(no subject)

[shadowkat]

1. COVID

I gave up on the masks a few months ago. Why? No one else wears them. I figured that out in Great Barrington, way back in May. I mean, here I was at a graduation party at my brother's house in close proximity with various folks along with my eighty-one year old mother - and no one was wearing a mask. And they are all liberal, progressive and what not...but no masks in sight.

Also no one got COVID.

Three days later? My niece gets it from a close friend, but her parents don't. All were within proximity, niece was just in closer proximity.

Same deal with workplace. People got COVID there, but I didn't. No one was wearing masks. And it didn't appear to matter one way or the other.

In 2022? I got COVID at my workplace, wearing a mask, just not all my co-workers were bothering to do so. It really doesn't matter unless everyone is wearing one.

Also, I was starting to pick up a pattern. Everyone who got it - was in close proximity - ie. talking to, hugging, and closely interacting with another person within an indoor space. My church had a gathering in June and half the people there got it - in enclosed space. People get it at family gatherings.

But no one got it on the subway, trains, or commuting to my knowledge.

I commute in and out of a major transportation hub five days a week. When I went to see a movie a few weeks back - the subway was packed to the gills, you could not move - due to everyone going to a Jonas Brothers concert. No one wore a mask. And no, I didn't get COVID.

So...the people I know who get it? Close proximity, social events, which I rarely do.

I told BYT and a co-worker (who wore a mask in Boss's office while we were discussing a project), that I stopped wearing a mask when I figured out that it didn't make logical sense to continue. I think logically and analytically.

1. No one else was wearing one. (Well maybe five people out of over 1000 on a subway).
2. One time I got it? I was wearing a mask, and the person who had it wasn't.
3. I've not gotten COVID without wearing one.
4. Other people that I know have only gotten it in social gatherings, often while wearing masks, but not in non-social gatherings, where no one is talking to each other or breathing on each other.

If it doesn't make logical sense to me, I won't do it. I will to make someone else comfortable however, and I always ask - because I worry about the other person.

That said, it's allergy season and ragweed, hay fever, mold, dust, molting feathers are all high. Also I'm menopausal and have diabetes, and am on a lot of different meds - so I keep getting little COVID scares, and have to convince myself that no this is allergies, or menopause, or diabetes, and to chill.

Sigh. Stupid pandemic. It would been better if it arrived before I had all these issues. Is there a good time for a pandemic?



2. Seen second episode of Good Omens - so far so good. I'm enjoying it. This - I find amusing. Gaiman has a charming wry wit - that works for me. I adore Crowley. He was actually my favorite character in the book as well. Arizaphale gets on my nerves. Give me the snarky character any day of the week. Also the biblical satire is witty, subtle and works.

Arizaphale: Avante!
Crowley: No.
Arizaphale: What do you mean, no?
Crowley: I mean no. I have a permit.
Arizaphale: To kill goats!
Crowley: Well yes.

That I find amusing.

Also, I have a crush on David Tennent. Apparently everyone else online has a crush on Michael Sheen. I admittedly walk my own road in life.

I'm watching this for Neil Gaiman (whose sense of humor works for me, I like dry British wit and satire), and David Tennent, also the David Tennent/Michael Sheen by-play.

3. Did very little today. Fought briefly with Wales over text message. She keeps whinging via text. Today, it was whinging about living in NY and wanting to move to Colorado. I think she wants to escape herself - and I've got news for her - you can't do that. Wherever you are, there you are - you come with you, you can't leave yourself behind and find a new you, that's not how it works.

Also, I'm bloody tired of friends whinging to me about NY and wanting to move into some rural or suburban community up state or in another state, far away. I seem to attract these people like flies or NY does.

They move. I never see them again. It's annoying. (I don't drive, so visiting doesn't work well.)

Mother's doing well - she's excelling at Mahjong. But apparently is running into people who can't figure it out and refuse to learn it or practice. I inform her that not everyone has patience for games. Mother also adores Bridge. She's doing better than I am at this socialization thing.

I'm trying to get myself to go back to my church. It didn't happen today, although I did watch it online, and the sermon was..reassuring. It was about how we are all changing and the world is changing, and that's okay.
Also, how reality is kind of just atoms bumping against each other - and not really there. It's real but not truly solid, and not to worry about it all that much.

The temporariness of life is oddly reassuring at times, as is the fact that reality can be but a construct of the mind and senses.

Started writing fanfic about Cyclops in captivity struggling to deal with his situation. Then gave up. I may go back to it. Not sure what I'd do with it. I'm afraid of the X-men fandom. Comics fandom is kind of scary. The soap opera fandom is kinder. Heck, the Buffy fandom was kinder than both.

Tomorrow is the beginning of yet another busy, frenetic and frustrating work week of trying to push a proverbial boulder up a cliff while people through rocks in my path. I feel like Sisyphus.

4. I asked for a Blue Sky invite or login, but alas no. It's okay. I'll survive.

Comments

[iddewes]

Well, I am Welsh, so of course I prefer Michael Sheen though I don’t have a crush on him! I do like David Tennant too though.

[shadowkat]

Also Welsh, doesn't appear to matter. Then again I have Scottish in there as well, and a lot of Irish.
But more Welsh than Scottish at the moment. Still prefer Tennant. LOL!

COVID

[mtbc]

I hope your workplace is also nicely free of having long in-person meetings enclosed in small rooms. In my previous one, I'd often be sat a bit out of the way at the back, I hoped that might help a bit.

Re: COVID

[shadowkat]

For the most part - yes. We pretty much do everything by Teams and Zoom. Even though on occasion the project managers try to make it an in-person meeting, but I point out that it will delay their project by a week and cost money, and they back off.

[cactuswatcher]

I just got a post card from my niece which says she and her husband picked up COVID on their current long vacation. They camp on vacation, so I think they just stayed away from others for a few days, before getting back to what they'd planned. She said they missed bicycling tours they'd wanted to do, but still was enjoying being away.

I wonder where they got it. I'd guess, it was most likely white water rafting, or on a tourist train ride both of which they took in the same general area. Otherwise I don't see them much mixing close with other people.

At least it seems that the current version of COVID isn't as dangerous to average healthy people as the first versions were. No big surge in hospitalizations.

[shadowkat]

My guess? Around a campfire with others. Or interacting with people on the camp grounds or in a restaurant. There are other people on campgrounds, and sometimes social activities such as white water rafting and hiking. It really just requires close proximity and someone breathing on you. Although, some may be more immune than others?

Who knows really? But I doubt wearing masks would have mattered. Also kind of problematic white water rafting.

Agreed, COVID is not as bad as it used to be. Although there are a few people who've gotten really sick with it, and I know of someone online whose friend recently died from it. I think it really depends on the individual? And the strain?

[cactuswatcher]

I doubt it was at a campfire, they aren't that social. On a rubber raft or the busy tourist train they took, they wouldn't have much choice but breathe other people's air. A busy restaurant or group hike with a ranger at a national park could certainly do it, too.

[trepkos]

I have a crush on Tennant! I got covid for the first time last week, but I don't know where.