Biden clearly has been working very hard these past few months to improve his speaking skills. Last night is no doubt the longest I have heard him deliver remarks without stumbles or issues. It was good!
Like many here, he was far from my first choice, but if he was what was needed for a return to 'normalcy' in the White House, then I am more than ready.
I just want it to be January already. When he was talking about full effort against Covid-19 when he takes office my first reaction was that surely we had to be past this by then. Alas, my second thought was that it is probably going to get worse before it gets better. It is going to be a really long hard Autumn and Winter for this country.
As for last night, the worst part for me was inappropriate attempts at humor from Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She really rubbed me the wrong way. She had sweet sincere moments, but the jokes fell flat.
I mean, I wouldn't make anyone pee in my yard. But I have a guest bathroom that isn't normally used, and have tons of immediate neighbors and nowhere private. I have other friends who only have one bathroom but a huge private yard, so...but they didn't MAKE me pee in the yard, though they suggested it? I think less about the potential touch/surface transmission and more about breathing in their house—we weren't indoors at all. Lately those particular friends we have relaxed somewhat (and with everyone) though we are still only socializing outdoors.
I think I was assuming masks, wrt the question of someone using my bathroom. The only socializing we've done is brief visits with my mom in her parking lot or my yard.
Since my oldest son moved back out, he's come by to do his laundry, but he enters through the garage and wears a mask, then we visit, masked and distanced in the yard.
My daughter is 21. She's had masked friends to the yard, and they've distanced. Nobody needed to use the bathroom while they were here, but I was prepared to close it off after, if they did.
She's gone to one friend's house twice, and they've masked and distanced. I've known the friends since they were in middle school, so there's a trust factor.
As for last night, the worst part for me was inappropriate attempts at humor from Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She really rubbed me the wrong way. She had sweet sincere moments, but the jokes fell flat.
I enjoyed her jokes. Even though I understand the motive for the jokes with Yang about Pence's name (he's botched Senator Harris's name so often, it has to be intentional), that segment did fall flat for me. I thought the rest were good.
My word, that woman still looks great though.
I saw an article a while ago about checking sewage to gauge how many people in a city had the virus. (obviously, pooping in the yard would throw the figures off ... as well as leaving a potential vector, unless you provided a pooper scooper)
That reminds me, Mom and I ate out Wednesday night for the first time since early March. The Houlihan's in my hometown has an outdoor patio, so we sat in the breeze well-distanced from everyone else and only people in masks came within 10' of us. It was nice, but still nerve-wracking enough that we're not going to make a frequent thing of it—I feel much more comfortable when we pick up takeout picnic food and it's just us in a park or out on the lawn.
We are in agreement that while Houlihan's much-lauded meatloaf is good, it's not as good as hers.
It is a little more relaxed here for visiting family or friends because the virus levels are so low. I go and visit my sister almost daily, but we haven't hugged. I use her bathroom. I've seen and been to my nephew's home a number of times. I haven't seen any friends or neighbors other than short conversations from the car or porch when they are walking. We go grocery shopping and get take out. My son does go to work, but they check temperatures and have safety protocols in place.
I feel safe for the time being. Everyone is very concerned with schools opening, but they have met the criteria and open they will. I haven't seen a lot about how they are going to handle safety.
Now Florida is a whole other matter. And I will have to go back at some point.
Given the fact that two storms are heading for New Orleans, I'm having to refrain from calling my parents and panicking at them. I think it will probably be okay, if not for other parts of the city, then for my parents' neighborhood. But still.
I can see where that would be a bit nerve-wracking, Dana.
Or maybe they hit Houston and dump forty inches of rain!
AGAIN.
