Category: covid-19

The Stir Crazy Files – Episode 20

Tuesday morning:

Changed the litter box
Emptied the trash
Took the barrels out to the street
Brought the Poland Springs delivery inside and wiped it all off
Took the barrels in from the street
Took the instacart delivery into the house and wiped it all off and put it all away
Changed the batteries in the electric door lock because Alexa told us to
Just realized there is still an amazon delivery on the back step

Oh yeah, and I’m working too.  All but the door and amazon were before I punched in.

Jen and I share an office.  We’re both working from home and sitting in the same room together.  We both have regular meetings each day.  I have at least one and sometimes as many as four.  She has them pretty much all day long.  It’s tough for both of us to join a conference at the same time, so I created what I now call Conference Room A.

227/365

Also known as the conference call nook.  The little couch thingie is actually Bellana’s.  We bought it so she could take it to school with her but when moving day came she asked if she could leave it here.  I’ve always wanted to have a bedroom couch so I set it up.  When she moves back to school, whenever that might be, she is going to take it with her.  I’ll need to come up with a conference call nook alternative at that point.  For now, the brutally uncomfortable folding couch thingie wins.

The fact that this conference call nook exists is not evidence of stir crazy.  The fact that I wrote a post about it is.  Oh yeah.

COVID-19 Numbers

Here’s what I have for today:

  • Methuen, MA
    • Total Cases: 261 (up 13 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 10
    • Death Rate: 3.83%
  • Massachusetts
    • Total Cases: 26,867 (up 1,392 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 844
    • Death Rate: 3.14%
  • United States
    • Total Cases: 572,169 (up 25,295 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 23,070
    • Death Rate: 4.03%

One Month

My personal social distance/quarantinish experience began when I left the office at 5:30PM on Friday March 13th.  Today is April 13th.  I’ve been at this for a full month.  I, like most of us, was initially expecting about two weeks.  I think by the time I punched in to work for my first full time working at home day on the 16th we all knew it was going to be longer than we thought.

We still don’t know how long it’s going to go on.  The nazi in the white house wants it all over by May, but he’s a nazi and doesn’t care if you live or die so his opinion is invalid.  The idea here is still to make life easier on those who are trying to save lives.  The president is more concerned with the bank accounts of the 1% than he is with saving lives.  That’s the only thing he’s made clear to the American people through all of this.  Money good, lives irreverent.  Of course the 1/2 of the country who worships him as their false god are falling right into line with his bullshit and that means more people are definitely going to die.

Political Rant Over.

Anyway, it’s one month for me.  It was one month a couple of days ago for my wife.  The exact date is fuzzier for the kids.  One was on spring break when it all started.  The other was in the middle of a somewhat confused response that is still being straightened out.  That’s not a criticism.  The school systems in the United States had to redefine their entire existence overnight.  It’s no wonder it was tough to figure out.  I applaud them all for the progress they’ve made.

So what I’m trying to say is, happy one month quarantinaversary, everyone.  Stay home!

The Stir Crazy Files – Episode 19

I ran out of bird seed for the back yard bird feeders three days ago. Every time I look out the window there is a bird sitting on one of the feeders, looking back at me… accusingly. You can almost smell the disappointment.

COVID-19 Numbers

Here’s what I have for today:

  • Methuen MA
    • Total Cases: 227 (up 27 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 6
    • Death Rate: 2.64%
  • Massachusetts
    • Total Cases: 22,860 (up 1,886 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 686
    • Death Rate: 3.00%
  • United States
    • Total Cases: 519,453 (up 32,459 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 20071
    • Death Rate: 3.86%

It Feels Like Quarantine

Today is the first day since this all started where it feels like we’re quarantined, and the introvert in me is kinda pleased.

We’ve spent most of the day just hanging around and doing our own thing.  Harry’s playing Minecraft, Bellana’s doing logic puzzles, Jen’s been tweaking her computer setup, and I’m on my laptop alternating between mixing RPM music (three songs in the can, babie!) and trying to find a new TV show to binge.  There’s Lock and Key, Altered Carbon, You, Brews Brothers, and a rewatch of The Walking Dead.  I also thought about starting Smallville from the beginning, but I just couldn’t do it.  Sadly for originality, TWD is kinda in the lead at the moment.  Oh well.

We had a Zoom with Jen’s folks earlier.  We’re having another one with my siblings and their families.  I thought about making some Tewksbury Tweets today (if you don’t know what they are then you are unworthy and should suffer an eternity of wondering about it) but Jen was working on lunch and I would have been stepping on her toes.  Maybe after dinner I might look into it again.  Probably not.  Not tomorrow either, as Jen is going to cook an Easter dinner for us.  She’s… what’s the word I’m looking for here… starts with an A, I think… Amazing!  Yeah, that’s the word!  She’s amazing!

I still need to take my photo-a-day picture today.  Don’t forget about that, dumb ass.

The Stir Crazy Files – Episode 18

I know my cat likes to sit on my desk when I’m not there (she sheds… all over everything). If I’m sitting at my desk though she stays on the floor.
 
Not today. About five minutes ago she jumped on the desk and sat on my keyboard. Come on, cat. I’m trying to work. Now she won’t get down. She’s just decided it’s her desk and that’s all there is too it.
 
I guess I have to move.

223/365

COVID-19 Numbers

I’ve been keeping track of a lot of numbers since this all started.  I’m thinking of posting things now and then just for future reference.

Massachusetts posts their daily stats every day after 4:00PM.  Not always at the same time, but usually with in an hour or an hour and a half.  They post their data here.

Methuen, MA is posting their numbers on the Police Department’s Facebook page.  The post is supposed to come around 5:00 PM but it’s not terribly consistent.  It’s always after the MA numbers come out though.

The National numbers are posted by the CDC, but unfortunately they are not posting over the weekends so I can’t really graph the data accurately.  I’ve been using the Johns Hopkins map instead.  That one updates constantly all day, but I only look at it when the MA numbers come out.  Just so I can have some sort of continuity.

Here’s what I have for today:

  • Methuen MA
    • Total Cases: 175 (up 16 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 4
    • Death Rate: 2.29%
  • Massachusetts
    • Total Cases: 18941 (up 2151 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 503
    • Death Rate: 2.66%
  • United States
    • Total Cases: 452582 (up 32607 from yesterday)
    • Deaths: 16129
    • Death Rate: 3.56%

I’m not planning on doing this every day but I might.  I don’t know what I’m going to do.

The Stir Crazy Files – Episode 17

The Stir Crazy has me in a big way tonight.  I don’t know why.  I’m trying very hard to not let things get to me.  Especially things that shouldn’t get to me.  I don’t want to be an asshole so I’m hiding in the office, watching Locke and Key (it’s not that good.  Not bad, but not that good) and trying to write lyrics about hiding and locking yourself indoors and all that fun stuff.

I think I just need a nap.

We did watch JoJo Rabbit tonight.  What a fantastic movie.  I really enjoyed it.  It totally makes sense that it was nominated for 20434725 Oscars.

Vacation Time

There is no end in site to the working from home.  There is no end in site to the social distance.  Even when the end comes, will we be willing to risk a new outbreak?  Will we be willing to venture out into the world of groups and crowds again?

Given that there is no difference, logistically, between a day at work and a day at home, and because there are no other alternatives to those two states of being, what good would taking a vacation day be?

The answer is, probably… none.  It wouldn’t be any good at all.  It would be a waste.

I just put in for a vacation day on my birthday though.  I mean, fuck it.  Why not?