COVID-19 Extensions

So, I know it's been a while.  Between coronavirus(COVID-19) and any number of other things - faucets not working, bank account getting closed, being furloughed, etc. - I've been exceedingly busy.  The problem, however, that I've noticed is the issue of people in general complaining and protesting about the Stay-at-Home orders.

So what is the Stay-at-Home order and what is it preventing you from doing?  The Stay-at-Home Order is meant for the general public's safety.  Yes, it does infringe a bit on our right to assembly as described in the Bill of Rights, however, we have various ways of meeting up with each other and it doesn't state that you must stay at home.  In fact, just glimpsing over and highlighting the order isn't going to do it justice.  There are a lot of things that one can argue infringes on our way of life, but is our way of life so important we cannot take a step back to say "Maybe it would be better for everyone if I only go out for the necessary things?"

I mentioned that I was furloughed.  This was a choice I made after discussing with both my husband (who was put to working from home) and my supervisor the drawbacks and benefits, and after having had to work one day with a mask on.  For my safety, and that of those who would be working near me, I felt the benefits of being furloughed would be better than having to keep going to work and possibly having to hunt down new things for me to do.  There is only so much one can do in a practically empty building that everyone knows won't be back at full capacity for at least 2 months and has been empty for the last month and a half.  Is it weird? Yes, but overall this is better.

Times have changed and we look like we all belong in gangs so long as everyone is following the rules of wearing masks.  We don't keep to just one person to go shopping at a time, but that doesn't mean we're going shopping daily either.  In fact, we try to keep to only one shopper at a time, but I can't ever seem to find anything to buy when I'm hungry and I can't be sure that what I do end up buying, whether hungry or not, will be eaten.  Because our income is less do to everything that is going on, I can't be sure that we'll have the money for bills.  It's a possibility that we won't and that worries me constantly.  Because of this, yes, I want to get out more, especially on the nice days.  I hate that we have to worry about getting sick because people don't take common-sense measures such as washing your hands regularly, staying home when sick, etc, and that people who are healthy or at least feel healthy, are being penalized.

I live in a county of Illinois that hasn't had a large number of positive cases. In fact, less than 10% of tests have turned out positive, but that doesn't mean I don't understand some of the issues that revolve in not staying at home.  First, there are tourists.  We're coming up on the summer months which for the midwest means two things.  One, the high chance of going elsewhere (this also occurs in the winter, as in just before and during the first stirrings of COVID-19 making the news as a major issue.)  Two, and this is really the more important for most of the midwest, this tourist season is usually relied on to bring in outside money to help the economy.  We have festivals and fairs that bring family and friends from around the country.  You can see on the news and hear on the radio about the graduating classes not getting to celebrate, but for several craftsmen who rely on fairs and festivals to make money and spread the word of their wares, this will cause issues.  The restaurants and small eateries who have not been able to adapt to the changes being forced through will lose even more revenue as they lose those extra sales from tourists and travelers.

There are so many other things that are seriously affected in the midwest that other areas aren't aware of unless they've lived in the midwest that it'd be funny if it weren't for the fact that it's a matter of life or death for a number of people.  Am I happy about being unable to go watch a movie in theaters or realizing that the pool won't be opened for the summer?  No.  This doesn't mean, however, that I won't find ways around the cabin fever that is determined to set in.  There are numerous other ways to keep busy without having to go out other than my yard or a walk around the area - both of which are allowed even in the Stay-at-Home orders.  In fact, the only thing that Stay-at-Home orders are telling people to not do are gather in groups over a certain number (which could be argued violates our first amendment right to assembly,) to work in jobs that are not considered essential  (but this does allow for the exception of working at home,) and going out when unnecessary to stores and various other places that would allow for large groups to gather.  The things people are not realizing: THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS!!!

In fact, one of the largest of the exceptions is to perform social distancing which means to keep at least six feet away from each other when out in public. There are suggestions made to keep to only one person in the household to go shopping.  It is people not using common sense that keeps causing issues.  I stay home as much as possible since I've been furloughed, but I have to go to the laundromat since we don't have a washer or dryer, though I likely could just hang dry the washed clothes when I get them home; there are other reasons to get out and about, including ways to prevent cabin fever.  Don't worry.  When I'm out, I double-check the signs the stores have placed around and I wear my mask to keep others safe, not that I have the symptoms of COVID-19.  I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in my car, but we've done that for years.  My husband did once work at a gas station so he has those stories of knowing drivers who used the restroom, didn't wash their hands, and then filled their tanks.  For our own safety, we keep it to use there and at the laundromat if absolutely needed because our laundromat does not regularly provide hand soap in their restroom.

Why have I ranted about this?  Because politicians and stores have given in in some places to popular demand about not wearing masks, in part thanks to threats of violence.  Remember, a place of commerce has the right to refuse service so long as they do so for a reason that is not illegal - basically, certain discriminations.  This means they have the right to refuse service because you chose to endanger their employees by not wearing a mask.  Just as many have signs that say "NO SHIRT, NO SHOES, NO SERVICE," I have seen signs that require masks on customers that intend to enter the store.  This is a perfectly reasonable addition and most stores have on those same signs that this requirement will eventually be lifted.

Hibernation to Deal

So if you haven't heard, then you must have been hibernating.  Covid-19.  Coronavirus.  Pandemic.  It's sad, but we have a global crisis that is affecting people right now instead of trying to prevent the long-range effects of other global problems.  In a year when we look back at this, we'll likely be surprised at just how little we were prepared and how many cases there were before people realized that just a little common sense could have prevented some of them.  Not all of them, but those who are healthy to begin with and with all the issues with salmonella and the Ebola virus, you'd think people would have gotten the hint to take better personal hygiene measures.  I know there are people who likely think it wastes their time to wash their hands after using the restroom before returning to work or that because their pet is an indoor pet they don't need to wash their hands before eating, but guess what.  The circumstances DON'T MATTER!  It's just common sense to wash your hands after working in the garden, taking out the trash, using the restroom, or playing with your pets.  If you regularly deal with folks who are more susceptible to illness, you should be even more conscientious about it. 

But that's not what I wanted to talk about in this post.  We've learned more about the virus, though not as much as we maybe think we should have learned.  No, what I wanted to talk about was ways to stave off boredom if you have to stay at home 24/7.  I'm sure you can think of some, but you'll likely get on the family's nerves if you're someone who needs social interaction.  To that, all I can say is that the internet is your friend.  It may not be skin to skin or in the type of interaction you feel you need, but as little as 20 years ago, this wouldn't have been possible.  In fact, I know that the introverts would be beyond ready to strangle the extrovert by the end of the first day - try being grounded with your more extroverted siblings.  Trust me if I wasn't wearing myself out trying to fit in with the extroverts, I was trying not to physically attack them, partly because I knew I'd lose!  For many introverts, this is a dream come true.  Forced isolation with limited outside interaction.  For some, it's a way to recharge the social batteries without stepping on anyone's feelings of rejection.

So, catch up on shows that you've been putting off.  Read books or fanfiction that interests you.  Write those stories or poems or songs that keep running through your head.  Get back to the gaming that you were forced to stop because you had to work.  Stop putting off those DIY projects that you keep putting off because you're too tired.  Clean up your garden.  I could probably keep listing things off.  If you have Mistplay, Coin Pop, or another app that earns you money by playing other games, take advantage of them while you might be stuck at home.  Put together some new music videos or parodies.  You'll get some views just because it's something different.  Use up the items you've been freezing but forgetting to thaw. 

But as I mentioned, I'm sure you're already finding these things out for yourself.  Dusting off the board games and pulling out cards to play some Solitaire, Crazy Eights, Monopoly, etc.  I hope you aren't forgetting to keep an eye out for others who might need some encouragement through these times.  I'm not really talking to those who were hardcore gamers before this happened since most of them were likely aware of how to keep themselves occupied even if they happen to be extroverts; the same is true of the bookworms and authors out there.  So remember in these times there are plenty of ways to reach out if you need to.  Also, try to keep yourself safe and healthy!