Eastern Utah
EMAIL ME AT: mgypsy97 at aol dot com

Friday, March 20, 2020

The New Normal?

It looks like the threat of virus is going to be with us for quite some time, and I'm trying to adjust.  So far things have not been too strict here - although I'm following the guidelines as  best as I can.  It seems to be ok to go for a walk, walk the dog, etc.  I notice that when I'm walking Rocky and another dog walker approaches, one of us always crosses to the other side of the street.  But one of my neighbors has a workman's truck in front of his house so people are still on the job in many cases.

Since I'm in the high risk group I'm determined to be extremely cautious, but it sure is difficult to know this is going to last for some time.  I personally think the way the government has handled this situation is completely awful!  Too little and too late.  We had enough warning of this situation and should have been better informed and  better prepared.  Thank goodness I live in a state with a proactive governor.  

Rocky is probably never going to stop chewing.  I thought it was just a puppy thing, but I remember our family dog when I was in my late teens that chewed clothing left on the floor until the day he died.  One of my brothers used to get furious but never learned to put his clothes in the laundry when he took them off.  This is what Rocky has done to the beautiful comfy pad in his crate.






 My tomato plants are looking so good and I'm anxious to put them into the ground.  I think we are forecasted to have some very chilly nights as well as more rain in the coming week or two, so I'm trying to get the first planter bed ready.  I pulled out all the pea plants and am busy eliminating the grass and weeds that have taken a foothold.  Today will be a good day to get out there and work on it.

I'd be very interested in comments from readers on how the spread of the virus is being planned for and handled in your state.  How are you being affected so far, and what do you expect for the coming weeks and months.  And since many of you are no doubt in the retirement age, what steps are you taking, especially those of you "on the road".  Personally, I've gone through several stages of thought:  first, I figured I was doomed and there was nothing I could do about but wait to die; second, I figured "Dammit, I'm not going to die!"  And here I am, and I'm going to be a survivor.  Think positively, and react proactively!  The world needs us, our experience, and our survival instinct.  Sending hope and blessings to all of you.

14 comments:

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    1. You are probably one of the most honest people I know! I'd say to go fishing and enjoy it.

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  2. Oh, got a laugh out of your brother never figuring out to pick up his clothes!!! My Luci chews clothes, if she gets the chance!!! And my son STILL has not figured out that he needs to keep clothing picked UP off the floor, GEEZ
    Son will not let me go the grocery, so am content giving him list!!! But at times it is a crap shoot what i get. Have told him to substitute if needs be and that has opened a can of worms!! The grocery has instituted a program where they have senior shopping only the first 2 hours of their opening, to give us a chance of getting to the toilet paper b4 the young ones run and scoop it all up!!!!. Have pretty much been self isolating. Had a trip reservation for the beach next week, but am taking credit for it and hopefully going later in the year...
    Sure do miss the prospect of getting out of Central Oregon and the brown and seeing some of the valley's green and pretty flowering trees!!! AND the ocean of course and the mist and fog and dampness... oh well, later....
    You seem to be doing well and so glad to hear it.
    Take Care and God Bless

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    1. Good to hear from you, and I just hope we can all stay sane throughout the coming months. I'm self-isolating also. I have always like to be prepared and have extra on hand, so I don't worry yet - if this lasts to year's end it might be a different story. I should have enough tp to last me unless one of my kids needs to "borrow" some of mine, lol. I'm being very careful with it - no longer using it to blot my eyedrops or my lipstick!

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  3. Glad to see your post, was worried you were unwell. I shopped locally once this week and hope to stay put for as many weeks as possible. I wore a new pair of disposable gloves for each store, Once home, wiped off my credit card & my wallet with a disinfectant wipe. This might seem like overkill to some, but I put my bananas in warm soapy water and wiped off all packages. I also stocked my friends fridge as she was returning from Mexico & must self isolate for 14 days.
    Most restaurants in town are take out only for now....When I picked up my food the door is locked & they brought the food out, set it down. I wiped those bags down too.
    I think a forced closing of non essential services is needed to this under control...
    I will not lose hope though,

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    1. You are really being conscientious, and that is what everyone should do. I am pretty sure I could live a long time on what I have stored, but of course we don't know yet how long this is going to last. I will get a grocery order ready when I run out of half & half for my coffee, otherwise I have enough to last me for a long while. I'll have to remember to wipe it all down. I have a lot of faith in my grocery - Raley's - they have issued several letters to their customers detailing the steps they are taking to keep everything clean and disinfected. Still, I should be careful with everything. I find myself getting lax sometimes as no one but me and the dog are ever in my house these days.

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  4. It's amazing how little trouble I'm having with this self isolation. I have found lots of things to do but then I'm not a person to go running around if I don't have to. I found unstructions on how to make the mask so I will try that tomorrow. Just in case I have to go out for something important, like weed spray since all this rain just keeps them coming. And it will get me out in the fresh air and hopefully sun.

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    1. Good for you -for trying to stay in and for the beautiful, positive attitude!

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  5. So far so good. Today starts Day 7 of my self-isolation but then again I am not used to getting out every day as we live out in the country. Our governor to my surprise is showing signs of being a pro-active leader and bringing more testing labs including drive-thru locations in several Texas cities. We can not depend on the Federal Government for anything just a couple of weeks ago they claimed it was all a hoax and would go away like magic in the Spring.

    My only hope in these trying times is that it removes the blindfold his supporters have and they can finally see the light.

    I am very worried about those in the front lines who are pleading for masks, gloves and protective equipment and have been doing so for weeks. Trump promised two ships would be sent out one to New York and another to the West Coast and come to find out on Rachel Maddow show that both ships are being repaired and show no signs of going anywhere.

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    1. When you think of the heroic efforts this country has made in past wars and conflicts, and national emergencies, it doesn't make sense that we can't obtain or make as many masks and other protective equipment as we need. Before and during World War II the country was running at full capacity, and didn't we make a complete battleship in less than a year? Something like that. Of course we were responding to Franklin Roosevelt, and not Dumpkins! But Dumpkins doesn't ask for our heroic efforts to protect our country and its citizens - he is the only one who matters and keeping his pockets full. I just hope there is a full revolution when he tries to cancel the coming elections by quarantining the voters and not allowing them to vote. Californians can vote by mail, which I usually do, or by going to the polls in person. The other states need to get mail voting in place before it's too late because he will definitely try to do something to stop us from voting.

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    2. I am so glad I am not the only one that believes this president will try to meddle with the upcoming elections by canceling and or postponing them when he realizes he is going to lose and lose badly.

      In Texas, only individuals over 65 or the handicapped are allowed to vote by mail. I hope in light of this pandemic they give serious consideration to changing this.

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    3. The Liar-in-Chief says whatever pops into his head. He is going to use the pandemic to try to cancel elections and leave him in office until further notice. I hope there is an actual revolution if that should happen.

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  6. Hi, Gypsy. I, like MsBelinda, am in Texas. I have not watched local news since 2016 because of the Red Virus that is so prevalent here! I did sign up again this week so we could hear Rachel Maddow and CNN during this terrible time. I just read a distressing story online about how difficult it is for Joe Biden to campaign in the current situation. Chump makes my blood pressure zoom that so-called briefings are really nothing but the best he can substitute for rallies! There is lots of gloom close to me. Our daughter is a respiratory therapist. Somebody died from Covid19 in her hospital this week. She was not in contact, but she is really scared of what the future might hold. Also, her son is a firefighter/paramedic. Both daughter and grandson are asthma inhaler dependents------never get caught without them. So, would really be bad if one were to come up positive! We all feel like we are ducks sitting on a fence, wondering if we will be shot. Of course taking precautions. Staying at home, trying to stay busy.

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    1. Those daily briefings are exactly that...a scaled-down version of his rallies. I hate how he belittles the press calling them "bad journalist" and scolding them...bet he never even scolded his own kids.

      I suffer from high blood pressure and I have had to turn off the television set because I felt it rising. Glad you can now watch CNN and MSNBC where they deal with FACTS and not fantasies or the president's hunches.

      Please tell your daughter how grateful we are to her and to all those brave health workers and first responders who are in the front lines working long hours with very limited protective equipment.

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