Monday, March 29th, 2021
After sunshine follows rain and after rain follows sunshine.
Today was a gorgeously sunny day again, albeit windy. This has not stopped people from taking to the streets around the Hood. Many, especially with small children, stop to enjoy the eggs in the bush by the road. It feels like my swim was the most productive thing of the day, which of course is not true. Given I spend most of the day researching numbers, it was only semi-productive in terms of output.
I did have a very good call first thing this morning to discuss how to build pipeline for the German money. I just fear it may not happen until it is actually in the bank, especially given recent news that we may need approval by the budget committee of the German parliament. I worry that the commitment may still disappear. This would be a great shame as I am working on a boarder strategy for the program as well as a pitch deck showing which services we offer, while thinking about building pipeline. Hoping, keeping my fingers crossed. Otherwise not much going on.
I may have inadvertently put a lot of pressure on the ladies in the bubble family by misreading an email. I read it to say they would join EM’s birthday celebration so immediately expanded the dinner reservation from three to five. Now I fear they are in a bind as they were looking at visiting Michigan State University on Thursday and now need to rush back to make the 18:00 dinner on Friday. It would be so much more fun to have A. and D. join us as I am a little concerned to be all alone with EM and the BF, whose table manners are sadly wanting. It is what it is.
Today I also realized that for the first time in eighteen years I shall be alone for Easter. No egg hunt, no brunch. EM is taking of for the weekend with the BF. I have now taken leave for Monday and hedged the plot of hosting a brunch that day. If the bubble family cannot make it, I might ask our German-Turkish friends. At least their little girl will enjoy an egg hunt.
This is a preview of what life as a single empty nester will be like! Once Dojos reopen, I guess I am at liberty to spend as much time on the mat as I desire and to be on the road for as long as I care. My only concern would be Max, the cat, who I fear might feel terribly lonely should I hit the road and be gone for weeks on end given my plans to work out of DC during seminar season and attend as many Aikido seminars elsewhere as I can possibly fit into my life. I know mum would love to adopt him. However, being home without him, I would feel terribly lonely. He is such a faithful soul and appears to have taken to me as his primary human, much to EM’s chagrin. What to do? Fortunately, such decisions are months away still.
On the COVID front things are looking both good and bad in the US (and the world). Brazil is in a bad place and I am not sure what to make of it. If many Brazilians succumb to the virus, will it save the rain forest? In the USA numbers are trending upwards after plateauing at a high level of in new infections. The daily average is roughly 20k less of all the infections China has reported throughout the pandemic.
Experts fear the next surge in the USA is just beginning after cases have increased by 10% over the past week and 133% in States like Michigan. These are the initial results of the reopening. And a greater surge is expected after the end of spring break. The infections are caused by a more contagious and potentially more deadly variant. Because most residents over 65 have been vaccinated the current surge is expected to be less deadly than the previous three. Still, a new surge is not good as it may be a breeding ground for new and adaptable variants, the last thing we need at this stage are variants the vaccines have no effect on causing us to start over. Now that would truly be a nightmare.
The hope is vaccination for all as soon as possible. This week, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas will allow all adult residents to sign up. New York will begin vaccinating people 30 and older on Tuesday and all residents 16 and over will become eligible on April 6. This has me wonder why Maryland is opening up to 50 and older tomorrow, feels like we are about three weeks behind. Thankfully Federal guidelines have enabled me to get my first shot at a facility supplied by the Federal government, no skipping the line.
That would be bad Karma!