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. š
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. š
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 donāt 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 thatās the most important thing right now. We need you both here to ātortureā 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! š And, of course, stalking this website daily. Thank you for what you do and I hope everyone stays safe & healthy
Sorry youāre 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 weāve 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 isnāt 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 Iām a portrait photographer so all our jobs are cancelled until at least end of July but thatās only IF we donāt 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.
Iām also in the same boat of not being able to finish anything in the last couple weeks. I couldnāt 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.
Iām so sorry, and I hope you and your family keep being healthy.
Iām from Italy but Iām living in Spain, I got so worried for my family that at one point I couldnāt 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.
Itās really scary.
Be careful and keep safe, this will pass hopefully
Iām from New Braunfels and itās 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, itās 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 isnāt. My husband and I flew back from Hong Kong Feb 27, and has been in quarantine or lockdown since.
Weāve been out to get groceries, and we carry hand sanitizer and sanitize every 10minutes just because I canāt seem to stop touching things when I shop, funny that. Weāre in our early 40ās. Weāre not high risk, but why risk it? Getting sick is not fun, getting sick with something that is not definitely treatable is terrifying.
Iāve given up watching anything too serious. Recently watched a Korean Drama called Strong Girl Bong Soon. So funny! Itās not exactly strong in plot, but so so so entertaining. Probably the funniest / silliest Korean Drama weāve 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 didnāt 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 canāt read for more than hour. We will get through this but itās 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.
Weāre pretty much at home all the time as well. Iām a severe asthmatic and all of this is crazy! What mask pattern are you using? I have to make some although I havenāt been able to… as of yet. I will tell you one thing thatās makes me happy (other then sewing a new wardrobe). Iāve been re reading your books. Iām currently on Sweep of the Blade. Itās 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 doesnāt think sheās gonna get it and misses her friends. The 14 ye old is just starting Highschool and is scared sheās gonna get sick but doesnāt 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 itās 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 āold peopleā. 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 š 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 š
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 (ā¬1000 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 cafƩs but social distancing is largely maintained. Went out today for lunch (first time in ages) and the cafƩ (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? Itās 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. Iām 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, donāt 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 wonāt help. How about binge watching?
Itās 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 āElemental Gatherersā series. Heās 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 Howlās moving castle, based on the book by Dianne Wynne Jones. It is a Studio Ghibli product. Have you seen it? They also have Kikiās Delivery Service, which I also liked. I saw both on Netflix.
The virus and infection rate is terrible- I live in one of South Africaās 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 thatās 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’