Category: covid-19

COVID-19 Numbers

Here’s what I have for today:

  • Methuen, MA
    • Total Cases: 983 (up 2 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 57
    • Death Rate: 5.80%
  • Massachusetts
    • Total Cases: 106,422 (up 271 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 7,770
    • Death Rate: 7.30%
  • United States
    • Total Cases: 2,177,842 (up 24,639 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 118175
    • Death Rate: 5.43%

The numbers for the city of Methuen and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are definitely trending down, though not nearly fast enough for this red head.

The United States of American, however, is trending up with a bullet. There has been no consistent dropping of daily infections at all. If anything, it’s been creeping up over the last couple of weeks. Looks like the Cheeto-in-Chief’s plan to close our eyes and pretend there’s nothing happening is working like gangbusters.

Massachusetts is still the fifth most infected state in the country, though Texas and Florida are quickly catching up. California thought they were improving, but if you look at the graphs of the infection rates they haven’t slowed down at all. Hooray for haircuts and bar hopping.

In the immortal words of Lt Frank Drebin… Nothing to see here. Please disburse. Nothing to see here.

Not Freaking Out Yet

I’m not freaking out yet, but I will probably start to any minute now.

Why?

We’re getting a new dishwasher delivered today. In normal life, that would be something to be excited about. Instead we live in coronavirus world where the idea of having a team of delivery people (three are expected) coming into my house for literally any amount of time is panic inducing, never mind that they will be staying here long enough to remove our old dishwasher and then install and test the new one.

The delivery window is 7:00am to 1:00pm and we were told we are the first delivery. We were also told not to expect anything until after 9:00 as they have to make some stops to load up their truck before they come here.

It is currently 8:33am. I won’t begin the official freak out countdown until we get the phone call telling us they are 30 minutes out. Once that call comes I expect to start sweating and maybe getting chills and mild shivers.

Coronavirus can suck my fat ass.

One COVID-19 Number

I just looked up the COVID-19 numbers for Massachusetts for today. The state had less than 100 new cases. The last time we had less than 100 new cases in one day was March 20th. It’s been almost three months.

What does that mean? Likely nothing. In all the time we’ve been looking at the daily numbers, we’ve noticed that reports for Monday often feel on the low side. It’s almost like people chose to not go to the hospital on Sunday nights.

Still, caveats aside, it’s really nice to see a daily infection number that’s under 100. There were 87 new cases in the last 24 hours, and 23 deaths. The last time the death count was this low was April 5th. Rest in peace, my neighbors.

I really hope this downward trend continues. The national numbers are down today as well, but the overall trend is still up. Let’s hope those numbers turn around too… though we can pretty much guaranteed that they won’t. Too many states are opening up way too soon for that to happen.

Wash your hands and wear your masks and stay healthy.

Therapy

There is something delightfully therapeutic about bashing the holy hell out of an electric guitar when you’re in a state of near permanent near panic over a global pandemic. The plague might get me, but until it does I’m going to vent all of my frustrations through bad music and mediocre guitar playing.

Amen and all that.

AC15

Guitar Center has a used Vox AC15 amplifier on their website that is listed in great condition and listing for under $500. A few minutes ago I tricked my beloved wife into agreeing to let me buy it. Ain’t I a stinker?

I further read the listing and it says it will be shipped from it’s current location to a local Guitar Center store where it will be available for curb side pickup.

Oh.

Well.

You mean I’d actually have to go to a store and briefly interact with another human being? Yeah… maybe I’ll wait and see if I can get someplace to ship a used one to my house.

Thanks anyway.

Happy Quarantinaversary

Is this a thing now? Monthly quarantine anniversary posts?

Three months ago today was the day after my company told us not to come back to the office.

It’s normal now. We’ve reached the point where going back to the office is the strange thing. The previous 15 years worth of normal has become the scary unknown.

It’s not just work. Going to the store, visiting friends and family. It’s all scary now. It’s all freaky and weird.

Three months down, and we are expecting probably another three months at least. It depends on this “second wave” of course. For all the people who are seeing the states with infection counts climbing who are thinking this is the start of the second wave, you are wrong. The first wave never ended. Our selfish, disgusting neighbors just told themselves it did so that they could force other people to open their stores and restaurants and gyms and hair salons and service them. No, the first wave is still going.

Two million Americans infected. 115,000 Americans dead. Sure, let’s reopen all of the businesses.

Happy Quarantinaversary, everyone. Yippee.

Haircuts, or My Wife: My Hero

All those right wing scum bags arming themselves to the teeth and storming into their state houses like the terrorists they are, demanding their hair stylists risk their health and go back to work so that they can get their hair cut.

Screw those terrorist pricks.

Back on May 8th my hair was longer than it had ever been. It was so long in the front that it was funny as hell. My wife gave me a glorious birthday gift when she cut it for me.

Fast forward to today, the three month anniversary of my last day in the office before my company shut down the buildings, the love of my life gave me another haircut. This time there was no messing around. She lopped off the places that were too long and then buzzed it like you’ve read about. Amazing.

It’s not quite high and tight, but it’s as short as I’ve had it since I was a little kid. It’s perfect. Bring on the summer.

Thank you, my beloved Jen. I know you were nervous about it, but you did great and I appreciate it so much. I love you!!!

Small Instacart Fail

We placed an order with Instacart today. It included a half gallon of ice cream.

mmmmm Ice cream.

Instacart delivered it without issue. Except that it was mostly melted. I’m guessing we weren’t their only stop tonight.

Noted for future reference.