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shadowkat1. And apparently it really is epidemic central? I got news last night that Brooklyn is gaining on Queens as the area with the most cases of the virus, and the most deaths. I mentioned this to my mother during our lunch-time chat on the phone. (Mother lives in a locked down retirement community in Hilton Head, South Carolina.)
Me: So, now Brooklyn is considered the worst hot spot in the US with the most cases, 7% of the death rate in the world.
Mother: I thought that was where you worked - Queens?
Me: Yeah, either way? I'm doomed. And people wonder why I keep procrastinating doing laundry. If it weren't for my co-worker giving me the link for Imperfect Foods, I would have to go to the grocery store. Can't get deliveries from anywhere else.
Mother: But there are people who are literally without food - sitting in cars waiting for hours and by the time they get to the place to pick up their food, nothing is left. They keep showing it on the news.
Me: I know. It's heart-breaking. Another food bank popped up in Grand Army Plaza near the Barclays Center. They told us about it on the Neighborhood Kensington Site.
My first thought was - oh cool. You don't need an ID, or proof of need, or anything and it's free. Second - no, I'll go to the grocery store or use Imperfect Foods.
Third - if I did need this - I'd be stuck, no car, and I'd have to take public transportation. There's no food banks that I know of near me. Oh god these poor people.
Mother: So many live paycheck to paycheck. It's heartbreaking.
We have 26% unemployment rate and it's rising. The US is rapidly turning from an economically well-off first world country to a third world country over-night.
Meanwhile we have these nitwits on social media and sending emails asking what wonderful new skill you learned, who you reached out to via Zoom, etc. Folks? People are stressed out and struggling, a little mindfulness goes a long way. Not everyone is well off.
One of my co-workers, the administrative assistant, is starting her own worm farm. She's using worms to compost and then transferring the soil to raise various plants.
More power to her - I couldn't begin to do it, even if I wanted to or understood it.
My main goal next week is to do laundry. I find laundry to be very anxiety inducing at the moment. Yes, we've moved from worrying over toilet paper to doing laundry.
This thing is bringing forth anxieties I never knew I had. Oh well, at least I can laugh at my own absurdity.
Anyhow, last night I posted on FB a NY Times article that 1 in 5 New Yorkers most likely had the Coronovirus or been exposed. I was shocked and dismayed by it. Because I don't really know anyone who has tested positive. I know people who think they had it. But not quite the same thing. So I posted, and got responses from fellow New Yorkers informing me that they knew people who had it, including many who had died from it. Gad.
2. It's an overcast, rainy day - so I took a walk after work - and after taking out the trash, and picking up a package. (I bought olive oil.) And well after talking to my mother first. We talk twice a day. It helps to hear another voice outside of my own and the television set/music once and a while. Although I do, on occasion, speak to various co-workers. Just haven't done so this week - been a bit slow most of the week. Picked up speed on Thursday, when I got inundated with emails. They waited until Thursday to respond to my emails. Three days of waiting - then wham. Highly annoying.
So, I took a walk - as I told my mother, "I'm going to take a long walk now, since it's over cast, cold, and kind of drizzling, so fewer people will be out."
There were people wandering about and riding bikes. But less people. I live in NYC, there's always people wandering about. During a blizzard with white out conditions, there are people wandering about - usually walking their dog or something. Honestly, I feel sorry for the dog. No self-respecting dog is going to want to wander about in a blizzard. But today, actually not many dog-walkers. Of course I wasn't really walking along the area with the dog-walkers. Quite a few people carrying groceries, or riding bikes here and there. But it was more like ten, as opposed to twenty or thirty.
The trees were beautiful. Just a wisp of green, feathering out from their branches. Or blossoms in pinks and whites. Mostly varying shades of pink. And the air through my mask smelled fresh and crisp, after a rain. I love rain right now. It cleans everything. Rain and sunshine. And it was a nice long walk down Ocean Parkway, about ten blocks, or a little under a mile. Not that far. Sometimes, I miss my old neighborhood - where there was a Whole Foods within a mile of my home, but alas, I had to move - also the Whole Foods would most likely be a nightmare to get into now. It was back then. And I much prefer where I am living now - it's quieter, and the apartment is far nicer.
3. New York vs. the Corona Virus (and still Senator McConnell along with the State of Kentucky by association.)
I thought during the Governor's live press briefing, which I watched on my phone today, because I could watch the whole thing, even though I started late, that yes, the governor is a bit of a ego-centric asshole, but he's "my" ego-centric asshole.
I can't yell at McConnell, but the Governor can and on live broadcast television no less.
One of the reporters felt the need to ask the Governor if he thought UV lighting would cure people from the virus. The Governor said that he had no idea, it's not his area of expertise or training and referred the question to the head of the New York Department of Health, who kind of stated, well no, it's highly unlikely and there are dangers to consider. But that you definitely should not be using disinfectants to rid yourself of the virus, since those were considered poisonous.
(It should be noted that the manufacturers of the disinfectants came out immediately following the Doofus's statement that they could be used with a disclaimer that no, they could not, and were not designed for that use and are poisonous. I find this highly amusing and ironic - considering prior to the whole Coronavirus mess - we were moving away from bleach, lysol, etc - and moving towards environmentally friendly cleaners - which was one of the many reasons they were impossible to find all of a sudden.
They also discussed the testing. Apparently New York has gone insane over testing. New York, having managed to find a way to develop their own tests and own testing protocols, after giving up on the CDC and WHO, (whom they still have not forgiven for failing in that regard), has gone nuts and basically tested everyone they can find that would require a test.
They randomly went into supermarkets and conducted three thousand anti-body tests based on a testing protocol developed by the New York State Department of Health.
That's how they figured out that 1.7 million New Yorkers may have gotten the virus.
But that's not all they did - they started tracking when the virus began, building a time line and have figured out that it was most likely flying about in New York as early as November. Definitely in February. I'm beginning to wonder if that bizarre respiratory illness that everyone got in November was COVID-19? I mean a lot of us at work had coughs, and sniffles. I had a hacking dry cough up until March. Granted it could have been the blood pressure medication, also my allergies, and possibly,
a cold. But I had shortness of breath with it. I'd get into coughing fits when I over-exerted. And my chest felt tight. To my knowledge - I didn't have a fever. But I can't really remember either - it was back in November that it started. It's over now. I have no cough at all now. Maybe I'm just allergic to Jamaica, Queens?
Anyhow, I have a feeling all New Yorkers are now wondering the same thing I am. Okay, that bug I had in the fall or in January or in Feb - was that the virus? Do I have it? How do I find out? Should I find out? Ugh.
Oh, this too funny - the subject heading of the NY Times Coronavirus Briefing? "Coronavirus briefing - do not ingest bleach". LOL! Sigh. Yes, we are the only country in the world where our alleged leader and elected President is telling people to actively poison themselves to kill a virus. And you thought your leaders were bad - at least they don't tell you to ingest bleach. Add to this? He gets up every morning to watch the news from 7 AM to 12 noon, and then goes to work. He wants to know what everyone is saying about him. NY is trying not to piss off the Doofus at the moment - because they need federal funding!
Me: So, now Brooklyn is considered the worst hot spot in the US with the most cases, 7% of the death rate in the world.
Mother: I thought that was where you worked - Queens?
Me: Yeah, either way? I'm doomed. And people wonder why I keep procrastinating doing laundry. If it weren't for my co-worker giving me the link for Imperfect Foods, I would have to go to the grocery store. Can't get deliveries from anywhere else.
Mother: But there are people who are literally without food - sitting in cars waiting for hours and by the time they get to the place to pick up their food, nothing is left. They keep showing it on the news.
Me: I know. It's heart-breaking. Another food bank popped up in Grand Army Plaza near the Barclays Center. They told us about it on the Neighborhood Kensington Site.
My first thought was - oh cool. You don't need an ID, or proof of need, or anything and it's free. Second - no, I'll go to the grocery store or use Imperfect Foods.
Third - if I did need this - I'd be stuck, no car, and I'd have to take public transportation. There's no food banks that I know of near me. Oh god these poor people.
Mother: So many live paycheck to paycheck. It's heartbreaking.
We have 26% unemployment rate and it's rising. The US is rapidly turning from an economically well-off first world country to a third world country over-night.
Meanwhile we have these nitwits on social media and sending emails asking what wonderful new skill you learned, who you reached out to via Zoom, etc. Folks? People are stressed out and struggling, a little mindfulness goes a long way. Not everyone is well off.
One of my co-workers, the administrative assistant, is starting her own worm farm. She's using worms to compost and then transferring the soil to raise various plants.
More power to her - I couldn't begin to do it, even if I wanted to or understood it.
My main goal next week is to do laundry. I find laundry to be very anxiety inducing at the moment. Yes, we've moved from worrying over toilet paper to doing laundry.
This thing is bringing forth anxieties I never knew I had. Oh well, at least I can laugh at my own absurdity.
Anyhow, last night I posted on FB a NY Times article that 1 in 5 New Yorkers most likely had the Coronovirus or been exposed. I was shocked and dismayed by it. Because I don't really know anyone who has tested positive. I know people who think they had it. But not quite the same thing. So I posted, and got responses from fellow New Yorkers informing me that they knew people who had it, including many who had died from it. Gad.
2. It's an overcast, rainy day - so I took a walk after work - and after taking out the trash, and picking up a package. (I bought olive oil.) And well after talking to my mother first. We talk twice a day. It helps to hear another voice outside of my own and the television set/music once and a while. Although I do, on occasion, speak to various co-workers. Just haven't done so this week - been a bit slow most of the week. Picked up speed on Thursday, when I got inundated with emails. They waited until Thursday to respond to my emails. Three days of waiting - then wham. Highly annoying.
So, I took a walk - as I told my mother, "I'm going to take a long walk now, since it's over cast, cold, and kind of drizzling, so fewer people will be out."
There were people wandering about and riding bikes. But less people. I live in NYC, there's always people wandering about. During a blizzard with white out conditions, there are people wandering about - usually walking their dog or something. Honestly, I feel sorry for the dog. No self-respecting dog is going to want to wander about in a blizzard. But today, actually not many dog-walkers. Of course I wasn't really walking along the area with the dog-walkers. Quite a few people carrying groceries, or riding bikes here and there. But it was more like ten, as opposed to twenty or thirty.
The trees were beautiful. Just a wisp of green, feathering out from their branches. Or blossoms in pinks and whites. Mostly varying shades of pink. And the air through my mask smelled fresh and crisp, after a rain. I love rain right now. It cleans everything. Rain and sunshine. And it was a nice long walk down Ocean Parkway, about ten blocks, or a little under a mile. Not that far. Sometimes, I miss my old neighborhood - where there was a Whole Foods within a mile of my home, but alas, I had to move - also the Whole Foods would most likely be a nightmare to get into now. It was back then. And I much prefer where I am living now - it's quieter, and the apartment is far nicer.
3. New York vs. the Corona Virus (and still Senator McConnell along with the State of Kentucky by association.)
I thought during the Governor's live press briefing, which I watched on my phone today, because I could watch the whole thing, even though I started late, that yes, the governor is a bit of a ego-centric asshole, but he's "my" ego-centric asshole.
I can't yell at McConnell, but the Governor can and on live broadcast television no less.
One of the reporters felt the need to ask the Governor if he thought UV lighting would cure people from the virus. The Governor said that he had no idea, it's not his area of expertise or training and referred the question to the head of the New York Department of Health, who kind of stated, well no, it's highly unlikely and there are dangers to consider. But that you definitely should not be using disinfectants to rid yourself of the virus, since those were considered poisonous.
(It should be noted that the manufacturers of the disinfectants came out immediately following the Doofus's statement that they could be used with a disclaimer that no, they could not, and were not designed for that use and are poisonous. I find this highly amusing and ironic - considering prior to the whole Coronavirus mess - we were moving away from bleach, lysol, etc - and moving towards environmentally friendly cleaners - which was one of the many reasons they were impossible to find all of a sudden.
They also discussed the testing. Apparently New York has gone insane over testing. New York, having managed to find a way to develop their own tests and own testing protocols, after giving up on the CDC and WHO, (whom they still have not forgiven for failing in that regard), has gone nuts and basically tested everyone they can find that would require a test.
They randomly went into supermarkets and conducted three thousand anti-body tests based on a testing protocol developed by the New York State Department of Health.
That's how they figured out that 1.7 million New Yorkers may have gotten the virus.
But that's not all they did - they started tracking when the virus began, building a time line and have figured out that it was most likely flying about in New York as early as November. Definitely in February. I'm beginning to wonder if that bizarre respiratory illness that everyone got in November was COVID-19? I mean a lot of us at work had coughs, and sniffles. I had a hacking dry cough up until March. Granted it could have been the blood pressure medication, also my allergies, and possibly,
a cold. But I had shortness of breath with it. I'd get into coughing fits when I over-exerted. And my chest felt tight. To my knowledge - I didn't have a fever. But I can't really remember either - it was back in November that it started. It's over now. I have no cough at all now. Maybe I'm just allergic to Jamaica, Queens?
Anyhow, I have a feeling all New Yorkers are now wondering the same thing I am. Okay, that bug I had in the fall or in January or in Feb - was that the virus? Do I have it? How do I find out? Should I find out? Ugh.
Oh, this too funny - the subject heading of the NY Times Coronavirus Briefing? "Coronavirus briefing - do not ingest bleach". LOL! Sigh. Yes, we are the only country in the world where our alleged leader and elected President is telling people to actively poison themselves to kill a virus. And you thought your leaders were bad - at least they don't tell you to ingest bleach. Add to this? He gets up every morning to watch the news from 7 AM to 12 noon, and then goes to work. He wants to know what everyone is saying about him. NY is trying not to piss off the Doofus at the moment - because they need federal funding!
no subject
Date: 2020-04-25 12:32 am (UTC)Well worth the change at a time like this.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-25 03:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-26 06:40 pm (UTC)While I personally didn't vote for Boris Johnson, the Doofus does make him look better by comparison.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-26 06:47 pm (UTC)I do, however, believe they'll be gone by this time in 2021, if by fall.
COVID is hard to spin-doctor or gaslight, it just eats you up for breakfast.