And personally, 2022 has been a challenging year for me. Career-wise, health-wise, and other wise.
Employment
I spent most of this year working at Macy's, an employer that I re-started working with back in October 2020. It was originally meant to be just for the winter holiday season that year. I applied to be onMacy'smerchandise team (the ones who organize items on the selling floor in the morning), because I like to organize stuff. But with their bait & switch tactics (sadly typical), they had me sanitize hi-touch points, which I just went along with because it's an easy job. That "seasonal job" was extended to year-round.
However, the geniuses atMacy's corporate officedecided to do away with sanitizing hi-touch points when the mask mandate ended in March 2022. I thought that was stupid because that would be when you needed sanitization the most since all those maskless people would be spreading their germs.
Then the geniuses at Macy's thought it would be a good idea to switch me to "back of house support" which has plusses (organizing incoming materials, which I love doing) and minuses (working with machines, which I hate doing). After a few weeks, I had a discussion with them, telling them they are negligent about workplace safety, I told them I'll go to OSHA, and I told them they should've asked me if I liked working with machines before switching me to a position involving machines. After that, they switched me to "front-of-house support duties" (folding towels and clothes, replenishing the shelves, etc) which was what I should've been doing the whole time because that's where I excel. But now the new problem is the reduction of work hours.
Meanwhile, I keep applying for other jobs. My main preference is libraries, but I also applied for office clerical positions.
Then by September of this year, I decided it's time for me work at the schools again. I was a substitute teacher from 2005-2018, and I was a library assistant from 2019-2020. I was considering returning to substitute teacher in late 2020, but I've heard from other substitute teachers there wasn't much work for them available due to the classes being online.
But by Fall 2022, in-school classes were back in session. Time to go back.
In October of this year, I did reapply with Kelly Services (an organization that provides substitute teachers for private and charter schools). At the same time, someone from Kama‘aina Kids saw my resume and encouraged me to apply for their afterschool program. Within a few days apart, both organizations hired me. But who to pick? Kama‘aina Kids had a more consistent schedule.
Kama‘aina Kids had an after-school position at Mary, Star of the Sea School (aka MSOS aka Star of the Sea), a private school in Kahala. I started the position in November.
I was happy to be back working with the kids again, though in a different context from the sub teaching I've done in the past. The problem was that the admin at MSOS thinks that we should "move on from covid" and doesn't understand the seriousness of contagious respiratory diseases.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Health, whom I interviewed with for an office position back in September, offered me a temp full-time office position that started this December.
I was done with the afterschool job at MSOS.
And I was done with Macy's. A part of me was sad to leave, a part of me was happy to leave.
My main mentors in my last few months at Macy's were wonderful people. I was sad to leave them.
But the position was only part-time, and they cut my hours earlier this year due to budget reasons. Also, I didn't totally like some of the directions the corporate office wanted to take the company.
So, I'm now a temp office assistant with the Department of Health. I'm applying some clerical skills I learned in the past, as well as learning some new procedures. Basically, I'm organizing both physical and digital items for the department. I don't have to interact with the general public (for now).
Being that I'm a temp, there's no guarantee I'll still be in the position a year from now.
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I did spend some time volunteering with the Friends of the Library of Hawaii(FLH) this year.
They have a bookstore Village Books & Music located at Ward Villages. They're open Tuesday - Sunday. For most of the year, I came in on Monday (when the store is closed to the general public) to reorganize and replenish the shelves. I loved it.
However, with my new job, I won't be able to come in on Mondays anymore. :(
FLH did have their annual summer booksale again this year, after the pandemic cancelled it the previous 2 years.
We still took the pandemic seriously, and we still required attendees to wear a mask to prevent it from being a super-spreader event.
Whereas the past summer booksales took place at my alma mater (McKinley High School - should be renamed Honolulu High School), this year, it took place at the former Pier 1 Imports location at Ward Village. It is also across the street from much smaller Village Books & Music.
At the annual booksale, I mostly did exit surveys, questioning those leaving how they found out about the event. Some just wanted to rush out of there, while others were willing to answer the questions. The greatest part for me was when I talked to a former classmate, and he mentioned his regrets from his past.
The past few years, I've been struggling with my weight.
When I look at my photos from 2019, I'm amazed I look slimer than I do now. Then I get depressed over the weight I gained since 2020.
Back in August 2020, I got an ankle injury that lasted a few weeks. I was less active in my movements but still active in my eating. And it's been downhill from there.
The lounge at Macy's almost always had snacks available. But time to exercise that weight off wasn't always available.
I admit I've become more sedentary and homebound since 2020.
Then when I did a blood test in October, the results came in. I had high cholesterol and was considered prediabetic. It was suggested that I talk with a dietician.
When talking with my dietician, I noted to him that I've long been a picky eater (learn more at this link), only able to eat a limited types of fruits and vegetables, and I also admitted I eat too many snacks, meats and rice.
With that information, the dietician suggested I start eating more whole-grains to counteract the cholesterol. Eat more brown rice and less white rice. Good to eat more sandwiches with whole-grain bread and eat peanut butter. Eat less red meats and more chickens and fish. On my plate, add a little more lettuce (one of the few veggies I eat) and a little less rice and meats. Also, snack on carrots (one of the other veggies I eat) and less on sweets.
I did inform my parents on this, in case they want to send more care packages to my home.
And also, at my new job, there's no vending machines, and there's no restaurants in walking distance. So I bring home lunch. I am eating more sandwiches & carrots during the week.
Making changes to eating habits is never easy, but I think I'm on my way to better health. Only time will tell
Music/art
Sadly, I haven't had as much time to work on my music as I did in past years. I also made much less money from my music compared to last year. Sadly, other priorities got in the way.
Pablo the Mad TigerWarrior did release one single this year. It was a ska-metal track "Summer Fun"
Pablo the Mad TigerWarrior has some tracks ready for a potential future album(s) but I can't give you a timeline on when they'll be released. Other priorities need to be taken care of first, and I have extremely limited funds. Those who want to help out on the financial end can donate via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/pweg
As for my visual arts, I did add a few more designs to be available on RedBubble. You can buy all kinds of merch (shirts, hats, pillows, postcards, stickers, magnets, and much more) showcasing my designs at RedBubble. They don't make it until you order it. Check out my designs and start shopping 😊athttps://www.redbubble.com/people/madtigerwarrior/explore
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and going back to music, here's my list of favorite tracks by other artist this year
Post Malone & Doja Cat "I like You"
Harry Styles "As it Was"
Harry Styles "Late Night Talking"
Tyga & Doja Cat "Freaky Deaky"
Doja Cat "Get Into It (Yuh)"
Tyga, Jhena Aiko, Pop Smoke "Sunshine"
Destiny Rogers "Summer Nights"
Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa "Sweetest Pie"
Dua Lipa & Young Thug "Potion"
Chainsmokers "I Love You"
Steve Lacy "Bad Habits"
Muni Long & Saweetie "Baby Boo"
Fior "YoYo"
Stela Cole "Rhapsody in Pink"
Lizzo "About Damn Time"
Lizzo "2 be Loved (Am I Ready)"
Bebe Rexha "I'm Good"
Marshmello w/Khalid "Numb"
Camila Cabello w/ Ed Sheeran "Bam Bam"
Lil Nas X "Star Walking"
Wiz Khalifa "Memory Lane"
And for nostalgia's sake, we had
New Kids on the Block (w/Salt N Pepa, Ric Astley & En Vogue) "Bring Back the Time"
Swedish House Mafia (featuring Sting) "Red Light"
City Girls w/Usher "Good Love"
and also, Kate Bush's 1984 hit "Running Up That Hill" got new life this year, entertaining fans who were either too young (like me) or not yet born when the song came out.
Hopefully my 2023 will be so great that I'll be nostalgic for it further in the future.
I predict another surge coming soon, mostly because of 2 reasons
New Year's parties of maskless people doing the exact opposite of social distancing
China lifting restrictions, and people there using their newfound freedom to gather in large groups maskless. Add to the fact that much of China's population is either non-vaccinated or got the vaccines that are weaker than what's available in the USA or other Western nations.
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Some might say I'm "living in fear"
I prefer to call it "living with awareness"
For those who don't know me in the pre-pandemic era, I was one of those attending those public New Year's parties (as well as Halloween parties). I know for a fact that most people go there to do the exact opposite of social distancing.
Had we opened up a little slower, I wouldn't be so nervous. Maybe we could've eased restrictions slowly, to eventually allow for 100% capacitywhile still having a mask mandate for a few monthsbefore ending the mask mandate.
But the Democrats were nervous that the Republicans would have the upper hand in exploiting grievances against the mask mandate that the Democrats just gave in.
It also didn't help that back in January, Democrat representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) visited an event in Florida maskless while her home state (New York) still had mask mandates. The "do as I say, not as I do" mentality really undermined the Democrat's message of taking the mask mandate seriously.
Even in mostly blue Hawaii, the local Democrats gave in back in March. This was partly due to the nagging of Honolulu mayor Rick Blangiardi (who said NOTHING about easing covid restrictions during his 2020 election campaign but ranted endlessly against restrictions ONLY AFTER winning office), but mostly to protect fellow Democrats on the continent from being disadvantaged against Republicans on this issue.
So the Democrats gave in and dropped mask mandates, and the Republicans lost the advantage and therefore couldn't overwhelmingly win Congress this year.
While Joe Biden said "the pandemic is over" (usual political pandering), it's not! It might've subsided since 2020 (yes, I'll give both Trump and Biden credit for endorsing vaccines), but I still think we let our guard down due to lockdown fatigue.
I'm not endorsing China-style lockdowns, but I'm endorsing mask wearing in public spaces. If there wasn't so much resistance towards wearing masks, I truly believe that the coronavirus would've been an endangered species by now.
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Also, here's some knowledge I mentioned in previous blog posts about long covid and the extra vulnerabilities those with weakened immune systems face during the coronavirus crisis
From here in Hawaii about a teacher who experienced living with long covid.
Villanueva, 40, of Kaimuki, used to run marathons and live an active lifestyle. The high-energy mother of two was vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 and had no underlying health issues.
She loves teaching, and has been a teacher’s advocate and mentor for the Hawaii State Teachers Association. In 2020 she was the recipient of its S.T.A.C.Y. Award for Teaching Excellence.
The day she caught COVID-19 has changed her life, and she clearly remembers it.
After working on a Tuesday, she recalls feeling really “off,” then came down with a sore throat in the evening, followed by a fever the next day. She tested negative on a rapid antigen test at home but decided to call in a substitute and get a PCR test.
She would eventually test positive for the coronavirus and isolate at home, expecting to get better after a week or so, but that did not happen.
After the fifth day she would have been able to return to work under current guidelines, but she was not feeling better or physically able to do so.
Instead, Villanueva said, she cycled through new symptoms daily for up to 16 days, experiencing everything from a loss of taste and smell to brain fog, piercing migraines, swelling hands and the “shakes,” or tremors, after physical exertion.
She saw several doctors before an infectious disease specialist informed her she was suffering from long COVID.
The doctor prescribed her medications for inflammation, which initially helped, but six months later she is still seeking help for other persisting symptoms such as the shaking, joint pain and fatigue.
Also in Hawaii, a former Waikiki bartender speaks of his experience with long covid
Jenn Boneza, “Waikiki Bartender Continues to Battle Impacts of Covid-19 Almost Five Months after Falling Ill,” (KHON2, August 1, 2020),
More than four months after Coby Torda tested positive for COVID-19, he still struggles with lingering complications caused by the virus.
The 38-year-old Waikiki bartender tested positive for COVID-19 in March. He thinks he contracted the virus while at work, but isn’t sure.
Torda spent 69 days in the ICU, most of that time in an induced coma. When he woke up, the world had changed.
“I just remember working and everything was normal and then waking up from my coma and everything was different. Everybody was quarantined. Everybody was in masks in the hospital with like tape and signs saying be careful when entering this room. It was a little bit scary,” said Torda.
When he came to, he’d lost 80 pounds, he couldn’t eat or drink and needed help going to the bathroom. He said he had to relearn how to do just about everything.
Long COVID has been a “traumatic change” for Mary Snipes of Kansas. An otherwise healthy woman in her early 50s, she was previously active in her community, campaigning against gun violence ever since she lost her son, Felix, to a shooting in 2018. Snipes caught COVID-19 in December 2020 and nearly died of the virus after being hospitalized for two weeks. “I remember the doctors and nurses asking me, 'Should we resuscitate?' And I started crying because I had never been asked that before,” she recalled.
Snipes never ended up on a ventilator, but was sent home with oxygen. More than a year later, she still remains on oxygen and experiences a multitude of symptoms, from joint pain and forgetfulness to hair loss. Snipes said this is the first time she has ever had a whole team of doctors. “I basically feel sometimes that I'm a lab rat, that I'm being used [for] research, because nobody knows what to expect.”
For Joe Farina in upstate New York, long COVID has stolen his identity. In March 2020, he was about to turn 50, in excellent health as a competitive athlete and former boxer and as a worker in the hospitality industry. Then he caught COVID. It first appeared as a bad cold, but within a week he had to be hospitalized. Farina was never intubated, but recalled, “It was really one of the most terrifying experiences I've ever been through.” He has since suffered from lasting cardiac and neurological issues and takes several medications to manage all of it.
An article from a writer with a compromised immune system
Lindsay Karp, “The Forgotten Immunocompromised Are Shouting from the Trenches,” Salon (November 13, 2022)
Millions of people with compromised immune systems exist — in spite of the collective, tacit declaration that the pandemic is over. A significant number of them, myself included, don't respond to COVID vaccines, or respond minimally. According to The Atlantic, close to three percent of adults in the U.S. take immunosuppressants, totaling at least seven million immunocompromised people throughout the country. In July of 2022, the Drug Discovery World noted that immunocompromised COVID patients are more likely to require hospitalization and are about four times more likely to die once in the hospital than hospitalized immunocompetent COVID patients. Now, as the virus continues to circulate and mutate, the immunocompromised population is stranded in the trenches, pleading to be remembered.
You can't typically tell that someone is immunocompromised. I probably look healthy when I roam the grocery story, one of the few customers still wearing a KN-95 mask. But I see the eye rolls from customers and employees. I feel their judgement as I reach for a crown of broccoli, this white cloth hiding my irritation from the ignorance in the air. I sense some think this face covering shouts my political stance. Perhaps they believe I wear it because I'm overly paranoid. But I wear it because I have no CD20 cells, a subset of B-lymphocytes that attack viral invaders. An invisible, purposely-induced deficiency of these cells prevents further neurological damage to my body. Hence, I wear a mask solely as a mode of defense against the viral threat that many have dismissed as "just a cold."
But a simple cold is never simple when you live with an autoimmune condition strong enough to dismantle your ability to walk. Indeed, without the body's full pathogen fighting abilities, a routine illness, seemingly benign, can pose a serious threat to those of us with immunocompromised conditions of any kind.
and this
Do you hear me from way down here? I'm not telling anyone how to live their life. I'm not asking you to wear a mask as we enter public places together. I'm simply showing you that we, those who are immunocompromised, are shouting, loudly, to be heard. We deserve recognition that our lives are valued like yours. We want to be remembered as seven million Americans who matter to the majority. When you come to our home, we expect you to protect us in the one place we feel safe. We want you to see us, not as political activists (we're not), but as people. It would be swell if you could remember that immune system status is invisible. It would be kind if the world considered us and our complicated situations as they wonder why some haven't moved on beyond the crux of COVID.
I can't really force anyone to keep wearing their masks, but I'll keep mine on a little while longer.
On the last day working at an afterschool program, I came up with an art activity. Draw Santa, and add cottonballs for his white beard and the white part of his hat.
We ran out of white paper, so we had to rely on construction papers of other colors. So I drew my Santa on yellow paperand added pasted some cottonballs.
I used my art as an example, and the students could make their own versions.
Here is my version. It will appear on the Christmas cards I will give to family members tomorrow.
Right before the Christmas weekend, rapper Tory Lanez was convicted for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot back in 2020!
All this over an argument. An argument he could've walked away from, or an argument he could've continued on social media with a war of words instead of a war with gunshots.
Megan was initially reluctant to involve the police due to the "no snitching" code in hip-hop as well as the historical distrust of police within the African-American community.
But she understood (as we all should) that in order to solve problems and to stop the violence, we have to start snitching. We can't let people like Tory Lanez take advantage of historical grievances to get away with stuff.
And the thing was that while Tory Lanez has his defenders on social media, this hurt his career.
When I heard his "Pluto's Last Comet"(the song that sampled Madonna's "Get into the Groove"), I had it on repeat. If I was a record executive, I would've said "you got a hit right there, we'll put it out there as soon as the sample clears". That song was that good.
But mainstream radio stations were understandably reluctant to play something by the guy who shot Megan Thee Stallion.
What could've easily been a #1 hit for the ages got shunned by the gatekeepers for his one big mistake. One wrong move can change the direction of your life in a really bad way.
While Megan Thee Stallion survived, we already had too many rappers getting murdered in recent years. Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke, PNB Rock, Takeoff, Young Dolph, the list goes on. When will it stop?
Mary, Star of the Sea School (aka MSOS aka Star of the Sea) is a small Catholic school that services students from pre-k to 8th grade.
my photo of the school's office
The school is located in Kahala, which is like Hawaii's version of the Hamptons. Kahala is also the starting point of East Honolulu (Hawaii's version of Orange County).
In other words, it serves what is probably the most conservative clientele of all of Honolulu.
I worked there as a substitute teacher there working under Kelly Services from 2012-2018. Kelly Services provides substitute teachers for various small private & charter schools.
I was also a substitute teacher with the public schools (DOE) from 2005-2018, and did brief stints with other private sub-services somewhere within that time frame. So I have a vast experience from which to compare schools.
My time subbing with MSOS was mostly a positive one. They had small class sizes which made classroom monitoring an easier experience compared to public schools which sometimes have 20+ students per class. Also, the teachers usually have 1 or 2 prep periods, which was great because I get to take a break from the craziness. Many public school teachers don't even have that luxury.
The students tend to have a lot of enthusiasm which can be a blessing and a curse. But mostly a blessing.
The funniest part was when one of the students googled my name and found my YouTube channel. Several of them told me they have subscribed to my YouTube channel and even mentioned about the videos themselves. Even one of the staff members (who is no longer there) even said to me "hey, you're the sub with the YouTube channel". I laughed and also emphasized that I never promoted my YouTube videos to the students and that the students found them on their own time.
The only troubling thing when I was subbing there was when I looked at the lesson plan and noticed that one of the online assignments (done via Google Classroom) stated something along the lines of "write down what have you placed more important than God, and apologize". Seriously? It is that kind of nonsense that has turned people away from religion.
(note: the teacher who made the assignment is no longer there, for reasons not known to me)
Now, I know there are stereotypes about "public schools train their students to become radical left-wingers, private schools train their students to become radical right-wingers" but those are extreme exaggerations.
None of my experience with public schools had lessons about hating religion, capitalism, white people, or whatever accusations right-wingers make about public schools.
None of my experience with private schoolshadlessons about hating liberals, welfare, nonwhites, or LGBT. Yes, I saw pro-life fliers at other private schools but never did I encounter any lessons about anything about abortion, sexuality or evolution at any school I worked at.
The only real difference between what the students learn at private vs public schools is that private schools have more religious lessons.
Other than that, at both types of schools, students learn basics like
"10 X 10 = 100"
"what is a solid, liquid or gas?"
"July 4th, 1776 was when the US Declaration of Independence was signed".
an adjective describes a noun
Those are all basic facts, regardless if you're a Christian, Muslim, or atheist.
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At MSOS, on the day before the 2016 election, when students were lining up for lunch, I did hear some 6th graders saying they want Trump to win. But they knew better than to even try that "build that wall" chant with me! In contrast, the overwhelming majority of public school students expressed dislike of Trump, even though I never encountered any lessons encouraging a hate of Trump. Most of the public schools in Honolulu have large immigrant populations who understandably wouldn't like Trump for his racism.
MSOS just happens to have a more conservative clientele than most schools in Hawaii.
I left sub teaching at the end of 2018 to accept a library assistant position at a public middle school (Kalākaua). Interestingly enough, the person I was working with there (Natalie Lum) was more racist than any of the supposedly "conservative" private school teachers I've met. That plus her extreme lack of people skills is why I left the school in 2020. Learn more at https://pwegesen.wixsite.com/kalakaua-ms-library/the-negative-experiences
Also in 2020, the coronavirus crisis came to life. In more ways than one, the pandemic changed everything.
At first, I thought it was all an over-reaction, but I later wised up as more facts came in. Especially with reports of massive deaths from China & Italy early in the coronavirus crisis. And the thousands who either died or got severely disabled due to the effects of coronavirus. This was/is NOT A DRILL, this is the real thing
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I did consider reapplying to be a sub teacher in Fall 2020. But classes were mostly online, and the subs I knew said there wasn't much for them available. Then for the next 2 years, I was away from the school system. I wasn't around when students started school all-online and I wasn't around during the mask mandate.
I was at Macy's where I started sanitizing hi-touch points around the store. So in a way, I was part of the fight against covid.
But early in 2022, Macy's cut back on sanitizing hi-touch points due to the end of the mask mandate. And then they cut back my hours.
So I decided to find a way back into the school system. In October of this year, I did reapply with Kelly Services. At the same time, someone from Kama‘aina Kids saw my resume and encouraged me to apply for their afterschool program. Within a few days apart, both organizations hired me. But who to pick? Kama‘aina Kids had a more consistent schedule. I chose them.
I did do one Kelly Services sub-assignment at Mid-Pacific Institute (MPI), a Protestant school in Mānoa valley. There, the majority of the staff wore their masks. It was optional for students.
But the following week, I started with Kama‘aina Kids, which had a vacancy at MSOS. For some reason, not known to me, Kelly Services doesn't service MSOS anymore.
But since I had a good experience at MSOSin the past, and it was a convenient location, I decided to take the afterschool position there. I was officially an employee under Kama‘aina Kids, we just used MSOS facility to supervise the students who need after-school supervision.
Very few at MSOS wore their masks. I also noticed the principal (the same as when I subbed there) didn't wear a mask. At first, I just assumed that maybe she felt uncomfortable with a mask.
Meanwhile, for the afterschool program, it was just me and the site supervisor. We both wore our masks.
On my first day doing the afterschool job there (11/07/2022), a parent (James Phillips aka Jim Phillips) saw me with a mask and shield and asked "what, is there another covid outbreak?" I just said I don't even know what germs all these kids are having. He then said his kids bring home all the germs and his immune system flushes it out.
If that was his only interaction with me about the mask, I would've let it go and I wouldn't be mentioning his name or even writing this post.
However, on 11/30/2022, as I was supervising the students outside, I noticed Mr. Phillips walking to the cafeteria saying "covid is over" loud enough that I can hear him. Then after he picked up his students, when he was walking towards the mauka side of campus, he was saying to his kids, but obviously loud enough that I can hear, him saying "it's the open air, and he's wearing a mask". Though he was not looking in my direction as he was saying it, it was obvious that he was saying it loud enough so that I can hear it from far away.
At that point, I believe that this is the beginning of what could be a pattern of harassment.
The afterschool site supervisor mentioned to me that before I was hired, Mr. Phillips questioned her why she was wearing a mask.
I notified the administration of both Kama‘aina Kids and MSOS, mostly so that they can be aware of what is going on. What they do with that information is up to them, but once they're informed, they couldn't say "I didn't know, nobody told me".
On the next day, when I arrived at the school's cafeteria (where the afterschool program is held), I saw the principal (Margaret Rufo aka Miss Rufo) there talking with the cafeteria staff member. I went up to the principal and mentioned the email on Mr. Phillips's behavior.
The good news is that the principal did inform Mr. Phillips that his confrontational behavior was inappropriate and unacceptable.
The not-so-good news is that the principal did agree with Mr. Phillips that we don't need masks anymore and we need to "move on". In other words, the principal is a covidiot just like Mr Phillips.
She mentioned that Mr. Phillips said he didn't want his kids to "live in fear".
Live in fear? Taking precautions is "living in fear?" Is wearing a seat belt living in fear? Is wearing a helmet while riding a bike "living in fear?"
I never told his kids (or any kids) to "live in fear". The mask mandate was over, so I never enforced it!
But the sight of me wearing my mask and shield is "teaching kids to live in fear?"
Give me a break!
I mentioned to the principal that because I ride the bus, work at Macy's, and work at the school, I have to take precautions that someone working at home doesn't have to worry about.
I mentioned to the principal that I wear my mask/shield so I don't infect the students and they don't infect me.
She said we don't have to worry about that!
Let this sink in, the principal of Mary, Star of the Sea Schooldoesn't believe that people can spread dangerous respiratory diseases to each other.
The concept that I want to protect my parents (who are in their 70's) from contagious diseases is something the principal doesn't seem to WANT to understand!
The concept that somebody riding the same bus as me could be coughing and I could end up spreading the germs to the students and they could spread it to their families is something the principal doesn't seem to WANT to understand!
And this is the principal we are talking about her. This isn't just some crazy auntie/uncle at the barbecue, this is someone who is in charge of the school.
The principal claims that science says we don't need masks or shields. Nevermind that at nearly every hospital, the staff is wearing masks and/or face shields. Hospitals are required to follow the science.
But the principal of a school serving what is probably the most conservative clientele in town doesn't really have to follow the science, she just has to keep up with the latest nonsense cliches coming from FoxNews and PragerU.
And it gets even worse.
The principal says that she encourages her teachers to take off their masks because students need to see facial expressions, and that the teachers need to show the students that we are "moving on"
Let this sink in, the principal's attitude is NOT "to mask or not to mask is your choice"
The principal's attitude is "teachers, take off your masks already, we need to show the students we are moving on".
Think about this, the school's staff is being pressured to be maskless! This is not just an attack on their physical health, it's an attack on their mental health.
Meanwhile, my direct employer, Kama‘aina Kids encourages (but not requires) staff to wear masks. They understand that you can't run an afterschool program if the staff is out sick.
The principal did send an email to Kama‘aina Kids that she believes that teachers should be maskless. The good news is that Kama‘aina Kids support my preference to wear a mask.
As for "moving on", can people with a weakened immune system just "move on"?
Can people who got disabled due to long-covid (estimated to be circa 20% of those infected) just "move on"?
Can the thousands who died from covid just "move on"?
Only the severely heartless will answer "yes" to those questions
Near the end of our conversation, I noted to the principal that back in March 2020, I said to at least 5 people (with others possibly listening in) that I thought the panic over the coronavirus was out of proportion and that this was all about "nothing. Then I said to the principal that it turned out that thousands of so-called "nothings" have died or required ICU care and that I totally regret my earlier attitude about the coronavirus crisis.
When I said that, the principal said "sorry I got to, I have something else to attend to."
In other words, reality is too uncomfortable for her. She wanted to avoid the seriousness of the coronavirus crisis. That thousands have died from a contagious disease. That thousands required ICU care. That some of the survivors have never been the same since the infection.
Being confronted about the seriousness of the crisis was something she wants to avoid. It interferes with her identity as a right-wing nutcase.
I know somewhere in her is a heart! I knew her from before the pandemic. But her desire to "move on" and her addiction to right-wing narratives is preventing her from empathizing with those who have been killed or disabled by the virus.
As for Mr. Phillips, he doesn't even act like he has a heart. He comes across someone who thinks that having empathy for the vulnerable is a sign that you're not a real man.
Meanwhile, I'm usually left alone by others, even by men much larger than Mr. Phillips. That's because manhood isn't about toughness or asserting dominance over the vulnerable. Manhood is about maturity. But Mr. Phillips acts as if he hasn't matured since middle school. He's not a "real man", he's an over-aged middle schooler who gets his kicks over picking on those who are different from him.
Mature people leave other people alone. They don't start trouble with others. They believe in the "live and let live" philosophy.
Mr. Phillips was probably one of those who yelled "I have my rights" during the mask mandate. But he doesn't respect the rights of those who chose to continue wearing a mask.
I responded to covidiots like him with this video from March 2022
I did mention to my principal that my initial plan was to wait until sometime in January to put away my face shield. But because of Mr. Phillips, I'm going to keep my face shield and mask on a little while longer as an act of defiance against anti-mask bullies like him.
And whenever I'm near the school (or anywhere in Kahala or East Honolulu) or near Mr. Phillips's workplace (my opposition research noted that his employer is located near my alma mater),I'll be sure to have a mask and face shield on, so that if Mr. Phillips ever see me in public, he will know that he attempts at bullying isn't working. I will trigger anti-mask fanatics by wearing my mask.
My mask & face shield is not only for the protection of self and others, and it is a symbol of defiance against covidiot bullies!
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And here is some information that covidiots like Mr Phillips and principal Ms Rufo don't want you to know about, because it's inconvenient for their right-wing covidiot "move on" propaganda!
Less than a mile away fromMSOS, a teacher at Waialae Elementary Public Charter School speaks of her experience with long covid
Villanueva, 40, of Kaimuki, used to run marathons and live an active lifestyle. The high-energy mother of two was vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 and had no underlying health issues.
She loves teaching, and has been a teacher’s advocate and mentor for the Hawaii State Teachers Association. In 2020 she was the recipient of its S.T.A.C.Y. Award for Teaching Excellence.
The day she caught COVID-19 has changed her life, and she clearly remembers it.
After working on a Tuesday, she recalls feeling really “off,” then came down with a sore throat in the evening, followed by a fever the next day. She tested negative on a rapid antigen test at home but decided to call in a substitute and get a PCR test.
She would eventually test positive for the coronavirus and isolate at home, expecting to get better after a week or so, but that did not happen.
After the fifth day she would have been able to return to work under current guidelines, but she was not feeling better or physically able to do so.
Instead, Villanueva said, she cycled through new symptoms daily for up to 16 days, experiencing everything from a loss of taste and smell to brain fog, piercing migraines, swelling hands and the “shakes,” or tremors, after physical exertion.
She saw several doctors before an infectious disease specialist informed her she was suffering from long COVID.
The doctor prescribed her medications for inflammation, which initially helped, but six months later she is still seeking help for other persisting symptoms such as the shaking, joint pain and fatigue.
Also in Hawaii, a former Waikiki bartender speaks of his experience with long covid
Jenn Boneza, “Waikiki Bartender Continues to Battle Impacts of Covid-19 Almost Five Months after Falling Ill,” (KHON2, August 1, 2020),
More than four months after Coby Torda tested positive for COVID-19, he still struggles with lingering complications caused by the virus.
The 38-year-old Waikiki bartender tested positive for COVID-19 in March. He thinks he contracted the virus while at work, but isn’t sure.
Torda spent 69 days in the ICU, most of that time in an induced coma. When he woke up, the world had changed.
“I just remember working and everything was normal and then waking up from my coma and everything was different. Everybody was quarantined. Everybody was in masks in the hospital with like tape and signs saying be careful when entering this room. It was a little bit scary,” said Torda.
When he came to, he’d lost 80 pounds, he couldn’t eat or drink and needed help going to the bathroom. He said he had to relearn how to do just about everything.
Long COVID has been a “traumatic change” for Mary Snipes of Kansas. An otherwise healthy woman in her early 50s, she was previously active in her community, campaigning against gun violence ever since she lost her son, Felix, to a shooting in 2018. Snipes caught COVID-19 in December 2020 and nearly died of the virus after being hospitalized for two weeks. “I remember the doctors and nurses asking me, 'Should we resuscitate?' And I started crying because I had never been asked that before,” she recalled.
Snipes never ended up on a ventilator, but was sent home with oxygen. More than a year later, she still remains on oxygen and experiences a multitude of symptoms, from joint pain and forgetfulness to hair loss. Snipes said this is the first time she has ever had a whole team of doctors. “I basically feel sometimes that I'm a lab rat, that I'm being used [for] research, because nobody knows what to expect.”
For Joe Farina in upstate New York, long COVID has stolen his identity. In March 2020, he was about to turn 50, in excellent health as a competitive athlete and former boxer and as a worker in the hospitality industry. Then he caught COVID. It first appeared as a bad cold, but within a week he had to be hospitalized. Farina was never intubated, but recalled, “It was really one of the most terrifying experiences I've ever been through.” He has since suffered from lasting cardiac and neurological issues and takes several medications to manage all of it.
An article from a writer with a compromised immune system
Lindsay Karp, “The Forgotten Immunocompromised Are Shouting from the Trenches,” Salon (November 13, 2022)
Millions of people with compromised immune systems exist — in spite of the collective, tacit declaration that the pandemic is over. A significant number of them, myself included, don't respond to COVID vaccines, or respond minimally. According to The Atlantic, close to three percent of adults in the U.S. take immunosuppressants, totaling at least seven million immunocompromised people throughout the country. In July of 2022, the Drug Discovery World noted that immunocompromised COVID patients are more likely to require hospitalization and are about four times more likely to die once in the hospital than hospitalized immunocompetent COVID patients. Now, as the virus continues to circulate and mutate, the immunocompromised population is stranded in the trenches, pleading to be remembered.
You can't typically tell that someone is immunocompromised. I probably look healthy when I roam the grocery story, one of the few customers still wearing a KN-95 mask. But I see the eye rolls from customers and employees. I feel their judgement as I reach for a crown of broccoli, this white cloth hiding my irritation from the ignorance in the air. I sense some think this face covering shouts my political stance. Perhaps they believe I wear it because I'm overly paranoid. But I wear it because I have no CD20 cells, a subset of B-lymphocytes that attack viral invaders. An invisible, purposely-induced deficiency of these cells prevents further neurological damage to my body. Hence, I wear a mask solely as a mode of defense against the viral threat that many have dismissed as "just a cold."
But a simple cold is never simple when you live with an autoimmune condition strong enough to dismantle your ability to walk. Indeed, without the body's full pathogen fighting abilities, a routine illness, seemingly benign, can pose a serious threat to those of us with immunocompromised conditions of any kind.
and this
Do you hear me from way down here? I'm not telling anyone how to live their life. I'm not asking you to wear a mask as we enter public places together. I'm simply showing you that we, those who are immunocompromised, are shouting, loudly, to be heard. We deserve recognition that our lives are valued like yours. We want to be remembered as seven million Americans who matter to the majority. When you come to our home, we expect you to protect us in the one place we feel safe. We want you to see us, not as political activists (we're not), but as people. It would be swell if you could remember that immune system status is invisible. It would be kind if the world considered us and our complicated situations as they wonder why some haven't moved on beyond the crux of COVID.
A person with compassion will take all of this seriously! A person with compassion wouldn't say nonsense like "We need to move on from covid". A person who believes in a loving God wouldn't be so disrespectful to long-covid sufferers or the immuno-compromised or to the extra-cautious people who still wear a mask and face shield!
It is not time to be complacent. It is not time to give in to the covidiots. It is time to practice defiance against the covidiots and stand up for the long-covid sufferers and the immuno-compromised!
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As for my time at MSOS, I'm done.
I was already on my way out because I have a job lined up that provides more work hours and more pay. I put in my resignation notice with my direct employer Kama‘aina Kids even before Mr. Phillips rant and learning of principal Ms. Rufo's covidiocy.
But even if my current job with my new employer ends, I'm not returning to MSOS, until they have a principal that takes public health seriously.
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BONUS PICS:
First, the covidiot parent Jim Phillips!
Jim Phillips,
the covidiot!
He thinks empathy for the medically vulnerable is a sign that you're not a real man
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Jim Phillips, the covidiot!
He thinks a contagious disease that has killed and disabled thousands has magically disappeared, just because he said so!
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Jim Phillips, the covidiot!
Fierce in his fight for his right to be maskless!
Also fierce in bullying those who use their right to wear protective masks.
The HR professional that believes people who work in high-risk occupations shouldn't use personal protective equipment!
(note 1: Jim Phillips is an HR professional working for Simplicity HR by Altres! Not a good look for someone working for an HR company that is also affiliated with a temp worker agency to ridicule someone for using personal protective equipment at a high-risk job.)
(note 2: the photo is from a Hawaii Business Magazine article about Jim Phillips' work with SimplicityHR by Altres)
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And now for the covidiot principal Margarte Rufo!
Margaret Rufo, the covidiot principal! Thinks we shall all be maskless because "we need to move on" as if those who died, got disabled, got severe respiratory problems from covid-19 can just "move on".
Her "we need to move on" attitude is a severe middle finger to those who died or haven't been the since due to covid-19.
This goes to show she doesn't worship a loving God, instead she worships the MAGA "gods" like Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis & other right-wing covidiot leaders!
She doesn't believes there is such a thing as a contagious respiratory disease that can easily spread in places where there's a lot of close contact among people.
According to her, NOBODY died, nor got severe disabilities, nor got long-term respiratory problems due to diseases like covid-19!
Instead, we should pretend covid-19 never happened and who cares if you spread it to your medically vulnerable relatives. After all, MAGA is more important to her!
.jpg "Jim Phillips, the covidiot")
.jpg "Jim Phillps, covidiot")
.jpg "Jim Phillips")
.jpg "Jim Phillips, the covidiot")
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.jpg "Jim Phillips, the covidiot HR professional, altres simplicity hr")
.png "Margaret Rufo, the covidiot principal of Mary Star of the Sea")
.png "Margaret Rufo, the covidiot principal")
.png "Margaret Rufo, covidiot principal")