Personal post, do not read or you might get depressed.
With rising coronavirus numbers in Texas, I just wanted to know if you are alright.
Rita
Thank you for checking.
See that big red circle? That’s us. We made national news by going from 4 cases a day to 210 cases a day. For a county with not that many people, it’s not pretty.
Yup. Greg Abbot, our governor, removed the shelter at home restrictions. San Marcos is a college town. Once restrictions were lifted, the kids went to tube on the river and they went to the Square, which is like a tiny 6th street (Austin reference) in our town filled with bars. Nobody wore a mask. Because you can’t drink with masks on, and when you have surgery, your medical team only wears them because they make such lovely fashion accessories. So dumb. So very stupid. Everyone Kid 2 currently knows in her age bracket has COVID. Everyone.
We haven’t left the house in weeks. Groceries are delivered. I have sewn masks. I found this awesome pattern that fits really well, but is a bit fiddly to make. Right now we have Saharan dust and everyone’s nose is either clogged or running, so Kid 1 checks our pulse and oxygen every day. Kid 2 has moved to Austin and so she is isolating there. Our daughters have agreed that they might survive COVID but Gordon and I are hosed. They decided that we shouldn’t take chances, so we are under very strict supervision.
I don’t know what to tell you. Alright is a relative term. Everyone knows how much this whole thing sucks. It’s devastating if you have COVID and it’s awful even if you don’t, because you live in constant worry that people you love or you might get it. People are losing relatives. They are losing jobs and businesses.
Right now my coping mechanisms are failing a bit. I haven’t been able to read a single book. I can’t finish anything I knit. I’m trying to find a lawyer to remotely update our will. When that happens, most people get anxiety. I get fun physical symptoms for the reasons I won’t go into here. My chest hurts constantly – probably costocondritis rearing up after taking a 2 year break. Normal digestion is out the window. Sleeping patterns are completely off.
So yeah, it’s not fun. But we are all humans. We are designed to survive, so let’s do our best. We will keep writing Ryder as long as we can, you, hopefully, will keep reading it, and we will try to get through this mess together. đ
Oh, so I don’t end on a sour note. If you have Viki, check out Romance of Tiger and Phoenix. A screenwriter of a fantasy romantic drama gets stuck in her own script as an awful princess fated to die two episodes in on her wedding night.
I’ve laughed so hard! OMG. I don’t know how it will end – it’s ongoing – but what’s there is so funny. I want to watch it all in one sitting, because making people wait for the new episode is some sort of torture. Like I don’t know who came up with that or what kind of horrible monster even uses serial format for entertainment. Honestly. đ
Ouch. That is rough. Hang in there, is all I can say!
Stay strong and stay safe!
Thanks for the update. Stay safe and we are sending you warm fuzzies!
Also during quarantine I have gotten sucked into the wonderful world of K-dramas. Thank you netflix and Crash Landing on You for being my gateway drug. I now have a Viki Subscription. So this recommendation is perfect!
Anyone else have viki recommendations?? I have watched and loved: My love from another Star, What’s wrong with Secretary Kim, Extra-ordinary You, Cinderella & the 4 KNights (Netflix)
Depends on what you like. If you are into modern romances, 1% of Something is fun. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon and Weightlifting fairy Kim Bok-Joo are very fun. I’m Not a Robot is a cute SF. Guardian: the Lonely and Great God is lovely, but sad.
If you want to try a Chinese modern drama, Go, Go Squid might be decent. It’s harder to recommend modern C dramas because so much of it is state-mandated propaganda. đ
Thank you!! I will put these on my watch list!
I’m pretty much historical, modern and fantasy romances! basically anything with a dash of romance ha! Really don’t like gory scary! đ
Tried one modern c-drama and had a hard time getting past the prop. stuff! Some of the historical ones look kinda fun though! But i will give go go squid a shot.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal is a fun and light historical Kdrama about a woman disguised as male scholar, with a love triangle (or quadrangle), starring the same lead actress as in “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim.”
Another “modern” Kdrama I was surprised to really like was “Because this is my first life.” Very quirky twist on a contract relationship. For more slow-paced slice of life in a medical setting, the new Netflix show “Hospital Playlist” was a pleasant surprise.
Two high school Kdramas with romantic elements that I liked were “Dream High” and “Cheer Up!” (the latter also addresses bullying and trying to game your resume for college).
If you like more fast-paced action with your romance, then “W” is a Kdrama I recently watched and was surprised at how much I liked.
Ilona has recommended this one before, but a great action Cdrama is “Joy of Life.” However, it has a cliffhanger ending pending a season 2, so watch with caution. Two modern romantic Cdramas I did like were “Skate into Love” (college drama has a speed skater, hockey player, and ice skater in it) and “Love 020” (two college students meet in an online game).
Awesome thank you!!
Best historical/fantasy Cdrama Is âEternal Loveâ (or ten miles of peach blossom)âamazing chemistry with happy ending but also tragic in parts so be ready for the angst; âPillow Bookâ is the sequel and much lighter romance; âAshes of loveâ is another fantasy cdrama thatâs got a great love story with happy ending but again, tragic in parts. Bring the tissues! âThe Untamedâ is a great fantasy drama and the actors are hot!âthough I know Ilona has said she didnât get the appeal, all my gfs have loved it and itâs highest rated drama on Viki so you can judge for yourself!
Kdrama: âthe heirsâ is fun and cute and has Lee Min Ho, my favorite cutie; âLegend of the Deep Blue Seaâ is another great Lee Min Ho drama; âThe Doctorsâ is a great medical drama; âDevilish Joyâ is totally underrated and has the best real kissing scenes of any kdramas (after watching Cinderella and 4 knights, I kept wondering what was up with the cold, barely there open eyes kissing! So unromantic!)
Also 2nd âI am a robotâ as a cute kdrama and âlove o2oâ as a fluffy and cute cdramaâno tissues needed! âHotel Del Lunaâ is a modern fantasy, with thriller elements, great acting and chemistry, amazing OST, and heartbreaking.
Ashes of Love is pretty famous as well
Love the ‘Upwards to the Moon’ theme song.
Detest the lead female character with a passion. Have never been able to finish it, despite the fact it has Leo Luo in it.
Try out Love O2O it’s a modern Chinese romantic comedy. If you just want something light and fuzzy. For historical C-drama try The Legend of Minglan
I loved ‘She was pretty’ (total romantic fluff)…and ‘Fighting for my way’. (A BIG fan of the lead actor Park Seo-Jun). Also liked Suspiscious Partners, and now on to Healer (also because of the lead actor…different one to PSJ. See a pattern here.) All available on Netflix.
Then you really need to watch Story of Yanxi Palace for one of the best Chinese historical romance dramas. Superb acting, costumes and settings. Iâm on my third time watching it, it doesnât get old!
Plus, has Xu Kai! đ
If you havenât seen it yet, Love In The Moonlight is one of my favourite K dramas. Itâs a historical romance set in 19th century Korea, about a crown prince who falls in love with his eunuch, who is actually a woman disguised as a man. The acting is wonderful, especially the lead male Park Bo Gum.
I absolutely love Love in the Moonlight! It is one of my favorites also! So happy that Ilona Andrews recommended and it has made me really hooked on Kdramas!
If you like a more recent historical the cdrama My Roommate is a Detective is hilarious đ It’s set in mid 20s Shanghai
You got me hooked on k-dramas with Whatâs Wrong With Secretary Kim- so cute and funny!
You HAVE to watch âItâs okay to not be okay/Psycho but itâs okayâ. Itâs on netflix though and only 4 episodes have been released so far but the story, the acting and the chemistry is unbelievably good and the soundtrack is to die for
You said “We will keep writing Ryder as long as we can, you, hopefully, will keep reading it, and we will try to get through this mess together.” I don’t believe you have any worries there. I know I find myself thinking about the story _All the time_. I am sure there are others.
I am sorry that your coping mechanisms aren’t working the best. I find myself hiding in the world of RDR2. it is so easy to forget all the bad and just focus on the next objective.
Stay safe and take care of one another.
Stay safe! If your masks that you are making have a filter pocket, cut up vacuum bags work really well!
Iâve also been crazy stressed with all of this. My doctor suggested I try tai chi. I found some videos on YouTube and it has been really helpful with my anxiety. Just an idea.
Also if writing Ryder is too stressful you guys should take a break. Your health physical and mental is most important.
If you have Netflix try crash landing on you and the king: eternal monarch.
I love guardian the lonely god aka Goblin and recommend that to everyone if they have not watched it.
I’ve almost finished watching The Master’s Sun, had left it in my Netflix watchlist for a while but it’s proved pretty good and not scary as I had been worried about, quite funny too with romance and multiple plot points.
I’m contemplating watching Good Doctor but I have some concerns since I am autisic myself. If anyone has seen it could you tell me if the portrayal is very offensive? I am OK with spoilers, I just want to know if he gets his happy ending.
I’ve seen it. From what I remember, he was portrayed more childlike and innocent than anything else. I work with autistic kids and he didn’t really remind me of them. I’d say he reminded me more of the personality characteristics of some of my Downs syndrome students. I dont think you’d be offended although the portrayal was only accurate with a few characteristics since autism is a spectrum. I liked the show and thought it was sweet but I like the main actor and medical k-dramas in general. Oh and happy feel good ending.
Thanks for letting me know. I still have mixed feelings about my own label so I’m always a bit uncomfortable seeing it on someone else.
I will give it a watch – luckily my OCD isn’t as extreme with TV shows as books, films and real life so I should be able to stop after an episode if it’s too upsetting ????
Oh, I agree, K-dramas are so good!
Healer: This one has the perfect balance of action, drama and romance. The actors are great and the plot is very well written.
Tomorrow Cantabile: An orchestra of misfits and some really lovely music. The first few episodes are a bit grating but then they tone down the heroine’s screechy yelling and she gets proper character growth. It’s well worth sticking with it.
You’re beautiful: Nun dresses up as her twin brother to join kpop boyband, wacky hijinks ensue. Super cheesy but cute.Â
Life is hard right now. I’m in the UK and when things started to open up again, like clothing shops, all I could do was gape at the crowds on tv and in the news. My dad has had covid, we’re almost certain (no testing available when he was sick), and he had it mid March. He’s still having days where he’s really not himself. It was really scary seeing him like that, even though it didn’t go to his chest and he never developed a cough. He was having investigations to other health issues around the same time, and on describing it all to the dr, the dr told him it was Covid despite his chest being okay. He was exhausted, had a fever and lost all sense of taste and smell and his appetite.
Technically I’m classed as vulnerable, but not high risk. I’m comfortable shopping for groceries as long as people keep their distance and I’m keeping my hands clean. But anything that isn’t essential? Forget it. Not worth the risk. For me, friends or family.
I really struggled early on. Being stuck home for 2 full weeks without being able to go see my horses (the ones I work with, not mine) was hell. Horses have been my saving therapy for years and years. Not having them even short term was extremely difficult. It took me about 6 weeks before my anxiety levelled enough to start reading more than a few pages at a time. My job was at serious risk, and several members of our small team have had to be let go. Its horrendous. A couple members of the management are going back full time as of tomorrow, but the rest of us probably aren’t going back until August or September. I miss my job. So, so much. It’s getting really difficult for me again to focus on things when I’m still not allowed to do what I most want, to go and do my job, take care of our horses and continue training them so we can open and get paying clients in again.
All this, to say You Are Not Alone. I really hope you guys can all stay safe and well through the hotspot surrounding you.
Also, I will continue to devour Ryder and reread it. It’s one of the few things that has been a complete distraction for however long or short a section we get. Completely transports me to another place and time. Thank you.
I think about it like this: As long as you stay healthy, i.e. eating well, exercising, getting good sleep, the duration and severity of the infection is much lower. Even if it is only just taking a 30 minute walk with gloves, mask, etc. Or do calisthenics in your house. All of it helps.
That’s not true for everyone. I’m an asthmatic and all the healthy food and exercise in the world isn’t helpful. My parents are in their 70s. Same thing.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
Travis you a right in a sense that exercise helps keep people healthy … it does not however stop the risk of catching Covid-19… and it does not make the vunerabble less vunerabble
As a nurse who is well studied on most things respiratory….. once there is damage to the lungs it does not repair.. ever… exercise will aid the body in dealing with ones lowered ability to gain oxygen … but it wont reverse the damage done or stop further damage if you have a diesease like asthma or any of the copd’s .. it will only slow it down.
By all means exercise .. but it is hand washing and social distancing and cleaning your areas that will keep you safer
There is no evidence of that. Healthy young people have been devastated by this disease, even killed. And people with pre-existing conditions or who are immunocompromised can’t change that about themselves. Please, everyone, wear your masks and take precautions to keep yourself and those around you (and our favorite authors and their family) safe.
+1
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
Please read more articles .. u suggest any on lung diease and the damage those diseases do .. its not reversible
Hugs from Canada (but not really, because I would never hug a stranger, especially during a pandemic, that would just be dumb…).
We will get through this. If you have an emotional support network then now is the time to lean on them.
Also, a free piece of advice, (because who would actually pay me for advice?): The news services make money off of your anxiety. The more you read the news, the more anxious you get, and thus the more you want to read the news. If you find yourself spiralling then the first step is to stop reading the news. You won’t miss anything important, your family will help make sure of that.
Sadly this is not true. Age and health are definitely a factor but there are also a significant number of cases where they make no difference at all. Research is ongoing into the reasons why covid19 affects certain people so strongly for no easily apparent reason.
However at this time, with covid19, even a young and healthy twenty something can still die.
Or that twenty something can catch covid19 and need to be ventilated but live and have permanent lung scarring.
Or they could catch covid19 and have no symptoms and pass it on to their mother and father and sister and brother, nieces and nephews, all of whom catch it, three of whom die and whose funerals they had to watch livestreamed because of the rules on gatherings.
But it’s OK, because they were young and healthy and ate well and they knew it wasn’t as dangerous for them because of that so they just went about their business pretty much as normal, safe in the knowledge that they would be fine.
I don’t like society much and it’s rules often confuse me, but it began for a reason. Survival. Following the rules at this time isn’t just about being polite anymore. It’s about saving lives.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
NO, EXERCISE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR PPE OR A CURE ALL. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUNG PEOPLE GET SICK. READ FURTHER IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING INSTEAD OF ATTACKING ME FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS. Maybe I should have taken ten minutes to clarify the statement: Healthy foods increase immune responses. While extra vitamins do nothing, enough vitamins improve overall body function. Exercise of any type stimulates the heart and the circadian rhythm. This improves overall body function which increases immune response.
One of the complications that might happen with COVID-19 is an overblown immune reaction. It’s called a ‘cytokine storm’.
Quite a few healthy young people with excellent immune systems have died of what doctors suspected was a cytokine storm.
So while it’s a good idea to boost your immune system, it doesn’t always help.
Ensuring you have sufficient vitamin D in your system helps prevent the cytokine storm. Check out Dr John Campbell on you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMFsLFAE5o&t=1475s
My apologies if I made you feel personally attacked. That was very not my intention.
I am more concerned with addressing the amount of misinformation that is often about regarding covid19.
Here in the UK due to such misinformation there were issues at times with ibuprofen, vitamin C and various other confused ideas. I often see people strolling blithely by with a mask while still touching this that and the other and then moving their masks up and down repeatedly. Maybe they think the mask magically protects them from their own hands having touched surfaces?
However until this novel coronavirus has either been more adequately researched, fully contained or a proper vaccine discovered, the only actually true and tested prevention is distance and avoidance.
Hand washing helps remove traces but is still not as good as totally refraining from contact.
Regarding life generally a strong immune system is of course something to be desired as is a fit and flexible physique, good cardiovascular health, plentiful red and white blood cells and preferably some above average brain cells to go with them.
But they’re certainly not guaranteed to protect you from anything and everything life can hit you with, let alone this new disease.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
Hi Travis – Thank you for sharing the article, I did read it.
I sense your frustration as well as that of the BDH.
I cannot speak for others, but I can speak for myself.
Iâm tired, exhausted, over stressed. Iâm not working out (gym closed, wait on hip replacement so itâs not as easy as getting out and walkâ). My workload has increased, team dynamics fractured. Iâm a stress eater…and binge on wine and carbs. Iâve gained what I call them COVID 15.
I know this is bad.
âTellingâ me about the things Iâm doing wrong and why makes me feel worse. I know I need fresh vegetables, but they are not what I reach for now. Carbs and Sugars rule.
Is it long term healthy, no. Is it providing short term comfort yes. With as crazy as things seem for many thatâs the best we can do.
I recognize the intent to help…but Iâm past coping levels and good behavior modification – despite daily discussions of this with my spouse.
Once I read the article, I better understood your desire to share. I anticipate others, like myself, might have been a bit off-put.
I thank you for your interest in helping. I ask you patience and understanding that not all are in a place to hear / receive.
I hope you do not receive this a criticism, but as intended, an effort to help defuse.
Thanks for caring, and sharing. Each day is precious. Iâm coming to understand that more as each day passes.
All – sending you health and happiness in times of trouble and high stress. I thank you for this forum to listen and share.
I have often found any avoid stress comments quite amusing in a way.
Obvious and not particularly helpful.
Similar to when your GP helpfully tells you to try and avoid using your sprained ankle for a week but you’re the lone carer able to push a disabled persons wheelchair and carry shopping and walk your dog, you live in a flat somewhere without a lift and basically have to do all the things you have to do. Good advice that’s both obvious and useless. đ
“Take it easy”, “keep your weight off it”, “try not to think about it”, “rest it for a while”, “get a good night’s sleep”
Gosh, why didn’t we think of any of those ourselves?
Have to agree with it all. Especially since there is no real end in sight if you are among the at risk group. Hello, welcome aboard the SS Pandemic. Towering waves of depression and anxiety abound. This is not going to be a fun cruise. Our kids worry about us. I did think there’d be a few more years before we got to that topsy turvy state of affairs. However: We can go out and walk even with neighbors if we maintain a social distance. It can be done. We have our pets, if not our kids. We have maintained reasonable health. Heck, I’ve even lost 6 lbs since being locked down. I can’t for the life of me figure out how that happened. I eat when I’m anxious.Since we retired back when we reached 75 and 80 we aren’t worried by job loss. Not our own anyway. Our pets and gardens have never been so well cared for. We are blessed by neighbors who do still check in on us.Now there are those weird beige clouds and haze. Ah, the Sahara has come calling. Amazing really. 2020 the year that just keeps on giving. And the curiosity bump that has been a nuisance and family joke all my life has turned out to be a lifeline to sanity. Go figure. We will get through this. Whatever “this” is. We will damned well get through it. Carry on you’re doing great! Just think how many you’ve helped through this. Take my (figurative)hand, we’ll get through together.
I love that analogy; it feels so apt. I would like to disembark from the ss pandemic, please.
I just watched that c-drama yesterday and it’s already completed I think with 24 episodes, iirc. Have you played Love Nikki again? I still play the game in Indonesia server since you once mentioned it in your blog post long, long time ago. Seeing pretty dresses perhaps can make you more cheerful too. On another note, I recently watched Kim So-Hyun comeback drama titled “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”. The overall atmosphere is a bit dark, it brings out the issues of mental health. But somehow, one episode in, I’m already hooked. And it’s so good that I’m worried to jinx it by acknowledging it????
If you are interested in a fun, thrilling comedy drama, I also recommend the k-drama titled “Good Casting.” It features three women doing undercover to catch a criminal. Recently released this 2020 too.
All in all, I wish you and everyone to stay safe and healthy.
It is hard when you do all you can to keep yourself and those around you safe but it is undone by people who cannot or refuse to see pass their nose to see common sense. I am grateful to your words and world you with them and hope they bring as much solace to you as they do to those of us read them. I understand your kids’ fear of keeping you safe. I stayed away from my mother and grandmother for two months in order to keep them safe.( I was coughing and until I was able to get tested, it was no go) It is hard on all of us when having that face to face time is what makes them happy. Hope the situation gets better in your area. Meantime, please stay safe. ‘This too shall pass’.
“But we are all humans. We are designed to survive, so letâs do our best.” This. Exactly this. I’m so sorry it’s turned so badly in your area. I’m with my Mom, 84 years old, here in Oregon. Rural, small town Oregon. We are blessed to have some land and I can work from home. My husband will traveling to, of all places, China tomorrow night, for work. Strangely it feels like he might be safer in China right now than here in the U.S. Thank you for staying home and taking care of yourself. Your writing is helping so many of us get through this crazy time. If there’s anything we can do for you…just let us know. Blessings.
Thank you for the sweet ending note. Iâve been reading nonstop and watching anime with the kids to keep our minds off of all the things weâre not doing this summer (and all the people weâre not going to see). Thank you for telling us about Viki, I downloaded it immediately. I recently read all of WR Gingellâs Between series and enjoyed it, if youâd like a recommendation in return.
Yes, WHO could POSSIBLY be so cruel as to installments to agonize over? ???????? You know, I do wonder sometimes if you guys enjoy having us wait. I know it takes time and a lot of work to write Ryder for us. And yet, Iâm convinced a part of you two, however small, likes the anticipation. Especially after this post. ????????????
Iâm glad u are surviving as thatâs what most of us can only do.
I self-quarantine (donât go out more than once/twice in 10-14 days to errands that I canât put off. We (Virginia) were like u guys 3 weeks ago, but we still have between 15-20 people dying a day from this crap, about 200 people since 6/13. Thatâs a lot of people for Va. So I hunker down, shop WalM in the early morning hours, and only run errands that I hv to.
Just a reminder, getting sick is one thing, it is the Long Term side effects from this disease that we donât know anything about. If anything, itâs This that should hv everybody shaking in their shoes.
Take care. Thank you for letting us know ur ok.
PS: Iâm the same about knitting, canât finish a project to save my life.
Thank you for your honesty. I’m from England and it’s been really grim here and still isn’t anywhere near over. According to the experts we can expect the second wave in August/September. I’m furloughed from work, no idea if I will have a job at the end, many of my neighbours and friends have been made redundant. You are not alone, I’m struggling too and frustrated with myself for not coping better. With time off work I had big plans but instead of learning a new language or how to play an instrument (thank you internet for that pressure) I seem to have accomplished IBS, constant chest pain and the complete inability to sleep properly. Thank you for Ryder, it really makes my day. Sending you a virtual hug, we will all get through this. Stay safe & well.
If the chest pain continues donât ignore it. It could be real heart trouble exasperated by stress.
It might even be covid-19 related.
(refer back to the podcast link I put in my other comment).
Our children wonât let us leave the house either. We order food or they bring it . Then some people , my brother church friends think the precaution are overrated . My oldest son is getting married in September in Alaska and no one wants to go because of COVID.
I’ve “been” to a couple of Zoom weddings which were very nice, a bit of joy in this miserable mess.
This is a really terrible time. It sounds awful to say this, but once Covid got rolling I was actually glad my mother died last year because she would have been so, so scared this whole time.
Hate to add further to your worries, but my sister (an ER nurse) told me last week that they have found that coronavirus antibodies only survive for 2-3 months in the body. This means that 1) if you get it once, you can get it again a few months later and 2) making a vaccine is going to be really hard, since vaccines are based on the antibody response.
On the somewhat brighter side, I’m thankful this is happening now instead of during the pre-internet days. At least we all have the technology to work and socialize while keeping a physical distance. Imagine how much harder this all would have been even 20 years ago! No Netflix, for one (gasp).
Remember also that you have tons of friends and supporters you’ve never even met, all rooting for you. In fact, I’m sending this whole community a virtual hug right now. See it coming through the internet connection? I will pray for you too… setting aside any major divine intervention, there have been studies that show people actually get well faster and generally thrive if others are praying for them.
Finally, if you need masks Hanes has what looks like pretty good ones for sale at a decent price: https://www.hanes.com/masks/shop-masks.html. Mine are arriving tomorrow.
I think a lot of people unnecessarily panicked over the article about antibodies only lasting 2-3 months. That is actually normal and true for almost all infections. What matters for long-term immunity is not the antibodies but the “Memory B” cells that remember the pathogens for faster antibody production in future infections. No reason to think those Memory B cells won’t remember COVID. Wanted to throw that out there in case it helps with some of the pandemic worries.
Thx for the info.
Thank you, Em, it does help.
+1!!!!
Also just want to add that (working with covid genomes) it appears that although the genome mutates with each transmittance, it is still surprisingly stable and very similar even between continents, making the hope for vaccine that much more plausible- it does NOT seem like the virus will change so much that the potential vaccine will become quickly ineffective…
Sounds like you are in a tough place right now! Normally I never reply to your blog (although I always read it and enjoy it very much) since English is not my native language and I’m a bit shy.
But I just wanted to say: you got this! Take care of yourself and your family, enjoy the small things you can do. We will get through this!
Sending you and your family lots of love.
Thank you for that information about “Memory B” cells , it helps
COVID sucks. Pardon my language. We are in the Benton Franklin county area of Washington State. Not quite as dramatic as where you are at, but still bad.
We just said no to the kids visiting from Portland because if my spouse gets it he wonât survive. Or if the kids get it while in town we would feel awful!
Ryder is such a kind gift right now. Thank you both. And if you want to take a pause, that is what you should do. Some days I just have to sit in a stupor. Everyone try to minimize the day time drinking. đ
My prayers go out to all of you. Try to stay sane and safe.
I grew up in Benton Co. and now live in Everett, where COVID-19 was first identified in the US. I was having panic attacks about it at the end of February. My family still in the Tri-Cities thought I was overreacting.
I’m still freaking out most of the time. It takes all I have to not scream and yell at people who refuse to wear masks. Our local sheriff refused to enforce any of the Executive Orders from the governor to help protect us. Everyone in my household is immunocompromised. I lost my job the first week of March because of complaining about the lack of even cleaning measures at Lowe’s where I worked. The other family member still working retail.
Yeah. I’m still scared. BUT, my employer could not produce a valid reason to deny me unemployment. So until the end of July, I’m still making the same income level. Stressed about finding a safe job. But better off than many.
I’m making masks for local family and friends. I am learning to quilt. Building a set up for both of those with stuff I already have.
Creating something helps a whole lot to feel like I have some control and can move forward. At least I have enough material to keep my family in masks for the year.
I grew up in Benton Co. and now live in Everett, where COVID-19 was first identified in the US. I was having panic attacks about it at the end of February. My family still in the Tri-Cities thought I was overreacting.
I’m still freaking out most of the time. It takes all I have to not scream and yell at people who refuse to wear masks. Our local sheriff refused to enforce any of the Executive Orders from the governor to help protect us. Everyone in my household is immunocompromised. I lost my job the first week of March because of complaining about the lack of even cleaning measures at Lowe’s where I worked. The other family member still working retail.
Yeah. I’m still scared. BUT, my employer could not produce a valid reason to deny me unemployment. So until the end of July, I’m still making the same income level. Stressed about finding a safe job. But better off than many.
I’m making masks for local family and friends. I am learning to quilt. Building a set up for both of those with stuff I already have.
Creating something helps a whole lot to feel like I have some control and can move forward. At least I have enough material to keep my family in masks for the year.
I totally understand your not so happy comment about Governor Abbot. I knew he was opening up Texas way too soon, and now this happens. There were a lot of things he should have done sooner, but didn’t because he only wanted to look at the positivity rate in Texas. Every time he said that, I rolled my eyes because there is more to COVID-19 than the positivity rate.
The hospital system I work for is looking at the COVID-19 cases (whether admitted or under investigation) with sharp eyes because of the limited capacity within the ICUs. I just finished a CMS COVID-19 summary using CMS’s snapshot data made available just a few days ago.
If individual people would do their part to contain this virus in Texas, all of us would be better off. Yes, wear the mask, but also keep your distance and wash your hands. Apparently people only want to wear the mask, but not keep their distance. I do all three along with taking my allergy medicine. The mold count is really bad in the DFW area because of the humidity.
Anyway, I will get off my soapbox. Again, thank you for all the Ryder snippets. đ Enjoy your Asian dramas.
My son is in Houston and he said from the beginning that people refused to distance or wear masks and worse that people made fun of those wearing them or worse,getting belligerent towards those who did bc somehow in their microscopic brains this translates to the person wearing the mask making a political statement. What makes this even worse is the virus apparently is a lot more infectious now, mutations since it first jumped has made it like 10x more infectious than back then.
So they rushed to open up, the virus is raging, do they think that people now will want to go out to stores,bars,restaurants and theaters, even wearing a mask? I have talked to a lot of people where I live and almost everyone has said even when theaters and restaurants open they won’t go; by being quite frankly stupid, actually banning mask ordinances, opening too fast they are going to face something worse,a populace now too scared to go out and you don’t flip a switch on that.
Hubby & I are very high-risk & live in New Jersey so weâve been dealing with it forever. Or so it seems. Other than the mandatory medical appointments, weâve starting taking long car rides for the scenery. Everythingâs in bloom and the âgarden stateâ is looking very beautiful.
Iâve started helping some people on-line. This has helped to pushed my own anxiety to the background as I focus on someone elseâs problem. Itâs also nice to have some sense of âaccomplishmentâ involving other people in my life.
Of course the real highlight of my day is whenever I get a new Ryder post. Canât thank you enough for that. Stay safe and look forward to your blogs.
I enjoyed your post, Nancy. It sounds lovely: Iâm going to look for travel videos of New Jersey now to see what you might see. I find I do have to take my mind off of my own loneliness by thinking of others and remembering that what I have would be a dream for those in difficulty. Sending you a wave and a smile from Washington State.
This is such a difficult and scary time to be alive. I’m glad your kids are looking out for you and that you both are doing what you can to be safe. It’s so difficult to function right now, let alone make art or write. And the fact that you both are, is incredible. Thank you for sharing with us your process and glimpses into your lives.
I’ve found myself re-reading books as a way to seek familiar and comfort that isn’t really present right now, many of which are series that the two of you wrote. Thinking of you all.
I’m sorry this is happening. A colleague lives west of you in McAllen, everything he’s told us is scary. I’m pretty sure I had it back in March (antibody test results pending), and the immunologists don’t know yet what that means. Hopefully they’re right that antibodies below testable levels still means some immunity.
I appreciate the anticipation for Ryder – it’s a delightful surprise every time I see a post. I read very fast, so I don’t usually get to spend time pondering what’s going to happen next. đ
Regarding masks, Tom Bihn has my favorite pattern to make. They can be cut on the fold with a rotary cutter in two straight slices plus a curve. With cutting tricks and production sewing techniques I’m down to about 10 minutes per unit. I’d be happy to make & mail some if you need more.
https://www.tombihn.com/blogs/main/maskhowto
Hang in there – we’re going to get through this together.
I have loved ones that I worry about every day. I donât want to get political but itâs frustrating that something so simple as masks have become a political issue. I just want my loved ones to be safe. Just watched a special episode of Lenox Hill on Netflix. It shows a glimpse of what it was like for the NY hospital during the past few months. Itâs heartbreaking and traumatic. Canât imagine what it was like for essential workers to deal with that many deaths in a day…..I just wish everyone would take this seriously. The pandemic is still not over.
On a happier note, so excited that youâre also waiting for Romance of Tiger and Rose. Similar to you, I loved how hilarious it was and was waiting for more episodes to finish subbing. The official channel on YouTube was also releasing it with subs. Theyâre faster than Viki. Because you brought it to my attention, I checked on the sub status and it looks like theyâre all done on YouTube! Now I can binge! I need the humor and laughter in my life.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMX26aiIvX5qmFwvmqUqmuazLFKjXVztJ
Working for a university I get what you mean about a college town. We now have 107+ new cases identified as linking back to one bar in East Lansing over an 8 day period. The age range was 16 – 28 years old. 40% were college students from the university. 95 of the total were at the bar. The other 12 are in a town 90 minutes away, because one of the 95 went home and attended a party the classmates from high school. I have seen pictures – not one of those people in line for the bar were practicing social distancing nor were they wearing masks.
ive found that most people have girlfriend/sister/mom day and boys have their own stuff point is you can skype and watch a movie group chat all of those things yes not the same but it can be fun.Dress up. have a theme night. dress down have grunge 90 night .80’s hair bad night.i had to show my 9yr niece a picture of poison.she was surprised to know that they were all men….its the little things that can make a huge difference in mood.have fun be silly.nobody will ever know and your friends already did.
Def Leppard and Guns ‘N Roses were no slouch in the 80s hair department. đ It’s the hair that will get them every time. đ
Sending air hugs to you and your family. I worry for so many people and I was driving myself crazy. I couldnât sleep or watch television or read or . . . you name it. I talked to my doctor; he prescribed trazodone. He also told me to turn off the news because I was getting so agitated listening to all the politicians – especially Trump. Within a week, my sleeping even doubt and I was not having my panic attacks. I am a firm believer of better living through chemistry right now.
Thank goodness for better living through chemistry!
Hi feel your pain the Uk is easing restrictions but my city has just been locked-down again because of a spike in cases here âšď¸
Dear Ilona und Gordon,
I feared that your situation would be bad now, and I am very sorry,
I was right.
I learned to read english with books like yours since 2000 and have panic attacks and depressions for 43 years. These books were often a light in my darkness.
The situation in Germany is much better but I fear because of my illness and people become careless really fast. And so much people are ill and dying all over the world.
You recommended a book “Tsumiko and the enslaved fox” (forthright),
I read all the books and daily the blog “Lord Mettlebrights Man”,
100 words nearly every day and it makes me smile.
Forthright recommended “Meadowsweet – Galleries of Stone Book 1”.
A children’s book but I like it very much, it is about “Fear not strangers, you can find friends, family and happiness in unlikely places”: Food for the soul.
I wish you can smile and sleep well soon again und know your children are save.
Greetings from south-west Germany (Saarland)
Ingrid
Hey Ingrid! Glad Germany is doing better. Germany could teach USA a thing or 2.
Take care.
Can you share the name of the great mask pattern? Though I often feel as if I can do very little to help, I CAN sew masks. And I have some ability to laugh at my husband about how my fabric hoarding has paid off!!
Thanks for Ryder and Innkeeper Chronicles, which I gave to anyone who had a kindle and am now enjoying again for like the fourth or fifteenth time.
As far as reading goes, I highly recommend The Goblin Emperor, by Katherine Addison and Curse of Chalion, by Lois McMaster Bujold (and the Penric novellas, because smaller readings are sometimes better to deal with). In these kinds of times, I really appreciate fictional heros who are the good guys.
Seconding the request for the great mask pattern. I’ve made three different versions and have yet to find one I love, so I’m in search of new variations!
Ditto – Iâd love to know which mask pattern youâre sewing.
+1. That’s what I was thinking as well. When I get stressed out, I make a mask. Keep trying to get the best fitted design and an unhappy with what I’ve found so far.
I have found lots of patterns on both Pinterest and you tube. They have lots of different ways to make them. The funny part is that donât need much material for each mask so your stash will probably not drop much ????
Anything by Bujold has been a great distraction for me.
My cherry on the covid sundae has been the discovery of a potential deer tick bite -complete with circular welt. Just starting on my premptive antibiotics today. I am planning to spend my evenings relistening to all of Innkeeper. And Three Men in a Boat – the version read by Ian Carmichael.
Have you read Connie Willisâ time travel book âTo Say Nothing of the Dog?â? Itâs a hilarious book with the main character being sent back in time, ends up in the wrong time and place and ends up punting down the Thames where he has a brief encounter with the punters in Three Men in a Boat. Very fun read with some romance. A little confusing in the beginning but well worth it.
I ended up reading Three Men In a Boat ( to say nothing of the dog) because of it.
The Curse of Chalion- so so good! Divinity and humanity and so much himor
I live in a rural part of Wisconsin where people, despite numbers, still donât seem to believe in Covid. Cases are still relatively low and few have died. My cousin even had a graduation party for her daughter, and we didnât go. She is a nurse. I just canât help but be frustrated by the lack of even simple precautions like social distancing. Especially from adults that should know better.
“Because making people wait for a new episode is some kind of torture” Me thinks the BDH can certainly sympathize with that statement!
Hey there. Iâm not so far away in Bryan/College Station and absolutely understand your heartache. Please know youâre not alone. Sending you a great, big chubby-woman hug and a warm THANK YOU for Ryder. Seeing a new post is one of the best moments of my week – right up there with slinging my bra off at the end of the workday, taking that first sip of chilled wine, and hugging my puppy. ????
It has been and is a difficult situation. I have also gone through a few weeks in which I couldnt cope with it. I am lucky to live in Switzerland where, no one knows why, it hasnt been so bad so far. It is not easy to meet the balance between paranoica and safety measures, that is how I feel here where it seems most people dont care about the pandemia.
However, my family lives in Spain and I know how it is when it hits hard. Although the virus itself isnt the worst, I know of families who have lost loved ones and not been able to say their goodbye because of the forced lockdown (mind that not only corona kills, cancer and strokes are still as deadly as ever). I have lost someone in Spain and couldnt yet visit my family to cry together because flights are cancelled daily (or not offered even).
In case this can help you at all, I am sharing with you what makes me feel better in these times. It probably is childish but who cares, it helps me so:
When I feel desperate and just want to cry, I just think that life goes on. I think of those times when I also expected the worst to happen and make fun of myself because I keep repeating the same mistake. When I though I would fall during last hike, when I got scared thinking I would be assaulted that night alone at the airport… Those things could have happened but didn’t. So corona could affect my family more but won’t. Just be careful, keep your mask, your distance and whatsapp your family daily for them to do so too. Dont do crazy and everything will be ok.
This reminded me of one of Kate’s coping mechanisms. That I can remember she does something like this at least twice in the books. Sending good energies your way.
Thank you for sharing The Rose and The Tiger. It made me LOL.
I feel you about the anxiety and worrying about family and friends. Your daughters are young and yet behaving so responsibly.
It’s hard to focus on the positives. My way of coping is to be grateful for every little thing I have and to give thanks many times a day, every day, for such small things as a cup of tea to waking to a new day. I find when I focus on giving thanks, the worries take a back seat. When there is a particularly stressful worry, I focus on my breath. When doing that it feels there is not room for anything else. I appreciate that not everyone’s coping methods are the same and what works for some will not work for others. Focusing on fear can be crippling for me.
Thank you so much for Ryder. It brightens my week and is very valued. Your creativity has not stagnated one little bit during this time and I feel so very grateful.
This too shall pass but living with it every day is can be so draining. Thinking of everyone for what you are going through.
I’ve got it easy compared to a lot of people. I live with my parents and our two dogs in a semi-rural area, so we’re able to go out for walks without getting close to people. We try to do most of our shopping at farm stands and the corner store that does curbside pickup, and my dad goes every couple weeks to the grocery store’s early-morning senior hours. The locals are, for the most part, being pretty good about avoiding risky behavior. Unfortunately, the tourists not so much â they’re on vacation, so obviously things like masks aren’t necessary! >.<
Still, we're in comparatively good shape. My parents are retired (but on the young end) and are financially secure. I was supposed to be working for the census this spring before starting grad school in the fall; census is indefinitely postponed and classes are going to be online, but I'm not going to go hungry and I am going to be able to start my program. I miss social interaction and snuggling up with my boyfriend.
If chocolate would help, I highly recommend AlterEco's bars and truffles. They're really tasty, as well as environmentally and socially responsible. For dark chocolate lovers, their 90% cacao bars are deliciously smooth, without the grittiness a lot of super-dark bars have.
I live in Germany where things are slowly going back to normal with small hiccups in between. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we won’t get a second wave…
I didn’t believe it at first but during my 8 weeks of home office Animal Crossing New Horizons really helped! You can be outside without going outside, you can be creative, everyone on your island is super cute and nice to you, the online community is great! The first rush has died down so now it’s pretty chill playing again. If you have a Switch at home or can get hold of one, you should really try it! Especially if nothing else works at the moment đ
First thank you for another Ryder installment, they always lighten my day.
I am sorry it is so rough for you at the moment, it is so hard when we have physical problems that are affected by stress – I have a chronic pain problem that is affected. Mind my chronic pain is easy to forget when I am reading your works, or at the moment rereading them, I am sorry I can’t prescibe you the same medicine! I’m in the UK and I’ll be sixty in August so I really don’t want to get COVID-19, but despite doing everything I should I am frightened that I will get it, that more family will get it – so far one youngster – that it will be the longer version etc etc, and looking at the way too many people are behaving is enough to make me despair. *sigh*
Could you share the details of the well fitting mask pattern please?
Always love you posts. They put a smile on my face. That said I’ve noticed that sometime I get a post email from you and it won’t fully open. Or as in today. the only thing that opens is an Innkeeper picture from a post from July 16, 2019! Super Weird
So glad you are staying safe!
Is your mask pattern available online? Something “fiddly” might be a good distraction for some of us right now!
Hang in there!
Same, have been having a hard time to find the perfect mask fit
Try this mask. It’s fiddly and sized:
https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/
I’m brazilian, and we are steadily climbing towards surpassing even the USA, in numbers and overall shitness of how the whole situation is being dealt with. So I can relate.
I’m just glad you guys are able to shelter in place, this is a very hard time, made harder by stupid, irresponsible and egotistical people, but I have faith we’ll be able to get to the other side of this. Sending good energies your, and the BDH’s way.
Please be safe and take all the necessary precautions when possible. Sending lots of hugs your way.
I know you lived in South Carolina before and had neighbor issues. But the county where I live has only had one COVID-19 death. Iâm feeling pretty good about moving here.
I hope things turn around soon.
Sympathies. I live between Houston and Galveston Texas.
I do go to work, but we follow strict guidelines. Totally masked up unless eating lunch or hydrating. Lots of hand washing. We have curbside pick up but the Library is closed to the public. Yes returned books are quarantined. You all take care.
Heat them up to be able to lower the quarantine time. A vacuum oven works great if someone around you has one.
I’ll tell you what’s saved my sanity – discovering Kate Daniels! In the past two weeks I’ve bought and am now chugging through all the books and novellas to stay sane.
You may have literally saved my life. I’m a writer as well, and it’s been hard to find the words – but living in your Atlanta has helped me keep it all together.
Thank you so much!!!
đ
I will read anything and everything you all write.
Please stay safe.
My job has me knitting chainmail and I’ve been bouncing between personal projects of increasing complexity to keep me distracted.
The two of you will be fine despite the trials going on around you. The universe itself loves your work and you two have many more books to write. Hug your girls every day, they are in more danger than they know. Please demand they be careful even when they are being teased about it from their friends. Death and illness are lonely places.
Even though the numbers arenât nearly as bad here, I absolutely sympathize with the anxiety. Mine comes in the form of âWhy arenât our numbers higher? Why is everyone around us spiking but we arenât? Itâs not like anyone around here is actually isolating or wearing masks. So when is it going to spike and what am I going to do then?â I also work in a school district, so I get the weirdness of planning for normal school while also going, âYeah, weâre definitely going to be ordered to close at some point so letâs just see how long we can go before then, and have plans for every contingency.â
I am glad that you both and your kids are well. I am so sorry about the physical symptoms! I hope things get better soon for you.
I am in Yakima, WA which never left Phase 1 and was #3 in the Nation for cases and still rising. We have been on stay-at-home orders for 4, going on 5, months. Our governor is talking about Yakima and NYC and Italy in the same sentences. We just went on mandatory face covering orders last week and I am hoping that helps. Not a lot of people here were wearing them before.
Thank you for Ryder even in the midst of all of the crazy for you guys! It is a huge bright spot for me:)
I would seriously put you guys (and Betty White) in a bubble if i could! Stay safe, Stay healthy!!! So glad you have smart kids!
i watched that the other day. all 24 episodes. from 6 pm to 4 am… ummm yea lol haha
I’m so sorry. There are no words.
Thanks for the Viki recommendation. Have you ever watched “A Korean Odyssey?” Its on Netflix and you might enjoy it.
I hope you, your family, and all of the readers here stay safe and healthy. Back in February, my family was extremely ill. We had negative flu test results but experienced fever, chills, dry cough, fatigue, loss of taste and smell as well as general achey feeling. We are in the Atlanta, Georgia area. The doctor thought it was viral and prescribed Benzonate capsules, recommended we take Mucinex D (itâs over the counter but u have to sign for it here) and alternate Tylenol and acetaminophen. We never took a Covid test because then they were not widely available so we do not know if we had it. Anyway, I just thought I would share that with you all for whatever it is worth.
I felt like we were very lucky in that the doctorâs advice was effective for us. We felt very ill for about a month. The coughing produced something I have never experienced previously. It was like tiny bits of glue but somehow thicker and stickier and extremely tiny. Iâm sure that sounds gross and do not mean to gross anyone out here. We felt fatigued for another month afterwards and felt a bit foggy mentally. My husband and I are in our late 40s age wise. I just thought I would share what we experienced and what worked for us in case it helped anyone.
It does help, Mary. In March and April, I read a *ton* of detailed first person accounts, and I can’t express how much it helped take at least the “fear of the unknown” component out of the equation. I watch my mother’s (we’re sheltering together) eyes for redness and monitor her fatigue like a hawk. She 74 and a severe asthmatic, so it keeps me from having a panic attack at every inevitable cough and sniffle. And since I’m immunocompromised due to RA, she panics at my every temperature fluctuation, which is my menopausal hormones’ favorite way to party.
Accurate information, even in little pieces, is fear’s greatest enemy.
I am glad you found it helpful and hope you and your mother stay healthy. I feel I should also mention that we saw the doctor within a few days of feeling ill as we honestly thought we had the flu and were hoping to take medication early to lessen its impact. So we started following the doctorâs advice within a few days of feeling symptoms. However, I found I could only take the Mucinex once a day as opposed to twice a day as it prevented me from sleeping at night. I think it contains some sort of controlled substance as you have to sign for that particular Mucinex and show your drivers license at the pharmacy. And we took the Mucinex for a bit longer I believe as we bought it several times until the symptoms started to go away.
Also, I feel I should mention that the fever lasted about a month if not a little longer and felt like at times some sort of notepad would have been helpful to note when I had to take additional acetaminophen. The fever at times seemed to spike regardless of Tylenol taken and I worried about overdosing on acetaminophen. The fatigue I think was similar to what I experienced years ago during a bout of walking pneumonia, but lasted this time for about 2 months. We also tried to stay hydrated and drink extra water with the thought that we would flush whatever we had out of our systems. This resulted in, at times, feeling like just getting to the rest room was such a struggle and a small victory in daily life. Anyways, I hope everyone here stays healthy, kind to one another and themselves.
I’m in Austin and it’s just so crazy up here. We’re also in isolation since March, and it’s exhausting emotionally. Thank you for Ryder; it is a much needed diversion from life.
Each morning, my work gets a list of news articles that are suppose to be Texas based. But because of the key words we use (one is “mayor”), a lot of non Texas (US and worldwide) articles appear. My job is to weed out the nonimportant articles and email the rest to our client list. Normally there are about 700 articles. Since this has started, it is now around 1500 to 2000. What use to take 1 – 1.5 hours now takes 2.5 hours or longer.
So, needless to say, I know what is going on around the world (and a lot in Texas) whether I want to or not. So when Australia or New Zealand (sorry NZ about not staying covid free) or Britain, Germany, Italy, etc. gets a flare, I get several articles on it. Not to mention all the riot based articles. When I’m done, I try to get on the treadmill for about 10 minutes to clear my brain.
On the bright side, I am 100% remoting it (my work is about 98%). My wife is a teacher so she has the summer off. If the schools have remote learning, she is well prepared (all her lessons are already on the web). We haven’t killed each other yet, but then I’m working upstairs and she has the kitchen/dining room to work with.
We go out to eat once a week to a place we trust. Other than that, it’s mostly homebound.
My other release besides the treadmill is putting together puzzles, reading/listening to IlonaAndrews/Renee Raudman or other urban fantasy authors.
The only reason why New Zealand is no longer covid free is that we’re telling all kiwis to come home. They go into 14 days of isolation and get tested twice over that period, well that’s what’s supposed to happen, there were mistakes made but the system is working, it’s been over two months since we had a case occur because of community transmission.
Our lockdown was harsh, but it has certainly worked
For what it’s worth New Zealand is currently doing ok (we had a bit of a scare with our quarantine processes but that has upped the attention being paid), there are 22 active cases and one in hospital in a stable condition.
All of the cases so far have been caught in border quarantine facilities (other than the two people who had compassionate leave but had limited contact with people) and we’ve tested over 1% of the population over the last few weeks so hopefully if there was community spread it would have been detected.
Eventually we could get community spread and lockdowns again but for now life is fairly normal (although we are all anxious and on edge along with the rest of the world).
Niece lives in San Marcos but came up here to Dallas to stay with her parents because its crazy down there. I want to say it will be ok, but who the hell knows at this point.
Since you like that show, if you enjoy anime, take a look at My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! at https://www.crunchyroll.com/my-next-life-as-a-villainess-all-routes-lead-to-doom
From Wikipedia:
Catarina Claes, the young daughter of a noble family, one day bumps her head and regains memories of her past life as an otaku. It is then that she realizes she has been reborn into the world of the otome game Fortune Lover, reincarnated as the game’s villainess who, regardless of what route the player took in the original game, is doomed to be either killed or exiled. In order to avoid these routes that lead to doom, Catarina begins taking countermeasures to try and avoid things going the same way as the game. This, however, ends up having unexpected consequences on her relations with the other characters of the game’s world.
Yes, as a Texan near your area I am very disappointed that the Gov let loose too soon. We were doing quite well in Texas Covid-wise until then. Now we have to deal with the consequences because partying and hanging out was more important than staying safe. It is going to be a long hot summer for more than the usual reasons.
(Please delete this if you are worried about too much politics in the posts.)
This may sound political. I don’t mean it that way. This is my opinion only and you may disagree with me.
My personal opinion is that out “beloved” governor opened the state too soon and too fast. He put politics ahead of safety so he could curry favor with the Republican party. (Alas, no surprise there at all.)
Our lieutenant governor is the one that said it was okay if the old people died as long as the economy opened up, after all. He claims it is for the grandchildren, but I’m betting they would much rather have Gramma and Grandaddy than an “open economy”.
Being 71, I decline to agree with him and will stay safe as long as I can. It is harder when the only people wearing masks in the HEB are the staff and me.
Those people are being so rude I want to shake them. Masks aren’t to keep you safe – they are to keep other folks safe from exposure to your germs.
There is nothing macho or brave about not wearing a mask.
You *can* breathe through them.
If you think they smell bad, brush your teeth.
I donât think politicians realize how much GNP the +60 crowd produces for this country, I mean just in case we need a justification for our existence. Just ask the AARP!
I’m in Ft. Worth. I’m in my early 60s with COPD and had bronchial pneumonia earlier this year so am being very careful. Costco is doing the best. They have an early shopping for seniors, don’t allow shoppers without masks and have screens between you and the cashiers. I met my brother once for breakfast at IHOP. Every other booth was closed and except when eating, staff and customers were masked, but it was still nerve wracking. What makes me angry are masks for sale with valves built in to make it easier to breathe by letting air out. Hello, the idea is to prevent air aka germs from escaping.
Ft. Worth has a good sized digital library. I usually read a lot of science fiction but a lot of it is too dark so I’ve been reading cozy type mysteries. Diane Freeman, Carola Dunn, Gail Carriger, Georgette Heyer and of course Ilona Andrews are a big help. I’m going to add a glass of wine to go with my melatonin so I can fall asleep. I can’t see my ill mother at the nursing home or even Zoom as she can’t figure out how to turn on her tablet much less learn software. I’m also playing a game Hay Day where I can be in a virtual neighborhood with my brother and sister in law. We call after dinner to swap needed items, etc., and chat. I normally don’t like games but it’s something we can do together in our separate houses.
Hugs to everybody. Don’t know how we’re going to do this, but people have survived the plagues, the flu epidemic of 1918, etc. At least we have the internet and air conditioning.
Sorry for venting.
Big over the ocean love shipment coming your way! Medical anxiety is a backstabbing bastard. Please sleep whenever you can, as thatâs the most important thing right now. We need you both here to âtortureâ us for many decades to come ????
I appreciate everything y’all are doing during this <$@%fest. I live in Florida, so I get where you're coming from. I'm also in the hospital for non-covid related issues (stupid heart) and just had a second surgery in 2 days. While I had to wear a mask anytime outside my single room overlooking the gulf of Mexico, it has given me comfort. So has the daily "Code Sunshine" alerts for covid patients leaving the hospital. The doctors and nurses send those patients off with cheers and happiness (So I've been told). I'm focusing on all the positive (Ryder and towel wearing puppies) to get me through this. So I just want to say thank you. I know it's not easy for y'all, but every hint of sunshine helps.
Hey Shiloh. Seeming you best wishes for a very speedy recovery. Drop a line and let us know that ur ok!
I’m with you. I’m in NYC in a small apartment. We went through hell, and now that it’s easing, I suspect we’ll have a second wave soon. I go out rarely, and carefully. I’ve been enjoying the Ben Aaronavich Peter Grant Rivers of London series on Audible, highly recommend. Good luck, and sadly, you can’t fix stupid.
Ugh!! Scary times. Hugs to y’all and your girls. Sounds like they have their heads on straight.
I’m in Central Illinois – I have a college freshman who is immuno-compromised due to his medical condition. I put my foot down starting at spring break back in March – he has not stepped foot off our property since. Knowing that should he get COVID, he would not survive this disease is terrifying.
I’m very lucky that I work for the UI and am able to work from home. I’ve told Thing 2 that this fall semester it’s on-line only classes for him. We’re still trying to figure out what classes would be best, argh.
My coping mechanism has been ordering crochet patterns and lots of yarn! đ And, of course, stalking this website daily. Thank you for what you do and I hope everyone stays safe & healthy
Sorry youâre going through all that. Here in Florida the cases are going up every day. My husband is at risk (heart, high blood pressure etc) so weâve been in lockdown for months. Hope you stay healthy and let Kid1 fuss over you.
You are not alone! We live in a tiny town right outside Las Vegas but guess where my husband and I work? Las Vegas. The city has opened up, casinos are open and guess who isnât practicing social distancing and also not wearing masks? Those tourists form our surrounding states that are seeing spikes! California, Utah and Arizona. My husband and I are still not back to work because he works conventions and Iâm a portrait photographer so all our jobs are cancelled until at least end of July but thatâs only IF we donât see another spike…. but our closest Whole Foods and Dutch brothers both have cases and I am SO worried about the casinos. Oh, and my husband has multiple sclerosis so he is immune compromised. Yay.
Iâm also in the same boat of not being able to finish anything in the last couple weeks. I couldnât even read the latest Ryder. My brain is scrambled. Also, sorry to rant on your blog ????
Good news!
I have an in with the Good Fairy, and today I’ve asked her to do flyovers for the the Esteemed Authors as well as Kid 1 and Kid 2…
PLUS everyone who’s participating in this hair-down exchange with authentic, caring responses.
I’ve also put in a special request for additional wand sprinkles for everyone, too.
Everyone take care, take a deep breath, be safe, and emerge triumphant!
Cheers, Faith
I’ve been watching livestreams of kittens, esp. TinyKittens, a feral rescue near Vancouver. They monitor them closely and moderate the chat so the most stressful thing is too much whappy-paws at the milkbar (and they’re mostly past that stage).
A good friend of mine is part of the TinyKittens rescue operation and does a lot of fundraising for them with her painted rocks. Check out their next auction!!!
Well I could tell you what I’ve been reading from some whistleblowers but then you’d be really depressed. I suggest you skip any vaccine Bill Gates is part of. “With a really good vaccine program the world population could be reduced by 15 to 20 percent.”. His vaccines contain sterility components and other ingredients. I get to go back to work tomorrow and went in today to learn the changes. Plexiglass barriers up, cleaning door handles, bathroom handles every two hours, table spacing, masks, etc.
Keeping your body alkaline makes it less hospitable to germs. If I feel symptoms of anything coming on I take 1000mg of vitamin C, 25 mg zinc, and at least 50 mg of
L-lisene crushed up in applesauce and drink at least 8 oz of water on an empty stomach. Those are the main ingredients in Shaklee’s Vitalized Immunity which works miracles for me but unfortunately the product is backordered until the end of September. I have two tells when I’m trying to get sick, I sneeze or the roof of my mouth swells up so I know to start dosing myself. Day three and already feeling better. In VA most stores are open but have to mask up, food places are delivery or only drive through. Dentist and hairdressers can open with staggered clientele so I guess we’ll see how it goes in a couple weeks. The bingo hall needs 180 customers per session to break even, I guess we’ll see what happens tomorrow.
Hi Catlover
I think the information from whistleblowers you are referring to sounds awfully like misinformation designed to make people scared and unreasonable.
Given that there is currently a lot of confirmed news in the world that is genuinely scary, I think it might be worth triple checking your sources against other more well known sources of news and information?
Scaring people needlessly right now seems very cruel
Yeah… Covid has been super rough. I am super close to my parents so not being able to visit them in full lockdown was super hard. Not to mention I work in an essential business and I got moved because work politics from a position I love to cashiering. And covid makes that particular role even more tedious and annoying. Particularly because the screwiness of the economy right now means I can’t leave that post which I hate. Tbh Ryder has been one of the few bright spots for me. So thanks.
Iâm so sorry, and I hope you and your family keep being healthy.
Iâm from Italy but Iâm living in Spain, I got so worried for my family that at one point I couldnât sleep without having the worst nightmares and waking up either sobbing or soaked in cold sweat. That never ever happened to me before. Everyone I spoke to, for months, kept saying the same: they too had nightmares.
Itâs really scary.
Be careful and keep safe, this will pass hopefully
Iâm from New Braunfels and itâs honestly crazy how fast the situation escalated in this area. :/ And yes, the anxiety about covid and all of its impacts is so bad. I hope you guys stay healthy and are able to find some peace. Thanks for Ruder, itâs been a bright spot in this.
I have Common-variable Immunodeficiency. I have the immune system of a late stage AIDS patient. Amusingly, I used to do medical research. We will get through this.
Take temperature in the late evening also as it can show a fever that is masked during the day. BloodOx is everything, according to my doctor who is in the thick of things. If your BloodOx is fine, relax. Always were a mask outside AND inside with any necessary visitors (roof leaked). Quarantine nonperishables for 3 days in garage if possible. Wash down everything in garage sink before bringing it in.
Most importantly enjoy the outdoors solitude as much as you can. Even a small outdoor breeze is the best thing for removing and diluting contagious droplets. And the outdoors is very relaxing, makes you feel less caged in.
We will get through it.
Alright is okay. Alright means things could be worse, but it isnât. My husband and I flew back from Hong Kong Feb 27, and has been in quarantine or lockdown since.
Weâve been out to get groceries, and we carry hand sanitizer and sanitize every 10minutes just because I canât seem to stop touching things when I shop, funny that. Weâre in our early 40âs. Weâre not high risk, but why risk it? Getting sick is not fun, getting sick with something that is not definitely treatable is terrifying.
Iâve given up watching anything too serious. Recently watched a Korean Drama called Strong Girl Bong Soon. So funny! Itâs not exactly strong in plot, but so so so entertaining. Probably the funniest / silliest Korean Drama weâve ever watched. Best picker upper drama to be found during this very serious time.
Stay alright. Stay safe.
Hi. Thanks for sharing your life. Thanks for your writing and recommendations. (Stupid tech question here) How do I get VIKI? We’re cord cutters but have internet enabled TV.
Thanks!
Viki is internet based and is a platform for TV shows and movies from Asia. Volunteers provide subtitles in different languages. You can watch some shows for free with ads or pay a subscription fee to watch without. You can stream on computer, phone, iPad, etc. Viki.com. Watching dramas has been my pandemic escape ????
You can get the free ap for VIKI that has ads, it is free and has a ton of South Korean, Chinese and other dramas. If you subscribe, not sure of price, you can get the shows with no ads. I have heard of people getting it on their tv… if it is a tv you can see YouTube and other internet related things, you should be able to see it on your tv. I have the ap on my phone only because my tablet has a too old operating system. I saw quite a few kdramas with the ap and really loved them! I am not very computer savvy so if there is someone who knows more, it would be nice to know.
I totally get where you are coming from. I didnât sweat the stay at home thing I was made for this time. I read, I play video games for hours or sit out on my deck watching the river go by. I was wrong, I sit awake now till 4 in the morning and canât read for more than hour. We will get through this but itâs gonna be tough we need each other more than ever.
I have been out of my house five times since March 2, gloved and masked. I am going stir crazy.
However, our county (Polk) is one of the hot spots in FL because these people will not wear masks! Idiots! I am surrounded by them!
Steve is back to work at Universal with precautions in place but yesterday two people took off their masks to ask him a question. Idiots there, too. I have been sleeping in the guest room and using that bathroom as well. Luckily, we have three bathrooms in this house so everybody has their own. Unfortunately, the guest room is in the front of the house. You can hear street noise. Last night a person visiting the short term rental next door set off his car alarm at 2 AM. I swear I levitated right out of that bed! Idiots! I am surrounded by them.
If I do not kill someone by the time we have a vaccine it will be a miracle.
Weâre pretty much at home all the time as well. Iâm a severe asthmatic and all of this is crazy! What mask pattern are you using? I have to make some although I havenât been able to… as of yet. I will tell you one thing thatâs makes me happy (other then sewing a new wardrobe). Iâve been re reading your books. Iâm currently on Sweep of the Blade. Itâs one of the few things that I can get lost into.
You’re doing great, and you raised an intelligent set of women. Good work, momma, now take a deep breath, and find something that you can control, and work on it. Even if it’s just washing the dishes or weeding your plants.
Yes. Things are a dumpster fire. When I melted down to my mother, she told me that I was focusing on the wrong things. So here’s the good things I’ve been looking at: I get to work from home, which is keeping me safe and people safe from me. I use a lot less gas! I got my tool shed cleaned and straightened, and sold my old bike. My adopted cat, that I’ve had for two years, has become more affectionate. I was able to be home when I got my kitten spayed and for her whole recovery period. I got to try natural deodorants where no one would be offended by them failing after 4 hours. There’s more things. Let me know if you want pictures.
I can totally understand your anxiety about your kids. I have 2 teenagers and a toddler. To give you a little background, I live about 45 minutes outside Atlanta. In the first state to open, with a governor who refuses to enact a mask mandate bc I will piss off his republican voters. Our county has said they will have the kids go back to school in the fall with online as an option for the first semester. Again, I have a 16 ye old, a 14 yr old, and a 4 ye old. The oldest teen is of the selfish mindset and wants to go back bc she doesnât think sheâs gonna get it and misses her friends. The 14 ye old is just starting Highschool and is scared sheâs gonna get sick but doesnât want to miss out on the beginning of her Highschool career being home. The toddler is bored and is tired of looking at our faces and I have no clue what they are doing for preschools here yet. No plans have been mentioned. We have stayed home for the most part with exception of the grocery store. So far there have been no deaths, maiming, or cases of alcohol poisoning but itâs getting tougher. We have had 4 family members contact this virus with no loss f life and hat is the only thing that mad the oldest child stop and realize that this thing is affecting more than just âold peopleâ. Reading and Netflix have been the only thing hat has kept me from duct taping these children to the wall to keep them from driving each other and myself crazy. I love for Rider tidbits and when I hit a low, I like to read the tweets between Kate and Co. For a laugh. Anything that makes us laugh will be the only way we get through this mess. We are living in a world full of to many selfish people with not enough compassion o respect for others.
One of the things we found really helpful in New Zealand wasgoing out for walks in our bubbles (aka everyone in your household going out for a walk while socially distancing from the rest of the world).
That was one of the nicer things about the intensely strick lockdown, you’d see so many family groups going out for collective walks to look for teddy bears in windows or just get fresh air.
Sooo sorry for all the typos
The best counter I’ve found for bad situations is to dig in the dirt. There is something grounding (sorry) about planting and weeding and pruning. Planting a seedling is the ultimate act of hope.
Best of luck to you, Ilona, Gordon, Kid 1, and Kid 2. I’ve been so fortunate as to be able to work at home and keep sheltered but even I get feel as though the world is ending sometimes. I cannot imagine being in somewhere so badly hit as where you are.
Thanks a thousand times to you and many other writers whose works help us keep sane. We owe you more than you can ever know.
And thanks to you and your blog I had masks before anyone else I know! What’s WRONG with people? Why did asking people to wear masks and socially distance between a constitutional crisis? I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. So I’ll read a little Nevada and Connor to cheer up.
In a weird twist of fate, my parents live in an area that’s only had 6 reported cases.
I live on the Westside of Indianapolis, which is considered a hot spot. I’ve received contradictory advice so often it’s been simpler to just remain a recluse and get on with living.
My GP said I was a goner for sure if I caught it, but the neurologist treating me for MS said “your medication is anti-viral–as long as you’re not attending a rave don’t worry about it.”
My parents worry, but I find I’m not able to. Instead I read and watch Atlas Obscura on Youtube. (There are some amazing shows I find fascinating there, including nature documentaries.) I’ve learned to make my own ramen soup, and even started drawing and painting again. Keeps the blues at bay.
Take heart–it can’t go on forever.
Ugh. We live in a county with a pretty low population, too, and also with a good-sized, popular college (plus we’re a huge tourist destination) – so many people are yelling for restrictions to be lifted and I’m over here basically imagining what you just described. Hope you guys are able to stay distanced, sane, and safe amidst the crazy!
It’s a nightmare, even otherwise sensible people seem to have this idea that they wont get Covid so are just going about their business normally! I’m in Scotland and our government has been a bit more cautious but I get the feeling they are being pressured from the UK government and the public to open things up faster than seems sensible.
I was at a supermarket today (I’m fed up of getting things almost on the turn to continue with grocery delivery) and saw only one other person with a mask on and whole families out ignoring the 2m rule and having a whale of a time pushing past other customers and touching everything. I think I will go back to accepting bruised apples and squishy bananas after today’s experience.
I doused myself in antibacterial gel when I got back to the car and had to stress eat a chunk of chocolate before I was calm enough to drive home. My coping mechanisms involve ‘eat everything and quietly panic’so that’s pretty much what I have been doing for three months.
There will be another spike here and we’ll be back on lockdown very soon I expect….
I feel the same way. Can’t do much of anything. Reading is the only thing that helps me escape for awhile. Hubby and I are both high risk and cases surging here in UT., too. This is far from over and I am scared. I wish I would have gotten our wills updated. If one of us gets it, both will and that’s it. I hope Kid2 does not get it.
Thank you for the update and for still giving us Ryder, during emotionally difficult times. I am also watching this drama (here the title is The romance of Tiger and Rose). I started during our quarantine and I am in ep.17 and have laughed so much!
Take care and listen to your daughters!
We humans are resilient, hard headed and inventive. Your kids are concerned and taking care of you the best they know how. You seemed to have raised them very well. Your post looks like you are dividing your attention into more pieces than your body and mind can handle. I counsel you to use this post, make a linear list of it. Take one thing at a time, the will. You have a copy or the original, you can make hand written codicils, sign, time/date that and attach to your copy. You can find a lawyer later.
Don’t worry about Ryder for now, Julie and your readers are tough. She will observe the Atlanta scene and we can re-read something.
The COVID virus is going to be around for a long time, but you cannot focus on it. While you can practice procedures to keep family and home safe, you must not let fear rule you. Perhaps bringing Kid2 home will help with the separation anxiety. Have her tested and bring her home. Or trust that she is as smart as you think and will isolate in Austin.
Your health is important to your family. They know the pressures you are applying to yourself and are probably trying to distract you. Let them. Pet the critters, hug the spouse and Kid 1. The Sahara dust will blow away, then you can go outside and putter around in the morning and evening. Pull weeds, get your hands into the soil, relax, knowing you have done what you can and trust God to help you the next day.
Sending good wishes your way!! Please stay safe! Since your fallback hobbies aren’t working are you thinking about picking up a new one? Home improvement? Book reorganization? Crocheting?
I will definitely check it out! I never get disappointed with your recommendations so you’re helping others with their isolation đ I pay for Viki just to watch Running man and haven’t been taking full advantage of it. There’s a couple webtoons that also have this exact plot! Wonder if it’s based of that one or just similar.
I’m so sorry! I am a college student trying to make plans for the fall semester right now and this does not give me a lot of confidence. My family has agreed that while my parents are most at risk of dying, even us kids are at risk of potentially living with life long effects the form of which no one knows yet so we have been isolating since the first week of March.
On a different note – what pattern for masks are you using? I’ve been trying different ones and I don’t mind fiddly đ
I feel ya. I live in South Central Washington State, current hotspot for the West coast (Yakima/Tri Cities area). People here won’t wear masks because freedom or some such idiocy. Socially distant hugs to you!
Can you share which face mask you found that you like? My mom and I both have two patterns that we make, and both have their advantages and drawbacks; we’re always looking for other options to check out.
I’m so glad to still be working from home. I’m going to have to go back to the office in a few weeks I think, and it’s stressing me out so bad. Not even so much because I am worried about catching COVID myself (my main concern if I were to catch it would be that I might expose my 90-year-old grandma; and with infection rates rising around here as well, I won’t be going down to help her out anymore once I’m back in the office). I worn down from listening to other people either panic about things that should be easily manageable, or refuse to take reasonable precautions that would protect themselves and others. I was having a really hard time with the “focus on things that you can control” aspect. Working from home was such a relief because what I can control is my own actions (I choose to take precautions such as avoiding public spaces, and wearing a face mask when around others), and now I also control how much I hear/see about other people’s attitudes and actions. Getting anxious? Shut down Facebook. Other people are out of my control. I cannot stop the pandemic, but I can tolerate being isolated so that I can help protect my grandma and others in my family.
Hope your family stays healthy.
Really lucky . Here in Malta 0 cases for the past 5 days. A total of 9 deaths (about 6 over 80 years old) since the virus started. Malta was very good doing contact tracing and testing (for its size it comes in the top 10). Every contact has a mandatory 14 day quarantine and police visits to check (âŹ1000 automatic penalty).
Despite the success, there are still maximum numbers of people in shops (depending on size), sanitisers at the door and everyone has to wear a mask. Masks are mandatory on public transport and taxis. That said, everywhere is open. I have noticed that people aren’t taking advantage of this freedom and local press has said non essential shops are complaining about lack of trade.
Yes people are on the beach and in cafĂŠs but social distancing is largely maintained. Went out today for lunch (first time in ages) and the cafĂŠ (a very popular one) was nearly deserted
You know what? I feel safe
We are in Connecticut where it was really bad and made it to the other side. Now we are all worried that it’s going to come back because it’s really bad elsewhere. It’s just depressing to know that there is no end in the near term. Even with restrictions easing here and hospitalizations down, we all feel like we are on living on edge. Like you said, we are strong and able to survive. Just wear a mask, keep distancing, wash your hands and stay safe. We’ll get through it one day at a time.
I am so glad that your kids are concerned about you two! Great family!!! Stay safe!!! Sending hugs ???? and hoping that your stress levels go down! Have you tried online yoga? Itâs helping my husband ( a teacher).
Middle of NC. Dem governor very careful.. refused mask free republican convention in Charlotte, so they moved it to Florida.. that is gonna be a ball of rotted pecans..
Tell us about it!!! We started calling our governor Ron Disaster. Thought that we had a halfway decent mayor and he goes after the Convention That Nobody Wants. NOBODY here wants it.
We would almost rather have a nice little hurricane than the Convention That Nobody Wants.
Thank you House Andrews for Ryder the two things that I can still do are read and eat. sigh….
I am a Chicago resident with two kids (10 & 13). When Chicago was spiking with cases we were all worried and anxious. Added to that was a colder, snowier and wetter than normal spring. We felt trapped inside our home. Chicago Public Schools was scrambling to roll out a remote learning plan and constantly changing the grading policy (a big issue because 7th grade grades are a big factor in getting into a decent HS here). Eventually, the hospital set up in McCormick convention center was not needed and taken down. We learned that wearing a mask does actually help prevent the spread. People began to understand that going to the store is not death sentence.
You are in the thick of it now and it is scary. Your community will learn to flatten the curve. You will start to see signs of a new normal that is close enough to the old but safe enough to make you feel comfortable.
We didn’t see anyone for over two months. Eventually we did see our friends again. We sat outside, wore masks. Now outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people are allowed here. You won’t find me waiting in line to get into a bar in Wrigleyville. But we have friends over in the back yard. We are keeping are circle small and we are doing our best to be smart about our community interactions while staying connected.
You are going to come out of the othe side of this and you are going to be okay.
When in doubt wash your hands.
I hope that you can find some other safe coping mechanism. Iâm from Michigan and we are now starting to open up and our numbers are also rising. People not following guidelines are driving me insane. As to your health issues, donât ignore. Call ur dr. Hopefully can at least start with telemedicine visit if needed. Good luck!
If you’re looking for something good watch, I’ve been watching The Rise of the Phoenixes on Netflix. Wonderful show. 70 episodes. I’ve three left. Enjoy.
DO NOT watch the last episode. It is not true to the novel. The novel has a happy ending.
I would recommend my favorite author to read to take your mind off of crap for a little while. Since that is you ( and your hubby), that wonât help. How about binge watching?
Itâs horrible but you all and my husband and I are lucky enough to have caring kids who nag . And I was lucky enough to break my femur March 20. Lucky you say? Well it made us concentrate on the fiddling details of eating sleeping and just moving. Voila no boredom.
After not being able to get past 15% of close to 20 books due to stress caused by the pandemic, I started reading Chris Vines âElemental Gatherersâ series. Heâs through book 3. Each ends on a cliffhanger, which is annoying, but they were light enough but also engaging enough to keep me reading. I finished all 3 the same day. Of course that means I did absolutely nothing else and read till after midnight. You might give them a try.
Hope your stress levels decrease.
One of my favorite anime movies is Howlâs moving castle, based on the book by Dianne Wynne Jones. It is a Studio Ghibli product. Have you seen it? They also have Kikiâs Delivery Service, which I also liked. I saw both on Netflix.
The virus and infection rate is terrible- I live in one of South Africaâs hot spots. We started on level 5 lockdown which was terrible, and are now on level 3, which is a bit better. But, it is still very strict, and we really miss our family and friends. We went into lockdown on 27 March… many of us are doing voluntary isolation because we have such high infection rates. We all know people with the virus, and every day we get more bad news. But, we stay strong, and we support one another. This is the time to be kind, to be generous and to be supportive.
Thank you to you and Gordon- I love Ryder and really appreciate that you continue to write even when you find it really tough. You are a ray of sunshine in my Covid winter- thank you so much.
I live in New York city, so I know exactly what you are taking about. I am working from home still. Started isolation on March 1st. Father’s day was the first time since February that my family had a get together. It was great! I was happy to see even the relatives who usually make me groan. I live alone these days, and usually I am glad of it,but staying by yourself for months is whole another story. What gets me through this are your books. Re-reading Kate Daniels was my saving grace. Thank you Ilona and Gordon! I am so happy you are writing Rider. Each new installment brings a smile to my face. So thank you, thank you for writing. Stay safe and healthy. Irina
Is there anything we, your fans, can do to help? Those Ryder updates are literally the highlight of my week — I save them for the rough days and I’d love to thank you and help you in some tangible way the way you’re helping me. (I’ll note that my rough days are not nearly so bad as others are having.) Can we donate to someone in your name? Send you postcards? Knit you one hex from the beekeeper’s quilt?
Since stress causes or magnifies so many afflictions all by itself, I would like to suggest that anyone feeling stressed to the max try out deep breathing in synch with slow music. There are a large number of apps out there, so you can find one thatâs not obnoxious to listen to. Truly works if you keep doing it over time.
And of course, vigorous exercise helps, too. Gotta love those endorphins.
I’ve made several different masks, but the one that fits me best so far is from the Sewing Channel. Download the pattern here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QzButWQzL5DQ75StTonCbNz_FiZ3HmU9/view and there’s a You.Tube that walks you through making it.
I also learned that soft cotton is not good in summer especially, because it clings to the contours of my face and makes it even harder to breathe. A stiffer fabric is better. And pleats defeat me every time, but this one has darts which I can do. We all have different facial structures and sized, and finding what works best is a real challenge.
It’s truly disheartening to think that if masks were required in public from the beginning (and people complied!), all the isolation of the past few months and businesses going under might have been avoided or at least lessened. I’m in Ohio, and our case rates quadrupled last week. Yet people here are so proud of “standing up for their rights”. Gah.
Ryder offers a real lift to my spirits every time I read a new chapter, and I greatly appreciate House Andrews for persevering despite their own issues.
Re: wills. I work in a library, and we purchase the NOLO products. If you do a search for “make a will Texas” the NOLO site will come up; it has information about the legal requirements and also “find a lawyer” sections.
Wishing everyone in the BDH and especially House Andrews a better tomorrow.
There’s a mask pattern sometimes referred to as the “Bat” pattern, because it is somewhat shaped like a bat. No front seam; only 3 darts. It’s similar to the one I was creating when I found it.
I’ve ended up making my own tailored pattern for my family members. It’s adjustable for us with multiple options for fit & finish. I change it as needed for friends, based on a few facial measurements, and trial of an initial mask I make for them.
They do “suck in” when we breathe because the fit is good enough that it doesn’t gap and have our breath go around.
I’m now working on finding different fabric combos that will give the filtration for us, while being cool enough and breathable enough to wear in our humid summer weather. Lots of info out there as more and more attention is given to this by scientific med community after ignoring it for decades when disposables came out.
Good luck with your mask making! I know for me, creating at least gives me something proactive to do in challenging times.
Le’
Biggest hugs.
Iâm in the UK. Iâm a front line doctor. Itâs not fun. We are exhausted and people, mostly young people, are being idiots. However, it is not hell on earth. I know what that looks like. In September 2014 I was sent to West Africa. To Sierra Leone. To help treat patients with Ebola. In a plastic suit, in 40 degrees. I watched whole families die. There was so so little we could do for them except try to make them comfortable.
When I get scared about Covid and the next viral outbreak, because there will be one, I think back to those 2 years. Yes, itâs scary but we are not stacking bodies in the streets.
How do you cope? You control what you can. The little things. What you eat, who you talk to, what ever it is that you need to get through the day. Personally I avoid the news – talking heads mean nothing. Wash your hands, cover your face when you go out, do not touch your face, wear glasses. If you are having a moment, talk to someone whoâs head is in a good place right now. Get perspective – which is hard.
Right, gotta go suit up and get back in the ???? ???? ???? lab.
Biggest hugs.
Iâm in the UK. Iâm a front line doctor. Itâs not fun. We are exhausted and people, mostly young people, are being idiots. However, it is not hell on earth. I know what that looks like. In September 2014 I was sent to West Africa. To Sierra Leone. To help treat patients with Ebola. In a plastic suit, in 40 degrees. I watched whole families die. There was so so little we could do for them except try to make them comfortable.
When I get scared about Covid and the next viral outbreak, because there will be one, I think back to those 2 years. Yes, itâs scary but we are not stacking bodies in the streets.
How do you cope? You control what you can. The little things. What you eat, who you talk to, what ever it is that you need to get through the day. Personally I avoid the news – talking heads mean nothing. Wash your hands, cover your face when you go out, do not touch your face, wear glasses. If you are having a moment, talk to someone whoâs head is in a good place right now. Get perspective – which is hard.
Right, gotta go suit up and get back in the ???? ???? ????
Dr. Jules, you are brave and amazing! Thank you for your calm and your skill and your dedication.
Thank you for all you do Dr Jules.
Thank you for being there.
I am warning everyone I know to still be careful and keeping as socially distant as possible here in central London. People are ignorant, they don’t listen and I feel like Cassandra but it’s not just to keep people alive we need to be aware but to help our doctors and nurses. You shouldn’t have to face those things at your daily job and make decisions like that. Thank you for your work.
https://www.facebook.com/verbalvomitcomic/photos/a.105894582838661/3064368896991200/?type=3
I hope you feel better soon! I live in Orlando, FL and our Covid numbers scare me.
Being an âOCD Nurseâ I track our county every day. Last Tuesday, 6/23, we had 356 cases. We are very rural, (Bastrop, Tx) no major industry. Today itâs 463. Iâm scared to leave the house!
âBecause making people wait for the new episode is some sort of tortureâ… Funny, thatâs exactly what I thought when I finished reading Ryder this morning. ????
I canât say anything but hang in there. Iâm so sorry the situation has gone so out of control. Itâs better where I live, but people are being dumb and Iâm really dreading a second wave. At least you donât have to self-isolate by yourself. To an extrovert like me that sounds like a total nightmare.
Thanks for the Ryder posts. Theyâre awesome and I really, really appreciate you doing this for us and making us all feel connected that way.
Hi- I feel you. Iâm an immunocompromised plus plus person in Cache Valley,(Logan) Utah. We are also a college town. Not so many bars here… but well, Google us and COVID-19. Weâre winning too. ????????ââď¸
74, bad health, surrounded by deniers. It is bad. I am mostly good. My bad days are worse, making my good days better. I had written a detailed account of my status and realized that you already covered it in your post. Julie’s story is an important beacon, hang in there. My family believes, and are as supportive as they can be considering their age. My son and I haven’t talked in 3 and 1/2 years. I did get my first tv in 36 years with the stimulus money and pretty much turned it into a UHD monitor, terminal geek. Have been watching Prime movies and series in startling 4k, re-watched Bosch, I was a big fan of the books when they came out. Have spent many hours playing Elder Scrolls Online. I wish someone would pick up one of your series and put it on the screen. Many decades of sobriety has given me a unique handle on living one day at time and getting by and keeping my head mostly straight under fire, it is a chore. Downstate Illinois is republican, and I have to mention that the one of the biggest sins of the national leaders is the politicization of this disease, as if it isn’t bad enough on itz own. And as a side note, the spell checker let me write “itz” but not “tv”, “UHD”, or “4K” without a reprimand.
Not sure if this will be helpful, but just wanted to offer some encouragement-
I work in the health care field as essentially a chart reviewer and have been watching Covid unfold via chart narratives- the good news is that the initial lock down period appeared to accomplish one of the things it was aiming. Doctors are dealing with Covid now versus earlier a lot more confidently than before and the amount of positive outcomes I’ve been seeing on Covid positive charts has been climbing very quickly.
Even if you were to contract it (and I will be praying for your safety as well as everyones), you have a much better chance than just a few weeks ago.
Again, hope it helps a little.
Thanks for the update. I have been worried about you since the Texas numbers skyrocketed.
Enjoying Ryder so much
So sorry you are in the middle of the whirlwind sown by the surrounding idiots. Ryder is wonderful. Thank you so much. Keep well, just keep calm and carry on. Life goes on, and living in London we’ve seen some really nasty spikes, but at least they’re not painting crosses on the doors, sending carts round with the drivers shouting ‘Bring out your dead’ and digging pits to bury them in quicklime…so what ever people might say, this isn’t the plague, or the Black Death…we mediaevalists take the long view…
I am so glad you shared your struggles…not because I am glad for them, but because the more people know that things are hard and ugly and scary, and that you are ok, but not so much all at the same time…the more those of us that feel the same way, know we are not alone!
Out here in semi-rural Colorado, I don’t think people have a true grasp of what it is like on the coasts. I know people who have said they don’t know anyone personally who has been sick and it is all being blown out of proportion! But those of us in healthcare, whether on the frontlines or working remotely like me, know otherwise.
It is hard and ugly and scary. And every time I have to go out, I stop and think–must I really? But yes, we don’t have grocery delivery here. Although Prime is still stopping by enough that my very suspicious, very big and loud dogs, don’t bother barking any more, so the deprivation is by no means too bad!
Thank you for keeping all of us sane by keeping Ryder going– you are a bright shining light in my days and dark nights, and we are with you!
To anyone looking for masks patterns check out Pinterest or You-Tube, lots of them out there.
This pandemic sucks. I am thankful my husband can work remotely, our youngest is going to be online thru the fall semester for sure. Our two older kids are sort of out of work, They have jobs once the economy opens up. Our middle child has actually started looking at school again. Who knows, maybe I should look at some classes.
Please, just stay safe. This is a nasty virus (not a hoax, as some people are still saying, can you imagine!) and if you are slightly immuno- compromised you are very high risk. And thereâs going to be a second wave – the Spanish flu, remember? Even up here in Canada where weâre still having new cases and deaths, people are being idiots and not masking up. Some stores itâs now mandatory, no mask, you donât get to go in. Places like Walmart and Giant Tiger all the staff are masked, good shields at the checkouts, etc but only about half the customers are masked. What if youâre asymtomatic? Some people just donât seem to care. If I was responsible for someone elseâs illness or death, I wouldnât be able to cope with that burden. Itâs too high a price to pay for the sake of not masking. I mask every single time I go out. Itâs vital. Even with the humidity playing havoc with my fibro and costochronditis (I agree, itâs not nice), I wear a mask. And so does everyone in my family. I want them around for the next however long. So, stay safe and sensible. We want you around and healthy. Weâre your readers and love both of you and your books! p.s. I love Viki as well. Some of the stuff is hilarious.
Thanks for the snicker at the end, hsng in there and please stay safe.
Hang in there and stay hunkered down. I LOVE soft jazz.
I have not seen anyone write about face shields….I find the face masks fog up my glasses and are hot…and I am not in Texas!
many hugs to all of you.
I live in NYC, Astoria , near a hospital. Epicenter.
By myself and 2 cats.
Lost job. Lost an elderly aunt to COVID-19.Couldnt go to her funeral. Havenât hugged a person since March. And I am a extrovert who hugs.
It is the second Hardest thing I have lived through. First was my momâs cancer and Alzheimerâs disease at the same time.
I cried a lot. Read a lot of books to keep sane.Ate a lot of chocolate and pretzels.I reworked my budget.
Stayed at home, and only went out when I needed food. And thought I would get the disease every time I would go out. Sleep was on and off.
I had a wet cough and allergies at times. But never got COVID-19.
Prayed every time I heard an ambulance go by.
Humans are resilient.
New Yorkers have survived and lowered the curve. We had days where over 800 people died each day, every day. Yesterday 7 people died .
That is because we wear masks, keep 6 feet distance, and wash our hands.
We use hand sanitizer. And wipes.And plastic gloves .
You have to take responsibility for yourself to protect you and evosround you.
Masks are hot and uncomfortable .
You have to take them and use them. You have to be very careful with your hands. I have allergies and my eyes get itchy. You need to hand sanitize before you scratch your eyes.
This pandemic is so life changing.
Humans donât like to change. Permanent change is almost impossible.
But you can do it.
If crazy, independent, New Yorkers can do it, anyone can.
I still donât know if I will be working at all this year. I have some money saved in the bank and an IRA.
Friends got me a job for June. It will pay July and some of August bills.
Itâs a day by day balance. Use your intelligence , your support systems, friends, family, prayers.
Put a mask on and walk a dog . In Texas, early in the morning.
Do some sort of exercise, breathing and try not to watch tv, internet.
Maybe once a day.
Itâs several crisis, multiplied over and over, no one is immune to this.
You just have to focus on your specific family and their needs, not wants. Day by day.
Think positive, think smart.
And when you donât know what to do , just wait . Donât rush, just wait.
I survived Cancer both mine and my moms , Alzheimerâs, and now COVID.
I have scars, both mental and physical.
But , I also have friends and family , pets, flowers , books and sometimes laughter.
I hope this helps.
I live in a state that is only in between our phase two and three of opening, with the Governor having stated that if we start to lose ground, he will take us back a phase or two. We have mandatory mask wearing whenever you are from home. But still, I see so many people going about with them tucked under their chins or not covering their nose, it is depressing. Our bars are not open yet. Our beaches are, but with restrictions.
As a woman of a certain number of years, I know that if I catch COVID, I will most likely spend weeks in the hospital if I am lucky (but it beats being unlucky). Still it is frustrating and lonely. I still work 8 hours a day and sometimes more. You would think my house would be clean, but I lost the will and interest a month or more ago. It all seems rather fruitless. Why clean. I can’t let anyone in my place. No one can visit anyway, so why be sure that the laundry gets put away immediately after its dry. Ah well, this too shall pass. Perhaps more slowly than any of us would like, but in a few years, perhaps we will look back in awe. Having lived through war and other adversity, while this is very stressful and distressing, most of us will still be here when it is over.
I loved the Romance of Tiger and Phoenix! It sort of reminded me your writing, because the hero and heroine start off as enemies, but then end up in love and completely devoted to one another. đ
I just finished episode 24 and now I’m in show depression because I don’t know what to watch next. *sigh*
All the love, strength, and good health to you
The important stats on young adults:
In Spain, out of 1,285 cases for people 20 to 29 (a much bigger sample size than we have for children), 183 of them have been hospitalized, a 14 percent rate; eight have ended up in intensive care, a 0.6 percent rate, and four people in this age range have died, a 0.3 percent fatality rate.
Italy and South Korea have reported no fatalities for this group; China reports that 0.2 percent of cases for these young people end in death
As these numbers are for positive cases (not exposures) the true numbers for this age group (21-30) are probably much less than this, as their immune systems still work, and the tradeoff between exposure to disease to symptoms is better than for say, my age.
Younger people have had an easier time w Covid than old people, which is true of the flu as well. However, fatality figures don’t tell the whole tale.in the current spikes in Florida and Texas it is hitting young people hard, hospital admissions are skewing young. The other thing is even w people who are asymptomatic there are signs of lung and organ damage,while a young person is less likely to die they could end up w permanent damage. More importantly the young tend to end up as spreaders.
Have you seen Florida governor De Santis? He keeps going to the White House to
to give Agent Orange another lick and because his mouth only works when attached there. We have wasted half a year because we didn’t get any guidance to minimize the threat in January. Then it was so disorganized until Florida shut down. We maintained our county’s count of positive cases at a little over 200 until about 3 weeks ago when Governor Bobble-head opened everything up -beaches, bars (churches were never ordered to close, but most churches exercised common sense). Now our numbers have skyrocketed to 5-6 times what we had maintained for so long. We have wasted all the time being quarantined for nothing!
We live about 4 miles from the Villages Or as we call it, Orangeville, and are afraid we will run into the resident’s selfish stupid unmasked faces, so we’re scared to go to the grocery store. We went to Target to set up a phone and ran into a man from there who was coughing and sniffling and spouting right wing nonsense, without a mask and sitting less than a foot away from an old man who was wearing his mask under his nose.
I wanted so badly to tell him he had my blessing if he wanted to commit assisted suicide, but I object to willfully inflicting pain and death on others.
Fighting the invisible Corona is one thing, fighting corrupt politicians and their ignorant followers is quite another.
On top of all that, we have to fight having our elections co-opted by foreign governments and voter suppression by our own government. Now they want us to take our life in our hands and vote outside of our homes, because they are afraid of a level playing field.
My brain feels hoarse from mentally screaming for so long! ????????????????????
I am glad you have smart children and that they obviously care about you ????
You are blessed. So let’s concentrate on that. This entire situation sucks though. I am in Tucson AZ. It’s a shitshow here. So many do not believe it’s real. I feel like I am surrounded by mass psychosis. I had to stop speaking to relatives, because they have succumbed to the mental illness of denial. On a positive note, I am disabled so, my income is secure….damn I worry for those that have lost so much.
Your allergies may protect you from getting this virus! Love & prayers for you all!
Sorry you are all dealing with this. Sometimes I find it helpful to set 30-60 minutes aside after meals to try craft projects that are completely new to give myself something I have no need to be good at. And then you can at least say you tried something new. I hope things will get better for you.
Ilona and family stay safe and well. Your kids are right to about keeping vigilant. We are in the UK and as Iâve had a blood cancer Iâm classed as extremely vulnerable so designated by our government as shielding. We are over 70 so my husband has been shielded too. Apart from walking around our garden we havenât been out since early March. Because Iâm shielded we have a priority shopping slot and delivery plus our son drives up with some additional food for us we canât get with our delivery and to check we are ok, but he stays the recommended 2 metres away and doesnât come in the house. Reading my favourite books has kept me sane so thank you for Ryder, plus we also read Gordonâs twitter to keep abreast With some of whatâs happening in the USA. My husband loves to garden so has kept busy. During the lockdown we could hear the bird song munch clearer and Venus put on a glorious show in the night sky for many weeks. When I can get flour I bake lots of goodies which of course we then have to eat. We miss our extended family particularly the little ones but WhatsApp, FaceTime and phones have been a boon to keep us all connected. From August I will be allowed to go as as they have announced shielding will end then but seeing how people are behaving I do not feel safe. We have bought a couple of boxes of disposable masks and will definitely wear them if we go out. We are not happy with how our government has handled this pandemic, they are currently laying the ground for shifting the blame to officials. Take care everyone and stay safe.
I’m so sorry you’re going through such a tough time – but I’m grateful you shared the story of how it spread. My husband wanted to visit a friend today, and to go into the house. The problem is that the house is full of teenagers and young adults who we know aren’t being careful, and I’m in the very high risk category, so shielding. Once I told him your story he called right away to say that he couldn’t come in the house after all, and would just stay at a distance outside.
He had begun to become a bit slack with the whole ‘ be hyper about avoiding infection’ thing over the last couple of weeks, so this was reality check that was needed.
Stay safe. I’m sending peace and comfort waves your way.
Yes, keep your guards up. It can seem a little double standard when others who have less risk can do a few more errands or be a bit less stringent but such is life. Things aren’t always fair or equal. Many of us are far past the teenage stage of “But their family does that…”.
The chances of spreading within a home is high and part of what helped spread in Italy with multi generational dwellings. It isn’t only a personal risk but one to the entire household.
This situation is so tough. But hang in there and if you are religious, keep faith. Think positive thoughts (I know this is hard at this time and itâs easy said than done) and the universe will reciprocate accordingly. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
â¤ď¸
I’ve been working from home since this began. I have scare tissue in my lungs and since I have a tendency to catch weird bugs my family states “STAY HOME”. Altho I never thought I would grocery shop at 6am but it’s kind of nice. I’ve tried delivery and sending my DH to the store with a list is too expensive and too fattening. But our children are right – as hard as it is we need to stay home.
I’ve been doing genealogy searches with my daughter who is building the family trees. We’ve been writing down family stories for the future generations. Since you bake I have a true story to lighten your day
Forty years ago my brother-in-law was dating his future wife and we’ll call her “L”. As a surprise for her boyfriend and his family “L” decided to make a pie for them. Once the pie was finished she got on the bus with her pie in her hands to take it to her boy friend’s home. As “L” was stepping off the bus she was startled by a stray dog barking at her and the pie fell out of her hands and landed on the sidewalk.
It didn’t break. It didn’t even crack, not a crumb.
The dog picked it up and ran off with it. Again it didn’t break.
To this day we don’t let her bake. It’s just safer for all us that way. Her husband says her face is on WANTED posters in the local SPCA.
My husband and I work for competing home improvement companies and are considered essential. With my medical history my Doc strongly suggested we self quarantine. I was symptomatic already. Low grade fever, no sense of smell, cough…. We were among the lucky ones. I didn’t require hospitalization it was the usual miserable flu feeling. Did lots of online shopping,cooking, gardening. After 3 weeks I told my husband this is nuts! This could go on forever. Called the Doc and went back to work. At that time Georgia was still under lock down but our stores were packed with customers 50% of them not wearing masks. It’s mandatory for employees to wear masks. The state is open now and we are still crazy busy. Still wearing masks, still scrubbing down the stores every night. We each have hand sanitizer and 2 masks in each car. We do go into the grocery now. Tomorrow will be the second time we’ve actually gone into a restaurant since this started.
The Mental head games of COVID are not fun. Every little dust cough brings on 10 minutes of brain gymnastics. Iâve never been one to take my brain out and play with it. I leave that to pros who write fiction.
There are many things that drive me nuts about how the public health honchos are managing the epidemic. My latest aggravation is that they could have given us a clue about how many new cases are due to increased testing as opposed to second wave. But no. Better to keep the proles in ignorance, I guess.
We have an epic trip to Argentina/Chile planned for the December 2020 solar eclipse. If I’m going to catch it, I really, really want to catch the corona at least 2 months ahead of that trip. If I’m going to get a serious case, which I understand is unlikely, I do not want to be sick away from home. I’ve caught every flu forever — come on over and breath on me a bit! I’ll make tea (Evening in Missoula or Constant Comment).
Susan – please also keep an eye on the research for health impacts other than death. There might be long term health impacts including lung scarring or other organ damage.
Our county has a health dashboard (several, in fact) including testing positivity rate, hospitalizations, zip code for positives. Several such county dashboards are available in our state and there’s also a county watch list for specific criteria to highlight potential problematic areas.
Thanks for letting us know you are all OK. Was worried.
Sending best wishes for your good health in these troubled times. Keep safe.
Highly recommend c-drama Chef Hua. Thereâs a group subbing it on YouTube. Itâs got a strong female characters and relationships, mouth watering food/cooking shots, and minimal/fast resolving conflicts. Makes me happy like eating chocolate!
I have to say the one thing that made the need to self-isolate, practice handwashing, stop touching your face (which three months in I still do – argh), and practice social distancing is the the pictures. The pictures of someone on a ventilator in the hospital. Not sure if it was scare tactic from our local health authority but whoa, take a look at what it looks like for someone to actually be on a ventilator, if that does not scare the stupid out of someone then I really don’t know what will. Up here in Canada, specifically BC (we have Dr. Bonnie Henry – the best medical person in my humble opinion – she actually has taken over Olivia Munn’s insta today – I think there is some movement for medical professionals to take over insta accounts for the day), we are darn lucky, however there was an outbreak at Brandi’s exotic Bar….tells you what people were missing after three months of lock down!!!
I am so very sorry that your country doesn’t have the virus under control, be safe all of you.
Iâm so sorry that Covid is messing up sleep and life generally. Iâm glad you have sensible kids. Also – thanks for even thinking of Ryder when life is so off balance. That you can still write when you cannot read. Thatâs a blessing for your BDH ????????
I am keeping you and your family in my heart. And keeping everyone on our planet there also. I wish I had some words to help ease this journey we are all traveling now.
Sorry to hear all the news. Tough when decisions by idiot people affect so many others! Will pray for you and your family. Hope is a virtue????
I’m sorry you’re going through a tough time; I can relate. Everything is opening up, but I have to continue to self-isolate because I have comorbidities. I have the attention span of a toddler these days, which means I’m not reading many new books; instead, I’ve been mostly re-reading old favourites.
Grace Draven is one of my auto-buys, and I’d been looking forward to her latest forever, but have yet to finish the book even though I’ve been enjoying it thoroughly. Usually I end up reading until the wee hours because I can’t put the book down, but nowadays I read at a sloth’s pace.
What’s helped me bring down my stress levels is avoiding the news, except for catching up on Dr Bonnie Henry’s updates every few days. She’s our Provincial Health Officer, and I’ve been so grateful for her stellar leadership during the pandemic. Her motto is, “Be calm, be kind, and be safe” and I’ve embraced it completely. I also remind myself that my grandparents lived through WW I, WW II, AND the Spanish Flu…without Netflix or any of the many modern conveniences I take for granted.
Take care of yourself and take as much joy as you can in life’s little pleasures.
PS Thanks again for Ryder! It’s such a joy whenever you post a new chapter, especially when familiar faces crop up.
Bonnie Henry rocks!!!! Donât they have tee shirts or something now?
yes tshirts and shoes -fluvog shoes – the “Dr. Henry” – they are pink and beautiful and all proceeds go to food banks!
@Nickole195
I agree, the shoes are GORGEOUS! They sold out pretty much instantly, so I hope that they set aside a pair for Dr Henry đ
@mz
I remember reading about Fluevog designing a pair of shoes in her honour, but haven’t seen anything else — the shoes are beautiful, sold out quickly, and the proceeds went to a good cause đ
https://globalnews.ca/news/6860502/bonnie-henry-shoe-john-fluevog-presale-start-thursday/
I hope they set aside a pair for her!
No worry pies. However much of Ryder, we will read and love it.
Love the Andrewsâ kidsâ supervision. Iâm retired and looking after my 92-year-old-mother, who is very stubborn. My siblings and I come by our pigheadedness honestly. Mom is tired of Covid and wants it to be over. I keep telling her that they will find a vaccine hopefully, and then weâll have to have mass inoculations, like we did for polio. I was little, but I remember going to the high school for the sugar cube. We will get through this, but it will be a pain for a while yet that we just have to endure. Feel better.
I am so sorry!! Sounds like things suck (which I get). Glad that you are staying safe (or at least as safe as you can). Your last paragraph made me laugh hysterically because I had just finished reading your last Ryder post. Cruel and unusual punishment to leave it there. I love your work as always. Praying for peace and health for you and yours.
Sending love from NYC. It’s awful when you have to be anxious about going out your own front door but it will pass. I couldn’t read or focus on any one thing for the first month. We are firm believers that grocery and pharmacy delivery was the key to staying healthy. Sangria and yardwork kept us sane.
OMG! You like Asian dramas?! I highly recommend “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay” that is currently airing on Netflix. The FML is phenomenal and the ML is definitely swoon-worthy–their chemistry is off-the-charts insane. Here are some of the completed K-dramas on Netflix that I highly recommend:
“Mystic Pop-Up Bar”
“When the Camellia Blooms”
“Live”
“Itaewon Class”
“Signal”
“Prison Playbook”
Also, you can watch all of the English subbed episodes of “The Romance of Tiger and Rose” ad-free on YouTube. Here is the link to the playlist with all of the episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71TF3r7yFwg&list=PLMX26aiIvX5qmFwvmqUqmuazLFKjXVztJ&index=1
I liked this C-drama. It was mostly light-hearted, not overly complicated, and the leads had solid chemistry.
Warning – the following will include whining when I have no reason to.
I’m not doing much that’s really different from before Covid-19. I live alone and don’t go out a lot any time. I mostly read at home and visit my family.
I haven’t had a hug in almost 4 months.
I see my son and daughter-in-law at least once a week – but we don’t touch. We sit in the same room and talk, or sometimes read, but no touching at all. My daughter Face-times about once a week from Baltimore with updates about what’s going on with herself and her husband.
My sister and sister-in-law keep me up to date with their news.
I have on-line friends that I email with.
I *am* doing okay.
But no one has touched me except medical personnel (broken wrist on March 3rd) and my dentist. And I have basically touched nobody. No pats on the back or shoulder, no touches on the arm or hand, no hugs or kisses on the cheek, nothing.
Humans are built to want tactile interaction, and I usually am pretty touchy-feely, given half a chance, anyway.
The cats are cuddly and help keep me sane most of the time. The new puppy at my son’s helps, too, though her kisses are a bit slobbery.
But I miss hugs.
Oh, I hear you! I understand; I don’t live alone, but I live with just roommates and we don’t socialize a lot. No touching. Going without hubs and even a touch on the arm is very difficult. I’m so glad you have your cats. Have some virtual hugs; I know it’s not the same. Take care!
Glad you guys are doing okay. I have everything delivered. Unfortunately, that means I don’t have to leave the house. At all.Since the beginning of April, I’ve left the house only once to drive my car around the block so the battery doesn’t die. It’s time to do it again. Unfortunately, I have struggled with agoraphobia since the 90s. If I’m feeling fine, I have little to no problem. Unfortunately, the more I’m stressed, the greater my anxiety, the greater my agoraphobia. Combine that with a huge reason to stay at home and … now I can’t. I don’t even go in the back yard to sit. Sigh. Yeah, I’m contacting a mental health practitioner. Hopefully, they will give me drugs, because I know all about the mechanics.
As for our “dear” Texas governor, I now have two names for him that I can say in public: Governor “Who Wants to Live Forever” Abbot and Governor “Live and Let Die” Abbot. Nuff said.
Mabel and Olive, Game of bones if you need cheering up. Not sure if it translates though, it may just be a Brit thing.
Please stay sane. :). I can suggest if you need a pick-me-up, and enjoy making things, look up Adam Savage videos on You Tube. He is so enthusiastic and positive, and has been posting videos almost daily. His videos have been keeping me going. I have been working all through this time, but am in a small office, see very few people. It is nice to see someone so upbeat.
However, today I am just snuggling with my cat, and hibernating as I had a molar extracted this morning, and feel like I got stomped by a horse. Take care.
Stay safe and healthy. I will always read Ryder and Kate Daniels. Try to stay positive â¤â¤â¤
Take care, sending you a big virtual hug â¤ď¸
Vivid does really suck, but I have never had my garden produce much. I just finished Mystic Pop-up Bar on Netflix.
I really enjoyed Mystic Pop-up Bar! It reminded me of Goblin and Hotel Del Luna.
Praying for your county and family … here in Germany things feel close to normal beside wearing masks for Shopping and public meetings, but i work for an International NGO and it is horrible in so many countries.
Yaaasss my Kween PREACH!!! Same. I just backtracked and turned into my Grandmere. I am journaling mediatating (learned from site Headspace and authors story is crackup). I learned I MUST ugh!! soak my feet in DrTeals Sleep Soak with lavender Epsom salts and melatonin. I use Palo Sante?? incense sticks during stress&meditation times. I got teeny bedside humidifier and use Five Guards essential oil drops in it everynight.Put us on strict routine of 3 decent meals a day. Routine schedules nonstop. Sigh. It. Helped. Really really helped. Guess we are all just 6 years old. Sending you deep caring thoughts.
Thank you Kid#1 and Kid#2 for keeping an eagle eye on your parents! Also, please be careful with yourselves!
Weird though it may be, PT for shoulder fracture surgery (in November 2019) has kept me going through this covid mess. The PT facility went to masks for all staff and patients mid-March, so it’s just part of the therapy process. Did have a few anxiety reactions at first, but the adjustment didn’t last long.
Loving Ryder posts and looking forward to August and “Emerald Blaze” with great anticipation!!
Virtual hugs to House Andrews and all the BDH!!
Living in another part of the world with recent COVID spikes (Melbourne, Australia) where some of our suburbs have gone into lockdown the risk of infection is very real. Thank you for everything you are doing/suggesting to help keep us distracted while we ride this out ????
Hi there!
Household of three in Louisiana, all recovered/recovering from Co-Vid. We range from 20-40 yrs old and combine to have IBS, severe asthma, high blood pressure, overweight (not obese) and super anxiety.
I thought I would share important things and tips weâve learned that arenât generally in the news.
– pedialyte/Gatorade my nephew works in a restaurant so when it reopened, Covid seemed inevitable. I stocked up and it really helped when we had fever or no appetite. Everything is better if you are properly hydrated.
– check your oxygen. We were instructed to go to the ER if it dropped below 90 and not wait around to develop more symptoms. We discovered my boyfriendâs Covid when he couldnât taste his cereal and we saw his oxygen was 92.
– 2/3 of us tested negative. I was told the rapid test is only about 70% accurate and the 2 day test only about 55%. If youâve been exposed and feel like you have it, treat yourself like you do. Isolate, Tylenol,hydrate, sleep
– no one had the same symptoms. My nephew started with fever, boyfriend with the no taste, and I realized it when I slept for soooo long one day. Like 18 out of 24 hours.
All of that to say, we are all still here!
The infection rates are going up, but the death rate is going down. Even though there is no miracle cure, doctors are finding ways to treat it and ways to determine who will get severe cases and adjust treatment accordingly.
It wasnât a fun time. My boyfriend still has lung damage that will hopefully get better over time and even a month later Iâm typing this from the sofa because I needed to sit down a minute.
The most important thing I learned was that all of the anxiety and the panic attacks I had before we got sick only made it worse. I spent so much time worrying about my mom getting sick, my grandfather getting sick, not having enough toilet paper, etc. I never stopped worrying long enough to realize we were well prepared and that getting sick wasnât an automatic painful death sentence. Wear your mask, stay at home, wash your hands. We can get through this and we will!
Keep laughing. It will raise your spirits, your appetite and hope for the world.
Weâre in Dallas. I have asthma but am pretty healthy otherwise. Still mostly staying at home except for a weekly trip for groceries and an occasional Andyâs Frozen Custard run. Anything in large group settings is out for now (and probably will be through the end of the year).
Staying in touch with family, friends, and neighbors electronically (not as good as in person but okay) or across a driveway or street in the case of some neighbors. Reading lots of ebooks and audiobooks (including re-reading old favorites which are always a comfort), watching movies, and some PBS series.
I listen to the news once a day on the radio to get caught up on the basics and then off it goes. Thanks for the mention of Heather Cox Richardsonâs FB posts. They are a good synopsis of the important stuff.
Things like your blog make it all easier. The Ryder tidbits are cherries on the top. Take good care. We are sending you both and your kids a big hug. As others have said, weâll get through this.
LOL on the serial format…
My oldest had COVID right at the beginning and I was *terrified* because of his medical history, but he ended up with a mild case and for reasons that are unfathomable, his wife and kids didn’t get it (in spite of them not knowing he had it the first week or so).
My second is a firefighter / EMT and his wife is a nurse in the ER at Tulane (where she triages the COVID patients) and I have been worried to a nub.
We’ve quarantined as best we can; there were some things my husband had to go out for, but I’m in a very very vulnerable category (no immune system due to meds for something that they were hoping would put me in remission with this rare auto-immune thing I have). We felt we were closet to me being in remission, but they opted to stop treatment to let my immune system go back up because my doctor is terrified I’ll get COVID. I won’t survive it if I do.
I couldn’t read new books, but I have been re-reading yours and they’ve been a huge comfort to me. I plowed through Hidden legacy (again) and then EDGE series (again) and through Kate (again for probably the third time) and Sweep (again) and it keeps me from freaking out. It’s the only way I sleep.
So thank you for your books. They helped me so much when my brother was terminally ill (which I think Debi Murray mentioned to you that morning we were supposed to have breakfast here in the Quarter, but my dad had a major meltdown issue), and they’re helping me significantly now.
Oh goodness!! Stay healthy i will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers!
Thank you! — and you as well!
The tests have not even gone through testing and approval and those that have were less than reliable, with false positives and false negatives. Look at what thew doctors found when they studied it in Texas in march.
What if we finally get a reliable vaccine and people are not required to be inoculated. Not just here, but world-wide? If people are refusing to wear masks, how will they be compelled to be vaccinated?
This is not a great plan for population control.
Honestly? We are gonna hit useful numbers of immune people WELL before any vaccine program can possibly get up and running. Also, both normal immunity AND artifical immuninty (aka vaccines) don’t need to be anywhere close to 100% usage to work. 80% is more then good enough – add in the fact that “recovered cases” don’t need the vaccine and you really only need enough vaccines to cover about 30% of the population before you are firmly in “overkill” territory.
Current vaccine tech can’t really prevent/cure a pandemic. They can simply maintain herd immunity to prevent relapsing pandemics. There is some promising research going on for mass-production of vaccines and rapid prototyping but… still more science fiction then fact for now. (Give it 5-10 years?)
Yes, that’s why people who have recovered have gotten this virus again and
sometimes again ( because they have built up no immunity to the virus even by having had it. Run your scenario by your family doctor and see what he says. What you are saying has as much scientific backing as saying that when warm weather comes, the virus will simply disappear. We all know who gave us this sage advice and just how that’s working out.
Please do some research yourself and find out the studies and findings of the scientific community (including the medical community on the front lines).
I remember what it was like during that horrible time before we got the polio vaccine, just as one example. I haven’t had the flue since 1981, because I get vaccinated every single year. That’s why I’m so scared for all of us now, when we have no preventive vaccine and no cure yet.
And please don’t go out in public without wearing a mask, so that we all are protected. Think of it as a duty to everyone in your community, not the least of which are our first responders, and of course, you, because you are special, too. There is only one of you.
Dang I hope you feel better and things look up.
Haha! Loved that sass at the end! Sorry all the Carona crap is being a headache for you.
Praying for you and your family.
Kid 1 and Kid 2 check on you guys? My Kid 1 and Kid 2 must be broken? Mine are older and I think probably poorly trained đ
Stay safe as possible, Ilona and Gordon, but all of your readers too.
My main problem seems to be the stress that is unrelenting…
I am a government worker in one of the âCOVID hotâ states. We have to wear masks in public everywhere.
Where I work, we were not considered crucial COVID workers, so we were sent home to work on a skeletal system that had not been tested good enough before. Interesting experience. We were told we Could Not do certain procedures until we were called back into the worksite.
We were called back in this week (mmm…the rate of cases continues to skyrocket this week in our metro area and a good deal of the state). The blatant discourteousness to our employees climbs as well. Yes we did work from home, but not everything could be done from there. Courteous, honest explanations are not enough nor is working many extra hours for some people.
Please be courteous and reasonable with companies and government departments that are behind because of COVID 19. We are trying as hard as possible to get work done. And not get sick from Covid or any stress related illness or worsen conditions we already have.
Thank you for letting me use this as an out. I am sure, we âhereâ are not alone by a long shot!
Peace!
Iâm sorry to hear about your digestion pain. This is what has helped me. I cut a nickel size piece of ginger (peeled) and pour hot water on it to make a tea. Occasionally, I may add a small piece of mango with lemon and honey. Itâs good hot but great as a cold drink too.
I also have added a super enzyme by NOW to my vitamins. It helps the body to digest protein, carb, etc and decrease the inflammation in your digestive track. Take care.
<<>> I’m so sorry you’re in the middle of it. Things are easing over here in the UK, but I’m worried about how so many people are apparently thinking it’s all over and things should completely go back to normal. They go on about wearing masks as though you’re asking them to tape over their mouth with duct tape! I’ve even read people getting stroppy about sneezing or coughing into your elbow!
You’re not alone in having a hard time focusing- I’ve been reading a lot, but only the most fluffy of brain candy, like paranormal cozy mysteries and romances, and Ryder of course. I really appreciate the little surprises (I deliberately don’t pay attention to when they come out-I’d rather the surprise, and then I don’t feel unhappy if they are delayed) but if it causes you grief, don’t push it! We’ll live. I’ve also listened to Sapphire Flames whilst gardening-Hidden Legacy is awesome! Gardening has really helped, to be honest; it’s very pleasant to be outside, and it’s nice to do something that I can look at and see that I’ve done something living. I even have a courgette (zucchini)!
Good luck with everything and I hope things look up soon.
In my site it have title “Romance of Tiger and Rose”, and its already completed in 24 episodes đ Lots of fun. Did you watch “Korean odyssey”? That was fun too. And from the latest “My dear lady”, “The King: Eternal Monarch”. I’m also very much in love with “Descendants of the sun” and “Women of dignity”. My watched, and to watch list consist of more than 100 different series already đ
I am so sorry for you. Up here, in Toronto, we are luckier but maybe thatâs the wrong word. We have gotten continuous daily briefings from our gvt. Leaders about the importance of pitching in to ensure that everyone comes through this. So weâre doing pretty good, all considering. Toronto is finally entering Stage 2, which means openings on patios but only with social distancing and masks. Thankgawd, masks are acknowledged as a medical statement and not a political one. Finally, we donât have health cost worries bc we know that if we go to a doctor or a hospital, we will not go bankrupt.
Despite all,that, itâs still very scary – especially when there are any elders in the family. But not just elders – I feel for you worrying about the Kids, since most believe they are invincible and havenât yet figured out real life.
Stay safe. Fight the good fight. Remember that all over the world, we are all in the same place.
And when I cough, I still yell âallergiesâ.
p.s. I am a lawyer. Lawyers have been considered âessentialâ so we could continue to stay open. Whodathunk?!
I’m so sorry. It’s so hard! I wish I could make it better for you, my parents, or even just some random stranger. And then I just feel worse…
I don’t have a lovely red circle here, but it’s certainly moving rapidly in red circle direction. Maybe tomorrow. I’m so sorry that you have the digestion issues and the chest pain. That’s so scary.
On Friday, my 81 year old mom was slightly trampled by a large horse on a rampage. Obviously, I completely freaked out – and she’s fine, just bruised badly. But I hope you can see the strange humor I eventually found in the situation when I took her to immediate care, in the middle of a pandemic, and had to describe the incident (flying wooden fencing and metal gate, horse raging across field, etc.) to medical personnel. Because she’s 81. Technically, I think she’s supposed to be falling on stairs or curbs, not losing control of a quarter horse. It’s either laugh or cry at this point and I’ve already done enough crying this week.
*oof* Realty checks are not fun when the one who suffers/dies is not you… but your MOM. (Ok, probably Grandparents instead of Parents – but still a harsh reality check for all those college kids)
On a lighter note – the fear stage WILL pass and get better. Not fun, but very normal (and healthy) reaction to a novel danger. Don’t feel guilty about the stress messing you up for a bit EVEN IF you never actually get sick. That is normal.
Thank you for the update. I knew you would be using science smart methods in dealing with the outside world. And super psyched to hear the Kids are safe. Sending healthy well wishes to you all.
Perhaps an interlude with two of my other favorite artists might help relieve some of the tension?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyWiwuW2ULI
(Lindsey Stirling – String Sessions with Jewel)
Know you are truly cherished by your family and those of us who are intermittently checking your blog as the current situation (s) play out. I was just commenting to a family member that I come here to escape all the nasty trolling that seems to permeate other blogs/websites when I can rub two seconds together. Stay safe. Stay as healthy as you can. I’m calling my doctor to see if I can up my Wellbutrin.
P.S. if you don’t mind posting your fiddly mask pattern, I would love to try it. I’ve bought some nifty fabrics for face masks and am making some for my sister. Here’s one that has adjustable ear loops which is a biggie in my family from Brittany Bailey of prettyhandygirl.com: https://www.prettyhandygirl.com/best-fit-facemask/
Ooh. I watch K-dramas through the AsianCrush app for free. Itâs so cool to see I am not the only one who has gotten hooked on them since getting locked up alone since March.
Omg how Ă propos I just discovered Viki a few weeks ago! You can watch a lot of stuff without a subscription by the way, you just get a lot of short commercials which I don’t mind. The shows I’ve watched on Viki have what I think are volunteer translators for the subtitles because they are sometimes awkward and sometimes try to explain cultural references which makes viewing a bit clunky.
But I don’t mind, since it means I can continue to watch content with Hyun Bin, one of the main leads from Crash Landing on You! Which I LOVED by the way, I’ve already watched it twice. I think a lot of us discovered K-dramas during this quarantine thanks to that show, anyways I started looking for other content with Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin which is how I ended up watching Memories of the Alhambra (also on Netflix), The Negotiation, Swindlers, and Confidential Assignment (those last 3 you can rent on Amazon Prime). Currently making my way through Something in the Rain (on Netflix) and Jekyll, Hyde, and Me (Viki for free).
I’ve also watched The King: Eternal Monarch (Netflix) and Goblin (Viki). Loved The King, Goblin was okay.
As for coronavirus, I’m currently in one of TWO states where cases are falling (CT). However I doubt that will last and there will be flareups here and there as people refuse to social distance or wear masks because unfortunately Americans can’t seem to grasp the fact that these two simple things would curb the spread. We will get through this but we’re in it for the long term. I think everyone’s mental health has suffered during this time and it’s okay to admit you’re struggling. We all are.
Omg how Ă propos I just discovered Viki a few weeks ago! You can watch a lot of stuff without a subscription by the way, you just get a lot of short commercials which I don’t mind. The shows I’ve watched on Viki have what I think are volunteer translators for the subtitles because they are sometimes awkward and sometimes try to explain cultural references which makes viewing a bit clunky.
But I don’t mind, since it means I can continue to watch content with Hyun Bin, one of the main leads from Crash Landing on You! Which I LOVED by the way, I’ve already watched it twice. I think a lot of us discovered K-dramas during this quarantine thanks to that show, anyways I started looking for other content with Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin which is how I ended up watching Memories of the Alhambra (also on Netflix), The Negotiation, Swindlers, and Confidential Assignment (those last 3 you can rent on Amazon Prime). Currently making my way through Something in the Rain (on Netflix) and Jekyll, Hyde, and Me (Viki for free).
I’ve also watched The King: Eternal Monarch (Netflix) and Goblin (Viki). Loved The King, Goblin was okay.
As for coronavirus, I’m currently in one of TWO states where cases are falling (CT). However I doubt that will last and there will be flareups here and there as people refuse to social distance or wear masks because unfortunately Americans can’t seem to grasp the fact that these two simple things would curb the spread. We will get through this but we’re in it for the long term. I think everyone’s mental health has suffered during this time and it’s okay to admit you’re struggling. We all are.
EVERYONE, please be safe and well.
I personally find it beyond frustrating that some people insist on their “absolute right” to endanger others, but whatcha gonna do? It’ll no doubt change over time; very few people these days stand on their absolute right to drive drunk, for example.
In the meantime, best wishes to you all.
I’m sorry to hear things have been going not so great. If you are into korean dramas, I would recommend one called Hotel Del Luna that was pretty fun.
Hope you and your family stays safe!
Hugs. Do what ever you need to to get through with sanity relatively intact. If that means writing Ryder, then yay. If that means not writing anything for a month, that fine too. We’ll cope, and I’m pretty sure I speak for most of the BDH when I say none of us want to be an additional stressor on you.
In terms of coping mechanisms, I found that changing crafts helped regain my interest. If knitting isn’t working, how about painting? I’ve also discovered the wonderful world of Stitch A Longs. The weekly releases with 1-2 hours of work are enough to keep me engaged without being a burden.
Cities and towns around me started a no mask, no entry policy probably 2 months ago, which was officially adopted by the state a couple weeks later, along with vigorous social distancing (all stores have marks on the floor to make aisles one way only, and keep people in checkout lines 6 feet apart, along with waiting lines to get in the store because of reduced maximum capacity) I do not have a stay at home job, so Iâve been wearing a mask all day for at least 6 weeks now…..let me tell you, wearing a mask all day does funny things to your brain. Although, I still have a job, so canât really complain.
These blogs are directly responsible for my current Kdrama obsession, and Viki sub. not sure if I should thank anyone or not ><
Watched some good recommendations from here-
If you liked Whatâs Wrong With Secretary Kim, youâll probably like Her Private Life (same actress, a little more light hearted) Also, Healer is not to be missed! (Same actress, again, I donât usually follow actresses but she must have good instincts for scripts, Iâve liked everything Iâve seen her in) Iâve gotten 80% through Goblin, and the relationship between the male actors is just awesome, but afraid to watch the end cause I canât see any good outcomes there. Really enjoyed Another Miss Oh and Because This is My First Life, which I think are also on Netflix
Itâs sad when youâre so stressed you canât read a book đ like, that would be world-ending for me. My mother crashing at my place for 4months is directly responsible for my trying out kindle unlimited, and discovering a (new) author I really like ! New. Books. An author I havenât read before so there are Many! books already published I can read without having to wait for another to be written. Honor Raconteur is the author, btw, Iâve read 4 complete series so far, really liked the Shinogami Detective, about a person from our world transplanted into a Victorian era world with magic, pretty funny, with ânotesâ handwritten on the chapter titles by the characters.
Pet your cats and maybe get some fish to watch, both good for stress relief and lowering blood pressure đ
It seems like the whole world is suffering from low grade anxiety right now. Maybe we need to remember that until about 70 years ago anti-biotics were not readily available, vaccines for polio, measles, mumps, whopping cough didn’t exist. TB killed people. Infant mortality rates were awful and you took your life in your hands every time you had a baby! Within the last 100 years our parents and grandparents survived two world wars, influenza pandemics, the great depression and PROHIBITION! We’ve got this. We just need to “Stay Calm and Carry On” as they say, use our common sense, wear a mask, wash our hands and be kind to each other. If a vaccine is never developed then we’ll just have to learn to live with a degree of risk. In the meantime we’re blessed to live in a modern world, with access to modern medicine. It’s going to be okay. Life will go on and in the meantime we have wonderful authors we can turn to. Thanks for helping us cope and I hope you feel better soon.
Hang hang in there! Do hope you can give yourself extra permission to be inefficient and imperfect as you weather confinement and the uncertainties of pandemic-time. My husband and I have decided Nietzche was wrong – what doesnât kill you just wears you out! But at the end of the tunnel, lights do appear. Here in Switzerland, Covid was extremely bad in March and April, but now infection rates have dropped dramatically, and we are out of confinement, at least for the moment. After all the locked-down time, the smallest freedoms feel luxurious. My family and I just went âglampingâ(for a socially distanced summer minibreak) for the first time, in a French national park Iâd never known existed – 3 days of sun and water fun in a gorgeous river felt as fabulous as a five-star hotel. Everyone we met was so happy just to be out and about. Wishing you speedy relief from the current crisis, and happy, creatively safe adventures when the times allow. Until then stay safe, be gentle with yourself, and do know this too, eventually, shall pass…
I am so sorry for your anxiety. It’s sweet that your children are taking care of and worrying about you and Gordon. I live in a place where the stats aren’t great also, so I get it. You and your family are smart – you’ll get through this.
I have a love/hate relationship with K-dramas. I love them so much that I tend to get sucked in and binge watch like crazy (while having them make me alternate between laughing and sobbing uncontrollably). And then I get close to nothing done and I hate that. lol. But the trailer there makes me want to watch it. Looks awesome! Thanks for the recommend!
Covid sucks. We’re in Missouri City/Sugarland, and lucky me, our zip has the worst cases in the county. To top it off, my dad (in Harris which is even worse off) hosted a surprise 60th bday for my mom last week. He invited 20 people. *face palm* It was either go and risk getting sick, or stay home and potentially hurt relationships. We went and are now self-isolating, while my parents are eating out every night and taking my Aunt and her family (who flew down for the party) around to the Blue Bell Factory and every other place that’s open. My hopes are not high. My dad has Parkinson’s , diabetes, and heart issues. He still thinks Covid is overblown and refuses to stop watching an unnamed network. He refuses to listen to any reason whatsoever.
I really wish people would take this thing more seriously. But I’m really glad you and yours are all on the same page and trying to stay safe. Your kids sound sensible and awesome!
I’m glad your kids are top of you. A lot of us are hosed but it’s what it is. Stay safe! Mask up! Because you HAVE to keep writing Ryder! She’s kickass!
Thank you for sharing. I am feeling for you. My mother 60 years old did get the virus at work. As I see daily but tested negativ we both needed to stay in our appartments. And I skyped with her and my sisters three times a day. So I get the worry of your daughters. Hopefully you will stay well. Luckily my mother didn’t get many symptoms. But she is healthy and doesn ‘t take any medicine. Still you never know.
If you want to look for a nicer think on the map google Husum Germany by the north sea. And imagine me sending you some strengh, a hug and many thanks for your work. Not just the books, all your posts.
The chest muscle pain stinks. Hubs had that. Takes a long time to heal. Hope you feel a bit better. This whole shelter in place for some but not all is a crazy way to do it. I feel so bad for you and yours. When youâre the sane one in a madhouse itâs very scary. Hugs and healing your way.
That’s so scary. I’m sorry! I’m an ICU nurse and I’m pregnant and this has been one of the most brutal years I’ve ever dealt with as a nurse. It’s all so scary. And I can’t even have a glass of wine. But I wanted you to know that your books are one of my most wonderful coping mechanisms that still functions in this awful time. Thank you so much for the wonderful escape that they have offered me time and again. I own all of them and I just finished re-reading through Kate’s series. I look forward to reading the chapters for Julie/Ryder so much! Thank you again.
a-ha we’ve been watching that drama at our house too! have you watched The Story of Minglan?? That one is also very good.
So sorry to hear that. I have been in a Covid hot spot in the State since the beginning. No one I personally knows has it but I continue to be extra careful.
The dust here – or maybe the rain I donât know at this point – has made it gloomy and now we have flood warnings in the State.
But I am healthy (if older), my family is healthy, we have each other, food on the table and can pay our bills. I am blessed.
Take care.
I live in a small rural county in Arizona. Our governor also lifted the restrictions very quickly. During the first run of COVID-19 we reached 63 confirmed cases in three months. Today itâs 697. Governor Ducey finally started with some restrictions on Monday. I donât get it. Itâs medical science. Itâs not hard. I do feel very bad for the economics of the situation, especially in a small town. Itâs a horrible mess. So my coping skills are, rearranging and painting various rooms in my house; arts and crafts; tackling that list of To Dos When I Have Time; hunting new receipts; talking to friends on the phone; and LOTS of reading. My 25 yo daughter lives with me and she is always good for a distraction too. LOL
Best wishes too everyone.
Sorry to hear that the stress is getting to you so badly. It gets to us all from time to time. Keep in mind that diseases spread through networks, not through geography, so isolation really does help.
As for us, we’re both at risk due to age, and my partner is diabetic (although under control, and that does make a difference also). We do go out occasionally for grocery shopping and carry-out lunch, but always masked. We are at very high risk for cabin fever. We may be facing a second lockdown in North Carolina. At least I can work at home.
Ahhh.. reading your descriptions of not being able to read, normal digestion out (?..!!), sleeping patterns off (yep, consistently waking at 4:11am and canât go back to sleep) .. sounds very similar to me! Iâm rereading KD but found itâs easier to read and listen to audiobook at the same time. The audio helps me concentrate on the reading. I try just listening but my OCD requires I read along with it – so that if I laugh, I Must pause it and put a Note with a laughter emoji. If I laugh hard, itâs 2 happy emoji and a thumbs up. Needless to say, Iâve stopped it frequently. .. I truly enjoy both of you and your stories in books and in life. Thank you.
That daily jump is just awful. I hope you guys stay safe and sane.
Ilona, I have suffered with costochondritis for many years. My deepest sympathies on your exacerbation. My massage therapist (former ???? – she closed her business due to COVID-19) gave me this recipe for a pain/anti-inflammatory gel that helps to varying degrees when my costochondritis is acting up – also for any pain/inflammation!
12 Oz aloe vera gel
11 drops each of these essential oils:
Juniper
Lavender
Eucalyptus
Marjoram
Roman Chamomile
Put drops in aloe vera gel. Shake vigorously to mix. Keep shaking until mixed.
For 24 Oz aloe vera bottle, 22 drops each of the essential oils.
You have to shake repeatedly over time to get the essential oils mixed in. It helps to use a clear bottle, with a clear aloe Vera gel so you can see when it has all finally mixed together. I have used a single bottle over at least a year and it retained its effectiveness.
Get your essential oils from a reputable dealer.
Also, you may know already from having chronic costochondritis, a chiropractor who is skilled at thoracic adjustments can do wonders. (I realize that is probably not feasible at the moment with rampant COVID-19, but for future reference.)
Hope you are feeling better soon!
I order my essential oils and aloe vera online.
Kid 1 and Kid 2’s opinion of your survivability made me laugh out loud. Thank you. As for your costochondritis, I had my upper right lung lobe removed 14 years ago. My ribs are still pissed off. Lidocaine patches and ice packs are absolute life savers.
Ouch. Iâm sorry.
Safe virtual hugs for all of us right now, because this is terrible.
Right now, I am a mess because I had a zoom call with the testing therapists, and they diagnosed my 7 yo with ADHD and oppositional defiance disorder. I donât even know what odd is, and I have no idea why this is hitting me so hard, but I am a mess.
Ericka,
saw your comment on O.D.D. This may help: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oppositional-defiant-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20375831
Hugs to you.
Hi Ericka, the U.S. National Library of Medicine at medlineplus.gov can give you some information on ODD. Or you can call their librarians at 1-888-346-3656 and they will explain it to you and probably send you more information. I hope it helps. Hugs ~
Right there with you. Haven’t held my grandson since last June. Husband is doing the grocery runs. Been an anchorite since March 12. Hang in there. It doesn’t get easy, but at least we can contact each other and see each other’s faces. Much love and appreciation to you both!
Covid-19 is awful and I’m there with you.
Ryder is wonderful and it always makes my day better, so thank you for that!!
Hugs, stay safe!
I started watching Tiger and Rose, and couldnât get into it but Iâll give it another shot. Oh My Baby is another good one, concerning a serious topic of infertility and the pressures women (and men!) face in that culture. But, oh! It has some real rofl moments! My husband is not amused with me sitting in bed watching it, crackling and snorting like a hyena while heâs trying to sleep. But, it too, is being released three episodes at a time, gah!
*cackling. I hate auto incorrect….
Makes me pleased I live in New Zealand, where all we have to complain about is NZers returning from overseas with COVID and being put in isolation
I live in Northern NJ and it’s been tough. I’ve been keeping away from people because my mom is 87 with heart issues. But last week we both took the Covid test and both came back negative.
I always think of you (both of you) and Kate Daniels when I hear about the Princess Bride. Did you know they’ve done a remake? Well, sort of.
When I first heard they were thinking of it I said “Hell, no!!” But what they’ve done is more of an homage. A quarantine homage.
They’ve gotten actors and musicians who are also in isolation to re-enact a scene or two, then the director put it all together. It’s on Quibi, starting yesterday, in a serialized version. And they’ve raised $1 million for charity.
Here’s the Vanity Fair article: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/06/the-princess-bride-homemade-fan-film?fbclid=IwAR0sSixer3g4CreUHBRbJZx77m9pUKhSlRMYIr7_U0Bg6rx9KfZyDpsBJrE
And thank you for Ryder.
Thank you for Ryder. I think its safe to say you will always have an audience…in me anyways. đ
My son and his fiancee are in Houi. My husband and I are in NC. I’m worried about my son a future daughter in law. They are getting married in October and we don’t know whether things will improve enough for us to attend. Stay safe.
My copping has been to start Kate from the beginning for the third time. Never gets old. Thanks guys ????
Stay well. All you can do is isolate. I hope your daughters remain healthy. This is such a frightening time. My brother in law just died of Covid -19. I would hope everyone gets through this pandemic. All the best wishes.
You should be ok as long as you isolate. And it sounds like you have a kiddo looking out for you.
We must keep you safe because you are keeping some of us sane at the moment.
Iâm from La Crosse… a small river city town in Wisconsin. We have 3 THREE colleges in our small city, and we made the New York Times because of our sudden spike in cases. Because why? Because when the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the stay-at-home order, it clearly meant that all the 20-somethings should go a-drinkinâ in the bars and partying on the river beaches. The demographics show all the new positive cases were 20-29. And now theyâre a variety of ages because they are spreading it to others. It doesnât help that a certain segment of the population thinks that itâs a liberal conspiracy to force people to wear masks, so they wonât.
This is why I hang on for escapism. And Iâm counting the days for Ryder releases and the Emerald release. Thank you so much
I am in the big city to the south of you, and it is scary. We got spoiled with careful government and slow growth, until the moronic governor fought with them– now look where we are. My husband and I are high-risk, our parents are super high-risk, so we haven’t seen them in months. My dad was so sad on Father’s Day. So, I get your worry. I wanted to say, thank you for Ryder. That story, plus some other authors doing a similar blog/facebook serialization have helped (somehow the shorter bits are manageable, even with the stress/fear). I also thank you for your recommendations of forthright’s work. Hers has brought joy, too. I am so happy you have Kid1 and 2 keeping an eye ( will keep Kid2 in my thoughts) on you. Lay low and stay healthy.
My in-laws live in Fort Worth. They are 74. She is obese, with congestive heart failure, Parkinson’s and diabetes. He has super high blood pressure and cognitive decline. My SIL lives with them, she is a hair stylist with her own small studio, she wears a mask when she see clients but is basically in denial because she is plugged into the conservative conspiracy theory circles which somehow have made following public health guidelines and the CDC recommendations into a political statement…WTHO? (Substitute “heck” for the more common “F” cussword). Basically, if my inlaws get Covid 99.99% probability they will die. But still they want us to visit (we live in NW Montana, almost on the border with Canada, no way we can go to TX without days in a hotel to get there or go in a plane). I feel so badly because they really could go at any time regardless… but we are not going to be the ones bringing CoVid to them. Hand in there guys. You are doing all the right things to stay safe and your family (biological and the greater reading community) all support you!
My first comment … hooray!!
Iâve been watching whatâs happening in Tx (and other states experiencing spikes) with great sadness. Here in Mass, we got also got hit hard. For awhile it felt like living in an apocalyptic novel. But now weâre slowly recovering, numbers are down, people are starting to live again.
The light at the end of the tunnel isnât a train, I swear!!
The Ryder series has been a God send. Iâve been going through bad IA withdrawals as Iâm sure many other readers were as well; this was the fix we all needed!
Lots of love and well wishes your way. If prayers are like currency, you guys are going to be fine! All of your (rabidly) loyal fans are beseeching the cosmos to see you through this safely!
My prayers and love to everyone else out there struggling too. Not to sound to syrupy, but I hope we can all look for the positives around us. As one commenter here said, at least we have the internet! Some of us will remember pre-internet, payphone days. Life where the car breaks down and youâre walking 4 miles to the gas station, small whining children in tow. Weâre the best equipped generation of humans to endure a pandemic thus far, lots of things to be thankful for. This website for one!!
XOXO everyone, stay well and safe. <3
Oh man, I have two daughters in their 20s, and they have cross-examined our stay-at-home practices and sworn us to extreme caution! Guess they are not the only ones! đ
I’m from Philippines and currently isolating in the province with my family. The governent has lifted the quarantine and has allowed people back to work amidst the high positive cases daily. I’m lucky because our company still let us work from home. I won’t go back if they make us because I have a 2 y.o. kid and and elderly mom. Keep safe!
I have found that there are some alternative therapies out there that can help reduce anxiety and support your wellness. Healing Touch Program is a non-invasive, energy healing therapy that can support your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. Reiki is a similar practice and both of these can be done from a distance.
I wish you the very best with your family and your combined health and wellness and will hold you in my prayers.
I am north of that big red dot; I am a nurse in Austin, and I am 55. I feel your pain- my children are sure they will survive, but terrified for me. I tell them I will get it or I wonât, and Iâll survive it or I wonât, but worrying about it now does not help. I have been a nurse nearly 30 years, and honestly, this is what I do- these days I mostly teach other nurses to take care of sick people, but with the rising case count I am doing a little of everything, including patient care. I do get mad at people who wonât wear masks. Your fashion or political choices shouldnât figure into your thoughts on this- the virus doesnât care! I hate seeing people throwing their life or health (or that of the loved one they give it to) away for a drink in a bar or an outing and it just drives me crazy.
So, anyway, sorry for the rant, and thanks for this- reading your writing gives me a nice little break in all this where I can think about something else for a while. I wanted you to know it matters a lot and helps.
I am so sorry to hear that life is a struggle at the moment.
Please take care of yourselves, be kind to one another, and do what is best for you.
Your BDH will be here whether you need to take a break from writing, or choose to lose yourself in the words. Either way, just please remember that you have thousands of people wishing you the very best.
Most of the people my age– especially those of us who were late babies– are terrified for our parents. I don’t blame Kids 1 and 2 one bit for their reaction. It’s a bit hard to supervise mine as strictly as I’d like from across the country, but I’m managing. đ I’m glad you’re safe(ish), even if being stuck in the house is non-ideal.
Here, in Canada, I’ve been worriedly watching the US infection stats, for months. I wish your family and friends well, during this arduous time. Thank you, so much, for sharing your stories with us. Please take care of yourselves.
I am so sorry. I work in healthcare in No. CA. We are still on lock down in my county and I’m very grateful. We are still seeing the growth in cases here in CA, mostly with young people as well. They think they are invincible and they are giving it to their elders who are not. Stay home, stay safe and have lots and lots of Zoom meetings or distance riding. It’s easy to spend some with someone on a horse 12 feet apart. đ
Be safe.
Canada Sews has great patterns for masks. Don’t forget to treat deliveries like nuclear waste.
I love your stories. Please stay in and stay safe.
Sound familiar. We are all stressing. Nice to hear I am not the only one who cannot focus. Sharing does help. Keep on keeping on
Hey Ilona, on a bright note, Neanderthals were more advanced than we realized.
Scientists have found Woven Yarn dating from about 40,000 to 50,000 years ago at a cave site in France, indicating that this early human species had a more sophisticated material culture than they’ve been getting credit for. (published in
Scientific Reports).
Now if someone finds the 40,000 year old remains of a computer chip, We’re all going to have to reassess… everything!
That ‘chip’ would probably be the next wave beyond our chips so we wouldn’t recognize it! Neanderthals left the earth for the greater galaxy when they realised that Homo sapiens was ruining the neighborhood.
I feel your pain as it is mine also. I am hoping and praying that we get through this. I’m selfish, I want you to be well and continue to write. Your musings keep me sane some days. Like everyone else. I have no answers but to hunker down and endure.
Stay strong! We need you, Ilona! yes, that’s very selfish but I look forward to your blogs and stories and books. You are in my thoughts!
I found one on Viki (and its complete and translated): Moorim School was really good, including magic and fights. Also good The scholar who walks the Night (fights, vampires, a girl dressed as a boy… )
I’m rewatching the Girl who Sees Smells, cuz that was fun (and the bad guy is really really cute/hot). oh and Master’s Sun was fun (that one has ghosts).
Sending you big, virtual hugs. ????
Thank you for the post, Ilona Andrews. The thing to remember is when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I spent hours yesterday and last night talking my 76 year old demented mother down because she is convinced 23 year old niece who is asymptotic but her boyfriend was diagnosed with COVID-19 over weekend is going to die. I was vet tech for years so KNOW what coronavirus does. I told Mother that the more Negative Nelly you are the more likely bad stuff will happen. So you take care of what you can (such as updating wills etc) and your self. (And Gordon if he will let you.) The rest is not something you can control without going bonkers.
I finally got thru to her that dog and cat would be okay. I have made sure that they are all fully vaccinated thru the years and there is some cross protection according whatâs coming out of vet schools.
I am sorry you are stressed out and yes Texas is a very scary place to be right now. But the more you stress and are anxious the poorer your immune response is to attack. Trust that you taught kid 1 and 2 how to survive this successfully. I think you and Gordon have.
Thanks for listening to me vent and lecture. Stay well. Be safe. And yes I am well aware that the niece may die but having someone she loves wailing and wringing her hands is not helpful to a sick person healing.
I don’t have words to describe what I am feeling,I told my wife I am in Zombie mode,I have trouble reading, I don’t even have the patience to watch TV. I am somehow able to do things around the house, redid a small deck, dug out like 400 square feet of grass to expand beds and am going to be putting in a network of hundreds of feet of drip irrigation line.
Sadly now all those idiots who thought this was a joke,the flu, that it was a blue state flu, how they had to needlessly lock down, are now seeing what a joke this is (not), that they didn’t have it bc they locked down before it got there and this virus is a patient sob. Not to mention that the virus may be 10 times as contagious as when it originally jumped to people. The other statement,that this is only the old people or sick people who have to worry,is being blown apart, the hospitals are flooded with people in their 20s,30s and 40s. The good news,if there is any, is that thanks to what providers can do,the fatality rate has dropped,small comfort that is.
We are lucky where we live,everyobe is really careful and considerate,people wear masks, distance and support each other. I hear it isn’t as good in other parts of NJ, that in South Jersey and the shore areas there are the idiots who think wearing a mask is a political statement or taking away their freedom *sigh,*. One of the things this has ripper away are any illusions I had about people, while there are good people out there they are dwarfed by the selfish and stupid ones, Mencken’s term Boobus Americanus is sadly true for a lot of people.
The one bright note so can give you guys is because you are being smart you will do okay,speaking from experience. I live in NJ,worked in NYC and was commuting when this SOB was spreading until mid March, since then my wife and I hunkered in, limited our exposure like you guys did, and knock wood are fine. The other thing to note is that by limiting your exposure from everything I have seen or read that if you do get exposed to it you likely will be asymptomatic or have relatively mild symptoms.
I also have personal interest in what is going on in Texas,my son lives in Houston which is getting pounded,he lives near Rice University,which is near the hospital district,and he says all you hear are ambulances day and night. He has been telling us all along that even with lockdown no one was distancing or wearing masks and that worse they made it hard on those he did. My son for a 24 yr old has a head on his shoulders,he and 2 of the other members of his music chamber group have hunkered in, the rehearse together but other than that have isolate pretty much since March. He has asthma,which worries me, but thankfully he is careful.
And thank you guys again for the Ryder series,it is really helping to clear at least some of the gloom.
Sorry to hear about your spike in infections. I had thought about retiring to a college town, but Iâve been picking up college town proximity details from your various posts that are changing my point of view.
Usually, I can turn any sort of lemons into lemonade, but stay at home and social distancing (SD) is a drag. My upside so far is increased ability to read micro-expressions (for my 6 year old, as Iâm a lost cause). And, Iâve mastered the use of grocery delivery options. So, thereâs that…
Hope you can stay patient enough to be safe and find the sparks of joy available in trying some SD act-out crazy – Like a walk outside to scream, youâre isolated enough to not end up with a well check, and it does relieve some pressure.
Finally, thanks for remaining real on the impact of 2020.
Have you tried jigsaw puzzles? I just ordered a nice Koi fish one off Etsy – 2 to 3 weeks delivery time. I recall you doing coloring in the past. Would that work?
Since you mentioned making masks here is a summary of a trial from the journal Physics of Fluids on the effectiveness of 4 non-medical grade masks. If you can obtain surgical masks (not N95) those are better than any homemade mask. I was able to get a few and sent them to my Dad who is 85 with health issues. I use handmade masks and they get washed daily.
https://news.google.com/articles/CAIiEIU0LDs7qasaQdHwjbcEr8oqGAgEKg8IACoHCAowh7LTATCV2zUw_o3MBg?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen
Here is another one with full detail or you can scroll down to the conclusions section. https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0015044
Note:
Mask efficiency is dynamic (not constant). It is reduced during cough cycles. The fluid dynamics and the interactions between the droplets, the filter, and the face influence mask efficiency. We show that after ten cough cycles, efficiency can drop âź8%. The above is a conservative prediction considering that we model a mild cough incident and ten cough cycles. We should expect more significant efficiency reduction for severe coughing events, as well as when wearing a mask for a longer period.
Stay safe and healthy!
Oh my god one of my great friends introduced me to your books years ago. This same friend also sends me over all her real-time cdrama recommendations and we flailed about ROTR together. It’s so fantastically good. It’s definitely a drama with mojo.
Wait…. Maybe she was the one who recommended it to you…
Either way everyone go watch ROTR!!!!!!
I couldnât agree more that alright is a relative term. Some of us are doing better, some worse but thank goodness we are not alone as all the comments before, and those that will surely come after this one, clearly show.
Thank you so much for your contribution in helping the rest of us cope. Reading the Ryder installments and re-visiting the worlds you have created have been a wonderful and needed escape from reality. I wish I could do the same for you. ::hugs::
We live in San Francisco, where we are lucky to have a governor and a mayor who are both being very conservative about lockdown and rules for reopening. It is pretty scary, though, watching what is going on across our country and the world. Much love and virtual hugs to the Authorlords and the rest of the BDH. May we all stay safe, sane, and get through this together.
Really praying that things will get better soon…for all our sanity! Lets all hang in there while we do our best to protect ourselves, family and friends ????????.
I know what you mean about waiting for the next episode its a form of torture but as long-time Kdrama, Jdrama, and Cdrama addict, this is the life I have chosen ????.
I am currently hooked on the newly aired Kdrama “Its Okay Not To Be Okay”. Its on Netflix and best way to describe is that its a well-written (so far) and well-acted Dramedy. I love the dark humor. The Female Lead is amazing—she’s my kind sociopath (to put ut sinply ????). The strong crazy anti-heroine character with deep vulnerabilities. Highly recommend ????????
Here’s the trailer if anyone is curious: https://youtu.be/50ek4HQo0Bc
Oh wow. Sorry for all my typos ????
Pushing love and good vibes your way!
Stay safe! Thank you guys for writing Ryder in these crazy times. Hang in there.
I have got to stop taking your recommendations. I have to work tomorrow and I can’t stop watching the Romance of Tiger and Rose. I just finished episode 4 and they are going to do stuff without me overnight. Thank you for being a terrible influence. đ
Just want to let you know that your posts, not just the chapters, but the everyday things helps make stuff better for me. Weird times….
Your daughters are very wise young women. Remember that regardless of Pooptid Stoliticians (check out Backwards Talk from The Capitol Steps Comedy Review) we really ARE all in this together. Hang in there. We in the BDH (or whatever is the current PC term for your fan base) cherish you all. Please do some healing yoga poses and/or deep breathing exercises and/lr drink tea and/or knit (even if you have to unravel it-who cares!) and/or do whatever you need to stay sane and feel better.
Kid 1 & 2 – Thanks for thinking as a family unit and caring for your parents. Thank you for paying attention to science, exponentials, and battening down the hatches.
I was watching the J-Drama “We Married as a Job” a few years ago and life got hectic so I didn’t finish. Will need to see if I can dig it up somewhere. The male lead is an herbivore which is a nice departure from how many male romantic leads are portrayed in Western stuff.
Hang in there! It sounds horrendous. Things are not as bad here in Cali, but they are going in the same directions. đ Thank you so much for writing during all this! It’s highlight of my week to catch up on Ryder.
I am so sorry. I’m glad you are staying safe at home and I hope that steps are taken to bring this outbreak under control.
I think I’ve seen a lot of people recommending coffee shop au fanfiction as about the extent of what they can handle right now in terms of fiction.
One set of shows I’ve really been enjoying despiteare the spin-offs from the movie What we do in the Shadows (including the tv series of the same name and Wellington Paranormal), they’re both incredibly dumb and quite sharply written and they take my mind off everything (there are cartoonish levels of gore).
Thats really tough. Thank you so much for writing the Ryder series during this time – I look forward to it very much.
Whew! I’d say you hit a nerve with this post. So many responses! so let me add mine. đ
I live in what’s now a hot spot. I go to the grocery store and feel positively hostile when I see people without masks. (Unfortunate side effect of masks: it’s harder to give people dirty looks when you’re wearing them. And I live in the South, so dirty looks are a classic, formerly effective, weapon of choice.) Anyway, my 70-year-old mom and stepdad (both lovely people) seem constitutionally incapable of believing they (yes, THEY) could get or give COVID to someone. I’ve mostly given up nagging them. It just makes them feel bad and changes nothing of their behavior. Re: people’s reactions to evidence-based recommendations on mask-wearing & social distancing, I thought I’d learned a lot about how crazy complicated people are in the last four years, but 2020 has me truly befuddled on how some people’s minds work. I’m mostly okay (because I’ve been lucky in my job and health so far), but I still occasionally get a bout of cold-sweats-inducing anxiety. The best I can do is try to compartmentalize, to remember that worry accomplishes nothing except hurting me (hah! as if my anxious brain cares), and to go on hikes in the woods when I can (also, to watch far too many Asian dramas :D). I just wonder how the world, and all of us in it, will be changed at the end of this. I’m hoping a lot of good changes will come, but it hurts in the meantime.
So, Asian dramas. Yes! I loved Romance of Tiger and Rose! Zhao Lusi is gifted at hitting the small beats of expression and timing that make all the difference in comedy. More of this from her, please. Also, if you want a sweet love story with a heartwarming and motley family, villains that are interesting, and just enough conflict to make it all mean something, try Tale of Nokdu. It was a sleeper hit for me. Also, as ever, I would recommend Healer, Her Private Life is another good Park Min-Young drama, and I just started Ancient Detective and am quite liking it. Only 24 episodes for a C-drama. Unheard of!
I forgot the most important part. Thank you so much for Ryder and for your posts sharing about life in general. They are a happy escape from my stress these days. Ecclesiastes has a saying that you should “cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.” I suppose that’s something like karma? Whatever you call it, I do believe the good you do often comes back to you. Which means you should have a lot of good karma coming your way. đ I, at least, will be sending good thoughts your way.
The favorite, most respected writer team! Dear Ilona! Please, be alright!
Fight depression and rely on Russian fatalism ????. Sometimes it helps…
My family lives in Brooklyn, NY in a 6-story apartment building, my office is in the City. Even working remotely since the end of March, it has been necessary for me to report to the office at least once a week…Last week I’ve started using subway again. It is much cleaner????????.
These are things that cannot be changed.
So, we do what we must: we clean, we wear masks, we sanitize hands nonstop, we keep the distance as much as it is possible in such a crowded city, and so on… “ĐĐ° йОга надоКŃŃ, Đ° ŃĐ°Đź но пНОŃĐ°Đš!”????
The rest is in fate’s hands.
Please, do not loose hope! Cheer up! Firtstly, for yourself and then for us, your readers.
We love what you do – none can do it as well as you!
It is such a rare thing nowadays- to reread the same books over and over again and never get bored…Thank you!
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I bought a 10M roll of meltblown cloth from Amazon and cut off about 4 inches at a time and line the inside of my cloth mask with it. I find it adds a lot to the seal and you can feel the additional filter. It also stays in place by itself without needing to be sown in. I then dispose of the meltblown after each use. I think layers of meltblown are what they use in the disposable medical masks.
https://smile.amazon.com/Meltblown-Original-Filtering-Application-Efficiency/dp/B086DGKP32/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1
I regret posting the link actually. The reviews of this brand donât seem to be great, and the brand that I bought, Tidcaco, is not sold on Amazon anymore. However the one I got looks just like the pictures of this one…
Marked as safe in Bastrop TX.
Stressful. And scar. Not as much as if you didnât know why there was an uptick in cases though. It might sound bad, but although I donât want anyone sick, when more people get sick I prefer to know the reason is some thing controllable like people being careless rather than âwe have no idea, hopefully it doesnât continue mysteriously escalating.â Man, I hope theyâre all okay and get good care
Thanks for the update, stay strong and safe!
Side note: I just finished The Romance of Tiger and Rose and loved it! Such a light fluffy, hilarious drama. Currently watching ‘Dr Cutie’ on viki and it’s giving similar humour-vibes so hopefully it’s good!
Iâm in Brooklyn, NY. It sounds like everything youâre experiencing is normal for the situation. Because you sound like I did when NYC got hit so hard.
I canât explain what changed, but after dealing with a completely different way of living (yep, my groceries are delivered too) and a period of lethargy, I turned my calorie-counting app back on, began cooking properly again, and returned to writing.
And Iâm extremely grateful for my cat Frankie, because Iâve had no physical contact with any human since this started here.
Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime are my friends, as well as your blog and fiction.
We WILL get through this.
Stay safe everyone, find your emotional fortitude in your network (and here). As someone who believes in asking if only to be told no, just keep bugging friends, family and authors who tend to write serially, for connecting. They’re probably hesitating too, so just take that step and call/chat/video as much as you like and it will surprise you what response you get.
I likely had it back in late February through early April (but was not eligible for the test at the time due to age group, lack of contact with a known case – so ridiculous a restriction when no one was being tested, and not having been hospitalized). I originally assumed I didn’t have it, because I didn’t have what everyone was saying were the main symptoms (I never had a fever, for example). I did eventually develop the shortness of breath, after foolishly thinking I was better and going for a jog– it snapped back then, with exhaustion, increasing shortness of breath, etc. I finally got a test through a study at the beginning of April, but, at that point, most of my symptoms were gone and it wasn’t one of the deep nasal tests… so I don’t place much faith in the negative results.
I’ve made some inquiries about getting one of the Abbott antibody tests (since those are the only relatively accurate ones), but I’m not eligible to get one of those, either.
It wasn’t a pleasant illness, is what I’d say. Weeks of exhaustion, on and off, with other symptoms coming and going. Since I can’t get an antibody test, and, even if I could, don’t know if it means I’m immune, I’m not comfortable visiting my parents. We have to move in a few months, and we feel like we can’t take the risk of getting sick (either again, or for the first time if I’m wrong?) and being quarantined or hospitalized because that’s just not going to work. I’m just repulsed that the philosophy appears to be, “Suck it up! If you or some member of the family dies, that’s OK, as long as you keep propping up the economy by spending as much money as possible!”
Anyway, I like the perfect fit Jesse mask, which I’ve tried to make out of fun fabrics. I’ve also made the Fu face mask (which I think I need to add wire to in order to make it more practical) and some of the University of Florida Anesthesiology department masks (prototype 2).
We are living through crazy times and although we can not fully control what happens to us. We can control our thoughts and reactions to what happens to us. So, as we forge ahead my hope no matter how clichĂŠ it may seem is that your burdens begin to feel lighter, and each day becomes a whole lot brighter.
I understand how your kids feel. Here in Norway (where I live) things are almost back to normal and we have very few cases left. However, my parents and sister are back in Romania where cases have started rising as well. Same as in your town, restrictions got more lax and young people started going out and crowding the beaches. I haven’t seen my family in half a year and it’s terrible to sit here and worry about them. My dad has asthma and my mom is a cancer survivor so I am constantly terrified something will happen to them.
I wish I could wrap my family in bubble wrap and put them in an underground bunker until all of this is over. You guys are welcome to join btw. Plenty of bubble wrap to go around.
Bubble wrap????????sending love!????????????
Just make sure you take vitamin D3 Tablets to enhance you immune system.
You tube on effectiveness of vitamin D. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMFsLFAE5o&t=320s
Where i live in Western Australiav we have had hard border closures since March. We are extremely lucky as we hsve had no cfommunity trasmission. I feel for you and hope you keep safe.
Apologies for the bad spelling. My typing is not as accurate as my thinking ????????????
Thank you for this, honest thoughts on one of todayâs major disasters. I live in TX also, not in a college town but a prison town. That means we have a high number of cases but they are really quarantined. I hope people soon come to a realization that this virus is a lasting and serious thing.
I am so sorry you have to go through this. It must be very scary.
My life is swamped with many difficult problems right now, covid being just one of them. So, for me, all the worry and fear about and because of covid basically has to take a number đ
Ryder helps keep me going and keep me (relatively) sane through all of it – for which I cannot thank you enough.
Thank you, for writing for us in such difficult times. You are amazing, AuthorL… I mean House Andrews đ
Hang in there, and be safe.
Thank you.
I travelled from Michigan to Pennsylvania (both flattened the curve with slight upticks in recent weeks) with my young kids to see my mom and dad. The younger is toddler and there are some mobility issues on their end.
My uncle is coming up from louisiana. He chose to drive through New York (not on the way) and see as many friends and relatives as possible along the way. He’s over 60 and seriously lacking in the common sense department. Now there is really no choice but to interact with him and his family and I’m pretty ticked. I still hold a grudge for 6 years ago when he came up for christmas with a norovirus, didnt tell anyone, and gave it to me. It really sucks to be driving on highways outside of New York city and feel yourself become miserable over the course of an hour. I was sick at my in laws and can’t eat tortilla soup to this day.
Hi All,
Suggestion for our new worrisome normal, music. For me, it brings back happy times\thought that I want to dance around the house to and thatâs the best thing right now, focus on the good.
Stay safe and rock on!
I cant imagine how scary that situation is, I hope the situation locally ( and globally, but we will take what we can get) gets better soon.I hope you all stay safe and well. Its an anxious and uncertain time for all of us, but your updates and the Ryder story always brings a smile to my face and gives me a moment out of time where I can escape our current reality…So thank you, while your writing Ill be reading! Needless to say your mental and physical health has to be your first priority right now, so do whatever you need to do to look after yourselves first and foremost. Thank you again and good luck !
“The Romance of Tiger and Rose” was such a gem on Viki. I love ancient Chinese dramas, but not only was it well acted/produced for a short 24-episode web drama, it was also hilariously, amazingly, gender flipped. Men were told to be chaste and submissive, while women ran the city. Even the costuming was spot on – the royal women had the tight bun hairstyles of the ruling family/gender, and the entertaining men had the frivolously loose clothing and flirty loose hair.
In addition to many of the suggestions above, another drama I found surprisingly enjoyable on Viki was “Under the Power”. The two leads were excellent throughout the series. I tried some of the other newer ancient Chinese dramas, but couldn’t get past a few episodes. “Under the Power” had a good mix of cast, plot, and acting (although the initial 10 min scene was a bit graphic). I’d recommend giving it a try. I’m now a big fan of both leads.
When I have trouble finding a good ancient Chinese drama, or a good modern K-drama, I turn to online translations of Chinese web novels. Most c-dramas are based on web novels or mangas. The Chinese web novel market is huge and highly competitive in China, so some authors churn out extreme or repetitive content for views, so your mileage can vary. Fans or online companies then choose and translate some novels into English, chapter by chapter. I’d recommend “Ascending Do Not Disturb” on novel updates. It’s a wonderful, calm, happy novel that subverts a lot of fantasy cultivation tropes. “Ascending Do Not Disturb” is an easy read, and it’s almost done translating.
In Ontario, I’ve been home with my 3 little kids for the past 110 days/3.5 months. An adult goes once a week for groceries in a mask. Even though we’re in stage whatever of reopening, almost everyone wears a mask at the grocery store. Even with family members, we’re continuing to physical distance because we have different exposures/risk-level of activity in this Toronto area. The kids also have reusable masks for when we are walking on trails and have to pass someone in close quarters, or when we went back to school once to pick up their things.
The hardest part for me wasn’t being stuck at home. It was being stuck at home with the kids. After 3.5 months (and another 2 months until the school year starts in Sept), the kids are used to Netflix/Disney/Youtube/Minecraft/TocaWorld/etc. and we’ve settled into this new normal.
I’m sorry to hear about the dust and rising covid-19 rates in your area, I hope everything gets better soon. I’ve been reading your books for many years now (since Kate Daniels 2 came out), and wish you and your family the very best.
Oh, I’d also recommend Hyena on Netflix. It’s a 16-episode modern Korean drama about a low class, confident and bold woman who’s a smarter lawyer than all the rich privileged men at the best law firm in the country. The leads’ acting was amazing. I don’t even like lawyer dramas, but this one was great.
Only as a way to bring a tiny bit of, maybe, light.
I’m 68, my two friends in their 70s both tested positive at the same time. One had a previous issue (lobe removed from lung), the other had a husband on oxygen tank. Things seemed incredibly dire.
After 9 days the fever broke of the one with the lung issue. She’s feeling better, no longer sleeping all the time and actually eating.
The other one, her doctor told her take aspirin, drink plenty of fluids and rest. She’s feeling much better, and her husband never caught it (but also refuses to be tested).
So, I hope this little anecdote helps
Completely irrelevant post but I hope makes you smile!
So. Who would write a 2000 page book on firewood? I think that is bad. What would be worse is someone not only buying it, but READING it, AND then QUOTING it to their long suffering wife. Such a villain, if indeed they existed, would have invented a torture akin to the comfy chair. #johncleese should be alerted!
What chance we are about to set up a hardwood plantation?
Sigh.
As an Italian, I understand completely!
While we have been hit quite hard, my area wasn’t as affected but we still had very strict rules and mostly kept by them – I for example could only take my dog for walks with a 200 m limit and might have done 300 (alone!) but nothing mayor. Therefore we now have to use the masks only in close proximity (distances under 2 m) & the numbers are still declining.
I’m sure you will get there too, but the situation in the US seems quite bad right now….
Stay strong & stay healthy!!
My kids have said the same thing about me, so I’m under strict supervision as well. I’m pretty laid back and spontaneous. which makes the supervision feel confining, yet comforting, if that makes sense. I’m still able to read, but now it’s kind of obsessive, “Must finish book, must FINISH BOOK before I go to bed!” Still working part time from home so that helps. I figure we have a year of this, at least until a few months after we have a vaccine, so I’m kind of settling in for the long haul. My plans to take off and travel after a December retirement are shot to hell.
You guys are definately a bright spot, as is the BDH. I still randomly chortle “What would Dobby do?” and am loving Julie as a grown up bad-ass. Thank you! We’ll make it, but it’s going to be a rough year.
Suggestion for procrastination: Sarah Millican – How to be Champion Storytime. It reduced my stress levels during quarantine and I had a little bit of comedy everyday that made me smile.
Yeah, I’m having to find new coping mechanism. I live in metro Atlanta, and our governor is a purposeful idiot. I have major headaches (have-to-work-in-darkened-rooms-or-my-head-will- explode type headaches), weird dreams that wake me up at 2:30am like clockwork, and squirrel brain. You know, you start to concentrate on work and then – “Squirrel!!”
Good luck getting through this and thank you for Ryder. Reading Julie’s story actually helps my anxiety because it feels normal, and I desparately need normal.
You are not the only one who redid their will, so did I. I am old, from Central NY State near Syracuse NY virus number and have more freedom since we are in Phase 3. Don.t be hard on yourself this isolation is getting to everyone. Maybe you guys could get in the car and drive out to the country or find a stream and fish. Just do something safe and different. Stay healthy and thanks for the snippets.
Stay safe and healthy (and definitely look after your mental health, too)! Thanks for the recommendation; if I had access, I’d even check it out. đ All my best from Istanbul.
Hang in there. Hold to the truth that most people even who get it will be fine. Dont watch the news bc they make it all doom and gloom. I am a doctor in az so yes it is insane but again i see most people mildly ill and better. You are doing all you can and we send you luv for the cheer you give as suicides anxiety and depression skyrocket.
For another very funny make u feel better about every bad choice you have ever made in life plz watch hgtv renovation island- family renovates bahama resort with no clue despite a supposed business to do this. Heeelarious!
This makes me want to get Viki because it looked hilarious
On Viki – Doctors is awesome, so is Descendants of the Sun, and Oh My Venus!
Praying for you and everybody Else caught in a Covid-19 hot spot.
You have my deepest sympathy. I live in Georgia. Yep. We are setting new records every day now. My daughter came to live with me for the duration and she won’t let me leave the house. We will make it. So sorry you can’t read. I have re-read all your books during the 114 days I’ve been home. Twice.
If reading doesn’t work, you may try video games đ Stardew Valley, and My time at Portia are quite relaxing (and time consuming… Bad idea in fact ????)
I don’t have covid-19, and it’s not close to me. But because of it, my symptoms which appeared a week ahead of the whole “stay the hell home” thing couldn’t be looked into because the hospital closed their labs. That was … what?… mid-March? Yeah, in mid-March, I weighed in at a whopping 132 pounds. Yesterday, I weighed in at a whopping 114 pounds. I was in so much pain that I couldn’t sleep, and because eating was causing the pain, I ate very little to keep it from crushing me. Then, things opened up a little. I had x-rays, I had a CT scan, I had an MRI. No real idea what they were seeing, so today, I had an endoscopic exam with ultrasound and an aspiration needle to grab 5 pieces of what was only visible on the MRI, and it came back with cancer cells. Pancreatic cancer is basically not curable. They can prolong life, but they can’t cure the cancer.
So let’s discuss depressing news, shall we? The pills to stop the pain of the pancreas not working cause diarrhea. I’ve had diarrhea since this all began, way back in March, but now it’s unreal. Nothing stops it. So in addition to having no energy because I can’t eat, I also can’t leave the bathroom, other than for short periods of time during the day.
On the bright side, the hospital required a covid-19 test before they’d let me into their operating room, and I don’t have that. But covid-19 has forced me to wait months for treatment, and we all know that waiting to treat it means it’s harder to beat into submission. Also on the bright side, that’s the only thing that’s wrong inside me. Nothing else is involved.
I’m hoping that Emerald Blaze will be released in time for me to read it. I’m waiting now because it’s a holiday and they have the day off on Friday, so I can’t see an oncologist until Monday. More delay.
Stay home. Stay safe from the virus. Keep writing. You give us all something to look forward to, and that ain’t hay.
I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could do besides letting you know someone read your words and cares that you are suffering.
Know that you are loved and appreciated, even by a stranger. May you find at least slivers of peace and joy each day.
Please email me. đ I have an ARC for you, but your email is rejecting my messages.
OMG! Thank you for the show recommends!!! I just found out Japanese anime has a whole genre for people getting stuck in fantasy/fictional worlds, isekei (sp?) which is one of my faves. Currently here in the US it’s called LitRPG if you go to Amazon. But I’ve been reading this genre since the 70s and grew up calling it Lost Boys/Lost Girls referring to classics like Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan. When I was grade school, I was grade school age I kept matches and a candle on me just in case I dropped into another world, and when I was old enough to obtain a proper dagger with a sheath (Ren Faire purchase) that went into my purse as well. I kept hoping… but so far haven’t had the luck. So, reading it is the next best thing (plus, old now, unless going means getting a young athletic body, no fantasy world adventuring for this roly poly olly)
So, the screen writer becoming a character in a fantasy series sounds absolute ACES đ Also, I just finished “My Next Life as a Villainess, All Pathways Lead to Doom” and “Ascendance of a Bookworm” on crunchy roll, and am on a binge kick for similar fare.
So sorry to hear it is so bad (virus wise) where you are @_@ If there is anything I can do to help let me know. Locally we are getting those things that were selling out for the last few months, like hand sanitizer and rubbing alcohol, etc. Not sure how supplies are at your area, but if you need simple goods, give a holler.
Gonna go look for that series now. Much appreciation!
Bliss
So. July already, and we’re even deeper in the stink than when my company told me to go home to work remotely, on March 2. My company being an international telecom company, they set about enabling a remote workforce for so many companies in addition to itself. My own team set up 36,000 people internally in just a couple of weeks. Then…as this continued and the economy tanked, layoffs came even to us. I was able to take a severance package rather than involuntary layoff, and am now trying to figure out how to proceed. I went through a very financially tough time earlier in my life, and the anxiety is climbing. Also, our health insurance just went into limbo while things get transitioned, and I’m terrified of getting sick in the interim
I work in China. I was home for Christmas, and I went back in January, still on vacation- spent most of January working on a paper when I wasn’t on a 3-day dancing trip in the provincial capital. As I traveled home on the bullet train, I was coughing a bit, and some woman gave me the eye. I had no idea why. Home, I took my immune supplements (I always wage a war on colds in the winter), and they knocked my cough out within 24 hours (andrographis, reishi). But then I was really tired for the next three days and spent a lot of them asleep (well, I had been up until 3 a.m. dancing in the capital, so…) as well as having a headache for 2 days (not horrible, just unusual). After that period, I was fine. I spent about a month, alone, working on my paper in my apartment, and I started to hear news through social media about Wuhan. My international colleagues were all out of the country on vacation. I always wear an N95 in the outside air in China, and we were required to wear them. Then they started locking down the city and then even the village I was in. When I could no longer get to the Western grocery store, and flights started being cut from my city, and countries started closing more to Chinese flights, I took off to Cambodia. I was there for 2 months, and then I came back to the US, as we’re all teaching online now, and I could choose. I’m in a safe place, I keep my distance, used to masks, and I love the fresh air of the U.S., and I’ve managed to do a socially distanced hike with one of my best friends. Sleeping in in the morning and fresh air are two of the blessings of this time period for me. And enjoying this blog is something that I have done around the globe this year lol.
I’m so sorry that your coping mechanisms aren’t working. I hope you find something that does work.
If you want to explore distractions, Anime Expo is going virtual this year for its convention. Schedule starts tomorrow with various panels. Since some of the K and C dramas mentioned here were Japanese manga, I thought there might be some interest.
Hugs. You and Gordon take care of yourselves!
From the bigger red dot east of you that is Houston….I am a musician in the arts that have already lost their spring and fall income, possibly the entire 20-21 season. I too am toast if I get Covid, but am almost resigned.
However…reading your books give me hope, something to look forward to…
Maybe this music will pull you into a different direction…
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ph0wd4vfbr53x12/soldier%E2%80%99s%20wife%20final.mp4?dl=0
Has anyone watched âThe Killing of Three Thousand Crowsâ (aka: Love of a thousand years). I absolutely loved it! It was beautifully filmed. The drama is about a princessâs quest to find a spirit lamp to save her people from slavery and the immortal who loves and safeguards her on her journey.
I donât think itâs on Viki yet but you can watch episodes on YouTube.
Links:
Theme song MV:
https://youtu.be/ADY1GSxIsO4
Drama review:
https://youtu.be/V0dGvb9KaEE
I live in Texas also, in Bell county. My city, Killeen, went from 138 cases to 450 in one month. I’m staying home, but I think I’ll get it anyway. Also, please tell your kiddos not to be complacent about the viruses. Young people are dying from it too. Not to make you worry (sorry!). But everyone needs to take as many precautions as they can.
I empathize with you so much. Here, in Kentucky, we donât have the escalating Coronavirus numbers that you all currently have in Texas, but my company still laid us all off and then fired most of us. So, as my chronic anxiety and depression spiked beyond my usual coping mechanisms, I have, also, been having lots of trouble finishing anything (books, tv series on Netflix, etc) and my sleeping ranges from 3-6 hours a night. Medication has helped some, but not entirely. Iâm in a better place than I was last month, though. That said, it may be a while until any of us (or anything, really) is back to normal. I hope that things even out for you soon and that you feel better. Take care!
Ilona,
Thanks for sharing what is going on in your neighbourhood, I’m from Ontario and we have been very lucky, we don’t have the numbers that you have in the US. I’m lucky that we are rural and have land to walk around on, and gardens to play in. In the city is must be so hard to have to stay in your home. I don’t know how people do it, and respect them for how hard that must be.
It is hard because we have to hunker down and follow the rules. Being selfless is really hard. Something our generation really hasn’t had to do. Mom is 89 and said a lot of this is like the war, following rules and doing for the community good. In fact we are getting more stuff delivered, and she laughs saying that is what is was like when she was a kid.
It was hard to read your post, but I love how protective the kids are of you both. I hope we learn a lot from this time, and never have to go through this again, but I hope that stronger families are a result for everyone.
Large hug to everyone, to read everyone’s feelings I find helps.
Barbara
Don’t worry, God only gives what our souls can bear. You will get through this because you can
I totally understand worrying about the health of relatives and friends, and I feel really sorry for people who are out of work and are worried about paying the rent or losing their businesses.
But I haven’t lost my job, and when I start feeling sorry for myself about the fact that I can’t go out to a bar or the beach or see my friends in person, I give myself a sharp kick up the backside.
We are so lucky in so many ways.
I once visited Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam. A tiny portion at the back of the house had been sealed off to create a secret place to hide her and 7 other Jews. 8 people in a space 450ft sq – for over 2 years. They couldn’t even make any noise for fear of being discovered.
WWII lasted for over 6 years in Europe. For a good portion of that time everyone in Britain had to lower their blinds and turn off any visible light as soon as it got dark – or bombs would be dropped on them. They could do nothing except listen to the radio (if they were lucky enough to own one) during the hours of darkness – which could last for 14 hours or more in Winter.
We live in an age where we have the internet. We can talk to our friends with zoom, even if we can’t see them in person. We have TV and on-line shopping and video games and so many other things that the older generation never had. So we can’t go to the bar or the beach for 3 months – put that in context with what previous generations had to put up with – and maybe we can stop feeling quite so sorry for ourselves and be grateful that we’re part of the internet generation.
“We will keep writing Ryder as long as we can.”
That is a chilling sentence to read. Wishing you health, happiness for many years, and asymptomatic cases if you do have to get the virus.
That sounds like how my town was in April. Hang in there and take precautions. It WILL get better but it’s a long way until we get back to pre-COVID comfort level.
ups!! en mi paĂs (Argentina) llevamos 105 dĂas de aislamiento, en mi ciudad estamos en fase 4 por lo que hay algunas actividades comerciales y recreativas con los protocolos de cuidado necesarios , algunos lugares cercanos a la capital estĂĄn en fase 1 (solo se permiten actividades esenciales) es difĂcil sobre todo para la economĂa. por suerte hay mucha conciencia y todos usan barbijos de tela y mantienen distancia social. tenemos relativamente pocos casos por ahora pero sabemos que llegara, es difĂcil porque aquĂ es invierno y eso no ayuda. tratamos de tomarlo con calma y de buscar la manera de sobrellevarlo y esperar lo mejor, deseo que los amigos de kid 2 y sus familias y vecinos superen este tiempo apoyĂĄndose unos a otros, mi filosofĂa es hacer todo lo que se puede hacer y tratar de no preocuparse por lo que no se puede. pero no siempre es tan fĂĄcil, si sirve de algo, ustedes nos estĂĄn ayudando mucho y nos estĂĄn alegrando con estas hermosas entregas. no es poco. gracias!!!!
Dam I’m sorry things are so rough for you guys. Reading your books helped get me through some rough patches. Stay safe and be well.
Oh wow – I truly cannot comprehend the numbers of active cases you have. I’m from New Zealand and we currently have 22 active cases in the WHOLE country. These are people who have returned to NZ from overseas, and have had a positive test when coming into the country. So they are on mandatory isolation for 2 weeks and have to pass testing before being allowed out in to the general population. We do not have any community transmitted cases currently.
We as a nation count our blessings every day.
Best wishes to you – our slogan during our lockdown period was “be strong, be kind – we will be OK” – it became a mantra that our prime minister made during her daily update.
In 2017 I got costochondritis while it law school, and almost failed out because of it. Most people, even doctors, didn’t really get how….horrible it can be, which almost made it worse, because it affects your life in such a unrelenting way. The only person who fully understood was my grandfather, who had it WWII. It was one of the only times we ever fully understood one another. Anyway, I don’t know if it helps, but as one costochondritis sufferer to another I just wanted to give you a massive virtual hug.
Your post made me want to cry and laugh! A truly gifted storyteller! Also I find the Kate Daniels books a prophetic read in light of current crises. Ever worry your fiction will become a little too real??? The Ryder series really is bringing me true happiness in dark times, thank you so much for that. Most of us are too spooked to even accomplish basic daily tasks, and here you are pushing yourselves and doing amazing work under pressure. Again, Thank you.
Keep on keeping on. Wishing you all safe & well x
I hope you and family are still healthy. I’m a longtime fan of your books and blog.
Just spent two days binge watching The Romance of Tiger and Rose- good stuff. I lived 2 years each in China and Korea, so it was good to have an excuse to return to a drama.
Dear Ilona,
My sincerest hope and prayers that you, your family and friends get through this with the least amount of heart ache.
There are so many things to fear, whether it is the health of our loved ones, the bank balance and debt, and even if someone might get deported to an even more dangerous situation. I know that there are so many people less fortunate than me, and I remind my self that despite everything, I am actually OK.
I am attempting to get through this by keeping my thoughts on the present and avoiding thinking about the looming future. I get through by trying to accomplish something everyday, even though it might be embarrassingly small. I try to keep my kids entertained and educate them at home. I try to reassure, comfort and support my wife, and accept it in return, even when I am so worried. I try to keep a positive outlook despite everything, and it is a struggle.
But there are several things that help me cope, and books are definitely some of the best. I can’t count the hours of happy distraction that books have given me, despite how hard it is to relax enough to read. Among the authors I follow, you are perhaps my favorite.
I can’t thank you enough, Ilona.
As a book addict, perhaps I am biased when I give my opinion that your work means so much to so many people. I want to add my voice to your many fans who have already expressed how your work is helping them cope.
I hope that it might help brighten you day. You certainly do brighten mine.
A little late to comment but for me coping started during the evenings with Briarpatch on Hulu (where can I get Jay R. Fergusonâs dance at the end of episode 2 on a loop to watch????!) Cavit Pinot Grigio, Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc and La Vielle Ferme Roseâ and coping overnight with melatonin! I also found this lady’s blog helpful.â Link below.
My rant: It’s so weird when it seems 70% of people won’t wear masks and act like there is no COVID. They get in your space and even touch you.
Part one: https://cindyknoke.com/2020/03/14/anxiety-management-during-pandemic-days/â¨Part two: Hope on The Horizon: Pandemic Anxiety management II
Well the above link does not work. It’s in her March archives. https://cindyknoke.com/2020/03/27/pandemic-anxiety-busters/
I understand what your area is going through. I live in one of the former NY hotspots. It was…surreal. I hope we donât go through that again.
I found it helpful to not watch TV news. I went straight to two particular sources on the internet and thatâs it.
For political news, I read Heather Cox Richardsonâs daily news summary-sheâs a political historian, not a journalist. Sheâs on FB, Twitter, and an email subscription on Substack.
For coronavirus news, I watched Gov. Andrew Cuomoâs daily updates. He doesnât need to do the daily updates anymore, but I still find good information for my area.
I only had two people in my family get coronavirus. I thought they would end up in the hospital due to their age and state of health, but they thankfully made it through at home.
I do everything I can to not let anxiety get the best of me. Itâs not easy. I too get physically ill and depressed from it.
I decided to get on the Bake Bread bandwagon during my work furlough. It was a messy experience, but when the dough doubled in size I was in awe:) When I took two huge loaves out of the oven and saw my large, imperfect-looking, but delicious-smelling, fresh baked bread, I was over the moon!!
It took me over 4 decades to learn that I am allowed to find joy during times of darkness. It is the only thing that makes life worthwhile.
Feeling grateful is also another good thing. I make sure to acknowledge with my whole heart all those things that keep me feeling happy to be alive. Reading your books is one of them. Thank you and God bless you and your loved ones.
I would also be interested to hear about a mask pattern that fits nicely. The best I’ve found so far is the Super Hero Mask from IThinkSew.com (https://ithinksew.com/Products/Details/2918). They have some newer designs I’m looking forward to trying though.
I also wanted to mention that I found a filter fabric available to consumers that looks promising. I saw it mentioned in a Business Insider article (https://www.businessinsider.com/filti-mask-material-filters-particles-9-times-better-than-cotton-2020-4).
You can buy it here: https://filti.com/product/filti-face-mask-material/
I appreciate that it is 3rd party tested and actually meant to be used as a mask filter. I have enough health issues that I am much happier having a mask that has a shot at protecting me as well as protecting other people from me.
The other filter fabric I looked at was a washable nanofiber one IThinkSew had tracked down from South Korea. I liked it, but couldn’t justify the shipping and it is out of stock most of the time.
Reading, re-reading and listening to Ilona Andrews books is a large part of my coping strategy, so I’m happy to have found a little bit of at least potentially useful information to give back.
So sorry for your stress. I live in upstate NY so it hasnât been as bad here, but I work for a newspaper and saw the AP news articles beginning in January and February and itâs terrifying when you canât do anything to help. My husband is an LPN in a nursing home and works on the isolation unit for patients who are positive for COVID but only mildly ill. It is so frustrating to go to a store and see people walk around without masks and break every social distancing rule. It has helped to be able to go outside and listen to the birds and watch them at the feeders and watch the squirrels and chipmunks steal the seeds. Our cats and elderly dog are always a good for a laugh. I also limited my news input to what I have to read for work and the local weather. Not watching the national and world news helped a lot. I have to keep telling myself that itâs okay to take a brain break and just stare at my flowers for a while and itâs okay not to get everything done that I planned to. I think everyone is stressed and anxious. Please take care of yourselves and thank you for the lovely distraction of Ryder. I look forward to new installments popping up. Dobre den
Thank you so much for the update. Please, please stay safe. When I say that you’ll be in my thoughts, I really mean it. I’m sending happy thoughts and sanity to your family. And we all devour the Ryder chapters. No worries there.
Blessed be to you and yours! I hope that you are well!
Are they (the college students) nuts? I know that extroverts need to be around people, but what happened to consideration for your fellow man?
Here in Omaha, Nebraska they did not have the Summer Arts Festival, but went virtual.
A lot of businesses have closed their doors forever! All to protect their friends and families! The barber shop in our suburb just opened its doors a week ago and will only let three people in at a time! The restaurants are open but they only let half as many people in as before and you can’t sit in the waiting area but in your car. The staff phone\text you when your table is ready.
A friend of my college aged daughter was caring for her grandmother and living with her MOVED out the very next day to protect her because she worked in a half way house\care facility part time.
I am loving The Romance of Tiger and Rose. Thank you.
Bless your souls! My family and I have not stopped isolating because my husband is vulnerable and people are inexplicably rebellious about wearing masks that help protect others. So we stay home. I am Gen X and grew up on a farm so social isolation isnât that big of a deal for me, but the stress of wondering if my husband will die is huge. We have decided to homeschool next year, and I am not returning to my inner city classroom. It breaks my heart, but there is no way we could protect him if we go back to school where we absolutely would be exposed and bring it home to him. I try to remember to extend grace to the people who are getting out and not wearing masks, but I am so angry. They are inconsiderate and selfish, or just plain ignorant, and they could kill my husband. So I stay home and off Facebook.
I have had a hard time reading, too. It comes and goes in waves. For a while the only thing I could read was science fiction because for whatever reason fantasy felt too impossible. At least with science fiction I could imagine a future beyond this one.
Thank you for writing and sharing this blog post. I am having a difficult time with the isolation and uncertainty of quarantine, too. It helps to know I am not the only person whose coping mechanisms are failing.
Oh, man. I assume you’ve already watched Nirvana in Fire and The Untamed, but if you haven’t you might really enjoy them! The Viki subtitles are FAR better than those on Netflix for The Untamed, btw. Hope you can enjoy!
In the spirit of respecting the apolitical tone of your blog, I wonât star pointing fingers. However, I would just like to say I honestly commiserate for you and for your fellow 328-million citizens for living in a place where, somehow, people in power put their own self-interests before the protecting the health of the general public, which is paramount to their mandate/the reason they have been given power by the civil society in the first place. That Gramsci quote you used a few chapters ago is indeed accurate. However, as long as we keep our eyes open, there is hope for an end to all of this.
Hang in there, you are not alone.
????Loved the trailer!
Prayers & well wishes for you in this pandemic. I live alone in Detroit but I play piano for church on the weekends which has been the bulk of my human interaction for months. I also try to shout out at my neighbors (across the street, sidewalks, & driveways) while working in the garden.
I’m sorry things are awful over there, I can’t even imagine the stress… You guys have lovely daughters, but you already know that. Thanks for sharing a new drama! Sending you good vibes and good health ????
If love and approval from a stranger help make things more bearable – know you have them.
1 – on Coronavirus – this podcast epidsode was particularly interesting (once you deal with Michael Barbaro’s weird pausing habit) in that the expert talks about how this disease is actually vascular instead of simply respiratory, which is why you get people having other symptoms like kids getting covid toes, etcetera.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/podcasts/the-daily/coronavirus-science-indoor-infection.html
So much for comparing it to the flu!
They also had another episode where they talk about how pedantry in the medical science field over the term ‘asymptomatic’ caused delays in warnings about how the virus can spread before symptoms show getting out to the broader public.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/09/podcasts/the-daily/asymptomatic-coronavirus-spread.html?action=click&module=audio-series-bar®ion=header&pgtype=Article
2 – on ‘The Romance of Tiger and Rose’ – WETV, aka Tencent, which is the originating channel, has already finished showing it. Their english website is:
https://wetv.vip/en
You can watch it free, don’t need the VIP subscription service.
Just reading through other’s comments re: asian dramas. I already made suggestions a few weeks back on this post…
https://ilona-andrews.com/2020/emerald-blaze-netgalley/
…so I’m not gonna repeat those, but for some reason I didn’t recommend ‘Story of Ming Lan’, which is weird, because it’s brilliant. I’m guessing Ilona might’ve already mentioned watching it.
But, while I’m here, another series I’ve watched since is ‘Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung’ which was quite entertaining.