Friday, January 21, 2022

Covid Math And What Does It Matter?


I got a very cute visitor today and his mother came too. The weather is dreary again. Cold and rainy all day long. No line-dried sheets for us this week. It's one of those days that make me so very, very thankful for good heating, a clothes dryer. And lots of other things too like a dishwasher and a gas stove but at this moment, I am most appreciative of having heat and a way to dry clothes. 

It was a breath and a shot of fresh air having Jessie and Levon over. Jack was happy too, as you can see. He was trying to mind-meld Jessie into offering him some of her roast chicken which he is very fond of. Levon loved the pot pie and almost finished up the last piece of it. Jessie ate what he didn't. She said she liked it too. 

So of course after their visit last weekend, Jessie and Levon began to have very slight cold symptoms. Or, at least symptoms of something. So Jessie took them all except Vergil to get tested again. They got PCR tests and while Jessie was here today, she got an e-mail informing her that August was positive. 
The one without symptoms. 
This of course led to all sorts of speculation. Were Mr. Moon's and my negative tests false negatives? We'd gotten rapid tests last week. Had Jessie and Levon's tests been false negatives? We did all sorts of math (saw Jason and Owen two weeks ago, came down with symptoms about five days later, tested two days after that, saw the Weatherfords the day after that....blah, blah, blah) and we finally decided that it is what it is and she took Levon to go pick up August from school and get three more PCR's. 
I called Mr. Moon who was in town to get two at-home rapid tests which we took when he got home and they showed negative. 

What the hell? I'm not going to get a PCR test because it wouldn't change a thing to know I had it. We're still masking religiously. I think I'm going to figure that if Jessie and Levon come back negative again, it will be safe to assume we didn't have it and if they come back positive, I'm going to assume we did. 
Does that make sense? 
None of this makes sense but it is quite possible that August picked it up at school. 
Nobody else at Lily's house is testing positive. Owen, it turns out, is the only one in the house who hadn't had a booster so that may be an explanation of why he seems to be the only one who got the virus. 
Who knows? 
Not me. 

But that's what happened over here today and in my family. 

I watched the last episode of "After Life" and I'm not sure how I feel. No spoilers because some of you are watching it and enjoying it. But I think I get the message of the last episode quite well although there is certainly a lingering question. If you watch it, you'll see what I mean. 

Mr. Moon just made nachos in the air fryer and brought me one. I think we shall try that again. I mean- what's better than nachos? Last night I air fried some cauliflower and onions and that was pretty okay although my husband told me that he'd rather eat cauliflower raw. With dip. He said this in the most loving way possible.
"Well, that's easy," I told him. He just doesn't really like cooked cauliflower which is too bad for him. He needs to go out of town again so that I can make my delicious cauliflower dish. Actually, I could make it with him here, couldn't I? What if I made that and salmon and LeSueur peas? He'd eat it but that would be so mean. 

I just remembered something else that I am extremely grateful for on this wet, cold day- Goodwill cashmere! It's just the most perfect thing on days like this. I really need to find more of it as I've inadvertently shrunk a lot of what I own. I was looking at a sweater the other day that is not only too small for an adult now but also has holes in it and I thought, "Hmmm...I could mend that and give it to Maggie!"
This mending thing is getting out of hand. Not everyone appreciates my artistic, wabi-sabi techniques. I think I need to crochet a few more potholders instead. 

What silly problems. Not even problems at all. 
I think I'll go inform my husband that I'd like a martini now. 

Happy Friday, y'all. 

Love...Ms. Moon

P.S. And hot and cold running water. I think I may be most grateful for those. I remember when I had a hand pump out in the back yard of another house many, many years ago and how it got so cold the winter we lived there that when I'd pump water, ice chunks would come out before the water did. I have a very visceral memory of this. Not to mention the cold, cold walk to the outhouse. 
Lord.
I can't believe I lived that way but I do not regret that I did for one red hot second. 






29 comments:

  1. I did just read a very encouraging report on NPR's blog that CDC and others expect omicron to be just as unlikely to catch when outdoors as other versions of covid. They said that you should mask when outdoors if you expect to in prolonged, close contact with someone. It is a relief to vaxxed and boosted too! Stay healthy, Stay warm. And enjoy your martini!

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    1. That is good to hear. I have felt a lot better about being outside than inside with others for quite a long time now!

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  2. we go back to work face to face 1/31 in a workplace that has the same number of kids vaccinated as an oathkeeper's convention. i think i'm getting 10 more kids in each of my 6th grade classes because two teachers left. they cut our quarantine to 5 days and staff isn't considered close contacts if they've been vaccinated.... here's to making it to june alive, literally.

    i hope a. continues to be asymptomatic and o. feels better soon.

    xxalainaxx

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    1. Jesus. What a stupid species we are. My feeling is that if you are vaxxed and boosted that although you may get the virus, it will be mostly a non-event. I sure do hope so for your sake because how in the world can you avoid getting it?
      Owen, although still testing positive, is feeling fine.

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  3. I agree that the math of covid drives a person mad. What if, what if, when what difference does it make! We have to deal with what we've found, really. as you're doing. I'm glad it's martini day for you!

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    1. I was glad it was martini day too! And pizza night so...double great!

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  4. Oh....lordy, August. It's all so confusing and frustrating nowadays. Positive, negative......true or false? All we can do is be vigilant and hopeful and follow safe procedures. Crap.
    A martini, clean sheets and rain sound good to me! I'm having wine while chicken is roasting........ and already waiting for warm bed with flannel sheets and book! Small comforts that carry us through these tenuous and trying times
    Susan M

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    1. You're right Susan- it is these small pleasures that absolutely do carry us through.

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  5. I'm just going to stay confused and mixed up. Happy weekend, Mary, and get to bed soon.

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    1. I did go to bed fairly early. It felt so good.

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  6. It's very cold here this week. Like below zero cold. And earlier today I was thinking about the beauty of a furnace and worrying about people that don't have shelter and how miserable it must be.

    I commented on your yesterday's response to my comment about After Life. I think I'm good with the ending. But yes lingering is accurate.

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    1. I do not know how people who do not have heated shelter make it through. I guess many don't.
      I went back and replied to your reply. I, too, am okay with that ending and even the fact that it was not made clear.

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  7. Does masking religiously involve prayers? "Oh All-Seeing Lord! We pray that thou in thine eternal wisdom doth not infect us with thine horrible COVID thing and that thou giveth us the winning numbers for this week's Florida Lottery. Praise Thee Almighty Lord! Amen."

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    1. No prayers. Just consistent and conscientious regularity. Which is the definition I was going for as I am sure you know, you English teacher, you. But if I thought praying would help me win the lottery I might even play it! Hallelujah.

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  8. Sorry to hear about August. I'm afraid there's no avoiding it now especially in certain states, those whose governors are fighting every attempt at containing it like Florida and here in Texas. I ordered our 4 free tests provided by Biden. So far neither of us has had so much as the sniffles. Lots of things I'm grateful for besides that. Primarily that I'm not homeless, not hungry, not sick.

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    1. I've ordered our tests too. Luckily for us there are multiple testing sites in the area. Free. But it's nice to have a test available at home.
      Stay healthy! I know you will.
      I, too, am grateful for those three things.

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  9. Well, I hope those that tested positive are feeling fine and that those that tested negative stay healthy.
    Happy Weekend!

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    1. So far, that is the way it's going! Knock wood.

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  10. We live in a 55 and over community and for the most part, we’ve had low COVID cases….until a couple came down with it, but didn’t tell anyone because they didn’t want to miss the community-wide Christmas dinner. We didn’t go because why push it. But they went, and within the next ten days eight people had positive tests! Proof that ‘with age comes wisdom’ can be a bunch of hooey. Now, for that cauliflower casserole…PLEASE share your recipe!

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    1. God, people can be so damn selfish. And you're right- older and wiser is definitely not true in most cases. It's more like "older and more like you always were."

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  11. Hope your vaccinations are working well and nobody gets too sick. You know, I have never considered buying an air fryer. I never even found out what they do. But I will take a look now, I'm curious.

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    1. Well, they're not like modern miracles but I am enjoying mine.

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  12. I have been reading your blog for a good while now - and we are the same age so I appreciate your views and words. This is my first comment - I am more of a lurker than a commenter. Your precious little grandson is eating his meal off the same plates that I have here in Australia! There were my mum's. So for all the deep and meaningfuls, and the worry that is covid, I comment about a plate! It did make me smile. Keep well Mary, and keep telling us about the deep love for your lovely Glen and all your family. Angela, Queensland, Australia

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    1. I love your comment about the plate! That is so interesting! My "china" is made up of many different patterns. I just buy what pleases me in thrift stores and mix them all up. I have a few of those plates. I do like them.
      And thank you for commenting! That means a lot to me. Welcome, Angela!

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  13. Yeah, it's pretty hard to beat outdoor plumbing!

    I know what you mean about the "Covid math." It's all so exhausting. I've been playing that game myself after my boss came to work sick on Monday and subsequently tested positive. The C-bomb is bound to hit us one of these days. I'm sorry August has it.

    I've talked to several people who develop symptoms but don't test positive for several more days. I don't know if this is an Omicron thing or what, but there seems to be a period of positivity and even illness before the tests come up positive. (Lateral flow tests, I mean.)

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    1. I had just said to Jessie, "You know we're all going to get it eventually," when she read the results of August's test.
      I've heard of that same thing- having symptoms before showing positive. Jason did it. I don't know whether it's Omicron or perhaps having gotten vaccinated? Who knows? Not us.

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  14. I remember the long walk to an outhouse, but instead of cold and snow we had heat, mosquitoes and blowflies. I was happy when we finally got indoor plumbing and dad built a bathroom in a sectioned off part of the back porch.

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  15. Covid math makes me insane. Worse, I'm not sure how much I trust the tests being administered, everything is so all over the place, result wise, but as long as the symptoms are no worse that a cold or even the flu, we carry on. Be well, Moons.

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  16. Sorry to hear that now August has it too... we've had those in the house that Tested Negative and Positive as well. The Two of us who were Positive were very Sick with it tho', so knew for sure it had caught up to us. Just grateful when those living with us manage to stay Negative and not get Sick. Hopefully those in your Family who have it get just mild symptoms and recover quickly and fully, the COVID Math can give you headaches and heartaches.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.