Coming out of hiatus briefly because it would be historically remiss of me not to at least mention that March 2020 was the month COVID-19 really made its presence known across the world.
I haven’t done a lot of research. I trust the medical authorities and my employers and there is so much misinformation out there that it’s frankly insane to even try. But this virus has been around for a few months already and has been dominating the news to such an extent that I don’t even know where to start. Some places are dealing with it better than others.
I’m fortunate. I have a job I can do pretty much 100% from home, so that’s what I’m doing right now. Got my laptop set up, got my VPN running, and work is coming along nicely. My workplace was closed off, at least part of it, and we were sent to work from home when a construction worker tested positive last Thursday. I don’t think there was much chance of exposure there.
Cases around here have been basically nonexistent. It’s flu and allergy season anyway so nobody knows. I haven’t heard much about testing, beyond “don’t go looking for a test unless you’re really sure you have symptoms.” I had a doctor’s appointment for my work-related checkup and my blood pressure and stuff (incidentally my blood pressure has been steadily dropping, so I’m pleased with that), but I cancelled it today on the grounds that I probably don’t need to be wandering into a healthcare clinic and taking up everyone’s valuable time and effort right now. New time slots were … not available at this point.
Essentially, as of Monday March 16th, everything just seems to be on hold.
Public events are being cancelled everywhere. My parents have gotten refunds and credits for the trips they were planning, and we’re waiting to see if Australia happens this summer at all. Wump and Toop (and Mrs. Hatboy and I, I suppose) will be devastated if it doesn’t but we just have to wait and see.
Ropecon, last I saw, was still on for the end of July. Which is good because I can’t get a refund on that fucking hotel suite. Not the point, I know. But still.
Yes, morons are hoarding, even here. Toilet paper, really? I guess the influenza outbreaks of previous centuries weren’t accompanied by toilet paper hoarding because toilet paper wasn’t a thing. But it’s the only thing currently missing from our local supermarkets. I feel a bit bad, because a) I don’t use toilet paper anyway; and b) I always buy toilet paper in massive jumbo box quantities but this time I did it sometime in January so I didn’t come across as a hoarder. Still, we have plenty of toilet paper for the girls. As if toilet paper is even an issue. Why are people so dumb?
Best I can advise anyone right now, if you think your stores are running out of fresh food or assorted dry goods, hit up your local ethnic food stores instead. They’re fully stocked, because the stupidity, selfishness and lack of empathy that comes with hoarder-panic-buying also strongly correlates with ignorant-arse racism. Who knew?
We all knew.
So, good luck all. Let’s see where this is heading. And remember, Don’t Think About The Event.
Hatboy's Hatstand 
LOLZ astute as always, my friend! Our schools are closed, teleworking full time indefinitely now, so I mean as an introvert there are some positives here. Marta was ranting about one particular stupid advice list that had good ideas sprinkled in with backwards shit. She got hung up on how the advice said to avoid large gatherings of people, but attending a church service (in person) was a maybe.
Damn. We’re practically a theocracy over here. So sad. DON’T GO TO CHURCH YOU SHEEPLE. I mean, generally, but especially not now.
I hope your Ropecon happens but I’m not sure it’s likely. The whole world seems to be shutting down now.
Our grocery stores are a bit worse but we’d been stocking up on freezer items for a while, like ever since China first informed the world, basically. Now, produce is almost completely wiped out. Not sure about toilet paper because we too have a large supply right now, but I have heard that it is often depleted.
And I’m right there with you, how stupid. I jokingly told a coworker of a few “other options” and demonstrated there’s a long list of ways to take care of business if you run out. As long as you can break out of the box society has put us in. Then Marta was worrying about it, so I started telling her. When I got to “white t shirts or washcloths” she informed me that my ideas were sound, but we were going to worry about this later if we needed to. LOL. I managed a parting shot of “hop in the shower right after, I mean honestly.”
Hee!
Staying positive, everyone is well now except lingering coughs, and hopeful what we had was it already.
This just in:
Finland has closed its borders. Schools are closing (except for 1st – 3rd grade for some reason, possibly to do with the difficulty of leaving these kids at home alone). The cinemas have closed for the next month.
So here we go. Good luck everyone.
Flying Spaghetti Monster help us all.
I don’t want to overinflate Finland’s massive ego, but the Dow Jones average took another 2.5 to 3% plunge right around this news. It was hanging around 8.5% to 9% down for the day. Now it’s over 11.5%
Watching it to see when it’s time to shift my bruised retirement funds from the REALLY conservative arrangement I just did last week to something more aggressive on the rebound.
Spoiler alert: it’s not time yet.
Glad you posted. I was thinking about just picking an old post at random and sharing my thoughts and now I don’t have to pick one.
I’m shocked when I need to go out both at how many and how few people are out too, guess it depends where you go. In general people seem to be in good spirits, but there is this foreboding sense of unknowable doom clouding the day that is impossible to escape.
I discovered that when there isn’t soccer to watch all morning that I can get a lot more done around the house. My wife is working from home now, probably me as well sooner than later, and we rearranged some spaces for a better office area. That also required moving all my records and then, of course, reorganizing them and listening to one’s I had forgotten I had. We also created a nice reading area (for enjoying your next book) and decluttered the bedroom. Next week, basement and porch!
I’m looking forward to all the art that gets produced when brilliant people have nothing else to do. But not to the violence that will befall other people as a result of the isolation and seclusion now necessary.
Good luck to all of you as well. For some reason I started thinking about the Dylan Thomas poem as I was finishing up here. Hope this is ok.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Actually more upbeat than how that ended. I’m case anyone was worried. Just a maudlin mood.
Figured it was the thing to do. And I’ve got a bit of spare commuting time now I’m stuck in the home office.
Nice! We’re not doing much, still just settling into this.
Agreed, this will bring out the best and worst in people. I hope I’ll get something written, and hope my plans to market it at Ropecon continue steady. I haven’t heard back from Gabriel over in Prague right now about the covers, so I hope he’s doing alright.
Well said indeed.