eff yeah $100

 And yes, yes, I know I should not be susceptible to this type of incentive.

But: I got an e-mail this afternoon from the university president. In order to encourage vaccination, the university is offering a one-time $100 bonus to anyone who has been vaccinated, or is getting vaccinated.

Yes, I got the vaccination back in March because I wanted to eliminate my risk of dying, and greatly decrease my risk of getting sick, from COVID. And I wanted to do it to protect other people around me, and so I could safely go and see my mom.

But $100 is also very very nice. 

I'm awaiting instructions; I presume it will be something like "send in a scan or photo of your card" and I'm guessing for faculty it'll just be treated as a stipend and automatically deposited to our bank account. 

But yeah, this makes me happy, not just because it's a rare tangible benefit for me having done the "right" thing, but also - hopefully this will spur a lot more people here to get vaccinated (it's also being offered to students and staff, and a lot of our students will LOVE to get that $100, I know). 

Unselfishly, giving people that "carrot" to do something that might prevent their future suffering is good; selfishly, I am happy about it because the more of our students who take the vaccination, the less chance of there being an outbreak in my class I have to cope with

I had ordered some yarn from Quixotic Fibers as part of my "I can't really travel to go to you, but I want to help keep you afloat" plan (and also a pair of socks that say "I'm a SPECIAL unicorn" on them), so part of this will cover that. 

 

SOMEDAY THOUGH. Maybe when this "wave" crashes and also the horrific construction on 75 is a bit less horrific I am just GOING there and going into the store and shopping in person; been too long since I have been inside a yarn shop

***

Other than that, prepping for Monday's classes by reviewing everything. Before I leave for the day I need to print some blank seating charts - I don't care if the students hate having to sit in the same spot every time; seating charts are the ONLY simple way for me to keep track of where they are in class in case I have to contact trace.

I will say we were told today that given the very very limited chance of fomite transmission, we no longer have to wipe down the desks after class (but there still will be lysol to spray in the air, which I don't *love* given that I have asthma, but we'll see if it works out OK)

***

And wait there's MORE "wish fulfillment" for me this afternoon! I got a call from Disability Concerns - the director wanted to talk to me about a student who has an addition (probably temporary) concern (nothing that is a big deal for my class, I can work around it) and I told her that "if any of my students express a concern about being immunocompromised or anything, and would rather not be in person for the lecture, if they can get a medical accommodation, I will set up a Zoom stream (synchronous only*) for them so they can attend class virtually" (I can't do that for labs, but still: it will cut down on their exposure if they're worried).

And she breathed out and said "Oh, thank you. I am glad to hear that's an option if it needs to be. You are a rockstar!"

And you know? I've derided the concept of "rockstar" in the past, because my association with the term is "loud egotistical person who gets what they want because they're famous" but in this case I will accept being called a "rockstar" for being willing to go a little over and above for our students if I have to.

Kind of gives me the energy to keep going.

Maybe this semester will be kind of OK after all.