Y2/D300 - January Brrr

Mother called, apparently my brother injured himself skiing today. He went skiing with his daughter in upstate NY, and on the first run rammed into a tree. First time he's ever injured himself. He broke the skis in half. And has a contusion on his knee, and injured his back. He's icing it tonight. Mother is worried about him.

Meanwhile, niece's plans to stay the night in Manhattan with friends prior to taking the train out to JFK on Saturday have been quenched by the fact that everyone in her friend's family has COVID. So, she's taking Amtrak to LIRR to Air Train on Saturday, and flying out at 10 pm from JFK. Flying to London (UK) during a pandemic is not easy.[It's 30 minutes to the station, 3 hours by train to JFK (2 hour Amtrack, 20 minutes LIRR, 5 minutes Air - but you have wait time between.) plus 3 hours in JFK, plus the flight. Ouch.]

Wales texted me that she has tested positive for COVID now. And is upset. It feels like the flu so far. She didn't get boosted, and is now wondering if she should have gone to the Magic Flute last week. She had a ticket for Marriage of Figaro, but came on the wrong day. The ticket was for January 12, she came on January 5. They took pity on her and let her trade her ticket in for the Magic Flute, and gave her an orchestra ticket (about a 100 dollars more than the one she'd had for $35 dollars).

Wales: It was amazing. And like my mother was with me. She'd have been so proud of me.
Me: Did you see operas with your mother?
Wales: No. She wasn't into it at all, I mean she liked it well enough, but never really saw it.
Me: So you didn't see operas together?
Wales: No. I meant she'd be proud and was with me because she opened me up to cultural experiences and it was how I was raised.
Me: Okay, I'm not quite following that thought process, but that's okay.

I'm not an opera fan, neither really is my mother. Neither of us like high soprano. I do however think the Ave Maria is one of the most beautiful songs ever sung.

Anyhow, Wales apparently didn't get the booster. I thought she had. So I hope this is mild. She also thinks she may have gotten it going to the opera. She was so revved up to take risks. Start volunteering. Be bold. And she gets COVID.

There's about six people in my area out sick with COVID. T provided me with a list. ( Read more... )

Anyhow, six folks out on COVID. And it was bitter cold today, colder tomorrow. Thank god, as mother put it, I don't have to go into the office tomorrow. I'm working remotely. I go back in on Wednesday - during which they will be repainting sections of my apartment. If they don't finish on Wed, they'll complete the job on Friday, the other day that I'm in the office.

One of the co-workers who is back in the office - said everyone she knew had COVID. And this is where I made the micro-aggression to T. ( Read more... )

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Super informed me as I was journeying home today that the painter can paint my apartment this week. I was hoping for April to be honest.

Super: The painter is in my building tomorrow, can I send him to your apartment?
Me: I'm working from home tomorrow, not sure how that can work. I will however be back in the office on Wednesday and Friday this week. We can do it then.
Super: Okay, great, I'll send him to your apartment to paint on Wed and if he doesn't finish, he'll finish on Friday.
Me: Do I have to remove or cover anything?
Super: He will cover everything.
Me: I will be gone on Wed and Friday from 6:35 to 5:20.
Super:Okay. Thank you!!!

I can't put them off indefinitely. I hate getting my apartment painted. But it's really just patch-work, I've water damage.

Also, it's better if I'm not here - due to paint fumes and COVID. I'm doing everything possible to keep myself and other's safe.

But I worry about our failing health care system. I don't want anyone I love to get hurt - and they are. Mother is getting better, but she needs good health care. My father needs round-the-clock care. My brother just hurt himself. And my friend just got COVID.

Please health care system keep on chugging along.

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Trying to focus on the positives. I was going to see Spiderman : No Way Home this weekend, but alas not possible. Even Wales is strongly advising against it now. I need to wait until everything dies down, or more aptly, Omicron dies down.

Crazy workplace is chugging along. I understand my management better - it's struggling too. ( Read more... )

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On the news, there was a five alarm fire in the Bronx, over 19 people dead, 60 wounded. One of the largest and worst fires to hit the city. Caused by a space heater - which is why I do not own space heaters and won't use them - ridiculously dangerous.

I had one blow out my television set in my old apartment, and I had to get a new one.

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Twitter Explained in 15 minutes, and I couldn't stop watching it for a while

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Cold today. Colder tomorrow. Then warms up.

Here's the Random Photo of the night...