Sheltering in Place

[Greg]

Yikes.

[Drunk Monk]

I totally forgot to mention that someone broke into my car on Monday night and rifled through my stuff. Well, it was left unlocked by accident so broke in isnt the right word. Nothing was taken. I don’t keep anything of value in my car since my SF years 20+ years ago. I did hear a car alarm go off - not mine - so they must’ve be checking cars on our street. I regret not getting up to check. I usually do - gotta watch my hood, right?

Stacy got one of her massage tables stolen from her car a while back. She needed a new one. We saw it in a homeless camp later but didn’t want to retrieve it after that.

NOT AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE. For realz. I was bummed about it when I found my glove compartment scattered but glad they didn’t take my CDs (can’t get much for those anyways nowadays).

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Yikes.

[Drunk Monk]

DAY 15: We decided not to attempt Chalk Mountain again. It's too steep.  There are other accesses but the roads have to be more open (all the CA parks are officially closed to camping but you can still hike; you just have to park outside the park and hike in from the road).  So maybe we'll revisit it at some later date.

When we got in my car, it had been rifled through AGAIN!.  Nothing was taken.  I still don't leave stuff in my car.  And I know I locked it last night because I was super paranoid.  There's no sign of break-in so maybe someone has cracked my RC key code.  I just had it serviced last week.  Maybe them?  I dunno, I'm super paranoid now and am going to empty out my car completely.  The perp has just been opening the glove compartment and scattering the contents but no damage done. I'll try file a police report online or something. I know they'll say something like 'well, if nothing was taken...' but it's really annoying, especially now because I had to wipe the car down in case of covid.

We went to Butano state park in Pescadero, a place we've been talking about going to for years.  It's off the beaten path a bit.  There was one shoulder a short distance outside the park where we could walk in from and we were the only car there.  It's a small park, some nice diverse trails, a picnic area, a car camping area and a trail camp that we hiked out to - fairly steep at times but not like Chalk Mtn.  We hiked for 6 hours and didn't see a soul.  On the way out, we saw a ranger and a bridge builder, and then three bikers.  There was only one other car in that space.  We had the whole park - a CA state park - to ourselves.  It was wonderful.  11.4 miles, 118 floors.

On a random note, I got a job offer.  Srsly.  A promoter that I worked with for the Shaolin Summit (you remember that, right Greg?) has been asking me to join his project translating a series of wuxia novels that his father wrote.  We've been in discussion about it for several months now.  I'm not sure how much I trust this guy - he is a promoter, an LA promoter no less - but he's well connected and has bank.  For a long time, I was more tentative but now he's offered money.  We'll see what becomes of it.  I'm still sorting my unemployment so I don't want to mess that up, but even if that comes through and things settle down so I can go back to work, the extra income will be helpful.

[Drunk Monk]

DAY 16: Today I'm chillin in the bungalow.  We got well stocked from our Farm Fresh deliveries, so I got a ton of food.  

I just have my daily chores & exercise, a phone call with that promoter, a volunteer writing task I said I'd take on, and binging the heck out of A Fist Within Four Walls. 

Filed the police report on my car break ins.  They make that so easy online now.  It's not that there's anything they can do, especially now, but it's good to make a record.  Also still sorting out some EDD stuff - that's going to take some time.  Did anyone else have to file?  Am I the only non-essential worker in DOOM?

[Greg]

I haven't filed in years because I'm self-employed. Although, my accountant just called to tell me to file because I might have earned some cash. He also mentioned that since I own a small business, I can get 10K from the government which I don't have to pay back. I think the Yeti really needs to look into that one.

And for some reason which I cannot disclose, The Queen will need to talk to the EDD people, too.

[Drunk Monk]

Although, my accountant just called to tell me to file because I might have earned some cash. He also mentioned that since I own a small business, I can get 10K from the government which I don't have to pay back. I think the Yeti really needs to look into that one.

Good tip.  Tiger Claw has applied, or is working on applying.  Looking into loans too, I gather.  Good luck.  10K would be enough for you to fund Drunk Monk & the Yeti.  

And for some reason which I cannot disclose, The Queen will need to talk to the EDD people, too.

uh oh


The call with the promoter went well.  He put some money on the table - probably as an honorarium or something to keep my EDD status unemployed.  I have to follow up on that.  It'll be hourly - consulting well within my wheelhouse.  I have accepted.  We shall see how this all plays out...

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

DM, good news on the translation/consulting gig. Harriett has been translating as a side gig (even teaching translation classes at University) if you want to ask about the going rates. Given your background, I know that you likely already know.

G-Man: Drunk Monk & The Yeti will be your big breakout feature film. Do it!

Loans: Yup, as soon as I’m done with the lawyers this afternoon (Will/Trust, etc.) that will be my next project.

Be safe out there.

[Greg]

Maybe as a puppet show.

[Drunk Monk]

DM, good news on the translation/consulting gig. Harriett has been translating as a side gig (even teaching translation classes at University) if you want to ask about the going rates. Given your background, I know that you likely already know.

Actually, it's not translation. It's more cultural authenticity consulting. I would be interested in what going rates are however, just out of curiosity.  Message me perhaps?

G-Man: Drunk Monk & The Yeti will be your big breakout feature film. Do it!

Loans: Yup, as soon as I’m done with the lawyers this afternoon (Will/Trust, etc.) that will be my next project.

You're leaving me your swords, right?  RIGHT?

Maybe as a puppet show.

[cranefly]

Sorry if this is a bit off-off-topic, but I've been having trouble keeping up with the whirlwind of best practices and what you can and cannot do under the coronavirus directives.  It sounds like masks are now being recommended by top health officials -- after earlier calling people idiots for wanting to wear them.  As for venturing out for exercise versus sheltering in place, or having a 5-mile limit, that's been fuzzy of late.

Fortunately, I did find a reasonably recent and informative site that, among other things says, "In general, you can go on walks for errands and recreation while practicing social distancing -- and you can walk your dog and garden."

So yesterday I took my garden for walk.

Not my whole garden.  Just a patch of mustard, spinach and kale seedlings.  I carefully dug them up, along with a few inches of topsoil, and put them in our wheelbarrow.  Then I wheeled it out through the side-gate onto the sidewalk and set off.

I got some looks, mind you.  And in hindsight maybe I should have worn a mask.  But we don't have any right now, and I would have had to make one and didn't want to take the time.  Gardens are best walked in the daylight, I strongly believe.

It was a nice mile and a half walk, though the wheelbarrow wan't very easy to push, and with my hips and erratic trajectory it was hard to keep the wheelbarrow level.  So despite all the sun and air the plants were looking a bit wilted by the time I got back -- seasick from all the weaving, no doubt, if not shellshocked by the jumpy overinflated tire.  Anyway, the seedlings are back in the ground now, and I think they'll survive, though I doubt I'll be taking them on many more walks.

Well, maybe the dogweed.  I might give that a try.

[Drunk Monk]

seasick from all the weaving, no doubt, if not shellshocked by the jumpy overinflated tire. 

Best DOOM quote of today STOLEN FTW!

Sorry Greg.  You can try again.  The day is still young and what else have you got to do?

Iron Crotch still is out there.

Best DOOM quote for today.  FTW!

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Note to self: Sync day-drinking with day-eating for longer drinking pleasure.

Also: Cut own hair *before* day-drinking (remembered this one. Quite proud, really).

[The Queen]

Well, my idyllic days of being essential to the court reporters of the world are coming to a... well, not a halt, but an on again, off again weirdness. Stenograph is going to put everyone on an every other week schedule at half-pay for the next two months. The good news is that no one is being fired, that we all keep our benefits and that we qualify for unemployment compensation for the reduced hours. Also, I’ll get four weeks off between now and the end of May, which will give me lots of quality time in the garden and walking around the hills. This will be my first experience with an unemployment claim.

[Drunk Monk]

This will be my first experience with an unemployment claim.

Best of luck.  It's been our first experience too.  

The website is dumb.  Lots of clicks to get answers and hard to find places to ask questions.  Stacy and I are in process.  She was furloughed before the order and got a jump on everything, but she still hasn't recieved any money, just a lot of paperwork.  I got furloughed when the order went in place and the site was timing out because everyone was on it when I applied.  I've got some of the paperwork Stacy did, but I'm far more behind as response has been slow.  There's also a glitch in my data and I've been trying to fix that since I got registered.  I found one contact point last week but that was the wrong one.  They just got back to me this morning with a form email that says 'wrong department...don't reply...we can't forward'.  I found a different contact today and am trying that.  

Ironically, I was the perons tasked by Tiger Claw to get the EDD application information for staff.  That was easy.  It's the processing where it bogs down.