Pandemic Cranky

Oh the super crankies have really got me this week.

Last week it was the intermittent tears.  I cried with the news, I cried with the food bank telethon, I cried sitting and staring out the window.

I’ve been working from home except for 2 days where I was mandated to go into work and do 8 hours a day of completely not my job or related to my job duties. I still was “In the line of fire” for covid so I had to strip at the back door, wipe down every surface I touched and shower.  The pandemic response at my work is being run by people with ZERO medical knowledge.  Not very comforting.  Dumb asses.  I will take my pay and shake my head.

I’ve also been jerked around this week working at home.  Meetings that have been moved 4 times, people that don’t show up.  Lots of excuses but no valid reason to not be professional.  Nobody is hands on COVID care.  Learn how to use a clock and a calendar. Dumb asses.

I bought masks for the 3 of us, and an extra.  It isn’t the norm yet anywhere I have gone.  I think that it should be.  It doesn’t protect me from the virus, it protects others from me if I have it and not know.
I think that the 3 of us may have already had it. Not that anyone can be sure as there is no proper testing for antibodies done in Canada.  No proper meaning that there isn’t even a test to run that is really accurate.  The existing one gives a lot of false positives from what I read.  Or who even knows anymore.  I just hope I don’t croak from a damn virus that came from a bat.

There have been some OK and even funny things.  During the telethon they had Bryan Adams singing.  Kid 3 says - who is that guy mom?  He’s really good.  “Ya he is pretty awesome”  Randy Bachman “Taking Care of Business” was worth a big grin too. I donate to the food bank at our grocery store, so I didn’t give money that evening.  The weather has been decent for a few days in the last week.  Able to sit outside and enjoy a drink on the deck.  I did a bunch of baking the other day.  6 dozen cookies.  Eat some and freeze some.  I found yeast at the store. I’m going to try buns again.  Last time I made a rock collection!  Kid 1 finished another university class towards a second degree.  An 84%.  Not shabby at all for working full time.
Kid 2 is finished his course.  And there are no jobs to be found.  Not sure what the plan going forward will be.  Doesn’t matter, just be healthy and safe.
Kid 3 is online learning everyday.  The math seems to be taught alright, the other classes seem to be quite optional and well below grade level work required.  Just to get him out of bed and his mind thinking about something I guess.

I like to start looking around garden centers this time of year.  No browsing sessions for me.  I will make a list and in and out same day.  Not for a couple of weeks yet. Today is windy and cool.  Not good for tender plants.  My lillies are coming back, and trees have the buds ready, but no green yet.

I can’t add pictures, I think that is a thing happening with Blogger quite a bit.  I also can’t comment on anyone’s blog.  Well I can but it switches my ID to that of kid 3 and his school ID name and number.  So I will have to keep my comments to myself until my iPad isn’t the classroom.

I see that there will be a meat supply issue.  This is what happens when you rely on giants that don’t give a shit about their workers.  Luckily we are city folk with a country background and can source right from the farmers.

So I’m still cranky and have the blah’s but there are always things to be grateful for:

We are all healthy
I made an extra $800 this pay period because people are stupid
My cookies are 100 x better than my buns ☺️
Fridge and freezer have everything we need.
I don’t have any debt
I’m still able to work as much as I want to
Spring is here, the snow is gone and the birds are singing.

Peace out, stay safe, wash your hands and wear a mask to keep your cooties to yourself.

WFH is My Thing Now

With great begrudging assistance from staff at my employer that work from home already, I now do too!

It has been an adjustment that is turning out ok.  Hubs is in 1 room, me in another and kid #3 is online learning in another.  There are 2 teachers that share his class, one live streams the lesson and the other posts assignments and is available to answer questions for an hour a day.  It seems to be working really well.  Apparently while you are on video chat with your class it is TERRIBLE if your mom walks behind you getting coffee.  It is pretty funny when all 3 of us are on a call or video! Talking away about 3 vastly different topics.

My oldest that was exposed to his friend that has/had the virus did not develop any symptoms.  I saw on facebook a friend from childhood caught it too.  She’s finally feeling better after 2 weeks.  One of my occasional office mates has a friend that caught it too.  Her friend was tested because she was at an event now we call it a “cluster event” in hindsight.  She had only the symptom of fatigue, but because everyone that attended was tested, she found out and isolated herself.  Otherwise she would have been spreading it with family and at the grocery store.

Our grocery situation has been fine.  Shelves were a little sparse after everyone was ordered to stay home.  But they were good the week after.  Hubs and I did a Costco run.  That was interesting.  We waited about 10 minutes to get into the store.  All people except for 1 family observed the 6 foot rule and were respectful.  I bought $450 worth of meat and staples, which will last us about 1.5 months.  We still need to supplement with fresh produce, but that is about once every 10 days.

The daily updates from our Canadian leaders and health ministers are very informative. We all need Dr. Bonnie Henry in our lives.  BC you are so fortunate!!  Things are changing daily.  Can I just say that I LOVE the sign language interpreters.  When they make the mad/disgusted faces with thier gestures, as well as when you can see that they are truly frightened about the information they are conveying, it is sobering.

Then there is the 3 ring circus to the south, led by the orange buffoon.  What a performance.  It’s shameful.  There is a Canadian rage building over his behaviour and orders. It’s going to get worse.

The weather has been nothing short of awful, that helps everyone stay inside.  Snow, wind howling, it might as well be January.  The window in my home office is a bit higher so I cant see the ground when I sit.  It makes me “think” is is a beautiful sunny day as all I see is tree tops and the birds hopping along the fence.

I’m cancelling our family trip that I have booked for July.  We aren’t going anywhere.  This isn’t going away.  Until there is a vaccine, which is at least a year away, I think this world is going to be pretty subdued.

Luckily we have a friend’s netflix account, high speed internet, treadmill and gym equipment, lots of food and we both have our jobs.  Life is as good as it can get under the circumstances.

I hope that our scientists that are working tirelessly on a vaccine, and our Doctors that are struggling to manage the worst of the symptoms can get it figured out, sooner than later.

My thoughts of the morning:
I’m so happy I can go to work in my bathrobe
Most of the people could really benefit from understanding basic rules to “Cooties”

The Not Normal New Normal

Self Isolation

In this house it is a trio of isolation.  This ends tomorrow as I am an essential worker.  

I plan to use “Bus Pants” for the foreseeable future.  Those that don’t know the Sheldon Cooper reference...you’ve got time to look it up.  When I get home I can strip down at the back door and put my clothes directly into the wash, then shower.  I’m now happy I didn’t donate my cotton housecoat.  It will be washed daily.

Dear God this is frightening.

My oldest who now lives with his SO was in extended and direct contact with a friend that is positive for the virus.  The health officials contacted the friend to inform him to tell his other close contacts.  He brought it back from vacation.  He was sick already on the plane ride with a fever and sore throat. This was 2 weeks ago. There was no quarantine in place and ZERO information for him at the airport when he landed.  I don’t blame the young man.  It’s really just a giant petri dish.  It’s a matter of when, not if.  The family dinner has been cancelled needless to say.

School is done.  I’m sure that the year is over.  We will see what the fall brings.  I am being eaten out of the house.  Yesterday I “taught” culinary arts.  Called make your own damn macaroni and cheese.

I’m actually going to use this time together to get a lot of cooking lessons in.  

It’s too cold to be outside, so I am cleaning.  The garbage and the recycle bin are full and it’s Sunday. No pickup for a few days.  It’s being packed in the garage.  Today is fridge and light fixtures.  I pace and plan to keep the excitement and anticipation under control.

We were supposed to be on a hot holiday right now.  Obviously not happening.  And it was to the same place my kids friend brought is back from. We started last weekend on our “Not Hot Holiday” with cleaning.  The hubs is being a good help.  This week will be closets. The only downside is that you can’t donate anything as understandably that isn’t happening right now.

My neighbours returned from a trip to the states.  They were in a top 3 hotspot.  I texted them when they got back and asked if they were prepared - seeing if they needed groceries for 14 days.  She told me that they didn’t have to do the 14 days because “Nobody told me we had to”.  I’m not sure what rock they were under?  Then after a day they decided to self isolate.  This is why we are all going to get it.  People not knowing and people that are choosing to be ignorant.

My hubs is fully work from home now. He’s also “promoted” to a response team.  It means a hundred emails and calls a day.  That is if the network can handle it.  Usually he can’t get onto the company server until everyone in Ontario gets off.

I could easily be working from home but my employer is inept.  So I go into the flames tomorrow.

Every morning I watch the news to see what fresh hell awaits today.  It’s not getting better with time.

Italy is our only source of truth as to how the virus will affect us.

We are supposed to get a little sunshine and a bit warmer today.  At least above freezing.  We’re going to BBQ.  The new norm is still unfolding daily.

Take care

Wash your damn hands

Stay at home

Mind your business when I strip outside and then go in my house.