Balancing risks

As the city and state have started to allow places to open (hair salons, gyms, restaurants etc), we're also hearing that the number of COVID cases has risen sharply. I've been wearing a mask everywhere, and limiting the indoor places I'm going to, but it's hard to know where it's worth engaging again and where it's not. 

As the ballet studio has been starting in-person classes, I've been realizing how much I hate taking class at home. It has rarely felt like I'm getting any kind of work out or maintaining any kind of technique. This week I took Veronica's class, which like Chasen's also was online. Again, only 3 people (one of them was Allegra) and I didn't mind the slower pace required for the teacher to manage the online group. James' Thursday class was the first in-person only and full 90 minutes. My balance needs to be strengthened again among other things, but it has felt so good taking these classes that I can't bring myself to take online classes right now. It's not easy wearing a mask the whole time but it's something you get used to.

This weekend I checked out an AR performance by Heidi Duckler Dance at LA State Historic Park. This is a park located north of Chinatown that I've never been to. I was required to install an app that will allow me to interact with the on-site material. There were a decent but well scattered population of people using the park. Seemed like most of them had no idea what the various art posters were about. I had a hard time initially figuring out how to work the AR app. Eventually, an email to the company led to instructions and it turned out to be really cool. The company had scattered random plastic things sitting or hanging on the lawn or plantings in the park. In two locations there were small posters stuck in the ground. When the app was used to capture the image, a video played. In one location, the videos were of dancers performing in different locations. In the second location, they were of reef and other sealife. Not only was this a great way to present dance, but I also explored a new park for the first time 

On Sunday, I took a class with more than 3 people! It still felt safe and everyone kept their distance properly. After, Joyce and I met Kelly and Margie at Rustic Kitchen's outdoor patio. It was so enjoyable to catch up in person, share a meal, and feel a little more normal. We kept our masks on while speaking, only taking them off for eating and drinking. We all put our masks back on after eating without even having discussed it. 

It still makes me anxious to dip my toe into the world like this, but the rewards are so huge right now. 

Life both in person and online

Working online makes the week seem very long and the weekends very short. However some things are starting to open up, the most exciting for me is the return to in-studio classes at Westside School of Ballet. 

I wasn't sure how I'd feel but for my first class, there were only two other students. Chasen was teaching online at the same time so his attention was often focused on the computer but I didn't mind as it was just such a pleasure to have a proper barre, good Marley sprung floor, and space! Since the class was sparsely attended, it felt safe. It's not easy taking class with a mask, but it's a small price to pay. 

On Saturday, I met two business friends at the LA Arboretum. It's in Arcadia, so normally quite far to get to, but with reduced traffic, it was worth taking the time to spend in a beautiful garden and seeing people I hadn't seen in a long time, talking like old times. It's peafowl mating season so the resident peacocks were in fine form, displaying at the least provocation. The peahens seemed not to be taken in by the ostentatious displays. 

The garden is quite large with a lot of unusual plants, water features, and paths. We ended up spending two hours walking around without even realizing the time. It was a little more crowded than I would've preferred however outdoor activities seem to be the safest at the moment.

I had to rush home to get online to watch my neighbours youngest daughter become a bat mitzvah. They were online from grandma's house with the guests logging in from all over. Mattea did an amazing job, the whole family looked so proud and happy and it was very special to be able to participate.

The other milestone of sorts this weekend was my first fill up at the gas station since mid March. 

After such a busy day, Sunday was definitely a day for rest. 

Most exciting weekend!

This weekend has been monumental for me! On Friday, my condo neighbours did our usual Friday Happy Hour but with the addition of Gil's smoked salmon, which he made for all of us (we contributed to the cost). Liz and Jon made Hawaiian style dinner rolls (so good) and banana bread, Michael and Jasmin brought vegan potato salad, I brought a bottle of wine, Bryan brought the twins. It was like a real dinner party. 

On Saturday, I had my first hair appointment since before the shut down. It's such a small thing, but wow it felt so good! Sandra trimmed and reshaped my hair, coloured my roots and add violet highlights. It required wearing our masks for the whole time but so worth it!

That evening Chris got a few of us together in their backyard to celebrate Pam's 50th birthday. He ordered in Dear John's TV dinners and a cake from Victor Benes. Becky was there and Jenny brought her new puppy Major who is seriously the cutest puppy EVER. 

Today, was more like a regular pandemic Sunday (James's ballet class in the morning, grocery shopping, etc) but Bryan's twins turned 2 and he invited us all to join him in the back to celebrate. He had some friends over, dressed the twins up in their fancy duds and had Hot Cakes cupcakes.

So much fun being with people in real life, and exhausting.  

Newest neighbour

He started showing up on our local streets shortly after the mayor and state issued the stay at home orders to control the spread of COVID19. People on Nextdoor posted pictures, in astonishment. 

There is a history of peafowl in Southern California. There have been flocks in the area north of Pasadena and in the south bay. They usually start out with someone wealthy bringing a small flock to their large property. The peafowl do what comes naturally and since they can fly, eventually become feral in the surrounding neighbourhoods. Here's an article from the LA Times with some of the backstory. Here's another one in Los Angeles magazine with a map of peafowl communities.

One thing is for sure, they aren't known for hanging around the westside communities. And yet here we are, with at least one peacock and possibly two (or more) peahens. The males and females haven't met yet but one can hope. (Or maybe not, as peafowl are very large birds with a very distinctive and loud call.)

I've been low-key stalking the Mar Vista peacock since I started seeing the Nextdoor posts. It was a bright spot in an otherwise anxious time. My friend Yuki ran into him outside her building, my neighbour Jasmin ran into him on her walk. I had no luck and was beginning to despair. 

Finally this weekend, I went out for a walk and decided on a more circuitous route than I would normally take. As I strolled up one street not far from where I live, I practically tripped over him. 

He was grooming and hanging out mostly. He was not much disturbed by dogs being walked (although the owners were very careful with their pups). A local toddler made him a little perturbed by running around him. Eventually, he started strolling up the street so I followed, with him keeping an eye on me. 

He finally found a nice shady patch of lawn for a wee rest and I left him in peace. 

That was about all the excitement I could handle for the day so I cut my walk short and headed home. 

Different perspectives

Saving these here for future reference.

• Maintaining Professionalism In The Age of Black Death Is…A Lot. An article by Shenequa Golding.
• Killer Mike’s Speech in Atlanta
  
• America Is A Tale of Two Cities. A video essay by CNN’s Chris Cuomo.
• Bobby Kennedy’s Speech the Night of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Assassination.