Set-Backs

This is day 115 of social distancing, face-masks and self-quarantining and a lengthy week of minor set-backs.

It started last Friday with my son and daughter-in-law’s vehicle breaking down jus’ over the Nevada-California stateline as they were heading for a visit to her family in the So-Cal area. Two motor belts and a radiator later, at a cost of over $2,600, (not to mention rental cars) they are on their way back home.

Also last week, we decided to change our television delivery system from AT&T to Spectrum. I pulled everything apart and boxed up the AT&T components, only to learn that Spectrum forgot to tell us that our Internet had to be turned on at the junction box on the outside of the house.

Since it was the Fourth of July (can’t bring myself to call it Independence Day jus’ now) Spectrum was unable to get a technician out to the house until Sunday morning. Whatcha gonna do?

So from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon of last week; no Internet, no TV and no cell service. It wasn’t all that bad as I did finally sit down and read a couple of books I’ve been putting off for the last few months.

Then beginning at a minute before midnight tonight, the State of Nevada slips back in Phase I of the COVID-19 crisis. This means bars that serve food can still provide curbside and delivery service, but may not allow patrons on the premises and restaurants with bars must close the bar areas, regardless of if they have gaming machines installed.

So far no word on how other so-called ‘hot-spots,’ like casinos and hotels, are going to be affected by all of this. Meanwhile, Walmart, Home Depot and other large box stores are still open and though visited by hundreds of people daily, remain COVID-free.

Further, I still can’t get through to the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (the unemployment office,) which means still no benefits. Also my wife has no idea when she’ll be returning to work as the school district is still trying to figure out when or even if students will be returning to class following summer.

Like Steve McCroskey (played by Lloyd Bridges) says in ‘Airplane:’ “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking.”