Well, not in a Linda Blair The Exorcist kind of way. Just still trying to get used to pandemic life.
Trying to stay up to date on the news without overdosing on it.
Trying to get my tax paperwork together without worrying too much about it since the deadlines have all been extended. But still wanting it done sooner rather than later. Both to clear my head and to be considerate of my CPA.
Trying to maintain healthy lifestyle habits. The struggle is real. I’d like to emerge from this crisis looking as little like Fat Thor as possible. If you want to look more like Buff Thor, for a few more days Chris Hemsworth is offering six weeks free of his online workout program. Google him.
Speaking of Linda Blair, I first saw The Exorcist in college with a few people at a friend’s house. It was late at night when the movie finished. My friend’s roommate wasn’t home, though, and there was no way he was staying in an apartment alone after watching The Exorcist. He made us stay to watch Batman.
And on the subject of scary things.
I’ve been trying to limit my trips to the store to once a week. I know more than the average bear about protecting myself from viruses, but (1) there are some unknowns with the Corona and mostly, (2) clearly too many people are oblivious. I ended up needing to run two quick errands Saturday morning. You would think, it being a weekend morning, that relatively few people would have rolled out of bed yet, let alone changed out of pjs and headed to town. (I was not in Walmart. More on that in a minute.)
The grocery parking lot was disconcertingly full, as were the aisles inside the store. Entire families were together, as if our state’s stay-at-home government order didn’t exist. I give a free pass to single parents of children too young to stay home alone. Families with one parent away working an essential job during store hours get some leeway as well. Again, that’s if the children are too young to be left alone for a couple hours. Most groups I encountered did not meet any of those profiles.
What is wrong with people.
Fast forward to Monday. I drove to Wally World mainly for OTC decongestant. Thanks to the meth epidemic and resulting legislation, this allergy girl has to sign her life away at the pharmacy to get really basic medication. While there are cart wipes and hand sanitizer (not automatic, you have to touch the handle, ew) at the store entrance, there are no such items at the pharmacy counter. They did have tables lined up in front of the counter, so as to ensure social distancing between customer and pharmacy worker. Awesome. But I had to sign the screen with a stylus touched by who knows how many people, with no assurance that workers were wiping down the equipment between customers.
In the aisles of the store, while many people were being courteous, there were enough customers and stockers not observing safe distancing that I’ll be avoiding big blue for the time being. I’ll pay more somewhere else where they seem to care about my health.
So the last week has taught me what stores are safer than others.
I’ve also learned that getting the post office to ship you stamps will cost $1.30 extra in most cases. Totally worth it to save a trip.
Also FedEx is not requiring a signature even when a package is shipped as such. In those cases they must hand it to a person, but the delivery driver then from six feet away enters your info in their device.
In other news, a couple of musical notes …
My friend Lee released a new album of worship songs. The Meek Squad includes him and a few of his roommates/neighbors. Here’s a preview on YouTube. See the description for links to stream/download.
My friend Mitch McVicker livestreamed a concert this week via Facebook live. Next one is Monday, April 6 at 8pm eastern. Details on his Facebook page.
And now for something completely different. In the name of levity, I bring you coronavirus haiku written by The Posse. Enjoy.
Fever cough and pain
My lungs are full of fluid
Coronavirus
Kindness is my jam
We’re all in this together
Coronavirus
Social distancing
Just sitting at home eating
Refrigerator
Augh! I’m infected.
See you on the other side.
Coronavirus.
Bored in quarantine
Think I’ll get a snack from the
Refrigerator
You stay over there
Cough into your elbow please
I think it’ll be fine
I’ll be all set if
Extra Toasty Cheez-its cure
Coronavirus
New advice is to
Sneeze into a tissue, toss
It out then wash hands
My moron neighbors
Think social distancing is
Drink beer together
Social distancing
Seems to mean nothing to the
Dorks in the store aisles
When once a week trip
To store yields avocados
Make guacamole
How to do a blog
Write many haikus about
Coronavirus
How to kill the blues
Write many haikus about
Coronavirus
