Aaaargh. Friend drama. Two friends were supposed to get married this weekend but had to cancel. Another close friend has been saying she's lonely and it was the first anniversary of her buying her house, and the not-marrying friends wanted a distraction, so we agreed to go down for the weekend. In part due to Covid and part due to doggo issues, we are staying at a hotel, not at our friend's house. Apparently we had been anticipating being outside all weekend (we had been talking about grilling and an outdoor movie with a projector) and she had...not, I guess? We found out she made out with someone new last night and the not-marrying friends were concerned because they are seeing parents next weekend and worry about transmission. So they put down a "no really, outside". And she flipped out and said we are slut shaming her. And we were like no, just being cautious but also this is basically what we thought was happening anyway? And now she's crying and saying don't come this weekend. Ugh.

...argh, meara.

I recommend everyone else go to the hotel as planned and have a fun weekend outdoors grilling at a park or somesuch, with Drama Queen allowed to come if she gets over herself in time and stays on best behavior. At this point I advocate a zero tolerance policy with "How can you choose keeping your elderly loved ones safe over MEEEEE?!?" theatrics.

One of my coworkers messaged me on the way home from another state last night to tell me that someone she played scrabble with on Tuesday started having symptoms today and got tested and is positive so she's going to isolate instead of coming to work tomorrow but is it sick time or what?

This is why we don't go to other states and play scrabble, people.

flea, I think you did the right thing for yourself: life is too short to be miserable at work.

100% this.

My instructional design team (composed of both faculty and staff) just got notified we won an $18,000 innovation award!

That's awesome. Congrats!

At this point I advocate a zero tolerance policy with "How can you choose keeping your elderly loved ones safe over MEEEEE?!?" theatrics.

That sounds about right.

We are in Otter Lake, and pretty much staying away from people for a couple weeks. Yes, we went grocery shopping. I sat on the outside deck of my sister's house to visit. Her dog was the only one who has no concept of social distance. My nephew came over to replace my toilet that blew out a section of porcelain in the winter freeze. Really thought we had all the water out! We have plenty to do for a couple weeks just cleaning and unpacking.

Cats are very happy with new life.

Glad you made it, Laura.

Sorry about the drama, meara.

Congrats, flea! Sometimes leaving an awful situation is the best decision you can make.

Sophia, I think the pod idea is a good one for your small group.

Looking for the like button on Matt's post.

honestly btw meara and flea's post - THIS IS WHY WE CAN:T HAVE NICE THINGS!!

We are up to 7 workers at my parent's retirement community who have tested positive. NONE of them have had any symptoms! My brother and I are mildly freaking out.

I have a prior commitment tomorrow and it will involve me being in a retail space with 2 other people all masked. I will be double masked since I just traveled. I am also bringing them extra sanitizer and will ask to be in a corner away from them. We think ok or should I cancel?

I hate everything.

I am neti-potting with every shower also. Part allergies, part if there is anything hanging out up there maybe this will flush it out? I have read no science on this, my brain thinks it make sense.

In better news, and a medal if you've read this far - I got the curtains up last night, so hoping for a less barky day. Bailey is 1000x more attentive to squirrel chasing now that she has a partner. Miley did NOT eat all her breakfast - so I tried and extra spoon of wet and even that did not work - I am committed to breaking this bad food habits, so she will eat when she is hungry and I will watch her for any diabetes badness.

I am so drawn to the stubborn ones, huh. My capricorn self and Taurus son now this headstrong Terrier.

Thanks for the congrats! It was unexpected!

Sophia, I think the pod idea is a good one for your small group.

Thanks. It wasn't a light decision, but we have been basically platonic life partners for 20 years- we just live in separate homes.For both of us, the fear isn't so much getting sick as it is getting someone else sick, so once you have the conversation that if, God forbid, either one of us gets sick, we will take care of each other it seems OK. And we trust each other to social distance and wear masks, and we aren't really going anywhere, even work, without each other.

That makes a lot of sense, Sophia.

Msbelle, how long will you be in relatively close quarters with other people if you do the thing?