Tuesday, 10/20/20

Just another day in paradise! We are at the end of Myrtle Beach so the beach is lined by houses mostly not hotels and is really pretty. We did drive down the "strip" last night to go to dinner and OMG I would hate it here in non-Covid times. But like most places, it is spookily quiet. We leave in about 90 minutes for Charleston, a 2 hour drive. It will be very different there.

But the hotel here is nice and we have another great view (see below). Have a safe, healthy and social day!

I am in a rather blunt mood today! I think it's because I watched our school board and Superintendent put on a show last night, even though it was clear the entire board had come to conclusion to move ahead and start opening schools. On more than one occasion either the Supe or a speaker mentioned how the entire admin team came to consensus last Monday that this was the way to move forward. So, why even bother with community input? I hate bull**** waste of time.

So, my kiddos will come back to some type of in school building learning (if parents so desire) in January. Our TK and K kids will return in November. Stupid, if you ask me, but they didn't so..... here we are! LOL

I will have to think long and hard about what that means for me and how I want to move forward. I have the option of choosing to teach either in building or online. Given my seniority and the fact that I am obese, I am one of the few that will have a real choice in the matter. I "rank" on both risk and seniority. Will talk with Ron and see what will work best for us both.

I dreamt last night that I was back at school and a 5th grade class was not observing any social distancing and was not wearing masks. I was quite upset by this, but knew there was nothing I could say or do, so I just left. It was a helpless feeling.

Journaling my food was so precise yesterday. It is hard to write down drive bys without judgement or feelings of shame or embarrassment. I'm getting better at it. After a nice little low on Sunday, I'm right back to the top of my "I can handle this weight" range today. And given how I have been eating the past few days, I did find this irksome. LOL! Magical thinking? I'm not sure. But I'm working on it.

Simple pleasures - got a call from the very close by RV storage place. They have a spot for GOAT. YAY! Will save $60 a month too boot! I'm excited because it's close by and I like the people. It's a feed store and RV storage facility. Doesn't get much better in my book!

Alas, Zoom session beckons me....

Feel for you Peps - you are being placed in a very difficult situation. Frustrating indeed

I was surprised when I contacted a woman who had been one of Elise's friends that she is teaching "live" in Florida. Her husband is an assistant Attorney General so I didn't think they needed the money. She said she is exposed to approximately 3000 high school students (they are all back live), and a bunch of them just tested positive because of a mask-less weekend party. So we are skipping seeing her family which hurts my heart but just seems too risky. She hasn't been seeing her own parents or in-laws who live in the area due to her exposure.

One of Kindergarten teachers was in tears today because she now will miss having Thanksgiving with her parents and in laws. She is devastated. She has been a primary link to the outside world for her parents (her father is high, high risk). She is feeling as if no one cares about the risks to her and her family. One of the comments to the Board last night was that "...teachers signed up for this risk when they became teachers." All I can say to that is WOW!

Will they be on a regular schedule? All the students at once? So far, we haven't had any spreader events, but students have only been back in the building 5 weeks, and we're doing hybrid. I fully expect we will do the opposite of your schools, that we might have to move to distance learning in the winter. Right now, I feel like most of the choices our district is making are based on facts, not community demands. There is a clear road map for number of infections in the county that trigger what model of instruction to do, and those were developed by the State Department of Education. So counties with very low infection rates, can be more open, those with the highest are doing distance learning. I feel relatively safe with those, and other guidelines the schools have to follow. I would hate it if our school board didn't have this very detailed guidance, because they would probably cave to community pressure.

Good Morning All

Slower start to the day - going to be another busy one with errands including tackling Costco. Im hoping the 2 hour queues have subsided from the km restriction being raised. It was apparently bedlam on Monday. Wish me luck

Hoping to plant some lettuce and strawberry seeds after dinner too and water the veggie patches.

Tommorrow we are hoping to leave for the farm for the long weekend. Last Sunday as part of the premiers announcements, he said that people with Rural properties are allowed to go up this weekend and prepare for fire season. Its a permit issued by the regional council. Great we thought ! That was until I rang the council Monday morning and they had been told nothing. Scheduled meetings with their teams. I got an email that night to say they are seeking information from the State Government. Regional Victoria is in a different set of restrictions due to very low cases than Metro Melbourne - the police are stepping up what they term the "ring of steel" to stop people travelling from Melbourne to Regional areas and spreading the virus. Fines are up to 10,000 AUD. Im furious to say the least. The premier makes an announcement to the entire state at a scheduled press conference but fails to inform the councils it effects. He would have known about it for days as it was discussed amongst his staff and a plan formed. We had a very bad start to the year with fires and this break has been a very good one. The fuel thats sitting on the ground need to be well managed around rural properties so that when it dries out - it lessens the risk coming in Summer. Add it to the list of frustration !!!! Im over it

Well I had best get back to work - lots to achieve today

Love to you all and hello to those who follow

S

So frustrating!

Weight up today erasing yesterday's losses. Oh well. It happens after decent drops.

A lovely day down at the beach with my friends! We went to San Clemente and walked 2 miles up the beach from the State Beach to the pier for lunch. I planned ahead what I would eat and ordered local sea bass mesquite grilled with vegetables. I did plan for one piece of their warm, fresh baked sourdough and a pat of butter. Delish. Then we waked the length or the pier and back up the beach. My watch says 561 calories spent. Covers my lunch, I suspect. Looking back at the shore from the end of the pier, it was easy to imagine things were just as they used to be. It was a nice respite.

I also made a trip to the hazardous waste drop off for my town. The line was so long, I wasn't sure I'd have time to wait, but it worked out to the minute and I made it to the beach on time. I got rid of an old tv, a ton of old batteries I'd put aside, 2 ancient cell phones (1st and 2nd gen iphones!), and a box of pesticides and automotive oily cans of stuff from the garage. So the cleaning continues! Both my friends have been inspired by my cleaning exploits and have started their own. It's the good kind of contagious.

That's all I have! Sending hugs!

I am so glad you had a good day with your friends!