FaceTime with Mom

Looking through my photos, I realized that I had a slew of screenshots that looked like this.  Even before COVID life started, I was enjoying signing on to FaceTime with Mom and seeing what part of her came on screen.  Here, on February 8th, I was enjoyed working with what she gave me and together we make one face (missing a nose).

On Feburary 13th, we started with this....

....but we eventually got a full face on the screen!

February 14, Happy Valentine's Day Mom.

This next few in late February shows that her iPad hadn't moved.

February 29th

Here on March 1st, we started with a finger blocking the camera.....

.....BINGO!  And we get big smiles from both of us.

Here we are on March 14th.....sometimes I just let it sit there and enjoy the ceiling.

Eventually we get it to work. 

March 15th!  Here at the beginning of COVID life, I was trying to FaceTime every day.  I guess she was showing me the good weather here.

Sometimes we get the neck view!

Another variation....the upside down plus finger view!

Even the half face!

Eventually, we get it figured out!

But then, the world moved to Zoom.  One day I spent about 15 minutes trying to get her to install Zoom on her iPad.  I was on the phone (landline) with her as she was on her iPad.  I think her challenge was she was mixing up the App Store with Safari.  Evenutally, we Zoomed with me holding up her on FaceTime into the Zoom.

Nowadays, Marlene has installed Zoom and so we now video in that manner and for some reason, getting her face on screen has been a non-issue.  Usually we just hang out and eat together around dinner time.

As we move into the long months of COVID, my frequency to talk or video with Mom has decreased to every few days.  But when I do, we do get her face!

COVID Life at 6AM

Part of my physical therapy has been to get up each morning, head out at 6AM and head out for a walk around Bernal Hill.  My ultimate goal is to walk up this hill on Bocana Street without hiking poles, which I accomplished a in late May.  

Many of you wonder, "don't you usually do your workout at 6AM?" And yes, I would like to, but the home workouts wake up Onions, so I've moved those to 4:30PM in the afternoon.  I started these morning walks back in early April and here's the view at the first bench I hang out at at 6:10AM.  

The 6AM view in early May.  In my almost three months of 6AM walks, I've come to recognize the same people who are out at the same time.  One of them always says hello and she runs with a yellow safety vest.  She (alas, I forget her name) appears to be the 6AM welcoming committee because talks to EVERYONE.

6AM in early June.

6AM with some fog

Sometimes, the entire city is socked in with Karl the Fog!

By the middle of June daylight views were available at 6AM

I throw on the mask when it feels crowded on the hill, which for some reason is Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Otherwise.....

From my first bench I head down the north side of the hill in a clockwise fashion.  Right now, the writing on the pavement spells out "The Future is Black"

On that north side is the memorial to Alex Nieto, who was killed by police on this spot in March 2014.  In 2019 a memorial was approved by the city and fundraising is happening.

I also pass the famous Bernal Boulder, which is a neighborhood landmark.  People decorate it for different holidays and events.  Here's how it was decorated for most of the month of April

Then the George Floyd murder happened on Memorial Day and the protests around the country began and this showed up.  Drama ensued!

The BLM theme was spray painted over a few times and someone called into Public Works and reported it as graffiti and DPW came to spray over the "graffiti" without consultation of the community.  The person who kept spraying over the rock came to become known as "Pizza Patty" (because she thought the boulder shouldn't be political and have fun themes like pizza).  So for a few days after the controversy, I would walk by and there would be someone sleeping by the rock to guard it.  And somedays, there is someone hanging out serenading us with a guitar and singing.  When that happens I just think, "so Bernal."

Here's the latest incarnation of the movement!

After passing Bernal, I have a spot where I can duck in the bushes for a quick pee (yeah, I know) and then comes the long not too steep uphill along the south side.  It used to seem long but now I just count out the fire hydrants.  Then I get to this spot on the western slope.  Sometimes the fog is amazing to watch as it rolls in or out over Twin Peaks.

TEXAS FOREVER!  I know the walk so well, I recognize all the cracks in the street and notice all the things that I see on the ground!

Looking to the southwest, is home.  Just over the yellow house in the center of the photo is some trees.  Those are the trees in our backyard!  From this spot, it's all downhill home.  I get home with a good sweat and having gotten my heartbeat up.  After breakfast, three times a week, I do yoga.

Distance Learning

COVID-19.  Need I say more?  Last day of class was Thursday March 12th, 2020.  We were scheduled to have a four day weekend starting March 13th (I had surgery) and then we started online classes on March 16th.  Here's a section of Algebra 1

The other section.  The only reason I have students with their cameras on is that this was a test day.

But mostly they just had to point their cameras at their hands as you see in my 10th grade Algebra 2 class.  Usually during class, I allowed them to have cameras off.  BUT they were required to be sitting.  No laying down during class.

Regular class had them working on problems in smaller breakout rooms, it simulated class very well.  All I would do is go from room to room.  Turns out students were MUCH more willing to turn on cameras in smaller groups.

Faculty meetings and school meetings were held online.  The school presidents are in the bottom row and the head of school is middle left.

Who won the school wide Kahoot trivia game in April?

Yeah, yours truly.  For some reason adults were banned from the following schoolwide Kahoot.

Advising was ALSO held online.  Yeah, we did enough check-ins that we got sick of them.

Last Day Class Photos  Much different than in years past for sure.  This is 10th Grade A2A!

E Block Algebra 1

F Block Algebra 1

On the last day of class, I had students do a fun "online escape room" activity.  The final challenge was to do a virtual "High 5"  I'm going to give them a grade without grade inflation.  Myself, Sydney, Emma and Elodie earn a B- level.

Carly, Kreeya and Ayden earn a B

Eitan, Carolyn, Sydney and Emma also earn a B 

Kylie, Ben and Alexa earn an A-

Noah, Amelia, Charlotte and Sheelyn earn a B

Mirabelle, Elodie and Alex earn a C+

Moving to my Algebra 1 classes, that's Samantha in the bottom and I can't see the others, but this gets a B-

Genavieve, Kailee and Rose earn a B

Our first A!  Joe, Isa and Catalina

Another A, myself, Shima, Ceci and Estella.  I think I'm missing a couple of my Algebra 1 students.

And finally, we have the seniors.  I didn't get a class photo, but here they are.  B+ from Ariana, Quincy and James.

B+ from Ben, Kevin and Raji

B From Felix and Ingrid

Catalina, Josh and Miles earn a C for this attempt.

A- from Ari, Oscar and Sam.  Again there are a couple groups that are missing.  They probably didn't escape in time.

Department Meetings and Happy Hours....Zoom Life!

So, how did graduation happen?  Turns out that our drive-through in our school parking lot was nixed by the City and County of San Francisco.  But a couple miles down the road from school is the Cow Palace in San Mateo County and so we had a drive through graduation.  We faculty weren't allowed in (sadly) so a colleague of mine and I hiked up the hill above the Cow Palace to observe the festivities from a birds eye view!

Right, masks!

Our view

Cars and graduates lined up ready to enter into the arena

The following photos were sent to me by my colleague Justin on the inside who was directing traffic.  It was fun because I would see the colorful cars before they went in and I would text him to be on the lookout!

Every once in a while I can recognize the graduate.  Here's Felix.

And Gavin, who I taught three times.

Nick!

Congrats to the LWHS Class of 2020!  What strange way to end your high school lives. The class of 2020 started in the old building, lived through the entire year and a half in portables and then finished online.  They win for being survivors!