First, apologies for that very rough draft that I mistakenly sent out on Friday to many of you.
Re: Spanish flu (1918-1919), our friend Arlene wrote: “My father was 13 years old, living in Chicago, when the Spanish Flu hit. His mother died, and his father could not take care of the children. The five brothers were sent to an orphanage. The baby of the family was sent to live with an oldest sister who had recently gotten married.”
THURSDAY:
This is what happens when an 84-year-old man who (thinks he) can use email, is trapped in his apartment, with too many thoughts running thru his mind and too much time on his hands, and decides to write them down and then send them to about everyone he knows.
(If you want to opt out of future emails, Please let me know. No reason needed, no offense taken.)
Speaking of time, for Nadine and I it seems to be moving very fast. We have practically nothing that we have to do, but all of a sudden it’s dinner time, and the day is almost over. Also speaking of time, the solar system keeps on running; it is vernal equinox once again.
But while time seems to be speeding by, the internet seems to be slowing down. Several times, shows we typically watch are not working on HULU.
FRIDAY:
We got our first home delivery of groceries from Whole Foods, which we ordered on the Amazon website, not really sure of what we were doing. A pleasant young woman rang the doorbell of our apartment, delivering three well-packaged, WholeFoods labeled bags of groceries. She said she needed to take a photo of the reverse side of Nadine’s drivers license; we think it’s because our order included two bottles of pinot noir. After doing that, we gave her a cash tip. I said to her: “Can I ask you a few questions, because we have never done this before?” She politely replied that it was her first day on the job, so she doubted she could help us. One of the first of 100,000 added workers Amazon announced they were planning to hire? She left the bags in the hallway, and we proceeded to bring each item into the apartment, and wipe it down with Chlorox Disinfecting Wipes. The oatmeal we ordered was packaged in a plain plastic sack, tied at the top. Photo below.
Can’t go to the gym, and no stationary bike at home. Long walks outside are very necessary and therapeutic. I can keep up my squats and planks that Phil encouraged me to do a year or two ago. Also doing stair climbs in the stair wells of our building. Nadine has found many yoga sessions on YouTube, so is able to practice as much as she wants to.
We got our first home delivery of groceries from Whole Foods, which we ordered on the Amazon website, not really sure of what we were doing. A pleasant young woman rang the doorbell of our apartment, delivering three well-packaged, WholeFoods labeled bags of groceries. She said she needed to take a photo of the reverse side of Nadine’s drivers license; we think it’s because our order included two bottles of pinot noir. After doing that, we gave her a cash tip. I said to her: “Can I ask you a few questions, because we have never done this before?” She politely replied that it was her first day on the job, so she doubted she could help us. One of the first of 100,000 added workers Amazon announced they were planning to hire? She left the bags in the hallway, and we proceeded to bring each item into the apartment, and wipe it down with Chlorox Disinfecting Wipes. The oatmeal we ordered was packaged in a plain plastic sack, tied at the top. Photo below.
Can’t go to the gym, and no stationary bike at home. Long walks outside are very necessary and therapeutic. I can keep up my squats and planks that Phil encouraged me to do a year or two ago. Also doing stair climbs in the stair wells of our building. Nadine has found many yoga sessions on YouTube, so is able to practice as much as she wants to.
I Imagine most hair salons are now closed? (I really would not know myself.) "Feels like we’re three or four weeks away from learning everyone’s real hair color”.
From Ashley and Neil in Paris: Before anyone goes outside their home, they have to fill out, sign, and carry with you an affidavit indicating their reason for being outside.
This is a translation of the last of five choices for reasons on the affidavit form:
“Brief trips, close to home, linked to the individual physical activity of people, excluding any collective sporting practice, and the needs of pets.”
The government form is available on the internet. Gendarmes are out in force checking, on foot and on bicycles and on horseback!! Possible fine of about $150. Everyone is “jogging for exercise” now,. Shades of “Show me your papers”.
SATURDAY:
It’s a beautiful day in our neighborhood. About 68 degrees, sunny with a few puffy clouds. Breezy, so the air is clear; Hollywood hills in full view. Flowering trees and birds-of-paradise in bloom Birds are singing.
Got a sad notice from the food bank, SOVA, where I volunteered. Due to a lack of volunteers showing up (including me), they have decided to close the food bank indefinitely. The majority of the volunteers were over 70.
This is painful, because the people we served there were those who can least afford enough food for themselves and their families, including a good dose of homeless persons. The oatmeal from WholeFoods is packaged the same way we repackaged bulk oatmeal at SOVA.
On a positive note, the city of LA, where homelessness is a major and growing issue, is re-opening many closed neighborhood rec centers and converting them to homeless shelters.
Matt got his coronavirus test results back, and they are fortunately negative. Ki is recovering OK. Zoey and Clara have no symptoms but have to stay in quarantine with Ki until next Wednesday.
Three kind neighbors in our building have offered to go the grocery store for us!!
SOME POLITICAL THOUGHTS:
Today’s NYTImes has an article entitled: “$1 Trillion Stimulus Spurs Lobbying Gold Rush”. I fear another corporate give-away is headed our way a la the 2008 financial collapse.
Unfortunately, I do not have much confidence that the Dems in Congress will resist this tendency.
Here are a couple of my suggestions as to what might be proposed before any assistance is directed to any large corporation:
1. For each corporation getting assistance, the top10% of that corporate workforce takes pay cuts in proportion to the lower 90%. This means, if they layoff 25% of their workers in the 90%, they make appropriate cuts to the top 10%, either laying off the same proportion or cutting their compensation 25% or some combination of the two.
2. If a corporation wants a cash infusion to stay alive, they can issue added stock, and the US government will purchase that stock at the current (depressed) market levels. And get a seat on the corporate board.
FINALLY:
Our stockpile of TP now stands at 18 roles, with a shipment due from Amazon sometime next month.
Stay well, keep your distance, wash your hands, call your mother, and love each other.
Coleman
PS: speaking of TP, a bit of humor from our friend Lenny Felder:
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