You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Corona Chat
I learned that 2 people in my autoimmune support group have the virus. It is hitting this area hard right now. I am very safe. My niece and husband are keeping me supplied. I am praying for everyone to stay safe. Please do not take any risks. Protect yourself and families..
Glad to hear you're keeping safe Renee. It's good to have family to help out. My cousin is doing our shopping while we are isolating for the two weeks.
Esther wrote: "Jannene wrote: "Travis wrote: "I don't think the US understands flattening the curve. More like we'll show you how to spike a graph"I agree. Michigan keeps raising by about 800 a day. Our governo..."
I think that would help. She reached out to another supervisor (a coworker of mine) and he said he is doing the same thing but a couple times a day. My once a day isn’t looking so bad.
She was fine this morning and told the group what she was working on.
Hilarious video! Some have probably already seen it but it’s share worthy. https://youtu.be/M5azNpTwVk8
I'm feeling a little demoralized today. I didn't take an accountant's phone call because I was sitting at the grocery store waiting for my order to be brought out to the car. When I got back, I explained why I didn't take her call. Her response was, "We can still go get groceries." I explained that I'm self isolating because I'm at risk. She then proceeded with a rant for about 15 minutes. Her viewpoint is that you don't tank the economy for the 2% who could die. You put the high risk people in quarantine and let the world get on with business as usual. I couldn't get a word in edgewise or I would have said it's not just about the people who are dying. It's about the people who are sick and overwhelming our hospitals and their resources. I'm just not in the mood to deal with some ill-informed person's rant.
Unfortunately a crisis whilst bringing out the best in people, also brings out the worst as well. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.
Shirley put it very well. Try to focus on all the good that is being done and on how generous 99% of people are Janice and maybe that will help you put that stupid woman behind you. She obviously doesn't follow, or doesn't understand, the news.
I agree with Shirley and Margo, Janice. Also I think some people is still in some kind of denial.
That's awful, Janice. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Aside from being ill-informed and outright rude, her rant didn't make sense. Whether you go into the store or have your groceries brought out to you doesn't make any difference as far as the economy goes.
I need to go out to get some things today and I'm procrastinating. I know most people are looking for an excuse to get out, but I'm perfectly happy hibernating here.
It was just one rant I listened to yesterday. The other was a client ranting about the government's benefit packages. And then to top it all off, I discovered I can't etransfer wages to a client because the dollar amounts are over the daily limit. I had hoped that I could etransfer the paycheques so that I wouldn't have to deliver the cheques. This client is quadriplegic and at extreme risk if he should catch this virus. I debated about even posting yesterday. I know that it's not good to bury stuff, especially during these times, so I opted to only tell part of what my day was like.
As for the accountant who upset me yesterday, I really respected and admired her even though she'd drive me crazy with her demands for details beyond anything any other accountant required. As she said, "I'm not just any accountant." But after yesterday, I have to wonder about the morality of someone who thinks that people dying is an acceptable outcome.
Today is not starting out well. When I woke, it took a few minutes for my eyes to focus. I've been feeling woozy ever since and it could be my anxiety kicking in. I rarely have anxiety attacks any more. I think I'll go take a pill and get my day started. I've got to get those paycheques over to the girls.
Yeah i wouldn't be happy working with that accountant after that conversation.I have been feeling anxious too Janice. It's only natural right now. I seem to be fine throughout most of the day then come the evening I get a bit worked up. Unless i've slept bad then I'm anxious as soon as i wake up.
I as one of the people this accountant thinks should die say put me in a room with her. Lets see who's life has more value. Let her say it to my face. I hope she is careful. If she said that to the wrong person.....
Renee wrote: "I as one of the people this accountant thinks should die say put me in a room with her. Lets see who's life has more value. Let her say it to my face. I hope she is careful. If she said that to the..."It's not that she says people should die, but that people die all the time and you don't shut down the economy for the small numbers of people who could die. She herself is over 60, so deemed to be at risk. She thinks everyone should have been tested and those testing positive, quarantined. The rest free to do whatever. Still, lots of holes in her logic.
Hang in there Janice. These are tough times and there is so much to take in and process. I think we have to give ourselves time and kindness to adjust to everything. I went for a walk today in my neighborhood and a runner came up behind me and literally brushed against me. I just stopped and yelled at him "WTF are you doing?" I never lose it like that - especially with a stranger. It just pissed me off so bad because I was making the effort in my walk to cross to the other side of the street when someone was coming towards me. When I came home I told Henry that I will not be going out for any more walks and will work out at home. I can't trust people to follow the directives.
I'm feeling better tonight. I'm not dizzy any more, but I'm still stressed. I just watched a YouTube video that contradicts the news videos that show the busyness of the hospitals in NYC. It even claimed that one of the news clips was the same clips of a hospital in Italy. I guess the citizen reporters are claiming that it's all staged. So I discussed it with My Sister, The RN. She said they have 5 in their ICU in Honolulu. They are busy in the call centre. People don't want to come to the hospital, so now they phone in to see if they should. She said it proves how many people did come to ER when they didn't need to prior to the pandemic. She didn't know about NYC, said she never believes the media anyway. *sigh*
I feel torn. I don't know who to believe or who to listen to any more. I feel like I'm spinning in circles. Ha! No wonder I was feeling dizzy.
Janice wrote: "I'm feeling better tonight. I'm not dizzy any more, but I'm still stressed. I just watched a YouTube video that contradicts the news videos that show the busyness of the hospitals in NYC. It even c..."I think it's absolutely normal to be anxious about this crisis. Who would ever have believed that the things we've read about in fiction could become reality? I've read enough apocalyptic novels! And while we were all worrying about climate change, a world-wide virus pandemic floored us all. (Well, maybe not the scientists.)
There are still lots of people who are in denial. My brother who lives on a farm, and is quite isolated anyway, cannot see what the fuss is about. It's a bit like - "if it doesn't affect me" I'm not worried about it. It breaks my heart to watch the numbers of deaths climbing throughout the world. And there are so many vulnerable people. But we all have to look after ourselves, so whatever you do, YLTO friends, please look after yourselves first. Ultamatilly that will be what saves others.
P.S. I just finishd the galss of wine my hsband broight me. I thnk I ned mooor. Ha ha. Joking! (but I did have trouble spelling ultimately.)
There is a lot of denial still and a lot of conspiracy theories. It's definitely hapening though. And I don't fully trust the media. I think they are under reorting. The death tolls here don't include those who die at home from the virus. I know a lot of NHS workers and they say it's dire. That it's a lot worse than what the government is letting on. They have no PPE, not being tested, doctors and nurses contracting the virus, and even some deaths amongst them. Different areas of the country are at different stages. London here is the worst. Like NYC in the US. Whilst other areas have not been hit too bad. But then testing isn't widespread so who really knows. The government would not stop of economy for no reason. It's definitely a real threat. My friends's aunt died 2 days ago of it. Started slow at first and thought nothibg of it. Got bad real quick and died at home. She was healthy, aged 52. Here, the government passed a coronavirus bill and everyone is up in arms as it 'erodes our rights'. I'm no fan of the goverment but peole clearly haven't read the legislation properly and inferred things from in. They have also taken it out of context. They think the bill should be looked at after the current crisis, err, we need the bill FOR the crisis. That's the whole point of it!
I'm so sorry for your friend's aunt, Sarah.Sorry all for the silence. All okay here. Down day 9 of self isolating. It's pretty full on. Been out for groceries once, Lexx and I went mushrooming one afternoon (for those who know about the deadly mushrooms in Aus, we were picking completely different coloured ones and not dead yet), we've been out for runs and walks individually, and it was Lexx's birthday yesterday which was a bit odd.
I need an adapter for my work computer to make it easier to work with, but don't really want to go out tomorrow to find one. My family has a zoom scheduled for tomorrow which I never thought I would see happen. Lexx's family has a weekly Monday night zoom where his aunts apparently switch the camera around by accident and we all look at their socks. Looks like one of Lexx's family members has covid too. /sigh
I'm not sure how I am going to go with this. But will work it out. Have some games scheduled online with friends through Roll20 (DnD), Tabletop Simulator (established board games), and online games. But yikes. It's also the end of daylight savings on Sunday morning, and I have a very enthusiastic rooster who likes to make himself known at 7am (which will be 6 on Sun), and the farm that could take him is over the border where they are fining people up to $11 000/6 months jail for breaking social isolation. Eek
Ha! Now would be the time for me to get back into WoW. And then again, maybe not. I have enough distractions from my work. It's hard to focus as it is.What's with all the conspiracy theories anyway? Why is it people are so drawn to them? Do they give people an adrenaline rush that they think they've ferreted out something that will rock the world on its ass? Then there's this whole Q cult that is totally looney tunes. They've decided that Tom Hanks was expedited back to the States clad with an ankle bracelet to face charges in a pedophile ring. But then, they were the same ones who figured the deceased John Kennedy, Jr was going to show up at the July 4th celebrations.
I don't get it. Makes my head spin.
We've been playing Rivals of Catan quite a lot which has been great for escapism.Sorry to hear one of Lexx's relatives has the virus. I hope they are ok.
My quarantine is up on Thursday thank the gods! I feel like the woman in The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories. It is so miserable being all alone. I snuck out to the kitchen last night thinking it would cheer me up but one look at the mess made me even more miserable. No need to guess how I'll be spending my time this weekend!My symptoms have mostly cleared so I don't think we're in trouble. I have been so worried about my Mam who lives with us.
I don't think our media or government is hiding anything much from us. They are genuinely worried about the situation. I wouldn't trust the figures as I think there is much confusion about what people did off - is it the virus or the underlying illness?
Our CMO had to have some non-virus related tests himself and said he was shocked at how empty surgeries and emergeny rooms are. He is concerned that people with other illnesses are not seeking medical help.
I can't get hold of my psoriasis tablets and am going without them from today. I have started seeing (on skype) a homiopath. She is also a friend and offered to help - I would have preferred a Herbelist but didn't want to offend. I'm hoping it will help but it smacks a bit of magic to me - but then I have a scientific background. I'm willing to be converted LOL
Margo I hope she can help. I had a tough time getting one of my meds also. My doctor pulled some strings and now I have them. you are in my prayers.
Our primee minister has just been admitted to intensive care with the virus.
Sarah wrote: "Our primee minister has just been admitted to intensive care with the virus."First thing this morning, the news reported that he was in hospital under observation. Then a couple of hours later, it was reported that he had been moved to ICU.
Doesn't look good for Boris. Our government is cautiously optimistic about our situation, but I wonder how this will end? We won't be immune until we get the vaccination, which is a long way off.
Boris didn't look well last week. I hope he pulls through.
Renee wrote: "Margo I hope she can help. I had a tough time getting one of my meds also. My doctor pulled some strings and now I have them. you are in my prayers."
Renee, I'm so glad your doctor was able to pull strings. I'm complaining about an itchy rash, yours are for much more serious conditions - be well <3
That's howw we heard it here too Janice. Me too Margo. I may not like Boris much and definitely don't agree with his politics or approach to things but I still hope he makes a recovery.We just had our biggest amount of deaths in a day today. 854! When is it going to stop?! We're nowhere near our peak yet either. One of the guys that plays in a table tennis team in the same league as Rob died off the virus this week.
Sarah wrote: "One of the guys that plays in a table tennis team in the same league as Rob died off the virus this week."Oh jeez. That's a bit close for my liking. So sorry to hear!
I'm not a fan of Boris either, but I agree, I don't wish anyone to die of this. Particularly the more we learn about this disease. I was more shocked to find out you don't constitutionally have a function like a Deputy PM. I mean, ours is an absolute imbicle and we would do better with a rock in charge, but if everything went to hell we would have a clear line of who is in charge. It sounds to me as an outsider this is not clear (Raab anointed but Gove thinking it should be him) if something happens to bumbling Boris. And a leadership vacuum is exactly what is not needed in a crisis.
I'm glad you are nearly out symptom free, Margo. I still would not be going out much though.
We're going to have to give up the rooster this weekend. Calcifer is beautiful and working through his hormonal anger issues, but he just won't stop crowing. Luckily in daylight hours, but it's annoying the hell out of us, and we get snuggles! Risking an $11 000 fine to take him to the farm, but here's hoping.
Thanks. Yeah it is getting too close for my liking. Yes a leadership vacuum is not what we need right now. We just have a new leader of the opposition and I'm sure having Raab deputise for the time being will be a little unsettling too. I hadn't heard that Gove thinks it should be him. He's self isolating now anyway. It seems to be working it's way through the cabinet. I didn't realise we didn't have deputy prime ministers either. I know we have had a few that I can remember but it's not something that happens all the time. Very strange. I suspect that might be something that changes moving forward.
It's a shame one of your chooks ended up male and that you have to give him up. But I feel your pain. It would drive me mad too.
@Sarah, it is worrying when the virus comes that close to you. The UK political situation is also unsettling and 854 deaths today is heartbreaking. I feel for you.@Rusalka, it's very sad that your chuck has to go. I used to live next door to one that couldn't tell time so I know first hand how annoying it can be. As to staying in, we have a thing called cocooning in place here for the over 70's and those not in good health so I'm not allowed outside anyway! I do intend to get out and do some gardening if the weather holds - if I don't get some fresh soon I'll go off my head!
The mood here is also of cautious optimism. Our rates of death/new cases have been fairly constant for the last few days.
Sarah, I'm sorry to hear about Rob's acquaintance. It is very sad...
Rusalka, I'm sad to hear that your chook has to go to a new home. I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about my city. We had a total of 2 cases and both have recovered. There are cases outside of the city. One town has 17 in a senior's home. So sad! Apparently, someone returned home from an international trip and went to visit someone at the home.
Trying to make sense of this.The way I understand it is that the more people infected, the better the community is at becoming immune. Herd immunity. Downside? Many more people dying. For how long into the future?
And if we try to prevent everyone from being infected, we have to wait for a vaccination to be ready so everyone can be vaccinated against the virus. Downside? Staying in isolation until the vaccine is ready. 12 months?
Sorry to be so pessimistic but I’m just trying to make sense of this.
@Margo. It must be hard to stay indoors, even for an avid reader. At least we are allowed out to exercise.
@Rusalka. All the best for taking Calcifer to the farm. Surely it’s a humanitarian reason for going out.
@Sarah. Over 800 deaths in one day is incredibly sad.
@Janice. Unbelievable how quickly the virus spreads. And for vulnerable people to be exposed is doubly sad.
Shirley wrote: "Trying to make sense of this.The way I understand it is that the more people infected, the better the community is at becoming immune. Herd immunity. Downside? Many more people dying. For how long..."
The modelling that we in Aus are working on was released yesterday. Modelling is done on the worst case scenario, so if all the wheels fell off where would we be? They are assuming the herd immunity thing, to 23 million of us get infected of the 25-26 million total population. And quickly. This is a really full on (technical term), transmissible and contagious disease.
If that happens all at once, about 10-20% (so 23 000 - 46 000) of us will need an ICU bed and treatment due to how this disease works. It builds up gunk in the lungs that means your lungs can't put oxygen in your blood and your organs suffocate. Hence people needing a respirator, which is only usually found in the Intensive Care Units of hospitals.
Of those people who need ICU care, there are only enough beds in the whole of Australia for 15% of them. Higher end of that scale that is 6 900 people at a time, that's lower end, that's only 3 450 people (I can't recall the actual number of beds, that is finite - it doesn't change if we have more people infected). Who gets a bed? Not who survives.
And who doesn't get a bed who could survive but doesn't? It's terrible and horrible and a ridiculous thing to choose.
They are saying if we do what we are doing, we will flatten that curve, take the pressure off the hospital system, slowly introduce herd immunity, and develop a vaccine. But it could take a year, or 18 months. Which is frankly, shit. But looking at those numbers I don't want my Mum for example being told that, as one in that best case scenario 19 550 people who miss out, that she is too "old" for an ICU bed even though her genes, health, tests, and family history tell me she will be active and contributing to society for another 20+ years.
So herd immunity sounds great and we will all be back to doing what we do sooner. But the question is is that is can we live with that amount of people dying quickly and suddenly when we could choose to do what we are doing for 6 months. Or realistically, ignoring what the PM says, 12-18 months. People will only need ICU beds for 1-3 weeks, so if you can spread those say 46 000 people over 6-18 months in hospital beds until we get a vaccine (while we all limit movement), instead of over 2 months, that's a great thing. More people will get treated and less deaths, but more inconvenience to us who like going to the movies for example.
Does that make a bit more sense?
P.S. All modelling, whether health, or space ships, or economic, works off the worst case scenario. As that's what you want to stop. Everything else is a bonus :D
Shirley wrote: "Trying to make sense of this.The way I understand it is that the more people infected, the better the community is at becoming immune. Herd immunity. Downside? Many more people dying. For how long..."
It's not just indoors Shirley it is in this stupid bedroom! I am so sick of it. Tomorrow my sentence is up. I will sit in the garden all day and sleep in the spare room - it will be like a holiday B-)
Here they are of, at some unspecified date in the future, slowly reducine the restrictions. Personally I think the most crucial one will be letting the kids back to school. We all know how quickly kids pick infections and bring them home but, the economy can't function without working parents. Ultimately, sadly, it will have to be an economic decision.As to ICU beds, there are already tough decisions being made here and I am very worried about my cousin who has moved to a nursing home following her stroke about a mouth ago. I fear that they are letting infected patients die in homes rather than risking spreading it further.
As a person "with an underlying illness" I'm certainly not ready to kick the bucket so I will be cocooning for as long as is needed. As to how long it will be before my hubby has to go into his workplace, I suspect it will a matter of weeks as he is in the pharmaceutical business and they come under the "essential workers" heading.
The thing with the herd immunity is the number of deaths that will result. Also herd immunity hasn't been tried with a pandemic before I believe. It's risky. It also presumes that once we have it, we become immune to it. And we don't know that yet.
I'm glad.ourr government abandoned the herd immunity approach when it reqlised what was at stake. I'm going to stop reporting the number of deaths we have here now. It's gettting crazy. And it'ss only.going to get worse.
Just wanted to add, some countries are evaluating to allowed people immunized (recovered from covid-19, symptomatic or not) to start working in order to avoid stopping the economy 100%. Still as Sarah says we still need to know for how long people is immunized. In general for other coronavirus goes from 6 months to 2 years, but we still don't know about this one.I think this might be a good approach. The only thing that scares me is people in really need to work trying to getting to be able to work when recovered.
I myself am beginning to feel one of the other effects of all this. I can feel myself becoming depressed. I know this will end but I just want to crawl in bed and sleep.
Renee wrote: "I myself am beginning to feel one of the other effects of all this. I can feel myself becoming depressed. I know this will end but I just want to crawl in bed and sleep."I'm right along with you, Renee. I saw your post in the other thread about letting people know how you are feeling emotionally. It's important.
Yesterday was a bad day and I had a major meltdown. Cried all day. I realized at some point that I've had some major events over the last few months. It started with my ex-husband's death in September, the death of my "fellow mother-in-law" (my son's m-i-l), a suicidal friend, the corona virus isolation, and now the death of my Cleo. I'm truly alone in this house as I isolate. I decided that it was okay to have a meltdown. Things are better today, but I still feel emotional.
A lot of us are feeling emotional for sure. Last year was a shocker for me too mainly because the abdominal pain i was having made my life a misery. I had mild depression because of it which only started to lift in the last few months after having my op in January. And now this. I'm struggling with anxiety. Some days i'm ok and i can get on top of my thoughts and on others it takes over. But i know i'm not alone in all this. It is affecting all of us, in different ways, for different reasons. I don''t mind the isolation per se, whilst my friend is struggling badly with it. Whereas i'm worried about contracting the virus with my asthma and my parents getting it whilst she isn't worried too much by the virus itself. You've had such a rough year Janice. I really hope that once this is all done, you get a break.
Thanks Sarah. Every day I look for something to be grateful for. I'm still working and that's a major plus these days.Today, I baked 3 loaves of Cheddar Beer Bread. It wasn't until I was cleaning up afterward and realized that I had used Corona Beer! LOL!
I don't drink beer. Last summer, I had friends over for a bbq and I bought some beer. There have been a few bottles in my fridge ever since. I figured the bread was a way to use it up. I'm taking one loaf to a friend who has treated me with buns & cinnamon rolls. Another loaf is going to a friend who is in quarantine. I'm bringing her Corona. It just makes me laugh.
It is a good idea, Janice, and a way of connecting in these weird times. I'm sure the corona will make your friend laugh. :)
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Catch-22 (other topics)The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories (other topics)
I agree. Michigan keeps raising by about 800 a day. Our governor said she isn’t..."
Jeanine, I do not know if this would help but I work in Software dev. and we are agile. One of the things we do daily are "standup meetings" so everyone get a feel of what is going on and if someone needs help. It has to be short and we have to answer 3 question: What we did yesterday, what we are planning to do today and is there something blocking you. We each take our turn and name the next speaker.
Maybe presented this way, it would make her more comfortable?