slow start to today...

 finished another 3 nights. i think those on call days are again over.  worked the CICU, ER door and then a split between ER and a sitter job to finish my week of work.  the mask can be a bit grueling for 12 hours.  my nose usually drives me nuts itching.

 these are the last of the iphone from the trek to Homer.  still trying to sort out this week's plans.

 we have the ability to drive the roads to destinations from what i understand.  we still have a 14 day quarantine  for anyone coming/going from AK.  was happily surprised that this was extended though what i hear from folks is it's not really enforceable so i'm not sure how that happens...though i suppose if you end up being traced back to that could be an issue.

 i was watching a movie last night when i heard some commotion downstairs.  the other three animals were hunkered down with me...but one orange kitten was not.  i figured he was just chasing one of his fur mice toys around...after a bit though i thought i better go check it out.  lots of noise.

 that Covi Cat had captured a little bird and brought it inside.  i am not thrilled with this new trick.  the bird was stunned but still alive.  he was just playing with it...i do not really want a hunter but i guess i now have one.  crap!! so i was able to free the bird sans many feathers which i then had to clean up. the bird skittered away.  outdoor time was done for the day.

 our neighborhood did a little thing for the graduates yesterday before work so i woke from my nap and made a quick sign and went out front with my noise maker. only one grad and his family walked by.  happy i went outside as there wasn't tons of participation.  i guess the kid was pretty hesitant but in the end he found it fun and entertaining. 

 yesterday i woke to the sound of military jets so i went outside as JBER was doing fly overs with their training in honor of first responders, healthcare workers i think it was.  i just found it nice to have something positive.

 there is just so much negativity and nastiness out there.

 one friend posted something about mask wearing and this person i used to work with posted how she did what was asked for 5 weeks but she is done and she refuses to wear a mask as it's some sort of Democratic plot to take away her freedom and turn the US into socialism.  i don't know it was some of that crazy right wing talk.  she stated that in truth it's mostly just people from old folks homes dying anyway.

 i wrote something about how odd it is that so many on the right flip out if folks say Happy Holidays but seem to see the loss of over 80,000 lives in a few short months as no big deal.  i questioned at what point would these lives begin to concern them.  how many must die?  100,000, 200,000, 500,000, a million?  it is odd really. 

 she flipped out on facebook telling me off.  apparently she unfriended me 2 years ago and i can kiss her arse....there were a few inappropriate posts which much later were removed mysteriously.  did someone message her about how crazy she sounded and how incredible inappropriate it was.  who knows.

 i had no idea she had unfriended me.  i clearly didn't notice.  i know i have cleared off many on my page as well. i really am just to the point of having zero tolerance for these extreme views.  if you just continue to defend this fool and pretend that there is nothing amis going on i can't really be bothered.  it's to the point of willful ignorance at this point. 

 wearing a mask is now seen by some as weak.  not wearing one is some proof of your patriotism and undying support for Trump.

 one friend was called a libtard in a store because she was wearing a mask.  totally unprovoked.  the many good folks who remain on the side of this insanity seem to be either unaware that they share their views with psychopaths or don't care.

 if someone does this to me i am quite tempted to get in their face remove my mask and cough directly in their face, followed by replacing my mask and telling them i worked the covid unit the night before and that they should watch for the signs and symptoms of covid for the next 10-14 days...good luck. 

 it's not just elderly in nursing homes that are dying from this.  it's hit all ages, there is word of some syndrome that impacts a small number of children as well.  there has also been word of many fairly young adults having stroke symptoms with this. 

 our testing has ramped up.  we have rapid testing.  i have heard that many of the rapid tests are not as trustworthy as the longer ones, which have their own issues.  we have started to try to catch up on electives and dental procedures i think as well. most are requiring the covid test within 48 hours prior to procedure.  not 100% of course, but it's a start.  so the drive through testing sites are picking up.  one co-worker works at one occasionally (which sounds like a sweet gig).  she said they do like 200 tests/day. 

 there is one by the dog park and yesterday i saw quite a few cars rolling in for tests.  i am a bit tempted to pick up hours at one of these.  i guess you get long lunches which are provided. 

 have hit the dog park still for the most part. it's been warm, the dogs love it there, the crowds have been low and i worry a bit less about bears there.

 not that bears haven't been spotted there.  moose are starting to deliver as well so the place is a bit risky these days.  one woman was stomped and her dog kicked by a moose that had recently delivered.

 that seems like a terrifying prospect.

 i have slept great between shifts this week. 

 i stopped by Bear Tooth yesterday for pick up dinner.  they are still doing take out service.  great to eat some cilantro fries, always a favorite.  salads are great as pick up as well.

 i did walk with a friend the other day.  thanks LS for joining us.  great to have someone to walk and talk with.  we did the Campbell Airstrip loop.

 with the bears out it is better to not walk alone out there.

 despite the lunatics who are screaming that they're freedom is being curtailed and that this is some crazy plot..i think most folks are still doing some distancing.  the masks are not always complied with but in stores many are.  i was in costco and everyone was wearing them.  at work we require people to wear them and nobody was angry that they were given a mask to wear. 

 the truth is most were compliant those first weeks and though it may not be obvious i think that did help in the larger picture.  a Chicago Dr noted that "a successful shelter in place means that you will feel like it was all for nothing."  we want a lot of nothing. less cases really just means it was done and effective. 

 so hopefully, despite the anarchy on masks and spacing, we will have at least curtailed it enough so that the outbreaks will be more manageable, easier to trace and the hospitals will not be as overwhelmed. 

 i also think that despite the anarchy, the average citizen is not going out as often, not exposing themselves if not needed.  that they are quietly being somewhat compliant. i mean i suspect most folks understand that this is a bad one and that they do not want to get it no matter their political bend.

 it is nuts that this has become so right/left. that even wearing a mask is a political statement.

 it is also funny that the gun carriers claim they will do anything for the US but then refuse to wear a mask.  their beloved leader has said this is a war against a virus and yet they refuse to wear the mask in order to help with his war efforts...haha.  he doesn't wear one either.  so i guess they are all on the side of the enemy...the virus.  such foolishness.

 again, our economy wasn't as strong as many would have you believe.  it should never have fallen so rapidly into failure.  it was clearly only a booming economy for the few and not for the many.

 some of my masks arrived from my order back in mid march.

 i am getting hungry....it's time to get my day started for reals.  :-)

 horrible news out of Kabul.  a group of terrorists entered a Doctors without Borders Maternity Center and began shooting mothers.  many were killed a few infants were also killed.  the world is filled with far too many monsters.

 more on testing and all things covid.  this current administration has loosened the rules for creating tests so there is the potential for many scams along with many questionable tests being sold out there.  snake oil salesmen are being allowed to sell their fake cures for the covid...buyer beware.

 the fools of trump are calling for the indictment of Obama...this they scream as they also scream that Trump has complete immunity as POTUS.  this seems like it could go very poorly for him.  sets a precedent.  they have yet to have gotten HRC behind bars so it  seems fairly assured that Obama and Biden will be accused of many things but found guilty of none.  the GOP do not actually need to follow through on any of their fake accusations of crimes, they merely need to fill the heads of their blind followers with the possibility.  their followers will believe anything they are told at this point. 

 Michigan is a mess with these rogue protesters storming their government buildings with arms...illegal but if one is white and a trump supporter one need not be concerned for the rule of law. 

 the right is offended that Obama has spoken out, but trump and crew has done nothing by spew vitriol at his predecessor before during and after the election. 

 entitled Americans...an Alaskan Fed Ex pilot was supposed to stay with his family in the hotel for a 14 day quarantine.  he left to hit the mall to get masks for them all...he was caught and is doing a 14 stint in jail. 

 have to laugh as there is apparently a new app being created that would help with contact tracing in the event someone turns positive for Covid19.  folks feel wearing a mask is an infringement on their freedom i can just imagine how having tracing on their phones would go over.

 i would not count on that being a huge success.  the GOP panders in paranoia. 

 i will need to return these pups to the beach again soon.  there is a low tide in Seward at 4:15 today. that is tempting. 

 also debating a run to Denali...the sun is out and the road is open the first 30 miles.  will look and see if there is a place to stay up there with the dogs for Sunday night perhaps. 

 weather looks good until Tuesday.

 so many stars...wouldn't mind heading back to Homer again soon too.

 we are still losing around 2000 lives/day to Covid in the US.  that is a pretty high number. it's still adding up fast.  many on the right seem okay with this as they are bored of the restrictions.  our society has a pretty low threshold for boredom.  this isn't supposed to be about boredom though.

 this should be about each of those lives being lost each day.  well, i better get this day started. 

grateful for: A. not being a crazy, paranoid nut like my ex-co-worker.  B. that the bird was only stunned and not flying around my house or dead...something to look forward to.  C. take out food that tastes nummy!!