Kevin's Watch

Funny, I would have thought that with 43% of the world's population on lock-down, we'd have been a bit busier...

--A

Had to go the supermarket for bread on Saturday. As I don't watch telly, or buy newspapers, I was shocked to see restrictions for entering the store. There were even markers on the ground 1 metre apart so as to keep the queue socially distanced.

When I got back home I was further shocked to feel a slight headache, a roughness at the back of the throat, sporadic sneezing, and my nose running like a tap. It was really scary. It took about 2 to 3 hours for the symptoms to go. I kept hoping it was all in the mind, but honestly, I'm dreading having to fetch more bread when this one runs out.

On the plus side, Morrisons are selling Cadbury's Dairy Milk Buttons Easter Eggs for a pound, or 2 for 1.50. And they have loads of them.

Out in the outer suburbs of Chicago, the state parks are closed but the county conservation district sites are open. They just ask that we stay apart and so far so good. I've gone out there to watch the birds and get some air.

My family has a house in a tourist visited area of Wisconsin and I saw that they are asking that visitors and those who have second homes up there stay away for now. They only have one small hospital there and they won't be able to handle an influx of people from Chicago and Milwaukee. And unstated that their worry that we would bring the virus with us.

I said I'd come back with better news, but I'm going to have to relent.

These are truly fucked up times, and I'm definitely feeling the stress of it right now. I've had some fears of the coronavirus due to being in and out of hospitals and such, including going to an ER and as I was leaving seeing several docs suiting up into hazmat suits.
But for me personally, the biopsy proved ultimately inconclusive, and they said there was no cancer found, but they wanted me to take another. I was to have a PET scan the next day, so we put that off for the time being. On Wednesday of last week, I was told that the PET scan revealed multiple areas lighting up, such as my liver, my neck, my chest, my lungs, and my pancreas. Doc said there was a 92% chance this is cancer.
So we are going for another biopsy to confirm, and if I'm lucky, I could have the 8% and it will be inflammation lighting it up. The blood work has been fine, with a slightly high white blood cell count in the pancreas, and the rest fine. I'm a little uncomfortable, particularly after hearing this, but I'm not having pain exactly, or nausea and such, so hopefully we are catching it early. But in so many places, I definitely fear the worst.
I've been lucky enough to work from home recently, but just heard today that we will have to start justifying our time hourly. I suspect they are thinking of cutting our hours, and rather than be one of the few things in my life right now that isn't totally stressing me, the thought of possibly losing my job has just now be added to the stress pile.
Can I just add that I fucking hate this year so far? I'm starting to wonder if I'll see the other side of it.

Cag: First, your health. Having dealt with my wife's thyroid cancer thirty-some years ago, my son's leukemia seven years ago, and three of Menolly's cancers (thyroid, leukemia, breast) in the last nine years, cancer is eminently survivable now with expeditious treatment and proper attitude.

Still, I get the antipathy toward this year as it has gone so far. Our 90 day trial for 2020 is now expiring, and I am sure many of us are more than ready to unsubscribe!

That's rough, Cags. So sorry. Hoping for the best for your test results.

And yeah, this year sucks.

Cag, so sorry to hear. On top of all the fucked up shit (yeah, I'm not as eloquent as Savor Dam) that's happened, and is happening, this year, to add to the pile of stress must be so tough. I feel some sort of kindred connection with you, and I would pray - if I had the slightest belief in something to pray to - for a good outcome, but in the absence of that, I will be thinking of you, and sincerely hoping for that 8%.

Yeah, same here Cag, here's hoping it all turns out well.

Same old same old this side.

@Luke, luckily a running nose is not symptomatic.

--A

Thanks everyone, and especially you Savor for offering something many have not been able to...empirical hope.

And StevieG...funny, I thought I was the only one that felt we were kindred spirits.

Avatar wrote:@Luke, luckily a running nose is not symptomatic.

--A

Cags: Please keep us posted. <3

Here in Jos, I am in my classroom working (lunch break now). Our school is probably the only school in West Africa posting all of our classwork on Google Classroom and other online assets, and it's been quite a learning curve. It's not likely that we'll be able to reopen before the end of the school year, so this might be it. (Stag of the dawn and I both tried working from home, but our internet sucks there so we're at school today.)

Going out, it didn't look much different from any ordinary day. Some businesses were closed (those who aren't selling food, pharmaceuticals, cooking gas, or telecommunications) but there were still plenty of people out and about. Using the kekes (three-wheeled conveyances you see in every movie about Thailand or India), crowding the marketplace, walking around doing whatever. The panic on seeing non-black people seems to have abated (the assumption was that all foreigners could be infected).

We have an option of evacuating in a few days, a flight arranged by the US Embassy, but there are a lot of reasons why it's probably just as well we stay put. We are still praying for guidance on this, but I think we're operating on the thinking that we're staying here.

In some positive news, all my family are well, so far. Also I will no longer teach grade 3 after this year, next year I will be an Assistant Principal (while continuing to teach K-5 Music part time as well). I'm like, yay. Who knows if the school will be here next year?

Glad to see people here are checking in, keeping our spirits up here.

Woke up inside the Island of La Grande Jaffe again. That's three days running this painting by Seurat has cast such a spell on me.
Getting a little irritated by this so, imagined walking to the dark rectangle on the far side and entered as if through a door ...
hopefully this has put and end to the mysterious infatuation.

{{{Cags}}}

For me, the stress of the uncertainty was definitely one of the worst periods. Once things are determined one way or the other, the path forward may be difficult, but having a plan of any sort is definitely less stressful.

Love and Light! Here's praying for that 8%.

Bet there's no April Foolery today...

All good, same as, locked down, etc. etc.

On the plus side, Bannerlord!

--A

Actually, my 8 year old daughter did a prank yesterday that was glorious. I was going to post a picture of it, but I don't have an online post a picture thing, and I can't get it to work through Facebook. So, I'll describe it.
Essentially, she got some cardboard, taped it to the toilet underneath the seat so that the toilet itself was covered, cut a small hole in the cardboard, and wrote "Expert Mode" next to the hole.
I almost didn't see it.

Shocking invasion of privacy, I know, but here it is

I like it!

Friday, as if it makes any difference. Also, my birthday...gods I'm getting old...

--A

Happy birthday, you old bastard! Now, go and set up your character on Murrin's game

Haha, thanks. (Are you in? A bit worried about my ability to participate consistently...I'm already lagging a different RP type thing (although not a "traditional" game) on a Discord I'm on... )

--A

Yeah I joined up in the end. Be good to have you in - there will be time zone delays so should be ok.