COVID and we all fall down

Several days before Oleg's birthday, I had nose drainage. The kind that slithers its way down the back of the throat, pooling until you can't help but cough. I had the throat tickle. I felt lousy in the evenings. But no fever, no body aches, no loss of taste. I continued going about my days, including spending a stint with Grammy in the ER (she's fine). I still mask and rarely go out. 

I know my body. I suspected I was well on my way to a sinus infection.

But, just in case, I quarantined. Truth? I thought doing so would get me pampered. Ha!

I stayed in Darcy's room, aka the guest room, and slept on a blow-up mattress. Saturday, we got the news Oleg had tested positive. Not long after that came the text from Darcy in Alaska. Her group tested before boarding their trip's cruise phrase, and guess who came back positive? Again, with no symptoms. She was coming home.

Immediately, Madison and I took the home test. Both of us came back negative. Still, I moved into the Steelers' room while Darcy took her old room. 

And then Tom fell. 

Maddy moved temporarily into Darcy's apartment because she had a planned vacation in a few days and didn't want to chance it.

Tom stayed in our bedroom. He did not test himself.

Tom: "Why? I'm sure I have it."

Me: "Uh? So you're sure?"

I, meanwhile, had a telavisit with a medical professional who agreed that my sinus pressure symptoms, significant headache, and loose cough with gross fluid sounded like a sinus infection. She gave me an antibiotic. Within three doses, the headache and pressure disappeared. Still, it took ten days and then some to feel a hundred percent. Did I have COVID on top of sinusitis? Who knows? I held on to that one negative test.

Tom missed a week of work. Darcy never had symptoms. She and I shared the pool, one going in first, the other after because we were over our four walls.

Although, I must say the Steelers room was top-notch. I had everything--refrigerator, computer, television, couch, futon. Okay, the futon sucked after the second day. By day five, I released myself and repeated the sinusitis diagnosis if anyone asked. I did wear a mask.

We all survived. Then, Madison returned from her vacation. On her first day at her new job, she tested positive for COVID at a walk-in clinic where she hoped they'd treat her for a sinus infection.

Oops.

This time I ran away--to Orlando!

Oleg's Bday 2022

Oleg's birthday was a hit from the Russian restaurant to Madison's homemade attempt at the Hungarian cake Oleg always gets when home. 

We ate too much food. We had presents, including Darcy's gifts and well wishes from Alaska. We learned English and Russian for words like fork, spoon, knife, plate, glass. We laughed. We celebrated.

Happy Birthday, Oleg!

Encountering brick walls

There is a lot in acclimating Oleg's family to the U.S. Everyone has jumped on the wagon train. SueG handles the medical aspect. I research whatever Oleg needs, including schooling information and finding English classes for his grandmother. Oleg runs around doing everything else, including teaching his mother to drive in our large city, etc. Unfortunately, it hasn't been so helpful outside our friend/family circle.

His brother will attend high school in a couple of weeks, so I called the school and discussed the enrollment process with a woman who was not very welcoming. I brushed that off--everyone has a bad day. Then I gathered the necessary papers and signatures, including taking my MIL to a notary to sign a residency affidavit stating the family lived in her house. 

Armed with this paperwork and necessary documents, Oleg, his mother, and his brother went to the school and met with Ms. Jay (name changed). Her disposition hadn't gotten any sunnier. She wasn't pleasant and then sent them away. Despite having an affidavit and a utility bill, the school system needs more proof of my MIL's ownership of her property. Please explain how having a copy of the cable bill helps here? 

But that is what I took to Ms. Jay later that morning after she dismissed Oleg and the crew. First, I took his mother to my bank to have the other side of the affidavit notarized. Something I was told the school would do as they have a notary on property.

The bank notary took the paper and documents.

Him: "Do you have an account with us?"

Me: "I do, yes, several."

Him: "But she doesn't?"

Me: "She's from Ukraine."

Him: "I understand that, but our policy is you must have an account--"

Me: "Who's to say she won't open one at this bank depending..."

To his credit, he shut his mouth and notarized the paper. But he talked around Oleg's mother as if she weren't there, which annoyed me. But we were in and out in less than five minutes, so I let that roll off my back.

Who knew the shit storm that was about to blow me over at the school.

First, we entered the building and stopped at the glass partition. There was a small hole for talking and a bell on a ledge. Behind the glass, a woman stood facing me directly. We made eye contact. I smiled. She didn't. I said hello. She stared.

I rang the damn bell.

She asked if she could help. I explained our previous morning visit and that we had the papers Ms. Jay required. She unlocked the door, let us enter, and sat us at a table with three chairs. I attempted idle chit-chat. 

Me: "The school colors are red and gold?"

Her: "Maroon."

We waited. 

When Ms. Jay appeared, she wore a ponytail to the side of her head and hatred on her face.

I've never seen anything like it.

She acted like I was trying to pull one over on her, although I haven't a clue what that would've been, seeing as I was only enrolling a student. She was nasty. She was rude. She refused to look at Oleg's mother and his brother.

Ms. Jay: "Does mother speak English?"

Me: "She does, as does her son."

When I told her I had done what the website suggested and downloaded and filled out the paperwork given to students on the first day of school--

Her: "You'll have to fill them out again. Those are color-coded. How is Mrs. Blah supposed to know I have them? And was this the county website or the school's website? We have over 100,000 students. I can't be expected to remember to get her those papers."

When I asked her about classes--

Ms. Jay: "We will put him in standard ninth-grade classes."

Me: "And if he took some of those classes already?"

Ms. Jay: "We would need proof of that. Not a report card. We would need official documentation from the school. We can't just take your word for it."

Me: "Ukraine is in the middle of a war."

Ms. Jay: "I understand, but we need it."

When I asked her about speaking with a counselor--

Ms. Jay: "Maybe, but I don't know if they are working right now. This is vacation time for them."

Me: "Can you tell me who the ninth-grade counselor is?"

Ms. Jay: "Ma'am, that goes by the first initial of the student's last name!"

I waited. She stared at me.

Me: "So, you want me to find that on my own? Is that on the website?"

Nothing.

She tried to act as though Oleg hadn't been there earlier, asking for all the paperwork again. I shut that down, reminding her she had made copies of all that documentation. Oleg's mother opened her huge file, one of many she carried in her backpack for hours as she crossed into Poland. When she pulled them out one by one, Ms. Jay rose to "check."

She returned with the file. By the time we finished, I was livid. 

Ms. Jay is a tech data person assigned to give out a password and username so students can enter the system online. This is who the school has as the face of welcoming new students? 

Yeah, no wonder this county school system gets flack. I don't know if anyone would care to hear my story, but I haven't given up telling it. If the superintendent or school board doesn't know how things work in the real world, how are they supposed to make changes? Ugh. I'm still deciding how to go about alerting them.

But assigning a worker who has issues against foreign citizens, isn't it. 

I can only hope the experience goes upward from here. 

Alaska bound

Darcy accepted a job working for three weeks in Alaska. She will be one of fourteen interpreters on an Alaskan vacation adventure, including a seven-day cruise to British Columbia. She and her mentor flew from Orlando in the early morning, and I suggested we spend the night because I did not want to awake and drive I4 at 3:30 a.m.

Hubby got perturbed at the idea, ranting along the lines of entitlement and wealth until I reminded him of my Wyndham albatross. 

Hello! We make payments whether we use these damn points or not!

Good thing he didn't come with us because Wyndham upgraded me from a two-bedroom to a three-bedroom in a unit larger than my house. 

It was an enjoyable evening with pizza, wine, and fireworks on the roof of the owner's lounge.

The following day, I dropped off the two interpreters and their excessive amount of luggage at the ungodly hour of six-thirty. Then, because Wyndham requires a two-night minimum stay, I spent the day writing while Madison explored the resort.

Madison: "I found where the sales pitches happen. A very nice area. So, I explored. I went up this large staircase and peeked into rooms with tables and chairs. They had little refrigerators with waters and sodas and snacks. No one was in the offices, but as I wandered, I heard footsteps. I had nowhere to hide. This guy appeared and asked if I was being nosy, and I told him I certainly was!"

It poured that evening, so there was no firework display. Instead, I continued writing. Madison exercised by skipping from one end of the unit to the other until she eventually got tired and settled down to do some work for the upcoming school year. About ten o'clock, I threw in a load of laundry.

I always overpack, and every trip, I say I won't, and then I do. So, this time I didn't.

Me: "I'm taking the clothes I'm wearing in the car and one other outfit. I'll wash them in the unit. Well, unless something happens to the washing machine. Then, I'm screwed."

Oh, foreshadowing.

I showered, wore my Presidential Wyndham robe, wrote, and realized I didn't hear the washing machine. Thinking it complete, I went to shift the clothes to the dryer. Unfortunately, the washer was still full of water, and still not comprehending, I figured I'd disrupted the cycle and started the machine again. 

But I did stand there. When the machine started a series of clicking noises, I knew I'd jinxed myself--at eleven o'clock at night. I texted the Wyndham support number and explained that if they didn't want me checking out in my birthday suit the following morning, they'd better send someone to help.

They did. Maintenance arrived at eleven thirty and had the issue resolved before midnight! The lock on the machine was broken and only needed replacement.

No nudity happened the next day, thank goodness. 

But I think I shall keep overpacking. 

Chalk up another girls' trip toward my resolution!