Another week, another blur, though a few actual Things happened that helped me mark the days:
My birthday. A quiet celebration included a very nice gift from my husband, to use when I can have opponents again:
At the same time, this feels like a guilty extravagance given everything that’s going on.
Yesterday I got up early to submit to RevPit (contest for manuscript editing) but went back to bed. Part of this is tiredness but the other part sadness; it was my mother’s birthday. When I woke up I zoned out with cozy British murder mysteries for the rest of the day.
I’ve not left the house in several days. It’s not fear exactly, just frustration. Even the simplest things have become an ordeal.
Bringing anything into the house (mail, groceries) means wipedowns with homemade clorox wipes [YouTube] followed by disinfecting ourselves and every surface they’ve come in contact with. We made a “timeout box” (old piece of Tupperware) to throw the smaller mail pieces into to wait out the 24 hours coronavirus can survive on cardboard (and by extension, all paper products).
This week we’re going to start leaving our shoes at the door if we go out. So even a walk in the park is not…, well, a walk in the park.
If this seems excessive I’ve got good reason. Though we’re so careful that the odds of my getting the virus are slim, the possible effects of more severe cases do keep me up nights. Much as I might hate getting wiped out for a month, cytokine storms and multi-organ damage (not linking to nightmare fuel, feel free to double check me) are far more frightening.
I’ve started some N95 mask covers. Rather than formally volunteering to make a set number, I’m finishing what I can and then contacting them to see if there’s anywhere to send them. They’re not difficult, I just lack the confidence that I can finish them in a timely manner. My energy levels still suck and while I’m working on the sleep hygiene there’s only so much I can do about the mood.
I’m finally stress baking and tried out the much-circulated Double Tree chocolate chip cookie recipe today. I am much impressed thus far.
My eating habits have grown strange. I’m not very hungry but invariably eat junk when I am. We’re mostly cooking in. I want to keep local restaurants afloat but bringing anything into the house is A Production as described above.
Much as I dislike lockdown I can’t even with those protesting against it. Since when is it clever to risk your health (and that of others!) to “own the libs”? It staggers me that public health has become a political issue. One would think everyone would want to be healthy, but these people either cannot understand or do not care that this isn’t about their personal freedoms being infringed. If they didn’t spread illness to everyone else I’d say let them shoot themselves in the foot but respiratory viruses do not work that way.
I have more sympathy for people who fear losing their livelihoods, though I don’t have a ready answer for them. From my privileged teleworking pedestal it’s easy to say their companies should figure out a way for them to work remotely (move all storefront retail workers into helping sell online?), or in safer facilities (how far apart can factory workers work and still be efficient?) but I’m not the expert and it’s not up to me. Which is why I’m frustrated as hell that people who know even less than I are in charge of figuring this out.
The truth is we can’t open the economy without widespread testing and none of the federal efforts seem very committed to making that happen.
Vent over. For now.
How are y’all passing the days? Hell, how are you keeping track of them?
