July 25: It was the year we learned herd immunity isn't possible for everything
Tuesday afternoon my head started stabbing itself in the back, signaling an incipient ear infection. The rest of the weeks was Advil and Sudafed (love is going to the pharmacy mid-pandemic to buy the good decongestants). Oddly enough, intense cardio (running, bike workout) made it feel better. The other ear is a bit cranky, but doesn't require as high or frequent dosages.
Thursday we went for anti-body tests, so that Jorj could confirm he'd had COVID in late March and early April. Jakob, it turns out, not only does _not_ faint at blood draws, but liked watching it "spurt." The doctor warned us that if we'd had COVID in January or February, the test would likely be negative. Additionally, for faster results, the tests are less accurate. Our tests came back negative. Jorj's loss of tasting sweet is still pretty indicative, and he's still convinced.
Getting the test we did the full "vital" signs thing (really, how freaking vital is my weight?). My BP is creeping ever higher, which I _know_ is stress because 1) as soon as mom retired, her BP dropped to normal, and 2) right before the hysterectomy (my present to myself for my 50th was to stop bleeding everywhere and on everything -- ask me about my day as an ambulatory abattoir) my BP crept up and up and up. Shockingly, I am hypertensive right now. Fuck. Also somewhat shocking, I don't weigh as much now as before Jakob was born and while pregnant. It's not great, but under 180. Which I care about. Even though I know it's fucked up.
July 21
No updates because I ran out of space on the server. Not least because of the 2.3 Gig of log files ...
July 19: Black lives still matter
Back in a "heat wave," or the new normal of climate change in Philly. It was very soggy at Abington Meeting this afternoon. It seems to me like there are a few more people willing to flaunt their racism a little more loudly (throwing the finger, shouting all lives matter). I did have the, er, opportunity to explain to a middle aged white guy what White Silence Equals Violence means. The racists feel more emboldened (and angered by people standing on a street corner holding signs). We were not even two dozen people; we could really use more people. We could do a socially-distant thing afterwards!
Suzy had distanced fifty-second birthday party yesterday and Friday. We chose the Zoom option, along with Jim, so it was a very, very mini class reunion (like 0.46 percent). They dropped off pie and a piccolo of bubbly. Suze showed off the quilts she's working on. Jim looks good and his company just got bought by Amazon (how Gen X is that?).
Before that, we had a great ride with the Harkers. Lynn suggested the teens do a ride together, I suggested we all bring bikes, then we couldn't get the bike for Jorj to ride off the trainer because the screw is stripped. Jorj was freaking out (don't change the plan!) and Scott (mostly jokingly) suggested the unicycle. Which, turns out to have been the best solution. The unicycle limits Jorj's speed to a very chill pace that was good for Lynn and my knees.
Lord, I'm starting to use wanton apostrophes! Have I become a grocer?
Before ordering the Peloton, I ordered biking shoes, and, because I support a functioning government, had them shipped USPS. They should have been here Friday, but the tracker says they didn't arrive in Philly until yesterday, two days after it should have arrived at the house. There are reports from postal employees of the new postmaster general is demanding employees delay mail, because the Republican plan is to destroy federal government, particularly the parts that work well and people love.
July 17: It was the year of doing it ourselves
We finally felt secure enough to have the couple who clean our house return this week (we'd find somewhere else to go, if only the back yard). Wednesday evening they called to say they were in quarantine and awaiting test results.
I ordered the Peloton stationary bike, and it will arrive in mid-September. It's not quite two months out. It will be the six month anniversary of us self-isolating! Jorj is biking almost every day, and I bike days I don't run or bike outside. They're clearly trying to be a gym in an app -- in addition to the bike, they sell a treadmill, and offer strength training, yoga, stretching, "cardio," "outdoor" (walks and runs), and meditation classes. The classes are generally very positive and upbeat.
Federal law enforcement has apparently descended on Portland, and is forcing activists (whom they describe as "violent anarchists") into unmarked vans. Oregon doesn't want them there; the city of Portland doesn't want them; but someone with a fragile ego and a passion for fascism needs to have a pissing contest.
July 15: Day 125
Yesterday Mayor Kenney cancelled all Philly gatherings through February, including the Mummers, but not the Eagles.
In the face of a lawsuit from Harvard and MIT, ICE and Homeland Security backed off of demanding international students leave the country unless that were attending classes in person. As expected.
July 13: It was the year we realized it would be more than a year
Got a grumpy stare from an unmasked, middle-aged dog walker on this morning's run when I saw him walking towards me on the sidewalk, pulled up my mask, jogged two yards into the driveway between us, and told him to go past me (instead of blocking the sidewalk). At least he used a leash.
July 12: End of month four
One third of a year. Disney is reopening the parks — but not their corporate offices. Which tells you whether Disney really thinks "reopening" is safe. Havard is remaining distanced next semester. ICE wants to send any students not taking at least one in-person class back to their home countries (we'll see if higher ed allows that). DeVos wants to force public schools to re-open by denying them funds, so that kids can die and here family's charter-school company can infect more public districts.
"Are you OK? You're doing a lot of sighing." — Jorj
I love this man who knows me so well.
Hopeful Amazon competitor if not killer Bookshop.Org very kindly cancelled my five-week backordered book, The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass. Except, it's not backordered; it's pre-ordered, and not due out until early October. We just can't have nice things! Even more maddening is they never answered my reply to the cancellation/refund e-mail; I had to publicly tweet them to get their attention. They asked for the order number, then asked if I'd received the credit yet. I don't fucking know? You've got the customer order system that issued the refund; why doesn't it tell you if it's gone through or not? Pre-orders are a big deal for authors and dedicated readers. This is a debut author recommended by a writer whose work I love; I want to support artists who bring joy to our lives, especially artists who could use a little extra help. Only because Amazon is so evil will I continue ordering existing books from a site that effectively doesn't allow pre-orders. I can't be the only customer with a cancelled pre-order.
In positive news, we have a new hand-held vacuum, and the stairs are gloriously fur-free, as are the sofas and bedding.
"Don't drown trying to drink the water." — Jorj
I have also sold my scooter to long-time friend Kris. Geico fucked up my insurance when I changed companies, told the state I was uninsured, and I couldn't deal with the beauracracy. Fuck Geico. Scoot-scoot has been insured, but unable to be registered or inspected, and I have't been riding. Sold it to Kris two weeks ago, got it running today (new battery, clean gas, carburetor cleaner), and drove it to him. I insisted, although he has his permit, because I didn't want an accident before completely releasing it.
Jake played an MtG draft with friends in a local park this afternoon. They were outside, with masks, sanitizer, and sunscreen. We all appreciated not being in the same building together.
July 11: It was the year of fine, all things considered
That's how we are: fine, all things considered. As long as I don't think about elections or the economy or public policy or science or or or or
But we're still really lucky: introverted computer professionals who enjoy working from home. Jakob is a teen and while this summer is garbage, private school means sane policy and small classes that will make tele learning manageable. We have hobbies and our health: I've run three times this week, and biked other days (today to the farmers' market!). The house didn't flood from Tropical Storm Fay (it was actually much calmer than the thunderstorms earlier this month).
July 8
The vet called this morning and Jet's bloodwork was completely normal, so we are watching and waiting.
We're thinking about getting a Peloton, although I think what I really want is less "spin class in my home" than "bike-controlled racing game" like Zwift. We're trying out the Peleton app with Jakob's old bike on the trainer with a cadence monitor. (First, Jakob's bike has not aged well. It's less than two years old and the gear rings front and back are already bent. The kid hasn't weighed over a hundred pounds for more than six months!) The trainers are very positive, and there's all sorts of music — Jorj overdid it to a high-intensity metal mix this morning.
It feels good! Monday was a short run (bad ankle is bad). Yesterday tried a 15-minute 80s pop class, then did some core-strengthening yoga. This morning I actually wanted to go for a run when I woke up. I woke up late, but actually wanted to run. I'd forgotten how intense aerobic exercise nearly every day increases the desire for intense aerobic exercise. Once I got to biking daily, along with walking at least two miles in the city, no wonder I kept at it.
We're all feeling off our game at work, and not finishing, so I suggested we break work into smaller chunks, and do a better job of reviewing requirements. Still a newish team! Back to basics! And this afternoon we temporarily lost one of our devs to another team for the rest of the summer. She should be concentrating on one of their projects that's seen little love lately, and this is the team on the cutting edge of best practices. With luck it will be a positive experience for her.
Tonight is a social-distanced, outside pizza party for Jakob's friend M's birthday. We're going to bike over! Sunday another group of friends are doing a Magic the Gathering draft in a park. The fabric masks Jorj ordered in March or early April have finally arrived. No biking to that one.
July 6
Jet went to the vet yesterday for some bloodwork. It was the first time he'd been separated from Onyx that we know of. The doctor says in young, otherwise healthy animals (not quite two years, said he looked great), it's most likely epilepsy. It could be one seizure and never again, but we should keep an eye out. Thankfully we are working from home!
Had a really fantastic thunderstorm today, with lightning and big booms of thunder and hail and torrents of water and an hour-and-a-half-long power outage. Spent some quality time with Jet, while Onyx (probably) hid in the linen closet.
July 4: All countries matter
I did make it to Rieker's that day — just as everyone was pulling out of the parking lot after closing up. And the beer distributor, who was out of all the Hefeweizens except for a German grapefruit hefe that (I learned after drinking the first one) is actually half juice. I call that one the breakfast beer.
Yesterday was try number two for Rieker's and we have enough wurst for the month and roll for weeks. A mixup in today's grocery order means bread pudding is in the future.
Today I biked to the farmers' market, thinking I'd left it too late, but they didn't seem open yet. After biking hills in the neighborhood for fifteen minutes, they were definiately open, with a line for the stand selling meat, eggs, and dairy along with produce. (I really want to optimize their process for them.) Skipped them, but did pay for the second jar of honey I'd accidentally grabbed two weeks before.
My brain's gone so far afield these last weeks that scatterbrained is an understatement. Forgot to turn on the dryer two times in a row this morning; last weekend forgot to dry two different loads. Did I take my morning meds with breakfast? There's a vague memory, but the habit tracker app said no, so I took them again.
Jorj and I have both been exhausted and demotivated for weeks. Upon hearing this latest brouhaha, he wondered if I was okay, and frankly I think not. Nope. Not okay here. Probably trying to do too much, like not only keeping my Duolingo streak but learning for half an hour a day, vigorous exercise, a clean house, a kid who does something in addition to playing games, and remaining employed.
And then Jet had a seizure tonight, which might be the natural progression of vomiting and mouth frothing from the winter and spring. Jorj ran upstairs after we heard what sounded like the biggest wrestling match Jet and Onyx had ever had, to find the little guy on the floor and spasming. He's up and about now, and had a whole can of wet food to himself.
July 2: Already?!
The team's got a bit of COVID-related work. Our client does bulk sales of equipment to labs on campus. The big plus is it's cheaper overall to order through us, and the most-purchased items are already on campus. Plus, the client will deliver right to the lab. Except now, when people can't get into buildings they have no reason to be in. Clients would place an order, then walk down to our client and hang out in the hallway with everyone else sharing this bright idea until their order was ready. Our job is to add a step into the client's workflow to alert buyers when their stuff is ready to be picked up. The client can control how many people are hanging out in the hallway, although I expect there to be many stories suitable for one of those customer from hell sites.
We're off early for the holiday weekend, and I can't settle on something to do. Too hot to be outside. Do I want a beer? Yes. Do I want to drive to the liquor store? No. Do I want some sausages for the weekend? Yes. Driving? No. I'm counting down the minutes until Jorj is finished and we can watch the final two episodes of the first season of Veronica Mars.
Maybe I could start sewing masks again.