Tsunami, 2. Miscellanea.

Yesterday, I had my first video classes of this year. They went smoothly, though they each involved only one other person. Mondays are quiet, simply because scheduling worked out that way.

Today will be another story. I have four group calls that I will attempt for the first time. Movistar still hasn't called to schedule a hook-up, and yesterday I spent about six hundred megas of my phone data. Today, I'll connect to one of the wifi's, and let's see how many calls I have ahead of me before the data goes bye-bye. I doubt I have a week's worth. Damned Movistar!

The only problem was a slight delay in sound and image, so one would start talking and the so would the other, at the same time, probably because of the signal. So, it's not the ideal working situation, but it will have to do for the next couple of weeks. Or, at least the next day or two.

Aside from the cancellations of various spring celebrations all over Spain, Pamplona has declared that this year's San Fermines are also cancelled. There will be no running of the bulls along closed off streets to the yells and cheers of onlookers perched at windows, balconies, roofs, and fences, with waves of white-clad figures surrounding the few stomping bulls. I suppose it was only to be expected. I fear for concerts this year, too. I saw footage of a concert celebrated somewhere, with all the spectators in their own, individual bubbles. That, to me, is not a concert. A concert is where you can turn to the total stranger next to you and sing out the chorus together as you jump up and down to the clamor of a great band.  

The day is grey and raining. In fact, there's an orange alert out for rain, which can reach 80 liters per square meter in 24 hours. It has been raining continuously since the night, and our well is sending excess water out to the yard, where the ditch that is supposed to drain away the water is almost overflowing. The ditch along the road, just before our house, is filled with rainwater almost at the level of the road, which then spills into our yard, and ends up in our yard's ditch. It's still supposed to rain tomorrow, and showers after that. At this rate, it might be a good idea to build an ark. 

Everything is damp, from the papers in my study, to the clothes in the wardrobe. It's not that cold, but the wood stove is lit, and therefore, the kitchen is the driest room in the house. While not on a par with the wet winter we had around twenty years ago, it's still pretty wet. 

Despite repetitions that the pandemic is serious, and that people should respect the restrictions, and stay home as much as possible, there are still a lot of people out there that think the restrictions are simply an impingement upon their liberties that have to be flouted, one way or another. A friend of my daughter's gave a tirade on Instagram against a guy she saw on TikTok. The guy railed against the ten o'clock curfew, saying that meant he would have to bring his supper get-together with his friends to eight in the evening, which was a bore. (Either it was from last month, or from another region, because now we can't get together with any friends.) 

She commented, saying that, if the curfew was brought forward, it was so that people would stay home more, and not get together as much. She got a talking to from another guy on civil liberties and economy. The arguments were that the government was becoming a dictatorship by telling people to stay home, and that there would be no money going around to pay for health services if no one went out to bars and restaurants. I know that the Spanish economy depends a lot on the tourism and service sectors, but, somehow, I thought there were other sectors in the economy, you know, like industry, perhaps?

The guy wasn't eighteen years old; he looked well into his twenties. He also looked like he had no problem reaching the end of the month financially. Right wing, Vox voter. You can end up recognizing them like you can end up recognizing Trump supporters, sometimes. Mostly, through the lack of neuron usage. Sometimes, I fear for the human race.

Life continues.