COVID Diaries - June 11

Take care of my body: Ooof.  I ran a long way this morning.  I did not do weights, because I was like dead when I got back.  I probably won't do that tomorrow.
Take care of my heart/mind: I talked by video to some coworkers I haven't seen in a while, and then I watered my plants.
Take care of my living space: Did I tell you about my plants?
Take care of work or economic security: I did work today, was pleasantly surprised by my productivity.
A clipping or link from the news: White Privilege is real people. Fascinating.
Things I tried to buy that are out of stock, or things that are now being advertised or sold that are new: Related: the post office forgot where Minneapolis is and sent my package to the wrong place.  Now I don't know when I'll get it.  Sigh.  Updated to add: Qat Lady says it's harder to fix your pets right now, or takes longer for an appointment.  I assume since people vents and animal vents are the same thing and the people hospitals have them all right now?
Picture from the day: Apparently I can't upload them right now?  Thanks Blogger. Updated: Blogger healed itself.  Your turn USPS

I am thankful for: I had a nice day at work and finished up under my umbrella outside, which did not blow away in the wind.

COVID Diaries - June 9

Take care of my body: I ran this morning.  It's hot y'all.  I also did a modified deck of cards work out that was harder than I expected.  I normally do push, pull, press, hinge separately.  Today I did squat thrusts (leg push + overhead press) and deadlift + shoulder raise (hinge + pull).  Squat thrusts, wowsers.
Take care of my heart/mind: After work happy hour with colleagues, including one who recently left our department for a new department at our company (on great terms for all of us).
Take care of my living space: My hydrangea is going to flower this year.  Y'all, I am so happy.  I nursed this poor thing all last summer, and talked to it, and fed it coffee (for reals), and it made no flowers.  So, this is wonderful.
Take care of work or economic security: I worked. 
A clipping or link from the news: Not COVID 19 related but putting this here because the Broken Earth series is one of my favorites, and my 9th grade English teacher is also a black female author who is crazy smart.
Things I tried to buy that are out of stock, or things that are now being advertised or sold that are new: I now have 5lb weights from Play It Again sports.  $0.80/lb.  It's better than the 3lb weights I had before.
Picture from the day: Ok; I legit did not take one?
I am thankful for: Captain Smiley got me a new yard sign.  Our neighbor thanked us as we were putting them up.  I love my neighborhood.

COVID Diaries - I am so far behind

I kind of hit the point where I had to stop journaling.  Now, I'm catching up.

June 2 (Tuesday) - I ran for a very very long distance (for me).  I worked from my car in the morning, and then from Mom and Dad's basement in the afternoon.  I can't remember what we had for supper, but I'm fairly sure I made it.

June 3 (Wednesday) -  I ran a more normal distance for me. And then I mostly worked.  Dad and I also went to Spectrum to get better internet. I was pleasantly surprised but their customer service.  Even when they were all "your lines are so old we need to reactivate them"  Okay.

June 4 (Thursday) - This was an even shorter run.  I think it was slightly hotter than the surface of the sun with 10,000% humidity, so I did my best.  And then I worked.  In the evening, the Spectrum cable guy practically moved in with us.  He wasn't bad, but he was sooooo sloooow.  Mom and Dad and I finally ate at like 8:30pm after he finished reactivating (and reinstalling) the lines.  Bonus though was that Mom and I had a lovely time sitting outside and visiting with the neighbors.

June 5 (Friday) - I worked again. In the basement.  It's hilarious. I look like I'm in a cave. Also, the 10,000% humidity remains, and is no joke. For reasons passing all human understanding, Mom wanted to take a walk in the hottest part of the day.  I love you.   So, we did the thing.

June 6 (Saturday) - Hang on, because the humidity should be soooo much better tomorrow.  In the evening, I headed down to see some of my most favorite people in the world (and in Kentucky).  These were mostly socially distant outside visits, but did include one small inside visit as well.  My first in months (not counting Captain Smiley who is my quarantine partner).   PS - when I got home, Mom started having a panic attack. (No judgements, just noting it.)

June 7 (Sunday) - I got up at the crack of dawn for another long run.  After I got home, Mom panic attack continued in spectacular proportions.  (Again, no judgement, but not ignoring it either.)  I spent the morning traipsing around Long Branch Farm and checking out Blue Herons.  Mom was convinced I was going to contaminate everyone and everything I touched, which is why she was so upset.  I had bonus Chinese food for lunch (whist I was pretending I wasn't riding in cars with other people, closer than 6 feet), and then played with my cousins super adorable toddler.  I had a birthday supper with Mom and Dad (where we pretended there were no panic attacks earlier in the day, talk about healthy), and then packed up.

June 8 (Monday) - Early, short run, Cincinnati time.  And then, all of the driving.  Lots of audio book listening. I'm almost done with Pandemic which is an oddly prescient book for the times.  When I got home, I said several prayers to the a/c gods because it was like 100* in Minneapolis (sadly, not an exaggeration). I watered my plants, cleaned my living areas, and unpacked my suitcase.  Then I tried to cut my hair.  This continues to be an exploit that will take multiple attempts I think.  ,

COVID Diaries - June 1

Today, I had dreams of grandure. I did not get up at 6:30am and run whatever dumb distance I thought I'd do.  Instead I slept 'till 9am and ran just over 4 miles, but it was hilly, and a lot of fun, so there's there.

I came back and slaved away cooked brunch.  Goetta was included.

In the afternoon, Dad and I headed down to the farm, which is one of my most favorite places on earth. We took a walk, saw some things, and hung out.  We saw lots and lots of birds.  I tried to explain a yellow bellied sap sucker. It does still sound more like an insult than a bird species, but, whatever.

For supper, Mom made broccoli soup and I made meat for Dad and I to add to the soup.

In the evening, we had a Skype call with a high school friend of Mom's who also happens to be one of the smartest human beings I've ever met.

And now I'm doing laundry.

Apparently last night there were some fires up in my neck of the woods.  I think it spared a beloved restaurant but nailed a barber shop, mailbox store, and another small business.  Like, wtf, people in my neighborhood wouldn't have torched that stuff.   Our main library was nailed too. Every time I turn around, there's more destruction.

Part of me is glad I'm away, and part of me wants to be back, now that there's a clear path to help.  It's very confusing.

May 30 - At night

This is the general advice going out to all residents in Minneapolis.

During tonight’s curfew:
Leave your lights on
Put trash/recycling bins in garage so they can’t be set on fire
Leave hoses attached to your spigot
If you see people lighting fires, bang pans, shine light and make noise
In case of emergency, fire hydrants can be opened with pipe wrenches to fill buckets for bucket brigades
Talk to your neighbors on your block today and ask them to do the same
Fight like hell for justice
If you want to do more, join with neighbors on private property of local businesses to stand watch overnight
If you identify as white, and are healthy and able, consider staying out in your yard to keep an eye on the block
Remove sharp tools or anything that could be used as a weapon from your property
Check in on your vulnerable neighbors TODAY to find out how they are and what they want/need
Fill bathtubs with water
Hoses on the ready
Remove cars from street
Remove anything that can be thrown from your yard
Remove anything that can be burned from your yard
Contact your neighbors
ID the medics on your block
Put away valuables
Sit on porches all night; BE PRESENT
Car blockades to block people from coming on your block
Buy fire extinguishers in suburbs
ID a place of refuge
Buddy shifts that overlap
Pots and pans to make noise if something happens
Buckets of water in front yards
Wear full clothing and helmet
Wear matching clothes so we can ID allies
Keep all lights on
Have a wrench ready for fire hydrants
ID someone who can restrain people
Turn off your do not disturb on your phone
Pack a bag
Douse your houses and yards
Flashlights and candles ready if power goes out
Wear bright colors
Have a password on your block
Look for out-of-state plates and armed white dudes
Barricade big streets from neighborhoods
Wheelbarrows/shovels with dirt ready
Fill up dumpsters with water

I talked to a friend who lives very close to the violence at the 5th precinct last night, and where it was starting up again tonight. But there's all kinds of threats for violence in other places as well, so it's really scary. I will say, out loud, I'm afraid of my house being burned down. That's my biggest fear.

A different friend (who may or may not have a blog name?) finally made me turn off the TV/online feeds.  "There's nothing you can do" That's why he's a good friend.

COVID Diaries - May 29 and 30

Doing two days at once here, again.

Friday around 5am, I woke up to hear my city was on fire, and some buildings were expected to explode due to gas leaks.  So I started putting clothes in my suitcase.  I left around 6am.  Driving out of town, I say a lot of "this used to be on fire and is still smoking" in Minneapolis (Broadway, Cedar Ave) and St Paul (Midway).  I was a disaster as I was leaving town, but I got better and better as the day went on.  I got to Mom and Dad's towards the end of the day, and that really lifted me right up.  I went for my run, had supper, and went to sleep.

Saturday, I woke up around 2am to see that a whole different police station was on fire, the National Guard couldn't stop it, and, just, everything was on fire.  Still.

Saturday I woke up for reals and headed out for a run, which really lifted me up.  I've spent the day with Mom and Dad.  Mom has commanded that we must eat all the food in the fridge, so I cooked Chili Verde with some of the stuff I brought home.  It's sitting in the crock pot, and will make an excellent meal for tomorrow or the next couple of days.

As Saturday went on, more and more news was coming in.  80% of the arrests for violence and property destruction are from people who don't live in Minnesota.  And suddenly, it all makes sense.  In Minneapolis, we protest, we block roads, we sit on light rail tracks.  But there is not violence and there is not property damage.  Now I'm hearing that most of the violence is coming from white supremacists (typical), so some of my friends are heading out to stay in safer areas.  I feel like a refugee.

In other amazing news today, a rocket with humans launched into space from Texas.  So that's super cool.

COVID Diaries - Linkfest

I was checking the news today (something I've been a bit reluctant to do lately, for painfully obvious reasons).

This is a map of the riots, property damage, and fires.  It's not constantly updates, but it does seem to be updated regularly.

More importantly, I saw the same news story reported with basically the same facts and two different headlines.  Neither one of these sources is Fox News, btw.

Source 1 with a headline image:

And Source 2 with their headline image:

Ok, so, y'all, then I went down the rabbit hole and tried to find stories about this on IJR, which skews politically conservative but not so far away that I can't see them from the middle.  Just to see, what is the reporting on this. Here's their headlines.

First, from the obvious "we would be against this" politicians:
Source 1 and headline image:

Second in this category: Story 2 and image:

Next up let's hear from the not politically connected in the US groups:
Source 1 and image:

And, from the Catholic Church Episcopal Church, source 2 and image: 

And finally, from the "we are Republicans, you should really have us on your team, this should be easy" camp:
Source 1 and image:

And finally, a general STFU from source 2.  And Image:

COVID Diaries - May 28

Take care of my body: I went out to run this morning.  I didn't expect my heart and all my emotions to come out of my body on the run, but that's pretty much what happened.
Take care of my heart/mind: Talked to Mom (Heart) and Dad (mind), who helped me find the strongest and most generous parts of myself.  And I talked to Qat Lady, who is as heartbroken as I am.
Take care of my living space: I accidentally did some weeding, but, not much else.
Take care of work or economic security: I did work.  Almost hit productivity, not quite though.
A clipping or link from the news: No.  My city is on fire.  St Paul is on fire.  The suburbs are on fire.  It's the embodiment of pain and humiliation and injustices that have been building.  The murder of George Floyd is horrific. The riots are a horror.  here is a summary, if you need it. 
Things I tried to buy that are out of stock, or things that are now being advertised or sold that are new:  Well.  The other day I had a social distance back yard visit with several friends.  It's there I was forced to realize that my cantilever umbrella is NO MATCH for the west facing sun my patio gets.  Gazebos are sort of out of stock, but not entirely.
Picture from the day:

I am thankful for: Mom told me I can come home.  I may do the thing. 

COVID Diaries - May 27: A whole new reason for my heart to break

Take care of my body: I woke up this morning and tried a new 5 mile loop.  I have some tweaking to do. I also did a deck of cards workout.
Take care of my heart/mind: Dungeon Master came by at the end of the day.  We distance-visited.  It made my heart happy.
Take care of my living space: I talked to my plants.  A lot.  I planed a false indigo I got from a friend, and then continued my war against creeper and grass seeds in my garden.
Take care of work or economic security: I had the most beautiful day at work (which doesn't make up for the next thing, but it helps).  A while ago in my job I got to meet one of the most wonderful people ever. And that person crossed my path again today.  It made my life.
A clipping or link from the news: I generally try hard to avoid posting anything that would indicate my political views, and also stay away from controversy, for my own reasons.
But currently, my heart is breaking.  This is my old neighborhood, where I lived from 2002-2019.  I know all the corners, all the intersections, all the businesses. This is awful.  The looting of businesses is eerily familiar to the race riots in Cincinnati that I also experienced. (I didn't have a blog then.)  It all starts with looting. 
Things I tried to buy that are out of stock, or things that are now being advertised or sold that are new: The bidet commercials continue.
Picture from the day:  I'd like to tell you about the baby snapping turtle I met on my run.  It's to tiny!
I am thankful for: Y'all, Mom cut Dad's hair today.  The pics are unreal.  At first I thought I was looking at Uncle Dave. (I mean that in the best way possible.)