Off-Topic Forum

I come to this hobby to escape normal life.  I hope you all take the necessary steps to stay safe and healthy.

I'd rather our government apologize for overreacting than the position that we're in now with woefully not enought protective gear (PPE) or testing kits.  My wife works at our local Public Health Department and is in Emergency Management.  You can see she's deep in response mode on this.  As many experts have said when dealing with any Epidemic: you are always behind and naturally in response mode.

This unfortunately is ONLY the BEGINNING.  Many comparisons to Italy have been made and they are more than fair. It is very likely several of us on this site ALREADY HAVE this virus since so many people are asymptomatic and this virus can come and go in a healthy person without their knowledge.  It is still contageous however and it can be spread.

My wife has worked 12-16 hour days every day for the last 2 weeks and will continue to do so.  Right now, some emergency planners are still trying to get test kits, masks, protective gear, etc while there are others making arrangements to secure storage sites and refridgerated trucks to store bodies.  Funerals will not be allowed (like Italy).

We all already know people who are infected with some of the celebrities (Durant, Hanks, Sean Peyton, etc.).  It will hit home to you soon when you find out a person in your County, village and very likely a family member or friend will eventually test positive for this virus.

I don't mean to fear monger here.  I do mean to say that we all need to take the steps that the experts have been preaching and preaching.  Do not go out unless you have to.  LIMIT your contact with others.  Like it or not, it is not business as usual and until you heed this you are risking someone's life you know.  So many people have underlying issues that we don't know about like asthma, high blood pressure, lung issues, etc.

Lastly, this is NOT the Chinese Virus.  This is COVID-19.  This virus could have easilty started in Mara Lago as it happened to start near Wuhan.  That is the thing about viruses: they can mutate anywhere, anytime.  Be sensible and be safe.  Love will win.  It is not time to berate others no matter what their opinions are or how they are handling it.  Control what you can, count your blessings and continue to enjoy this hobby as an escape from the new normal.

I come to this hobby to escape normal life.  I hope you all take the necessary steps to stay safe and healthy.

I'd rather our government apologize for overreacting than the position that we're in now with woefully not enought protective gear (PPE) or testing kits.  My wife works at our local Public Health Department and is in Emergency Management.  You can see she's deep in response mode on this.  As many experts have said when dealing with any Epidemic: you are always behind and naturally in response mode.

This unfortunately is ONLY the BEGINNING.  Many comparisons to Italy have been made and they are more than fair. It is very likely several of us on this site ALREADY HAVE this virus since so many people are asymptomatic and this virus can come and go in a healthy person without their knowledge.  It is still contageous however and it can be spread.

My wife has worked 12-16 hour days every day for the last 2 weeks and will continue to do so.  Right now, some emergency planners are still trying to get test kits, masks, protective gear, etc while there are others making arrangements to secure storage sites and refridgerated trucks to store bodies.  Funerals will not be allowed (like Italy).

We all already know people who are infected with some of the celebrities (Durant, Hanks, Sean Peyton, etc.).  It will hit home to you soon when you find out a person in your County, village and very likely a family member or friend will eventually test positive for this virus.

I don't mean to fear monger here.  I do mean to say that we all need to take the steps that the experts have been preaching and preaching.  Do not go out unless you have to.  LIMIT your contact with others.  Like it or not, it is not business as usual and until you heed this you are risking someone's life you know.  So many people have underlying issues that we don't know about like asthma, high blood pressure, lung issues, etc.

Lastly, this is NOT the Chinese Virus.  This is COVID-19.  This virus could have easilty started in Mara Lago as it happened to start near Wuhan.  That is the thing about viruses: they can mutate anywhere, anytime.  Be sensible and be safe.  Love will win.  It is not time to berate others no matter what their opinions are or how they are handling it.  Control what you can, count your blessings and continue to enjoy this hobby as an escape from the new normal.

My daily life hasn't really changed much... because it can't! I HAVE to do my job. No one can shut down the dialysis clinics, even the government. The patients have to get their treatment or they will die within a week! The only way I will not be able to work is if I contract the virus. I have been taking more steps to ensure my safety (both voluntary and forced). I check my temperature every day before work to make sure I don't have a fever. At the clinics, I am now required to wear full PPE (lab jacket, eye protection and face mask along with gloves that I always wore anyway). I look just like the nurses now but without a stethescope and quite similar to ranfan's new avatar (it's missing gloves and glasses). The clinics have even made forms in case there is some kind of lock-down or curfew that requests law enforcement to allow people to do their jobs because it is a life-or-death situation. One of my clinics will become the COVID-19-ONLY dialysis facility if it comes down to that. That county just confirmed their 1st case of C-19 today, but it's not one of our patients. I don't consider myself on the frontline of the virus yet, but I could be any day now. I do hope it doesn't come to that. I did lose a measly 3.5 hours at work for a fitness center that shut down for now. I am completely fine with that b/c that is the most likely non-medical or food-service type of place for it to spread quickly to others.

Living out in the country means it's unlikely to hit my neighborhood and even if it does, it won't spread like it does in towns/cities. From my porch, I can only see 4 houses and I won't see 2 of them when the trees get leaves again. If I did happen to get stuck on the property, that's not much of a problem. I have woods to hunt in and a pond to fish from if it becomes that bad. I already have lettuce growing in the garden and plenty of other veggie seeds I can plant. I have plenty of things to do or entertain me inside the house and plenty I can do outside of the house.

I didn't go to most of the places that are now closed or limited-service-only before this outbreak happened, so that also hasn't affected me so far. As long as my grocery store and gas station stay open, I'm good to go.

When I started this forum thread, I said there were two extremes and yes they still do exist.  I also said that the naysayers were a diminishing minority.  The fact that a member posted here as one of those does not call for others to start bashing him.  You can disagree cordially but to be insulting is the problem we have seen grow in forum posts.  

I have my own opinion about this pandemic.  My adjustment to it is probably mid-way which I believe is where we all will be when it is all said and done.  But if someone right now chooses not to alter his life style, that is his business.  As yet, if his state has not closed down the social facilities, then he is legally allowed to remain an active patron. Yes, if his actions causes him to contract the virus and then spread it to his own group of social friends and family, I will feel sorry for him.  But it does not call for bashing.  If you disagree with his actions, then don't socialize with him (which I don't think any of us are near enough to him to do so).

I asked how you as an individual and family have adjusted to cope with the current pandemic, not what you think of others ways of coping.