Spontaneous Musings

Another beautiful day that I had to attempt to work through on a small lap-top computer. But the nice bit, which I'm exceedingly grateful - is I have a window that looks out on trees, cats, birds and rooftops and sky. I've been watching the seasons pass slowly outside my window - bit by small bit. I'm grateful for that. I'm also grateful for this apartment, with it's high ceilings, hard wood floors, and for the most part, uninterrupted quiet. It's not easy to find a quiet place to reside in the hustle and bustle of New York City, but I've managed to do so. I can forget I'm actually in a city at times. I don't hear any traffic for the most part. Rarely hear a siren. When they were doing all their banging, protesting, and cheering - I couldn't hear it. And while I did hear the occasional fireworks - they weren't that loud, and I got to see them in the distance.



My apartment has been a kind of unexpected sanctuary during this time. So, I'm patting myself on the back for choosing a good one - which I could afford and was for the most part safe, comfortable and low maintenance. It's far from perfect, and has its issues - but all residences do.

1. Figuring out the Holidays with COVID-19

Mother: So, we were talking with your brother...and, well, your father has decided to rent a private plane to transport you to either Hilton Head or to your brother's house in Hudson, NY for Christmas. We were discussing it with your brother today.
Me: Okaaay...I'm flattered that my father is concerned about me spending the holidays all by my lonesome stuck in NYC. Tell him, I love him too.
Mother: Your father is completely serious about this.
ME (laughing): Really?
Mother: We discussed it with your brother and he said there are private plane airfields.
ME: Of course I'd have to get to the plane..that would still be an issue. You know cab driver or air train or subway.. And I'd still be with other people en route.
Mother: We'll no - it would be just you and the pilot.
Me: Uh...
Mother: And we'd probably have to rent a place to take you after we picked you up since they won't let you into our retirement community.
Me:I don't know this sounds highly problematic to me not to mention expensive, assuming of course you all have the money to pull it off.
Mother: Your brother suggested you could take a boat up the Hudson to his place.
Me: Interesting. Where will I stay? The barn? He wouldn't let me further than his barn. I'd freeze.
Mother: Your father suggested that we find a hotel to put you up so you can go there, and then visit him.
Me: So I get infected at the hotel and visit him from it? Not sure how that works exactly.
Mother: Your father is insistent. He says that we need to stop saying that we can't do things, if there's a will, there's a way.
ME: Okay. Except, even if I did fly there - I can't be with you, it's not safe. I wish I drove, but I don't see how that would either - same problem.

Later

Mother is directing father on what to do with the files in the background of our phone call.

Mother: No, no, don't put it there. Keep it out. I have papers that need to go in it.
Me: Where are you?
Mother: We're in the study looking at files.
Me: Why?
Mother: You're father wants to look at his financial records.
ME: So he can determine that he has enough money to rent a plane to fly me somewhere?
Mother: Well, no...right now it's a boat. I told we spoke with your brother, he was suggesting a boat.
ME: I don't see how buying a boat would help. Someone would have to sail it, and I'd have to be with people one way or another.
Mother: We'd rent you a boat.
Me: I'd still be with people and get exposed.
Mother: Well just the person sailing it.
ME: I don't that well on boats.
Mother: Yes, I reminded them that you get motion sickness.
Me: My life is absurd.
Mother: Yes, I agree, we live in an Alternate World of Insanity.
Me: My father is driving you crazy again?
Mother: Not at the moment.

I'm not too worried about this insane plan of theirs coming about - my father will forget about it in three days, anyhow. And if my brother really wanted me to come up - he could drive down and pick me up himself.



2. New York vs. the Corona Virus

Even NY is feeling the spike in cases. We're at 3 percent now, and the microclusters are at 5.59 percent (My area is no longer in it - it moved south to me.) Why? People are idiots?

I mean, I see people not wearing masks all the time. Saw four people come in and out of my building without masks. Also, they keep having gatherings.

Honestly, some people just refuse to take it seriously. They should. I know a lot of Covid-Long haulers. My brother's friend Sherri (the professional makeup artist from LA) tested positive way back in February, and is still suffering from severe complications.




* The statewide positivity rate rose above three percent yesterday. In the micro-cluster focus areas, the positivity rate was 5.59 percent. Excluding these areas, it was 2.56 percent. Of the 128,036 tests reported yesterday, 3,965, or 3.09 percent, were positive. Total hospitalizations were at 1,548. Sadly, we lost 32 New Yorkers to the virus. [Percentages as a concept has always bewildered me. Most units of measurement seem somewhat arbitrary to my brain, along with numerical values. COVID? It confuses me even more. So only 3% are found to suffer long-term effects? If that's the case why is it that half the people I've met who got the damn thing suffer long-term effects from it? I find it out that I know the 3%. Also if only 1.5% die, then why are there over 1 million deaths worldwide, and don't they matter? Percentages tend to lower the value of human life, so too does putting a numerical value upon it.]

* The State's investment in New York-based medical suppliers is already yielding results. When the Trudeau Institute and Adirondack Health wanted to expand rapid testing in the North Country, they had trouble getting the supplies and equipment they needed. So the State connected them with Rheonix, an Ithaca-based manufacturer that Empire State Development has invested in. Thanks to this collaboration, the Trudeau Institute and Adirondack Health opened a brand-new lab in Saranac Lake that will be able to process up to around 160 COVID tests per day and yield fast test results for residents. The State's investment in Rheonix is part of a series of strategic investments in strengthening New York's medical supply chain. [NY gave up on the Federal government to supply it with anything and decided to do it on its own. ]

* As we continue the fight against a surge in COVID-19 cases, we can't let flu season make matters worse. New York has launched a Flu Tracker, which displays daily and weekly flu data and provides timely information about local, regional and statewide flu activity. Take a look—and please get a flu shot if you haven't already. [So now we have a COVID track and a FLU tracker. I already got my flu shot...thanks. Stop bugging me about it. My workplace is doing it too. I had my doctor give it to me back in the beginning of October.]

*In response to rising infection rates in the region, Syracuse and Albany Universities will switch to remote learning. The University of Albany switched to online learning today and Syracuse will switch next week. Yesterday, the State announced a Yellow Zone in Onondaga County, placing pandemic-related restrictions on the Syracuse area. [Personally, I think they should have just done remote learning from the start. Why they felt the need to open Universities and Colleges up is beyond me.]


3. NY Swan is rescued and taken by subway to Wildlife Shelter in Brooklyn

4. Amazon keeps sending me these questions about stuff I bought...which..

* Regarding the Gaiter's - was it made in China.

ME: I don't know or care. Why's it matter? The material is thin and doesn't protect you very well.

I honestly don't care where stuff is made. I'm not nationalistic and I'm not patriotic. I think nationalism is shitty, and patriotism is for idiots. Your mileage may vary. Nationalism and Patriotism = WAR and DEATH and NASTINESS. Very little good comes from either as far as I can tell. We're all human, we all live on this planet, we need to look past such trivial crap as what country we happen to live in or were born in. Honestly when we die - it won't matter.

I really hate nationalism. I've gotten into more fights over nationalism online than anything else.

* What are the measurements?

It's a gaiter...there are no measurements. I've no clue. I don't measure things. If I could measure things - I'd be making my own gaiter not buying it on Amazon.

I blame menopause for my irritability. Well that and COVID fatigue. Some people are taking long hikes around Prospect Park as if there isn't a pandemic. The park isn't exactly not crowded. And exploring New York City on foot - it's a city, and in a pandemic....

5. Some good news...

*The Democrats held onto the House - they reached the 218 majority needed to hold it. So yay.

Meanwhile the idiotic Republicans in the White House and in the Senate keep threatening to steal back the election. Which is why the Democrats getting a majority in the House relieved me a bit. I'm not the only one worried, so is mother. I'm considering donating to The Protect the Vote Campaign.

Although it is amusing in its blatant absurdity. Ten of the fourteen lawsuits filed by the idiotic Republicans have been thrown out of court. They are things like..

Trump Campaign Lawsuits Where Things Currently Stand

Judges have largely rejected the Republican challenges over the past week, when the campaign sought to interrupt the vote count as it leaned toward Biden. As one lawyer friend on FB stated - these are frivolous lawsuits that are akin to putting a heaping pile of flaming dogshit on a judge's front porch. (Her words not mine). It's all a marketing scheme.

* US Health Officials Detail How Many People May Start to Get Treatments & Once Authorized Vaccines.

6. Airlines are offering Travelers testing options prior to the trip

For those who must travel, or those who are itching to do so, airlines and airports are increasingly offering ways to get tested for the coronavirus ahead of a trip. Taking a test can assure you and others that you aren’t spreading the virus geographically.

In recent weeks, some destinations, like Hawaii, New York, Washington and some Caribbean countries began allowing people who have tested negative for the virus and can show test results to skip mandatory 14-day quarantines, a process that some view as risky because it is possible that people can take a test, receive a negative result and then contract the virus later.

People who have a trip coming up should get a coronavirus test before they travel, experts say. Figuring out the exact time can be tricky, but you can’t wait too long to take the test because you may not get the results back in time to go on your trip.

For those reasons, many destinations, including France, Aruba, Bonaire, Puerto Rico and Hawaii, require that the test be taken within 72 hours of departure. Abu Dhabi and Croatia require test results within 48 hours of departure. Some airlines, like Egypt Air, allow travelers to use results from a test taken up to 96 hours before traveling, depending on where they are traveling from and to.

There are two categories of tests: virus tests, which help determine if a person has the coronavirus, and antibody tests, which detect if a person has an immune response because of past exposure to the virus.

Those who want to find out if they currently have the virus should plan on taking a polymerase chain reaction, or P.C.R., test. P.C.R. tests are considered the gold standard because of their accuracy and reliability.


I know the current policy in NY is - you have to get tested prior to re-entering the state, and get tested after you enter, and quarantine.
My problem with the test prior to leaving for anywhere - is you can get it after you got tested. It's why I haven't bothered to get tested - I've no symptoms and no exposure, I'm more likely to get it waiting in line to be tested or en route.

Workplace has all these testing sites now - that it keeps telling me about.
I'm working remotely, so I ignore it.