San Diego In High COVID-19 Transmission For 4th Week; Nobody Cares | More Mass Shootings: 18 Dead Children, 1 Teacher In Texas | Primary Season Underway |

Sloth at Sea World (Taken 5.22.22)

I started this post over the weekend and then never finished. I continued it on Monday, but then the day got away from me. So here we are now on Tuesday afternoon, as news about another mass shooting -- this time killing 14 18 students and a teacher in a Texas school -- fills the airwaves and I just really lost all my muster to write. 

As I said last week, it's so hard when everything in the news seems to be so apocalyptic - SCOTUS just laying out insane judgments over and over, shootings everywhere all the time, droughts, extreme weather, the invasion on Ukraine, war and climate refugees all over the world, Monkeypox, COVID-19 still raging, and local feeds like Nextdoor and Facebook just full of theft and homeless issues and hostility and people bitching about where people park or ride bikes or are just trying to get by each day. Meanwhile, I'm just trying to live my little life with my little family, and trying to find joy, and peace, and sleep while the world rages on. 

I've made going to the San Diego Zoo a near-daily habit, but also over the course of the past week, went to Nova's derby scrimmage and went to Sea World a couple times as I try to decide whether to extend my membership which expires in two weeks. I spent Saturday at an Upward Bound orientation with Nova, who was accepted into their 5 week program which includes two weeks of classes at City College, a half-week trip to LA to visit several college campuses, and two weeks of classes and living on the UCSD campus, then of course made her go to La Jolla Cove since we were in the area. I didn't go to the North Park Music Fest, and not in any slight to anyone, I adore all the musicians who played, I just don't think I'm ready to have dozens of face-to-face conversations about "what have you been up to?" recounting the past two years and doing that uncomfortably with everyone unmasked. I'm not ready. Especially when I personally know about a dozen people who all currently have COVID. I still very much care, and I still have to take care of my dad four nights a week, so I just can't live as freely as my peers may be able. San Diego is now a month in to being considered "High Transmission" by CDC standards, and that is with the very-reduced standards, and I'm just not having it. 

So all that to say, I'm sorry I haven't been updating because I've definitely had a lot on my mind and things to say, but I'm trying to not be so bound by my laptop and consumed by news. I'll try to get listings done tonight so they're there in the morning, and every night when I can't sleep I think that I should just get up and post all my overdue posts about Jose Gonzalez, Wet Leg, Pinegrove, and whomever else I owe posts about, but today's just not that day. 

Hug your children. 

Stay safe out there.

US Surpasses 1 Million Dead From COVID-19 | San Diego Ballots Out | Gun Violence Terrorizes US |

Mazza, the greater one-horned rhino from San Diego Zoo is now at Safari Park(Taken 5.9.22)

It was a really crazy week. I kept coming back to this post and adding to it and now it's like a whole week of crises that I just kinda need to post it and get it out of my conscience -- shootings, formula shortages, bigots, a fucked-up SCOTUS, rampant white supremacy, attacks on women and people of color and LGBTQIA+ communities and it is a lot. 

Sometimes it can be really hard to keep perspective. Like personally, I actually had a pretty amazing week...for Mother's Day, Darren bought me a behind-the-scenes tour of the Rhino Rescue Center at the Safari Park, I've been more regular about my days so besides Monday and Wednesday when I went to Safari Park, I went to the San Diego Zoo every day for at least an hour or two to get sun and exercise. I got a little sick last week, but I've taken 3 COVID-19 tests and it wasn't that, I think just the drastic swing in weather and extreme allergies ran me down a bit. The week also included seeing Big Thief at the Observatory on Friday, spending Saturday at De Anza Cove for Nova's Lacrosse picnic, and I worked for Wet on Saturday night on the Casbah. On Sunday, we ran down to Ikea and Lowe's and Darren and Nova built our cats a superhighway, I binged the new season of Workin' Moms, and though the marine layer was thick in Normal Heights, we got to see the Blood Flower Super Moon Eclipse when we went to assist my parents in Chula Vista. 

I've got lots of posts I'm behind on so hopefully I can get some of those this week. 

Stay safe out there.  COVID is on the rise and people are fucking crazy.   

Free MTS For Youth Starts May 1: What To Do | Greg Abbott Is Full Of Shit | Expect More Global Price Hikes: Indonesia Bans Palm Oil Exports | Mayor Gloria: "Committed To Bike Lanes" |

Nova on her 15th Birthday (Taken 5.1.22)

I started this post last week and then, as expected, I got busy and didn't do much laptopping. Still, there were some news items I wanted to share from last week and then I can kick off the week with a fresh post at a later time. The County of San Diego has aligned with State reporting, so there are only 2 COVID updates a week now, which is a good way to lose track when surges or upticks or increases happening; looking at hospital data is just too late, so maybe just keep an eye on the poop. 

I had a pretty awesome week. My visits to the San Diego Zoo have become a weekday habit, except for Wednesday when I went to work with Darren and spent the day hanging around the Safari Park. I don't see him much on those days, but my camera has been working overtime and the park has craft beer spots all over, so for me it was like a midweek vacation day before the big weekend. 

On Thursday I worked for Quasi & Jon Spencer and the HITmakers at the Casbah. Though I'd informed the Snail Mail publicist I would no longer be attending the show, they still gave Darren my photo pass, so Nova got to take advantage, although not knowing in advance that would happen, she only had Darren's mobile to shoot with. I'll make her share those photos in a separate post. 

On Friday, I did my usual afternoon Zoo time, then met my sister at my house for some drinks before we caught the bus to Interpol at OAT. She won our tickets and they were in the 2nd to last row, but we had a blast anyway. It's not often my sister and I hang out without the kids or my parents or me going to one of the kids' games just to hang out. We took full advantage and had a blast, Interpol is always great live, and she crashed on my couch for the first time ever. 

On Saturday, Darren was working so Nova did derby in the daytime, then we rode bikes to Adams Avenue Unplugged for a bit before she had a piano lesson, during which I ate and got ready for work, dropped her at the Center, then sold merch for Sleaford Mods. It was a great night and everyone was so nice and enthusiastic and diehard fans. 

By Sunday I was pooped, but we had to help my dad in the afternoon, and it was Nova's 15th birthday. So after my parents', we stopped for ice cream in Barrio Logan and got caught up in their weekend walkabout, then went to Sea World briefly before deciding it was too crowded, then went shopping to get Nova some new clothes, and then closed the night with takeout from Himalayan Yak and Yeti, one of our favorite splurges. 

So it was all good and fun and exhausting and my posts may be infrequent and for this one I'll skip all the government briefings and COVID data because from here, I can only look forward.

Stay safe out there. 

Catching Up With COVID-19 News: Cases Rising, Funding For Testing & Treatments Running Out | US Secretaries Traveled To Ukraine | Macron Wins French Election |

Nova and Ficus at Fiesta Island (Taken 4.24.22)

I didn't expect to be more exhausted after the weekend than I was after the week. On Friday, I thought I'd take advantage of Nova being at school and Darren working so after getting my work mostly done, I spent a couple hours at the San Diego Zoo, and then went to Sea World because they were open until 8. But while I was there making kissy face with Mitik the walrus, I got a text reminder about doing merch at Soda Bar. Turns out I was asked about the wrong night, but still rushed home to take the job. It was a pretty easy and short night, but after a night of hip-hop it's hard to just go to bed when you get home.  

On Saturday, after Nova's derby, my sister reached out and took us to Record Store Day at Vinyl Junkies Record Shack for awhile before grabbing some grub, then heading home for a nap, because I'd been last minute hired to sell merch for Haliene at Music Box. Again, it was a pretty easy night but super long -- I was there more than 5 hours -- so on Sunday I was just wiped out, but we had to go help my dad twice...move him in the afternoon and then again before his bedtime. In between, Nova and I took Ficus to Fiesta Island, then dropped her off at home and then went back to the bay for Sea World, not realizing they closed at 7pm, not 8. Nova still got a couple rollercoaster rides in so it was all good. 

With Darren working such long hours in the sun all day, he's been pretty wiped out when he gets home, so we're still getting used to all of this. The good thing is that Nova is turning 15 in less than a week, so she can handle being alone, feeding herself, connecting with friends, or navigating public transit to get to GHYC, and I've been making it regular practice to work in the mornings and get out of the house every afternoon. Things may shift up when her lacrosse season ends, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. 

On Tuesday -- supposing I get adequate sleep -- I'll be tagging along with Darren to Safari Park again. This time I know where I can work (Zuest Woolshed or Sambutan Longhouse), where I can chill out and rest while charging my phone (Rest & Relax Tent by the Watering Hole) and that the 2nd to last tram is actually the best one of the day. If not, I guess I can always take the office setup back to the Zoo. 

Stay safe out there. 

DC Superspreaders: Wear A Goddamn Mask! | Pandemic Trauma | Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Makes History |

Lowland Gorilla at San Diego Zoo (Taken 3.2.22)

I ended up getting a weekend merch gig for White Denim and Nick Perri so at the moment I find myself at Music Box and it's kind of an ideal show, both in capacity and ease of the merch setup...mostly just clearing out old random sizes of merch that James of WD found around his house. And I'm able to have cocktails since I'm riding the bus home...just hope I'm outta here in time to catch the Rapid at 12:09 or I have to wait an hour for the 1:09. 

It has been a low-key weekend, in that I pretty much was up all night Friday and slept the day away. We are all just getting used to each others' new schedules and I'm just trying to sleep when it comes to me. It's the best I've got right now. No big Sunday plans but this show just ended so I gotta wrap it up. 

Stay safe out there. 

Congress Approves Future SCOTUS Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson | Pelosi Tests Positive | San Diego Needs To Shove Bike Lanes Down Your Unsafe Driving Assholes' Throats |

 

Today was that kind of day. Tiger at San Diego Zoo (Taken 4.7.22)

I was gonna skip a Thursday post but then I started it and felt like I'd rather do it now than Friday, or bump until Saturday, and because today was so historic in the approval of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. Of course, she was actually only approved and won't be confirmed until Justice Breyer retires, but the point remains that it was a big day and worth a post, though I got about 32 emails about it so now it already feels like old news and suddenly we're going to forget the misogynistic and racist attacks she had to endure to get here. I am not looking forward to the hellish depths that midterm elections are going to bring. 

With Darren now happily working -- and loving his new job in spite of the commute -- I've had to go back to shuttle mom, so while I did get some time at the San Diego Zoo today, I had to leave to pick Nova up from the house, take her to her piano lesson, met up with Darren at Rite-Aid to swap baggage then sorted out that he would go home and pick-up tacos for dinner and I would pick up the kid and get home and we would all finally have a couple hours together before we were reminded it was our night to help Dad so we were off to Chula Vista and I was just feeling a little overwhelmed and tired and I don't know how people do this all the time, like my sister, shuttling her girls to soccer after working full days and my mom taking care of my dad all day long and I'm whining in my own head because it's hot and I justifying that I had to get outside time at the Zoo while trying to figure out how to wear earbuds, a mask, realizing hoops were a terrible idea, while trying to shoot photos and toting around a retro 32 oz drink in my hand all the while, knowing I had work to do, posts to post, emails just vying for my attention. At least I started the work newsletter early so I was done by the time we had to drive to Chula Vista. This post is really just for my own peace of mind as I know there is no demand for my hot takes on why people complaining about bicycle road-striping all need to STFU because if the news really reported how many pedestrian and bicycle deaths occur every week, how many hit-and-runs, and if cops didn't falsify reports all the time to benefit drivers when dead cyclists can't speak, perhaps we'd have a little more tolerance for any measures that slow our roadways down for ALL users. San Diego needs to push through, stick with the bike plan, and everyone will get over it. On my way to pick up Nova, I drove the length of Adams Avenue to 30th, and 30th down to Upas, and every restaurant was full to the brim. The streetscapes full of yes, cars, but also bikes, pedestrians, and patio diners. It is beautiful and isn't news. The rest of the roadways will be the same. (My high school English teacher's red pen is stroking through this whole paragraph of run-on sentences and non-sequiturs. Love you, Grace!!)

My problems are so dumb, and then I look at that little 'Spot On' app reminder and it all makes sense. So we got home from my parents', where I hijacked booze from a closet of booze they'd long forgotten about, had a few drinks with Darren, and will fully reset for Friday. 

Whatever variant or recombinant is rolling through DC is super "catchy", and though it doesn't appear so prevalent here, it could be soon as tourists descend on our city because it is the best place to be. Always. Even when it's 95 degrees in April. 

Stay safe out there. 

San Diego Scales Back COVID Testing | Southern California Under Heat Advisory | Biden Extends Pause on Student Loan Debt | Center For Hate Report: IG Doesn't Act On 90% Of Misogyny | Gas Prices Drop |

 

Red Panda at San Diego Zoo (Taken 4.5.22)

I don't know if you happened to turn on your TV to the hearing with oil execs today, but it was a doozy. Seeing these thugs cry about their perceived losses (which only means "we didn't get as rich" in 2020) was absolutely disgusting. And of course the daily reminders of gas prices crawling up was on the news every day, but my gas today was 60 cents cheaper than just two weeks ago, and I don't see any reports thanking Biden while everyone was quick to blame him for the rises. Rockets and Feathers, they call it. I understand the whole market it way more complex than that, but it was nice to see an ease nonetheless. Meanwhile the latest outrage in San Diego is more bike striping -- which takes cars off the roads when people can safely use bikes -- and it is just hilarious to hear people getting their panties in a bunch about having to slow down on roads where they're "used to driving double the speed limit" according to one Point Loma man. 

My day didn't really go according to plan. My up all night, sleep all day plan was foiled by three cats and a dog who just didn't want that to happen, and the incessant rolling in of emails and things to stir my brain. But I did finally get a nap, then spent the afternoon at Nova's lacrosse game, jammed home to get Darren, and we had a big family gathering with Jochi Filipino food to celebrate my parents' anniversary. We haven't all been together like that since Christmas, so it was brief but nice. 

I've been thinking now that Darren is working I have to make better use of my days, so perhaps I'll get on that just as soon as I work off this sleep debt. In today's data, we learn that the County is modifying and scaling back testing, so make note if you need tests. We actually increased in cases week to week, so we're back to "substantial spread" and should all be taking appropriate precautions. Meanwhile, I've been thinking about how easy it was to sneak into hotel pools when Nova was smaller and now there's an app that charges and I wonder if a middle-aged woman can just show up with a laptop and appear to be a hotel guest. If anyone works at a hotel that wouldn't mind me sitting by the pool for a few hours with my laptop, please let me know.   

Stay safe out there. 

Councilmembers Traveled To DC; Got COVID. Who Could've Seen That Coming? | NIght Owl Validation | Spring Heatwave On The Way | Alvarez & Gomez Heading To Run-Off Election |

Pinegrove at the Observatory North Park (Taken 4.5.22)

Today KHN has an article about an Italian study about how night owls actually benefitted from the pandemic in as much as it allowed work-from-home flexibility. And though it isn't peer-reviewed, reading the analysis of it was a bit of an a-ha moment, though something I've kinda known all along. Everyone thinks it's hilarious to make fun of my sleep habits, but insomnia is anything but funny and at times downright miserable, not to mention depressing, alienating and lonely. So reading it at least gave me that comfort of knowing I'm not the only one. 

I try to counter it all the time, too. There is a real thing called "sleep debt" and you can never really catch up, but you can try. Like Sunday, for example. My brain was racing all night and I couldn't get comfortable and didn't sleep a wink until I finally fell asleep at 7am on Monday morning. I slept while Nova was at school and Darren at work. But then that night, I popped 20mg of melatonin to try to sleep "normal" hours. This resulted in me falling asleep around 1:30am, but then waking up wide awake at 4:45am. 

And when you wake up at 4:45, you have big visions of the day, while trying not to wake up your fellow humans or animals. I can go to Sea World AND the San Diego Zoo in the same day! I'll get my listings done a day early! I can do a Costco run and be the first one there! I'll make myself a big breakfast! I'll do my taxes!

In reality, I made an order online for Costco. I checked email on my phone...those east-coasters love west-coasters to wake up to an already full inbox. I read the news. By 6am, Nova was up, by 6:30am, so too was Darren. I tore apart my room looking for my W-2s to do my taxes (to no avail.) Then Darren mentioned he needs a watch for work, so he doesn't use his phone for time. I again, tore apart my room looking for a specific bag I have of about a dozen watches that I gathered at the beginning of the pandemic to take in for batteries. Again, couldn't find it anywhere. Then I told Darren about the order I made for some shorts and got the wrong size, so I attempted to cancel the Costco order, but it was too late. All this to say that I was NOT actually productive at all, the whole morning was a fail, and I would've done anything to have just slept through all of that wasted time. 

Eventually they left, I couldn't go back to sleep so I did in fact, make that big breakfast. I did some work. I finally got about an hour nap in. And then I forced myself out of bed, into the shower, and to the San Diego Zoo, where my day got infinitely better, went home after for a quick bite, and the three of us went to the Pinegrove show at the Observatory. But now I'm right back in hell because I will be up until sunrise working on my listings. This cycle is torture, but at least I don't have a 9 to 5 that, according to the study, could literally kill me. And at least I can attempt to sleep through the heat wave. 

Stay safe out there. 

|COVID "Recombinant" Variants Spread | Biden Economy "From On The Mend To On The Move" | Grocery Strike Averted | 8 Weekend Mass Shootings In US |

 

Happy 52nd Anniversary, Mom & Dad! (Taken 12.25.21)

Today is my parents' 52nd anniversary, which is nothing short of a miracle considering how bad my dad was just four months ago. While he's still considered in a hospice/palliative care situation, the support he's gotten from the VA, from a hospital bed with CPAP, a full transfer lift, and in-home nurse and doctor visits, he's still with us and certainly hasn't lost any of his mental faculties. We'll celebrate on Wednesday, when everyone can get together around work, soccer, and lacrosse schedules. 

Today was a big day of change around here. Darren started his job at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Of course, most of his week will be onboarding and what I guess we'd call 'workplace culture' education, I had the house all to myself all day long. What I didn't know about my anxiety is that it doesn't just exist for me, but I was up all night with nerves for him, so I took full advantage of a quiet Monday by sleeping. I'm not looking forward to this week's Santa Ana, but I'll probably work from the Zoo or tag along with Darren to the Park just to be outside and have some stimulation since I can pretty much tether from anywhere. Which also means I'm going to try to cycle back to normal hours, so I'm off to sleep. 

Stay safe out there. 

Catching Up: Know Your BA.2 Symptoms | Boost Up | Biden Announced Oil Reserve Release | ICE Blasted By SPLC Report | Another Positive Jobs Report |

 

Walrus Kisses at Sea World (Taken 4.1.22)

I'm sitting in Bob's Razzmatazz Room at the Casbah, currently selling merch for Bob Mould and it is a perfectly chill show to get my work done. On Friday we spent a few hours at Sea World. I had a little special moment with the walrus who was just giving me uninterrupted attention for about 10 minutes, about as curious about me as I was about him, thus the super blurry cell phone photos, but it was too cute and magical to not post. By the time we left Sea World, slammed some dinner, then went to help my dad, I didn't have much motivation to do any work. So today is kind of a hodge podge of yesterday's news, and I guess things will slow down as everyone seems to just be in the living with the virus phase of life, rumors swirl that Jen Psaki is leaving the White House for MSNBC, and the war in Ukraine rages on as mixed and unconfirmed intelligence continually report conflicting accounts. I'm gonna go shoot some pics of Bob before he finishes. Also, Darren finally got the call from Safari Park that he's starting on Monday!! YAY!! 

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. 

Stay safe out there.  

US Government Launches One-Stop Shop COVID.gov | Congress Hammers Out COVID Funding | Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Enters 2nd Month |

 

Mama & Kid Golden Takin (Taken 3.25.22)

I am so behind this week. My inbox from Thursday is still full of Wednesday and Thursday emails, I still haven't watched County Supervisor Chair Nathan Fletcher's State of the County address, and now I have at least four shows worth of photos and posts that I need to get up, but like I warned at the beginning of the week, it's Spring Break for Nova so we've been running around, my sleep schedule is eternally out of whack, and I had to make sure to get some San Diego Zoo and Sea World time in this week or else I go kind of crazy. 

Today, Nova actually came with me so she got to see Wildlife Explorers Basecamp for the first time, and she also got to see the animals at peak interaction...the mandrills smiling at us, Denny the gorilla checking out my photos on my mobile, and Amahle the hippo swimming over and giving kisses through the glass, then doing a double somersault. Pure magic. I also ended up going to the Good Morning show at Soda Bar, though I was called off as merch person at the last minute, but it gave us more time at the zoo and we were able to get some shopping in at Vons before they go on strike, which seems imminent because the corporation and the union are miles apart on acceptable wage increases. Hope that works out for the workers. I'll hopefully get somewhat caught up on everything this weekend and may also brave into finally doing my taxes...if I can even find all of my forms this year. Fun times all around. 

Have a great weekend, maybe I'll see you at Bob Mould. 

Stay safe out there. 

Deputy Press Sec Tests Positive For COVID After EU Travel | Far-UVC Cleans The Air Safely, Study Claims | Oscars Go Bizzaro With Will Smith Smacking Chris Rock | Idiot Convoy Coming Back To California |

 

Another Golden Takin Kid at San Diego Zoo (Taken 3.25.22)

I wanted to wrap up the weekend with all the loose ends from my inbox while I watched the Oscars. I've never been a Will Smith fan, so the fact that he smacked Chris Rock didn't really come off to me as any more of an ass than I've always thought him to be. Chris' joke wasn't funny; he hasn't really been funny in years, and it was a bit of punching down considering Jada's alopecia, but there as no reason for this escalation and embarrassment on a live telecast. 

Nova is on spring break this week so my posts may be more infrequent. I have to go help my dad but I'm sure you'll hear from me soon enough. Not to beat a dead horse, but the Deputy Press Secretary tested positive for COVID-19. Big surprise. Look at all those meetings and the photos of all those unmasked people, Biden hugging refugees and their children, even after the White House blogged about aerosol transmission just last week. It truly boggles the mind. 

Stay safe out there. 

BA.2 91% Of New Global Cases; Uptick In San Diego | Stone Beats Molsen Coors In Lawsuit | Biden Concludes Europe Trip Dissing Putin |

 

A New Golden Takin Kid at San Diego Zoo (Taken 3.26.22) 

It's a beautifully perfect day in San Diego so I'm gonna keep it short since I didn't get a chance to post yesterday. On Friday, Darren and I spent the afternoon at the San Diego Zoo and I was stunned to see a new Golden Takin kid!! Mei Ling was born last year and was the first Golden Takin born in the western hemisphere, so this new baby is another amazing addition to the herd. I don't know the sex of the kid, but it is so cute and must be under two weeks old since I always stop by to see them whenever I visit the zoo. 

It was a really good week though I guess you can tell how I spend my time is getting assessed. While it's not "pandemic over" for our household, it seems the rest of the world has moved on, which puts different demands on my time and attention. Posts may come more infrequently. I may spend Saturdays reading all 500 of Friday's emails. Or, like right now, I may catch up while watching this week's episode of The Dropout on HULU. I hope everyone has a great weekend and you'll hear from me again later in a fully devoted music post. 

Stay safe out there.  

Press Sec Psaki Tests Positive For COVID For 2nd Time | Federal Funding For COVID Runs Out | Republicans Make Asses Of Themselves During SCOTUS Hearings |

 

Slinging Merch For We Were Promised Jetpacks (Taken 3.22.22)

I'm presently selling merch for a sold out WWPJ show at Casbah and it's surprisingly mellow enough that I can do a little laptopping, though it's a little harder to do listings here, so I'm not sure when I'll get those done. I'll do my best to have them before Wednesday night kicks in. 

Today was a little more chaotic than I anticipated because I wasn't confirmed to work until late in the afternoon and you gotta give an old lady enough time to nap if she's gonna be up working late.

I watched hours of the Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Senate Judiciary Committee hearings and we should all be so embarrassed by some of these *almost always* old white men asking the most fucked up questions and blowing the most obvious Qanon bullshit conspiracy dogwhistles. Yes, Cornyn, we theoretically can vote out legislators when we don't agree with them, but not when they have minority rule and have stacked the cards against voters. It was full on ugliness in a parade of horribles. 

I was also disappointed to hear that Press Secretary Jen Psaki tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time. I watch all the press briefings and I don't understand how with a 79 year old president, they don't go above CDC guidance. They should be testing daily. They should be masking in N95s. They shouldn't be meeting in close quarters without anyone who hasn't tested that day. They should have crazy air filtration in the old ass White House. Especially Jen, who has unvaccinated children under 5 who are obviously in preschool or some sort of care situation since their mom is one of the most important people to this administration. We don't expect the White House to act like they're just like us, because they're not. There are at least two reporters in the media pool who are pregnant at the moment, and to be told they're not close contacts after sitting in that briefing room with Jen for nearly an hour, even if masked, should be really concerned and also really pissed that their colleagues don't care enough to wear a fucking mask around them. This is a total failure that didn't need to happen if they just treated COVID-19 like the airborne virus that it is. And now federal funding is dry, so testing and treatments for the common person are no longer covered (though it isn't clear if this is true in San Diego County or the State of California, as our allocations may last a little longer. I'll see what I can find out.)

Be safe out there.  

COVID-19: J&J Held Up In Delta Surge; mRNAs Held Up For Omicron | A Surge Is A'Comin | Butterflies Return To San Diego Zoo Safari Park | War Crimes Abound In Ukraine Invasion |

 

Polynesian Dancers at Sea World San Diego (Taken 3.19.22)

It's been a mostly great weekend, which is why I never got around to a Friday/Saturday post. Darren worked at the Casbah on Friday for Emo Nite, so I was left to my own devices and binged the rest of Life and Beth on Hulu. I had kinda lost my love for Amy Schumer over the years -- maybe I aged out of the crass sex jokes and constant weight self-depracation -- but during the pandemic we enjoyed watching her cooking show with her husband, and as a married mom she's evolved, and this scripted show feels really personal and definitely has it's laugh out loud moments. 

On Saturday I napped a lot because I'd been up so late and the plumber had turned our water off again for like the 4th time in a few weeks. My sister called and said she had no kids for the day, so we made afternoon plans to go to Sea World for the Seven Seas Food Festival, mostly because I wanted to see the Polynesian dance revue. As it happened, she had free tickets to San Diego Seals La Crosse at Pechanga, so we hit Sea World for a couple hours, watched the show, then zipped over to catch the 2nd half of what was a very exciting and close game that was full of action, some interesting power plays, a fight, and ultimately a win for the home team. 

I ended up staying up late again, but not for any real fun reason. I did watch The Adam Project on Netflix and had a few drinks, but mostly I was keeping an eye on the pets because Ficus was sick and I detected worms on Jacaranda, which is SO.FUCKING.GAG. but fortunately there's an inexpensive over the counter single use pill that comes in a three-pack that I was able to order online at Petco which Darren picked up and administered today. Fingers crossed because, again, GAG. And of course Jacaranda is the lover of the bunch who wants to come and snuggle on the bed in the mornings, so it will be a big full laundry day on Monday. 

Right now I'm at the Music Box selling merch for Bahamas and the opener, Cece Coakley is on right now but the crowd is super loud at the bar. Hopefully it doesn't carry so much to the stage. It's nice though, my merch gigs have been so busy that I don't usually have time to sit on my laptop. I'm looking forward to a full week, hopefully Darren hears from Safari Park, I'll possibly be doing merch for We Were Promised Jetpacks, and a friend wants to go see Geese, so that's a possibility, too. 

I know it's hard to watch this war on the news, the numerous mass shootings over the weekend, so much bad and sad in the world, but life is for living while we can so I hope we all can find the joy around us. 

Stays safe out there. 

San Diego County Redesigns COVID Dashboard | BA.2 Rising Overseas; US 'Everything Is Fine' | Ukraine Pleads For Additional Support "We May Already Be In WWIII" | Incels Get New Scrutiny |

 

Squirrel Monkey at Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at San Diego Zoo (Taken 3.15.22)

I am trying to take full advantage of the perfect weather San Diego has been having to get out to the San Diego Zoo as often as possible before it gets too insanely crowded to tolerate and before we potentially see COVID cases rise back up. I'm hoping it doesn't happen, but the US went from about 10% of cases being the "stealth variant" to about 25% of cases in one week, we still have far too many people who are unvaccinated altogether or others who are not boosted, too many unvaccinated kids, and schools are all dropping mask requirements in a matter of weeks, if they haven't already. Feels like 4th of July all over again. It's also important to consider that while vaccination rates are actually pretty high in San Diego, more people are testing at home, if at all, so those cases go unreported, and if people can't miss work or stay home and isolate, you don't know if that checker at the grocery with a cough or that server at your favorite restaurant's sore throat is just normal allergy stuff, or if they've got COVID and are powering through. Like I said in my other post, I have a lot of shows I'm looking forward to, but I'm not committed to anything -- if it's too risky and the local situation deteriorates, I'll go right back to being a hermit at home. 

That said, I did make it back to the Zoo today, but only for about an hour, which was long enough to see the mandrills, get the turacos to sing, and then wander again through a couple of the insect houses and climb the rope structures to see the squirrel monkeys and coati before they closed. I don't know if I'll make it back on Thursday, but I'm sure I'll be back in no time at all. 

Stay safe out there. 

| COVID-19: Get Ready For More Chinese-Supply Shortages | BA.2 Continues Growth | Russia Continues Savage Invasion of Ukraine |

Praying Mantis at Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at San Diego Zoo (Taken 3.15.22) 

 I thought that I was going to skip a Tuesday post but once I open my laptop it's hard not to just do what I've been doing. Creature of habit. Plus, I was too lazy to drag my ass to the Casbah for Devotchka so what else am I gonna do but watch murder shows and read through my inboxes?

Tuesday was a pretty spectacular afternoon, as Darren and I met a friend and his 2 year old niece at the San Diego Zoo. It seemed a little less crowded than Monday and the animals weren't super active, but we spent more time in the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp and were so in awe in the remaining houses and animal habitats that we missed on Monday. Honestly, you could probably go to the Zoo and spend all day in there discovering new things or watching the naked mole rats or the orb weavers' webs. I'm hoping to get listings done quickly on Wednesday so I can go back for more. The only thing I would say is that I think the San Diego Zoo is making a mistake by not requiring, or at least increasing signage recommending masks. The rising numbers around the globe should be raising some red flags, especially because most of us who got boosters are over four months past having them available for everyone. China is locking down millions of people and the resulting work stoppages are certainly going to bring back supply issues and shortages of goods once again. Plan for the worst and hope for the best, I guess. 

Stay safe out there. 

Stealth Omicron Cases Rising In Europe & China As US Abandons Mitigations | Russian Invasion Continues In Spite of Talks | Pearl-Clutching Over Turning Red |

 

The Only Thing Offensive About Turning Red Is Their Scary Portrayal of Red Pandas
(Taken 3.2.22)

I guess I could say I had a pretty good weekend. I sold merch for three artists who couldn't be more differend: Lido Pimienta on Friday at the Casbah, Dave Hause on Saturday, and Liza Anne on Sunday, both at Soda Bar. I still enjoy doing merch, but I stay up long after I get home and so my days end up a bit wasted. Like Friday morning, I skipped the media opening of the Wildflife Explorers Basecamp at the San Diego Zoo because I knew I'd get there eventually. That eventually ended up being today and I guess some people are already on spring break, because it was super crowded when we got there around 3:30. We did our usual loop of the regular Zoo then spent about a half hour in the Spineless Marvels section of Basecamp before jumping on the Skyfari and doing the long walk back to the exit. If you're planning on taking small kids: don't try to see everything in one day, bring loads of hand sanitizer and wet wipes, and don't let your kids on the play structures until you're ready for them to spend the rest of their time there. I'll definitely be back at least a couple times this week to see more -- I'm looking forward to seeing the spiders and the tamandua when it's a little more active, plus any other critters they moved into the Basecamp that were not on exhibit before. 

Besides all that, I watched Turning Red today. I felt like I had to after Nova watched it at a sleepover with my nieces and then I read scathing reviews about it from some the White Christian Women Pearl Clutching Society of America (tm) and an old acquaintance from high school. The funny thing was this high school friend was saying how uncomfortable it was -- I'm sure it was because it wasn't centered on a white boy like 95% of kids movies, they weren't Christian, and because it addressed female puberty. It deals with Asian parents, much in the spirit of Joy Luck Club or Crying in H Mart, and the pressure of living up to immigrant parents' standards. Should be relatable but apparently the WCWPCS is all up in arms about it. Fuck them. It was cute. 

BA.2 is spreading. Keep those masks on even if you don't have to. 

Stay safe out there. 

2 Years of COVID-19 Pandemic | 1 Year of American Rescue Plan | US Expands Russia Sanctions | SPLC Report: The Year In Hate & Extremism |

LIdo Pimienta at the Casbah (Taken 3.11.22)

I thought I would have a lot to say on the two year anniversary of the pandemic, but I think that all I've been doing for two years is talking about it. The virus has changed, what we know about the virus has changed, and I think it is fair to say that after two years, we all have changed, too. I can say I'm grateful that we survived. I know it's not over, but if we learned anything the past two years, it's to be ready for anything and roll right along with it. In many ways the world feels like it is spinning out of control and at the same time, we're here in beautiful San Diego living with perfect weather and living our little lives the best we can. Onward and upward.  

Stay safe out there. 

CoVID-19:Public Health Experts Pitch 'Next Normal' | WHO Warns Of Sars-CoV-2 In Mammals | Senate (Finally) Passes Anti-Lynching Bill | SDUSD Names New Superintendent Dr. Jackson | San Diego City & County Promote Housing Opportunities |

Jacaranda and Magnolia. The Sleeping Beauties Got New Collars (Taken 3.5.22)

Well, I got the sick. Darren got a cold at some point last week, and even with spending lots of time outside, leaving him home alone to rest while doing stuff with Nova, windows open in the daytime, and the air purifier constantly on in the bedroom, last night I caught my first of the sniffles and then my nose was like a runny faucet. I took a COVID test today just in case, just as Darren had a couple times over the weekend, and it was negative, so I just have to let this have its run on me. I am loading up with fluids, last night I took nighttime Tylenol Cold + Flu and slept an indulgent 15 hours, Darren got me caldo de res from Super Cocina, I've loaded up on my Immune+ gummies, oranges, avocados, bananas, and DayQuil, which all seem to be doing the trick in making me knock this out as quickly as possible, because I already feel better. 

Because I'm kinda just focusing on me today, I'll keep it short and just more of a link share today, but I do want to give a shout out to NBC San Diego for connecting the dots in their gas-price story today: that gas prices were already going up as the economy recovered from the pandemic and demand has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, that the action in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia translate to tighter markets BUT ALSO highlighting that last year, gas companies made record profits and are exploiting any political and economic bumps to their benefit. Popular Info's Jeff Legum really dove in today, too. I would love for any news channel now to look at SAFE/CAFE Rules and where they stand now and the lobbies that have pushed so hard to rescind fuel efficiency standards. 

As for COVID-19 stuff...I'm still posting case data, but I'm taking out daily updates on vaccinations in the national and state sections. I don't think they're super accurate or updated, and at this point everyone has had access to getting shots and boosters and it's just extra time I'd like to start reclaiming for my life. I'll maybe just include it on data-dump Wednesdays.  

Off to sleepy time. Hoping to knock out for at least 12 hours tonight. Tylenol PM, take me away!

Stay safe out there.