Yesterday was the first day since the March lockdown that it felt like a normal, pre-COVID day at work. People were happy, asking questions about food, looking for fun things and not just commodi...
https://gordonzola.net/2021/02/14/a-weirdly-normal-feeling-day-of-cheese/
I think most of us cheese folks are really missing the ACS conference this year. Not only because of the work that was already done — as a Judging and Competition Committee member, we did about...
"I never truly realized how bad men were at washing their hands until I was first asked to judge cheese. The men’s room at that hotel bathroom in Vermont was the first time I ever had to wait i...
https://gordonzola.net/2020/05/14/diary-of-an-essential-worker-entry-8-whats-up-dudes/
"I wonder at times if it’s the right thing to do to keep working, and not being on vacation gave me another chance to reflect on that. I think every single unexpectedly “essential worker” h...
https://gordonzola.net/2020/04/13/diary-of-an-essential-worker-entry-7-the-new-normal/
"There is a crisis happening for artisan cheesemakers right now and it is dire. It is possible that in twenty years, those of us still around will be talking about the era of amazing American art...
https://gordonzola.net/2020/04/02/diary-of-an-essential-worker-entry-6-cheese-talk/
"One bright moment every day in this new retail reality is Senior Shopping Hour. Like most grocery stores in the area, we have set aside the first hour of the day for seniors and people in high-r...
https://gordonzola.net/2020/03/30/diary-of-an-essential-worker-entry-5-senior-hour/
It’s been ten days since San Francisco announced the Shelter in Place order and there’s a weird settling in that’s going on. A few media-moments aside, almost everyone has changed their b...
https://gordonzola.net/2020/03/26/diary-of-an-essential-worker-entry-4-the-new-normal-for-now/
"4 AM is just about the most quiet time in San Francisco anyway, people are home from the bars and restaurants. Most people haven’t yet gotten up yet for their jobs. I thought I would be the on...
https://gordonzola.net/2020/03/23/diary-of-an-essential-worker-entry-3-quiet/
"In scary times, emotional reactions don’t come out in clear ways to appropriate targets. It’s good for all of us to remember that. Overwhelming reactions, inappropriate anger, the urge to po...
https://gordonzola.net/2020/03/22/diary-of-an-essential-worker-entry-2-how-are-you/
I thought I’d dust off this ancient-looking blog and start to keep a diary of this time of virus and anxiety from the perspective of a grocery worker. While most people I know are off work ri...
https://gordonzola.net/2020/03/19/diary-of-an-essential-worker/