So here we are. Florida is one of the states seeing significant increases in COVID-19 cases and looks to be the next epicenter. We hit a record-high of 5,000+ cases two days in a row (Wednesday and Thursday), which is astonishing. What’s even more astonishing is that our governor is still not willing to do anything about this. He continues to insist it’s due to increased testing, which is just not factual at all. I try to check this database at least once a day to see how things are going in my county and what the ICU bed availability looks like. (28, as of Thursday night.)
Thankfully, the county I live in now has a mandatory mask ordinance in place. I’m glad we have sensible officials in our local government! All of Florida should be under this ordinance since wearing masks is the best way to prevent community spread, but alas. At least I can feel good knowing that whenever I go to the grocery store, everyone else will be wearing masks. (And I really feel for the workers who have to enforce this rule with shoppers. I know there are plenty of people who won’t like the rule, sigh.)
My family is planning this big Fourth of July party, as some family members will be in town and everyone wants to get together. At first, we were thinking about doing it at a park but now we’re planning to have it at a condo on the beach. There will be a lot of us (around 20 people, maybe?!) and I think I’m going to have to be the party pooper who doesn’t attend. I just don’t feel comfortable about it, and I hope my family understands, but even if they don’t, that’s okay. I have to do what feels right for me.
I’ve had a lot of anxiety lately, much more than normal. I’ve been in a really good place with my mental health for about the past year, so it always feels defeating when my anxiety rises to unmanageable levels. I think it all stems from the trajectory this pandemic has taken for my state. Not only are our case numbers rising, but the median age of a coronavirus patient is dramatically lower—37 years old. Normal life seems like a state of mind. Was there really a time when I could walk into a packed spin class and not blink an eye at being seated less than a foot away from people?
I think I’m also feeling rather sad about having nothing to look forward to. There are no vacations on the horizon or fun plans to anticipate. I’m trying to save my vacation days to take a good chunk of time off around my move. Even though the move won’t be too crazy since I’m moving within my complex, it will still be nice to have a lot of time to pack and unpack and get the girls used to the new setting. I’m trying to take off one day per month, too, as a mental health day. That helps! I took a Wednesday off in June and basically did nothing but read and sleep, and it was divine. I planned to go to the pool, but it rained all afternoon. I’m taking off a day next month to celebrate my mom’s birthday with her, so that will be nice. 🙂
And, hopefully, I can plan a getaway in the fall. Something within driving distance, of course. Maybe it’s time to visit Savannah again? I love that city so much, goodness.
As I mentioned last week, my company announced plans for reopening the office. They’re doing it in phases and this first phase is completely voluntary. The office will only be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, only 25 employees can be in the office at one time, and the office will be thoroughly sanitized before and after each workday. While I don’t have any plans to go into the office to work, I am hoping to schedule a time to pick up some of the stuff from my desk. Like my wireless computer mouse and my cat calendar and my big Tervis water cup. When I left in mid-March, I had no idea I wouldn’t be back for such a long time! It’s crazy when I think about it. There were also some discussions about continuing a mostly remote work-from-home program once things return to “normal.” I would be required to come into the office once or twice a month for team meetings and such, and that sounds great to me.
In other good news, I finally got my washer fixed! I felt comfortable enough having the maintenance man come in and look at it (he wore a mask), and turns out, I needed an entirely new washer/dryer! My new one is super fancy with a touch screen and lots of bells and whistles, and it makes me less anxious to move out of this apartment, haha. It’s so exciting!
I’m still keeping pretty isolated in my day-to-day life. I did go to TJ Maxx once and Target twice, but that’s about it. I’m still not going to the gym or restaurants, and still not seeing friends. My circle remains my mom, stepdad, brother, and older nephew. I haven’t seen my girlfriends since we did a socially distanced book club meeting at the end of May, and it makes my heart ache. I miss them so much! But it’s also hard to know what sorts of activities would be ok to do, you know? And being outside isn’t all that pleasant right now in Florida between the intense heat and mosquitoes. Ugh.
In other news, I’m still waiting on the books I requested from the library. Four of the books I requested have been “in transit” for more than two weeks now. Whew. To be clear, this isn’t a complaint and I know my library system is doing its best right now. Just an observation. I know they’re dealing with a backlog and I’m assuming they’re quarantining any materials they get in for 14 days, so perhaps my time is coming soon. I’ll be patient! I’ve got enough reading material to keep me busy anyway, between my own bookshelves (both print and Kindle!) and Libby. I’ll be fiiiiine. 🙂
So that’s where I’m at right now. There’s a lot happening, and it all feels very scary and overwhelming at times. But I have to remember to stay present and not worry about what could happen in the future. Yes, Florida is most likely COVID-19’s next epicenter, but all that means for me is spending more time at home with my kitties. And is that really such a bad thing?
I’ve been watching the news on the FL numbers. So bad and it’s tough to have a governor who does not take it seriously. I’m glad the local governments are stepping up and requiring masks. I saw footage on the news of a man trying to go into a grocery store in FL without a mask. An employee tried to keep him from entering and he pushed and pushed the guy and then eventually the man trying to fall over fell down. It was RIDICULOUS. Wear a GD mask! It’s not that hard, you a-hole. I obviously feel very passionate about this.
It’s tough that now is not a time when you want to gather outdoors since it’s so hot/humid and the mosquitoes are bad! It’s easier here in Mn because it’s usually not unpleasant outside. So I have seen more friends lately but we meet outdoors. I did go into the house of our best friend’s to eat dinner a couple of weekends ago, but our kids go to the same daycare so it seems like we are in the same immunity bubble. But besides that, I wouldn’t go in someone else’s house besides using the bathroom if need be. My immediate family is getting together for the 4th. 3 of my siblings will be there, including my brother and his family from Chicago. They are bringing their camper, though, so they will stay in the camper instead of inside my parents. I am so bummed we can’t be there with them but it’s just too much of a risk with Paul being in daycare. So I’m kind of dreading seeing pictures/hearing about their time together at the lake. But we decided this week that we will go to my parents’ lake home in August for a week, but will go M-F so it’s just us and my parents. Phil, Paul and I will all get tested on Friday morning for COVID and I will keep him out of daycare that day and then we will leave for the lake as soon as we get our test results, which we should have by monday morning. It seems like the safest way for us to see my parents without having to take Paul out of school for a crazy amount of time. It would be ideal to take him out for 14 days, then go to my parents, but that would be 3 weeks total, and he was already out for 7 weeks this spring and I will likely pull him for the 2 weeks leading up to my C-section in December. So I don’t want to take him out more than is necessary! Plus it’s not exactly cheap – $330/week and we pay whether or not he is there.
Staying home with your two gorgeous gals?! Totally a brightside. I’m glad you found one but I think it’s completely understandable why your anxiety is through the roof. And it’s not undoing you work – it’s teaching you how to handle something completely new! You have a tool kit but was global pandemic part of it? I doubt it! 😉 I hope you can talk to your therapist and get some tips <3
At the beginning I was like "these new cases must be because of all the testing!" But yeah, now? No. Especially because it's mostly in the states who reopened early. I hope people start wearing their masks and staying home again. GAH.
That sounds like a smart call with the family gathering, especially since it's going to be inside now? (in the condo? no thanks)
I am glad work is not pushing you to go back! Have any of your coworkers said they are anxious to get back in? I knew some who were at the start (at other companies) but now they aren't as much anymore since they've found out how great working at home is LOL.
I think if I didn't have our river trip to look forward to I'd be pretty meh right now 🙁 I hope you can do a local trip in time <3 And taking time off around the move is a great plan! I did that with our last two and was really glad I did. Especially since I work from home – I need my house set up! (and I can't stand stuff in my living space being in boxes… apparently I can stand it in my storage room though 😉 )