Substitute Teaching During Covid

A friend was approached by a Nassau County school.  They wanted her to be a special sub in case a teacher needs to quarantine for 14 days.  The pay is a big $157 a day, no health coverage, no sick  leave and the job ends in January when a vaccine might be available.

This did not seem worthwhile to her and it certainly would not be worth the risk to me.  I guess, if you need the money, you have to take a chance.  Just seems like a gamble with small returns.

(Pictured above is the animal Zoom conference with participants from the Bronx and Queens Zoos.)

Covid 19 Funeral

I just attended my first Zoom funeral.  While it is good to see so many of my fellow temple members attending, showing love and care, physical presence is greatly missed.  Seeing the rabbi and the deceased family gathered around the grave is heartwarming and heartbreaking. This man suffered so much in the last year of his life.  I am thankful for the technology that at least allows us to partake, even from a distance.  Even a beautiful song and eulogy by the wonderful Sol Zim was streamed.

I am hoping one day soon, I can hug my friend, the grieving widow and tell her I love her.

Surfers

With Covid 19 and not too many places to go, the beach is it!  It is so easy to enjoy the beautiful weather and to social distance.  I aslo spend too much tme with Photoshop

Our Students

Internet learning is not working. I spoke to the dad of a ninth grader today.  The student has two concerned bright parents and a stay at home mom.  The parents try and try but they can’t get her to do much school work,  her schedule is screwed up.  She is awake at night and then sleeps all day.  The dad told me many of his friends are seeing the same things with their children.

I don’t have an answer.  I can’t see schools going back and they will never be the same.  If kids with concerned, educated parents are not getting education, imagine what is going on with others.  I fear for the future.

Covid 19 Tribute

So upsetting, this is a church not far from my house.  Each flag represents a person that has died from Covid 19.

Social Distancing At The Beach

 

To the person who grew up in Rockaway-apologies, I accidentally deleted Your comment

Pissedoffteacher@gmail.com

I am so fortunate to live not too far from one  of the best beaches in the world-Rockaway.  It is not overly crowded and very easy to walk, take photos and stay far away from others.  There is no better way to spend a warm summer day while social isolcating.

Counting My Blessings

As I picked up this broke hanger to toss out, I thought, “how lucky I am.”  I was remembering my trip to Cuba, a country where people have nothing and toss nothing away.  A Cuban would have put it together or used the pieces to create some needed item,  I watched a documentary about the Cuban people where a man spent an hour fixing a dollar pair of flip flops and was so happy with his results.  The flip flops were the only shoes he owned.

We are stuck at home with no end in sight.  Instead of whining I try to count my blessings.  I have a nice, comfortable home to wait this out in, food on the table, internet, telephone, and plenty of entertainment on television.  Everyone in my family is healthy.  And this is what I do when I get sad and depressed.