I’m sorry about your cousin, askye. Our medical system is frustrating at the best of times, which these very much aren’t.

Happy Solstice, everyone. More light will be good.

But brains are really important so let's both do this and ensure the future brain spiciness.

That is a most excellent plan.

I'm sorry for all battling the horrid healthcare system we have.

DH went and got a Covid test today because he had a couple players sick with probable Covid, haven't heard yet. He is great about wearing his mask and stuff. Anyway, yay proof of negativity once again.

Yes, do take care of your own brain, Cass!

That's so sad about your cousin, askye. It all sounds so avoidable. Well, not all, I guess, but a lot. Adequate care doesn't seem like too much to ask for.

Cindy - Nilly is good and says hello to everyone. Shir was on also and is very busy finishing up her dissertation.

Omicron SUCKS ASS. Our new case rate in the state is vertical. Straight vertical. Our Gov is positive. The County Executive in my workplace (not my building) is positive.

I would like time off, like a week or more, to stay inside and ignore things.

Ooh. I think you should have that, msbelle, fwiw

The covid scare from our division holiday party seems to have not infected anyone else, yay. But the news about omicron is such that I just bailed on a work trip to the mid-Atlantic in late January. That will be at the peak, and from what I hear folks in those offices are not masking. No thank you!

Best of luck to everyone. It's gonna be another weird Christmas, but at least we won't all be outdoors? (It's raining here.)

The testing lines in DC are really, really long. Early morning, over a block at Farragut Square. Other places, they can be two or more blocks. Test sites are running out before everyone in line can be tested. I'm not sure if the demand for tests is a good thing or not; obviously, running out of tests is a bad thing.

I'm often the only one in our office, although my boss prefers to work here than at home. I think that's been positive, since I think we're on a friendlier basis than before. Everyone else is working from home almost all the time, including the three that have moved out of state. The office is formally closing down starting Friday and through the new year. I'm looking forward to being able to sleep late and goof off during that time, although coming back is going to be a pain.

Brendon was able to get a rapid test yesterday at his PCP's office. I have seen a huge spike in testing at the practices I work with. This is a good thing.

At this point, it looks like a quiet Christmas at home with DH. I thought about visiting with my MIL or my sister, but both of them should be isolated because of health issues so I am going to hold on that for now.

Tested this morning. I saw a testing van parking and ran over to it - two guys beat me so I was third in line.

By the time they started testing half an hour later there were thirty people in line.

Crazy.

I've seen how the city testing sites are swamped. Miami apparently is too.