san diego: dialed in: CoViD-19: Omicron Lingers | East Coast Buried Under Blizzard | Don't Rock The Skyfari: 4 Arrested For Felony Vandalism |

A Skyfari Gondola at San Diego Zoo (Taken 9.12.21)

I skipped a Friday post because things got a little weird. Nova had been having issues at school because the new semester started. She was super stoked about getting to do band, only to find out the school has a long-term sub who doesn't do music. After psyching her up to speak to her counselor and getting some push-back on switching classes, she got transferred into "construction arts" which is basically woodshop, only to go to class and have the teacher pop in a DVD for the duration of class. I complained on Twitter about the situation and then got a really, really nice call from the school principal, who looked me up by my profile and linked me to Nova, and he was super understanding and said the wood shop teacher was just a sub and so I feel a little better about her situation.

But we were trying to take her mind off a shitty week at school and go to Sea World. We're trying to get through the gate enough times to be invited to the preview of the new rollercoaster. Only I'm an idiot and looked at the hours for Orlando and not San Diego and the park was closing by the time we arrived. So then we went to La Jolla Cove and walked the Coast Trail in the dark, down the Cove, and watched the Sea Lions for awhile before going up the secret stairs at La Valencia and walking Prospect back to the car. I think I saw Jared Leto at a sidewalk cafe because when my eyes met his it was instant "Jordan Catalano" vibes, but I can't be sure now.

We decided to call in a dinner order at Volare, but they had nearly an hour wait, so we killed time driving down La Jolla Blvd, stopping at Windansea, then taking Mission Blvd all the way to the rollercoaster until we rejoined Ingraham and Sports Arena Drive. I will give a *pro-tip* here and say we gassed up at the Auto Bistro, the gas station in the Sports Arena parking lot, and it was $3.99 a gallon cash price!! We live by the USA Gas on El Cajon Blvd which is usually pretty cheap, but even they're $3.29 cash price right now so that was a welcome bargain. Also turns out Jose, who works at the Arco across the street from me works there on weekends.

Anyway, our food still wasn't ready so we did a little grocery run and then finally got the food and came home and ate and I didn't have it in me to do a post or read email, especially since the numbers stay the same on weekends anyway. I did, however, binge "The Woman in The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window" on Netflix, and if you like dark comedy, murder shows, and Kristen Bell, this one is for you. So today was chill and I did write my extra-long email to the principal, enjoyed some leftover Italian, finished reading my book and started another, got through my email, talked to my sister and my mom on the phone, and am now watching Getting Curious on Netflix with a margarita telling me via condensation that it is time to put my laptop away.

Before I do, I want to say that I hope those four idiots who were arrested today at the San Diego Zoo for felony vandalism for rocking their gondola on Skyfari, resulting in the whole thing being shut down for over an hour as they rescued people, get the full extent of the law thrown at them. I hope they are in jail through the weekend, and that Summer Stephan presses full charges. Rocking a gondola can have really deadly results and there is nothing funny or cute or excusable about the situation. I'll probably go by tomorrow while all of California watches the Rams vs 49ers, but maybe I'll cool it on Skyfari when it's busy with monsters like that.

Stay safe out there.

COVID-19:

Clinicians, Public Health Leaders Urge Caution as Omicron Wave Lingers — "Omicron isn't done with us, which means we can't be done with Omicron," says former CDC official - MedPage Today (1.28.22)
Worrisome New Coronavirus Strains Are Emerging. Why Now? Across the globe, SARS-CoV-2 is evolving ways to evade the immune system and become more infectious. Blown pandemic response plans are to blame. - Wired (1.27.22)
Don't count out delta just yet - Becker's Hospital Review (1.28.22)

Politics:

Russia moves naval exercise that rattled EU member Ireland - AP News (1.29.22)
With More Than $1 Billion Back in the Hands of California Families, Governor Newsom Highlights CalEITC Awareness Week - Office of Governor Newsom (1.28.22)
Governor Newsom Appoints Nancy Farias Director of the Employment Development Department - Office of Governor Newsom (1.28.22)
Consumer Spending, Private Investment Drive GDP Growth - Statista (1.28.22)

News:

4 arrested on vandalism charges after San Diego Zoo Skyfari ride shuts down for over an hour - Fox 5 San Diego (1.29.22)
Blizzard buffets East Coast with deep snow, winds, flooding - AP News (1.29.22)

Other Reading:

Politicians Say It’s Time to Live With Covid. Are You Ready? As countries declare endemicity and drop restrictions, how does a battered and bruised society embrace a sudden return to normality? - Wired (1.28.22)