Wednesday, May 20th, 2020
Yes, my various emails yesterday have yielded result!
After bombarding the Garden Direct people with several emails about the delivery date of my order I have actually received a response informing me that the plants are with the shipping department so there is hope that they will arrive in time to allow for the weekend entertainment of planting.
Likewise, I managed to speak to a human at the credit card department and the COO of the Credit Union is also following up, so there is progress.
The only response outstanding is now from GE, who apparently want to come and fix the oven end of next week.
The weather like my mood is improving with the sun now in the late afternoon shining, making me regret that I have postponed book club until next week, hoping we will be able to actually meet in my garden as the weather is supposed to be getting warmer over the coming days. It would have been a bit fresh to meet outside tonight as evening still get chilly. We are all so starved for face to face interactions that maintaining appropriate distance is not going to be a problem. Seeing not everyone is comfortable we will of course also have zoom for those preferring to join remotely.
Remote interactions are just not a replacement for face to face meetings, especially when it comes to Aikido. The Aikidoka met on Jitsi last night. It is just so nice to see everyone, but just not the same as being on the mat together. The future for that is looking bleak though as everyone is scared to unknowingly be a disease transmitter and potentially killing a friend. As a result, there are no plans to reopen the dojo and I am resigning myself to the fact that it may not happen until there is a cure or vaccine, which indeed would be a very long time into the future. This combined with the thought of summer long pool closures is maddening.
I am toying with the idea of heading to a beach just for a day over the upcoming weekend, even if just for a very long walk. We did go for our usual after lunch Hood stroll though and EM went biking with an admirer later in the afternoon, all the way from Rock Creek Park to National and back a totla of 39km. Given pools will remain as closed as the dojo I may need to rethink my position on biking as I am concerned of loosing what little muscle I have. It is just such a sturggle to bike uphill. Then again, it is a function of practice. Possibly that is what I will need to do.
On the life defining topic of Corona: The world has 4.98 million confirmed cases as of today, with numbers in the US steadily rising by about 20k every day, 1.784 of which in Maryland today. This is the highest daily increase and comes just 4 days after restrictions were lifted in some counties. At least Maryland has significantly ramped up testing enabling testing even for asymptomatic residents.
Very much unlike Florida, which is setting an example on ignoring the problem by limiting data disclosure on COVID-19 infections. Might that be to ensure the economy can continue to reopen and encourage people to return to public life? Is this not in some form of lying to the population, making them feel safe, when maybe they are not?
Also, today the WH has posted guidelines for reopening. I cannot help but wonder how many of the 50 Sates actually meet these.