonist does...makes no sense to me. I may be the wrong demographic for it? I'm in my fifties - this was made for and by twenty-somethings, who are into partying.
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So..I gave up on it and I'm off to watch the Mandalorian instead. I've also been watching Beecham House on PBS.

I may go back to What We Do in the Shadows - which did make me laugh and I find easier to relate to. It's saying something that I can relate better to a comedy about vampires living on Staten Island than a comedy about a pop culture twenty-something novelist who believes she was raped while partying in London and doing five different types of drugs.



Been very sleepy today. Relaxing. Vegging. I feel as if I just came down off a very high loop on a roller-coaster. You know that feeling you have when you go up up and reach the top, and then go down very fast, screaming your head off? That adrenaline spurt, and then the come down after? That sense of relief - I survived? That's how I feel today. This overwhelming sense of relief.

I really wish my workplace would stop trying to scare us all to death. Oh well, that's 2020.

Spoke briefly to my father today, and the phone went out. I called back.

Mother: Yeah, your Dad looked at the phone and then at me, and said 'She's gone.'
Me: My poor father.

They're bored and tracking a tropical storm. But so far it looks as if they can stay home, no evacuating thank heavens.

I leave you with a huge sunflower.