Corona virus, what's different for you.

Don't know whether this will help allay some panic attacks, but it's certainly useful information from someone on the front lines:



Vimeo privacy settings won't allow embedding, and the video's nearly an hour long, but the reassuring part begins at around 7:13.

Hope it helps!

I know all about Baby shark and the associated pinkfong songs numbnuts. The point i was getting at is why do you care? Yes, there is a subculture who play babyshark in nightclubs but generally the songs are aimed at small children, not middle aged, drug dependents who have questionable relationships with law enforcement.

Where is the problem with a tune which is aimed at pre-school, teaching them how to wash their hands and keep safe a problem for you??

Get over yourself and get a grip

That noise you hear is the joke flying way over your little head. Sorry, I have trouble lowballing it for the dufuses.

things are about to get "different" for a lot of ex military members! Trump is calling up the IRR - individual ready reserve - with medical backgrounds. For those not familiar with that, it's (typically) two years from when you leave the military you can be called back in if a war starts up, or a in the event of a national emergency such as this.

My son just recently finished up his IRR time The whole two years he was hoping a war wouldn't kick up and fuck up his college goals. He finished IRR just before he got his degree. Being a combat medic would have put him at ground zero for getting called back.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/...-recalls-ready-reserve-to-battle-coronavirus/

My stress level is in the stratosphere. I mean, not only do I have to take care of two people who are immuno-compromised (one who had advanced CKD, diabetes, and other maladies), and another who is diabetic and controls it poorly. Then there's me, who is also immuno-compromised, trying to hold it all together. I follow all of the guidelines, only go out when it won't be crowded, wash my hands frequently, and always after returning from the outside (and without touching my face), and it still has me on edge. Even now people barely listen to what they're told. They cough out in the open, stand right behind me when I'm at the checkout, and when we run low on supplies, getting them has become inordinately difficult because the shelves are barren.

What really sucks is that I know higher stress levels reduce immune system functionality, which is just such a shit body response system, I swear. It feels like March has been going on all year already, and we still have weeks to go before we pass the surge and things start to de-escalate, assuming people don't just fuck around and get us all killed.

Hoping for the best for you and your family.

Thank you, and I hope the same for yours as well.

well my weekly "date night" with my wife is FUBAR for the duration of the virus. No fun going to a restaurant just to take the food home, and the movie theater is closed. Just as well, being diabetic she is slightly "at risk" so she's leery of going out. I'm trying to get her interested in some outdoor exercise, but wouldn't you know it, the temperature is fifteen degrees above normal and it will be in the high 80's today.

Called the comic shop and told them I wouldn't be around until this shit is over. Since they're always saying they're on the edge of going broke even in normal times, I offered to pay for whatever they were holding in my subscription bag and I'll get it after the apocalypse. They say they're working up to shipping stuff out, so I paid up and they'll send it out when they can. But the comic companies have stopped printing and the distributors have stopped shipping, so this month's books will be the last for a while. Is there no end to this madness??

This is good advice. I've locked myself away from Facebook and News sites for today and tomorrow. I'm not going into that thread here either.

I've buried myself in books because I'm going to resume teaching, using Zoom, this Wednesday. I've got to stay productive. I'm an extroverted introvert. I need to be around people. I'm okay getting away, to clear my head and recharge my batteries, but I need people. So, these next three weeks are going to be rough in many ways even if the house stays healthy.

I am still working, but the hours we are opened has changed. Our lobby is closed to customers except by apt only and 1 at a time.
I have learned not to touch myself, I mean my face.
I sanitize and clean everything and my hands are dry from it.
I was supposed to go visit family this weekend that I haven't seen since December and am now unable to do so. That is actually the hardest part.

Also I had a 2nd gig working at the local theater that closed almost immedietly.

Family - yeah, I think we're not going to make the annual pilgrimage to see Mom in SC this year. I can't even imagine getting on a plane at this point. I get somebody's cold every time we fly. Fuck that. We usually go in May - no way. I thought we'd go in July for her 90th B-day, but this shit isn't going to be over by then either.

People are getting freaked out that we're gonna get annexed with that whole "US troops near the border" thing.

It's adorable hearing how they'll somehow get back to their families in places like Thunder Bay (about 20 hour driving) and go all "WOLVERINES!!!!"... it's like, "Dude, that's a Predator drone, and you work in craft services.".

I'm a shut in by nature, so that part isn't bothering me, but we got hit harder at work than I was expecting. Remember when I implied that our payroll department was probably untouchable? I was way wrong. We lost one person on my team to furlough, and another permanently. Good news is that I was designated indispensable, so I still have a job. Bad news is that everyone who survived the purge is getting a temporary pay cut. 40% in my case. More good news* is that they're talking a month or two and I've got enough saved in liquid assets that I could go on for ten months to a year with my current spending habits, which are going to change anyway.

*I didn't say "luckily" because luck didn't have anything to do with it.

As far as stress goes, I've always been one to stress out anticipating the shit hitting the fan. Once it hits, I've always been pretty chill. The Warden has a compromised immune system due to the treatment she gets for her M.S., so I just keep her at home best I can and follow the rules to keep me from getting infected, so she doesn't get infected.

Two postitive cases at the old work place, I hear. In the 2nd case they shut down the whole closed area they were in. Could be anywhere from 5 to 40 people affected, depending on the area.

I hear NJ is releasing non-violent convicts from prison to minimize the spread in the prisons.

it might be - but it'll be hot as hell of course! One thing about getting on a plane right now - you'll be at least six feet from any other passengers because the planes are nearly empty of passengers.
I couldn't believe it when we flew on a 757 with only about 50 or so other people!

Even Canadians don't know how long a meter is and have to use a real world referent.

The good thing about the hockey stick is that you can hit the person if they violate your no-go zone.

best part is, I'm a goalie.

also-

I'm pretty sure we don't have caribou this far south, but still... good advice

So.... when social distancing with a caribou you want at least 45 caribous between you and the caribou

I'm guessing Mike Tyson owns that place.

I cannot even see my grandfather. He is all confused and in tears when we call because he cannot remember why things are going on, and he thinks he is in trouble and dying. OTOH he has his food and doctors all taken care of by a staff who is doing their best to monitor and keep themselves and their residents safe. They are explaining things as best as they can to him, but going to see him would put his whole community at risk until our bodies are killing this virus off. On top of that he listens to faux news so somehow the repetition of their bullshit gets through and he is blaming himself for being weak and bringing the world down.

Look, you seem to be taking care of your family during a hard time. Sometimes that is all you can do and sickness will win. In this situation it is especially hard because our normal way of comfort is physical gestures like hugs and touch. The one thing I found facing the inevitable death of my grandmother is be there. Say the things your heart wants to say. In this case reach out with your heart and sentiment when physical contact may be a problem. Remember, it is all you can do and not put the blame of the human condition on your shoulders.

It was interesting that the times that were good were not the only times that were memorable in a good way. Remembering the comfort and help given during a time of trouble, even if the end result would be death, was also quite powerful and I was happy I was able to do that for them. Being there in nthe bad times to be supportive is part of love and is just as important. caring is most powerful during the worst of times.

That may not be a misspelling. The establishment is a gentlemen's club.

I prefer this one:

Which reminds me, we were looking into getting a corgi this spring. My wife had her heart set on it, and then this. So she decided it'd be best to put it off until after the final all-clear has been sounded. She's not happy.