Julio Ojeda-Zapata's Blog

When my alma mater St. John’s University dedicated a recent issue of its magazine to African-American alumni and Black history on campus, it didn’t occur to me that a Latino issue might be next.

Then SJU called.

I chatted with Frank Rajkowski, a staff writer, who wrote a nice story about me (and posted it today). I am looking forward to seeing the magazine issue.

#WeAreJohnies Profile: Julio Ojeda-Zapata ’85
“I picked Saint John’s on instinct, but within two days of arriving there, I knew I’d ...

I knew the yearlong pandemic was far from over, a week or so ago, when I found myself with dozens of others in downtown St. Paul’s Roy Wilkins Auditorium, each of us standing uneasily at our own table, spitting over and over into a plastic tube.

This was my third coronavirus test, and the first that didn’t involve a swab jammed upward into my nostril at a drive-up testing location. That was bad enough, but the recent self-administered procedure seemed somehow worse.

I was panicked at sharing an...

I was feeling out of sorts on Saturday, and by late afternoon was running a 101-degree fever. My head pounded and my throat ached. My chest felt a bit tight.

At one time, this would have been only mildly concerning — I’d take a sick day and queue up some Tylenol and bed rest to shake off whatever ailed me.

In the coronavirus age, though, my symptoms were cause for panic. After all, fevers, headaches and sore throats are COVID-19 symptoms.

Fortunately, getting tested for the coronavirus has beco...

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As the pandemic rages, Im still pretty calm as I go on more than a month of near-continuous home confinement.

Its helpful that the kind of work I do can be performed at home (I had telecommuted a great deal in the years before the pandemic). And I have a LOT of work Keeping myself busy with projects is good for my state of mind at an apocalyptic time.

Ive written about coronavirus-related topics, mostly, in recent weeks.

For the Pioneer Press, Ive filed the following (listed in reverse...

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My friends, the great experiment.

No, I dont mean the Excelsior-class starship. (For non-nerds reading this and wondering what the hell Im talking about, heres a link to the relevant Star Trek scene.)

Telecommuting had been a growing trend before the coronavirus crisis, but its now the default (at least for those with the right sort of office-style work) as the coronavirus shutters offices and scatters their occupants in a historic home-working migration.

Im going on nearly a month of...

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Ive been trying to figure out why the pandemic hasnt totally freaked me out. Oh, Im stressed, but also feel a weird calm.

I think its partly because Ive been mentally bracing for this day. As a science fiction aficionado, Im obsessed with apocalyptic novels and therefore have an intimate acquaintance with whats happening now. I was ready for this. If aliens land on the Minnesota Capitol lawn, therefore, Ill be kinda chill about that, too. I will take you to my leader.

I think its partly...

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The COVID-19 outbreak might be the story of the century, and theres no shortage of news about it.

For you, that can be a good or bad thing. If the never-ending torrent of info about the coronavirus is bumming you out, this post isnt for you. Power down the computer or smartphone, cut off the virus-news firehose, and go do something that relaxes you.

But if your appetite for COVID-19 news is insatiable, youve come to the right place.

I cant get enough of the stuff. Every waking moment, I...

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As I write this, the highly infectious and often-deadly COVID-19 virus is beginning its rampage across the country. And, like other Americans, I am figuring out how to cope.

Im a nerd who likes putting a geeky spin on any problem, and this medical emergency is no exception.

We are all wise to avoid all handshakes, which can be a vector for infection. So what to do, instead, to avoid seeming like rude nerds?

Actress Octavia Spencer suggests the #WakandaForever salute made famous...

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The COVID-19 crisis has made me paranoid about once-ordinary routines.

Ive stopped going to my public library because Im leery of much-handled books. Im no longer visiting my gym and its oft-touched equipment. Heck, Im no longer going to my office I have been 100-percent telecommuting for more than a week, with my employers OK, and anticipate doing so for the foreseeable future.

These are drastic lifestyle changes, and Ive had to figure out how Ill cope.

Im an introvert, so the enforced...

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As a Puerto Rican in Minnesota, I have complicated feelings about winter.

I hate the never-ending cold, but I gamely do battle with King Boreas every day, and have moments of exhilaration — like when I am attacking snowdrifts with an electric snowblower.

In recent weeks, I have written a couple of times in the Pioneer Press about my trials with winter.

On Jan. 18, I detailed my experiences with a variety of cleats, the shoe attachments that give you better traction on icy surfaces and help...