I'm so frustrated, we are getting "encouraged" to come back into the office next month, although the county's numbers are still going the wrong direction. Our reconstitution plan will require us to work in the office 2 weeks out of every month, but that depends on the county status changing. In the interim, it's just "encouragement" rather than required.

And you know, I would consider going back into the office on a more regular basis, if I wasn't sure that at least some of my coworkers are not socially-distancing or wearing masks when they are out of the office. And we can't open the windows: it's a modern 17-story building. So the risk of going back in is not insignificant.

But the bosses (not my direct boss) are implying that work isn't getting done and so people must come back in. And that's not on us: the problems with the work have to do with the agency fucking around with our ability to telework. They shut off webmail without giving us more slots to dial in to the network, so of course people are less productive!

Grr, argh. I'm assuming this is coming down from DC, but it's infuriating when I know that my branch is actually doing really well and getting our work done.

I love that your daughters love each other, sj. I'm sorry they're sad.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I remember wishing my kids were little again, because then I could just decide what's safe, what's not, and who gets to do what with whom. Not any more. It's been too long for the little ones, and it is just so hard.

Trump prolonged this by refusing to treat it properly and worrying more about the stock market (and his polling) than stopping the spread. The only thing we've really done in the US is stop the hospitals from getting overwhelmed (and not always, but better than what we saw coming out of Italy in the beginning).

When I wished my kids were small, I also thought we'd treat it more or less right, get a true respite in the summer, and be ready to head into flu season like a country run by adults.

My young adult kids have been awesome. B had moved home right before it started. While he was here, he didn't see his GF at all (except on her BD, he brought her a present and take out food and they ate outside). When summer came, he knew he'd want to see her, and that that would put us at risk, so he moved out again. They're careful (no bars, no indoor restaurants, no parties). They mix a little more (indoors) with her family and roommate than I'd like, but since he doesn't live here, it's not something I have to involve myself in.

J & C have been home. J sees a small group of friends, outside, distanced, and masked, in either our yard or one other girl's yard. It will be hard for her once the weather makes that impractical. She's in a tough spot. She decided to take some time off from college right before. She's not in the place to start up again, but she can't really take any job she could get right now.

C has been the most restricted, but although I agree with his choices (and have made the same ones for myself), I didn't have to impose them on him. There's never a moment's complaint from him. I suppose that comes from his health being so hard won.

Timelies all!

Ugh, I have a headache. Probably tension.

I'm starting to think I'm not designed to give blood. I've gotten hives, apparently not made it through a full donation (not that anyone told me), and this time they tried 4 times to take my blood pressure with one of those automated machines. No luck, so I couldn't donate. I expect to have some lovely bruises tomorrow.

I got the work bus inspected, and two tires needed replacing. That cost the company over $800, because of course they're special tires, and commercial plate inspection is $165! Yikes!

But at least that's over. The downside is that I slipped stepping out of the bus and twisted my ankle -- not ruinously badly, but enough to need icing and OTC painkillers. I can't ever remember messing up an ankle this way, I must just have been lucky. Downside: I don't know how to wrap an ankle with an Ace bandage correctly. SIGH

Dana, I feel you. I want so bad to be a good blood donor, but it never seems to go well. I have lovely obvious veins and no problem with needles, but one time I "dried up" a couple ounces short of the minimum so the whole bag was useless (sob) and the two times after that I almost passed out during the clamping phase while the needle was still in my arm but no longer drawing. Hives is new, I haven't had that happen...but it doesn't not make sense. It is a (mild) trauma to the body, can't blame it for freaking out a little bit.

Lack of blood pressure is worrisome, are you sure you aren't a vampire or zombie?

Dear hivemind: for my next mound of tomatoes, shall I made more tomato sauce (4 quarts canned so far, but I do eat a LOT of pasta, especially in cold weather) or try my hand at ketchup? It's one thing i've never made myself, but from all accounts seems pretty basic. The hardest part will be scavenging up bottles to put it in.

Ouch, Theo! I've always done a kind of figure 8 ankle wrap, don't know if that's actually right but it's easy and seems to hold everything in place fairly well.

Dang, Dana, those are some obstacles all right. i'm sorry about that.

Headache begone~ma for Sheryl

When (my mom and I) tried making ketchup back in the day it did not turn out great. But maybe your will! As I recall it was mostly too thin and we kind of used it like sauce anyway? So not a real risky experiment, maybe.

Theo, I hope your ankle heals up well and quickly! Wrapping an ankle is hard, I never figured out how to do it right.

Gud, your wife is abusive and you need some therapy and to get away from her. I don't need to know anything else about her besides that she got mad at you for being sick. Nothing excuses that, nothing.

I've been feeling better lately, mysteriously, and since RBG died I'm back to feeling like there's no hope. I'm trying to stay away from the news and social media. If/when anything important happens, I'll find it out here.

Tomorrow I have to go in to the office, and Thursday evening I'm going to a social thing for work - everyone's been real good about social distancing/masks and I don't plan to stay long,, so I think it'll be okay - and Friday night I'm going to drive 2 hours both ways to Roanoke to see my physical therapist and then get my hair cut real short because I'm tired of dealing with it. Three days in a row of activity outside of my house, and I know I will be exhausted when it's over. I have zero stamina anymore. But hopefully my ankle will feel better and my hair will be cute, so it will be worth it.

Now I'm going outside to re-pot a couple sad plants I rescued from the office. Their pots don't have drainage holes and the staff have been over-watering them.