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Coronavirus: The Twitter Edition

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In an effort to make it a little less scary, I present to you the following.

The Paladin
The Gamer
The mama’s favorite
The responsible child
The Vikings

Stay home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Turn off the news.

::hug::

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Comments

  3. Thanks for the laughs. I really liked the two Cuomo brothers it reminded me of bickering with my siblings.

    • I am like you! Handwashing is no problem, but not touching my face seems an almost unsurmountable problem. Maybe one of those 17th century Dutch collar thingies would help 😉

      • Me three. Now I’ve added guilt for thinking less of the dog when he tried everything to get around the cone of shame

    • I am wearing a face mask outside JUST to stop myself from touching my face. Once I’m home and have washed my hands, I’m fine with returning to “picking at it” (ok, not FINE, but not scared). And I feel guilty, like I have to stop and explain to everyone that I know the face mask is not protecting me from the virus, just from my own hands. As if I’m encouraging bad science and panic by being seen in public with a mask. Especially here in Central Europe, where the masks are getting pretty common. But I’m not touching my face after touching something hundreds of other people have just touched, so… it’s a win?

  7. I turned off the news at 7:30 this morning and I’m having a day of relaxation. The governor closed our public schools so I have not been to kindergarten for my volunteer job all week. I missed the children and wonder how they are doing. I doubt very seriously that we will be back before next fall.

    Right now I’m watching The Martian Extended Edition on my Amazon prime account. I’ve seen this movie so many times, but I still love it. Thank you for your post. It was much needed at this time for so many people. Be safe.

    • There’s an extended edition??? I love this book and the film is excellent! Thanks for sharing this info 🙂

  8. Ha! Love it. Thank you for this. We’ve had to go in to lockdown at my house today as my dad has a high temperature. Nothing major and we’re pretty sure it’s nothing serious, but of course we have to be careful. It’s only been hours and my mum is already having a meltdown. I don’t mind her unloading on me, but I’m exhausted and it’s hard to reassure when I just want to sleep!!

  10. Just a note to thank you for continuing to post. You brighten my day, so thank you. Love from Canada.

  13. I first saw the one about “people will assume you have a sword” posted by a friend I met through historical weaponry. In other words, my first thought was, “of course I have a sword! You have a sword too. And an axe… and a bow. Great news: we’re a couple of hobbits and a wizard away from destroying the One Ring!”

    • We have all the weapons and a chemist/wizard can we play?

      I laughed so hard at these posts!

      Thank you Favorite Authors for all the fun!

  14. I totally relate to “The Responsible Child”. My kids keep nagging me! But I’m an NP and can’t just do nothing…hard choices. For a fun note, I get to be the anxious patient on our virtual phone in sim Monday, so I will get all my “anxiety” out there!
    And I want a sword…

  17. Thank you for this! Needed the laugh today. Stay safe and well and may you get lots of restful gaming time in 🙂

  18. I survived the baby earthquake, I have made the oath of sworn solitude against the invisible wraith, coronavirus. . I’m prepared for when the magic wave finally comes. I am pretty sure I would make a good Viking.

  21. these are great. “Men and Women of the North…” lol. my favorite. Last night I dreamed Antonio Banderas was my husband and I was on a desperate search for the right shoes to wear to a wedding where a countess was trying to steal him from me… lol. Stress induced dreams. Needless to say, I overslept in my interest to see what happened next and I was late to a work conference call on telecommuting and contact reducing… I work in a public health orientated lab, so we have to do some work actually there.

    Virtual hugs to all. It was very weird at the grocery store today. People so subdued and quiet. IA, be well. thanks for maintaining the community here …!

    • On a better note we went shopping during the “senior’s” hours and everyone seemed very good spirited. Still no paper towels though!
      Stay safe!

      • That’s good to hear! I did get a couple of extra boxes of Kleenex … lol I am still baffled by the TP hoarding … also no carrots.

  22. It’s a chaotic disaster, but sometimes people can really shine. Three of my neighbors have “checked in ” on us, offering to run errands, take care of odd jobs, etc. I didn’t know anyone was watching. Neighbors from our old neighborhood a thousand miles away called to check on us. If we needed help they had contacts “not too far” that could help us..These aren’t churches or organized groups,just really nice neighbors, coming forward, offering to help neighbors . Glad to say we are fine so far, but a weight I didn’t know was there just went away.

  23. I LOVE the teddy bears! There is GOOD NEWS!!! Venice reports that without all the boat traffic on the canals, the water has cleared up and you can see the fish again! Soooo there is an upside to this nightmare!

  24. True ????
    My last day in the office today for me for a month, been told to work from home. Good job hubby has a work laptop I can borrow.
    It will be like job share but laptop share instead????

  26. Yea for turning off the news! I read one national paper online and listen to local stuff on the radio and that’s it. We are doing ok and hope everyone else is too! The new Mercy Thompson is out then I’m starting a Rogan re-read????.

    • I read the new Mercy book in one day. Thankfully three other books came out the same day: Jennifer Estep’s Crush the King, TJ Klune’s The Cerulean Sea and something by C E Murphy.

      • I read the Mercy book yesterday. I have Crush the King on hold thru the ebook library in Ft. Worth. If you have a library card, see if your library has ebook options. I’m over 60 with asthma and COPD so I’m only going on grocery runs. My mom’s nursing home closed for visitors over a week ago. She has memory issues. Just got off the phone with her and she doesn’t realize we haven’t seen her lately. Never thought her memory issues would be a blessing. Love the recipies and the comments. Reading this blog makes me feel connected. Thank you House andrew and blessings and prayers to the BDH and the people in health care and grocery store and other industries who are out there working for us.

  29. We are taking our 15 year old daughter out to practice her driving since the roads are less crowded ????

    • Melissa B – when it was my daughters learning to drive, we used to go to the mall parking lots first thing on Sunday mornings. Completely empty, and a chance to practice: driving in straight lines, parking (drive in & reverse in), 3-point turns, parallel parking, etc. Much less stressful all around, and it got them ready for the roads.

  30. Perfection. Ps bought second ku book on Russian myths. You have created a monster. Again.

  31. Yes turning off the news is the best! 🙂

    My fortress of solitude has been breached by husband working from home and bored kids. I can no longer work from home in peace.
    🙂
    But very grateful we still have jobs and are healthy so far.

  35. Giggle. Thanks always for the laughs. I now have a freezer. Yay! Finding something to put in it is a whole other tale. Lol. At least I’m well stocked with cat food for my two fur babies and have tons to read. Stay well everyone!!

  37. This is not advice the CDC would give but it is funny. You tube–Emily Annette — video “Just touch your face” She is a nurse.

    • What I found amusing was while I was at a grocery store yesterday, over the PA system the song, Don’t Stand So Close To Me was playing!

  39. Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post. I loved the reasons for physical distancing.

    Your ha ha chuckle for today…. Titan aka the knucklehead lunatic pup was running around yard exercising during lunch when I realized he was busy snapping newly emerged flying insects out of the air. Yes he got stung on tongue, dosed with Benadryl and crated. Now he is busy tweeting mournfully wanting to be let out of crate. Sigh. Sigh. Puppies! But he stays crated until I determine if he needs to go to vet or not.

    So thanks for laugh.

  40. Love the teddy bears!! Yesterday at physical therapy we (patients and therapy staff) discussed dogs and parrots. Much needed endorphins from laughing at funny pet stories. (It’s much easier to do the exercises when your body has relaxed from laughing.) ????????????????

  41. In Santa Clara county we have a shelter in place order in effect until April. So I can exercise (outside), go to essential businesses when necessary, go for a hike in a city park as long as I practice social distancing. Because people need morale boosts. I can also holler to my neighbors to see if they are okay. All of which I have done since Tuesday.
    I also hum a power tune while washing my hands. 22 seconds of telling myself that I am invincible thanks to soap and water.

  42. Lovely to have another post. Staying in house in Bay Area with husband and teenage daughter. No real issues but it is challenging! I am teaching online and that is another kettle of fish.

  43. I work for the state. we only have one person in our office able to work from home, the rest of us are wiping things down and washing hands continuously. just found out they are having trouble with the phone system cause they’re not designed for long term call use. more like 5-7 minute calls. we have tape on the carpet showing where to stop to talk to people for walk in customers. I don’t think they’ll send us home, but if they do I have spring cleaning in mind to keep me busy.

  45. Good i Wish WE have the New book vor thus Isolation Situation Them i can stay Home read…..

  46. I love the blog! I’ve re-read all of Hidden Legacy books this past weekend. My teenage daughter is bored, so she just cleaned out the pantry. Happy dancing here!!!

  47. Thanks for this. I’m on day 4 of working from home. As an introvert, I figured this would be the best thing ever. And I am a wreck. My kid is still in daycare because I seriously don’t think I could function with her here too. No idea what my problem is, but my boss is going to have my head if I don’t shape up.

  50. We’re working 5 hour days scrubbing down the bingo hall. Just finished the two smoking rooms, they actually smell fresh! It took floor wax stripper to get the yellow off the walls, so happy smoking isn’t one of my bad habits! Should have it all done over the next two weeks. I’m hoping to avoid cleaning the concession stand, rather scrub down the bathrooms! We ran out of bleach today so they’ll be on the hunt for more over the weekend. I have spring fever, 83 degrees today and potting soil in the trunk of my car. Hunting down plants tomorrow. Something fun to do.

  51. Thank you for the picture of the extremely cute teddy bears hugging each other.

    I work from home for a healthcare system in the DFW area, so unless I take time off, no break for me. The hospitals that are in the system I work for has clamped down on visitors to the hospital. Corporate has also made access to the buildings badge only unless you go through the main doors so security can take your temperature. Only essential personnel are to be at corporate. The rest…work from home.

    On top of all that, it’s been raining on and off for the past few weeks. Allergy season is in full swing. ????

  52. LOL
    Our city shut down all nonessential businesses as of noon yesterday. Hubby and I are both out of jobs until April 18th, the earliest. Our schools closed as of Monday. This will be the longest my husband, our teen son and I will have spent together consecutively since the kiddo was born!
    My husband also has MS so is therefore immune deficient so the part of me that doesn’t care about our finances is happy about the closures. The big corporation I work for had half ass plans in place to pay 1 weeks worth to full time managers and then receded them the second they decided to close nationwide (less than 12 hours after we announced a closure) so I had to threaten with an attorney to get even the most basic initial promise.

  53. I work for a healthcare corporation, contracted out as IT support onsite at a hospital. I can do 100% of my job from home and told them 2 days ago that I’m at high risk due to asthma and a few other things and they told me to work from home. The rest of the people who can work from home start Monday. We have to do what is necessary to keep staffing so that we can keep the systems running to support our clinical staff. The real heroes are the nurses, doctors, mid-levels, housekeepers, engineering, cafeteria workers, lab techs, phlebotomists, and every other person who works in healthcare and are dealing with shortages and conflicting information from the powers that be. And let’s not forget our law enforcement, fast food workers, grocery stores and their staff, truckers, etc… All these people are keeping the supplies flowing

    • The food processing plants as well. Orders have doubled in the last week and they are pulling out all the stops to run 24/7.
      The administration has assured the plants that they won’t have to shut down for us inspectors getting sick. Hope they remember to tell the virus that it isn’t allowed to infect us.

      • California, San Francisco area resident here. Our whole “nation state ” got the order to shelter-in-place. My family is in the perfect position to see this through with at least a month of supplies (we plan ahead because of the various earthquakes, fires, and drought). We have the technology to work from home. The only thing I’m sad about is the consumption of all the flaming hot cheetos con limon. Why did i not stock up on those suckers?!?

    • Just read that in some neighborhoods in France, people step outside their doors at an agreed on time & applaud all the health care workers. ( I agree with adding all the others you listed)

      • We are doing this in our neighbourhood outside of Toronto, Canada as well – banging pots and pans from our porches at 7:30pm for a couple of minutes. It is a lovely action, and we wave at each other and it buoys our spirits and keeps us grateful.

  54. I’d like to read a funny about forced home schooling. If you can – don’t mean to sound forceful. I’m a teacher by trade and a lot of my Facebook feed is about people freaking out. Because they don’t read the manual. And it’s somewhat funny to me. Sorry to anyone really having problems….Google and Khan Academy are very useful.

    • We’ve been homeschooling for 4 years now ever since our kids were attacked in school on a daily basis. Most of our neighbours told us we were crazy and would damage the kids! Now they’re all contacting us to ask how homeschooling works, about motivation and about materials!
      Hopefully this sort of thing will bring people closer together and I can already see more tolerance in my neighbourhood and people watching out more about their elderly neighbours and the kids.

      • Home schooling does not damage your kids! Both of my boys excelled in college and got great grades. An advisor told me home schooled kids transition to college because they are used to working independently. My oldest graduated from college, got a good job, has a terrific girlfriend, owns his own home, and is well liked. How is that damaged? My youngest is still in college and continues to do well. College is transitioning to all classes at home. No problem for him!

        Good luck to everyone who has to transition. It can be very rewarding and you will have a special relationship with your kids.

        • Thank you so much for sharing your story. It’s great to hear that homeschooling does work. We have seen a huge change in our children -they are flourishing. Good luck to your children and I hope that you all stay well and stay safe.

    • My cousin’s wife is teaching their son about life skills in home schooling. Their last post was learning about smart shopping.

      • That sounds like fun -hope you don’t mind if we borrow your idea? Seeing as we can’t go anywhere we signed our kids up for online courses in designing and programming games. This way if they don’t like the games we have they can design their own!

    • I’ve actually read a few funny memes and a video posted on Facebook about people forced to homeschool. Not sure how you can look them up… most has been about toilet paper… there was a video that showed a deal being made with a thick wad of cash, not for drugs, but for a bottle of Purel and a roll of toilet paper. Lots of humor and creativity to be found!

  58. I live in the north of Milan, Italy, with my husband and my two daughters who are five and three years old. This is our 4th week of quarantine, and the peak is estimated to still be a couple of weeks away, maybe more. I feel like someone has pushed the “pause” button on life, it’s very surreal and very scary. Thanks for the funnies.

    • It must be very difficult not being able to go out with such young children and having seen the news very scary. We’re sending you a big hug. You are not alone, even if we are in a different country. Good luck and take care of yourself and your family. Grande abbraccio.

      • Grazie. Right now I’m very very grateful we have a garden and that my daughters have at least each other to play with!

    • Serena ~ it is most difficult with young children but I’m thankful you are okay and with your family. Will be keeping you and the many families of your beautiful country in prayer, along with others. Keep us posted by posting here when you can.

    • My heart is with you, I have been seeing how terribly the virus is hitting the population of Northern Italy. And I’m feeling the quarantine pain, as well — I’m in Wien, which is shut down, and they are telling us will be for another four months. And we’re only on our second week of closure and quarantine! My husband and I are trying to find ways to entertain ourselves, since we have never been big TV watchers. I genuinely hope our marriage survives four months of forced togetherness.

    • You and your family and your country have my prayers. I did hear that young kids under 19 do not seem to get as sick as adults, if that helps.
      I’m an anesthesiologist. Have been off last week for school break in Ontario. No confirmed cases in my town as of yesterday but lots of tests pending. I’m considering sending my youngest to stay with her sisters once I return to work. Family is one of the many worries during this difficult time.
      Thanks for the posts.

      • That has become a problem, though, with the youth thinking they are not much at risk of anything serious… that has been resulting in more cases with the young in some areas of the US and them becoming a risk of spreading it to those who are a more serious risk. Even with the social distancing, I have seen people sitting together at work at small tables, kids in groups playing, seen on the news many college students partying on the beach… schools and businesses closing won’t do much good if those who feel they are not at risk do things that can cause them to catch and spread the disease and some of the young have had to be hospitalized. When my children were young, most of the reason the household got sick was because of them catching something and bringing it back home. I am hoping that with all the measures taking place in IL that the quarantine period would be less, the healthcare not overwhelmed, and lives saved or spared from becoming sick. Also a heartfelt prayer that we all would quickly recover from the financial and economic strain/loss this has caused.

    • Hi Serena
      how are you today? I spoke with members of our family who are quarantined with young children and they said they have been using code.org to teach the children scratch. It gives the children a change from school work and also teaches them a skill. They then discuss progress/ ideas over the phone with friend. The youngest was 4. Don’t know if this is for you but thought I’d pass it on. Stay safe.

  59. My small town is basically in lock down and just the grocery stores (which have zip cleaning products and no paper products, sigh)and gas stations are up and running on limited hours. I am still doing delivery work and staying home in between times and since I hit that senior zone… crossing my fingers. My bosses say they are not shutting down because we are a needful thing. I appreciate the work and the income to cover the bills and thankfully my job is a loner type one. Just me and the vehicle…. so very limited contact with others.
    Love your blog… thanks for the laughs.
    Yep, I need to shut off the news … it makes me crazy and stressed.

  60. My brother -in – Law works for a furniture store in Stevenson, Al that is delivering groceries to the elderly for free in the Stevenson, Hollywood, Bridgeport area. The Library next door is closed to patrons but making sandwiches for kids who normally depend on School lunches.

  61. My sister and her daughter (who is pregnant) are upset with each other because my niece yelled at my sister for going out. Thank you for giving me reason to laugh about this insanity!!! Because my niece IS “The Responsible Child”. Ha!
    Oh, and I’m sure I’m not the first to say this, but I know why everyone is buying toilet paper. We are losing our s#it. LOL
    Hugs to everyone. Be well, stay safe.

  62. I have a steady income due to being retired with a pension plus SSA. Yes, I know how lucky I am.

    So far, all I am missing is powdered milk to make bread with. However, I can use actual milk if I want to use one of those recipes.

    Thanks to whoever mentioned the Khan Acadamy – I was blanking on the name when I was talking to my daughter earlier – she has an 8th grader and a 2nd grader to keep busy for the foreseeable future.

  63. I apologize for any wrong wording, english is not my native language.
    I am in Berlin. The city is shutting down more each day. I am in the high risk group (copd – no I’m not a smoker). I wish I could stay at home. I still go to work, which is court, and move within the inner city visiting the hospitals each day, because I am a judge who – among other things – issues guardianships and detention orders for the mentally disabled. I have a permit to freely go where I need to be, even when the unevitable full shutdown comes. The problem is that the hospitals are now releasing the severly mentally ill from the closed psychiatric wards in order to prepared for corona.

    • Imke – You are very courageous and are to be applauded for doing such important work in these difficult times. You must be very worried, but also distressed at the thought that many of the severely mentally ill people you are trying to protect may be left to their own devices. I fear that we will have similar issues, since the US relies on its hospitals to provide a safety net, rather than the government doing the right thing to protect citizens.
      All the best to you.

    • What is also scary is talk about releasing prisoners because of the COVID concerns due to lack of social distances. Really hope that does not happen! Stay safe and healthy! We just went into lockdown in the state of Illinois and I am considered non-essential so no work till April 7 unless they change that. The schools and some other things have already been shut down for a couple of weeks so I hope these measures make it possible to get back to a more normal life sooner than those who waited longer to shut down.

      It would be great if they could come up with a better solution for the mentally ill… setting up wards in other places or something for those who get sick.

      I know someone who is 60 with COPD who is also considered essential so will continue to work. Is there any way you could do things from home, remotely, or have someone else do the legwork where you can work behind the scenes? An avatar would be nice!

  64. Yeah, we are in NYC and just got an email that WFH has been extended until 4.20 – which is coincidentally when kids are supposed to go back to school.

    Thanks for this! I am definitely a mix of Responsible Child and Person of the North!

    I just want to say, for those that have to go out and help the sick (like other commenters above me) THANK YOU! You have always been the lifeblood of the world and your continued sacrifice – well, there are no words.

  65. In our country it’s so bad that they forbid gatherings of more than 5 people. I take it seriously but i try only to worry and watch the news once a day and then stop thinking about it. It can breaks you otherwiese. I’m trying to go with the flow and take one day at a time. Don’t worry about things you can’t change.
    I also like to see the positive side of such a crisis as well because there are some. I saw some small businesses getting really innovative on how to sell their stuff without breaking the law (still keeping distance etc.). Stay healthy everybody!

  67. Definitely uncharted territory, I have been working from home since week ago Thursday (I work in NYC,live in NJ).
    I was careful before that, I walked from the bus terminal to work instead of subway, but I wonder how many times I was exposed riding packed buses. My wife has come down with something that is definitely viral,but so far is mild (body aches,soar throat,tired) but little or no fever,no coughing. Doesn’t matter really, tests are non existent in NJ and only if you have major symptoms. This is one time I don’t curse having a hyper immune system…

    We are concerned about our son, he is in grad school far away from us, and he has an at risk condition (asthma), though he likely is better off where he is than this area at this point.

    My heart and prayers go out to all affected by this, and my admiration goes out to all those on the front lines,the care providers,first responders, people working to keep stores running, all those jobs we don’t think of until there is a crisis. It takes one kind of bravery to fight a ‘real’ war, it takes a different one to face an enemy that you cannot see or know where it is, often lacking equipment,and still stay in there and do the job in the face of that.

    • I wish your wife could be tested! I am sure if there were more tests available, it would help in isolating the spread of COVID also that there are probably more infected than the numbers reported. Those with mild or no symptoms can be unknown vectors or it could just be a cold.

      If you could just as easily work at home for a certain amount of your work, that may be a nice change in the future for your employers to consider… something good coming out of this which may be discovered with other job positions and situations.

  69. I am 76 yrs old and have a compromised immune system I am so grateful to have all your books to re-read ! Blessings on you and yours please stay well ! Creator bless all those on the front lines in this biological war and keep them safe from harm.

  70. Me: Sees a beat up car on the street in a rough neighbourhood where I work with two 52 packs of toilet paper visible in the back seat.
    Me: Must be a police bait-car

  71. My dad and I went a couple of rounds over coronavirus last weekend. He kept saying it was no different from the flu. Finally I pulled out the weapon I have never before used:

    “Do it for me.” I begged “Just for a couple of weeks. Please.”
    (scoff) “You really think this will be over in a couple weeks?”
    “No, but in a couple of weeks you will believe me. Have faith in me until then. Please.”
    “Fine.”

    I talked to Dad today. He told me to stay inside and call him daily. He said that people going out right now are idiots.

    My dad and your dad have a good bit in common.

  73. We’ve had the virus early (kids in school were our vector). So I’m the designated shopper. I’ve dropped off milk for my mother, container of frosting for my sister, and took a friend who needed a biopsy to her appointment.
    Today I need milk. Have already called everyone and have a list for various cousins, neighbors and friends.
    I leave it on the porch… No exposure for them. I take PayPal and cash… (And bakery… My one cousin is bored. She’s made enough bread to feed the county).

    We’re all doing what we can…

  74. I SO needed to see people HELPING people during this upheaval. My hubby is a truck driver and I work in our local grocery. We have people driving over 2 hours to wipe out our small-town amenities only to brag to the checkers on how much food they scored. We had people just hanging out, in-store, waiting for the bread truck yesterday. And then there was a guy who yelled at the delivery driver because he had no bananas. Bananas people. Yes, we are OUT of bananas for the foreseeable future. And yes, the hospital and senior center orders WILL be filled and delivered before you get to plunder what is on the shelves. Appalling behavior. Hopefully, this coming week will be a little more calm and way less stressful.

  75. I found a pun-based joke as well :-)Requires just a little knowledge of the german language, but apart from that…
    “Isolation Day 7… Rumors say the Germans have started to hoard sausage and cheese, it’s said to be a Wurst Käse scenario!”
    (In german: Wurst means sausage and Käse means cheese)

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