DH and I went out for supplies yesterday after a solid week at home. I remembered to check in with my neighbor who needed rides to SF for her lung cancer and heart valve replacement. She's been laid off. Thrift stores are nonessential. She didn't want me to bring her anything because she has no cash. I assured her it was no problem, so she asked for wheat bread, milk and eggs. The poor lady was so happy she almost cried, which is remarkable because she's always been stoic.

So I get into the devastated grocery, stripped of all paper products and frozen vegetables. I am delighted to find milk and eggs. Unfortunately in that aisle a woman in a face mask is screaming about a bitch who has disrespected her son. Sadly for me that person walked away and they threatened to beat me up. She dramatically told the son she would take care of me and was willing to go to jail instead of him. He told me he would get his sister to really fuck up my shit. Then he called me a stupid old white lady, kicked my cart really hard, took my picture with his phone. I just stood there waiting for them to get tired of abusing me. They got a good laugh and walked off yelling about how the boy had been disrespected by someone I never saw.

I was thinking, these people need to go three on one for an old lady? The best insults he had was I am old and white? What pitiful knaves. If they had gotten physical I probably would have grabbed the mask and started coughing, but I was so glad it didn't go that far.

Then I got home with my milk and eggs and my neighbor was so happy to see me. It was all worth while but so.much.stress.

AND DH scored toilet paper at Costco, so there is much rejoicing here.

Here's a quick (well 20 minute) tutorial on making masks that you can check out:

[link]

Their suggestion for fabric is quilting quarters, so a good quality muslin would work. They are supposed to be used by cutting a coffee filter to fit, then sticking it inside via the access hole in the middle.

These aren't intended for real medical use, but instead for more casual situations in stores where you're standing in line, et cetera. I'm going out enough to do shopping for work that I really should go masked except AT work or home.

Cereal: Good lord Katerina!

Yikes. Katerina!

I'm so sorry Matilda didn't get into the school she wanted to go to. Does she have a backup specialty school choice (Baltimore has a school for the arts and a design school now so artsy kids often apply to both as BSA is especially competitive.)

A friend of mine got tested at the ER last night but they gave her a pressured positive diagnosis because it's unlikely her test will get processed within two weeks. She's mostly homebound due to severe spinal issues so she was only out in public a specific date. Where I saw her and happily hugged her because I hadn't seen her in person since last summer. This was at a local drag show.

Huge crowd.

Community spread.

Well, you know I've lost it. I just mopped my kitchen and dining room. It's crazy times now!

Does she have a backup specialty school choice

No, but the mainstream school she'd go to has a good digital media/film program. So that's the backup and some of her friends would be going there.

Among her friends who applied to SOTA there's almost an even split on who got in.

Did Not Get In: Matilda Norah (one of her besties) Amelia (her closest friend in film)

Did Get In: Isabella (one of her besties. A very talented artist) Alex (a girl in her film class) Anjelica (into the dance program)

Haven't heard from Anya (who applied to creative writing) or Justy (also film).

I'm sorry Matilda didn't get in! She's so creative and talented. This certainly won't be her only opportunity. Wonderful that she has such a supportive family, and she's so kind and well-adjusted that she was able to be happy for her friends who did get in.

KB, holy hell, what awful people. Kudos to you for remaining calm.

OMG, Katerina. What the hell.

What a thing, Katie Bee!

I'm glad to hear M's alternative is promising. I'm pretty excited (vicariously) for her film career. Her and Owen, I expect to be very entertained by them!

Wine and then pina coladas, is that the wrong direction? It's been a long week and I am writing today off.