The Beat Goes On

Here it is July, the middle of July, and Covid-19 is here with a vengeance.

We are faced with thousands of cases every day, so many deaths, and yet a tide of mask-refusers. People who call it their constitutional right to refuse to wear a mask. I honestly don't even understand the position. Partly it is a stubbornness that refuses the hear the facts or to update their knowledge:

Initially, the CDC and the medical community made a large mistake. Because of the scarcity of masks, the CDC said there was no need for citizens to wear masks. They needed to be reserved for health care workers. The fact was, though, that wearing masks right from the outset would likely have saved thousands of lives. The position of the CDC was essentially a practical one, rather than a scientific one. And now the mask refusers are still relying on this early advice, even though it has changed. 

The mask refusers say that they won't spread the virus if they are not sick, if they are not actually coughing. They refuse to acknowledge that this virus is spread by those with no symptoms, perhaps more than by any other way.  They say that those who are vulnerable should stay indoors or protect themselves; it isn't the duty of others to protect them. They refuse to understand that this virus does not only attack the "vulnerable". Everyone is vulnerable. They say it is better to get it, to develop "herd immunity". This position ignores just how many people would have to get sick to develop that immunity, and therefore how many more lives would have to be lost. 

The casinos are opened up again, but with precautions. Fortunately, masks are now required indoors. I had occasion to witness that this is actually happening. People are wearing them; the rule is being enforced. 

In my daily life things go on as they have. I "graduated" from physical therapy, which was the last regular thing I had on my schedule. Shortly after that graduation I went to see a pain doctor (referred by the NP in my doctor's office), who looked closely at the MRI and Xray images taken of my back and had a diagnosis. After so many months of guesswork, at last a diagnosis. Treating the pain is another story, but a hopeful one. I begin that process in August. 

I am continuing to order groceries rather than go to a store. I don't go pick them up (curbside) as often because they are so often out of the items I order and I don't know until the last moment if they will be. At this point I think fewer people may be ordering delivery because I can usually get them delivered on the same day now. 

The gyms reopened but my gym allows people to work out without masks. I find this too dangerous so I am not going there. There is ample proof that people can indeed work out while wearing masks. Even olympic runners have worn masks because of allergies, proving that it is possible, that wearing a mask does not cause breathing difficulties.

And I bought a car. I bought a Chevrolet Bolt Premiere, 2019. I am still getting used to its features and to the charging capabilities available to me. Because I live in an apartment I decided to rent a garage so I can plug in there. It is just 110 V, however, so charging is very very slow. Therefore, I have been trying out various fast charging stations available commercially. I have encountered problems. One, there aren't very many of them. Two, not all are compatible with my car. Three, some don't work well or have even been deactivated. And then there is this: it is super hot outside so I don't want to spend even 45 minutes outside while the car charges, yet going inside can be dangerous because of Covid. Still, I continue to track down these locations and see what they can do for me.

BBC World Service continues to report on Covid-19 a great deal of the time but more subjects are getting more time now, even though infections are increasing at an alarming rate.  Lebanon is falling apart. China is flexing its muscles with Hong Kong.  Russia...

My biggest hope right now is that Trump gets defeated in November. It would be a start. However, I am facing the fact that a large number of Americans still support him. 

Confirmed cases worldwide: 14,211,652
Deaths worldwide: 599,827

Confirmed cases US: 3,770,138
Deaths US: 142,065

Confirmed cases Nevada: 33,295
Deaths Nevada: 637

Deliver Me

The other day I heard a knock on the door. I opened it to a box on the mat and a UPS delivery person standing a decent distance away. This was my wine delivery! I asked if I had to sign something and she said no, she just had to see who answered the door, who picked up the package. I gratefully thanked her and took the box inside.

A few hours later there was another knock. This time it was an Amazon Fresh delivery of many foods as well as toothpaste. The delivery person had already left, as usual, but I called out "thank you!" in case he or she was still nearby. I scooped these bags up and put the food away.  I had a warm feeling inside. I love these deliveries. 

The delivery and pick-up options vary a lot. When I ordered a sheet set to pick up from Target I had to go inside the store. But there are ways to order it to be delivered to your car, and of course there are home deliveries. In Costco as well as many other stores, independent companies like InstaCart do the job. This is like Uber or Lyft: the InstaCart employee goes into the store to make the purchases and brings them to your home. I feel that the upcharges and the limitations on safety precautions make this option less desirable, but InstaCart also has a curbside delivery option. At Sprouts grocery store, Sprouts employees gather the groceries and bring them to your car. They use InstaCart software but not persons. 

Smiths grocery has two curbside pickup plans: one for prescriptions, the other for the rest of the store. When I order from them I do not know how many of the items I order I will actually receive until about an hour before the pickup time, which is often three or four days away. I have used this option three times so far because I can choose from the full store and prices are good, but not knowing what is available and having to wait several days has made me less excited about it.  For the most part, I now use Amazon Fresh. I know that Amazon is not in favor right now, but it looks like there have been improvements in employee safety and pay there - let's hope that continues. This option also has fewer options to choose from. And of course the prices are a bit high. But not seriously offputting, at least not to me. I am used to going to WinCo, where prices are amazing (and employees own the store) but that is not an option now. I am willing to pay the higher prices for the safety and convenience.

A few times I have indulged in delivery of restaurant food. It has been nice to have a meal fully prepared come to my house. I even ordered Starbucks once. These services tend to be very expensive, however, compared to a drive-through cost. Still, it's nice that once in a while, and, like now, when I am struggling with back pain and don't want to move. 

I'll be in the living room, eating my delivered dinner...

She has it

The other day my daughter Mary got the results of her Covid-19 test. Positive. The nurse said to wait until she had gone three days symptom-free and then she can go out. The nurse also said don't bother testing her daughter Nelly or husband Phil. Just wait until they too are symptom-free for three days. So what does this tell us? For one, it tells us that the confirmed numbers are far lower than the actual. Phil and Nelly will not be counted, although they undoubtedly have the virus.  

Mary says she is relieved. She has it so she doesn't have to worry about getting it. Further, the nurse told her that once she has achieved that symptom-free status she is good for three or four months. That is, she will not be spreading it nor will she be vulnerable to getting it. She is immune for that long. I know the reports have been conflicting on this status. Presumably the nurse is going with the best-guess on immunity. 

Of course I ask Mary every day how she is feeling. She is mostly being plagued by headaches at this point. The more days that pass, the better I feel. If she feels she must go out before she reaches that three-day point, she needs to wear a mask to protect others. Thus she asked me if I could make her another. Of course I could. I found yet another pattern that I think is easier than the other two I have been using. I chose the "ties" option because I did not have elastic ???

3,646,099 confirmed cases worldwide

252,406 deaths worldwide

1,212,835 confirmed cases US

69,921 deaths US

5,631 confirmed cases Nevada

266 deaths Nevada

The ordinary everyday stuff

The other day, daughter Mary and her husband were swinging their two-year-old. After they put her down, she cried out in pain and held her arm in a bend. She did not move that arm for many hours. Her night was miserable, and the following morning Mary brought her to a children's hospital.

She had dislocated a ligament. It is called "nursemaid's elbow" and is common for little ones. Their ligaments are like rubber bands that can get caught between bones. The physician pulled on her arm gently and relieved the pain. In ten minutes, Nelly was feeling great again.

The hospital, Mary said, was deserted. We are all so concerned about Covid-19 that most of us are avoiding the hospitals to avoid infection. Rightly so. This situation means that hospitals are not taking in their regular scheduled surgeries and therefore losing money, and many health care professionals are being laid off or given shortened hours. In places where the outbreak is severe, however, they can't keep up with the load. Many nurses and doctors are transferring from the lightly-infected areas to the heavily-infected areas to help out.

Personal protective equipment continues to be in short supply. I am working on a reusable isolation gown to give to Animal Foundation here in Vegas so that they can save the disposable gowns for use in people hospitals. Unfortunately, I have a back pain issue. When I cut out the pattern yesterday my back went into this pain and it stayed all day. It is impossible to do much when that comes along. Normally, sleep fixes that. It did, almost. I still feel a little hint of that pain. I am hoping that it does not increase as I sew that gown.

3,427,265 confirmed cases worldwide
240,513 deaths worldwide

1,134,084 confirmed cases US
65,888 deaths US

5,248 confirmed cases Nevada
254 deaths Nevada

Still Worried

On April 19 my daughter Mary had symptoms. Sounded like it might be Covid-19. She felt awful but got to feeling better in a few days. Her daughter Nelly was mildly sick and then her husband Phil spent a day or so in bed. Whatever she had appears to be contagious. Last night it flared up again in Mary: high fever, lack of smell, bad headache, bad backache. By this morning she felt somewhat better and went off to get a test. Again, the tests were gone by the time she got there. She is going to try again tomorrow morning. 

The story is the same everywhere. The tests are hard to get. So many people are not getting them. I am also reading that in New York the number of deaths in general is far higher over the past month or so than normal, beyond those officially counted as Covid-19 deaths. This suggests that a great many deaths are not being recorded as Covid, probably because they were never diagnosed. It's obvious that the total number of cases must also be much higher than the official numbers, both because tests are not available and because many people are likely getting mild cases and are not even seeking tests. 

3,110,696 confirmed cases worldwide

215,231 deaths worldwide

1,022,259 confirmed cases US

57,862 deaths US

4,805 confirmed cases Nevada

219 deaths Nevada

Breaking Out

Today I went into two stores. I had not been inside a store since March 18, when Nevada shut down. 

My first foray was to the FedEx store. My printer broke and Canon sent me a new one, but wants the old one back. So I had to pack it in the box that contained the new one and put the label on it and drop it off at a certified FedEx place. They don't pick up packages curbside there so I had to go in. Fortunately, I was the only customer and the transaction was quick. I didn't have to touch anything in there. Still, it made me nervous.

My second trip was to a 99 cent store.

I have put up with the difficulties in ordering online and picking up or having stuff delivered. It has been frustrating to me to know that I can request an item on Monday and when my pickup time finally arrives three or four days later there are no more of those items available. I am assuming that the people who walked into the store bought them. Even though I called dibs days ago my place in line doesn't count. I do not know how many times I have placed an order that contained toilet paper and was unable to get it. As I mentioned in my last post, I am getting close to desperate and I am now armed with TP Finder, the website that tracks toilet paper near me! It told me about the 99 cent store so that is where I went. Wearing a mask, of course.

And there it was. A large pile of 12-packs of puny rolls. I bought two. I do not want to be piggy, even though I don't know if my next order will be filled or if I will have to make another trip to 99 cent or some other store where they don't do curbside deliveries.  Almost all of the stores on that list at TP Finder are not delivery-friendly. They are gas stations, 7-11s, that sort of place. 

When I got back in my car I wiped my hands and the steering wheel with disinfecting wipes. I drove home, left my shoes outside, and immediately put my clothes in the laundry and took a shower.  Turns out I didn't have anything to put on until a load of clothes was finished drying, so I did my regular exercises in bra and undies.  Not something you want to see, but you didn't, did you?

2,915,600 confirmed cases worldwide

203,042 deaths worldwide

957,505 confirmed cases US

54,160 deaths US

4,539 confirmed cases Nevada

204 deaths Nevada

Missing

The pool at our apartment complex. For the last few weeks, a crew worked on this pool off and on. They emptied it, took out their jackhammers and removed all of the surface material, then replaced it and filled it with water again. So it is renewed and looks beautiful. But because our maintenance people are not working on anything that is not an emergency now, we can't use it.

The gates to the pool area, which contains tables and chairs, a spa, a barbecue, and a soft drink machine, are blocked. We can't go in there. That is also the way to the complex's workout room, which we cannot use. And needless to say, the inside group area, with soft seating, free coffee and tea, and games is also off-limits. 

That pool looks so inviting. I miss being able to use it.

I also miss a few other things. I am ever grateful for the fact that I get a regular check every month, that I do not have to go out there and find work. So I am left at home, missing things. Last night, as I was drifting off to sleep, I thought about the number of rolls of toilet paper that are in my house. I usually order bulk supplies of TP and paper towels and cat food, but I am not sure I will get my regular order this coming month. Amazon says it is "trying" to fill that order. Honestly, I am sick of the TP jokes and would rather not talk about this, but fact is I am getting close to desperate. I have ordered it from different places several times and it has not been in stock. One order is out there on a delivery truck and has been for two weeks now, and the expected delivery date is anywhere from May 6 to the end of May. That does not give me confidence. 

I have learned, too, to avoid the noname companies selling on Amazon. Their TP may look normal but reviews suggest it is not. Some of them made me laugh: the rolls were doll-size. Or the paper was like sandpaper. I am sticking to known brands and known sellers. Although I have been staying out of stores altogether, I am getting close to going inside one or two to take care of this need. And just today I learned about a way to make almost sure that I will be successful in landing my prey. A website named TP Finder is out there, checking the stocks near me. Actually, it is helpful citizens who enter the information, so we can't be sure there will be any when we get there, but it's better than just wildly going into every store that might have some.

Something else I'd like to have now and then is a glass of wine. There are no laws against getting it, but getting it without contact is a little trickier. Total Wine Co. has a way. You just flash your ID, at least that's the case in some states. I don't know about Nevada. It can be delivered or picked up. I am guessing that pickups require going inside the store. I may find out soon, depending on how much I want that glass. What I miss a lot is being able to go out to a nice place and have a glass of wine. Instead of wine I whine. 

2,774,766 confirmed cases worldwide
194,434 deaths worldwide

894,034 confirmed cases US
50,919 deaths US

4,208 confirmed cases Nevada
195 deaths Nevada

Cruising

A few weeks ago a video made the rounds of geese and goslings walking down Las Vegas Blvd, passing casinos on the strip. A few cars were on the road but they stopped to let the geese move along. That's because, generally speaking, the people in those cars were not on the way anywhere. They were cruising the strip, pandemic style. Nevada has been shut down since March 18.

It's a strange world there now.  Empty casinos, fountains turned off, a few street construction projects (why not?). It has a science fiction feel to it. So the strip is still attracting visitors. Only now it's mostly residents. 

Police car keeping an eye out

I drove down it today, hoping to be able to park somewhere and take some pictures. But parking is a problem. The garages are blocked off and there are police cars stationed along the strip, lights flashing. I suppose many of us would be parking wherever we could if it weren't for them. It is also relatively safe to walk on the strip. No crowds. Or ride a bike. It is still possible to park in the little parking area next to the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. I saw several cars there, and I saw a small group of people posing in front of the sign. Good time to get that photo if you haven't already. No lines.  I think, though, that mostly people parked there so they could take a walk. 

This popular corner usually has hundreds of visitors on that bridge.

A bicyclist passes by Caesar's Palace.

The MGM signs were all over the strip, because MGM owns about half of the casinos.

It's not a bad destination for locals now. A place to take a walk, watch the ducks and geese invade the pools, ride a bike, contemplate what has become of us.

Parking for the Welcome sign or just to take a walk.

In other news: it appears that Nevada may be seeing the tip of its curve! I certainly hope so! We have weathered this first month and I know we can do another and another if needed.  It's far from over.

2,559,979 confirmed cases worldwide

176,686 deaths worldwide

830,544 confirmed cases US

45,340 deaths US

3,937 confirmed cases Nevada

163 deaths Nevada

The Worrying

The question of whether daughter Mary has the virus is still not answered. She says she can get tested but she has not done so. This third day she feels like crap. Her daughter Nelly had a fever yesterday. I don't yet know about today. So I continue to worry.

Doesn't stop me from trying to get some things done. I made a commitment to myself the other day that I would at least clean the living room. It is a combo living-exercise-sewing room right now, and I am not in the habit of putting stuff away when I am not using it. I have also dropped many little pieces of fabric on the floor, along with thread (which is not good for cats, by the way). When I pile up books and papers the cats lie on them and inevitably knock them to the floor. If ever there was a time for someone like me, this is the time. Nobody dares to come inside.

Yes, I make light of some aspects of my present life. While still worrying. I worry about Mary and her family, I worry about Elaine's family, I worry about me. I worry about my cats. 

And I fret. My sewing machine is jamming again. I get it cleared and then it starts out okay but soon jams. I have watched countless youtube videos on the subject of clearing jams, including several that feature machines very similar to mine. I committed to making fifteen masks for my grandson Joey (for his friends) and have managed to send ten of them. The other five wait until I have a working machine. Yesterday I brought my ailing printer into a repair shop and the woman behind the counter said she needs masks. She is caring for her 92-year-old mother. I immediately said I'll bring you some! I want to so badly but I can't get them made yet. Because the machine was just serviced, I can't help but think there is something really simple here.

The printer? She could not fix it. Actually maybe a good thing because I looked in my records and discovered that it is still under warranty. I need to contact Canon. Maybe they will make it easy and just send me a new one? Probably not, but these days it may make sense.

2,512,988 confirmed cases worldwide

172,279 deaths worldwide

794,330 confirmed cases US

42,634 deaths US

3,830 confirmed cases Nevada

159 deaths Nevada

Too Close

Last night my daughter Mary texted that she had a fever of over 101 degrees, and "the shits". She thought maybe food poison. I thought maybe Covid-19. Not long after, the fever was over 102, and then 103. She called a nurse, who advised her to take Tylenol, separate herself from her family, rest, and wait until she has gone three days without a fever before returning to her family (and work, I presume).  I am so afraid for her and her family. 

Mary and daughter Nelly on Christmas 2019

2,431,324 confirmed cases worldwide

166,628 deaths worldwide

765, 914 confirmed cases US

41,124 deaths US

3,728 confirmed cases Nevada

158 deaths Nevada

The State of the Nation and of Me

In six states many citizens protested stay-at-home orders by their governors. Hundreds blocked access to a hospital in Michigan, others either kept their distances in their protest or walked side by side, endangering themselves and others. Meanwhile, Trump is saying the tide has turned, the curve is flattening, and he will be outlining a plan to return to normal today. The curve has not flattened. We are not even close.

I would not believe these protests if I saw them in a movie about a pandemic. I don't think any of those disaster movies included anything like this. 

From MSN: Michigan protest

I belong to a few Facebook Groups that focus on making cloth masks. Some of the members are making hundreds of them. They donate them to various locations. I finished my modest ten yesterday and delivered them to Animal Foundation. It took two sewing machines but done they got, and I felt good about them. I will now be making more masks for the family. My sewing machine is back home. The repair person found that thread had wound around the little thread cutter inside. He replaced the blade. And cleaned everything up, said it's in great shape.

Yesterday I got another delivery from Amazon Fresh that included a small package of toilet paper. The first order of TP that I have gotten. It will give me a few more days to find more. 

I have physical therapy today. Because I am dutifully doing PT exercises at home between appointments, I feel ready for these appointments. Today they said they will be giving me a whole hour. I don't know why an hour when forty minutes is usually good. Honestly, these are not fun appointments. But last Monday the therapist took measurements and found that I am stronger and more flexible. So it is working.

2,107,450 confirmed cases worldwide

136,988 deaths worldwide

644,823 confirmed cases US

28,580 deaths US

3,211 confirmed cases Nevada

136 deaths Nevada