WEBVTT 00:00:01.529 --> 00:00:03.399 It looks like we are recording. 00:00:03.584 --> 00:00:08.534 My name is Mary Rubin and today is Tuesday November 17, 2020 00:00:08.624 --> 00:00:11.154 and I am interviewing Jamie LaMoreaux. 00:00:11.627 --> 00:00:13.134 Hi I’m Jamie LaMoreaux, 00:00:13.514 --> 00:00:17.640 I am a library technical assistant level 3 00:00:17.978 --> 00:00:23.168 I work in the acquisitions department specifying...specifically with the 00:00:23.168 --> 00:00:24.688 electronic resources, 00:00:25.783 --> 00:00:27.203 databases and such. 00:00:27.203 --> 00:00:28.973 And I am an alumni of UCF. 00:00:29.109 --> 00:00:31.599 I graduated with two degrees. 00:00:31.670 --> 00:00:36.580 My first was history and I graduated in 1990. 00:00:38.305 --> 00:00:43.995 My second was a costume design and construction degree in theater department 00:00:43.995 --> 00:00:46.135 and I graduated in 2009. 00:00:46.801 --> 00:00:47.691 Very cool. 00:00:47.824 --> 00:00:48.544 Nice. 00:00:49.386 --> 00:00:52.442 Just for the record, Jamie and I do work together in the library, 00:00:52.457 --> 00:00:55.023 but we do not work in the same department. 00:00:56.042 --> 00:00:58.972 Would you mind telling me Jamie about more of what you do. 00:00:59.791 --> 00:01:00.731 Well, let's see. 00:01:00.751 --> 00:01:06.405 I do statistics for the databases online journals and 00:01:06.415 --> 00:01:09.465 full text articles and things that we have. 00:01:09.529 --> 00:01:10.809 I pay the invoices, 00:01:10.824 --> 00:01:14.034 I follow up with we have problems with the vendors, 00:01:14.334 --> 00:01:21.504 I do the department statistics. 00:01:23.279 --> 00:01:28.949 I keep track of purchases and how much we pay for everything and then I break 00:01:28.949 --> 00:01:32.949 them down at the end of the year doing annual and fiscal year statistics; 00:01:33.054 --> 00:01:40.034 showing how much we use of various items we have and how much it is cost for use. 00:01:40.343 --> 00:01:44.243 I also do whatever else Athena and Ying tell me to do. 00:01:44.302 --> 00:01:46.502 Can you tell me who Athena and Ying are 00:01:46.502 --> 00:01:50.442 for the purposes of outside of me and this conversation 00:01:50.582 --> 00:01:51.432 This is true. 00:01:51.476 --> 00:01:52.476 I work with Athena. 00:01:52.476 --> 00:01:56.476 She is my supervisor and Ying is our department head. 00:01:56.501 --> 00:01:57.211 Great. 00:01:58.711 --> 00:02:03.491 How were you're working conditions and work tasks affected by COVID-19? 00:02:04.036 --> 00:02:08.036 Well, not all that much. 00:02:08.051 --> 00:02:12.131 Everything I can do is online or everything I do is online. 00:02:12.425 --> 00:02:16.165 So, when we were sent home because I'm considered high risk, 00:02:17.166 --> 00:02:20.006 I was able to get a laptop from the library 00:02:20.028 --> 00:02:22.108 with all the programs that I needed, 00:02:22.187 --> 00:02:31.027 and I was able to carry on without any stop or without a pause. 00:02:31.139 --> 00:02:33.679 Did you previously ever worked remote before? 00:02:33.682 --> 00:02:38.712 No, I had not because they did not like the idea of staff working remote. 00:02:38.779 --> 00:02:43.793 In fact, they were actively against working remotely for staff. 00:02:44.221 --> 00:02:49.581 As a member of staff Staff Council for the university, it was rather disturbing, 00:02:50.677 --> 00:02:56.107 but now they see that we do work from home, and we work more. 00:02:57.326 --> 00:03:00.366 I found that to be true when I was remote as well. 00:03:00.385 --> 00:03:03.693 Yes, you work more; you take less breaks and 00:03:04.423 --> 00:03:05.793 it is very different. 00:03:06.570 --> 00:03:11.130 It's very similar, but on the other hand, it's very different. 00:03:12.293 --> 00:03:16.293 So, we went remote back in March at the end of March. 00:03:17.257 --> 00:03:20.637 It is now November, have you come back to campus? 00:03:21.284 --> 00:03:22.314 To work, no. 00:03:22.454 --> 00:03:26.234 To visit and pick-up things, yes, I had to swap out my laptop 00:03:26.349 --> 00:03:30.679 because in the school year they were the student laptops. 00:03:31.008 --> 00:03:35.818 They first gave us the ones that were the oldest and then they gave us…. 00:03:35.827 --> 00:03:37.477 when those were dying. 00:03:37.477 --> 00:03:41.087 They allowed us to take the new laptop, but they wanted them back, 00:03:41.087 --> 00:03:45.533 so they gave us refurbished all in one PCs to take their place. 00:03:46.533 --> 00:03:53.003 So, I went back for that and went back to have it fixed. [laughing] that was fun. 00:03:53.078 --> 00:03:54.548 You answered my next question, 00:03:54.548 --> 00:03:57.138 which was did you ever have any issues with technology. 00:03:57.138 --> 00:03:58.098 All the time. 00:03:58.498 --> 00:04:00.438 I'm still having issues. 00:04:00.722 --> 00:04:04.492 For some reason, my outlook freezes whenever I have a PDF open, 00:04:04.492 --> 00:04:08.122 and since I have to have PDF open for my invoices 00:04:08.662 --> 00:04:10.332 there's a lot of freezing going on. 00:04:10.410 --> 00:04:11.220 Oh, geez. 00:04:11.738 --> 00:04:15.738 I'm on first name basis with a couple of guys from UCF IT. 00:04:17.037 --> 00:04:18.197 Got to the point where 00:04:18.197 --> 00:04:22.507 Matt would say “don’t call me. Just don't. Put in a work order”. 00:04:23.172 --> 00:04:27.752 I know who Matt is. But can you tell me, whoever's watching who Matt is. 00:04:27.940 --> 00:04:31.390 Matt is...He is the library IT God. 00:04:31.962 --> 00:04:32.742 Very good. 00:04:33.426 --> 00:04:35.346 I will have to tell him you said that. 00:04:36.915 --> 00:04:40.915 So, was IT the only reason you came back to campus? 00:04:41.692 --> 00:04:45.426 No, I've had to pick up various little things. 00:04:46.736 --> 00:04:52.252 I have a purchase order number that I use for our service fees 00:04:52.252 --> 00:04:54.640 that we get charged and I left that on my desk, 00:04:54.640 --> 00:04:55.790 and I couldn't... 00:04:55.790 --> 00:04:58.717 It's hard to tell people where something is on your desk, 00:04:58.910 --> 00:05:01.260 so I would go back and get that 00:05:03.598 --> 00:05:05.108 and nitpicky things. 00:05:05.907 --> 00:05:09.288 What was your experience like coming back on campus? 00:05:09.467 --> 00:05:12.370 Well, the first time I forgot to do the self-checker. 00:05:12.285 --> 00:05:13.500 Okay. 00:05:13.650 --> 00:05:14.896 Can you talk more about that? 00:05:15.890 --> 00:05:19.879 Well, the Self-Checker is something that we the staff and faculty 00:05:20.890 --> 00:05:23.709 and students are required to fill out every day. It's online. 00:05:23.935 --> 00:05:27.985 And it asks you basically do you feel well, 00:05:28.426 --> 00:05:32.660 have you been in contact with anybody who has COVID, 00:05:33.322 --> 00:05:36.712 do you feel sick, do you have a temperature, 00:05:36.820 --> 00:05:42.580 are you coughing and of course lying is easiest. [Laugher] 00:05:44.164 --> 00:05:45.164 Yeah. 00:05:45.389 --> 00:05:46.669 It's questions. You know, 00:05:46.669 --> 00:05:49.839 if you're personally honest person, you're going to be honest. 00:05:50.750 --> 00:05:54.515 But then, yes, and you have to fill that out every time you come to campus... 00:05:55.457 --> 00:05:58.218 before you come to campus. Then you get a little email. 00:05:58.296 --> 00:06:00.926 It's going to send the email to your boss 00:06:02.549 --> 00:06:07.149 and then it sends you an email saying, “you're clear to come to campus”. 00:06:08.710 --> 00:06:11.220 So, you forgot to do that. Anything else? 00:06:12.131 --> 00:06:14.761 And I was reminded by one of my coworkers who was there 00:06:14.781 --> 00:06:16.691 she's like “you did do the self-checker" 00:06:16.691 --> 00:06:19.131 I was like “oops”. 00:06:20.960 --> 00:06:23.400 But I have not forgotten since. 00:06:23.850 --> 00:06:29.200 What about coming on a campus did students ... were all of them wearing masks? 00:06:29.808 --> 00:06:30.528 Well, 00:06:31.545 --> 00:06:35.855 the first time I came on campus, it was a great big ghost town. 00:06:37.200 --> 00:06:40.620 Which was very eerie and very strange 00:06:40.448 --> 00:06:44.448 because you're used to seeing just swarms of humanity. 00:06:46.224 --> 00:06:52.234 Skating and skateboarding and biking and running and everything and go on campus 00:06:52.328 --> 00:06:55.498 and have it be a virtual ghost town was very freaky. 00:06:56.518 --> 00:06:59.715 Then the last few times I've gone on campus, 00:07:01.993 --> 00:07:06.373 everyone I saw was mostly masked outside. 00:07:06.373 --> 00:07:09.234 But once I got into the library, there were, I would see, 00:07:09.274 --> 00:07:13.140 you know, two or three students and I'd remind them you know, masks 00:07:13.684 --> 00:07:17.684 and they were “oh, yeah I forgot’ and they put on. 00:07:19.634 --> 00:07:23.854 I would say about 90% if not more had masks on. 00:07:24.904 --> 00:07:25.624 Good. 00:07:28.951 --> 00:07:32.951 How did the university's actions and response affect you? 00:07:34.166 --> 00:07:38.166 What made me worry and be concerned for the people I know who are high risk. 00:07:40.566 --> 00:07:47.106 It made me wonder if the jobs were physical in the library. 00:07:47.726 --> 00:07:53.926 They couldn't do their work online and we weren't open, and we were... 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:57.361 how are they going to live, how are they going to pay their bills 00:07:57.361 --> 00:07:58.981 So, when they did the 00:08:00.702 --> 00:08:06.539 donation of hours for the people, I donated as soon as I could. 00:08:06.583 --> 00:08:08.457 The minute I heard about it 00:08:08.676 --> 00:08:15.696 because I didn't want anybody to be in dire straits. 00:08:16.779 --> 00:08:20.779 Is there anything more you can say about that program, if you know anymore. 00:08:20.812 --> 00:08:23.432 Yes. Yes, it was, 00:08:23.793 --> 00:08:26.363 I'm on Staff council, which is 00:08:26.432 --> 00:08:30.368 representatives of all the university support personnel USPS 00:08:30.453 --> 00:08:36.303 we have like a Senate, and it's really the interface between the staff and the 00:08:36.303 --> 00:08:37.650 administration. 00:08:37.650 --> 00:08:41.384 It's an elected position or appointed and 00:08:41.394 --> 00:08:44.524 I've been on that for since God was a child, it’s been so long. 00:08:44.554 --> 00:08:49.840 We've been trying to be able to donate sick leave to people and 00:08:49.128 --> 00:08:53.128 the university has been saying “No. No. Can't do that. No”. 00:08:53.287 --> 00:08:57.287 Well, then COVID came through and they said, “yes we can”. 00:08:57.336 --> 00:09:03.536 You could donate 40 hours of either annual or sick leave or both a combination 00:09:03.895 --> 00:09:13.968 and it will go into a pot and anyone who needs it after 80 hours of Cares Act time 00:09:13.968 --> 00:09:17.783 is used, you have to use all your annual leave and your sick leave, and then you 00:09:17.783 --> 00:09:21.483 apply for this pot. 00:09:21.604 --> 00:09:27.304 At first it was you got 120 hours and now I think it's up to 00:09:28.750 --> 00:09:30.870 600 some thing you can get. 00:09:30.936 --> 00:09:31.756 Oh, wow. 00:09:31.885 --> 00:09:33.585 And they save money. 00:09:33.638 --> 00:09:37.368 Everyone who donated that we were all told, if it's not all used, 00:09:37.396 --> 00:09:40.206 it will be sent back, given back. 00:09:43.300 --> 00:09:48.873 At first, no one went for it and then slowly, slowly, people started to apply 00:09:48.993 --> 00:09:52.993 and it's very easy to get. And I tell everybody to go get it. 00:09:54.134 --> 00:09:58.134 Do you remember approximately how many hours were donated? 00:09:58.307 --> 00:10:01.420 I vaguely recall a number and a deadline. 00:10:01.533 --> 00:10:06.297 It was 150,000 hours. 00:10:06.589 --> 00:10:07.309 Wow. 00:10:07.434 --> 00:10:12.294 Yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, it was, it went boom, it exploded really big. 00:10:15.110 --> 00:10:21.500 I believe the original ending was in May, 00:10:21.393 --> 00:10:23.613 but they might have extended. 00:10:23.970 --> 00:10:26.657 I vaguely recall of extension. 00:10:27.109 --> 00:10:32.729 And I know, I know faculty donated a lot of hours, and I know staff donated hours. 00:10:33.310 --> 00:10:34.151 Do you have... 00:10:34.297 --> 00:10:35.507 Sorry, go ahead. 00:10:35.753 --> 00:10:39.143 That was it, just everybody donated. It was great. 00:10:39.287 --> 00:10:44.700 Do you know if there's been any update? Like how many hours have been used. 00:10:44.564 --> 00:10:47.540 I haven’t, and I forgot to ask. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.329 I’ll ask in the next staff council meeting, which is Thursday. 00:10:50.645 --> 00:10:51.485 Very good. 00:10:51.510 --> 00:10:53.200 And then, I guess, also. 00:10:53.548 --> 00:10:58.518 Well, I mean, this is an ongoing pandemic. So, at what point do those hours return 00:10:58.612 --> 00:11:02.612 if they're not all used, but ongoing pandemic. 00:11:04.330 --> 00:11:09.703 I think once they start having everyone come back because I think now in 00:11:09.703 --> 00:11:14.973 in the spring, they're going to be having more staff who can come back and are not 00:11:14.973 --> 00:11:20.263 considered high risk and they can't do the job off campus. 00:11:20.505 --> 00:11:22.863 They're going to be told to come back. 00:11:23.969 --> 00:11:28.697 The ones who were considered high risk or can still do their work off campus will be 00:11:28.747 --> 00:11:32.747 allowed to stay at home and continue to work off campus. 00:11:33.813 --> 00:11:39.102 Can you tell me more about the process of how UCF is distinguishing the individuals 00:11:39.119 --> 00:11:42.350 that can come back and the individuals that can stay home. 00:11:42.357 --> 00:11:50.754 Well, it's up to your supervisors and department heads and your job. 00:11:51.291 --> 00:11:59.341 So, I know that one of my coworkers, she’s back I think two or three times a week. 00:12:00.531 --> 00:12:03.761 And you're only allowed to have so many people in your department. 00:12:04.238 --> 00:12:06.708 So, they've got everybody who can come back... 00:12:07.267 --> 00:12:11.167 They've got it plotted out so that they know so and so... 00:12:11.505 --> 00:12:13.887 Because you have to be six feet apart... 00:12:13.985 --> 00:12:18.835 So and so could be back Tuesdays and Thursdays and the person who sits next to 00:12:18.835 --> 00:12:23.705 them can come back Wednesdays and Mondays and it works out like that. 00:12:24.479 --> 00:12:28.549 They've got plotted down on an Excel spreadsheet. 00:12:29.531 --> 00:12:30.241 Okay. 00:12:31.392 --> 00:12:35.732 How would you rate the effectiveness of the countermeasures implemented by the 00:12:35.735 --> 00:12:37.525 University? 00:12:37.816 --> 00:12:41.536 Mostly good, but some of them are just you think 00:12:42.432 --> 00:12:44.752 Anything in particular that... 00:12:45.190 --> 00:12:50.890 My department, we've got fewer people now because of finances. 00:12:51.574 --> 00:12:55.594 But we are still crammed packed into a small area. 00:12:56.163 --> 00:12:57.963 So, getting six feet apart... 00:12:58.154 --> 00:13:01.734 I'm four feet from two of the people I work with, 00:13:01.957 --> 00:13:07.267 and their solution was to get a little plexiglass acrylic shield. 00:13:07.267 --> 00:13:13.167 That's about this wide and this tall and I'm thinking "yes, because when you 00:13:13.167 --> 00:13:16.177 sneeze, it just stops right there. It doesn't spread”. 00:13:17.945 --> 00:13:20.950 I don't feel comfortable with that. 00:13:20.883 --> 00:13:25.330 Then my other response was, “Well, maybe we'll get plastic shower curtains and 00:13:25.677 --> 00:13:29.437 hang them between the desks”, then I thought, well, that's kind of too 00:13:29.437 --> 00:13:30.667 back a road. 00:13:32.510 --> 00:13:33.320 Well said. 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:36.360 We've got I think three shower curtains in our department. 00:13:36.803 --> 00:13:38.693 I think it looks really tacky. 00:13:39.735 --> 00:13:43.745 You know, we've got all these empty study rooms, 00:13:43.973 --> 00:13:49.993 so just disperse the staff who are high risk in the study rooms, 00:13:49.993 --> 00:13:52.433 because there's no one using them now. 00:13:52.789 --> 00:13:57.999 And It's been a great deal of “no…no…” [inaudible noises]. 00:13:58.467 --> 00:14:03.527 Yeah, our department is utilizing that for our student workers because our 00:14:03.527 --> 00:14:07.587 normal workspaces within those like four feet of each other so 00:14:08.733 --> 00:14:13.203 our space that used to house four students can now only house one so. 00:14:14.257 --> 00:14:16.497 It's nice that they're doing that for students. 00:14:16.497 --> 00:14:22.707 But what about the staff, the people are vital as the faculty and the students. 00:14:27.466 --> 00:14:32.466 Can you tell me more about the process of going remote in March. 00:14:32.522 --> 00:14:35.632 Did you have to submit any documentation? 00:14:36.154 --> 00:14:38.954 No, it was we were all…. 00:14:39.434 --> 00:14:43.434 we heard about the closing and things that were going to start happening. 00:14:43.732 --> 00:14:45.782 And this was before spring break. 00:14:46.508 --> 00:14:50.658 And everybody was in, you know, wondering what their really going to do. 00:14:51.150 --> 00:14:54.655 Oh, they're going to give you laptops and computers. 00:14:54.772 --> 00:14:57.952 And I was like, well, I don't have room in my house for a computer. 00:14:58.133 --> 00:15:02.913 Well, you get a laptop and it'll be loaded with all the programs that you need, 00:15:03.121 --> 00:15:07.221 and they're going to be calling you department by department and 00:15:08.165 --> 00:15:12.450 get everything ready and then go home. 00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:20.930 We had to fill out with our bosses or your supervisor a work plan. 00:15:21.877 --> 00:15:27.797 To prove that one, you could work at home and that you had work to do and that you 00:15:27.797 --> 00:15:29.270 would do it. 00:15:30.495 --> 00:15:33.145 That was done and Matt 00:15:34.880 --> 00:15:42.188 DeSalvo called me down for my laptop and I got this ancient laptop. 00:15:43.403 --> 00:15:45.485 I'll be polite and well... 00:15:45.485 --> 00:15:46.195 no I won't. 00:15:46.195 --> 00:15:47.845 I'll just say it was a POS. 00:15:48.888 --> 00:15:53.380 I said, “Well, can I have one of these new ones that you've just gotten” 00:15:53.380 --> 00:15:56.808 and he said, “no it’s for students to use” and I looked around and I said 00:15:56.808 --> 00:16:00.688 ”Matt. There are no students here and they're not going to be any students here 00:16:00.688 --> 00:16:06.818 until August, possibly. Why can't we have that” 00:16:06.818 --> 00:16:09.508 “nope, nope students pay for it. Can't have it”. 00:16:09.670 --> 00:16:12.410 And I said, “what are we going to do is when these break” 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:15.400 “Well then, then. We'll work something out”. 00:16:15.521 --> 00:16:17.741 And I had problems from the get-go. 00:16:18.959 --> 00:16:23.429 Oh my god, it finally, it got to the point where it would crash on me and 00:16:23.429 --> 00:16:29.500 then I got told “Yes. Come in and bring it and we'll give you a new one.” 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:32.510 and that works considerably better. 00:16:33.124 --> 00:16:33.824 Yeah. 00:16:34.962 --> 00:16:42.222 But it's just...I had to get a new table because I'm tall 00:16:42.793 --> 00:16:46.543 and so I got a pneumatic one that rises and lowers and 00:16:46.777 --> 00:16:47.497 Nice. 00:16:47.597 --> 00:16:49.580 And it's on wheels. It’s really cool…. 00:16:56.431 --> 00:16:58.592 At the beginning of fall semester, they said 00:16:58.592 --> 00:17:02.220 “anybody who has a laptop, you need to bring it in, and we will give you 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:06.512 an all-in-one PC that we are going to withdraw, and we refurbished, 00:17:07.197 --> 00:17:09.987 and it will have all the programs that you need” 00:17:09.987 --> 00:17:14.747 So yes, that's what I did and now I'm having trouble with the outlook 00:17:14.747 --> 00:17:16.517 and Microsoft suite. 00:17:18.100 --> 00:17:20.350 But everything else looks pretty good on it. 00:17:21.967 --> 00:17:26.177 You mentioned that more staff will be coming back on a campus. 00:17:26.249 --> 00:17:28.289 Do you anticipate coming back? 00:17:28.331 --> 00:17:29.410 No. 00:17:29.410 --> 00:17:30.180 No. Okay. 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:30.990 Not so far. 00:17:30.992 --> 00:17:37.252 No because my job can still be done at home and I'm considered high risk. 00:17:38.541 --> 00:17:40.371 I'm a breast cancer survivor 00:17:41.475 --> 00:17:44.245 and I take care of my mother who is eight six. 00:17:44.673 --> 00:17:46.353 Ah, OK. 00:17:47.677 --> 00:17:52.737 I'm the chief cook and bottle washer. I’m an errand woman. 00:17:55.187 --> 00:17:56.717 So, you've got two jobs. 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:59.109 Yes, I've got two jobs, actually my third job. 00:17:59.162 --> 00:18:01.572 I had job and I worked at a movie theater. 00:18:02.230 --> 00:18:03.683 I can't go back there. 00:18:04.303 --> 00:18:08.593 Ah, yeah. I assume... 00:18:08.673 --> 00:18:12.983 I remember that you used to volunteer with the Dr. Phillips Art Center. 00:18:13.197 --> 00:18:18.337 Usher with the Dr. Phillips Center. I was an usher. I worked as an usher for Bob 00:18:18.337 --> 00:18:23.197 Carr Theater and then I went to Dr. Phillips, and I did it for 25 years. 00:18:23.294 --> 00:18:24.140 Wow. 00:18:24.123 --> 00:18:26.633 And then I got burnout. 00:18:26.905 --> 00:18:30.865 So, I went and got a job as a ticket salesperson, as a ticketer, 00:18:31.530 --> 00:18:35.530 for the Aloma Cinema Drafthouse and Pub... 00:18:35.530 --> 00:18:38.320 Aloma Cinema Grill and that was a lot of fun. 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:45.230 But they're one of the ones who have opened and they're doing well. 00:18:45.230 --> 00:18:49.400 But you have to buy all your tickets online, you have to make a reservation and 00:18:49.396 --> 00:18:53.396 and they wanted me to usher people to their seats and I told my doctor 00:18:53.396 --> 00:18:58.746 She said “no, you’re not going to do that. No. No. No.” 00:18:58.850 --> 00:19:00.880 Yeah, that's good. 00:19:02.842 --> 00:19:07.852 Well, um, how else has COVID19, the pandemic, affected your home life? 00:19:07.912 --> 00:19:09.682 If you're open to answering that. 00:19:09.864 --> 00:19:10.564 Not at all. 00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:11.399 I live alone. 00:19:12.482 --> 00:19:17.820 So, but it gets it gets lonely and it’s so silent. 00:19:17.342 --> 00:19:21.362 And it's weary because 00:19:22.955 --> 00:19:26.955 you get to sit in one spot for hours, eight hours a day, 00:19:27.701 --> 00:19:31.621 and I have to force myself to get up and walk on my brakes and walk around 00:19:32.218 --> 00:19:38.898 and then when you're done, you just go sit on your sofa and it’s boring 00:19:39.342 --> 00:19:40.892 and it's so silent. 00:19:41.872 --> 00:19:46.022 I am used to the sounds of the office and people chattering in the background 00:19:46.598 --> 00:19:52.048 and the computers going and copiers going and getting up and walking around 00:19:52.048 --> 00:19:55.758 and going places and seeing people and doing my little errands 00:19:56.214 --> 00:19:57.934 and I just sit here. 00:19:58.803 --> 00:20:04.503 And if I have a meeting .It's on zoom or on Skype or on teams. 00:20:06.309 --> 00:20:11.609 And it's, you know, you just, it's nice to commute is really great 00:20:11.717 --> 00:20:15.438 I can't comment. I can't deny that it's absolutely wonderful. 00:20:15.698 --> 00:20:16.958 Roll out of a bed. 00:20:19.956 --> 00:20:21.006 There you go. 00:20:21.514 --> 00:20:23.654 But I missed the camaraderie. 00:20:24.702 --> 00:20:31.949 I miss being able to get away from my desk and go to the break room or 00:20:31.965 --> 00:20:36.519 walk around the building because I used to walk on both breaks, and 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:39.879 I would get in my 10,000 steps easily. 00:20:41.258 --> 00:20:46.168 And I see, you know, people in other departments and talk. 00:20:49.328 --> 00:20:54.148 Your feelings and story resonate as when I was remote, I was also isolated. 00:20:54.157 --> 00:21:00.917 It was very quiet and very painful because I also worked too much and didn't 00:21:00.917 --> 00:21:01.857 the brakes. 00:21:02.278 --> 00:21:07.048 Yeah, and what's funny is yesterday I because I had a standing meeting with my 00:21:07.048 --> 00:21:10.528 supervisor Athena every day at 10 o'clock. 00:21:11.485 --> 00:21:15.235 And so yesterday, I was like, can we talk, 00:21:16.017 --> 00:21:19.817 we just, can we just talk. I miss talking to people. 00:21:20.063 --> 00:21:23.423 I don't want to chat. I want to just talk. 00:21:24.576 --> 00:21:26.716 She's like, yeah, that's cool. 00:21:26.852 --> 00:21:27.842 Awesome. 00:21:28.031 --> 00:21:31.589 But it was, it was really nice to actually talk to a person. 00:21:31.589 --> 00:21:36.191 It’s really nice talking to you. You get to talk to another human being. 00:21:36.191 --> 00:21:39.001 Yeah. and not necessarily in the context of work, 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:42.039 although we're talking about work it's different. It's not… 00:21:42.636 --> 00:21:43.856 It is, it is. 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:49.619 So, I know that the library put on some remote zoom events. 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:54.346 Did you to do attend any of those? And if yes, did you like them. 00:21:54.423 --> 00:21:58.583 Yes, I did. I loved Matt’s Tuesday Tech Talk. 00:21:59.013 --> 00:21:59.743 Nice. 00:22:00.269 --> 00:22:04.739 I tried not to miss any of those, and I miss them very much. 00:22:06.838 --> 00:22:12.798 Our Staff Council is meeting through zoom and it's every...once a month. 00:22:13.085 --> 00:22:16.545 My various committees that I go on are zoom. 00:22:17.849 --> 00:22:21.919 I'm on a number of university committees and a number of staff Council committees 00:22:21.999 --> 00:22:26.579 and I'm chair of a couple and I've taken.... 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:31.169 We're getting a new program Alma it's taking over from the evil Aleph 00:22:32.074 --> 00:22:37.634 and I've been taking training for that. So yeah, it's, it's... 00:22:40.138 --> 00:22:44.765 But the, the zoom events are like the more socialization learning 00:22:44.765 --> 00:22:47.109 not committee work not work, work. 00:22:47.109 --> 00:22:50.829 Those aren’t happening too much anymore from what I'm gathering. 00:22:51.084 --> 00:22:53.494 The committee, the Committee ones or the…. 00:22:53.651 --> 00:22:57.451 So, like Matt's Tech Tuesday's it's like very informal. 00:22:57.712 --> 00:22:59.112 Yeah, and I missed that. 00:22:59.190 --> 00:23:06.040 And occasionally, the library administration will have an informational 00:23:06.051 --> 00:23:08.811 like they did yesterday with the library renovations. 00:23:08.849 --> 00:23:12.339 They had a zoom with quite a few people in that. 00:23:14.793 --> 00:23:21.363 And so, there's things like that. But yeah, the majority of it is meetings. 00:23:21.435 --> 00:23:22.685 Meeting, yeah. 00:23:24.485 --> 00:23:28.135 What was your experience getting everyday items like groceries and 00:23:28.135 --> 00:23:29.444 household goods? 00:23:31.834 --> 00:23:36.584 Well, I did the delivery thing. I did the pickup thing mostly 00:23:37.748 --> 00:23:47.418 and I went to Walmart and I had my mom's groceries delivered. I had…. 00:23:47.917 --> 00:23:51.197 And she liked that because they were really nice. 00:23:51.463 --> 00:23:52.203 Good. 00:23:53.856 --> 00:24:00.646 I’d done the pickup thing from Target and Home Depot and that was really nice 00:24:00.663 --> 00:24:03.973 because you get there, and they pop it right out to your car. 00:24:06.184 --> 00:24:13.211 I don't miss... I don't miss the angry people who don't believe that there's a 00:24:13.211 --> 00:24:18.464 coronavirus and they don't believe in the masks and they are very adamant. 00:24:19.499 --> 00:24:22.219 Have you encountered them anywhere? 00:24:22.472 --> 00:24:23.802 Oh, yes. Oh, yes. 00:24:23.853 --> 00:24:27.685 And you just look at them and think didn't your mother raise you with any manners 00:24:27.685 --> 00:24:29.550 whatsoever. 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:35.730 Screaming at someone because you can just reflects poorly on you. 00:24:35.730 --> 00:24:36.930 They're doing their job. 00:24:36.930 --> 00:24:40.700 That's what their boss tells them to tell you that you need to wear a mask 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.700 and you should. 00:24:42.260 --> 00:24:44.840 May I ask where you've seen this happen. 00:24:44.984 --> 00:24:46.544 Oh, Walmart, of course. 00:24:49.678 --> 00:24:58.138 And you just think “Yeah, you don't believe in it, but how is it hurting you". 00:24:58.703 --> 00:25:05.513 Do something so very simple, they're not asking you to donate a kidney, give a leg. 00:25:08.468 --> 00:25:13.368 Did you face any food shortages or necessities like toilet paper? 00:25:14.309 --> 00:25:16.389 No, not at all. Not even... 00:25:16.665 --> 00:25:19.485 The only thing I really missed was the Lysol wipes. 00:25:20.103 --> 00:25:20.853 Yes. 00:25:21.328 --> 00:25:23.444 But yeah... I... The only thing…. 00:25:23.648 --> 00:25:25.228 I didn't miss anything. 00:25:25.228 --> 00:25:27.948 I haven't because I don't buy the... 00:25:27.948 --> 00:25:29.518 I don't buy junk food. 00:25:30.523 --> 00:25:31.763 Because I can…. 00:25:31.763 --> 00:25:35.413 I took Home Ec. I can bake. My mom and grandma taught me how to cook. 00:25:35.413 --> 00:25:37.853 So, if I want cookies. I make them. 00:25:38.384 --> 00:25:39.124 Nice. 00:25:39.349 --> 00:25:43.349 so yeah, I didn’t actually miss anything. 00:25:43.626 --> 00:25:47.346 I never ran short of toilet paper. I never ran short of paper towels and 00:25:49.190 --> 00:25:53.939 I got reusable towels that I made because I can sow. 00:25:55.120 --> 00:26:02.160 I made reusable paper reusable towels with terry cloth towels for family and friends, 00:26:02.183 --> 00:26:05.433 and I've been making face masks and selling them so. 00:26:05.651 --> 00:26:06.491 Awesome. 00:26:07.260 --> 00:26:10.940 Yeah, I've done pretty good. I'm making masks and selling of them. 00:26:11.443 --> 00:26:13.813 I got a bunch of different fabrics. 00:26:14.290 --> 00:26:15.130 Very cool. 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:17.949 So, if you want a Harry Potter mask, I could make it. 00:26:18.800 --> 00:26:21.348 If you want to Star Trek or Doctor Who. 00:26:21.994 --> 00:26:24.144 I may have to take you up on this. 00:26:26.383 --> 00:26:31.563 Did you have any plans, that cancelled vacation or anything? 00:26:31.957 --> 00:26:35.287 Oh my gosh yes. Oh my gosh yes. 00:26:35.918 --> 00:26:38.768 I try and do an international trip every other year. 00:26:38.810 --> 00:26:43.900 And this was my year to go see something I've been dying to see 00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:46.270 which is the Oberammergau play in Germany. 00:26:47.824 --> 00:26:51.704 In Oberammergau, Germany and do the Christmas markets. 00:26:52.878 --> 00:26:56.878 Nope, and I was going to plan on doing Scotland and nope. 00:26:57.825 --> 00:27:01.355 And then I thought, well, I'll go domestic -New York. Nope. 00:27:04.214 --> 00:27:09.614 So yeah, that's really hard because I love to travel. 00:27:10.977 --> 00:27:14.797 The fact that my sister lives in Virginia and I have family in Michigan, 00:27:14.797 --> 00:27:16.687 and I thought “well I go see them" and 00:27:16.687 --> 00:27:21.257 my sister said, “Nope. No, you're not coming to my house, 00:27:21.646 --> 00:27:26.406 unless you come with an RV and you expect to do everything from the RV”. 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:30.259 So, yeah. 00:27:32.365 --> 00:27:37.325 I have to take a lot of time off at the end of December, because you're only 00:27:37.325 --> 00:27:41.585 to bank so many hours of annual leave and anything over gets rolled in to sick leave 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:43.650 and you lose it. 00:27:44.512 --> 00:27:48.282 So, I make sure to use it all up before it rolls over. 00:27:48.523 --> 00:27:51.393 That’s good. So, does that mean a staycation? 00:27:51.747 --> 00:27:55.870 Yes, it does. It means maybe day trips... 00:27:55.765 --> 00:27:58.645 Going to St. Augustine, maybe going up to Georgia. 00:28:01.540 --> 00:28:05.284 But yeah, it's staying home going to breakfast. 00:28:06.182 --> 00:28:08.452 Have you left Orlando since March? 00:28:10.358 --> 00:28:15.780 No. No. I have not. 00:28:16.635 --> 00:28:19.735 I haven't gone to Lakeland or Tampa. 00:28:22.822 --> 00:28:24.332 It's, you know, it's…. 00:28:26.503 --> 00:28:33.253 I don't want to say it's boring because of the timing and because of what's going on, 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:37.876 but it's certainly not exciting. 00:28:40.512 --> 00:28:42.320 I would say it’s boring. 00:28:42.838 --> 00:28:44.698 Well, it’s what got to be done. 00:28:44.917 --> 00:28:46.937 Yes, It’s safe. 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:51.600 Yes, and you know and it's not just keeping me safe. 00:28:51.950 --> 00:28:54.650 It's keeping family and friends and neighbors. 00:28:55.217 --> 00:28:56.987 I know someone who has lost... 00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:59.172 I know people who have lost family to COVID. 00:29:00.392 --> 00:29:03.532 I am doing everything I can not to be part of that group. 00:29:04.448 --> 00:29:10.818 I would literally be completely devastated if a member of my family got it and passed 00:29:10.818 --> 00:29:12.458 because of what I did. 00:29:13.556 --> 00:29:14.836 I feel the same way. 00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:17.699 I don't, you know, 00:29:17.699 --> 00:29:20.779 I don't know if I could look at myself in the face ever again. 00:29:26.208 --> 00:29:31.938 What do you think the most significant impact COVID has had on your life? 00:29:32.774 --> 00:29:33.564 In my life... 00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:38.310 Its taught me that I a lot more resources... 00:29:38.310 --> 00:29:42.250 inner resources than I originally thought and that I'm a lot more 00:29:46.343 --> 00:29:50.563 complete in myself then I thought. 00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:55.319 I don't need to go to Disney. I don't need to go to the movies. 00:29:55.319 --> 00:30:01.969 I don't need to do this, I've got books. I've got crafts and arts 00:30:02.290 --> 00:30:11.790 and there are things I can do that keep me focused and participating in life 00:30:12.606 --> 00:30:16.786 and the externals are nice and they're lovely. 00:30:16.987 --> 00:30:20.477 But if you cannot stand being in your own head, 00:30:20.801 --> 00:30:25.721 and the silence, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. 00:30:27.754 --> 00:30:30.134 Yeah, I can see that. 00:30:32.529 --> 00:30:36.229 Would you say that you've thrived during quarantine? 00:30:37.260 --> 00:30:38.617 I think that I have. 00:30:39.289 --> 00:30:40.789 I learned a lot about myself. 00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:42.609 I've learned a lot about others. 00:30:42.654 --> 00:30:44.984 Oh boy, have I learned a lot about others. 00:30:45.324 --> 00:30:47.374 More than I ever wanted to know. 00:30:50.975 --> 00:30:54.475 They seem to let it all hang out and some of them shouldn't. 00:30:55.987 --> 00:30:59.287 Are you referencing maybe social media posts or 00:30:59.513 --> 00:31:01.853 Yes, I am. I am definitely. 00:31:05.353 --> 00:31:09.224 I just think "Oh, honey, you need to go back. 00:31:13.351 --> 00:31:14.581 Bless your heart. 00:31:14.948 --> 00:31:16.608 You’re just so confused. 00:31:19.386 --> 00:31:22.406 Is there anything else that you would like people to know when 00:31:22.406 --> 00:31:23.946 they're watching us? 00:31:26.507 --> 00:31:32.677 You know, people complain now about having to stay home 00:31:33.852 --> 00:31:36.372 and the hardships that they're putting out with. 00:31:36.627 --> 00:31:42.770 And all I can think of as the people who survived the 1980s influenza epidemic 00:31:42.382 --> 00:31:44.802 because they didn't have social media. 00:31:44.849 --> 00:31:46.299 They didn't have the internet. 00:31:46.304 --> 00:31:48.140 They didn't have radio or TV. 00:31:48.588 --> 00:31:54.858 They barely had movies and they survived, and they thrived. 00:31:56.146 --> 00:31:59.246 And they didn't have grocery stores to go to.... 00:31:59.596 --> 00:32:02.376 They did have, you know, they did, but it wasn't the same. 00:32:03.503 --> 00:32:06.803 I mean it's one thing when you have a car and you can go somewhere, 00:32:06.803 --> 00:32:13.213 but when you've got a hitch up a buggy or walk or take public transportation. 00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:15.509 You know, we don't have a…. 00:32:15.632 --> 00:32:23.152 We don't have hardly anything to compare with them because we have such a life 00:32:23.152 --> 00:32:30.792 of ease and access to keep yourself or your kids entertained. 00:32:31.632 --> 00:32:36.420 That they didn't have back then, but they did better than a we do... Than we are. 00:32:37.330 --> 00:32:41.223 And it's just you look at them and you think, “you know, you really need to study 00:32:41.223 --> 00:32:44.893 history because you'll find that we are doing a hell of a lot better off than 00:32:44.893 --> 00:32:46.803 our grandparents did”. 00:32:47.580 --> 00:32:52.790 And they didn't bitch, whine and complain a of third of what you people do. 00:32:54.358 --> 00:33:01.980 For the love of Pete read a book. You know. It's just…. 00:33:02.805 --> 00:33:06.185 With that said, what was the best book that you read during quarantine? 00:33:06.815 --> 00:33:09.355 Oh, my goodness. I read a lot. 00:33:10.489 --> 00:33:11.399 I've gotten… 00:33:11.844 --> 00:33:15.611 I am a mystery fan. I'm a fantasy fan. I like romance, I like histories 00:33:16.192 --> 00:33:19.272 and I've rediscovered Dorothy L. Sayers. 00:33:19.882 --> 00:33:22.262 She writes the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, 00:33:22.904 --> 00:33:30.404 and she wrote them in the 20s, 30s and 40s and she passed away. 00:33:30.659 --> 00:33:32.690 I think in the 50s. 00:33:33.653 --> 00:33:38.113 An author has been authorized by her family to write new Harriet Vane Lord 00:33:38.113 --> 00:33:40.383 Peter Wimsey stories and they are very good, and 00:33:40.270 --> 00:33:43.170 I listened to them on audio books. 00:33:43.170 --> 00:33:48.563 That's what I do on my walk. I listened to books and I've been reading them. 00:33:48.563 --> 00:33:49.443 They’re very good. 00:33:50.284 --> 00:33:58.324 I've been reading the R. L. Mathewson series and those are fun. 00:33:58.324 --> 00:33:59.324 Those are very good. 00:34:03.222 --> 00:34:08.132 I'm reading books on costume construction, corset making, fascinating. 00:34:08.820 --> 00:34:09.660 Very cool. 00:34:10.542 --> 00:34:14.892 That's what I’ve been reading yeah, I’ve been reading Jane mysteries by 00:34:14.939 --> 00:34:17.839 Rueda Mae Brown. Those are very good. 00:34:21.538 --> 00:34:23.138 That’s about it reading wise. 00:34:23.167 --> 00:34:24.567 Watching a lot of movies…. 00:34:29.136 --> 00:34:32.236 Sewing. That’s it. 00:34:34.554 --> 00:34:38.304 One of the questions that I typically ask is, how did you keep sane, or cope. 00:34:38.804 --> 00:34:40.874 Sounds like you just answered that. 00:34:42.369 --> 00:34:48.890 I watch a lot of comedies. A lot of classic movies. 00:34:52.895 --> 00:34:54.815 What's your... Sorry, go ahead. 00:34:54.974 --> 00:34:55.934 I love Casablanca. 00:34:56.345 --> 00:34:59.442 I can watch that over and over and over again, the Marx Brothers. 00:34:59.612 --> 00:35:05.252 You just, you know, you watch the craziest thing that you can because crazy fits. 00:35:07.749 --> 00:35:11.139 Was your asleep affected during quarantine at all? 00:35:14.120 --> 00:35:21.520 You know, not really. I sleep like a log. 00:35:21.852 --> 00:35:22.592 Nice. 00:35:24.778 --> 00:35:30.928 So, my last questions for you are what seemed normal a few months ago that would 00:35:30.928 --> 00:35:36.948 now seem strange or what seems strange that you're doing now that might not do in 00:35:36.948 --> 00:35:37.708 a few months. 00:35:39.122 --> 00:35:41.502 What seems strange now…... 00:35:41.846 --> 00:35:43.886 I apologize I butchered this really bad. 00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:46.430 You want to rephrase it, go for it. 00:35:46.538 --> 00:35:49.838 What seemed normal l a few months ago, that seems strange to you now? 00:35:50.941 --> 00:35:52.281 Going into work. 00:35:54.133 --> 00:36:00.973 Getting up at 5:45, getting dressed and ready for work, 00:36:01.100 --> 00:36:04.790 getting work clothes on and then driving into work 00:36:04.974 --> 00:36:06.354 That is so strange. 00:36:07.288 --> 00:36:10.948 I'll be honest with you. I'm not looking forward to going back to the office. 00:36:10.948 --> 00:36:16.648 I like it. And what seems strange now that will be…. 00:36:17.750 --> 00:36:20.275 Sorry. What are you doing now, that will likely seem strange to you 00:36:20.275 --> 00:36:24.275 in a month or two, assuming that you know the pandemic ends in a month or two? 00:36:24.275 --> 00:36:25.235 Who knows? 00:36:25.374 --> 00:36:26.164 There's a cure. 00:36:26.264 --> 00:36:27.400 Yeah. 00:36:31.891 --> 00:36:32.891 Being alone. 00:36:33.325 --> 00:36:37.235 It's just, you know, I like the silence at times, it's just... 00:36:38.887 --> 00:36:44.877 I work at my own pace, and, you know, and if I need to take a break, 00:36:45.340 --> 00:36:50.674 I can get up and walk around the house or go down to the mailbox and come back just 00:36:50.674 --> 00:36:51.584 to get a way. 00:36:52.864 --> 00:37:00.714 I don't have people driving me crazy with eating food over there and chatting with 00:37:00.714 --> 00:37:02.614 their grandson on over there. 00:37:04.634 --> 00:37:08.634 Hearing everybody's conversation. It's just calm. 00:37:10.628 --> 00:37:15.318 Well, I hope for your sake that UCF will consider more remote possibilities, 00:37:15.453 --> 00:37:18.630 whether or not there's a pandemic going on. 00:37:21.490 --> 00:37:24.289 Still, I miss being around other people. 00:37:25.149 --> 00:37:29.549 But even then, would you consider like the I think you mentioned twice a week. 00:37:29.692 --> 00:37:33.482 Some people in our department are doing, would you consider that if it was safe? 00:37:33.664 --> 00:37:36.196 Yes, definitely. Yeah. 00:37:36.787 --> 00:37:37.557 Nice. 00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:40.082 It will be optimal. 00:37:42.112 --> 00:37:46.962 Well, I don't have any more questions for you. Any last words. 00:37:47.729 --> 00:37:50.549 Well...for posterity. 00:37:50.780 --> 00:37:51.920 We're surviving. 00:37:53.397 --> 00:37:56.957 We're doing well as better than I thought we would be. 00:37:57.833 --> 00:37:58.553 But 00:38:05.367 --> 00:38:11.427 the cures need come because the amount of deaths and the lack of response 00:38:11.427 --> 00:38:23.126 by officials is just shameful and no one should die because the government wants 00:38:23.126 --> 00:38:25.336 to worry about the economics. 00:38:26.454 --> 00:38:32.804 Their concentration should be on preservation of life and not on the 00:38:32.804 --> 00:38:34.524 preservation of business. 00:38:36.615 --> 00:38:37.905 I agree with you. 00:38:40.240 --> 00:38:41.900 And that's what it is in the end. 00:38:43.672 --> 00:38:48.712 Yeah...Well, thank you so much for interviewing with me today. 00:38:48.712 --> 00:38:52.322 I greatly appreciate it. I am going to stop recording. 00:38:52.772 --> 00:38:54.692 All right. Well, thank you for the time.