AUGUST 2020
We Are Still Stuck
In The Midst of The COVID 19 Pandemic
PA, DE, NY
1- SA- PA
I had a dream about Ida and she was upset about something. So, of course, that upset me as well. And when I woke up, I was still a little upset. I hope this isn't some sort of omen about her.
It's another damn, hot, sunny day. I made it to the pool and the time passed so quickly that I was late to dinner at Sharon's house.
I brought dinner which I purchased at Carlino's and we just sat around for 4 hours and talked. She seemed more concerned about the virus than the last time I visited her. But I have been wandering around as if I won't catch this damn COVID and maybe I am making her nervous. I need to be more careful.
2- SU- PA/DE
Theater N is finally opened up again. I got to go to the movies, for the first time in months, and see the documentary on John Lewis, Good Trouble. What a brave man. I have never been that tested to stand up for my convictions. I have never been pushed to the point that I would give up my life for a cause, any cause. He talked about the moment he lost his fears and become committed to resist at all cost to his life. That's conviction.
Afterwards, Jaye and I went back to her house and Dom grilled hotdogs for us. Andrea came over and announced that her cousin has COVID. None of them have seen him for awhile so they don't have to quarantine.
In other news, I still can not get my damn, new laptop to work. The password code is causing a problem beyond what I can address. And I have gone to the store so many times that I can not bring myself to address the issue. So I have been using my old computer while my new computer just sits in the box. It is too hard to get help through customer service so I am just going to have to go back to DE and cry until they agree to help me again.
3- M- PA/DE
I went to the damn computer store again to get my laptop up and running. It's been almost a month since I purchased this $1000 machine. I was told I had to wait two hours before I could see anyone and that irritated me. Then I finally got to see someone and he admitted that he put his own password in my computer and that is why I coolant access it. "Sorry about that" was the only apology I got after I conveyed what I had attempted over the last six days. And once he told me the password, he indicated that he was finished. So I snapped at his a little bit and told he that he was not to be dismissive with me. He was a little surprised but I am exhausted by this situation.
When I got home, Phylis, Steve, Jeff, Debbie and I headed to Gay Street to see what was going on. Tonight is the first night that the street is closed to cars in an effort to expand dining options for the local restaurants. Unfortunately, a big storm is looming over us so there weren't lots of people around. We had food and drinks at Kildares. My meal was perfect: reuben egg rolls and two beers.
Then I can back to the lounge with Debbie and ran in to Pete. We didn't agree on anything tonight and eventually he stormed off, in the middle of my statement, on why I hate Trump.
4- TU- PA
A tropical storm came through town and knocked out electricity for most of us. Fortunately, Limoncellos Resturant still had power so Debbie, Jeff, Gabe and I went there for a leisurely lunch. We didn't get back to the apartment until 6 PM and everyone was complaining about the heat. So Debbie, Steve and I went back to Limoncellos for yet another drink.
I made a new playlist of cover songs and I love this list. I played it nonstop throughout the night.
5- W- PA
It's Root Beer Day #58, our family holiday. So I took root beer and ice cream over to Tricia's house and we had root beer floats. And then the rest of the family texted each other on our recollection of the history of root beer day.
I finally got my hair cut and it doesn't look too much different, maybe a little shorter but it is still too bushy. And three minutes after I comb it, it still looks unkept.
6- TH- PA
OMG, I slept until 1:37 PM today. I don't remember when I went to bed, maybe around 3 AM. But I am now wearing an eye mask to bed and that has been so helpful in keeping me asleep. I had lots of dreams and I stayed asleep.
I am struggling over a stupid choice: do I keep my Apple watch or not. I bought it and had immediate buyer's remorse. So I decided to return it and get a copycat watch from one of my Amazon freebie options. So I got my new watch and haven't returned the Apple watch yet. And I don't like the band on the new watch. It seems too masculine to me. Now I am talking myself in to keeping the expensive watch. and what do I do with the other watch. And I am annoyed at myself for putting so much energy in to this decision. It's only a stupid watch.
7- F- PA
I hung here all day at the apartment. I went to the pool. I hung in the lounge, just like old times. And I listened to Debbie spell out her plan to leave her husband within the year. He is driving her crazy and she is going to leave just as soon as her son is settled in college.
8-SA- PA
I spent the afternoon, farting around my apartment and then I headed over to Tricia's for dinner. We ordered out Chinese and then watched an old movie, Howard's End. The movie didn't hold my interest as much as trying to figure out how to use the remote to turn up the damn sound. I screwed it up and we had to confess to Bill that we are incompetent. He fixed it but the sound still wasn't loud enough. But I had too much pride to tell him that I need yet another lesson on how to operate the remote. So I listened and strained to hear much of the dialogue which I missed and consequently could not flow the whole story of this long 2 1/2 hour movie.
9- SU- PA
I hosted a zoom meeting with my Bangladesh students. Their internet connection was terrible but they were pleased with the opportunity for all of us to meet. They are hungry to connect.
I jumped in the pool in the late afternoon and I continue to be annoyed that there are new people who now want to use the pool when I am there. They need to use the pool in the morningend early afternoon, just like everyone else.
10- M- PA
I had a meeting with Inram and Nadia to discuss scholarship opportunities for our students. Sharon and I raised $1150 for my Bangladesh students. Now, several of them are suffering because of the virus and we are going to give them some tuition relief.
11- TU- PA/DE
I called Ladon in China today. She passed her driver's test and she was thrilled. She could hardly wait to tell me. It was great to hear her sweet voice. She is finally going back to SIAS in two weeks and she cant wait. I think it will eb months before we get to return as our virus problem continues to be out of control.
Biden picked Kamala Harris to be his running mate and I am thrilled, relieved and ready to get campaigning. If TRUMP WINS AGAIN, I WILL LOSE MY MIND.
I went to Newark and had dinner with Betty. I love to spend time with her because she speaks from an honest, raw point of view. She came from a poor family that didn't support education. Yet, she has learned to find her own voice and stand up for injustices.
12- W- PA
I had a morning call to advocate for CARE. I don't think I did a good job. I think I raced through my message so that I wasn't too much of a burden to this complete stranger I was talking to. Hopefully, she was more grateful rather than annoyed.
I went in to Philly to have dinner with Sharon and Glenn. She ordered out from a nearby Mexican place. And I had to bring half of my food home with me.
13- TH- PA
I slept all damn day and didnt get out of bed until almost 7 PM. I don't know what happened. I didn't wake the first time today until 2:30 and then I listened to podcasts and nodded off and all of the sudden, it was almost 7 PM. It was rainy all day so it was dark and the whole day looked like dusk. But that is no excuse for sleeping all damn day.
I did have a few constructive moments today. I made plans for a presentation with my Bangladesh students. A woman from Nigeria is going to speak to my students about her work she has done around domestic violence.
14- F- PA
I was a detective this afternoon. Kathy sent me a birthday gift via UPS and it should have arrived last week. It didn't and she called and complained and they assured her it was delivered. SO she contacted me and I went down to the concierge desk and asked Adrian and she checked and nothing came in. So Kathy asked me to call the clerk in the Maremeck, NY office and I did and we discovered that Kathy sent the package to the wrong address. She sent it to 201 East Gay street and I live at 201 East Gay Street. So it was dropped off at a house that is student apramentns and vacant for the last couple of months. there was a contract, working on the house and he claimed to be related to the owner and said he would call and ask about about the package. But moments in to our conversation, he appeared to become catatonic and maybe a pycho killer so I left.
15- SA- PA
Debbie and I went across the street to see if we could find someone whose what happened to my package. Jeff waited in his car, waiting to intervene if necessary. No one answered the door. So I left a note and we are all watching it to see if anyone responses. So far, no one is there.
I spent too much of the afternoon, listening to yet another podcast, Park Predators. There is one story after another about people who are murdered in our state and national parks. I don't know why this appeals to me and I do not know why I want to continue to go to national parks. They are more dangerous than I thought.
A few hours later, we went to Lemoncello for dinner. I had the filet. Jeff's co-worker stopped in and joined us for dinner. He is 56. He has 7 children and a 25 year old girlfriend who is pregnant with another man. She already had 3 kids. And some people just love to fuck up their lives.
Sue Descano contacted me to let me know that her 97 year old mother died peacefully in hospice care. Sue has been an extraordinary daughter who gave her mother so much care. I told her that she will never have any regrets about her commitment to her mother. Ashe did her best to give her mother a quality fo life.
16- SU- PA
It was a rainy, lazy day. True to form, I did very little. I wandered around my apartment, trying to figure out where the time goes day in and day out.
I called Sue to check in on her and she seemed to be at peace with her mother's death. Her husband wants her to say something to her siblings who didn't pull their weight during the 3 years that the mother lived with Sue. I suggested she let it go because she has the gift of living without any regret about how much care she gave her mother.
I called Jane Momer and we spent the first 20 minutes, talking about health care. I finally had to stop her because we were sounding like two old ladies. So then we moved on to politics and it appears as if she is moving over to my side on some issues. She is defiantly not voting for Trump so I am relieved.
I ran out to the store to pick up some fuel for my new Japanese siphon coffee maker. On the way home, I realized I forgot about Cindy's bday zoom call. So I pulled in to a nearby WAWA to jump in on their wifi and catch up with everyone. We talked for about an hour. I mentioned I was going to try my new coffee maker and there was texting amongst the boys about how dangerous my new gadget is.
