Day 27 of rollback-California Covid-19 spike - Governor shuts us down

The Japanese Garden at The Huntington…still beautiful

Yesterday, the CDC issued a new study that found children are still at risk of developing “severe” Covid-19 symptoms that require admission to an ICU.  This is AFTER Trump said, two days ago, that schools need to open up because “children are almost immune to the virus.” But, shockingly, Hispanic children are EIGHT times as likely as white children to require hospitalization for Covid-19; Black children, FIVE times as likely. Why would this be? Does the social inequity reach into the very tendrils of their DNA strands?

I can hear the disgusting white supremacists now:  “Survival of the fittest, bruh.  That’s just God sorting out the righteous.” Really?  That same shit was said when gay men were the largest segment of society to be afflicted, and taken out, by a strange new disease called HIV/AIDS:   “Homosexuality is a SIN!!, people…A SIN!!! and God is showing his wrath by striking gay men down!” (That last sentence should be read in Jeff Sessions’ voice for full fire and brimstone effect).  Really?  HIV is God’s will?  Then why didn’t God strike the LESBIANS down?  The lesbian population has always been the least likely to contract HIV. Using HIV as a metric of God’s will, this must mean that God actually condones lesbian love. The Christian right is silent on this argument.

But, I digress…

Seriously, people, why would Hispanic and Black children be most at risk for severe Covid-19 symptoms? Although the study only addresses 14 states, this is still disturbing data. Extrapolating from the findings, this means that it is more dangerous for school districts in primarily black and brown communities to open, putting COC (children of color) at even greater risk of falling behind educationally. Will we see a resurgence of WHITE schools opening while Keppel, Mojave, and Palmdale Unified School Districts [among others across the country] remain shuttered? If yes, we have returned to segregation.

And what about the teachers in these communities?  Are they at greater risk? As a substitute teacher, after reading this study, I’m now more inclined to sub at the Sulpher Springs and Castaic school districts, where the student population skews to white because I don’t want to get sick.  Isn’t that terrible?  What does that say about me as an educator? What does that say about me morally?

Georgia update: Over 250 students and teachers are quarantined for two weeks in the Cherokee County School District after the first week of school. Georgia teachers staged a drive-by protest over having been forced to return to school. Honk if you want to live, teachers!

Saturday. 8/8/20

Class enrollment dips to 16.  Not good.

8:30 – 10:30 - The dog starts barking so I go downstairs to take her out.  After several days of no accidents, she pooped near the front door.  We go outside and I give her cheese.  I grab my coffee and go upstairs. I read a UK Money Diary – how are Gen Zers able to live so comfortably in the UK on $26,000 euros per year?  I have got to get out of this country.

I do a blog post then check my class enrollment from College No. 1.  Apparently, my email blast actually caused students to bail, NOT enroll, as my enrollment is now at 16. I don’t think this class is gonna go, which will equate to an $800 a month take-home hit. I check email and although enrollment dropped, a few students responded to my ‘blast’ and are interested in the class.  I respond immediately. 

Right now, I’ve got 5 students in the queue who are allegedly trying to waive the prerequisite requirement.  I think an argument could be made to my Dean to at least allow the class to open the first day of school as we wait for the prerequisite waivers to be approved.  Allowing a class to meet the first day of school is HUGE because you can generate more interest among the existing students, especially when you say, “Hey, this class is easy and everyone will get As…so tell your friends.”  (j/k – I don’t do that…well, uh, not really, anyway…ok, so draw your own conclusions).  BUT, if the class doesn’t reach 19 by the first day of school, it’s canceled before I ever had the chance to generate said interest.

11:00-12:00 – I make an almond butter, avocado, and strawberry smoothie and pack my lunch bag.  I listen to several PBS Newshour segments.

12:00-2:00 – Shower.  Dressed.  I listen to Fresh Air - Jeffry Toobin’s Trouble with the Mueller Report. L. emerges, vampire that she is, and leaves for…somewhere?..not sure. I leave for The Huntington Library (gardens and museums).  There was only ONE time slot available for today – 2:00 p.m. – so I reserved it.

2:00-4:00 – At The Huntington.  What a weird experience!  In full disclosure,  I’m a member and pay $300 a year for that status. BC, L. and I could go to the Huntington whenever we wanted.  Member activities included evening strolls (gone); 4 summer concerts (gone); Drama after Dark (poetry reading at night, throughout the park, the week before Halloween – gone); Champagne and Shopping (free champagne to get you liquored up so you spend a fortune on useless Christmas gifts at the Huntington gift store – gone). It’s not a stretch to say that L. has grown up here and it is one of her favorite places in the whole world.

So, what is it like now?

Well, for starters, you can’t get in without a reservation so everyone is stopped at the gate to show proof.

Then, it starts in the parking lot, with signs asking you to “please social distance.”  Strangely, Huntington staff has closed the majority of their huge parking lot, making it impossible to social distance. There is virtually no spacing between the cars and I had trouble finding a parking space, even though the number of visitors is massively restricted. Two months ago, Carp beaches closed all of their public parking lots because, allegedly, the slots were too close together and “it wasn’t safe.” Well, Huntington parking spaces are closer than that.  Why not just open the ENTIRE parking lot for the guests? Carp public parking has since re-opened.

Then, there are numerous checkpoints.  I felt like I was back at the prison (I used to WORK there – I wasn’t an inmate). A bag check. An info check, like the DMV, only this booth can’t be skipped – staff tell you what line to enter for the…temperature check – is it just me or do you find these temp checks invasive?  And what good are they?  1 in 3 people are asymptomatic and can still spread the virus – what good does a temperature check do if you have the virus but are not showing any symptoms? Conversely, I just walked across a parking lot in 102 degree heat.  If I’m 98.8, will I be denied?  Then, a reservation check to ensure you belong here.

Finally, I’m in.  Everyone is masked, even outside.  It is sooo hot and all the museums are closed. I’m not being flippant when I say I really can’t breathe (sorry). Riddle me this, batman…why is “retail” allowed to open and not museums?  Why isn’t a Kohls or a TJ Max more dangerous than the Getty or LACMA? Oh, that’s right, I remember…maybe because retail is shoring up the tax base for the state budget whereas museums are just…pretty…and have nothing financial to offer.

I walk around and make it to the Japanese Garden at least.  There are “one way” arrows all over the place, but in several spots the arrows simply disappear and I’m left with a WTF feeling, like, which direction am I supposed to go now?  Café 1919 is still open, but only for “grab and go” overpriced entrees – you can eat your wrapped meals al fresco, on the patio, if you want.

I leave. A disappointment…but everything is now. I eat my pre-made salad on the way home. I listen to Airtalk.

5:00-6:00 – Home and I finish Godspeed. The last quarter degenerated into a Less Than Zero account, but I was invested enough in the book that I was in it for the long haul. Thumbs up.

L. surfaces, then leaves again.  Something about popcorn???

6:00-7:00 – I do a 1-hr HIIT Full Body circuit with weights.

7:00-8:30 – I talk to B.

9:00-11:30 – I have GOT to get some work done (enter home office). Although I keep talking about how I’m retired, I’m actually not.  I’m a college professor (20 years) with a full load of classes – sans one, maybe – and school starts in 10 days. I  “course copy” content and design my syllabus for Class No. 1 – the core class that, without exception, is always full.  Students need this class to transfer and it’s my “bread-and-butter” as far as salary is concerned. This class will run for all eternity, every semester, and I can always count on it. I listen to Filmweek on Airtalk.

L. returns. From where…I don’t know.

11:30-12:00 – I prepare a grocery list for L. as she’s doing the grocery shopping tomorrow (fingers crossed).

12:00-12:30 – straighten the kitchen and pack my lunch bag for tomorrow.

12:30-1:30 – night time routine.

2:00 – Bed.