Thursday, September 23, 2021

Skeeter Feeder

 

It was the proverbial tropical wonderland. The ocean was crystal clear with consistently excellent sets of waves rolling in, one after the other. The temperature was never too hot and was almost always t-shirts, shorts and sandals weather. The place was truly a beauty. Though a long way from idyllic. The job market was not set with career jobs. These were mostly transient jobs that seasonally chased tourists.

 

The young man loved his homeland and wanted to make a go of it. He wanted to be one of the few locals fortunate enough to find professional work, a job that would support him and a future family. Not that he was married, he wasn’t, nor kids, he hadn’t. Not even a girlfriend yet, but he had plans.

 

There was industry on the island that boasted of such jobs. Well, one industry. Research. Permanent well paying work was scarcely available on the island, but what there was went through the research lab and it was constantly flush with work.

 

He was in the local college studying Biology. His grand idea hinged on a job in the research laboratory. That would be a major victory. A job that paid well enough to support a family and maybe even buy a home. A home on the island where his backyard was the ocean. Such a thing would be an anomaly. Those kinds of jobs went to the mainlanders. This one, though, he had a good deal of determination matching up with his action plan.

 

He already had work in the lab, but it was not a salaried position. It was hourly wage work cleaning test tubes, plus other janitorial type laboratory work. This was not the white lab coat-type work he envisioned for his future. But he wanted more. Needed more.

 

He was well liked and thought there was a possibility of attaining his goal. Something more permanent to keep him employed after graduation. That’s when the job posting went up for the mosquito lab that would be starting up soon. Construction had been recently completed and the mosquito-specific research build-out completed. Then the teasing commenced from his professional-grade colleagues, those mainlanders.

 

“Hey, you’ve seen the new job post? You going for it? Could lead to something more, you know.”

 

“I hope you put in for the new mosquito research. We all like you, I’m sure the ‘skeeters will, too.”

 

He didn’t fully understand the job posting. It was short saying only ‘Help needed to feed the mosquitos. Pays well.’ What did mosquitos eat other than blood? What would the labs feed them? With the encouragement of his fellow lab workers he put in for the job. To his eventual delight, with his sights on future permanent employ, he got the job!

 

 

He arrived at his new post and was greeted with an enthusiastic tour of the research lab.

 

“The work we’re doing here is important research. So many of the locals here, plus elsewhere in tropical climates and worldwide, are ravaged every year by mosquitos and the diseases they spread,” explained the lab director never breaking stride.

 

“The research in this lab involves malaria and dengue fever. These have been major problems for tropical islanders and many parts of the world going back as far as documents go. Before then even. And next door they’re researching West Nile virus and Zika.”

 

They entered the next room through double doors into an impressive pristine white room. Containers lined both walls. Each bin about the size of a small refrigerator. Each had a glass front and was adorned with a hole covered with rubber.

 

“And here you’ll see our residents. Each container has 100 or so mosquitos. I may say, bravo to you putting in for the position of feeding the mosquitos. I know this seems unconventional, our feeding process, but I assure you, all these mosquitos are tested and they are disease free. They are bred under the highest standards. You are not at risk of contracting any illness at this post,” pausing to let that sink in as the new lab technician wondered what exactly he’d been employed to do. Then the lab director continued. 

 

“OK, so with that preamble, if you’ll please roll up your sleeve and stick your arm through, all the way to your torso, your armpit, if you will. That’ll seal the hole flush and prevent any escapees. Stick your arm in, leave it for ten minutes. When the bell dings, you’ll carefully and very slowly retract your arm. The movement should encourage the mosquitos to detach. Else, some minor flexing or wiggling of your forearm will also help, if needed. Then, move on the next container of which there are twenty. You may choose to alternate arms with each feeding. So, if you will, please,” motioning for the young man to step toward the containers and begin the feeding process.

 

The young man did not step up. He stood fast with a quizzically raised eyebrow. “I anticipated the feeding process to be more regimented, not so immersive as this.”

 

“Yes, well, I assure you, you are at no risk of illness. You may feel a minor sting, very minor, but they don’t drink much blood. You won’t experience any wooziness, if that’s the cause of your hesitation. And afterwards, we have a salve to apply to your arms,” advised the director matter of factly. “Plus you can help yourself to an orange juice in the community refrigerator afterwards.”

 

“This was not explained in the job post, the details of the feeding process.”

 

“Right, you’re entirely correct. The one-page flyer allowed for only so much space negating the opportunity to be verbose. In fact, I’m glad you’re here now. I wanted to be present the first time to make sure this is done correctly. Each container receives one feeding in the morning, then again in the afternoon. We have a back up feeder for weekends or if you are ill.”

 

The young man continued to hold his ground. Uncertainty swirled in his head.

 

“They’re ready for you. They’re hungry. And if you’re good here, I understand an upcoming research project opening in a month is going to need a spider feeder. I’ll gladly put in a good word for you. So, if you will, please,” again motioning for the young man to step forward to the first mosquito container.

 

He stared blankly at the black rubber cover where he was expected to insert his bare arm all the way in. He stared at it with the precautionary concern as if it were the gaping entry hole of a tree trimmer’s stump grinder.

 

The clock ticked. Talk behind them from the researchers started to rise.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

“He’s the ‘skeeter feeder.”

 

 

Friday, September 17, 2021

The COVID Chronicle, September 1-15, 2021

 

September 7 [Tuesday]

President Biden has unfolded a plan requiring businesses with 100+ employees to ensure that their workers are ‘either vaccinated or tested once a week, requires all employees of the Federal government be vaccinated ’. This may be difficult for employers to comply with. Sounds like lots of potential confusion and inconvenience with the weekly test since employers are unable to require employees to get vaccinated. Sure, I know, people will have to relent to a vaccination or subject themselves to the unpleasantness of the Q-tip deep into one’s nostrils. Or at what point do we let people make their own safety decisions and move forward?

 

 

September 9 [Thursday]

I’ve enjoyed a good long break from imbibing of the news. The sabbatical dates back to last year’s Presidential election. I got back on board this week by committing to at least one article daily on ‘school days’ from the Wall Street Journal Business page. I’m of the mind that it’s good to be informed. Informed, though not inflamed.

            I come to understand many large companies including Microsoft and Google are still working virtually. Several companies had dates approaching by when offices would be re-occupied, but many companies moved those prospective re-open dates back to early 2022. This furnishes me with some comfort. It’s not just us, my employer, there are many others with elongated work-from-home timeframes. And quite frankly, I’m thriving in this casual work environment.

 

 

September 12 [Sunday]

The second Covid-era NFL football season gets underway today! It may be interesting to see what, if any, new or updated Covid protocols are in place for the players. Meanwhile, I watched a game on TV, the crowds appeared to be at capacity. Much thicker crowds than last season.

[Some of the NFL protocols: Players and staff are tested weekly for Covid, even if vaccinated. Unvaccinated players will test daily. Vaccinated players are not required to wear face coverings outdoors, but yes for indoors.]

 

 

September 15 [Wednesday]

Ten students out of 1,800 at [my daughter’s] Bonita High School are down with Covid. Or, as [Wife Klem] points out, those are the admitted Covid-afflicted. There are likely others, just not admitting to the virus. No Covid numbers for staff and teachers specifically at Bonita. This is not being released.


Saturday, September 4, 2021

The COVID Chronicle, August 16-31, 2021


August 18 [Wednesday]

[The boy] moved into his on-campus apartment today at CS Fullerton. He returns to live-action college with graduation pending for the spring! [A three-year college plan because he couldn’t hang with his old man’s five-year plan.] Proof of vaccinations are required to move in to the on-campus housing. Residents are also encouraged to pack a Go bag, two days worth of gear in case a lock down incident occurs. But really, in that case I’d prefer he simply break out and come home [we’re 20-miles away]. Anyway, classes commence Monday.

 

August 19 [Thursday]

My work remains virtual. Some non-field colleagues in other departments are returning to the office in limited capacity. As for me and my field colleagues, my employer has asked for our input about returning to field activities. Are we comfortable going back to our field tasks? What aspects give us pause? What tasks are we comfortable resuming presently? I’d like to return to my field tasks, but in-office appointments I prefer to continue on a virtual basis. I’m interested in seeing how long this ‘strictly virtual’ will continue. The concern is that if my employer sees virtual work being conducted equally as productive as field work, maybe we’ll be asked to move to a less expensive state and save the company on salary expenses.

 

August 20 [Friday]

Having a mask on my person is so second nature after all this time, it’s like reaching for one’s wallet and keys before stepping out. Walking out the door without one makes me pause to check, then turn back for its retrieval if needed. 

 

August 21 [Saturday]

There is talk of vaccination booster shots. Each manufacturer has its own timeline, but they’re all working on boosters. The evolution of Covid and its variances seem to remain problematic. The Delta variant has been getting much notice lately.

 

August 23 [Monday]

[My daughter] returns to live-action high school today for her senior year! She got gypped with virtual high school and I’m happy to see the live tutelage resuscitated.

 

I saw an on-duty school bus this morning while taking Ghost Dog for a walk. Whoa! Now that’s anachronistic of the pre-Covid era.

 

August 24 [Tuesday]

With the return of live-action high school, the ultra leisure mornings of Shelter In Place conclude. No more rocking the cardio machine in the early hours, shower, enjoy a relaxed breakfast before logging in to virtual work. There is now a schedule. Drop off at high school or dog walking with breakfast to fit within the necessary time parameters, then logging in for virtual work. 

 

August 25 [Wednesday]

Lunches have gotten lonely. [The boy’s] at college and [my daughter] is at school. I’m sitting alone in the kitchen eating soup and reading an eBook, Pride and Prejudice. I had been greatly spoiled with having so much of these playful monkeys during Shelter In Place.

 

The Corona doll finally met its demise. This was a doll [my daughter] and I made from a kit at the very beginning of Shelter In Place. It was agreed that it would go to Ghost Dog when live-action school resumed. I figured that would have been a few weeks or at least the fall of 2020. But no, it took a year and a half. With [my daughter] pulling and Ghost Dog biting and pulling, it was shredded within two minutes. I don’t miss the doll, standing there in the kitchen window day after day looking at me with his hand extended high in the air waving.

 

August 26 [Thursday]

My internet connection this week has been better than average! I have not needed to engage the work-provided wi-fi tool. This expanded available bandwidth is due to [the boy] being away at college and [my daughter] being occupied at live-action high school. I can hog up all the house internet for my virtual employment with nary a quibble or concern over sketchy coverage during a Skype meeting.

 

August 27 [Friday]

[The boy] returned home after his first week of live action college. One professor is continuing online with pre-recorded lectures into September. By that time the mandatory vaccinations at Fullerton for students and staff are to have been fully implemented. Meanwhile, one of his roommates had a Covid test because of an exposure risk, but tested negative. As a courtesy he vacated the apartment for a few days’ cushion. How long are these tests and excitements going to continue?

 

August 28 [Saturday]

[The boy] and I bought a car today, a 2022 Toyota Prius Prime. I’d worked with a salesperson over the phone and through text. A price had been agreed to more than a month ago, but the vehicle arrived only today. There is a shortage of vehicles to some extent due to the shortage of microprocessors. But anyway, we got ours. We were at the dealership for four hours. Much of that extended stay was because the vehicle had arrived just that morning and there were a number of checklists the dealership had to roll through before approving the vehicle ready for sale. It was a very amicable process having agreed to a price before even arriving to the dealership with absolutely no haggling remaining to bang out. Masks, social distancing, optional handshakes, and plastic see-through screens on tables and desks were in effect.