9/12/20
Aloha All –
Well, Labor Day was kind of a non-event here. Beaches were closed so there weren’t the usual big parties and clouds of barbecue smoke. And quiet, too. Last year at this time we were in Cincinnati and able to go to one of my favorite events – the Labor Day fireworks shot off at the river front between Ohio and Kentucky. When we lived in Ohio we went ever year, along with about 220k other people. Despite the crowds it was worth it for a pyro-fan like me. Naturally this was canceled this year, but a friend sent a link to the fireworks display the city and sponsors put on anyway, shot off at a secret location (Kentucky Speedway) so that it wouldn’t attract big crowds. Projected this on our big-screen tv, cranked up the speakers, and had a great time – not as good as being there but still fun.
My main project this week around the house was taking down one of our ceiling fans and repainting it. This is one of several that were original to the house and kind of unique – round blades that look kind of like the petals of a flower. We thought about replacing it, since it’s nearly 30 years old and looking a bit ratty from the rust that comes with our open-air house near the ocean. But the motor seems fine and even though we looked around we couldn’t find one we liked nearly as well. I managed to get it down from the ceiling without as much trouble as I feared, and without falling off the ladder (the ceiling is very high and requires a 12ft ladder to get up there). Spent a couple of days taking it apart and sanding it, then used 1 ½ cans of Rustoleum spray paint on it. After letting that dry for a day I reassembled it (managed not to lose any parts) and re-hung it. So far works ok looks good, and hasn’t fallen down. Of course, this is yet another house project that unless you had seen it before the project you wouldn’t notice the change.
The virus situation continues to be .... sobering here. On our island there are nearly 300 active cases we now about, which means there are likely around 200 more asymptomatic people who are spreading the virus unknowingly. So far our local medical facilities are handling the active cases ok, but they are very limited. A ray of hope is that the number of daily new cases state-wide and also on our island seems to be slowing down, a clear response to the sensible measures ordered by the governor and major. We’re hoping this trend continues and if things are reopened people will behave responsibly this time. In the meantime, we have cut back on our visits to Planet Fitness to once a week and we keep up the usual precautions whenever we leave home. We went to PF on Thursday this week because it seems to be a day when few people are there. In fact, we counted just 10 others plus three staff, all very well spread out. Because most people around the state have responded to the call for restrictions in a responsible way, it looks like we may be able to avoid the most stringent lockdown actions. In fact, Oahu now allows *solo* beach goers again and if numbers of new cases stay low they may reopen to small groups soon. Good news for families, for sure. Schools have started again but many shifted immediately to online classes for a few weeks until things are more under control. So far our university students on this island and on Oahu have not been the ridiculous problem they have been on the mainland. Anyway we try to remain thankful to be where we are and able to do what we can, and we feel very sad when we see what is going on in many places on the mainland. Is that what it means to be “great again?”
Ok off to market (still open) and to a shoreline picnic on our friends’ lanai again, then a bunch of errands. Hang in there everyone.
2 comments:
We also are grateful to be where we are, in spite of the few reckless students raising the level of positive case at Miami to over 1000. Seems some of them do not know that quarantine means not just staying at your house but not mixing with others who want to visit. But we are lucky to be able to walk Egg daily, Stan to teach online, and we have the means to keep ourselves amused with books, streaming, and music.
I thought I would slowly slow down in my old age, but the Covid-19 seems to have thrown the proverbial wrench in that idea. I went from slowing down to stopped! I think our combined vehicular travel is more like island folk than California. I think our car, our main vehicle, has acquire about 500 miles in 5 months. The van has about as many, but that's because we loaned to our daughter and husband for a Labor Day trip they made to safe haven private house on a lake where they stayed in the van. I am still physically moving as much as usual with "yard" work and hiking our neighborhood trails and an occasional trail between the market and home. I found some plant species I didn't know grew on our property and one I've never seen anywhere else, so that was interesting. I am also noting there is lace lichen growing in our oak trees, a sign of good air. I can't prove there wasn't some before but I am heartened to see it growing a bit here and there as it has been mostly eradicated by air pollution in Santa Barbara.
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