Wednesday, March 24th, 2021
Tomorrow I have an early start to my day as I am part of a team conducting a virtual appraisal with a company in Sudan scheduled for 09:00 – 16:00 Khartoum time. For me that translates into 03:00 – 11:00. I have decided to treat it like a long-haul trip. So, I shall head to bed at 21:00 to get close to six hours of sleep, to be up and fully alert at 09:00 Khartoum.
This is my first virtual trip, but likely not my last as next week I have an appraisal starting at 02:00 my time. Curious to see how this one goes. In preparation of entering a different time zone I have begun my evening ritual at 17:00, though I still have a call with NPS about the alternative graduation at 19:00, which may impact my ability to move across time zones while in the here and now.
None-the-less, I am looking forward to the experiment. Given I am working in Africa mostly, I am finding my routine has changed back to where it had been a year ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, just minus the exercise routine. Work starts around 07:00. Given I head out for a swim during the middle I end up working late most afternoons. This is fine, it is just that my exercise routine suffers as I no longer do stretches, rowing or ikkiyo exercises in the mornings as they are now filled with calls.
I have only few regrets as my work is currently very satisfying. In anticipation of getting inoculated and the resulting ability to return to the dojo, I may readjust my schedule to do stretches and other Aikido basics in the middle of the day. I only need to rid myself of the guilt of taking several hours out of the middle of my day.
As it is, I am currently working around ten or so hours at very high productivity levels, so it is more of a mindset problem. Mostly work is fun and satisfying, as long as I can stay away from white mansplaining individuals who rudely talk over me and think they are gods gift to earth. Let me assure you, they are not! Sadly, these guys do not seem to understand this.
Today, I did the Kamala Harris move, I just continued speaking as I was interrupted. Next time, I have resolved to pause and just say: “Excuse me, I am speaking”. Working up the courage to do so would be infinitely cool.
Otherwise a day like every other. Work, swim, work, only difference to yesterday – rain all day. Sadly, numbers in the USA continue to creep up. Over the past twenty-four hours 59K new infections were reported, and this amidst reduced testing, to bring the total to 30.69 million.
Despite this, it feels like we are on a good trajectory given vaccination roll out continues to pick up. And as more and more people are getting their shot, media is moving from COVID cases to vaccine reports. Now that 25% of the US population has had its first shot there is a public discussion of side effects and what to do.
Just Republican men do not want to take the shot. Good riddance is all I can think!
Moderna is working developing a combined flu / COVID shot. This is an interesting approach as it means people need to get less different shots on an annual basis.
I would definitely take the combined shot!