Matt's Journal

26mar20

I took a 2.3 mi walk to Franklin Blvd and back. On the way, I heard the sound of leaf blowers outside the door.. This is unchanged since the pandemic began. Yard work and construction projects continue. I notice work being done at some of the closed businesses – a Freeport Blvd dentist office getting a new sidewalk and handrails, for example.

A picture of closed shops near City College. These places depend on students and there are none around.

I walked back behind City College – to find an empty parking lot.

I ascended the pedestrian bridge and observed downtown. The air remains strikingly clear, likely due to less car traffic. On my way down the pedestrian bridge I passed a small family: a big man bouncing a basketball, and two three-to-five year old children. That’s a scene I’ve seen a lot. I have seen more joggers around than usual too.

I crossed Crocker and entered Curtis Park, wet with dew. Picture looking south towards Sutterville Rd.

I’m learning to use my Samsung Notes app better. I can embed pictures in the midst of text. From here down, that is what I’ve done. Samsung Notes can export to .docx or .pdf format – unfortunately, WordPress accepts neither without a plugin. I might add the plugin later. For now, I’m simply inserting the image files from my hard drive.

This is the low income seniors home across the tracks from SCC. I wonder how they’re dealing with this pandemic? I don’t see many folks around.

Outdoor exercise is encouraged by the experts during this time, but there was an early emphasis on “staying home”, especially promulgated by local media, which may have predisposed people to staying inside. That’s not good, because going outside and walking is good for body and soul.

Not many of these rental bikes are left. They were pulled off the streets by Uber for the pandemic. I suppose they did that for liability reasons – although it seems unlikely that the virus would spread on these as they are outside, in the sun, and the UV in sunlight is said to destroy the virus. So…how did this bike escape? Perhaps it was stolen. I have seen derelicts attempting to pedal them – but without being “on” and charged they are not very usable.

This was taken from the top of the pedestrian bridge looking north. The air’s very clear, clearer than I ever see it normally. It goes to show how accustomed we get to our bad air quality! That’s one thing I will miss about these days of confinement.

Finally, here’s the empty parking garage at SCC – this is on a workday, a Thursday, and is normally full. This is a time that will go down in history! You get to see my finger too!

Life goes on until it stops, even in a pandemic. This is my “standing desk” – a tall table that we’ve had for years.

Laura ran over a nail. We went to Big O downtown the next day and had the tire patched – they did it for free! Incidentally, I got a bike flat that same day. And, the next-door neighbors’ battery died and they had a tow truck collect their car to have it fixed. Is there a reason behind all these transportation issues? I don’t see it, but mention them anyway.

Finally, this is tonight’s dinner. – shrimp creole, made by me. The shrimp shown at the right were peeled, deveined and ready to be added to the stew. We did not change our habits – no panic buying – but have had plenty of food (and enough toilet paper). Stores have shortened hours, beefed up their delivery and pickup services and offer morning hours for the elderly (over 60) and immunocompromised.