CaliNurse

Jean, thank you for posting the excellent "NYer" article! I love its "just the facts" approach, relevant studies, acknowledgment of what works for them , mixed with a send of optimism. Yes, we can do this!

An aside, for those who might wonder. How do staff know if their N95 is actually protective? RNs and other staff undergo yearly "fit testing" which involves wearing a N95, having a big hood placed over your head, then having yucky sweet-tasting aerosol sprayed inside the hood. You then read something aloud, and if, while reading, you taste the spray despite wearing a particular size mask, the mask is the wrong size, has to be changed, or an alternative found (there are devices besides N95s available). Since in the hospital setting, an N95 prevents exposure to active TB patients, measles patients, H1N1 and other influenza strains ( not to mention covid-19 which did not exist when I last worked as a RN) it was very important to have the exactly right fit. (Properly fitting N95s are, unfortunately very uncomfortable to wear for extended time.)

Re: the MD writer's comment about "toughing it out" while sick ...he doesn't mention, is probably not aware, of the huge pressure that is/ was put on us to NOT utilize earned sick time. Hoping greater awareness after covid-19 will result in less managerial pressure on staff.

Thanks again for the link.

LucieV

Thank you from me, too. I really don't get what's so complicated. If one person takes a drag of a cigarette in the bathroom on a plane, it's very unlikely that it'll cause a problem. Yet everybody obeys that one.

mlgb

Apparently plenty of people don't really care about observing or enforcing the no lounging rule at Venice Beach, including the police who were sent there to enforce it, or the Mayor who imposed it.

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...s-no-citations"At the south end of the lot, three mounted Los Angeles police officers sat on their horses, looking toward the Palos Verdes Peninsula, at dozens and dozens of Angelenos lolling on the sand, picnicking and sunbathing, in clear violation of the mayor’s latest order, which bans passive beach recreation.

I rode up next to the officers and asked whether they’d given any citations. The officer closest to me gave me a look that made me think I’d asked a very silly question."

“I understand our mayor prefers to have a consensus model, and he talks about coming from a place of love and compassion, but if it’s important enough to be mandatory, it would have to have some teeth,” Levinson told me Monday. “It raises an existential question: Why have a law if you don’t enforce it?”

Police are deliberately not meting out punishments, however, because this is only the first week of the newly relaxed rules, because they understand that people are going stir crazy at home and because they don’t want a public relations fiasco on their hands.

Garcetti, for his part, acknowledged that enforcement of his order is essentially on hold as the public grows accustomed to the new normal."

Not surprised at all. People have been violating any and all of the orders in Los Angeles, with zero enforcement since Day 1. The government's main enforcement tool has been to close public parking lots.

mlgb

There was some video of Manhattan Beach on the news yesterday. Lots of sand sitting there.

This weekend should be interesting.

Jean

It's now OK to lounge on the sand in Manhattan Beach. People are supposed to be observing distancing, but we'll see how that goes. We walked along the Strand yesterday, and fewer than half of the other walkers were wearing masks. There were not many people overall, so distancing was easy, but numbers will certainly be going up every week. The bike path is still closed, but when that opens....

Surfergirl

California is now starting to open up again. In Los Angeles, it's taking a little longer than other parts of the State. Open air malls, like Century City, has now a limited re-opening, for store pick ups. We were there last evening to see what was and was not open. Couldn't really tell about retail pick up, as all of the retail stores were closed. However, what was open when we were there, aside from Gelson's grocery store, which has remained open throughout, were some of the restaurants, for take out only.

I had a planned trip (since December) on June 6th to Paso Robles for wine tasting and see the Sensorio Field of Light. The hotel we had reservations surprisingly remained open as an "essential" business. Limited wine tasting (with all of the precautions) at a number of wineries just opened. Field of Light is supposed to re-open June 2nd, so we're still hoping for that to remain the case.

My only 2 concerns about heading up there are: (1) because it's a 3 hour drive, will I make it, as I have a complete fear of using public restrooms; and (2) whether I should bring my own bedding. I always bring my own pillow, and that's not going to stop, but I'm thinking I might want to bring up my own bedding as well! I'll definitely bring up sanitizing products, disposible gloves, and masks.

Still, I'm excited to take a break from home!

Jean

That outing sounds fun. We usually go to the release parties at Turley but haven't decided about this year yet. I do want to see the Field of Light, so that might tip the scales.

The public restroom fear is real. I can usually make it to Paso without stopping, but you never know whether a fender-bender will stop traffic... Yikes.

I also bring my own pillow, but I wouldn't bring bedding. If you bring bedding, why not towels too? At some point, you have to trust the hotel's housekeeping. Otherwise, I wouldn't go.

Can I ask where you stay?

Underhill

The public restrooms in Solvang are the best and cleanest I've ever seen, if you can take that route.

Barbara

If they're open.

Jean

And if you take that route.... We normally drive up the 5 to the 46. Less scenic but a bit faster with more predictable traffic. Driving the 101 can be maddening.

But good to know about Solvang. We haven't been there in years....

mlgb

When I went to see Sensorio, I used the Adelaide Inn for just one night. Family owned, not fancy but actually a 50-year old motel that has been updated. I found it to be clean and friendly. Rooms have microwave /refrigerator and coffee maker so easier to be self sufficient. I did takeout from the McDonalds and Starbucks next door and bought stuff to microwave from the Grocery Outlet around the corner.

Jean

I think we stayed at the Adelaide about 20 years ago. It looks familiar.

The last couple of times, we've stayed at The Oaks about 2 blocks away. It feels like a Hilton in a previous life.

mlgb

i think the same family also owns the Oaks. They gave me a discount coupon for breakfast over there. Adelaide Inn does seem to have stayed open judging from their website.

BTW "professional cameras" were not allowed inside Sensorio. I went very early (maybe the first day that was regular pricing). At that time, they didn't have their "no professional camera" definitions together, they told me to put my mirrorless micro 4/3 Olympus (not even the good one) back in the car. After noticing somene with a $10K Canon DSLR camera kit inside (really a professional setup but not with a long lens), I asked for a manager and they switched their policy to no tripods. Too late for nearly my entire visit.

Hopefully you won't have to start from ground zero if you are a photographer.

Surfergirl

We're booked for the Adelaide. Whomever's been up there, would you be able to recommend wineries of preference? The only ones allowed to be open at present are those that have food.

I'd kind of like to check out the Justin tasting room in downtown Paso Robles. My mom was a member of their wine club until I canceled her membership in 2016 (she wasn't supposed to be drinking anymore because of her medications and balance issues; and her extravagant spending habits needed to stop). I drank the last of her Justin wine last week. She passed away 3 years ago, tomorrow.

mlgb

I stopped tasting there when it became all Rhone Rangers. Eberle isn't open.

I thought maybeTobin James would be, but website says curbside purchases

Probably Adelaide could help answer that question.

Jean

Niner if they open in time for your trip... Their website says "early June." I prefer their restaurant over their wines, but the restaurant is really excellent.

https://www.ninerwine.com/

mlgb

Apparently some of the boutique stores in Belmont Shore opened up, the same day that Long Beach announced no-cost testing will be available on an appointment basis to all residents (maybe it was a condition of the reopening?).

I probably don't need to shop that badly.

Also the State had to step in and order testing of all nursing home residents and workers, which has been lagging in LA County.

Surfergirl

Thanks for the info on Paso Robles. I have a list; slowly opening the wineries. That said, Sensorio just notified us that it will remain closed that weekend. Presumably their "extended to June 30th" will continue further. We'd postpone the trip until it opened, but frankly, we just need to get away for a night!

Jean

I wouldn't be able to do PR in July/August. Too dang hot for me. It reached 106 in PR last week. It has cooled off now, but temps will be in the 90s by mid-June and into the 100s for many days in July and August.

mlgb

I went at the end of May last year. I must have taken this when I went back inside with the camera. It's best to go before it gets dark, since the effect of the lights coming on with the sunset is just as lovely.