Just catching up after the day of virtual teaching. So many good health vibes for JZ's dad and Trudy's household, and support and strength to askye, Sheryl, sj, and anyone else who needs it.

ND and I were interviewed for the NPR Marketplace podcast "This is Uncomfortable" this morning, so you may hear us next week if you listen to it (it's a great podcast, fwiw). The host, Reema Khrais, wanted to talk with a small business owner who has had to lay people off. We both teared up during the interview.

I feel better after therapy.

In other possibly good news:

The coronavirus is not mutating significantly as it circulates through the human population, according to scientists who are closely studying the novel pathogen's genetic code. That relative stability suggests the virus is less likely to become more or less dangerous as it spreads, and represents encouraging news for researchers hoping to create a long-lasting vaccine.

[link]

We go to shelter in place state wide tonight at midnight. Most of the known cases in the state are on Oahu, so, in consultation with the director of the small local hospital, we went ahead with game night (attendance:8) last night. We had 2 people making "ignore the lockdown" noises, both white dudes between 30 and 50. It's so frustrating. Having someone hooked into the county public health info helps us immensely in our decision-making. We're going online next week. If anyone wants to play an online board game (with optional videochat) let me know. DH will want to play more than I do, as he's the out of work extrovert in the relationship.

They put out a call for people to take foster dogs, so we're on that list. I'm trying to get it set today, so DH can get dog food in town, where he went to pick up his new CPAP (appt was for tomorrow)

I am super pissed at the county right now. Wisconsin's governor issued a "safer at home" order mandating closures of non-essential businesses. But since we are classified as "government employees," they have not decided to send us home.

We are closed to the public. There is virtually NO essential services circulation aids and library associates CAN do. After twiddling my thumbs most of Monday, I opted to stay home yesterday, burning a vacation day, thinking the county would send us home since the state is shutting down at 8 AM.

But NO. There is no official decision. We're not sure when, or IF we can access the supplemental pay they arranged last week. And they make us burn all our vacation time first. And not let us use accrued sick time UNLESS WE CONTRACT THE VIRUS.

My boss is pissed. Admin is supposed to discuss work from home options with HR tomorrow. I said fuck that and burned another vacation day, which means I only have one week left.

How hard is it to say, non-essential government employees, go home? They've arranged pay for two weeks. Then they can reevaluate when the governor rescinds the order.

For fuck's sake.

That's fucking enraging. It's so clear what the trends are.

I get that the county is a big entity. I get that they have essential employees with important jobs. All the more reason to dismiss non-essentials so they can keep those important employees healthy!

The county employee in my household was the last to be able to work from home - with very similar sounding bullshit.

A bit late: JZ, I am so sorry! This is so rough. A lot of health~ma to you and to your father.

I also have work I could be doing. Or I could be cleaning up the house. Or anything that isn't internet and TV. But it's just not happening. I feel like I'm about 10 minutes away from a panic attack at any given time, and I don't even have any family members who are sick.

Dana, I feel this way about third of the time too. Sometimes more. I'm usually the Do All Things girl, but this thing is like a weight on the soul and the cans. I read the others framed this as grief (for the life we knew). I can relate to it.

Huh, Prince Charles is positive now too. He apparently has a mild case.

I'm focusing on working, and fiction, because my frustration level with DC is so high. I catch the news for a bit in the morning, and a bit at the end of the day, but all day I try and avoid it. I still get alerts in my email. I haven't turned those off yet.

Yay for the good news on JZ's father! JZ, how are you doing? Are your symptoms still mild?

Cashmere, yikes! It sounds like there aren't any projects that have been postponed forever "until we have time." You could always lean into the ridiculousness of the situation. Maybe take a few decks of cards to work and organize a bridge tournament?

I'm working from home for the duration. Catching up on some of the stuff that has been waiting on the DVR for a year or more, including reruns of The Partridge Family and several other sitcoms. Cooking a bit. And using Duolingo to teach myself a little Czech.