*NOTE - This series isn’t about death tolls or specifics of the virus (because there will be many ways to search that information on the internet for all posterity. But it’s more about the personal side. What I was thinking and doing at the time and what other were also doing.
Poetic Impressions
Awaken to the sounds of Woodpecker and semi-trucks
The old don’t care
Everyday is Halloween and April fools
Reality setting in
voices of “the virus sets the timetable” are waning
True colors coming out under duress
Fear dressed in casual dismissiveness or mania
A good read: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_Popular_Delusions_and_the_Madness_of_Crowds
Play-by-play
So this week, things continued to progress. The state continues to try to get a handle on things by tightening things like curfews, closures and availability of products and services.
Somehow, I’m still allowed to work. Somehow, “landscaping” (which at least one of my businesses falls under) is considered “essential”. The reasoning seems to be that many folks and businesses don’t have the manpower or resources available to cut their own grass, so if you stopped landscape contractors; grass would get 2’ high and pose a new health and safety concern. It’s more likely that Governor Wolf just doesn’t want to cut his grass…but I’ll take it.
The State stores in PA seems to have been the thing that really got resident’s attention. Now, they have tried to bring and online version of the state store system to life: but it’s been a disaster. The site is always down, and so far, I don’t know a single person who has had a successful transaction. People are starting to question if it’s even real: or simply an attempt by PA to keep residents from crossing borders into other states to by their booze there. Strange times, and folks love a conspiracy theory.
This week also saw the call for masks in social situations. Social distancing has been stressed since the beginning, but the “official word” has vacillated on masks. First they were a good idea. This caused people to go out and hoard them. Then, the official word was that, “they do little to prevent the spread of COVID-19”, and were therefore not useful. Now, the word seems to be that you can’t keep yourself from getting it, using the masks, but you can keep from spraying your germs all over creation, when you sneeze of cough using the masks. This seems to save face for the CDC and state, because now they don’t have to come right out and say they lied to prevent hoarding. Either way, it seems to be a good thing that now folks who want masks can either get them, or make them.
Death tolls rise
Yes, people are dying. Cities are especially hard hit. Travel ban discussions are all the rage. States want to close their borders so that “diseased folks” from the cities can not come here. Oddly, I can’t think of many states that don’t have cities…but I digress.
What a “non-libertarian” person might not realize is that those calls are also begging the government for the use of the national guard and “papers” being examined at “checkpoints”. Does that sound like America? As usual, I get what they are going for, but also as usual: I personally feel the best route is education. EDUCATE folks why they might now want to leave the cities, and why the destinations might not want to be “safe havens”. And if they need to be a “safe haven” how to best do so, without allowing the virus to spread to rural areas. In a word: make sure all folks that come from urban place have to QUARENTINE before they start to mingle with the rest of the population (like we did with Jake and Sarah). And speaking of Jake and Sarah…
Home front
Morgan continues to be diligent with trying to control the spread of COVID-19. She sanitizes everything. For me to get the mail requires sanitizing the mailbox and door knobs, and event he mail itself. She is doing all that is humanly possible I believe. Although, we both seem to agree that it’s just a matter of time for everyone. Everyone will eventually be exposed to this thing. The goal still remain to “flatten the curve”.
Jake & Sarah are at the house now. They finished their quarantine in Bloomsburg and moved to our home on Monday. I think once the initial shock of not being allowed directly into our home was seen for the precaution it was: Jake was understanding of my concerns. Since both he and Sarah had been sick, and coming from an area of high infection rate, it really would have been irresponsible and antiproductive to allow them into our home after working so long to keep that environment clean and “safe”. They understand, and I might even go as far as to say, “appreciate” that effort now. Side note: Sarah has gone to rejoin her family (and cat). She did so by way of Philly and Jake’s apartment. Disappointingly, Jake’s last paychecks were not there. We now are wondering if they will ever come, or has his company decided to “pack it in” and bail on the idea of reopening? Time will tell. Many will be in the same circumstances before too long. Maybe best that Jake is among the first, so he can use this time to figure out next steps.
Liz is doing great in school. That is her job and what we expect from her. She has actually brought her grades up in her very demanding major of Chemistry a full 10 points and a grade. She now has a solid “B” in a class that many struggle to pass. We are very proud of her. She video chats with her friends Anya and Maday as well as her sorority sisters from Bloomsburg. They all miss each other, and relay their challenges from their respective towns and homes. Tensions and stresses seem to be increasing as a rule.
Dave is still living at the workshop in Riverside. Not in the building (as that is against code) but camping outback (which isn’t against code). Using the shop for most of the day, but sleeping in the camper. Getting a lot of cleaning and organizing accomplished, as well as putting in full weeks to keep the money flowing. If we can just keep working, we should be able to weather this situation even it it lasts pretty long. Which is where I spend most of my “not work time”…planning for “LONG”.
If it does go “long”, we are going to need to be ready.
Chick are ordered, and they need a home. I need to get that together.
The seeds are purchased, and need to be planted.
I’m installing a Mowbot at the shop as both an example, and so I don’t have to spend time on that task. I’m also beta testing the solar charging unit, so that if/when this is over, we can get selling that invention. We will see how all that goes.
Getting firepower up to speed (in case thing get weird)
Bow is back. Got a target and bails of straw. Practicing
Received the extra magazines for the .380 I ordered. Now it is more useful.
Got permission from my neighbor to do some shooting. Will do so in bursts, as to not alert the local people and their officials.
Thinking of giving one of the 9mm pistols to Jake, but he needs training first.
sharpening knives, axes, hatchets…everything.
Much to do. When people say they are “bored”…I am laughing.
