daily update, Saturday May 30
May. 30th, 2020 09:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edenfallingThings done today:
1. I received my absentee ballot for the Democratic primaries (state/local and presidential). I don't remember if I mentioned here, but a few weeks back I got an absentee ballot application form in the mail, with the election in question pre-marked and a notice of what "reason" to give if I wanted to vote by mail because of Covid 19 restrictions. I am not sure if that was a statewide program or something Tompkins County decided unilaterally. Anyway, I thought it was an excellent move so I mailed back the application the following day.
I have now filled out my actual ballot (technically two ballots, since the state/local and the national elections were originally scheduled for different days -- yes, that is ridiculous and inefficient; many people have already made that point at length) and will mail it back tomorrow. Probably I will drop it into an actual mailbox outside the downtown post office outpost, for security, rather than clipping it to my front porch mailbox on Monday morning.
Today's other significant piece of mail was the proposed budget from the Ithaca City School District, and I should presumably receive an absentee ballot from ICSD within the coming week. It looks as reasonable as any budget can be under the circumstances.
2. I also received, via email this time, the proposed 2020-21 budget for my congregation. The Board of Trustees need to approve it by Monday night -- this will be an email vote that we will then confirm at our regular monthly Zoom meeting. Again, it looks as reasonable as any budget can be under the circumstances. There is only one part I'm confused about, but we're having a congregational discussion via Zoom around noon tomorrow, so I'll try to ask our treasurer about it then. (We're using the congregational discussion to test-run out electronic voting system. Here's hoping everything works out!)
3. Nick sent an update about the situation in the Twin Cities. The fires and looting are still well south of his new house and also away from his apartment, so he should be safe, but he's a little worried about driving back and forth as he finishes his move and also about reports of white supremacists coming to town and trying to agitate both sides into violence. I am so sorry for everyone in Minnesota right now. :(
4. Walked into town partly for general exercise and fresh air, but also to check if my barber shop was open now that Phase 2 of the great Un-Pausening has started in the Southern Tier. I wasn't terribly hopeful, since I'd tried calling earlier and got a "this phone number is not currently in service" message -- never a good sign -- and indeed, they were closed. But! I checked their Facebook page this evening and it looks like they plan to reopen (with restrictions) on Tuesday. So I will give them a call on Tuesday morning to see if my hair guy is in, and hopefully he will be able to fix up the wonky trim I gave myself to keep my hair out of my eyes and off the back of my neck.
5. Took a post-lunch nap. It was delicious. :)
6. Roasted asparagus for dinner. That was also delicious. :) I think out-of-season asparagus is actually better for roasting, since the stems tend to be thicker and hold up better in the oven. Skinny asparagus is really better steamed, but I don't have the kitchen equipment to do that properly.
7. Took kitchen compost to the communal backyard bin.
8. While I was out there, spent ~5 minutes doing some desultory weeding. My new thought is that if I spend ~5 minutes per day in the garden, it will never be enough time to register to my brain as "WORK UGH WHAT IS THIS NO" and yet I will still stay mostly on top of the weeds. We shall see how this plan holds up when exposed to reality.
9. Baked brownies for dessert. Continuing the theme, they are delicious. :)
And now I will attempt some writing before heading to bed for more delicious sleep.
1. I received my absentee ballot for the Democratic primaries (state/local and presidential). I don't remember if I mentioned here, but a few weeks back I got an absentee ballot application form in the mail, with the election in question pre-marked and a notice of what "reason" to give if I wanted to vote by mail because of Covid 19 restrictions. I am not sure if that was a statewide program or something Tompkins County decided unilaterally. Anyway, I thought it was an excellent move so I mailed back the application the following day.
I have now filled out my actual ballot (technically two ballots, since the state/local and the national elections were originally scheduled for different days -- yes, that is ridiculous and inefficient; many people have already made that point at length) and will mail it back tomorrow. Probably I will drop it into an actual mailbox outside the downtown post office outpost, for security, rather than clipping it to my front porch mailbox on Monday morning.
Today's other significant piece of mail was the proposed budget from the Ithaca City School District, and I should presumably receive an absentee ballot from ICSD within the coming week. It looks as reasonable as any budget can be under the circumstances.
2. I also received, via email this time, the proposed 2020-21 budget for my congregation. The Board of Trustees need to approve it by Monday night -- this will be an email vote that we will then confirm at our regular monthly Zoom meeting. Again, it looks as reasonable as any budget can be under the circumstances. There is only one part I'm confused about, but we're having a congregational discussion via Zoom around noon tomorrow, so I'll try to ask our treasurer about it then. (We're using the congregational discussion to test-run out electronic voting system. Here's hoping everything works out!)
3. Nick sent an update about the situation in the Twin Cities. The fires and looting are still well south of his new house and also away from his apartment, so he should be safe, but he's a little worried about driving back and forth as he finishes his move and also about reports of white supremacists coming to town and trying to agitate both sides into violence. I am so sorry for everyone in Minnesota right now. :(
4. Walked into town partly for general exercise and fresh air, but also to check if my barber shop was open now that Phase 2 of the great Un-Pausening has started in the Southern Tier. I wasn't terribly hopeful, since I'd tried calling earlier and got a "this phone number is not currently in service" message -- never a good sign -- and indeed, they were closed. But! I checked their Facebook page this evening and it looks like they plan to reopen (with restrictions) on Tuesday. So I will give them a call on Tuesday morning to see if my hair guy is in, and hopefully he will be able to fix up the wonky trim I gave myself to keep my hair out of my eyes and off the back of my neck.
5. Took a post-lunch nap. It was delicious. :)
6. Roasted asparagus for dinner. That was also delicious. :) I think out-of-season asparagus is actually better for roasting, since the stems tend to be thicker and hold up better in the oven. Skinny asparagus is really better steamed, but I don't have the kitchen equipment to do that properly.
7. Took kitchen compost to the communal backyard bin.
8. While I was out there, spent ~5 minutes doing some desultory weeding. My new thought is that if I spend ~5 minutes per day in the garden, it will never be enough time to register to my brain as "WORK UGH WHAT IS THIS NO" and yet I will still stay mostly on top of the weeds. We shall see how this plan holds up when exposed to reality.
9. Baked brownies for dessert. Continuing the theme, they are delicious. :)
And now I will attempt some writing before heading to bed for more delicious sleep.
