The COVID Chronicle, June 1-15, 2021

 

June 1 [Tuesday]

[My sister, her son] and Ellie the dog are visiting the Safehouse from Orinda, so we dropped by this evening. Fun times. No masks because we’re all vaccinated. Talks of reestablishing Sunday night Safehouse dinners were broached. As a bonus [my brother and his wife] dropped by unexpectedly while on their evening walk.

 

June 2 [Wednesday]

My quotidian Covid email to Mom ended today. This started during early Shelter In Place last year intending to issue Covid-related encouraging words and to keep her updated on the grandpiglets. I wanted her to be aware of my Covid precautions of mask wearing and the decreasing frequency of my going out for mercantile forays. She was resisting precautions and I thought the likelihood of her abiding would increase with messages of examples rather than lectures. But the Covid-restricted family visits are nearly spent and normalcy is on the horizon. So I purposely ended it and will institute a bi-daily email replacement.

[Note: I reverted back to the daily emails within a few days because she enjoys the daily updates. Turns out I’m the one doing the abiding. Look, she’s my mom so I comply.]

 

June 3 [Thursday]

We’ve taken on an overnight visitor for the first time since 2019. [Wife Klem’s] Cousin Roger is visiting from Grand Junction, Colorado. Good guy. He’s a pleasant break from the everyday routine of our four-person pod. He’s in the spare bedroom, which had been employed as my work room for Skype-related meetings and phone calls. In the interim I take those tasks to the master bedroom.

 

June 4 [Friday]

I went for a walk this morning without a mask or bandana. Another winding back of Covid precautions. I’m done with bandanas on my walks unless I have a mercantile stop like Vons or the pharmacy / post office to mail my Ebay sales.

 

June 8 [Tuesday]

I got fuel for the company car today. First time in more than a year! I’ve been strictly virtual since late March last year and the car sits in the driveway except for it’s weekly spin. I only bought four gallons so the fuel doesn’t just sit in there aging. That should hold for many months at the current rate of consumption.

 

June 9 [Wednesday]

“This is the first time I’ve shaken someone’s hand in a year!” said a bookstore owner to Roger in Torrance. Another Covid wind-down

 

June 10 [Thursday]

Interesting news brewing at work. Office employees are slated to commence with incremental returning to the office in the coming weeks. My colleagues and I are field employees and await the go-ahead to return to our field duties. That ‘return to field’ date has not yet been proposed, so strictly virtual work continues. My pre-Covid work clothes, pullover polo shirts and trousers, are still hibernating in plastic hanging in the closet.

 

June 11 [Friday]

A Getty Center Museum visit today for the four of us and Roger. Security busted me when I demasked to selfie with Van Gough’s Irises. Was told in no uncertain terms that ‘We stay masked at all times.’ 

Really super visit, the Getty, with its beautiful premises and views. [Wife Klem] made reservations online, so when we showed up it was really only sparsely occupied with patrons of the art. A vey good experience with low density. Interior pedestrian foot traffic flow was directed to be only one way, and a few areas were staved off but not really inconvenienced. After all, how much art can you really ingest in one day anyway? 

 

June 12 [Saturday]

Lunch with Andy, my friend from high school. We got reacquainted two months ago when GW passed away, a classmate of ours. We ate inside! Felt unusual dining inside across the table from someone outside my pod. A good afternoon.

 

June 13 [Sunday]

The four of us visit the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum today. This was [the boy’s] choice to close out his birthday week. Fond memories of his years as a youngster and his obsession with dinosaurs.

Another good sparsely populated public outing. [Wife Klem] made online reservations, then we arrived for our morning appointment. The place was not crowded. It was thick on our departure in the parking area with a line of vehicles waiting to get in to the parking area, but not noticeable from the inside as we’d wound through the whole place. This making of reservations for public venues is a positive Covid development guaranteeing the place won’t by overloaded with patrons.

 

[afternoon]

Five Guys for dinner this evening. [Wife Klem] ordered online and I retrieved the tasty burgers. All through the Covid months this restaurant’s tables and chairs have been vacated or pushed to the perimeter making it clear there is no inside dining. The place is gearing up for California’s June 15 re-opening. Tables and chairs have been returned to pre-Covid positioning with ‘no dining’ signs on them, but they’re getting ready. The excitement mounts.

 

June 15 [Tuesday]

California has attained our arbitrary date of Covid obsolescence as announced by Governor Newsom. Masks are now optional for fully vaccinated people with exceptions [i.e., public transportation, health care facilities, schools]. Businesses reopen with optional masking policies chosen by the business owner. I’m anxious to see what kind of experience my next Vons outing yields.

 

The COVID Chronicle, May 16-31, 2021

 

May 16 [Saturday]

A Safehouse visit this morning, my parents, our first since we’ve all been vaccinated! Physical contact and hugs have been restored, but still dining outside due to Covid habit, plus it’s a nice day. Mom received her second vaccination Tuesday, so she’s not fully charged up yet, but we hugged it out.

 

May 20 [Thursday]

Thrift shops had been closed to donations since the early Covid days. Many were not taking property donations, or limited donations, due to pandemic-spread uncertainty. Well, it’s game on again, they’re accepting donations. [Wife Klem] boxed up a bunch of stuff from the garage and closets for giveaways. Tomorrow she and [the boy] make the drop off.

 

May 21 [Friday]

[The boy] returns to live action Dungeons & Dragons with his pals this evening. His friends had been getting together on the weekends, but he had held back due to study load. Plus he’d been waiting for his second vaccination to get fully charged. Well, with the virtual college semester almost done he’s back to gaming. Good. I want him comfortable engaging the world, even in a D&D capacity.

 

May 23 [Sunday]

The necessity of mask wearing is receiving some scrutiny. Personally, this has been brought on by the wide rolling out of vaccinations amongst my friends, family and a strong showing locally in the community. Mask wearing. I’ll continue if required, like when I’m at Vons bulking up on Yoplait if it’s on sale. Otherwise, I’m ready to abstain. People in some quarters, however, are strongly in favor of its continuance, the required mask wearing. To which I ask, “For how long? Until the governor or the president give the all clear?” At what point are we authorized to stop with the masks? If it’s simply “We’re going to keep wearing masks. No end date yet on the horizon.” Well, there’ll be disagreement. Others may choose their own arbitrary date. I’ve reached mine. By all means, I’ll wear as required. Plus, others are free to continue, but don’t mandate it. No mandated continuation.

 

May 25 [Tuesday]

I had court arbitration for work. Pre-Covid these would take place in a courtroom or some other judicial setting. But in the Covid-era, today’s episode was supposed to be by Zoom, but I had technical difficulties. The link provided by my employer’s attorney wouldn’t open, possibly due to the firewall on my company-issued computer. Anyway, embarrassing. I was dressed in a collared shirt, tie, sport coat, and short pants prepared for a favorable Zoom showing. As an alternative to my IT issues, I called in and was able to conduct my duties as witness over the cell phone. 

 

May 26 [Wednesday]

I continue taking the company car out for its weekly spin for maintenance purposes. The traffic is getting incrementally worse. Maybe not quite pre-Covid levels, but the light-traffic early Covid honeymoon ended many months ago.

 

May 27 [Thursday]

We’re vacationing in Arizona this weekend visiting [Wife Klem]’s mom and step-pop. Prescott. Is lovely, this place. This is our first overnighter away from home since the advent of Shelter In Place! No joke. It’s been so long since we’ve been away that I’m almost giddy with anticipation. Good people and delicious grub await.

The six-hour drive commenced with [my daughter] completing her afternoon virtual high school class from the backseat. She had internet access by means of our mobile wi-fi tool. It held up impeccably along the eastbound 10 freeway.

 

May 30 [Sunday]

We went to a pizza place in Prescott, Arizona this evening. Phoned it in, then picked it up. This experience was a throw back to pre-Covid times. Masks were optional and none, in fact, were donned by any of the employees. The only Covid precaution was that the phone orders were requested to wait outside and the pies would be brought to them. This was explained to us after we’d paid and taken seats indoors to wait. Since we were already seated waiting for the pies, we were OK’d to sit inside instead of being redirected to the outdoors. I have no beef with the lack of precautions. Coming from California I’d been conditioned to businesses being coerced into abiding. And hey, I get it, the heavy Covid months were definitely worthy of precautionary measures. Anyway, I hope the non-vaccinated make arrangements to get it done for themselves.

The COVID Chronicle, May 1-15, 2021

 

May 4 [Tuesday]

The viewing for George at the funeral home was this afternoon. It was a small affair with family and close friends. Beforehand I was uncertain if Covid preempted the protocol of issuing hugs under dire circumstances, but when offered, I accepted with no resistance. I reciprocated. Sad afternoon, but the human contact with people I’d known for so many years felt good and was a comfort.

 

May 5 [Wednesday]

George’s funeral and cemetery service was this morning. The church service was reduced capacity due to Covid precautions. People had been encouraged to abstain by requiring those interested in attending to contact family to reserve their spot. Every other church pew was blank for social distancing purposes. Masks were worn in church. There was hugging and handshaking, as is the norm for emotional occasions. My vaccination was ten days ago, so not fully charged, as the two weeks suggested by the pharmacist. I was not worried of Covid risk.

 

May 6 [Thursday]

Covid seems to be winding down, at least in the United States. People are making plans to get together and make summer travel plans. This includes us. We’re ready to dispense with Shelter In Place. Though, I must admit, I like the idea of maintaining social distancing with most of humanity.

 

May 7 [Friday]

The four of us have been vaccinated with the requisite two weeks being tomorrow. I’m ready to engage family again, I want it. I’m ready to travel and take a vacation, domestic vacation. Brings up the question, what of those without intent to vaccinate? I hope they need not live unhindered. But I plan on live unfettered in many ways like pre-Covid, though not entirely. The point being is that I will live unhindered by their choice of vaccine abstinence. The non-vaccinated will carry their burden without my aid. I plan not to accommodate their whimsical pass of the vaccine. There’s living to do. Maybe there will be trailing statistics of Covid deaths for years into the future or maybe these next few years will pass with nothing further resurfacing causing glimpses of a rough terrain already traversed, since March 2020.

 

May 8 [Saturday]

Big ups to us, it’s been two weeks today since our second vaccination. The four of us in San Dimas are at full strength.

 

A pre-Mother’s Day luncheon with mom! Amiee, Mike and I took mom to lunch at Acapulco’s in Glendale. Amiee was the author of this nifty mom-date. We triangulate at the Safehouse, then the four of us piled into one car! This generated feelings of giddiness being in a car all together from different pods. Plus the hugs, all of us! I last hugged my parents in November, prior to the anticipated Christmas crunch. This post-Covid existence is starting to feel all right.

 

May 9 [Sunday]

Happy Mothers Day! We drove to San Juan Capistrano to visit the Ecology Center, a small retail farming operation with a store selling their produce and jams. Fun time perusing the farm enjoying their acres of colorful growth. The Covid angle is that the presence of people, now that our vaccinations are fully charged, has reverted to being only a nuisance rather than a looming possibility of contagion. The mask wearing feels like a courtesy to others, a formality, like covering one’s mouth for a sneeze or chewing with one’s mouth closed. Years into the future I’m certain many will continue to wear masks generating vestiges of the Covid years.

 

May 11 [Tuesday]

[The boy] got a new Xbox! He’d wanted this for months and had been unable to acquire it due to the worldwide microprocessor shortage that’s been in effect since the early days of Covid. We live truly in a worldwide economy and a Covid-sparked shortage of an item in one part of the world, resources needed to manufacture the microprocessors, resulted in limited access to the things consumers want. This is a want not a need, the Xbox, to be sure, but I’d read about this shortage months ago and was curious to note how it’s affected our household.

 

May 12 [Wednesday]

Having consumed so much social distancing with Covid that I’ve come to vastly prefer observing humans from a distance instead of in close quarters. Animals, on the other hand, lest they be hungry and aggressive predators, I prefer close up observance.

 

May 13 [Thursday]

Watching a baseball game this evening there was an advertisement for a ‘fully vaccinated section’ of the ballpark. No joke. The TV camera scanned the area with a bunch of people in close confinement, masks mostly absent, no distancing. It looked odd. Tickets to the fully vaccinated section were sold at discounted prices compared to the socially distanced seats. My view has been shifted by more than a year of social distancing, as evidenced by the tightly occupied vaccinated section striking me as unappealing. I prefer my distancing from humans, those outside my pod. I don’t know, maybe I’m just crummy.

 

May 15 [Friday]

[My daughter] had a high school Dive meet this evening. Parents and spectators were required to sit outside the pool area with folding chairs beyond the fence. This was done to enable social distancing. Though the folding chairs were not typically six feet apart. The vaccinations have rolled out effectively here and concern of Covid contagion has dissipated. Meanwhile, the divers, pre-Covid would have been accommodated with a portable hot tub for the divers to stay warm between dives. A Covid precaution negated this comfort and the divers on this chilly evening did their best with towels, shammies and parkas. Some divers chose simply to stay in the pool between dives because it was warmer than the air and breeze.

 

 

The COVID Chronicle, April 16-30, 2021

 

April 18 [Sunday]

A friend of mine passed away in his sleep last night. Friends since first grade. He had not been living in a healthy way [overweight and heart medication], so his early departure is not a surprise, only the point of impact. With Covid protocols still in place a memorial service is in question. A sad day.

[Note: there is a funeral service, capacity limits are in force.]

 

April 19 [Monday]

Big news. My work colleagues and I are semi-approved for ‘necessary’ field work. There are considerable limitations and a stringent protocol for prior approval before going out, but this is an exciting update. We are not being encouraged to engage the field for work, just a slight slackening of the line to leave a window of opportunity. I don’t have anything pending requiring a field foray, but I like the option.

 

April 20 [Tuesday]

I selfishly admit that I’ve enjoyed a welcoming convenience to Shelter In Place. No driving for work, no commute time to an office, lunch conveniently at home every day. Plus, I very much enjoy all of us being together at every dinner! The downside is the lack of proper ergonomics as I move around the house during the workday. I walk about the house from the office, to the kitchen table, to the spare bedroom, to the master bedroom as necessity dictates. I have a neck issue from a pre-Covid incident and it has become aggravated of late. I don’t know if it’s from poor posture, the overextended effect of a make shift workspace, stress or physical exertion. I will increase my evening stretching routine in hopes of tempering the flare up and prevent its spread.

[Note: the aggravation subsided to the normal baseline on April 26.]

 

April 22 [Thursday]

[Wife Klem] got vaccination #2 of 2 today! Pfizer. She did this at the Pomona Fairplex and was again impressed with the smooth operation. A little soreness, more so than shot #1.

[Update: the side effects ended up being stronger than the first vaccination. Increased weariness arriving the next day, it was partially abated with an afternoon nap. Truth is, I’m a guy who might benefit from an afternoon nap everyday with or without a preemptive vaccination.]

 

April 24 [Saturday]

The remaining three of us got vaccination #2 of 2! Pfizer. The pharmacist told us it would take two weeks for the vaccination to be fully activated.

 

April 25 [Sunday]

The side-effect from yesterday’s second vaccination has kicked in. It’s making me want to read all day. I’m doing my darndest to comply. Other than, only local pain at the point of impact and maybe I’m a little chilly.

 

April 27 [Tuesday]

I called our health insurance company and asked about counseling sessions separately for [my daughter] and me. [Wife Klem], too, if she wants in. I don’t know if our tension is normal for raising teens or from a prolonged separation from friends and normal daily chit chat of teens and its diffusing effect. Most of the time we’re good, but then sometimes we receive ‘distant and curt.’ Anyway, I’ve obtained a phone number for Teladoc counseling. I’d like [my daughter] individually with a counselor, let her tell her story. Then me and [Wife Klem] to receive parental guidance, if that’s what they do. Winging it doesn’t seem to be working well for the whole team. We’ll see if I’ve the gumption to follow through.

 

The COVID Chronicle, April 1-15, 2021

 

April 1 [Thursday]

[Wife Klem] awakened me just past midnight. She’d been online looking up vaccine appointments because they became available for our age group just today. I was groggy with a scrunched forehead and eyeballs squinting with sleep. I’d come to understand an appointment at the local pharmacy was being offered on Friday or Saturday. I selected Saturday morning. She’s getting vaccinated at the Los Angeles Fairplex today, the Pomona Fairgrounds. I love this woman. Then boom, I was back asleep with no hassle.

 

Lunch with a pal from college today! We dined in Orange County, the focal point of anti-masking. But we both wore masks and dined outdoors on the patio. The place was not crowded, indoors or out. We chose outside including an umbrella to protect the pair of balding skulls. His wife got the Johnson & Johnson single-poke vaccination. He has not gotten it and is leaning toward no vaccination reasoning that he’s healthy and stays in shape. He is a youthful 52. A delightful afternoon.

 

[Wife Klem]’s done it! She’s the first of us to get vaccinated. She can dunk on us for a few days rubbing it in, but she graciously enjoys pole position without the pomposity. For me, though, after I get my poke, maybe I’ll lord it over the kids for a few days until they qualify.

 

April 2 [Friday]

I spoke with a friend of mine from college, a different pal than from yesterday. We hadn’t spoken in years. He’s 52, living the life of a bachelor. He’s been living solitary for a year. His uncle died of Covid early in 2020 inducing diligence with masks and social distancing. The poor rascal hasn’t dated in over a year! Much respect to those living in solitary confinement.

 

April 3 [Saturday]

I got my vaccination today, first of two. Pfizer. In [Wife Klem]’s prior conversation with the pharmacist she was told ‘bring someone else and they get it, too. Just make them an appointment.’ With those instructions [my daughter] joined me and we both got poked today. I was very brave and didn’t even whine, or at least not very loudly, but so we’re both lined up to be complete by the end of April. [The boy] did not do it. He didn’t want to feel he was breaking the rules opting to wait for his April 15^th eligibility.

            A few hours later [the boy] was riddled with a guilt trip and consented to his first of two shots. He was the 102^ndvaccination of the day by the pharmacy. But get a load, 56 additional appointments had been made for the day with no-show.

[Note: Other than a sore shoulder at immediate point of contact, no side effects.]

 

April 4 [Easter Sunday]

Happy Easter Sunday! We go to the Safehouse for lunch to see my parents and [my brother]’s family. Food was ordered from a local bakery, it was shipped frozen, and consumed today defrosted and delicious. Each of our three family pods had their own separate food bin from which to trough, thwarting the cross-pollination possibility. We masked when not eating and distanced. Fun time and a super day. I don’t know if my mom’s just blowing happy gas, but her attitude toward vaccinations has taken a turn for the positive. We spent some time seeking appointments at the local Ralphs and CVS pharmacy. No availability listed.

 

April 5 [Monday]

You know, with the wide expansion of vaccinations, in the coming months I’ll need to take a more diligent approach to showers. Soon my B.O. will no longer have the safe buffer of social distancing from which to hide my dereliction of duties.

 

April 7 [Wednesday]

I brought the car in for service. Doesn’t need it based on mileage, but needs it because the oil has been sitting in there for nine months. In meeting with the service technician I enjoyed that there was not pretense of a handshake, as would likely have been pre-Covid. I’ll do my part in continuing the disbanding of the handshake post-Covid.

[Note: the technician explained that conventional oil should be changed every six months, synthetic is OK for one year.]

 

April 10 [Saturday]

[Wife Klem] ordered pizza pies for dinner pickup. People were dining in! It had been a long time since I’d been here and observed seated diners. More tables were occupied than vacant. I’m still not amongst them. After so many months with empty insides, this partial occupancy struck me as crowded. I gather my pies for our Saturday night supper and depart.

 

April 11 [Sunday]

Cal State Fullerton gets back to live instruction in the fall. On campus living, however, while it is opening back up, will accept only half or less capacity to continue with the distancing. [The boy] applied for on campus living. We’ll see if that is obtained or if he ends up driving every day from home. Hoping he beats the odds and lives on campus. Is only 20 miles, but that stretch of freeway is a mess.

 

April 12 [Monday]

[My daughter] returns to live-action high school today! Twice weekly with live tutelage for those who choose, it is voluntary, with virtual school the remaining three days. Students also have the option to remain entirely virtual. This morning was a throw back to the old days, pre-Covid. Getting up extra early, an escalated breakfast, arrange for drop-off and afternoon pick-up between [Wife Klem] and me. It was exciting, felt like the first day of school.

[Note: Most students chose to remain virtual. The largest live class had nine students.]

 

April 13 [Tuesday]

Mom got vaccinated! Dad drove her to the local Rite Aid and she got the Moderna vaccine.  She’d been sweating us out for almost a year about how she didn’t want the vaccine. Then nonchalant compliance. This is a big relief. [Wife Klem] and I had been teasing each other that she’d go by herself, claim to have been vaccinated, but really not. But not so, dad witnessed!

 

 

Dinner By Fire

 

‘Monday Night Football! Damn, this is a fine American invention,’ thought the young bachelor. Kick off was in 15 minutes and he’d be watching, regardless of who was playing, but tonight in style. His favorite meal brewed up by his own nascent culinary skills. Homemade fried chicken.

 

Music blared loudly from the other room, part of his pre-game ritual. Prepare dinner to the ambience of some fine tunes, set the coffee table in front of the TV. If the meal preparation edged too close to game time, he wanted the dining area ready in case he had to hustle in last minute.

 

He was of drinking age and basked in feeling adultish. Tonight that basking took the form of a beer while cooking. And that was all fine, but with meal prep encroaching toward kickoff he turned up the flame on the burner, that’s when things went askew. The chicken was frying well, two tasty seasoned and breaded breasts in the pan. The oil level was high, but not too high for the modest burner that had previously been in play. But turning it up higher was a gutsy move. It was, in fact, the wrong move. The bump up for the gas burner gave the flames just enough gusto to come up over the brim of the pan.

 

“Oh shit,” he said surprisingly calmly given the circumstances. “Better bump that back down,” as he finished his beer and placed the empty on the kitchen counter, but too late. That five-second delay to put down the bottle and step over to the stove from the kitchen sink would yield tragic results. Flames from the burner sluiced up over the pan’s brim and set his delicious meal entirely ablaze!

 

To properly fry chicken it must be done in a two fingers-deep pool of fuel, boiling oil. This also equates to a generous fire fuel load for a kitchen fire. Flames were instantly as tall as the ceiling.

 

He turned off the burner and grabbed the handle of the pan. The guy felt momentarily like a caveman thinking, ‘I’ve made fire, what the hell do I do with it now?’ He had essentially trapped himself. He couldn’t simply put it down as the fire would easily spread. He also couldn’t just continue holding it because the flame was brushing as high as the ceiling. The smoke detector was blaring by now adding to the chaos. The immediate concern, though, was the boiling oil that was popping out of the pan in every direction, including his arms and chest.

 

He was a smart guy. He knew water would extinguish most fires but not a grease fire. Water and oil do not mix. Meanwhile, the fire was hot and far too close for comfort. Hell, that fire was at exactly arm’s distance. He was no coward, no way was he giving up his meal just because of the fire. But he was yelling at the top of his lungs.

 

“Oh, shit! Oh, shit! Fire!”

 

He turned his head sideways away from the fire because it was sending scalding salvos of flesh-scarring burning oil in all directions. His arms and chest were taking a terrible beating from the spattering oil.

 

Cannot dump this fireball into the sink. The pan’s lid! He moved to the right to retrieve it and practically dropped it on the pan. Fire, thankfully, extinguished.

 

Red marks riddled his bare arms from the boiling oil. His t-shirt was seared through in several spots that had been hit with burning oil. He would later find his chest to be amply scarred from this episode.

 

Feeling beaten, but he would not relinquish himself to defeat. He got a chair, moved it to the smoke detector, removed it and pulled out the battery. He turned the music off and TV’s volume up. Just in time for Monday Night Football.

 

The national anthem concluded, the crowd’s applause robustly underway. Kickoff was near. He fixed his plate with well-done chicken breasts, loaded up the complimentary side dishes, grabbed a few napkins because he was no heathen, also to dab at his flesh wounds, he joined the game.

 

 

[Inspired by a true tale heard in 1990 about a fried chicken dinner that escalated into a fireball. wdk]

 

The COVID Chronicle, March 16-31, 2021

 

March 19 [Friday]

California Governor Newsom expanded vaccination eligibility plans. [Wife Klem] and I will be eligible vaccine recipients effective April 1. Youngsters aged 16 and older ascend to eligibility as of April 15. The next challenge will be to secure a vaccination appointment once those openings go live with an increased subset of citizens vying for them. We’re getting closer.

 

March 20 [Saturday]

We had a Safehouse visit today, just the four of us from Team San Dimas. [My brother and his family] are absent because they’re in Pacific Grove winding down their recent trip. Masks and social distancing remain in effect. Uncle Joe and dad have vaccination appointments for Monday! Mom remains a hold out. This conundrum brews.

 

March 22 [Monday]

Dad and Uncle Joe got vaccinated! This is vaccine poke number one of two. Uncle Joe gets credit as the catalyst. Meanwhile, [Wife Klem’s people] have had both doses for over a week! Strong marks for good behavior.

 

March 25 [Thursday]

[Wife Klem] checked the ‘My Turn’ app for our vaccine eligibility. She and I are confirmed eligible as of April 1, both piglets trailing in at April 15. We’ll see how soon we can get our appointments, but this is neat news. I wonder if this’ll change anything about how we exist and interact with people outside our ‘pods’.

 

March 26 [Friday]

Sushi for Lenten Friday from the restaurant right down the street from us. [Wife Klem] called it in, I retrieved it. Restaurants have opened up for reduced indoor dining, 25% capacity, and surprise, people are actually doing it! We haven’t dined in a restaurant since pre-Covid and have no desire to reengage. As I stand in the lobby awaiting our order, people show up for indoor dining and are seated. I totally understand wanting to support local business. Heck, we want this too, but the actual dining in remains a ‘no thanks’ for us. We’re just not amongst those wanting to eat indoors. Not mocking, just documenting the Covid progression, or regression pending one’s perspective.

 

March 27 [Saturday]

Our second, and hopefully last ever, Covid-Spring Break. The Whitewater Preserve hiking trail in Palm Springs is our opening stay-at-home vacation salvo. Trail courtesy entails masking up when encountering others and distancing when possible. Trail was relatively lightly populated today. If it wasn’t for this and related family field forays the kids would be happily engaging their plastic pals and staying indoors. Big ups to [Wife Klem] for her initiative and sharing her desire to enjoy the outdoors. 

 

March 29 [Monday]

Spring Break continues with a day trip to beachside San Clemente. A lovely oceanside walkculminating on a pier with a seal 50-feet below in the ocean looking up at us awaiting treats that are not tossed forth. A fun, very nice day. Plus I had a hot chocolate.

 

March 30 [Tuesday] 

[The boy] got his wisdom teeth pulled! My chum’s mood turns glum as the medication wears off and his immediate future for the next few days takes a disgruntling shape of restricted movement, ice packs, limited food choices and gauze in the mouth to stanch bleeding. No Covid angle. Just a bent college-age monkey.

 

March 31 [Wednesday]

After the screed the other day about not wanting to dine at a restaurant, we do it today. Outdoors in a tent, but unforeseen as recent as yesterday. We accommodate [my daughter] and her boyfriend’s lunch date. [Wife Klem] and I dine at a neighboring table. In the coming months she won’t need us to drive her anymore. Plus with the vaccine on the approach the social distancing angle may possibly recede soon. 

 

The COVID Chronicle, March 1-15, 2021

 

March 3 [Wednesday]

[Wife Klem’s] first Covid birthday of Shelter In Place! We celebrate in haughty fashion with a take out dinner order from Pick Up Stix. Birthday girl ordered online, I braved the wilds to retrieve.

 

March 4 [Thursday]

A temper flare up from our youngest monkey. Frustration of quarantine, I suspect, is a considerable contributor. Virtual high school in Los Angeles County has classes from 8 am to 12:15. This does not allow for the blowing off of steam between classes, as might be accomplished with live action tutelage seeing friends at lunch. Regardless, a person is responsible for their own actions. An intervention of sorts and an airing out has been established. These are good kids dealing with crummy times. It’s just that they’re too old to spank.

 

March 6 [Friday]

High school Dive practice has restarted for [my daughter]! Bummer about the bitter cold and occasional drizzle, but it’s good to have an outdoor activity with real live interaction with other students. 

[Note regarding the cold. Most divers wear wetsuits to combat the cold. They still get cold, but the wetsuit helps. Some kids remain in the pool because it is warmer than standing in the cold.]

 

March 7 [Saturday]

[My daughter] and I had the second in our biweekly recurring serious conversations. I know, sure, serious talk should be done daily including at the dinner table, but we’re going with twice weekly in the evening. Is maybe not easy to dilute the tension of Shelter In Place when being confined to only the four of us all day, everyday. The action plan’s idea is to hear each other out to lighten the mood during the constraints of Shelter In Place. Plus, and more importantly, we’re on the cusp of a transition toward independence with the acquisition of 18 years only 1.5 years away. A person cannot be told what to think or what to strive for, but through constructive and positive conversation rapport can be improved. Independence is coming. Preparation best be in the offing. A parental inclination to protect a child maybe need take a back seat to the preparation for adulthood. Or is that too dramatic?

 

March 9 [Tuesday]

[My daughter] and I took the Learners Permit out this evening for an introductory round of night driving. I’m happy to see the wild monkey drive with restraint. She did well.

 

March 10 [Wednesday]

[My daughter] had a live action lunch with [her boyfriend] today at Butter in San Dimas, her favorite local restaurant. Their first face-to-face date since their rogue rendezvous before Christmas, those scamps. [Wife Klem] and a girlfriend chaperoned from another table. Dining was outdoors and the kids compliantly socially distanced. This appointment went well enough and a repeat has been approved for a future date.

 

March 11 [Thursday]

Virtual college has experienced an occasional, and frustrating, internet lapse. This becomes critical when the internet connection drops during an exam or quiz. We made a change in the hopes of boosting the bandwidth dedicated to virtual college. I have a separate internet connection provided by work. I will share my bandwidth with virtual high school. Previously the kids were both on the house internet, the stronger connection. But we’ll implement this change hoping for a better result, meaning less college drops.

 

March 13 [Saturday]

Sadness today. [My sister-in-law’s] dad passed away, a Covid casualty. This is [my eldest brother’s] father-in-law. He’d been ill with Covid, his wife and son, too. They’d been separated for the last few months with him in the hospital, wife and son at home. Peace to the family.

 

March 15 [Monday]

It’s been one year and my work colleagues and I remain strictly virtual. In our Monday morning virtual meeting I asked about possible partial release for field work, but no. Strictly virtual will continue until further notice and work is very busy. Meanwhile, my work garb, the finest of Kohl’s-quality pull-over polo shirts, remains engulfed in plastic waiting to be redeployed.

 

 

 

The COVID Chronicle, February 16-28, 2021

 

February 17 [Wednesday]

Today the home front felt like pre-Covid. Due to separate dental appointments Wife Klem and I branched off in our own directions in the morning and didn’t see each other again until the evening. That’s like a regular day’s work schedule dating back to early 2020.

            Precautions were taken at my dental check-in: temperature reading of my forehead, ‘Have you been outside LA County in the past two weeks,’ ‘Have you been ill, any symptoms of Covid.’ I responded in the negative to all and was approved for entry. Dental office staff has been vaccinated due to exposure risk. In speaking with my dental hygienist she said work is stressful due to the potential for Covid exposure interacting with so many people, her patients. Given the circumstances she’s apprehensive about being so close to her patients all day long, often within one foot of a gaping pie hole. She wears double masks plus a face shield when at work.

 

February 22 [Monday]

It has been said of parents that they can be only as happy as their saddest child. This seems to have become a competitive sport, unfortunately. One child battles a moping lethargy. Maybe it’s just a college thing due to the tedium of one’s endless studies. The other battles looking for happiness and a constructive cause to go on. The evening degenerates into a bottomless array of YouTube videos and videogaming. The desire for creativity or constructive behavior is being eluded. Am I truly as inert as I feel in enacting change? Time will tell.

 

February 23 [Tuesday]

I saw my neighborhood dog-walking pal Ted this evening. We came across each other when I was returning from my evening walk and he was walking his dogs. He’d recently been down with a mild case of Covid. Scratchy throat, head congestion and two other things I forget, but no fever or body aches. His daughter also had it, she’d been alone since June! That’s a long time to go solo, I’d be a nut job. But then, some might suggest that I’m already a nut job. Regardless, I don’t know how solo dwellers do it and maintain mental health. In her case she lives with a cat and carries it in a backpack when she steps out.

 

February 24 [Wednesday]

The state opened back up for Drivers Learners Permits! Wife Klem and [my daughter] went to the DMV today. She passed her test and qualified for her Learners permit. The street driving commences! We enjoyed a celebratory dinner of her choice, Blaze Pizza. Wife Klem ordered online, I retrieved.

 

February 27 [Saturday]

I had a solo Safehouse visit today. Just me, mom and dad, and Uncle Joe. [My niece] was feeling punk so [my brother and his team] were absent to avoid possible contagion. The elders and I discussed vaccinations. They’re not enthusiastic and are awaiting the availability of the recently approved single-dose vaccine by Johnson & Johnson. My mom sounds like she’s coming around. She’s adamant against the two-shot routine, but sounds almost receptive to the single. I otherwise worry about my people being holed up without the former bountiful and frequent Sunday dinner visits. But they’re doing well and getting along peacefully, the good sports. It was a fun visit.

 

 

The COVID Chronicle, February 1-15, 2021

February 1 [Monday]

A local agent with whom I work got vaccinated, he and his wife, at the Pomona fairgrounds. This was their first of two shots. It is a drive-through routine where you sit in the car for 15 minutes after the vaccination, to confirm no adverse effects, in which case you’d blink your lights. If none, then you’re free to drive away. They had appointments in advance and said it was very smooth.

 

February 2 [Tuesday]

Covid. I’m thankful that children have been less susceptible than adults, though they can be carriers. Those who do contract the virus typically have only mild cases. Do children simply lack the Covid receptors? It hasn’t been adequately explained, yet, why or how, but in coming months or years perhaps we’ll find out. 

 

February 3 [Wednesday]

As we approach the anniversary of the Covid-induced Shelter-In-Place, coming up in March, there’s no victory in simply killing time and existing until regular life returns. All this bonus time gifted through Shelter In Place and the slower-paced social agendas of us non-Essential workers. It is important to be productive rather than being content with its filibuster. When this is all done, what will I be able to say I did with it all? What will I have to show other than having survived? Pending, of course, my eventual and hoped for survival.

 

February 6 [Saturday]

Safehouse visit [my parents’ house] today with mom, dad and Team Mike. I haven’t seen my  brother and his team since prior to Christmas. I miss him, his bride and the people they made. In speaking with him, sounds like we’re both on an improved state of mental health having given up politics six or more months ago. We’re both experiencing an improved mood boost since the reduction in that inflammatory newsy intake. I still peruse the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, but avoid the Opinion and Politics sections. So much of it lacks transcendent importance. I stick with the Business sections. 

The elders were asked about their progress toward vaccinations. Dad and Uncle Joe have not yet made appointments. They’re also not excited about taking two trips to get vaccinated, the two-shot vaccine routine being staggered a few weeks apart. They sound inclined to wait for the single-shot vaccination which is said to be closing in on approval. Mom holds fast to no intention of carrying through with the vaccine. She’s feisty, but also remains worth battling for. I suggested the elders can either get the vaccines on their own, or, after I’ve gotten my vaccination, my brother, me and a roll of duct tape might drop by to take them for a black ops vaccination field trip. I hope it doesn’t come to that.

 

February 11 [Thursday]

Another colleague at work had been ravaged with Covid. I hadn’t heard from him in a while, turns out he was down with the virus, a bad case of it. His autistic son, too. He lost 16 pounds while healing in the hospital and got down to 149. His wife was alarmed when he came home, he was such skin and bone. He said rib bones were showing that he’d never seen before. He has since bulked up with a high protein diet and is back to 170. He porked on a few extra pounds at his wife’s request as cushion in case he has to battle Covid again. His doctor said muscle is very nutritious so that’s what his body consumed fighting the virus. He asked about his brain. The brain is possibly the most nutritious part of the human body and he likely lost some brain cells as well. Oh well, he’s back to work and thankful he has people he can rely on when down.

 

February 13 [Saturday]

I bought a new mask today. I’ve two masks in the rotation, each worn on a weekly basis, plus two bandanas deployed for my daily walks. I lost one of the masks last weekend. Bummed. It was the baseball mask, a print with a bunch of baseballs, so I’m down to my sunflower-print mask. Plus, when it arrives, a nautical-print mask. That’s it. That’s my Covid-face covering update.

 

February 14 [Sunday]

Mom remains steadfast against the two-shot vaccination routine. In my daily email with her she has suggested that the single-shot vaccine may get her consent. I’m hoping this holds up, a slowly coming around to abide by the vaccine.

The COVID Chronicle, January 16-31, 2021

 

January 16 [Saturday]

I visited the Safehouse [my parents’ abode] this morning, solo from San Dimas, arriving with a package of delicious snacks from Panera, retrieved en route. Patrons are required to wear a mask even at the drive through. I did abide.

It was a nice Safehouse visit, my first since before Christmas. Uncle Joe and dad are on board with getting vaccinations. They are uncertain, however, where or how to get it done or where to find information. Mom’s concern is over a potential adverse reaction to the vaccine. I will follow up with a phone number for dad and Uncle Joe by which they may make arrangements for their vaccination. For mom, I’ll continue positive conversations regarding vaccines hoping for eventual persuasion.

 

[The boy] and I made an apple pie this afternoon. It was an effort to brew up positive Division Weekend playoff mojo for my Cleveland Browns in tomorrow’s game. The pie, incidentally, was tasty and uncomplicated. I enjoyed the teamwork with my guy.

[Follow up: The Browns lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. Defeat despite our apple pie effort in hopes of gaining positive game mojo, but to no avail.]

 

January 18 [Monday]

We’ve been teasing Ghost Dog lately. Pre-Covid everyone was away from home during the day with school or work and he would patiently wait outside. He’d sleep all day [the Life of Reilly, as Grandma Tedesco used to say, whoever this Reilly was] or lay out by the rear fence looking down the hill. But now, with Shelter In Place, everyone’s always home, all day, and he wants more action, but we’re occupied with our own tasks and not playing with him. So he lies out on the backyard grass and watches us through the kitchen window, like he’s watching TV. There are multiple windows and he changes view from one window to the next, like he’s changing channels, pending who’s inside and what we’re doing. We tease that he’s changing monitors as he scrolls back and forth between windows. Wave to him simultaneously for interactive TV to see who he watches, which ‘monitor.’ He’s a good dog, Ghost Dog, despite having a long kill list of wildlife with whom he’s managed to interface . . . and end.

 

January 20 [Wednesday]

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been inaugurated and their term commences. Going forward will be interesting to hear what Covid angles get attributed to Trump and which ones to Biden. I’m rather burned out on the inflamed political purlieu and will not expound further here. Regardless, from here we move forward.

 

January 23 [Saturday]

Sounds like vaccine enthusiasm is possibly waning. There are virus variants that are not expected to be defeated with the current Covid-19 vaccines. People may be weighing whether to get this or wait for the next generation of vaccines. Either way, Wife Klem’s totally into this, and I’m into her, so we’ll get vaccinated for whatever’s being offered when we’re eligible.

 

January 26 [Tuesday]

The normalization of Covid gained a foothold today. I had a Skype meeting scheduled with a work colleague and received an email from him that he’s got Covid. So, we just rescheduled our meeting two weeks out. He’s still working virtually when he can, despite being afflicted. When he’s overcome with fevers and fatigue, he conks out and goes to bed. I’ll seek details in two weeks when we Skype up.

 

January 27 [Wednesday]

Mom’s girlfriend, Mrs. H, got vaccinated today. Mom is monitoring for feedback regarding any unpleasant after effects. I’m hoping Mrs. H issues a favorable review, that it may enhance the prospect of mom subjugating herself to the vaccination urgings from family. We’re quite fond of her and conspiring for her elongation.

 

January 28 [Thursday]

I selfishly admit to be progressing through Shelter In Place in good spirits. Wife Klem, mostly, too. Sure, we’d like to visit family and a handful of close friends, but we have most of what we want right here in lock down. We’ve got the four of us, plus Ghost Dog adequately playing the roll of court jester. But Shelter In Place is not amenable to the kids, for different reasons. One immersing himself in his reclusion, the other fraying from the burden of it. Look, I know, this sounds grim, but there is hope. They’re both delightful in their own way. They both sound happy when interacting with their virtual friends. Maybe this is nothing, but I worry about my monkeys and want them to be happy and good. 

 

January 30 [Saturday]

I saw my first ever double masker today, a pair of them walking together wearing a mask over another mask. There had been a recent recommendation, maybe the CDC [Center for Disease Control], for people to wear two masks. This was at Bonelli Park, I was wearing a bandana at the time, the face covering preference for my daily walks.

 

January 31 [Sunday]

There was a vaccine protest at the Dodger Stadium drive-through vaccination site. Baffling. Have people nothing better to do with their time? It shut down the vaccinations for an hour. Vaccinations in California are reportedly not going great, people are not emerging in the hoped for prolific numbers. At this pace Wife Klem and I may be pushed back from a March vaccination to early summer.