Post 18 - March 29, 2020
Day 18…
I have no idea what day of the week it is.
I have agreed to be a guest online at a school class on Tuesday and I’m terrified that I am going to miss it because I am not going to realize when Tuesday is.
These strange eventless days seem to pass extremely quickly despite their aimlessness. Suddenly the sun is going down and I realize that it feels like I’ve used about an hour of the day and I can’t really say what I’ve done with all of the other hours.
They’ve just passed.
Five or six years ago, the JERSEY BOYS tour played in Tokyo for two weeks.
While I was there, I bought some Luwak Coffee as a gift for Michael.
In Indonesia, there is a small animal called a Civet cat. A bit bigger than a house cat.
Mottled, like a leopard.
This animal eats coffee beans and then poops them out.
These beans are collected from the forest floor, roasted and then brewed to make what is considered to be the world’s smoothest cup of coffee.
There are some people who cruelly keep these cats in captivity to generate this coffee, but I was assured by the people I bought this particular coffee from that these beans were not farmed, they were collected in the wild.
It is the most expensive coffee on the planet.
I spent well over $100 for enough of these beans to make ONE pot of coffee.
The little handful of beans were shrink-wrapped and the box they were in has sat in the kitchen ever since I gave them to Michael.
We kept waiting for the perfect occasion to grind and brew up the beans.
Well, this morning we made the pot of Luwak coffee. Whatever day of the week this is seemed to us to be occasion enough.
Verdict?
Good… It was, indeed, very smooth - none of coffee’s usual acidity.
Was it worth the money?
Who can say what a unique experience is worth?
I certainly wouldn’t spend that kind of money on something so ridiculous NOW.
How is all of this going to change all of us by the time it is all over?
How long will it take us to be comfortable enough to spend money on silly things again?
How long will it take us to be comfortable enough to gather together again in groups to eat and drink, watch a show, travel?
In terms of how long this is all going to last, we are all going to experience the worst of this at different times in different parts of the country and around the world.
New York City is going to peak before many other places.
After New York peaks, other places will start to peak.
Some places around the world are where we here in NY were two weeks ago. Three weeks ago, a month ago.
We are not really going to be able to resume traveling as usual until EVERYBODY has passed their peaks.
The President yesterday threatened to officially quarantine NY, by force if necessary.
Well, that little gem of un-thought-out idiocy turned out to be completely illegal so today he backed off.
It also panicked a lot of people.
Utterly unnecessary.
That said, people really should NOT be traveling in and out of NY or ANYWHERE for that matter.
What are they all thinking?
How are we going to end this if people keep moving around, potentially bringing the virus with them - symptomatic or not?
The CDC has put a travel advisory in place. It is NOT a lockdown, just very good advice.
For heaven’s sake, lets follow it - STAY PUT!
A friend of a friend (thank you Elizabeth Baird) who is an acute care nurse in Chicago posted this. I have no idea how many of you out there reading this have any medical training, but just in case:
We received an urgent request from hospitals in NYC to see if any NPs (Nurse Practitioner) or CRNAs (Certified registered Nurse Anesthetists) would be open to working as RNs in the ICU to help with the COVID Crisis.
Are you available to help?
Specialties Accepted: Nurse Practitioners & CRNAs needed to work as RN’s for COVID Crisis Response
Location: New York City, NY
Dates/Shifts: 4/06-Ongoing (8-week assignments)
Job Details: • NP’s and CRNA’s will be working as a Registered Nurse in ICU • Flexible schedules – Night shifts only • 48 hrs week (OT over 48 hrs) • 60 hrs week (OT over 60) • 3x 11.5 shifts weekly • No time off for the first 2 weeks • Minimum of 2 yrs. ICU experience required • Certifications Required: ACLS, BLS • EMR: 1 yr. EPIC experience required • Procedures required: Aline, vent, Tele, IV start experience • Privileging in 1 week • Advanced Practice Rates & travel assistance •
WILL ACCEPT ANY STATE LICENSE!!!
There is a survey to establish what your skills are at www.health.ny.gov/assistance.
If you are thinking about volunteering and have questions you can contact them at workforce@exec.ny.gov.
So far nearly 70,000 people with health care experience have volunteered to assist.
That is amazing.
70,000 people.
Over 6,000 mental health professionals have volunteered to help as well.
They are offering their services gratis - for free.
If you are in distress, in any way, there is a mental health hotline here in the US:
1-844-863-9314.
Do NOT suffer alone and in silence.
Reach out.
Call this number, somebody will be on the other end to talk to.
If you are in show business and need financial help or other help with insurance or how to get medical attention The Actor’s Fund is there for you.
Their contact information is:
New York City: 800.221.7303
Chicago: 312.372.0989
Los Angeles: 888.825.0911
We aren’t in this alone. We are all in this together. All over the flipping planet. There are organizations like the ones I’ve mentioned EVERYWHERE.
Google them.
USE them.
We will get through this - Look, we ARE getting through this!!!