This is probably going to be a really long and boring post. We ARE in a pandemic after all. What else am I going to do on a Friday afternoon while stuck at home?

We're over a week into the pandemic "lockdown" here in California. As I've mentioned before, I'm considered to work in an "essential business", so I continue to drive into work each day. Our home office even gave us two memos to print out and keep with us in case we get stopped and questioned about why we are out and not isolating in our homes. I guess they don't realize that law enforcement here has WAY better things to do than stop cars driving into downtown before 5am..... at least that's how it is right now.

I'm worried that people aren't taking this seriously. Freeway traffic is markedly lighter, but street traffic on my way home is the same as it was before and I see loads of people out and about. Looking out the window right now, I see heavier traffic than usual driving up and down the street, as well as four people walking in a tight group down my street. It looks like a normal day.

You might be asking "well, what about you? You're out and doing your regular routine!". Fortunately, my regular routine entails very little contact with people close-up. I leave for work very early, before most are even awake. I get to my building and wave good morning to the parking garage attendant without rolling down my window. I don't see anyone as I take the elevator up to the buildings' lobby to take the next elevator up to our floor. Once in my office, I go to my desk. Currently, the occupants of the two offices closest to me are working from home and the person working at the desk closest to me (10 feet away) works from home a couple days a week and we are faced in the opposite direction to each other. There are only about 6 or 7 of us in the office and we are very spread out. The closest I come to anyone is my boss. Unfortunately, he's on crutches right now, so I help him from his car up to the office (and back again) and if he has to go to the restroom I walk him down and wait to walk him back (kinda hard to open doors when you're on crutches). Don't project anything dirty into it! It's the human thing to do! I'll admit, it IS kinda weird to stand outside a restroom door and wait to hear someone wash their hands before opening the door (facing the hallway) and holding it open with my foot extended backward. HA!

Other than that, I'm at home. I've already mentioned that I bought a new laptop and stuff and am now able to access most essential work programs from home if I have to, but it hasn't come to that. Our company has said that if we don't feel comfortable, we can work from home, but at this point, I'm more productive at the office.

I feel for everyone that's struggling right now. My hairdresser isn't allowed to work, so I offered to pre-pay her for my next appointment. I was supposed to go in tomorrow, so I was prepared to pay her then anyway. I've made a couple of local donations as well, but I know it's not enough. I hope people who need assistance get it quickly. The bill that the government just passed today is nowhere near good enough, but at least it's something to start with. I'm worried. Really worried. We just started this journey and things got bad so fast!

I'll repeat this to my friends and acquaintances, if you need anything, let me know. As long as I know you, the offer is open. I may not have what you need (I'll try to get it!) or I may not have a lot, but what I DO have, I will gladly share with you.

I really hope this situation is giving people pause and showing them that little issues and problems don't mean anything. We need to come together and help support each other. I've reached out to people I haven't spoken to in a while to make sure they are okay. I've heard back from most of them. Hopefully, I'll hear back from the one or two that haven't emailed me back, if anything to let me know they're okay. Unless they really hate me, then I guess they won't. One friend I reached out to was one I'd been slowly backing away from for over a year.... she said was low on toilet paper and I offered her what I could and went in search of packages for her (she lives out by the beach, where there aren't a lot of supermarkets). She's good now. A co-worker in another office that's medically vulnerable and has small children needed a couple of sundry items. A friend and co-worker in Little Rock was worried about being able to get needed items for her 92 year-old mother in-law... You gotta ask people, sometimes they don't want to ask you or mention it. I can't tell you how many text messages I've sent that ended with "Are you okay for toilet paper?". I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't have a huge hoard of it or anything, but I can get-up early and stand in a line and I'm happy to do it! No toilet paper at the store, and I have to get you wipes? Then that's what I'll do!

You know, thinking on it, I can honestly say that there are only two people I personally know on this planet I would refuse to help, and they are old horribly abusive bosses I had that are multi-millionaire assholes.

Other than those two, you are in my heart and I'm here to help however I can.

I'll probably write more later this weekend since I'm stuck at home. I promise it will be more upbeat! Maybe I'll binge-watch Parks and Rec or Community or something.

Oh yeah, if you have kids or like listening to young adult books, Audible has made a ton of audiobooks free to listen to as long as schools are closed at:

stories.audible.com

I think they have books available in 6 different languages.

Stay safe and healthy everyone!