CORONAVIRUS SURVIVAL Day 2

The pattern is already emerging.

Wake up late; help Kate prep for work that means reading SF Gate and the NY Times on my laptop in bed while throwing out local story ideas.

“Change Go Do Now to Stay Home Now”

“Tell me where I can get a test locally.”

“Tell people how people can help in the community.”

“How about a coaches perspective on the impact of the virus on sports?”

Bet you didn’t know that 90% of the Index Tribune content is generated from atop our new way-too-firm Tempurpedic mattress.

Next, breakfast, cleanup and check my phone. In case you have never read this blog, phones are my nemesis. They are the single biggest roadblock between me and educating students, period. I am now checking my phone in the morning and in the evening. Sure it is close by in case the kids or Kate call or I have to turn up Sonos or the Nest but overall, it sits, a dormant little addiction beckoning me to scroll away the day.

I return a text from a friend about a St. Patrick’s Day dinner. The text was from last night and my friend responds that he woke up feeling a sore throat, nausea and is coughing.

“Quarantine, find test if symptoms persist, rest. Shit.” I respond.

I text the kids to see how life in San Diego is going and if they want to change their plans to come back to Sonoma. They are hopefully flying up on Southwest next week but if there is no work or school, why not come back early. Most of their friends are here, back because of cancelled semesters.

I clean the kitchen and disinfect the house, my morning ritual that I started in my classroom two weeks ago. The district handed out wipes to each classroom and I wiped my front table discovering a level of dirt that can only be described as “yuk”. The next day I wiped the same tables and came up with the same level of yuk.  I now no longer tell Kate that she’s being paranoid and have started wiping down the kitchen and doorknobs with Clorox Orange Fusion Disinfecting Wipes.

I am sore and moving slowly. Not from the virus but from yesterday’s work. The closet is covered in cedar panels which required lots of “old guy up down” which was easy back in the day but has gotten harder as the miles increased. I had to make a box around the heating vent because Kate thinks it is ugly. I’m really good at seeing past those kinds of things but I’m always happy after they’re done. Plus I’m going to use the design in my Geometry class (Yes, I am that teacher).

My son calls and we talk about his plans but also what the virus will mean long term. He’s 19 and just figuring out his path and the way he fits into the world. He’s going to talk with his sister and check with work and call back tonight.

I check Comcast emails, which is different than school emails. 624 in the last 5 days, half from politicians: Bernie, Joe, AOC, Mayor Pete, this is what happens when you give a little bit of money to people who want a whole lot more. I’m staying out of the political excrement pool for a while, bigger issues at hand.

I schedule a blood donation appointment on line for Friday. I give blood every 8 weeks and you should too. It’s easy, painless, you meet cool people and forcing your system to replenish a pint of blood is healthy. Really, I’m in it for the free Oreos, juice boxes and T-shirts but the altruistic stuff helps too.

I write and post today’s blog. Apparently people are reading my blog more because we are all so desperate for content.

Better text Kate with that as a new story idea.