Last night I deposited (online) my stimulus check. This morning, with guidance from People Who Know, I chose my charities. I wanted to focus on services for basic needs. I decided on $50 each to:
- Alameda County Community Food Bank
- Glide Memorial Church (serves at-risk communities in San Francisco)
- Meals on Wheels of Alameda County
- Options Recovery Services (an important East Bay resource)
- University of California, Merced, Student Emergency Fund (many students there are “Dreamers” who must shelter on campus because they have no other place to go, with few resources)
I also spent money on myself, placing an order with Beverages & More for a case of bubbly for curbside pickup this morning. The instructions said to arrive at 10:00 so, being me, I got there ten minutes early and waited out in the parking lot. And waited. Finally a staff member came outside and looked at me with curiosity. She called out, Ma’am, we don’t open for another hour. Huh? I could swear the confirmation said 10:00. I looked at my watch. 9:00. Oh well. At least I know what day it is. I think.
Molly and I continue to use Marco Polo to leave each other video messages most days. There’s little to say or report so we usually resort to inanity. Sometimes we sing each other songs. Other times we make faces. Today we sent each other hairstyles. The one on the right is meant to represent a coronavirus. It took ages to take out those rubber hair ties.
I have to say I don’t enjoy wearing a face-covering. On a neighborhood walk this afternoon, I had to slow my brisk pace on account of it was hard to get enough air. That’s because the mask fits securely, as it should. But I’m always messing with it, giving it a pinch here or a tug there: the worst thing I could do. I don’t mean to complain, however, for I am still grateful to have the most fashionable ones in town. And I’ll be sporting them for a long while to come.
Once again I co-watched an episode (#3) of Brooklyn Nine-Nine with Molly tonight. Man, am I grateful for my girls. Molly is always trying to help find things to occupy me, and she even places my grocery orders when I can’t figure it out. Eleni entertains me all day long with texts, including pix of Ember and Jesse, and political news items of note. They both are among the few who can crack me up. Even though I haven’t seen them for months now, my children are a daily and necessary part of my life, and I am very lucky.
You’re a very good girl with your donations!
Both of us have a bright future in hairstyling ahead of us.
I’m having so much fun watching Brooklyn 99 with you!
I’m glad that all of Allison/-ikolas gals have a way to keep in touch throughout all this. Can you imagine how different this would feel in an era before decent video chat – or digital photos? Sheesh.
thanks for the hairstyle pics. about the masks, if it’s the ones i made, i could make you thinner ones with thinner materials, i know, but since it’s mostly protecting others from you let’s hope they have thick ones. did you put filter material inside?
i’m also getting tired of wearing them. and luckily for me i don’t have to on dog walks. we never run into anyone. so we take them along just in case.
I don’t use mine while in the car, or taking a quick walk with no-one around. I rapidly don it if I see someone approaching, or as I leave my car.
Marianna: When I first got your masks I tried a thin filter but it was too hard to breathe. But without, they are easy to breathe through when just strolling, like at the farmers market. It’s only when I’m moving faster. That’s really kind of you to offer to make another, but I think the ones I’ve got are perfect. It’s just the nature of a mask to present these challenges!
That’s so great you did those donations! I shall have to take a look at those for when mine finally comes in. I don’t know why you and Molly haven’t flown off to fashion school. Your corona interpretation is quite cunning.